[PM] [1st/8th/11th/12th] Week 199: This Is Supposed To Be A Scouting Mission

[Eidolon]

Time passes in the lonely lands, little to be seen or felt as the vanguard of the Gotei's best presses through their mission. On the horizon, only rolling dunes mark the landscape, bereft of life or death. Until . . .

For those with vision unlike that of a normal being, an anomaly came into sight. Of all things to find in Hueco Mundo, it was a tree. Truly it was not a thing of life with green leaves and bark, but instead a twisted, thin spire of quartz or a similar crystal that was merely a grim mockery of such beauty. Sitting by this tree was a beast, in some ways like the other, and in many ways not. It was bipedal, though it used a thin tail to stabilize its awkward stance. The body held a shade of sky blue to it, and its head was crowned with a broad and thick mask of pearly white. But what stood out most about this monster was its spherical, bulbous eyes that seemed to be made of . . . glass?

And what was worse, the beast was talking. Lips moved to form unheard words, but to whom, or what, remained a mystery.

[203/629]

 

[Nekomata]

A flash of reflected light, a patch of sky blue. Ilsa frowned and held up a hand. “I see something. Stop for a moment, please.” Once the group had come to a halt, she focused her attention on what Washi no Ome was showing her. “A crystal tree, and... is that a blue Hollow? Watch my back, I’m going to get a closer look.”

With that, the world around her faded away, replaced with the eagle-eyed vision of the glowing construct hovering above the scouting party. Anger bloomed within her as she narrowed her field of vision onto the tree. Ilsa’s inner world was a crystalline forest, sparkling under a cloudless sky where the sun always sat at high noon. This twisted thing was a mockery of that peaceful, beautiful place.

Calm yourself, fledgling. You have a duty to perform here. Hinometori’s chiming voice echoed Ilsa’s anger, but the spirit was obviously holding his emotions in check. Rather like his shinigami should be doing.

Ilsa took a deep breath. You’re right. Thank you. She forced thoughts of her inner world into a corner of her mind, concentrating on what was before her. “This certainly looks like a Hollow. Sky blue hide, and it’s sitting under the crystal tree. Its mask has a pearly sheen to it, though, and it has big eyes that look like glass.” Her lips twisted in a thin smile. “Sort of like mine are right now, but its eyes are smooth rather than faceted. This Hollow walks on two legs with a long tail.” She paused. “And it looks like it’s... talking. I can’t see who or what it might be talking to, though.

“Has anyone ever heard of a Hollow that looks or behaves like this?”

291/1718​

Sorry about the late turn, folks. RL rears its ugly head once more.

 

[switch5]

Amaya turned to face the Vice Captain, confusion written across her face.

“Never, I've never so much as heard of a hollow acting this way... or a crystal tree in Hueco Mundo. This could very well be why we're here.”

She then looked to the group expectantly to see if anyone else had anything to add.

[57/906]

 

[Inks]

BLARGH

fjsdfhsdgsd fsefsg I am SO super sorry I'm only getting into PM's JUST NOW guys; I was on vacation visiting my mom in Florida -- ya know, getting a tan (burn), finding fun wildlife (terrifying spiders in my bedroom), trying new things (hacking up sea water). BUT SERIOUSLY, it was fun, the layover on my ride home was like a horrible time trial BUT I MADE IT, and now I am back.

OR AM I.

But okay ANYWAY, sorry for being an absentee, thanks to the bros who wrote Mitsu's PTSDing ass in for me, and now I am here. <3



PS - PLEASE GOD just ignore this post, it is 600 words of Mitsu having Issues-with-a-capital-I. [strike]Unless you want to write your character punching him in the kidneys. That might be cool.[/strike]

Mitsuyo didn’t realize just how much he’d panicked until everything was over. And even after that he could barely hear the words being spoken, the orders being made, the information he needed to be listening to over the buzzing in his ears. He stared out over the vast expanse of white, white sand, the desert that was Hueco Mundo, and tried to remember how to breathe with lungs that felt crushed in an invisible fist. How to stand on legs made of rubber. And how to pay attention to Ilsa -- Maruyama-san -- the Vice-Captain -- while every fiber of his being was still frozen in place.

He wasn’t sure what had caused it --

No, that was a fucking lie.

The moment he’d heard the order -- a sharp, "Mineto, cover me,” that came from the lips of the tall, blonde woman at his side -- his mouth had gone dry. And the moment he’d seen the sand plume, his thoughts had ground to a halt.

There...wasn’t a word for it. Fear, panic, dread, terror -- none strong enough to describe the way his muscles had locked up, his heart had skipped a beat, his senses had gone numb. And then --

And then...

It had felt like he was back in that park again, with Kyuto’s bloody, broken form collapsed in the grass next to his own; knowing that this was his fault, that she might be dead because of him.

It had felt like he was back in that bank again, with blood on his hands and an enemy -- a woman, pink-haired and fierce -- who had been taunting him just a moment ago now dying in his arms; knowing that he had done this. Him. He had killed her.

He had killed her.

And while everyone else had mobilized around him, all the redhead could do was watch. Watch his allies, cold, icy fear burning through his veins, positive that they were going to die, they were going to die here in this stupid fucking wasteland and he was going to watch it happen and it would be his fault and there was nothing he was going to do about it except stand there and watch it happen.

He’d been so sure. So positive. It had felt fucking predetermined.

They hadn’t died, though. None of them. The hollow had been destroyed (easily, in fact...so, so easily). They were...they were fine, and he was fine, and yet here he was, hands still balled into shaking, sweaty fists while he tried to make sense of it.

Fuck.

Fuck, fuck, what the fuck was he doing?

Fear ebbed back, slowly, and awareness returned in bits and pieces.

Staring at the spot in the sand where the hollow had been cut down, Mitsuyo reached up and swept clammy fingers through his hair -- too long, and a fucking mess besides.

It was a miracle that he’d gone this long without getting called out (Kyu had saved his ass by dragging him to their meeting when he hadn’t shown up himself, had saved his ass again by making sure they were assigned to the same team, and yet he still hadn’t managed to say more than two words to her since the bank incident), and he wasn’t a fucking idiot. Unless he shaped the fuck up, it would only be a matter of time until he got himself or someone else killed all to shit because of his...his...whatever the fuck this was.

And that was almost as terrifying as the idea that what had just happened to him could happen again.

Ilsa was talking, again. Talking about a talking hollow.

Terrific.

Mitsu swallowed, swallowed again, then turned to find Kyuto -- a comforting, familiar spiritual signature in this shitty black and white world.

He felt vaguely, distantly, like he was going to be sick.

[646 /646]
​

 

[Shadowthread]

Shizuka had barely recovered from the exhaustion that her spell had caused when the vice-captain caught another hollow, near a crystal tree. This particular hollow was talking to something or someone, apparently. The female spell-sword had not encountered that many talking hollows, but the ones she had had been particularly strong. The crystal tree was suspicious, as she looked around her eyes caught only on sand, sand and more sand, with the occasional dunes here and there.


She took her stance, being cautious for anything that might happen.




[88/558]

 

[swaswj]

"Every hollow is different, you know?" Kyu spoke up. "Maybe the tree's a hollow, too, and they're chatting with each other. But really, does it matter?"

The brunette was frowning in Mitsuyo's direction, but she turned to look directly at Ilsa. "I mean, we're not here on a hollow hunt, right? We've got a fifty klick patch of wasteland to search." Kyu whipped out her short zanpakuto again, holding it up in the moonlight. There was a confident look in her eyes, although without her typical grin. "I say, if the hollows come to us, we wipe them out, just like that first one! We have enough firepower here to handle an army, but what if we have to fight an army?"

She was afraid of putting Mitsu through more stress than necessary. Also, most of the group was made up of casters -- they couldn't hold out for the long haul in the same way that the fighters could. Mitsu, though... She'd like to have believed that he was conserving his strength, but she knew better. He was freaking out, and she still didn't know why.

That was the part that was pissing her off. If he couldn't tell her, then who could he tell?

She looked at his terrified green eyes, thinking of how they usually looked: cynical, uncertain, but with a hint of hesitant smile behind them. Now there was nothing but shame and fear. Abruptly, Kyu stomped over toward Mitsu. Without a word of explanation, she lifted up her fist, still wrapped around the hilt of her sword, and punched him straight in the jaw! She could feel the satisfying crack, hear the stunned gasps from their teammates...

Except she wouldn't actually do that. She doubted it would do anything except push Mitsu further away... and break his jaw. Kyu would bet money that the boy had a glass jaw.

Sighing, she looked at Ilsa again and tilted her head. "I mean, it makes sense, right? There's tons of wasteland -- let's just avoid the unnecessary fights, wipe out the necessary ones, and that way we can get home sooner than later."

[356/963]

 

[Albinocur]

"A tree hollow? That would be a new one on me." All of the hollows Zak had encountered had either been humanoid or bestial. While he supposed he couldn't discount the idea of a hollow in the shape of a plant, it seemed somewhat bizarre. It seemed more likely to bin it was going to be some giant hollow where the tree was actually an eyelash or something of that nature. He looked over at Kyu, "While it is important to avoid these unneeded fights, we don't know what it may be. Our directive is to find these reiatsu anomalies and look for anything odd that might well be generating them. We need to get at least close enough to the tree to be sure.

And if the hollow's eyes are glazed it may well be in a trance and not notice us anyway, or it might already be well to aware of us. Either way, we gain nothing by avoiding it, indeed we may well miss something critical."

[1217]

 

[Cad]

The tall, ominous reaper was grabbed by the unfamiliar sensation that came from the distance. As the group realized what they were looking at and spoke about what to do, Kurohashi felt something that seemed to pull at his very soul from without. The anomaly that stood at the horizon was tantalizing the walker’s senses – teasing at his hunger for battle. His hands wrought around the hilt of his blade so firmly that one would almost expect to see blood seep from the cracks between his fingers and for his zanpakutou to cry out for mercy. He had no idea what they had been looking for but this diamond in the rough was almost too tempting to turn away from.

The shaded man suddenly felt all sensation fade in and out. His feet began to slowly step toward the hollow and the feeling of control over his body went in waves. His posture straightened and as the silent reaper broke formation, he began to tingle with bloodlust.


167/936

 

[Albinocur]

Zak didn't miss the raven headed shinigami breaking rank and walking in the direction of the blue hollow and the crystalline tree. 'Well that's great. People Zombieing out.' "Hey, hey. Get back in formation!" Zak ordered him and broke formation himself in pursuit of him.

[1262]

 

[Nekomata]

Ilsa nodded to Kyuto, part of her attention still on the strange tree and the even stranger Hollow. "That’s true, but I think we should-” She broke off and turned to face the resident Third Division member as he began moving away. "Where do you think you’re going, Kurohashi?” The statuesque vice-captain’s voice was deceptively mild, her crystal eyes unreadable.

60/1778​

Note

Sorry for the wait, folks. I was hoping some of our shyer players would post given time (hint hint, you know who you are!).

 

[Eidolon]

"Its True, but thEy went ouT of fasHion So lonG ago. WhY noW?" The creature shook its seemingly alien head slowly back and forth, orb-like eyes unblinking.

...

"FeDoRas toO. No oNe shoUld weaR thaT."

...

"YoU ThInk So?"

...

It was here that the conversation paused, the beast standing near the quartz-like tree cocking its head slightly towards the right, where the group of shinigami stood. A pupil, looking as if it were carved into the odd material that was the beast's eyes, slid around and focused on the small band for a moment, just as the silent member of the 3rd broke rank. Those with significant experience in combat, or simply a highly refined sensitivity to reiatsu or the human spirit, are able to feel one's murderous intent. Some can even discern this sensation from a great distance away, especially when it is focused on themselves. Such was the sudden explosive malevolence returned back towards the group as the beast focused upon them. The heavy air of Hueco Mundo held a acrid taste, like the sensation of blood.

But just as swiftly, that tension and feeling vanished, the beast turning its attention once more back to the inanimate object.

...

"NO. iT waS noTHing. JusT thougHt i sAw soMeOne iN a fEdoRa."

[214/843]

 

[Shadowthread]

The actions of the two shinigami that broke the formation surprised her. What on earth are they doing? She thought, keeping Hangyaku in hand. ”Hey you get back to the formation!” the black-haired shinigami shouted at her partner in the formation.


But she still stood at her place, making sure that nobody would surprise them from there. Now that her thoughts scattered, those two shinigami were heading directly towards the crystalline tree.





[72/630]

 

[Cad]

The silent reaper headed for the peculiar hollow's spiritual pressure, his legs carrying him faster and faster. His battered zanpakutou began to rise through the air, steadily lifting to a striking position. The words of his comrades fell on deaf ears as the bullish warrior headed for his prey. As the Death God grew near, the bulbous-eyed demon suddenly turned and stared directly in Kurohashi's direction. The walker felt the change in energy and suddenly stopped, kicking up a small cloud of sand at his feet. In that same moment, the demon’s glassy orbitals peered into the distance at the man and the two seemed to hold steady for an eternity.

Kurohashi’s bloodlust was suddenly faltered, draining into unfamiliar timidity. As the azure beast turned its’ attention away though, the man's spirit for battle filled his presence again. Unsure and ignorant of what may have just happened, the broodish warrior lifted his blade again and burst into a sprint for the source of the dark reiatsu.

166/1102

 

[Nekomata]

Through the eyes of her bird construct, Ilsa saw the Hollow turn and look in the party’s direction. Even with its mask and crystal eyes, she felt the raw malice in its gaze. The sensation poured over her like heat from an open oven. The tall woman shuddered, clutching her zanpakutou tight enough to turn her knuckles white.

This was probably their anomaly. Just as she tore her inner eye away from the Hollow, the resident Third Division member took off toward the Hollow again, zanpakutou drawn and obviously ready to fight. “What the- get back here, Kurohashi!” Ilsa ran after the other shinigami, cursing the soft sand. Her speed had never been much to write home about, and this was her first time trying to run in sand.

Fortunately, an arcanist always had other options. The vice-captain raised her left hand in a loose fist as she ran, much as she had done earlier to bind the Hollow. “Futatsu!” A glowing violet rope materialized in her hand. Ilsa flicked the rope at Kurohashi’s legs, trying to pull him down like an American cowgirl with an unruly calf.

188/1966​

Ilsa's Futatsu

Hainawa (Crawling Rope) - Bakudou #4, 25 Kidou

Description: A rope of kidou energy extends up to 10 feet from the user's hand, wrapping around the opponent's limbs or body.

How do you cast kidou while running?

Be an arcanist with this division tech!

[ Clearcasting ]
In order to use kidou in open battle, it is necessary to maintain focus in combat. Training in Clearcasting helps to avoid distraction without blocking out what's going on around the caster. To augment the user's natural concentration, a small incantation is written in a rigid hexagon around the center point of the Signature. As such, it is extremely difficult for an enemy to interrupt an incantation, even if the shinigami is forced to move or to pause their recitation. This increased concentration improves the user's ability cast without the incantation, allowing the user to focus more power even without audible words.

A bypassed incantation retains 75% of its normal effectiveness.

 

[Cad]

The charging reaper barely heard the muffled cry, sounding as if he was submerged in water and someone was yelling from above. Still overcome with the urge for battle, the man’s legs were suddenly entangled by the suppressive kidou energy and the lanky warrior began to stumble. Before the rope of energy could completely constrict his legs, Kurohashi threw his blade into the sands below and anchored himself to the dragging blade. Within only a moment’s time from its appearance around his legs, the demon magic tightened and pulled him to the ground, his torso still held up by sheer force.

The walker’s senses faded back into his control as his peripheral vision blurred and his hearing returned to normal. The rush of adrenal energy had faded and the grounded warrior looked over to the girl who had cast the spell, waiting for her reaction.

145/1247

 

[Nekomata]

The vice-captain of the First strode toward the downed warrior, still holding the rope of violet energy she had used to stop him. Her crystalline eyes were unreadable, but fury was etched into every line of her face. "Are you a trained shinigami or a hotheaded civilian, Kurohashi? Because right now it’s looking a lot like the latter.” Must not yell. Must not yell. Curse it all, I knew I should have kept this one on a short leash!

"You are here as part of a team. I will explain that concept, since it seems to be one which is completely alien to you.” Each word snapped out with icy precision. "When you are part of a team, you work with the other people involved. You take them into consideration before you act. And most importantly, you value their lives.” Ilsa stared down at him, unblinking. "You may not value your life or the lives of your comrades, Kurohashi, but I do.” The glowing rope dissolved into violet sparks. "The next time I catch you pulling a stunt like this, I’ll call for a Senkaimon and throw you through it. We cannot afford this kind of behavior. Now get up and get back into formation.”

Still watching Kurohashi, Ilsa raised her voice, pitching it for everyone else to hear. "This crystal tree may very well be our anomaly. Let’s go, people.” She pointed in the direction of the tree... and that unsettling wave of hatred.

245/2211​

 

[Albinocur]

Zak caught up a little late, the sand had been pooling around his ankles and apparently slowed him down. The spell rope had dissolved and the vice-captain had thoroughly chewed out the line breaker. The Templar stood over the man he perused and Zak wasted no time in grabbing the man by his collar and hauling him to his feet. He didn't say anything as he did so, Ilsa had said enough to get any points across. Anything that passed Zakeriah's lips would have been redundant. You do not break the line in a battle situation, no matter how much you want to if doing doing so could potentially endanger your allies. The third of the Templar's locked eyes with the taller Kurohashi and stared death at him. "Get back in line soldier." Zak growled and shoved him toward the others who were advancing on their position at the Vice's orders.

Zak nodded toward the Vice but did not return to his place in the group again, he had already figured this strange tree had something to do with their anomaly but now he was more curious than ever to discover just what in the world it was. He looked up in the direction he had shoved the indignant shinigami only to find he had shoved him toward no one. There was only Kurohashi and Kyu standing there...

[1490]

 

[Code of the Noble]

Seitaro looked to the man known as Kurohashi and shook his head in disgust. Two morons in one day. Sometimes I think people that act in this manner should be sent back to the academy for another six years or so. Perhaps then people would get the message of team oriented missions and tasks...

The inked man headed for the destination in which he was ordered to without so much as a sigh to add to the amazon's words.

[503]

 

[swaswj]

Staring incredulously at the antics ahead of her, Kyu sighed. This was not going to be a quick mission... not unless something changed dramatically. Crystal tree or not, she didn't think it had anything to do with why they were there... and if they wanted to stop for every single hollow that might possibly be in this stupid sunless wasteland, they were going to be there forever!

While Ilsa had her little scuffle with Kurohashi, Kyu looked around at the others, settling on Mitsu. A shiver of adolescent fear rolled down her spine as a sudden impulse struck her. Bouncing through the soft sand toward the boy, the youthful officer suddenly found herself leaning down face to face with him. Grabbing his chin, she turned his face toward her.

Surprised, Mitsu's green eyes stared back worriedly at her. Their faces were only inches apart; close enough to... Shaking her head to clear that thought away, Kyu whispered seriously, "Mi-kun... I swear I'll protect you. For real. I will bring you back home, alive." She could feel his startled breaths against her face. "If I do that, though... you have to protect everyone else, too! Yuu-chan, especially. Fight and defend with everything you've got! You're stronger than you think!" Kyu grinned, snatching Mitsu's hand. She wrapped her pinky around his and held them up. "See? It's a promise!"

Mitsu opened his mouth to say something. Maybe to agree, maybe to argue. He might have even been about to say 'good luck' or 'I couldn't hear you, the wind was blowing too hard!' There really was no way to tell.

As soon as his lips parted, Kyu leaned forward -- smushing her nose awkwardly against his -- and pressed her lips against Mitsu's.

Eyes widening fearfully, face scarlet, Kyu turned and ran toward Ilsa, toward the hollow, away from the embarrassing scene.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid..! What the hell was she thinking? Why did she do that? It was the dumbest, most awkward, sandy-tasting, amateur kiss ever! That wasn't what she meant to do! It wasn't how she wanted the first time to be... she still wasn't a hundred percent sure if that was who she wanted her first time to be with!

Rushing up next to Ilsa and the others, Kyu slid to a stop, sending up a small cloud of white sand. "Ilsa..." she started queasily, before shutting up, realizing there were more important things. Breathing harder than the brief run justified, she looked up at the towering woman, then looked back at Mitsuyo.

Only he wasn't there. None of them were.

Nothing was there except endless white sand.

[441/1404]

Note

Get in your final posts. This thread is going to be breaking into two new threads.

 

[Cad]

The deeply shaded eyes of the reaper peered through the headwrap that kept his face hidden. The deathly gaze was aimed at the curly-haired figure that thought it would be a good idea to put his hands on the walker. The ominous God of Death had little to no personal interaction since joining the Gotei, as he spent nearly every moment seeking and destroying hollows. The young girl’s kidou had simply served as a humbling reminder to control his primal instincts but now that the towering figure was being confronted, even in passing, that same hunger for blood was surprisingly strong.

Kurohashi wasted no time wrenching his blade from the sands and raising it overhead, ready to slice down into the trying man. His eyes briefly flicking to the distance, the reaper suddenly halted what might have been his first drawing of blood with another shinigami. His sword lowered slowly and the lurking figure lowered his head to the side, his eyes scanning the surrounding horizon. Looking behind and forward again, the shaded man realized that he and the small group around him were now standing alone in the vast desert.

Somehow, the rest of the pack had vanished into thin air.

202/1449