hollower | ☠ 5th Haunt ☠

[Locked to Mihawk

It's early morning - around nine o'clock, maybe ten - when Perona wakes up. She's cold, and she's wet, and she's in some weird little white dress and most definitely not in her room, or her comfy bed with all her stuffed animals and blankets and pillow. No, she's not where she should be at all! Sitting up, the Ghost Princess, now a truly little princess of just five years old, she looks around with wide eyes, confused and a little apprehensive. Where is she? Where's her mommy? Where's her house?!]

Mom...mommy? Mommy! Where are you?! [She stands up, shivering, and begins to sniffle and rub her nose, to warm it up. Why's it so cold? It shouldn't be the season for all this snow!] I'm cold! I don't like this! Where's my bed, and my clothes, and all my dollies?! I want my crown! And my--

[What was that? Perona knows that grunty, growly sound! Her face splits into a wide and happy smile as she perks right up, scuttling toward the sound. It sounds like him! He has to be him! Maybe her darling pet followed her to this place!] Bearsy! [Or, well, a bear. A very large brown bear is lumbering through the forest the small child was in, probably back to its burrow for more sleep. Sadly, Perona is used to her tame, adorable little pet bear, not the wild, ferocious, dangerous kind. And she follows quickly with a giggle.] Bearsy! Bearsy, come here! Let me ride on you! Where's your hat? Did you lose it, too? Weeh, stay still!

[The bear listens, only because its finally caught the little girl's scent, and obviously heard her voice, but it turns to face her with a snarl, and a soft roar. Perona skids to a halt, blinking her wide eyes again. What's...going on? Why is her pet growling at her like that? Ah--oh...o-oh. Maybe it's not her pet. Oh, dear.

The color in her face drains and Perona takes a step back for each step forward the large animal takes. Its breath is practically reaching her face that's how close it is, and there's thick and drippy slobber forming along its teeth and jaws. It...i-it can't be planning on eating her, can it?! No. No, no, no! She's not a good snack! Stupid bear! It's not cute at all!]

Go...g-go away! Go away!

[Trying to be brave doesn't exactly work when you're tiny and edible, and when your opponent is sizing you up for an early spring snack, and just within gobbling distance. The bear grunts, then roars loud, pushing up so it can stand on its hind legs and loom above the small child. As it rears back one arm, claws ready, the little girl screeches, covering her head and squeezing her eyes tightly shut. No, no, no, no...!]

[Open to All | Action

It's noon now. Perona's been taken back with the big, scary-looking man with the black sword - his home, she assumes. She hasn't done much around the place, just wander around looking at everything and trying to stay away from and observe the big, scary-looking man at the same time. It was really hard, though...he always seemed like he knew when she was there. Maybe that's why his eyes were all funny? Maybe he was magic or something. Perona was almost certain he may be a vampire, like in her awesome picture books, but he did walk out in the day-time...so that can't be right. But maybe, if he was magic, he could do that! She's gotta find out sometime.

But first, she's gotta explore the place outside. It's awfully boring being stuck inside, once she's calmed down, and there are no toys or storybooks or cute animals, or even crayons and paper to draw with! And there were no snacks, either! She was hungry and all that there was were bottles of that icky sour grape juice. And she couldn't reach the other shelves.

So! Using all the stealth a five year old skilled at hide-and-seek has mastered, Perona sneaks right out of Mihawk's apartment and bounces down every flight of stairs until she reaches the outside and begins to wander down the path, past houses, benches, trees... She doesn't go too far, and makes sure to keep the second community housing building in her sights, but passers-by are welcome to find the small child rolling a snowball in a big circle to make a snowman by the bridge near the plaza.]

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[OOC: Hello, people! Perona's been returned from her mallynap ~~finally~~ as an adorable little girl - five years old. This means two things, first and foremost. First, perona is a normal little girl, meaning she has not yet consumed the Horo Horo no Mi from her canon and gained its power. Nor has she joined Moria's crew or even knows much of anything at all about him. Second, replies will come from

tinyhollow so yes. ♥]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, hello there! [Vivi bends over to greet the child, whom she hasn't recognized as Perona yet--having just seen her from behind so far as she rolls her snowball. Given new people have been arriving, her first thought is that this is a new feather, and though the child seems unperturbed, it can't hurt to check and make sure she's being taken care of.]

[Carue is out with the princess as well, and the duck comes even closer, making friendly little quacking sounds as he approaches.]

[Peeking over her shoulder, Perona spies Carue first, and after a little gasp - because whoaaa is that ducky big! - she wheels around and putters right on up to him. A duck is very unlike a big ol' scary bear and they eat worms and stuff, so she can pet and touch it. Yep. Already she's zipping around his large legs and hopping up and down around him and touching his feathery hide and wings.]

Ducky, ducky! Is it yours? Why's it so big?! Can you ride it? I wanna turn!

[Oh, there's something about those wide, bright eyes that's more than a little familiar. Still, Vivi can't help but giggle good-naturedly at the deluge of questions, even as a sinking feeling grows as to the true identity of this pink-haired child.]

He's a spot-billed duck. They're built for riding, so he won't mind if you'd like to try it. His name is Carue. My name is Vivi.

[Vivi offer her hands to the child, meaning to boost her up into Carue's saddle if she accepts. And it's best to just confirm this right away...] What's your name?

[Perona knows that motion very well, and beams the moment she sees it, heading from Carue to Vivi with arms lifted up herself. Up, up! Yes, she wants to ride, so pick her up already! Once she's up and on the cute ducky, wiggling and laughing Carue's name in the saddle, does Perona finally answer Vivi's question.]

Perona! How do you make him go? Go fast, Ca-roo!

[Y.E.P. Just as she'd thought.]

[To her credit, Vivi manages to keep her smile in place after hearing Perona's name, lifting her slight form easily into Carue's saddle. She places a steadying hand on Carue's side as the girl squirms and bounces a little in the saddle.]

Scoot up a little, and I'll take you for a ride. [Vivi steps into a stirrup and throws her leg over Carue's back. Once seated, she takes a moment to adjust her position in the saddle so Perona is nestled safely in front of her. She gives his reins a small flick, keeping him to a walk for now.]

[Now what? This sort of thing has happened before to Vivi's nakama, but with Perona, things are different. She can't just take her back to the Strawhat's house...can she? She isn't completely sure, but she thinks Perona lives alone normally.]

[Obeying after a brief gasp and a coo of delight, Perona moves so Vivi could get on with her. By now, she's just about ready to burst with excitement and joy, her giggles emerging every second as her feet swing and kick from left to right. Oooh, she's so excited! She's going for a ride on the cute ducky! This is going to be so much fun, and already she feels so high up on his back!]

Does he go fast?! Really really fast?!

[It's just a walk for now, but she still squeaks and bounces as he goes, lifting her hands and waving them about before gripping onto the saddle after a second or two. Oh gosh, oh gosh, this is fun. So much fun! Aaah, she's so glad she snuck out, now! It was so boring inside that room with the big, scary looking man. She likes this lady and her ducky so much better!]

Where are we going? Can we go all around? I wanna see this island...a-and the ocean! I wanna go to the ocean, is it really far away?!

[Vivi can't help but smile at Perona's enthusiasm, and Carue seems pretty happy with the attention himself. She moves him in a walk toward the clothing shop.] We can go to the ocean, but first we'll get you a warmer coat, all right? The wind makes it pretty cold there this time of year.

Do you have to ask permission from anyone first before we go? [That seems the best way to find out if anyone's watching over Perona already.]

Okay! [Oh, she gets a ride on a cute animal, a trip to the ocean, and some new clothes, too?! This is turning out to be a really, really good day! Or...well, it was until Vivi reminded Perona that she had to get permission to go anywhere from the big, scary-looking man that was taking care of her in place of her family.]

Mmmnn... [She pouts, puffing out her lower lip and shrinking down into her her scarf and coat.] Yeah...I gotta ask the big, scary-looking man. C-Can you come with me?

[So she doesn't get in trouble for sneaking out in the first place.]

[Big, scary-looking man? Vivi thinks she knows who Perona is talking about, but just to be sure...]

Does he have a beard like this-- [she traces the shape on her own face] --and really piercing eyes? Maybe a big sword?

[The imitation breaks any and all of Perona's reservations, and she quickly bursts into laughter, pointing at Vivi's face. Omigosh, it's just like that, too!]

He does, he does! Just like that! His eyes are scary sometimes...but he saved me from getting eaten by the meanie-bear with his big sword by cutting it up...even if that was icky and scary, too. Oh! And he's taking care of me until I find my way home, so I don't think he's bad, just realllly big and scary-looking. [APPROVING NOD.] ...But I sneaked out without telling because he's not very fun and doesn't play with me.

[Definitely Mihawk, then. Well, in that case, Vivi's in no rush to return Perona, and she's not particularly inclined to check in with him before they go, either. After what he pulled with Zoro when he was a child, she doubts he'll be overly worried if Perona's not around underfoot for a few hours.]

I thought so. In that case, it's all right. He won't mind. Don't worry, I'll talk to him later. [She smiles brightly, reining Carue in in front of the shop and dismounting.]

Hop down and let's get you a warmer coat!

[Hey, hey - Perona is a far better child that Zoro and has not bitten anyone yet, either. Regardless, she is in no hurry to go back home either, especially when she's having such a grand time with this nice lady and her awesomely adorable giant ducky who's also taking her to the ocean.

She huffs, then wriggles to get off, kicking her short legs frantically before just letting go and flopping off. Not quite so graceful - the ducky is a lot higher off the ground than Bearsy - but she does at least hit ground without falling on her butt.]

Let's go, let's go! I want something cute!

☠ 5th Haunt ☠ - [Action]

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