BENEATH SHADOWED BOUGHS

[abaxmods]

"Sleighbells ring, are you listening? In the lane snow is glistening... A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight, walking in a Winter Wonderland..."The eerie melody echoes through the quiet, snowy streets. A single line from a song so familiar to some, and yet there is no festive cheer that accompanies it. It whispers through the park, carries across

Comments

OPEN. Ichigo and Shiro attempt explosions

[holeheart]

Shiro and Ichigo didn't want to be anywhere near that stupid tree. It was dangerous, and had some seriously bad juju coming off of it. Indeed, the Hollow is burrowed into the coat he'd found, looking rather tense. His gaze is cast over the lake, towards the eerie ghost-tree. But that's why they were here, wasn't it?

Because the tree WAS dangerous, and Ichigo had some complex about protecting all the things. Of course they weren't here because Shiro was a destructive son of a bitch who wanted to destroy the stupid thing that had caused him so much pain. No, not at all.

Shiro grasps the tang of the blade hanging on his back, the cloth wrapping around the sword coming undone as if by magic. He looks past the hood of his coat at his orange-headed other.

"A good Getsuga or two should do it. And we should be able to reach it without getting on the ice."

Free fireworks show, courtesy of the Berry boys?

[savior_n_black]

Ichigo, though, wasn't so sure. Being even this close to the weird, leafless, glowing tree was making him feel more uncomfortable than he wanted to let on.
Still, he glared out across the ice at it, hand flexing around the hilt of Tensa Zangetsu as the snow drifted down quietly all around. He was already in Bankai for this - not taking chances - and his bankai haori was long enough that he could deal with the snow without resorting to the winter coat they'd scavenged for him recently.

"Either way, don't get any closer than this."

Ichigo didn't even want to create footing for himself out of ambient reishi, and "fly" closer than the shoreline. The familiar-yet-alien energy all around this place gave him the creeps.

Feel free to come ask them wtf they think they're doing.

[holeheart]

Shiro felt the same. His stomach was turned and he felt like he might puke his lunch of chips and cookies, right there. The Hollow decided not to use Bankai himself; no reason to use up energy they didn't have. He gives Ichigo a look, then returns his gaze to the tree.

"No goddamn complaint here. Even this is too fucking close. "

The Hollow hisses, letting out a puff of white steam in the cold air, and brings his white sword forward.

"We should hit it at the same time, cross-wise. No reason ta give it any chance!" The white blade sizzles with black and red flames.

"Getusga--!"

Yes plz X3

[savior_n_black]

They were standing with just enough distance between to make sure one, or the other's sword swings wouldn't be fouled by another blade, but both are aiming directly at that tree.
Drawing his solid black daito, the same black, and crimson "fire" ignites along the cutting edge.

"-- Tenshou!"

And with a swing of both swords, the arcs of black, and red energy release. Power, and speed catches them up to one another, and makes each of the crescent moon shaped attacks crisscross mid-path.

[Open] In which Mordin does science.

[salarian_savant]

This is the first he's seen of the park. Mordin's spent most of his time in his lab working on a new omni-tool and not paying attention to the network. He's only out now because he had needed the awkward looking not-made-for-a-salarian coat he's wearing. It's cold and he's not particularly fond of the feeling.

At this point, he's briefly inspected most of the park but he's really on his way to check out the tree, mumbling to himself as he goes. "Interesting flora. Only living tree in city. Must be a reason."

It's an odd feeling to look at the tree. Mordin is rarely subjected to the feeling of deja vu and it only spurs him to move closer.

[herewegoto]

"An odd day when 'it's pretty' isn't enough reason for a tree in the park."

Though fortunate maybe, in her case, since she'd arrived on the same day something of note had happened. What could she say? She was just born lucky. Or so she thought as she slipped out of the shadows to approach the doctor. Sans her normal outfit, Kasumi had made due with a black hoodie and some department store scavenged lip stick instead, becoming something of a discount price knock-off of herself in the process.

"But a much more interesting one."

[salarian_savant]

He glances over at her, surprised by the interruption and he thought salarians could be stealthy. "Aesthetics should not affect location. Appears mature. Cannot simply spring up. Must have been here. Accessibility of park planned by captors. For what purpose? Hm."

Don't mind him Kasumi, he's just going to keep meandering towards the tree. "Not fond of cold. Only staying long enough to take samples." Thankfully he has his omni-tool to help with that, just a little scraping and he can go back to the 'warmth' of his lab.

[herewegoto]

"Yes," Kasumi replied in her own moment of speaking to herself, "I was surprised to find myself here, too. If not by much. Nothing seems really impossible when keeping Shepard's company."

She smiled to herself, content in all that silly human personal chit-chat being addressed on her side, and uncalled for in Mordin's. Now back to business.

"Cold, but beautiful. Really nice light job next to the city. Softer. It makes me think of moths."

Ashley Williams | Inspecting the lake and tree | Open

[hatespolitics]

[Guess who is ignoring the warnings given out over the network and going to inspect this tree in person?

Hint: It's this galPart of this decision was born of a need to find out more about this insane city, and the other part was born out of sheer stubbornness. This place-- that tree-- it gave her chills, the type that crawled down her spine and filled her stomach with dread

[betrayer]

[Despite his earlier warning, Saren had every intention of getting to the bottom of Nihlus' situation. It had been - disturbing - to say the least, to stumble upon Nihlus in the dead state of mind he was currently lost in. A completely blank slate, and no more than an unintelligible puppet, really. It unsettled him. Nihlus held no memory of anything about himself, nor of him. Not his death, not his betrayal.

Saren despised it, somehow felt insulted on both his own and Nihlus' behalf.

Nihlus was not some sort of mindless husk, but he might as well have been with the way he carried himself now. Still, it would've been a cruelty to leave Nihlus on his own. He had intended to, but he felt a certain amount of responsibility still to Nihlus as his former mentor and...friend. He took Nihlus in to - what - care for him? Saren snorted. After all he'd done, he owed Nihlus this much

[hatespolitics]

[The ice was sturdy enough beneath her feet, but she still made careful steps, not wanting to slip. The tree was still far away, looming at the forefront in her vision, and every step closer seemed heavier.

Something kept screaming at her to turn around and walk away. But she couldn't. There was something-- something important--

Maybe it was a sixth sense, maybe it was a sound, but something makes her look over her shoulder. Immediately she sights the seven-foot something futuristic dinosaur coming towards her, and she stills, sliding into a defensive stance.] What are you doing here?

[betrayer]

The same as you, I presume.

[The defensive stance did not go unnoticed by Saren. Foolish human. Did she honestly think to have any sort of advantage over him, like this? It was fortunate for her that he saw no benefit nor reason in killing her. If he truly meant her hostile intent, her death would have come all too easily and swiftly.

But Saren ignored her instead of further confronting her, and stopped his approach once he reached near the tree. He did not move any closer than he thought necessary, but he sensed something...off.

Saren scanned the area again. Nihlus had lost his memory, here - it would be wise to stay on guard.]

Cheetara | not intending to visit tree | OPEN

[guardsthecrown]

Cheetara had little more clothing than usual to shield herself against the cold; just the dark-green, wool coat she'd taken from a shop, and a few extra strips of cloth wrapped about the balls of her otherwise bare feet. The coat she wore more for its color than out of need, which only coincidentally provided camouflage against the evergreens of the park. She had fur enough on her legs to keep them warm when she was still

That's two of them trying to avoid that tree. B|

[snowwhitesoul]

Rukia couldn't believe how many people insisted on seeing the tree up close, despite the warnings given about it. Despite how much she'd pleaded with Ichigo and Shiro to stay away there were on the opposite side of the lake somewhere, firing off Getsuga Tenshos at the tree.

Idiots.

Which is why Rukia is there, trying to circumvent the lake border while buffering herself with a layer of her own reiatsu as she shunpos along. To go stop her stupid, idiotic, hard headed, absolutely stubborn companions from hurting themselves, due to whatever malicious presence was in that tree. But coming out of the treeline, Rukia has to hit the shunpo breaks to keep from colliding into the Thundarian at break-neck speed.

Cue the huge divot of snow and a yelp as a tiny shinigami materializes out of high speed movement to nearly crash into the ice herself.

[guardsthecrown]

Cheetara had been watching the display of fireworks coming from the other side of the lake, the sort of reddish wheels being the latest addition. She was struck directly by the shower of kicked-up snow, and slid one foot onto the ice, and held her staff perpendicular to her body to keep her balance.

She felt someone was there, before she cleared snow from her fringe of hair to see Rukia. "Rukia?"

Cheetara mentally pieced together what had just happened. "Spirits do move quickly." This didn't bode well for her race with Shiro.

[snowwhitesoul]

Rukia's Kuchiki pride was more dented by her ungraceful landing than anything else. In her landing, she'd managed to crouch down and stay on her feet, but she'd definitely cut a path through the snow.

"Cheetara-san?" Shaking the snow from her own hair, Rukia rounds on the poor pedestrian she'd nearly crashed into. Her face flushes pink in embarrassment as she bows her head in apology. "My apologies, I didn't see you."

Then, standing up straight again, she glances at the tree and the presence that seems to dominate her whole spiritual sense, she gives Cheetara a confused look.

"What are you doing out here?"

Deuce | Tree/lake/shiny things | Open

[sixscars]

[After talking with everyone on her device, Deuce has finally decided to venture out and explore. She's seen enough of the main street. It's the park that calls to her.

The tree makes her wary, but she's curious. She's never seen anything like it before. She keeps her gaze on it...and feels the odd sensation like she's forgotten something. She doesn't remember leaving her hiding spot. Or why it was so important to look at the tree. But soon she's at the shore, right at the edge of the lake. She peers down at the glowing orbs and reaches out to touch them. Her hand hits the ice and she frowns at it.

She looks around in a panic. Something was wrong but she couldn't place it. If only Fade were here to explain what was going on.]

sorry for that! didn't know there weren't weapons around, oops..

[deathtrapped]

[He's made it out this far without detection, hasn't yet seen Katniss barreling out of the surrounding underbrush to drag him back. The truth is, Gale refuses to sit on his hands while everyone else leaves to investigate the park. And he doesn't need anyone's permission to do some reconnaissance work of his own.

Arming himself with their meager weapon supply of scalpels and knives had been easy; the walk itself was more arduous, if only because the bullet wounds in his side and leg are still sore and healing. He favors his left side as he makes the trek through tightly-knitted trees, unsettled by the quiet, the lack of animals. As a hunter, Gale's naturally attuned to those noises, and without them he can't help feeling disoriented.

Scalpel out in one hand (because unfortunately the militarized bow hadn't made the journey to Abax with him) and a larger knife tucked and hidden into the waist of his jeans, Gale stops a few paces from the edge of the shore, spotting someone. He doesn't try overly hard to hide his presence.]

\o np

[sixscars]

[She turns to see Gale, reassured by seeing someone else out here. The constant quiet unsettles her. She's always waiting for the surprise Freak attack. Even a few animals could tell her that things weren't so bleak as she feared. More and more people had been showing up but it didn't seem like they were from around here. She didn't know how it was possible. This place was confusing- and scary- to her.

She doesn't recognize him but he doesn't make her feel like she's forgetting something either. So she focuses her attention on him and away from the tree. A small sense of relief comes from that.] Have you ever seen anything like that before?

[deathtrapped]

No.

[He says it bluntly, the most honest answer he can give as he looks across the frozen face of the lake toward the tall white tree. It's unlike anything Gale's ever witnessed, almost...mystical and spiritual, something the country he knows completely lacks. Gale takes a few short steps closer to the girl by the shore, ignores the tug of something wrong at the back of his mind.]

But I don't trust it, either.