Cross Effects 3.0 - November 16, 2014—April 13, 2015

[Kat]

Caedia

The Arisen's tone was filled with bitter mockery. "Oh, he must have surely had a weak will. If you, who had known him can only see him as a fool then his will must have been trifling. If his actions could not change you, then how dare he desire to change the world. Will is more than the ability to endure. It is to inspire that same will in others. To spread that strength to those around you."

As the man continued the Arisen laughed. She hadn't heard such worthless ramblings since the time she confronted the aged Duke. "Save the world? The world does not need salvation. The world does not want salvation. The weak are crushed, and they desperately cling to life and become stronger. Some will die and some will be lost, this is the reality of such a world, but it is still beautiful. The pain and suffering of the world holds only one answer. Cling to life and grow stronger."

With a hand on the hilt of her blade she answered the fool's question. "There is no reward worth receiving. I have seen many die. Seen as they failed where I succeeded. Even those whose wills guide them to become absolute are simply bound by chains tighter than you could possibly imagine. This world, all worlds and all their denizens. They are no different than an ocean without current. Empty vessels. It is the duty of the absolute to create and allow suffering. To temper the volition of the world and its people so that there might be true life. Those are the rewards of those who would have a will that is unbreakable. Yet even as it is I would have no world other than this one."

Mordred

"Huh, people must have it hard in your world if some supreme existence is responsible for the suffering of people. I believe that at least in my world people are responsible for the evil in the world, and its their burden to fight it in hope for better for future. Deep in my heart I suspect that even the enemy I want to crush the most is just a warped reflection of humanity's dreams. That man called Vanguard not only avoids fighting the good fight, he also spreads suffering in his wake. I'm no perfect, I have my issues, but I won't lose the sight of what is important." Mordred declared as in act of defiance to the armored man "I don't know if you will convince him to change his way, but I appreciate your effort.", she thanked Caedia, smiling at her.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Tohuw Balagan

The demon's emotional breakdown was rudely interrupted by something, or someone. His tears frozen solid like popsicle, he was called out by a fabulous creature. But that thing was no man, it's soul was far too large to belong to a mere Joe.

Grasping the inside of his amazingly tailored magnificent white silky and especially comfy suit, he pulled out a pink polka-dotted towelle, one that he used to wipe off his face and sniffle. As soon as the towel uncovered his visage, he appeared as a totally different man. That man was none other than... Freddy Mercury!

"Who... are you?" Said the demon, or rather sang. A look of wonder spread across his face like peanut butter on a toast. Or cheez whiz if you are a shit.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Vanguard

"Well, you would have suffered much less if you simply spoke, Mordred. I will not judge you for defending an ally, but that ally of yours dared to turn against me throughout his impudent filth. Seeing how that traitor attacked me with such a disgusting wickedness, I doubt it would have done any different to another. But no matter, I care not of Caster as of now. What appalls me is how little you have shown to value your life, if only to spite me. If I truly relished on causing misery, would I have not acted on my earlier threats? I had no pleasure in doing so, but your pathetic display gave me no choice. The fact remains, you brought this all upon yourself trough a meaningless defiance." Vanguard stated, maintaining a calm tone.

"And that woman is right, suffering is brought upon the world by the absolute. None can escape it, not even the strongest. One could say it is the will of the world to give birth to suffering-"

[Knick]

Crest

As Crest stood off to the side, away from the group of three, he listened to their words, and only got more and more frustrated.

Arguing about how the world is, assuming they know how things are, and acting like they can understand other things.

Bullshit, complete and utter bullshit.

They were all full of shit, thinking they understood what the world was like? How people felt? They were just a bunch of morons.

And his rejection formed, his sound vanished, and with a quick movement he drew his bow and cocked an arrow. The arrow tip turned black as Rejection of Matter covered it. And then it expanded, increasing the size of the arrow point.

"And that woman is right, suffering is brought upon the world by the absolute. None can escape it, not even the strongest. One could say it is the will of the world to give birth to suffering-“

The armored man was cut off as an arrow, a pitch black arrow, stuck his knee, ripping a hole through it as the arrow flew further and embedded itself in the earth.

“Can you do me a favor and shut the fuck up. I have heard enough bullshit.” Crest’s voice, filled with impossible coldness, filled the air.

He looked directly at all three of them, his right eye’s sclera turning pitch black as the blackness of his Rejection softly rose off his skin.

[Kotomine_Rin]

As Vanguard spoke, he felt his body leaning downwards. He hadn't noticed it until it happened, far too discrete and sudden.It was strange, before he could even react to it, something pierced his knee. But Vanguard knew his capabilities, to fall for a cheap attack such as this was something beyond them. And yet, he sensed nothing.

Looking down, he noticed something... odd. The body had never been pierced by anything, the damage was unlike anything he had ever seen! It was almost as if the space once occupied by that part of his body had been utterly erased. The hole formed was large and it had pierced his knee. Because of that, he knelt.

But it was not the current situation that bothered him more than the how it came to be.

"Fascinating..." he muttered after a long pause. Truth be told, he felt somewhat wary of that man. It was not fear, but something akin to curiosity. After all, no matte how hard he refused to admit it, Vanguard's mind was utterly human. Because of that, one could say he was more intrigued than angered by this point.

"Child, what you have done just now, show me once again." Vanguard responded, his own voice filled with coldness in return. He had been attacked by that man, by something unknown to even himself. Such a thing could not be let unobserved.

[Kat]

Mordred

Out of sudden there was a hole in Vanguard's armor. Never mind that he was actually empty inside, Mordred has bad premonitions about the newcomer. To pierce to such extent a 'body' of such potent enemy with a mere arrow, yet showing no signs of being anyone more than a mortal, he genuinely gave her creeps. Could that arrow actually be a sort of mundane but top secret weapon? However, an agent of some government body dealing with supernaturals would be more 'enigmatic' and less 'moody' about 'speeches'. And wear mirrorshades. Fuck if she knew the answer. Still, his eye looked kind off. Was he a cyborg or something?

"Uh, sorry, but he started this" she tried to explain, scratching her head nervously. And hoping that the armored fool would not try to provoke the guy further with his rants. Those grated on her nerves too.

[theunknownhero]

Shirou (HF)

Sakura responds to me saying that I'm the same as ever, have I really not changed these past few years? But it's good to see such a big smile on her face. She then says how I'm exactly right that he doesn't care that he is in danger. Well, I think being Emiya Shirou makes pretty good at knowing how Emiya Shirou is. She then lets out a troubling comment how if I won't think of my well being then she will.

"Sakura, it's because I'm me, I understand him and am thinking about his well being. It's futile to try to hold back Emiya Shirou once he sets his mind. Look at the all the odds I overcame to save you. Once his mind is made Emiya Shirou sticks to it. Right now all you're doing is putting Rider and the other me in danger by having her trying to take him by force."

It's odd having to refer to myself in the third person so much, but with there being two of me around I guess it can't be helped.

[Elf]

Saber

Saber smiled as well and said, "I doubt Command Seals can be gun shaped."

She rubbed the back of her head and continued, "There truly is, but even if you were not the Irisviel that I knew, it warms my heart to see a version alive and well."

[SINIB]

Irisviel

Irisviel smiled from the bottom of her heart at Saber, and gingerly tried to hold her hands, ready to withdraw them at the slightest appearance of discomfort. “Saber, I feel the same way. It makes me truly happy to see your face and hear your voice again, even if you are different in some ways from the one I know. I guess- it’s kind of exciting in a way, isn’t it?” Irisviel asked Saber cheerfully, her previous discomfort rapidly draining away. “Oh-I’m, um, I’m sorry for- earlier.” She clumsily said, her blush briefly returning.

[SINIB]

Sakura

Sakura’s brilliant smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared. “Senpai...” She said in a troubled voice. “Please stop...” She asked him in her typical timid voice. “Please, this is for the best. You don’t need to understand. It’s ok if you don’t understand.” She raised her hand to his face and began stroking it, feeling its familiar, yet slightly different, contours. “I love you. That’s why I need to do this. If it was anyone else, I’d stop. But my Senpai, my brown skinned Senpai, is in grave danger. And only I can save him.” She patiently told him again with a bittersweet smile. “Ok?”

[Elf]

Saber

Saber smiled as Irisviel took her hands and replied, "It is very exciting.  It lightens my heart to see you happy like this Irisviel.  The fate that befell my friend was something she did not deserve, but seeing you like this makes me realize that there is justice in a cosmic sense."

Then she laughed and said, "Well I understand the mistake.  There was no harm done, and the situation has rectified itself."

[Kaze]

EMIYA SHIROU

The archer frowned as the strange woman jumped off the side after him, her sudden change of clothing barely even registering. She hadn’t come straight down at him like expected, instead she had pushed out farther than he had, meaning she was not in Kanshou’s flight path. However, she no longer had any way to effectively maneuver her fall. It would be a simple matter to redirect Kanshou by also throwing Bakuya at her, or perhaps fire off his projections… but still, she hadn’t attacked him. He didn’t want to hurt her if he didn’t have to.

The ground fast approaching beneath him, Shirou decided on a course of action. He allowed the prana keeping his twin swords in existence to disperse, and reached out to grab a rapidly passing ledge on the building next to him while bracing with both feet. Even with the reinforcement his limbs screamed in pain as he jerked to a sudden halt. Fortunately the brick and mortar ledge didn’t give out on him.

Shirou pushed off towards another skyscraper as the tall woman in black continued to fall, intending on evading into the dense urban jungle.


AKIHOLARME

The last dovahkiin took a deep breath before letting it out slowly in an effort to calm herself. She was not one to be easily shaken, but that - that had been a special hell of its own.

Rebeca muttered that it wasn’t so bad once you got used to it, as though she was afraid of being heard. Although the girl’s timidness could be annoying, Aki couldn’t help but respect the pain she had to endure. Perhaps she wasn’t so bad.

“It was… certainly something,” she admitted out loud. “Although far removed from what one would consider mind reading to be.”


ANATU

Anatu dropped her food cone in surprise when this woman of life reached out to pull her into a warm embrace. She reflexively hugged her back, even as her mind spun. It wasn’t that she disliked hugs - quite the opposite - but rather she wasn’t used to being on the receiving end. Father didn’t hug much, and mother…

The girl of ancient times closed her eyes and breathed deeply, relaxing in the woman’s arms. It was nice, after several days around this bloated, filthy city, and so very warm.

But even in such a city, there were unparalleled treasures awaiting those with the will to find them.

And then the woman began to sing.

Her voice was a symphony in of itself that nothing in Uruk could match. Beasts, creatures, birds, insects, even the ocean itself seemed to speak through her, but what was more astounding is that Anatu could understand every word.

The Babylonian listened, mesmerised by the tales she told, of times and places different from her great home, and yet still the same. For the first time in a very long while, Anatu felt at peace.

[Kotomine_Rin]

"Shit shit shit shit shit shit SHIT!" Cried Richard, coiling rapidly across the streets. The monsters were fast, deceptively fast for their size. If he didn't do something, they would catch up to him...

Bloody fuck!

Just as they were to reach him, he gritted his teeth. The coiling water burst and multiple spears of ice shot back in a volley, faster than a bullet and hardy enough to pierce a stone wall. Then, without looking back, he shot forward, the snake-like water formation leaping along.

Water tendrils grew and crashed on the brick wall of a nearby building, and using their sharp ice edge as  upport, they dragged Richard up with a quick pace. He could not fight these abominations like this, not in an even terrain without support.

[Lycodrake]

Than'Sanel

So instead of saying a word she simply cradled her child gently and began to sing.

She sang of the time before time. Of the world of ancients that the she had once experienced. She sang of brave hunters, of hero kings, of cities of stone and magic, of mysterious oceans, and of legends as old as time. Her song was sung in the First Tongue and the countless languages of man were complemented by the soothing call of the wild. Aisha sang of the primal earth that once was and would never be again.

Than'Sanel moved closer, but paused in his steps when the girl approached and was beckoned by the woman. The heartening embrace of mother figure and daughter made him smile slightly, but when the woman began to sing - no human expression could convey what he felt. Though joy was predominant, sorrow and longing resonated with the words, too. The part of him that remained a staunch Selesnya Conclave member felt righteous zeal at the prospect of correcting the world to match the beautiful song, but these days that zeal was tempered with a better understanding of balance.

He stifled the dogmatic zeal to more appreciate the song, walking quietly out into the opening in the mall and leaning against one of the saproling pillars himself. Perhaps he would be noticed and greeted. Until then, he would indulge himself and enjoy the beautiful woman's music.

[Cherry Lover]

Rider continued to fall, keeping one eye on the falling sword and the other on Shirou, preparing to evade any attacks he might make and grab hold of him as soon as he touched the ground. However, to her surprise, he reached out and grabbed hold of a nearby ledge, just about managing to stop himself.

Damn, Rider thought.

Acting quickly, she leant forward and grabbed hold of his dangling foot. Then, using him as leverage, she pulled herself upwards, putting both arms around his waist.

"Shirou, please, just give up and come back with me. Surely you recall what servants are like, I am far stronger and faster than you, you cannot escape. Just let me bring you back to Sakura so we can hopefully get this mess sorted out and you can go free", she said, irritated at the utter pointlessness of this entire process.