Cross Effects 3.0 - April 13, 2015—June 23, 2016

[SINIB]

Sakura

Sakura blushed as he kissed her and quickly threw on some clothes in turn, running out of the room disheveled towards the bathroom, only to nearly run into her sister. “Oh um--” Sakura turned beet red upon seeing her sister. “E-Excuse me!” She hid her face and ran down the hall, slamming the bathroom door behind her.

[Umbra of Chaos]

Aisha

The ancient's stride didn't change in the slightest as they continued onto painful, rocky terrain. As if every patch of stone she stepped on just smoothed over before her feet touched it. "I am your mother. Just as I am their mother, and the mother of the Bonded. All living things. All creatures above, on, and below the earth originate from my veins. They sing with my blood pumping through their hearts and the hearts of their children and their children's children."


Ghost Child

The kid did a complete 180 and a smile appeared on his face again. "That's fine. We'll find something really strong and then you can cut it up!"

[Cherry Lover]

Sakura

Sakura looked on, still rather wary, as a games console suddenly appeared out of thin air, surrounded by several disks.

"Well then, pick your poison milady”, Togan said.

Sakura looked at the games console and the games surrounding it closely.

Deadly Combat?  Desire for Velocity?  StarKraft? Has he just made those names up?

Sakura was still wary. Based on previous experience, she doubted that this was a normal games console. Still, she was used to virtual reality games anyway, and he had promised Irisviel he wouldn't harm her, so it couldn't be that bad.

Hmm, which sounds fun?

Sakura wasn't really a gamer, but she had played quite a bit with Kiyoshi, and she and Shirou occasionally played games together as well.

Well, the fighting game might be fun, I do enjoy sparring with Shirou sometimes, or possibly the racing game. I'd better ask him about them first, though....

“So, what are these games like”, she asked, nervously. “Especially the fighting game and the racing game.”

[Elf]

Rin

Rin yelped as Sakura rushed past her, looking rather disheveled as she headed to the washroom.  Rin pivoted out of the way and called out, "Watch where you're going, Sakura!"

Sighing, and shaking her head, Rin squared her shoulders and wondered if there was a way to get out of here without the wards attacking her.  There was a multitude of reasons why she needed to just get out.  She wanted to explore the Nexus and learn more about it.  She also needed to get some clothing in her size, especially undergarments. 

And, every fiber in her being was screaming that she was in enemy territory to the point that her crest was giving her little, sharp pangs every few moments that made her want to rip it out of her flesh.  This was the Matou household and it was now the workshop of a very powerful magus who could do forbidden things.  Despite being with Sakura, Rin couldn't quell the feeling of unease that was coiling in her stomach.

Besides, he's out there, Rin though to herself as she looked out the window.  An Emiya Shirou who was on the path of damnation that was Archer was running around in this city.  Ilya had not told her the whole story, but Rin had done some research on the Counter Force while at the Clocktower and realized the sort of Hell that her Archer had trapped herself in.

Saving Archer was impossible for her, even if she mastered the Second.  She couldn't rip his soul from the Throne, and if she did, what would she do with it?  Trap him in another hellish existence with a world so like is original but so different?  That would be cruel, even for her.

Doesn't mean I can't help this Emiya though, Rin thought, remembering the hairs she took from the coat she borrowed with a slow, feline grin.


Doll Shirou

Shirou found his way to the kitchen only to see him and Rider there. 

Rider being there wasn't a bad thing, but there he was.  The one who's existence he couldn't accept, especially after he did that to Sakura.  He walked into the western style kitchen and asked, "Rider, what is he doing here?"

[Panda]

Adjutor

At this point, the teen simply stopped in place, struggling to process that this woman standing before him was somehow...the Mother of all Life?

Soon realizing that Adjutor might need a while, Xarrest quickly took over, setting them walking alongside the woman once more. The teen then took a moment to thank the fact that he still had boots. Navigating the rocky terrain they were now passing over was far less painful with such protective footwear, though it seemed that the woman ahead of him didn't require it.

"...Very well," Xarrest said, his voice distinct from Adjutor's, though not by much, "Then what may we call you?"

[yinsukin]

Medaka Kurokami

Medaka released Seras from her grip as she finally heard the other officers words.

"But what Seras said is true. Your friend is dead. Now, I would like you to come with me to help figure out what happened earlier today. The sooner I get the information I need, the sooner I can take appropriate measures against those responsible for the incident." Said the officer.

Medaka looked down, finally realizing that what she was told was not a lie.  She began processing the idea that Lorenzo might be gone.  That thought was unbearable.

"He is dead....He is dead...."  She mumbled to herself.  Tears began flowing downward from her eyes as she stared helplessly at the ground.  That explosion has killed him, wiped him off the face of the earth and she was unable to save him.

The blue haired girl tried her best to compose herself as she made eye contact with the officer once more.

"I will try my best to tell you what I can."  She said weakly.  She had mixed feelings about dealing with the cops but she was sure that talking about what happened would help sort out her feelings, even if it was painful.  Besides, there were still some things that didn't add up in her mind.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Tohuw Balagan

Smiling cheekily, the demon summoned a microphone and proceeded to theatrically describe each and every one of the games.

Spoiler for the games:

"Deadly Comabat! A highly acclaimed 2D fighting brawler known for intense multiplayer competitive matches and it's wide roster of playable characters. There are five story modes, but noone gives a damn about the story since it's a fighting game. There is something about a dark lord M.Bison or something... I didn't pay much attention. The combat mechanics are simply awesome, you can feel the impact of every blow you deliver from the sheer intensity! It's as if you were the character himself! 10 outta ten!"

"Desire for Velocity! One of the best realistic 3d racing games out there! You're a dangerous gangster looking for fame and money, trying to make your name in the dangeorous streets of New Jersey by playing card games on cars! The evil drug lord M.Bison has kidnapped your best friend, and it is your mission to save her by winning the Supah Race and defeat him! The races are intense, fast paced and quick! And of course... anything goes. The environment and the cars are built with a new gaming engine that renders every square inch perfectly destructible. 10 outta ten!"

"Oh! That's a baseball! If sport games are your thing, this is a must! It's baseball, but you get to punch craters into people with the baseball! Will you defeat the renowed baseball champion M.Bison? Or will you fail, like everyone else? High pitch, low pitch, fast ball, soft ball... Everything is as smooth as a baby's cheek. Amazing game, 10 outta ten."

"World Diktator Tycoon! You are an eager mad scientist bent on world domination, but little do you know that president M.Bison is aware of your ploys! Will you manage to establish a dominion ruled with fear and oppression, or will your ass get jailed by the united forces of the world peace federation? Will you uncover the mysterious secrets of the Baconium in time to unleash the death ray? Will you raise an army of undead minions who will swear allegiance to you until the end times? Amazing game, 10 outta ten."

"StarKraft! You are a lone spaceman commanded by Major Bison, an astronaut of repute who reached Mars in order to salvage a team of survivors. Build a shelter, build things, find ores in order to build more things! You can build and dig for ores as much as you want! Also, there are alien forces and other races fighting or something, and you can buy your own troops to defend yourself, because who wants to fight his own battles when you can pay others to die for your sake? Amazing game, 10 outta ten."

"E.T: Extra Terrestrial! I have no idea, honestly. I found it in a steel chest locked shut with the engravings do not open under any circumstance. Well, I am sure it is a great game. 10 outta ten."

"Any questions?", asked Tohuw.


Sakagami Kenzo

"Okay! Then we have a deal." the demon nodded, satisfied with the agreement. Raising his red sword towards the moon, he declared boldly.

"With this sword in hand, I will defeat surpass the unsurpassable! Reach the unreachable! Defeat the undefeatable! For it is my sword, the greatest sword of all! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA~"

[Umbra of Chaos]

Aisha

She didn't even glance at the Child as he switched between the other one within him. "You may call me mother. It is my title and it is all I am. Although if you are too uncomfortable with that then a name that the humans have given me is Gaia."


Ghost Child

There was silence for a while before the ghost burst into laughter. He started tumbling in the air and the joyous sound continued for a little while before he stopped. "You're silly, mister, but I have to play a few more games with other toys. I'll see you later!"

Then he suddenly paused. Empty sockets gazed at the sky and the purple tear stains glowed. "What a beautiful moon tonight."

Ghost Child twitched for a moment before returning to normal and happily skipping away on air.

[Knick]

Mia

Mia ignored most of the words the man said, simply content to hug Shirou, keeping her head against his chest. The world was a peace. Close to the person she considered papa her stories calmed, she did not wish pain on others, she did not want to kill, she did not want to punish, she did not want to torment.

She only wanted to be with papa, and at the moment she was content. However, she felt that the man was speaking to long. Can’t he see that she was hugging papa. He was distracting Papa from her. 

He was a meanie. And so, as he spoke his final words her head tilted and turned around slightly, allowing her to once again look at him with a glare. She did not care for his harsh look, so she simply said one thing.

“Don’t be a meanie and leave Shirou alone.” Mia said firmly, her cheeks puffing out in a pout.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Sakagami Kenzo

" 'kay! And don't forget your promise!" Said Kenzo, waving goodbye to the spirit cheerfully. Then, he set off to take a little stroll. After all, it was quite a beautiful moon that was watching over tonight.

Silly, heh. What do you know?

Chuckling, the demon chewed on his pipe for a while. He really needed to light it someday.

[SINIB]

Irisviel

 Irisviel woke up from her restless sleep. She’d been feeling faint magical signatures the entire time, but nothing alarming and she had been so exhausted she’d just ignored it until now. But finally, she could do so no longer. It was like a fly buzzing around her head that she couldn’t make go away. So she walked in her soft nightgown down the hallway angrily towards the solar, wondering what in the world they could be doing.

“Gah, they need a stern talking to!” She complained to herself.

Finally, she returned to the solar, the source of the irritation, and instead of the two numbskulls doing-whatever she had been expecting, she found two doors. One had been opened and appeared to be an-infinite loop of doors. The other--was wide open, and appeaared to lead to a lake of sorts, where they were standing around, discussing what appeared to be video games, one of which was a racing game! Irisviel’s anger vaporized instantly, and she ran up to them excitedly.


“Oh oh oh! I wanna play that one!” She told Towuh with a cheerful and excited grin.  “Thatonethatonethatone!” She bounced around like a small child, with energy to match, as she pointed at the raching game he held.

[Kaze]

EMIYA SHIROU

Shirou couldn’t help but smile at the young girl in his arms. Her pout was quite adorable.

“It’s okay, Mia. Caster is going to help us,” he said. He gently moved her off of him and got to his feet. His legs wobbled a little, but he maintained his balance. Taking her hand in his, he looked back to the man calling himself Caster. “Okay then. Show us where to go.”


AKIHOLARME

Aki frowned at Crest, irritated that he wasn’t going to help. Then Caedia started smashing locks with her blade, with no heed to who else might hear her. That girl is an idiot, she thought to herself.

The last dragonborn turned back to the lock, puzzling over how to open it. She could do as the other woman did and just slice it, but with her current weapons that would also risk damaging whatever was inside. She understood all too well that electricity ran wild with metal. Instead, she opted for a more arcane approach.

Conjuring flames into her hand, she concentrated them as tightly as she was able, into the size of a septim. She held it out against the small metal bar locking the cabinet closed, and grinned as it started to glow red, orange, and then yellow.

[SINIB]

Faust

Faust frowned at the small child. Something was wrong about her presence being here, clearly. She had no way to get up to where Shirou had laid, and obviously hadn’t been there before. She just didn’t sit right with him. However, he ignored her, quickly returning his gaze to Shirou.

“Please, after you.” He bowed flamboyantly at Shirou, making an overblown gesture to the bird.

[Panda]

Adjutor

"Gaia, then," Xarrest noted, not even needing to consult with Adjutor on the problems with calling this woman 'mother'.

"So, if you're the mother of all life..." the teen trailed off for a moment, trying to find a way to give shape to the question that begged for release, "Why did you create it? Did you have a choice about it or was it just something that...well...happened?"

[Cherry Lover]

Shirou and Rider

As Shirou was pondering what he should cook, he heard the door opening. He turned around to see who it was, only to come face-to-face with his alternate self.

"Rider, what is he doing here?" the other him asked in an annoyed voice, ignoring him entirely.

Shirou glared at the alternate version of himself. Whilst he knew that this other him was necessary for Sakura's happiness, and that he was somewhat justified in his annoyance, Shirou couldn't help but dislike the other Shirou, particularly when he was acting like this.

Before Rider could respond, Shirou spoke.

“Rin told me to go to the kitchen, actually. I am going to cook Sakura a meal to apologise for my actions”, he said in an annoyed voice.

Rider, meanwhile, moved into the room, positioning herself to try to defuse the tension.

“What Shirou says is correct, Shirou”, Rider said, simply.