Cross Effects- The RP

[YOLF]

Sir Bonesington sighed in relief and stopped channeling cold. Seems he wasn't going to need that frost armor after all. Still...

It was a little annoying to hear the boy talk about his conjured potion like that! How rude of him it was. Honestly, who was he being taken for? He wouldn't do something underhanded like making it have side effects! Well, not when he was counting on the assistance of the one drinking it, anyways.

And then his spirit went and burned the blunt Bonesington was very seriously considering having. Ah, damn it.

"I'll have you know there was nothing strange about that mana potion. It wasn't its fault that the miss there was getting so fired up!" he said, sounding mildly insulted. He crossed his arms, looking between her and the boy, and continued, remarkably more casual sounding.

"Speaking of which, I must say that reaction was rather curious. And I am reminded I haven't been properly introduced to you two, yeeeess? So, how about you take this opportunity to do so, and you explain exactly what you are, miss? Humor me a little please, I think I deserve it after that passing fright."

[Aiden]

"It's okay," Luka said, relieved to see that the situation hadn't worsened. "I'm sorry. I said it wasn't dangerous, but I didn't think the mana potion would do that to you." He moved away from the skeleton man, who was beginning to feel very cold, literally. "From now on let me try any strange things before you, to make sure it won't do anything crazy." He dared to grab Valda's hand again, finding it warmer than usual, but not near burning like last time.

"It's not you, it's her," Salamander said. "Didn't I tell you that already?"

Luka ignored her.

"Bah, whatever," the irritated spirit said. "Without Alice here, dealing with you is annoying."

She saw Henderson offer some kind of behaviour altering drug to Valda, and snapped.

The small fire at the tip of Henderson's blunt suddenly flared up, burning all of the substance to ash in a second and slightly scorching the man's fingertips. The cloud of smoke and ash that been formed floated towards the man, and he saw a disapproving female face in its swirling currents. "Oh no you don't, mister," Salamander hissed. "She does not need any more mind altering chemicals after this little incident. Keep it to yourself and you might even run into those gnomes you keep yapping about."

...

This Luka was so trusting. Almost painfully trusting.

She liked this.

And that fire creature was so useful, since she could sense something terrible about the otherwise innocuous drug she had been offered by the mad one. Who knew what might have been unleashed if she had somehow come into contact with it? She held the free hand that had done so away from herself.

Valda was careful not to squeeze his hand too tightly with the one he held, in case her renewed strength wasn't quite fully under her control yet. This was more consideration than she would give most creatures.

However, accurate accusations such as this:

"Speaking of which, I must say that reaction was rather curious. And I am reminded I haven't been properly introduced to you two, yeeeess? So, how about you take this opportunity to do so, and you explain exactly what you are, miss? Humor me a little please, I think I deserve it after that passing fright."

Were going to burn up all of that good will she was receiving from Luka if she did not come clean soon enough. With that in mind, she accomplished the goals of revelation and cleansing (of her now-tainted hand and outstretched hand) by covering the tips of her fingers with flames for but a brief moment.

"My name is Valda Becker, and I am human," she says with a hint of a smile for Bonesington. I am also a goddess; it is a long story"

[YOLF]

Well, she and the boy really were quite chummy with the hand-holding, Sir Bonesington noticed. It was almost cute, even. He couldn't resist smiling a little at it before she actually did answer his question.

"My name is Valda Becker, and I am human," she says with a hint of a smile for Bonesington. I am also a goddess; it is a long story"

He let his jaw hang open for a bit. Then forced himself to close it.

Well, that sure explained a lot! That odd feel she gave off, her requiring mana so bad, the sheer power that she had emanated for those few seconds there... it all made sense now. Why she appeared to be an ordinary human, yet all those factors that did not match were there. Whatever kind of goddess or god-like being she actually was, she had probably been sealed in a human body and had most of her power taken away at the time. Obviously, her human existence couldn't simply sustain such power easily, so she burned through it quicker than a mage spamming showy spells just by being there. And if her slightly power drunk expression was any indication, it had probably been a while since she had any power whatsoever at her disposal. Thaaaaat was...

A little understandable, honestly.

The lich did his best not to sound surprised (and he honestly wasn't that much, given how much she already felt like some sort of high level spirit or old god), and bowed lightly with a overly grand gesture of his arm.

"I think that explanation shall be satisfactory for now. I thank you for the honesty. A pleasure to make your acquaintance then, miss Valda."

In light of the recent revelation, he mentally thanked the heavens or whatever other omnipotent force overseeing them for Zahar really not being here.

[Cherry Lover]

"Yeah, I guess that's not a bad idea. I could do with checking up on him. He should be getting to bed soon, I'd like to wish him goodnight and reassure him that I'm safe", Rider said.

As much as she had enjoyed her session with Satoshi, and was looking forward to her time with Angra later, she couldn't neglect her duties as Kiyoshi's current guardian. Sure there was a version of his Aunty Rin at the house, but she was still only a young woman. Whilst Rider knew she was a caring enough person that she would never willingly hurt Kiyoshi, even at 45 Rin was still somewhat reckless at times. Her 20-year-old self was not exactly likely to be reliable. She could be trusted to show Kiyoshi love, but not necessarily as a parent.

Plus, once Kiyoshi was in bed, she was free to return and deal with Angra as she wished.

"When I return, we'll see if your body is up to the challenge. I'm really going to enjoy breaking you...", Rider said, smirking sadistically.

"I suggest you prepare yourself, though. I promise you that I will not be gentle or merciful. If you want a decent crack at me you're going to have to tolerate a lot of pain", she added with a smile that showed that, despite her intentions, she felt no hostility towards the woman.

[Bloble]

"My name is Valda Becker, and I am human. I am also a goddess; it is a long story"

Luka wasn't the smartest person in the world. His strengths did not lie in trickery or clever manipulation, nor did they veer towards understanding and recognizing knowledge. He was an adventurer, plain and simple. Someone who had nothing but the sword on his back and his own skills, who marched forward carrying his ideals and beliefs with him.

However, even he could understand the significance of what Valda had just said.

The hand that had been warm was now blazing. Her grip was less a promise and more of a shackle, screaming of how easily he had been fooled, of how little he knew in the end. Suddenly, Salamander's words made sense.

"...we can beat her," Salamander said. "It'll be tough, but I can blunt some of her power, and if you attack now, while she is weak, we stand a chance."

"She is sealed. That hunger for mana is likely because she lacks a method of replenishing her power, like that aunt of yours," Undine spoke up. "In addition, you possess the power of water, which will counter her fire. We will overwhelm her before she can assume her full form."

"..."

A goddess. The word brought up memories, of someone who had slaughtered man and monster alike to realize her mad dreams. Someone who had made plans generations in advance, waiting to become all powerful and remake the world as she saw fit. The memories were not of the pleasant kind. He had fought a goddess before.

He had slain one, at great cost.

"Don't worry, we're right here with you!" Sylph was determined. She had no idea where she was, and the world was strange, but she still possessed the power of an elemental spirit.

"..." Gnome stood up and nodded. She was ready to fight.

"..."

But... another's words came to mind.

"What reason does a Goddess have to exist, if she isn't wanted?"

"...I'll stay my blade."

The spirits heard the boy's words with great interest.

"I'll do it to see if this Goddess is truly what she says she is, or if she's nothing but a bully in disguise. If the time comes, and we face a repeat of what happened that time, then I'll carry out my duty. But until then, I'll see what this person can do, and who she is. It's the least I can do to repay a certain Monster Lord who watched over a certain fake Hero against all the rules of the world she lived in. Is that okay?"

The spirits exchanged glances, shrugs, and finally nods, with Sylph giving an energetic thumbs up.

Luka smiled. "I'm Luka, Sir Bonesington. I don't really know what to say. I go around trying to make sure the world is peaceful and occasionally beating up a villain or two. I guess you'd call me an adventurer," he jiggled the swords at his waste for emphasis. "It's nice to meet you."

[Aiden]

"Likewise, Sir Bonesington," she replied easily enough, letting the little sparks of flame in the hand not holding Luka's to fade.

It was, perhaps, fortunate for all involved that Valda was too busy looking at Sir Bonesington to see whatever emotion may have flashed across Luka's face momentarily. She was left with just the feeling of his hand in her own, rather than a sense of potential betrayal as he began to have doubts about her.

Of course that had always been a risk, but she was much less uncomfortable in her ignorance than she would have been while aware. Luka was smiling pleasantly when Valda turned her eyes back to him again. "I was not entirely forthcoming with you at first; for that, I can only say that where I come from there are many who would see me sealed away completely for what I represent. I was not certain you were... safe to tell, as weak as I was."

[YOLF]

Luka smiled. "I'm Luka, Sir Bonesington. I don't really know what to say. I go around trying to make sure the world is peaceful and occasionally beating up a villain or two. I guess you'd call me an adventurer," he jiggled the swords at his waste for emphasis. "It's nice to meet you."

Sir Bonesington clapped his hands in jolly clacking.

"So you are an adventurer! I knew it. That outfit of your, those weapons, that courageous and heroic aura! Ha ha, seems like this frosty bonehead still has some wit left in his skull, eh? Likewise glad to meet you!"

Really, it had been far too long since he'd talked with an adventurer, even if they did usually spend the time trying to kill him for fat loots. And this one wasn't! Actually, he was pretty polite!

[Bloble]

"I was not entirely forthcoming with you at first; for that, I can only say that where I come from there are many who would see me sealed away completely for what I represent. I was not certain you were... safe to tell, as weak as I was."

"It's fine," Luka nodded. "I understand. I've had my powers sealed once... or twice, actually. It's an unpleasant experience."

"So you are an adventurer! I knew it. That outfit of your, those weapons, that courageous and heroic aura! Ha ha, seems like this frosty bonehead still has some wit left in his skull, eh? Likewise glad to meet you!"

And after all that, Luka's heroic resolve to look dashing crumbled as easily as a house of cards.

"H-heroic aura?" He blushed and looked down. "No one's ever said that to me before... monsters usually just call me weak looking or delicious before attacking me..."

"Your cape is also kind of dumb," Undine said. "It's really a hindrance in combat."

"I like it!" Sylph declared. "It flutters in the wind and looks cool!"

Mentally, Luka suppressed tears. "If Sylph likes my cape," he thought. "Then it really must be horrible."

"Mean! Meeeeeaaan!"

[YOLF]

And after all that, Luka's heroic resolve to look dashing crumbled as easily as a house of cards.

"H-heroic aura?" He blushed and looked down. "No one's ever said that to me before... monsters usually just call me weak looking or delicious before attacking me..."

"Your cape is also kind of dumb," Undine said. "It's really a hindrance in combat."

"I like it!" Sylph declared. "It flutters in the wind and looks cool!"

Mentally, Luka suppressed tears. "If Sylph likes my cape," he thought. "Then it really must be horrible."

"Mean! Meeeeeaaan!"

Such a bashful young man he was. Ahhh, why couldn't Azerothian adventurers be more like him. I'd be so much easier to talk things over.

"Nonsense! You are a positively dashing adventurer, Luka! Why, that cape looks killer on you! You're also about ten times nicer than most of the adventurers I knew in my time!" Sir Bonesington patted him in the back with a bony hand and laughed heartily. "You're a man, have some confidence in yourself!"

[Aiden]

Valda really shouldn't speak up there, but he looked like someone had just thrown a bucket of water on his camp fire or buried his forest engulfing inferno in an avalanche. She really could not help herself.

"... perhaps 'appetizing' and 'heroic' are synonymous qualities to the monsters of your home?"

[Elf]

Gabriel smirked as his wizard held out his hand to try again.   He was alert though; the guy may act like a matinee villain but someone didn't get as powerful as this bloke did without a decent pair.  A flash of steel caught his eye and there was a sharp sting against his cheek.

Blood welled up from the cut and spilled down his marble white skin.

"So, there is some substance to that flash," Gabriel said with a grin as eyed the sword. "Now, I bet you're dying to tell me what you're doing."

******

Forest rubbed her forehead and looked at the girl.  "You need to get some rest," she said in a firm voice before moving forward to push Sakura back into bed.

She leaned back, sighed, and said, "Why me?  I only met your brother for like thirty minutes.  Not to mention, I don't surrender." 

[Bloble]

"I dunno," Luka said. "I mean, the first monster I ever fought laughed at me and called me tasty, and that was just a slime. I ended up winning just by flailing wildly and getting lucky."

"Well, you were level one back then, right?" Salamander suggested. "I mean, even Granberia was only about as strong as you by her first birthday."

"...I was eighteen."

"You hadn't hit your growth spurt yet!"

"In any case..." Going back to the matter at hand... "Most monsters in my world tend assault weak looking people rather than strong ones. I get attacked a lot because of it."

Then his back straightened. "But that's fine! It's not like I'm weak! How awesome or cool someone looks has nothing to do with their true strength! That Golden Holy Sword of the Gods is worthless if it's worse than the iron one you start out with!"

"I recall you crying over Alice breaking that Golden Holy piece of junk," Undine muttered.

"All in the past!"

"By the way, were you an adventurer yourself, Sir Bonesington?" Luka asked. "In my time, most of them tended to be really weak, so I never met many. Just how experienced are you?" With all those trinkets and potions, it had to be quite a bit...

[Aiden]

"I dunno," Luka said. "I mean, the first monster I ever fought laughed at me and called me tasty, and that was just a slime. I ended up winning just by flailing wildly and getting lucky."

"Well, you were level one back then, right?" Salamander suggested. "I mean, even Granberia was only about as strong as you by her first birthday."

"...I was eighteen."

"You hadn't hit your growth spurt yet!"

"In any case..." Going back to the matter at hand... "Most monsters in my world tend assault weak looking people rather than strong ones. I get attacked a lot because of it."

Then his back straightened. "But that's fine! It's not like I'm weak! How awesome or cool someone looks has nothing to do with their true strength! That Golden Holy Sword of the Gods is worthless if it's worse than the iron one you start out with!"

"I recall you crying over Alice breaking that Golden Holy piece of junk," Undine muttered.

"All in the past!"

"By the way, were you an adventurer yourself, Sir Bonesington?" Luka asked. "In my time, most of them tended to be really weak, so I never met many. Just how experienced are you?" With all those trinkets and potions, it had to be quite a bit...

"Then your appearance is deceptive. You feel quite strong to me, Luka."

It would explain why his hand was not crushed when she tried squeezing it a little more. She then turned away from Luka at that, giving up on her efforts during the pause in speech due to his internal dialogue to eavesdrop via the flame spirit she now clearly recognized lurking within him. She had little mana left from the potion to spare for the effort anyway.

"I believe," Valda says while crossing her legs again and relaxing in a way she'd only become able to after alleviating some of her hunger, "that he may be considered some form of villain. He is simply affable in demeanor and uninterested in antagonizing us."

[Milbunk]

Downy Reed
Roof of Apartment Complex

Small attacks and seemingly desperate maneuvers would get him nowhere and Downy new this, if he couldn't absorb the abilities of the new man for now then he need only wait for his own spell to complete anyway.

And after 2 very obvious attempts at attacks still did not respond with in kind then perhaps he was someone who could see his glorious view? It was worth a shot at least, worst case scenario he'd just off the man and be on his way.

"It seems your not hostile for the moment at least.  Fine then I'll tell you, perhaps you'll even see my view? This world is corrupt full of nothing but criminals and harbingers of death and destruction, my ultimate goal is to start anew! With my divine ritual's I aim to give both this world and mine a second chance! A fresh start! One where we no longer have any need of of such filth as these fools and if such a chance exists then who am I to stop it? No, rather I'd aid it in any way I can! Such is the path of a disciple of God. My name is Downy Reed, I am the savior of the universe, tell me then what is yours? Would you hope to reason with my cause and aid me in my most noble goal?

By then he had already returned to a more neutral stance sword at his side and awaiting the man's reply, if at any moment he responded in a hostile manner he was ready to act.

[Elf]

"Well, I wouldn't say it was completely corrupt.  There is still quite a bit of good left in this world," Gabriel said as he tided up the bit of blood on his face.  The cut was slowly starting to knit closed, and the blood had already clotted.

He said, "I'm Gabriel Umbra.  So, how would you go about this Great Cleanse?  And what about those who are still worth something?  What will happen to them?"