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

[Kat]

Anastasia

"Oh, so they're like the Elder Race? Tales say that once a mighty race of material beings that emerged from primordial chaos created everything, those beings older than even oldest Aetheric beings. Some say that Dragons are their weak and shattered descendants, others point that Giants were their lesser younger kin. One thing is known, they no longer meddle in affairs of other races for some unknown reason. My master claimed that they turned into the starlight. Could be honestly just his drunken tale."

And a god didn't have to be so potent to be considered a god by someone. After all, halflings worshipped a god of pies.

The sky was getting darker and darker as they emerged out of the den. "I honestly miss seeing two moons on the sky." She remarked as she looked at the sky. "The stars are also different. Are these unfamiliar for you as well?"

[Kotomine_Rin]

Engetsu

The demon's eyes widened when he saw the aura converge into the man. Man? He was completely overtaken by the surprise when he(?) changed his shape and became a girl. And not just any girl, but a cute girl!

"N-no! I, erm... why, this is... amazing!" He blurted out, unable to hide the fainr blush. Even for an ancient demon like him, this was a first! He didn't really know what to say or how to react. Blushing, he managed to say the first thing that came to mind. "So, are you an old man or a lady?"

[Umbra of Chaos]

Paladin

Paladin hustled over when Oka called, so he only heard the last of Anastasia's statement. "Ah, yes. The stars are far more messy here. In my home they are arranged in precise patterns. The god of time routinely redirects the light they give off in order to give signs of prophecy."

He sounded a bit nostalgic at that. There was nothing that made you feel more like a stranger than staring up at a sky that was not your own. But there was a beauty to it as well, even if it was different.

[Kat]

Huang

"I did say it was my future reincarnation, so here's your answer. We're all beings trapped in the cycle of reincarnation until the nirvana. I wasn't an old man one time, though I don't remember my past incarnation, it could be really anything." Fenghuang explained in a matter-of-fact manner. "I guess you can call me Huang when I'm like that. That's the Chinese word for a female phoenix. Feng's the word for a male one. Together they make up my full name."

They she noticed that the ancient sword was blushing in reaction. "I knew it would surprise you. Don't worry, people usually react like that. So, what do you planned to cook? You bought those all groceries after all."

[Kotomine_Rin]

Engetsu

"Huh? Well, I had to refill my stock to make sure I can feed my customers. Got an inn to take care of, you know?" He said, puffing his chest with pride and smiling. "Well, if its not much, I could reward you for lending me your company. The least I could do is make sure you don't slumber on an empty stomach. What do you say?"

[YOLF]

Irene

Irene's expression was locked in a wide-eyed grimace as the numbing sensation encased her. Against this instant imprisonment, her mind faced a chill that threated to shut down her ability to respond the same as her body. It was like she was in Antartica again, being crushed between icebergs.

But was that it? Would she have to stay locked here now, listening to this ignorant bint prattle about her hypocrisy, so certain of her destructive ends and her self-important demagogy? Did she think she could simply leave her to die while she paraded her treads on the rewards of those at peace, complaining about a rotten circle but strewing her waste all over it? Heat circled through her stilled veins and hardened skin, boiling out from the depths of her body.

Useless.

The steaming ice shattered with a monstrous snap of her arms, scattering snow like rain and letting loose the bloodshot visage of Irene upon Hazel, set on tearing her in two with her outstretched claws.

[Umbra of Chaos]

Jasey

"Yeah, yeah." Jasey shrugged her shoulders. One hand slipping around the other girl's waist and pulling her close as she started moving. Internally she was basically exploding but Jasey was cool. Could keep that all down. Yep. No blush at all.

"Where do you want to get it from? And what kind of pizza?"


Grigori

Something, Grigori concluded, had gone horrendously wrong with the portal configuration this time around. It was actually a bit obvious. The tingling sensation was rather new. And transit wasn't supposed to take longer than a few minutes, yet she had been here an hour. Clearly this was the work of some bumbling, ignorant, good for nothing mouthbreather adventurer. But that was alright. She would tear them in two when she got home.

Then the world around her flickered and with a crash she slipped out of the transit dimension and crashed. Ooph, there were spikes? Something was definitely jabbing her. Looking down told her that it was some guy, and she wasn't really concerned with the existence of the spikes as much as she was the fact that they were still poking at her which kinda hurt!

So Grigori got up in a hurry with a small hiss of annoyance and walked off the guy before pulling on her magic, as instinctual as breathing, and healing the both of them. "Ugh, thank you? That wasn't quite what the portal was supposed to do..." She trailed off a bit as she noticed the building and cities around her.

Huh. That was new.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Costin

She didn't even need to look at that adorable blush, the smell in the air was enough to tell her everything about her reaction and it made the vampire feel all giddy.

"Iunno. You're the one who asked me out, shouldn't you have a place or two in mind? Hmmm?" She clung to the girl's arm and  gave her a devilish grin. 

"Well, meat would be nice, and extra cheesy, that's a given. I am a simple woman of simple tastes after all. And absolutely no pineapple, or anchovies. They make me sick. Other than that, I'm good. Really, just give me whatever you like."

[Aiden]

Molly

Her hand stopped it's ascent, apparently content with softly stroking back and forth along his upper thigh. She smiled back excitedly.

"Sure that's exactly what I want. Show me or else." The threat was clear as day.

Liam

"Certainly. Might wanna take a step back from the street side for this. Some folk don't think it's too pretty." The vampire slowly backed up, toward the alley just to the left, and seemed to lead the young maid there with him with a touch on her hand.

Well, be careful what you ask for.

Then Liam pulled her closer, the pounding of Molly's heartbeat in his ears, and did as he was asked. He pulled her hand to his mouth, and moved as if to kiss the back. Then his teeth sank into her skin, a brief moment of sharp pain followed by a feeling all too like, for the maid, ripping someone's heart out and taking a big gulping bite out of it. Except the feeling came in... reverse?

If that made any sense. Nothing made sense about it.

[Elf]

Forest

Forest blinked as Jasey got off the phone with her.  "Eh, I'll text her my address or something," the blond said with a sigh before giving Marcus a sheepish look.

He'll probably leave as soon as he finds out that I'll have someone else here.  I know part of the reason he's staying is pity.  I mean, I know everyone else leaves, Forest thought to herself before sighing.

"Well, someone else, I think maybe two others, are coming to stay.  I met this girl who didn't have a home a little while back and offered her a place to stay.  Now she's taking that offer," Forest said before turning away and waiting for the inevitable rejection.


Roderick

Roderick tilted his head at the white haired young woman and held out his hands, getting the reading of at least the general area around them.  Normally Identify was used on things, not places, but he tweaked the spell ever so slightly.  His blue eyes glowed for a moment as he took the reading with a nod.

"You are correct.  This is some sort of odd pocket dimension that takes people, places, and things and brings them here.  This place is called Nexus City," Roderick said before his handsome face twisted into the scowl as the spell informed him of something alarming.

Roderick eyed the young woman and said, "Apparently once someone or something is brought here, it can never leave."

And at that moment something crashed on him from above.

He didn't even have time to conjure some Mage Armor in reaction and his face hit the ground again.  The smell of tar and things he was completely unfamiliar with hit his nostrils as he felt a warm weight on his back.  A soft, warm weight.

He felt healing magic pour over him and sat up, eying a rather lovely blond human in front of him.  If she had been an elf, he would have mistaken her for Brona, the daughter of the monk who slayed the Death Shadow Thrice with her bare hands.  Except Brona generally scowled around him and looked as if she was about to punch him in preemptive defense.

He smiled at her and said, "I had a similar experience getting here, but I hadn't botched a teleportation spell since I was thirteen."


Rin

Rin nodded and said, "Of course!  And I won't even charge you for them."

"Magical bullets Rin. Really, are you planning on getting your own hitman?" the medieval French colored voice belonging to Jeanne of Arc said as the Servant entered the room.  The blond bowed, her armor clanging ever so slightly as she said, "I'm servant Ruler and I welcome you to this mansion, I hope Rin has been an entertaining host."

I swear, next person who comes in to "check" on me I will gandr in the goddamn face, Rin thought to herself before forcing a smile towards the blond.  "I mean, my younger sister has a small army of Servants and her husband at her beck and call.  I at least need something that's mine," she said with a shrug.

[SINIB]

Olgamally

Olga was impressed. Not by the spikey man, no, but by the sheer power that this newcomer clearly was holding. She reached out and offered her hand to the newcomer. "So you're stuck here too? Nice to meet you, my name is Lady Olgamally Animusphere. You seem quite powerful."

[Umbra of Chaos]

Jasey

"Huh, anything I like? Those are pretty brave words. That invites all kinds of abuse." Jasey shook her head a bit. "But I'm not really a bad person, so I guess I'll just keep the order or that."

She paused for a second. "Anything you wanna do before she sends the address though? I'm a pretty blunt person. You're better off telling me than trying to be subtle."


Grigori

Hmm. So he was a sort of mage too? He didn't seem to have any tangible force or power, but that didn't always mean mediocrity. But the girl on the other hand... A sort of smirk came to the blonde's face as she reached out and took the hand. "I could say the same to you, Lady Animusphere. I am Grigori. No family name I'm afraid. It is a tradition of sorts. As for stuck here..."

She broke off the handshake as her hand reached out to poke at the space in front of her. It rippled and distorted, squeezed as she pinched it, and when she opened up her fingers all that was revealed was a small black whole. A portal. The fact that it was black was troubling. "Something is providing a noticeable amount of interference. It seems that leaving here by normal means will be difficult."

Grigori sighed and relaxed her magic, allowing the small portal to close. "A shame as well. This place would be far more interesting if I wasn't trapped here. Am I the newcomer among you two?"

Mana coiled around her fingers, tight as a spring. Then it was released into a subtle wave, almost impossible to notice for anyone of lesser skill to notice even if they were looking for it. The mana ghosted over the area, slipping into and tracing the local leylines while prodding around carefully for other mages and mystical creatures.

[Aiden]

Neptune

Aww that was cute. She grinned happily from the attention given her. But she agreed with what he said and nodded while pulling the zipper back up to it's previous position. Leaving the upper parts of her boobs still exposed.

"That was a special treat for you Gaddy, there might be more when we get back~"

"So are ya gonna show your cute goddess this awesome patrol route you have?"

Gadreel

He was not going to turn the goddess down if she meant that. His response was merely a smile with a brief raise of his eyebrows, and a further inclination of his head. Then the fallen angel turned his attention back fully to the streets and buildings around them. "Indeed I shall. Would you like to begin down here on the streets, or would you prefer to start somewhere with a better view?"

[Elf]

Roderick

Why do I feel like I'm talking to with some of Mother Dearest's students? And what sort of name in the nine hells is "Olgamally Animusphere"? the half-elf thought to himself.

He rose to his feet and adjusted his cloak.  Part of him wanted to just leave; he was royalty after all and it wasn't proper for him to be ignored.  Yet these people were not from his lands and he wasn't of theirs.  So, the diplomat part of him reasoned that an even hand and fairness would be the proper way to handle this situation.  None of them were better than the other, nor worse.  Just different.

Roderick used perhaps the most useful cantrip at his command, Prestidigitation, to clean off his clothing, boots, and face with a flick of his fingertips.

He answered, "Not by too much though.  I literally just arrived before you crashed on top of me."  He figured he could just use Prestidigitation to straighten Grigori's clothing, but he didn't like using magic on people without their permission.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Costin

"Anything? Those are pretty big words, I'll hold you to them." She cooed mischievously before kissing her on the cheek. "Fu fu fu... There, I think we're good now, my cute little girlfriend." She said teasingly.