Phoenix Maplewood I keep lowering my head these days

asmodeus was not sure if this would garner for him what he wanted. kaori seemed oblivious to his posturing, but perhaps she had simply not seen him for himself. a plant found by himself, one she liked, might inspire more intrigue. and the pale serpent had time for it.

broad pale paw scraped idly at the icy snow upon the spreading naked branches of a birch. "something here," the man called, peering down at the tiny, pale green leaves of a brave early soul conquering the half-frozen earth around it.