Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells

[hatespolitics]

Characters: Ashley Williams (hatespolitics) AND Kaidan Alenko (hardheading) AND Finnick (expensivegift) AND Joker (nodaisybell) AND young!Altair(isanovice) AND Malik (need_a_hand) AND John Shepard (killsfishes) AND other people maybe, to be added (PM/plurk me if you want in, guys)
When: Shortly after the event started
Where: Homebase (The Daughters of the Mass Dragon Creed of Hearts office building), around town with

Comments

[need_a_hand]

[Malik had the paper pressed down on a newspaper dispenser, drawing in some details with quick, clean lines. It wasn't particularly easy to draw on the go with one hand but he had done so many maps now the lines still came out fairly straight and clean, only a rough copy of what he would eventually finish and make for those he knew.

Ashley, obviously, being one of them. He was grateful she came, he didn't trust many so well that he could do his work and knew she'd watch his back. It was nice to be free of many of the dramas of those he knew- both Altaïrs were confusing and sometimes a headache, more so when they fought with each other. One Altaïr was plenty, two- he wasn't sure what to do with that, or if he should even bother trying to help foster some peace between them.

He drew a few more lines, looking around and remembering his views from the rooftop before glancing to her.] I suppose they are not supposed to sound as though an enemy is watching you when you sleep. [He says dryly, glancing at one of their snow golem friends in the distance.]

[hatespolitics]

[Ashley would offer to help, but, again, varren scratches. Besides that, Malik seemed to have things well enough in hand, and she was caught up in watching the creepy snowmen.

Ashley, too, had her dramas she was avoiding. One was named Shepard-- a difficult person to approach, even if the big oaf was pretending like everything was normal between them. Who knew? Maybe in his head, it was. But she was pretty sure that even Shepard couldn't forgive her words on Horizon so easily.]

She knew she couldn't.]

Not quite. It's more like-- hark, the herald angels sing-- [And she cuts off, abruptly, as the caroling snowmen suddenly shut up in response, cold silence settling in on the street. Ashley shivers.] Okay, that is creepy. It's like they're listening.

[need_a_hand]

[Malik pauses- he wasn't sure what he was expecting from her voice, the voice of a soldier, but it was pleasant. He would have commented on that, perhaps teased her a bit but the sudden silence made him pause as well, posture straightening. Something was not right.]

Perhaps they are jealous their own voices are far from pleasant. [Malik quipped, though his eyes stayed glued on their friends down the street. One started to move, then another, seemingly harmless but far too eerily silent for his tastes.] What are they doing?

[hatespolitics]

Moving. [Ashley stares at them, slipping the trusted lead pipe loose from its tie on her waist. She was it's trusted bearer this time, and she tested its weight with one hand.] The possessed snowmen are moving. [...And she was preparing to get attacked by them. This was. Seriously the worst Christmas ever.]

...I'd say let's maybe get off the street level, since I'm thinking these round bastards can't climb stairs, but that would also be suggesting we run away from snowmen.

[need_a_hand]

[Ah the lead pipe, their greatest ally in a confusing world. Malik regards their slow approach, wary if only because his training taught him to never take any enemy at face value.]

Perhaps you should offer apologies for offending their sensitive egos. [He snarks, though he tucks the map away and takes a more defensive stance.] This would be a chance to practice our skills, though it would be foolhardy to go against an enemy we know little about.

[hatespolitics]

What's the worst they could do? Make us go deaf? [They were made of snow, buttons, and bits of carrots. And they could give a turtle a run for its money with how fast they moved. Ashley gripped the pipe carefully, sliding into a defensive stance with her blunt weapon held low.] If they want a few lessons on how to be proper snowmen, I'd be more than happy to teach them them. No charge.

[...No, seriously, they were moving... really slowly. It could take them all day to cross the street. Ashley backs up towards the alley, of the thought that they could shimmy up the fire escape if, for some reason, they got overrun. This would have been a great plan if a Snowman hadn't abruptly emerged to cover their path of retreat, sliding out of the mouth of the alley. Ashley opens her mouth to shout a warning, scrambling to take a few steps back. It was too close, appearing out of nowhere, but the very worst Ashley was expecting was for it to throw snowballs at her.

She certainly wasn't expecting it to lean forward. For the coal-rimmed mouth to suddenly widen, the snow splitting and opening, the gaping maw suddenly tearing open the Snowman's body. It writhed forward, covering her like an avalanche, swallowing her in one single, chilly gulp.]

[need_a_hand]

[Malik was about to counter when Ashley moved. He regarded the approaching snowmen a moment before turning and-

A snowman just ate Ashley. If it wasn't a combat situation he probably would have stared, but he wasn't trained most of his life to fight just to stand around gaping when things went bizarrely.]

Ashley! [He called, pausing to decide how best to deal with this. Getting too close was obviously a bad idea, and attacking the creature could hurt Ashley as well. He sighs, muttering something very colorful in arabic before formulating his plan.

A plan that involved rope. It might have been a bit convoluted but he didn't want to risk getting eaten or, more importantly, hurting Ashley. He grabbed some of the cable they kept for various purposes, tying some to a post as the snowman slowly moved closer. It was fairly easy to dash past, letting the snowman get caught by the rope and topple over. That's when he came closer, digging through the snow to find his friend.]

[hatespolitics]

[The snow was more like molasses than soft bits of fluff; She kicked and thrashed, but the snow simply moved around her, adjusting for her internal attack. Bulges might've appeared all along the snowman's sides, then vanished.

Abruptly something sliced through the snow and hit her side, and everything turned vertical as the frosty death surrounding her crumpled to the ground.

She lashed out while she had the chance, curving her hands to shovel the snow away. Her hand bursts through the snow, smacking into something else-- an arm, a hand-- which she grabs onto and hopes to God is Malik.

Her life. What is even.]