(Untitled)

[tidesnpc]

Characters: The Winding Way
Content: Time to find a lost play, hell yes
Setting: The jungles of Kagatau
Time: Late morning!
Warnings: Cue Indiana Jone's theme.

Comments

TEAM <s>AWESOME</s> RYUZAKI - HEADING NNW

[d_luffymonkey]

It was simply quite easy to say that Luffy was very, very excited - fancy this, a treasure hunt just like what real pirates would do! It was yet another step closer in fulfilling his dreams - his dream to be the bestest pirate in the whole of Reial. And now what better way than to look for real treasure?

...okay so in retrospect this most likely wasn't the sort of treasure that real pirates were looking for but it was a start, at least! The powder monkey grinned to himself as he looked down from the crow's nest he had been lodging in for the past few hours en route to this island. Miles and miles around were nothing but think greenery and other assorted forest-y stuff. And this would be a good chance to know the crew better too! He did know them all by face, but he never spoke to them before - and oh, Oingo was a new person so he'd get to meet him too!

Grin still on his face, Luffy leaped from where he was, rubber arm stretching to grab on one of the bars on the deck to propel himself and landed rather nicely at where his team had gathered. Unlike the others he didn't bring anything with him - just himself and his straw hat. He nodded when Ryuzaki spoke, bouncing excitedly.

"Alright, Ryuzakikiki!" the teenager exclaimed, punching a fist into the air in barely-contained excitement. "Let's go everyone! We'll find the play before anyone else does!"

[whoiwant2b2day]

"This whole trip is bullocks," Oingo scoffed, putting on his best display of not wanting to be there MUCH LESS under Ryuzaki's direct command. Amongst his chief desires, at that moment, was to just deck Mr. Smary Pants with an orange and revel in victory. The images that played out in his mind of such a scene were rather vivid and satisfying, perhaps the one thing that kept him from acting out so STUPIDLY in reality.

But, he at least had something to offer to the party. He had grown up in the Badlands practically on his own, so this didn't seem that farfetched to him. There was still a trace of worry in him, though. And the sweat on his brow was not just from the humidity...

"I'm more focused on just not dyin'"

[flight_15]

"That's not gonna be a problem." Ichigo slung his sword over his shoulder, and slid his goggles over his eyes. He double-checked the smaller hunting knife he had stuck into his belt - this was a jungle, and he didn't know if there'd be room to swing his over-sized blade. Still....it wouldn't feel right to leave without it. He had abandoned his coat, deeming it too hot, but his shirt had long sleeves. Although he'd never been to Kagatau, he'd heard of it - and its insects. Better to keep covered. "Ichigo Kurosaki reporting in!" he declared, one hand on the sword-hilt, the other on his belt. "Where are we headed?"

[sugarforteatime]

L was very glad that everyone seemed prepared and ready for the travels. Oingo was going to be a problem, he could already tell.

"We have a map, however it does not help us with any internal geographical features." He held up the map, mostly just an outline of the island. "We are heading in this north-north-westerly direction and keeping our attention on our surroundings and scouting for clues about the play."

Description complete, L leads the way into the jungle, checking to make sure everyone was following. Although he did not have any particular issue of pride wrapped up in finding the play, he was interested in understanding the island and discovering more about it.

"Everyone please be careful, we are not one of the teams with a medical professional."

(OOC: This map is even less helpful than the OOC Map)

[d_luffymonkey]

Luffy nodded excitedly, more than ready to start this great adventure. The powder monkey followed right behind L, eyes wide in amazement as he looked at the many flora and fauna surrounding them. While he had been used to the forests in Kropmork-Nahk this forest was totally different from the one back home. Towering trees, constant chirping of birds and bees and other animals and so many other things that made the teenager gape in wonder as he looked around, a childish grin spreading across his face. This was just way too awesome!

They headed into the jungle, and after a while Luffy was rather tired of simply just walking and looked up at the trees, an idea then forming in his head. He drew back one arm and swung it forward, stretching it to grab on a rather high branch. Grinning, the rubber boy then launched himself upwards and landed upon the branch with a loud thump. Luffy grinned again as he stood from his branch and looked at the scenery below him. "Awesome! I can see so much from here!" he exclaimed, grin still in place.

[whoiwant2b2day]

The only manner of defense Oingo had on him were several carefully hidden explosives...minor ones. Orange and cherry bombs, pretty much. But certainly enough to survive with. But he couldn't help but feel ridiculously inadequate alongside a man with a giant sword, a rubber boy, a flying fox, and a super genius...

So just for the hell of it, he decided to have some fun. Using Khnum, he transformed himself into Ryuzaki, matching his manner of walking perfectly and falling in line just a step behind him, gesturing to the others to keep quiet while he pulled his prank...

[flight_15]

Ichigo didn't even notice the transformation, instead snapping up at Luffy. "Hey! As long as you're up there, keep watch! I don't want anything sneaking up on us!" Ichigo's own ears were pricked for any sound besides the ones he and the others were making. Every monster-hunting instinct he had was on high alert. He wasn't going to become one of the nameless people who disappeared into this jungle, never to be seen again.

[sugarforteatime]

L was distracted momentarily by Luffy's monkey like behavior and although he was tempted to demand that the boy get back down right this instant he decided it wasn't going to be worth it.

He turned to at least make sure that the boy wasn't getting into any trouble, and that's when he caught a look at -- himself. For a moment he was actually legitimately afraid, and his usual completely cool and cold demeanor cracked for a moment. His eyes grew wider and he took a half step back.

After a moment he realized that it couldn't have been him the resemblance was too perfect. Another moment and he realized exactly who it was. "The trick is unnecessary, Oingo."

Unfortunately, the whole incident left him mostly unaware of his surroundings. He had attracted the attention of some strange plant that was stretching towards him with strange jaw-like leaves.

[findmyownway]

Tails had also been watching Luffy, who seemed to be having fun up there in the tree, but then he heard Ryuuzaki say something to Oingo and looked over at them curiously. Two Ryuuzaki's? How did he do that?

But wait a second. What was that behind one of them!

"Ah! Mr. Ryuuzaki!" Tails shouted, not really caring which one was the real one as he jumped back and pointing behind one of them.

[d_luffymonkey]

He was about to respond to Ichigo when the boy then noticed what was going on - two L's and... "Ryuzakikiki!" Luffy exclaimed, truly frightened for the safety of L. Shounen instincts kicking up, the powder monkey immediately acted on it as he drew his arm back, a serious look unlike anything crossing his usually carefree expression.

"Gomu Gomu Rocket!" the boy exclaimed before lashing his rubber arm forward, the appendage flying viciously fast and slamming right into its target - the underjaw of the plant that was about to (possibly) eat L up. There was a huge sound, and the force of the punch sent the head of the plant flying off, sap sprouting off from the end. The stalk itself trashed for a few moments before calming down entirely.

Luffy drew back his arm, wringing it as he looked down at his team mates. "Are you all alright?" he exclaimed from his vantage point above.

[sugarforteatime]

L stared up at Luffy for a moment, and then turned back to the 'decapitated' plant. He wasn't entirely sure if that was a close call or just some random jungle strangeness, but he's inclined to give Luffy the benefit of the doubt.

"I am alright." He wasn't really, his heart was racing in his chest and his ears from Oingo, from the plant, from this whole jungle. "Thank you." It seemed like almost everyone in his group had some strange demihuman power. It was a little disconcerting.

He got back on his feet and went over to examine the plant's neck region. The leaves shifted towards him, almost as though they intended to grab him as well. He stepped back again.

"We will need to stay more alert." The warning was mostly directed at himself, but it went for everyone else as well. "It seems that beyond dangerous animals there may be many dangerous plants as well."

[d_luffymonkey]

Luffy grinned at L's response, beaming like the simple-minded child he was once again. "Good to see you're alright, Ryuzakikiki~!" Now that the heat of the moment was gone, it seemed that Luffy was once again back to his usual goody self. The boy looked around him to check if there was any similar plant on the trees - best to be prepared after all! Though at least it seemed that no overgrown Venus fly traps were around to devour him anytime soon. That was a comfort at least - though the boy did wonder if he could even be chewed, being all rubber and all...

And then Luffy turned back to the two L's again (the comment about being safe totally going through one ear and out of the other), blinking in confusion. "Hey, Ryuzakikiki...s," he started with uncertainty as he craned forward a little to study the two closer. "Why are there two of you so suddenly?" That was strange - Luffy was certain there had been only one L earlier. It was all so very odd.

[flight_15]

Ichigo replaced the sword on his shoulder - he'd lunged at the plant himself, but Luffy had been quicker. "Huh. Nice shot, Straw-hat." He looked at the plant. Definitely something else to watch out for.

....wait a minute, what did he mean, two Ryuzaki - !!! "What the hell? He stared, looking from one to the other. "What's going on? And where's that other guy?"

[whoiwant2b2day]

Of course, Oingo couldn't help himself at this point. A giant carnivorous plant was certainly threatening, but Oingo here had grown up in the badlands and wasn't nearly as shocked as he should be. Oh, but give that time.

Anyways, as the "second ryuzaki" turned to address Ichigo's statement, the pilot was faced with...himself.

"I think the plant got him."

[sugarforteatime]

L was immediately impressed by Oingo's ability. The sheer number of possibilities for crime perpetuating and crime solving were just staggering. Of course, this was going to cause any number of problems for the crew.

His mind was already working through the dozens of safety protocols that they would need to put in place to make sure that no one was able to mimic a senior officer.

"I think we will have to live with two Ichigos instead, then." He was interested in making sure they could keep moving at least. "The mimicry is uncanny."

[flight_15]

Ichigo's jaw hit the dirt. Or rather, the miscellaneous-plant-matter-in-varying-states-of-decay. "W-w-what the heck did you just do?" he demanded, pointing a finger at Oingo, pretty damn unsettled by the sudden appearance of a double. If his brain had been working straight, he'd have put two and two together. However, his brain was occupied at the moment reacting to HOLYSHITANOTHERME. "What just happened?" he demanded. He knew the plant hadn't gotten the other, but he hadn't seen him in a minute or so....