☠ 5th Haunt ☠ - [Action]

[hollower]

[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. ♥]

Comments

action:

[charitylovehopefaith]

[Faith has a very set pattern. Sometimes it deviates a little, but she is a creature of habit. Therefore, she's just been to the bakery and has obtained a few items, neatly wrapped to help them keep warm and tucked into a basket.

But she can't ignore the little girl rolling a bit of snow. It makes her smile, and she approaches. She stops a slight ways off, not wanting to get too close. Children, like animals, can be spooked by too sudden an advance.]

Well, aren't you busy!

[It's fond. Very fond. She's fond of children, and one at play (especially in the snow) is a welcome sight.]

action:

[tinyhollow]

[Perona doesn't startle much, but she does perk right up at the voice, looking over her shoulder and bracing her snowball so it doesn't roll away. Oh, it's a lady! She was hoping for another child her age to play with - all she's seen around are adults and "big kids" - but any company is better than none at all. And she looks nice, too! Very unlike the big, scary-looking man, so that is a definite plus.]

Uh-huh! I'm making a snowman! A big, big one! [She holds her arms way up above her head. Thiiiiis big!] And...and he's gonna have ears and a nose! And he's gonna be really, really cute!

[THE CUTEST EVER.]

action:

[charitylovehopefaith]

Oh, that does sound wonderful!

[Faith smiles, leaning forward a little to be closer to the girl's height, even setting down her basket.]

What are you going to use for his ears?

[Action]

[justicereigns]

Making a snowfort?

[Action]

[tinyhollow]

[Jumping a little at the sudden voice - she thought she got caught! - the little girl wheels around and stares way...waaayyy up at the big guy. Whoaaa, he's just about as big as the big, scary-looking man that took her in! And he kinda looks scary, too. Blinking twice, Perona stares at her snowball, then back at Smoker, and shakes her head.]

No, I'm gonna make a cute snowman. A big one. With ears and a nose like a puppy!

[Action]

[justicereigns]

[He is taller than Mihawk and wider thank you very much.]

[Also... that is adorable and he can't take it. Have a grin as he bends down and rests a hand on her head.] Yeah? You want any help with that kiddo?

action;

[catus_carnival]

[Though Tao could be considered a stranger to snow, given that they never had such conditions in the Kaka Village back home, with the plate over their heads, from her experiences in Luceti, she learned that snow wasn't all too bad.

...And it made for good throwing practice when you rolled up the snow into balls. Too bad one of the snowballs she's throwing might be hitting bitty Perona right now...]

action; 1/2

[tinyhollow]

[PAFF!]

action; 2/2

[tinyhollow]

[Perona stumbles a little, then falls right on her rump in the wet, slippery snow. She sits there stunned for a minute, the snow dripping off her face, then very suddenly...

Her face screws up and she begins to cry.

Way to go, Tao. 8|]

action;

[catus_carnival]

[Her feline senses pick up on the crying noises.

Oh no...child...sad...child is sad?

SAD???

CRYING CHILD?!?!

Tao quickly pounces over there, as fast as she can, and when she's near enough, attempts to awkward pat her head with a paw.]

action;

[pumpkinmagic]

[Hey Perona, have a purple cat with this witch-like hat wondering around. Blair enjoys site seeing and little kids playing. Have a curious kitten walking up to you.]

action;

[tinyhollow]

[At first, Perona doesn't spot the cat, too focused in her own things, but once she senses movement out of the corner of her eye, the child pauses and turns... And is greeted by the best looking little animal ever forever (that isn't her pet bear from back home).

KYAAAH, JUST LOOK AT IT! It's purpley and cute and small and has a witch's hat on its head and ffff--!]

Kitty! Weeeh...you're so cute and pretty! Come here, let me pet you!

action;

[pumpkinmagic]

[Uh oh, curious kid alert! Hopefully this girl doesn't pull her tail. At least she was right, this cat is cute and pretty. Blair giggled and walked up to the tiny hollow girl.]

You can pet me all you like~ Be sure not to pull my tail, okay~?

[She gave a wink. Were talking cats normal for her? Oh well.]

[concasse]

[There is only one reason Sanji sees that pink hair against the backdrop of white and doesn't immediately come to the most logical conclusion (logical for Luceti, at any rate).

And that's because it's still New Feather season.

Meaning this kid could be any kid born under a star unfortunate enough to send her to Luceti, and it's the reason why Sanji makes a point to stop by, despite being on his way to work. Tardiness means little to nothing when he owns the restaurant in the first place. Besides, his people can handle the lunch rush without him]

Maaaah, building a snowman, little miss?

[tinyhollow]

[It seems Sanji's first instinct is actually correct this time around! Because no other pink-haired little girl in all of Luceti could possibly have as wide and round eyes as this one, when she finally glances over at the adult that just passed by. Oh my, but he's big! Really, really big! Thankfully, though, he's not quite as scary looking.

She opens her mouth to reply that no, she's actually going to make a snow puppy, thank you very much, but very quickly does a familiar laugh erupt from her mouth, instead of any sort of words. And just as quickly is the girl pointing to Sanji's face.]

It spins! Horohorohoro!!

[brokethefourthwall]

[Pinkie pops her head out from behind the Perona's snowman. She blinks at it, inspecting it.]

Y'know, it's not a bad start, but I think it needs to be taller.

[tinyhollow]

[Perona jumps back at the sudden, uh...thing that popped out from her snowman, uttering a squeaky little yelp, but then blinks and stares. Oh...oh my gosh. It's a little talking horse. And it's pink! Her eyes widen and shimmer with glee before Perona jumps up and down and approaches the little pink horse.]

WEEH, LOOK AT YOU! You talk, and you're fluffy and cute and pink! [Hurrying over now, yup, and putting her hands alll over Pinky, petting and touching her back and her tail and mane.] Horohoro, and you can talk! I wanna ride, I wanna ride!

[Bounce, bounce, bounce.]

[action]

[alabastajewel]

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.]

[action]

[tinyhollow]

[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!

action;

[breezing]

[ Ikki is one such passer-by - especially since she enjoys hanging out at the plaza when she can. It's a public area, so it's relatively "safe" (and is within the village boundaries, which she never leaves without one of her guardians, if then), and it tends to have the most interesting things going on.

Like this! A little girl maybe her age, whom she'd never seen before. Of course it was probably just someone being de-aged again (UGH) since the new feather cycle was mostly over, but...well, that was no reason not to go over and greet her! Especially since she clearly could use some help with that snowman.

Presumably it was going to be a snowman, anyway! ]

Hiiiiiiiiiii! What're you making? What's your name? Are you new? I'm Ikki, I'm not new!

action;

[tinyhollow]

[Sadly for Ikki, it is just another young adult aged down by the Malnosso, but Perona is and forever will be a lover of fun, cute things, and a mischievous youngster at heart. Always and forever.

The bright, loud, and squeaky wave of questions and exclamations startles Perona a little - so that she comes rather close to dropping her (now rather large) snowball - but when she sees it's not anything scary or dangerous, she settles down considerably. And oh! It's a girl like her! Around her age, maybe? Perona's face brightens like the sun itself and she hops right up to introduce herself.]

Hello! My name's Perona, and I'm making a snowmonster! A biiiig one! With teeth and horns and fangs! But it'll be cute, too!

[savedtheworld]

[Aang steps to the side as the snowball is rolled along in his direction by an oddly-familiar looking tiny person. He gives her a sly smile.]

Sorry about that - the last thing I'd want to do is get in the way of a master snow builder!

[tinyhollow]

[Said snowball is getting pretty big by now! early at the tiny girl's waist. There's been enough snowfall in Luceti from before she was returned that it's piled up enough for some good snowman making, and she rolls on by a few steps before peering over her shoulder.]

I didn't build the snow! [DUH.] I'm gonna make an alligator.

[slightoverkill]

[Mihawk has been moody, since he came back. Moody and cranky. Never a good combination when it comes to him. Especially since Perona was gone and the disaster with Norma and...he just didn't want to get on a mental train about that because then he'll just dissolve into a puddle of unsightly annoyance.

He's out in the open, away from the village proper. He's been here since before dawn, when time was actually closer to midnight than morning. He just needs to stretch out a little. He's minding his own business, going through some sword exercises and just trying to relax and put order to his brain, when his poor attempts at serenity get abruptly shattered by a roaring bear.

The entire left side of Mihawk's face twitched as he went on to find the source of the sound.

He was near enough when he heard the voice of a child, as well. Mihawk made a face. Of course there'd be a child. Of course. Why not! He was mostly annoyed and willing to take it out on the bear, before he broke into the clearing.

It took him point two seconds to take in the scene and recognize the girl.

Then he stopped being annoyed altogether and merely fillet'd the bear with a deaf strike from Yoru. No words, no fuss.

No biggie.]

[tinyhollow]

[Thank goodness Perona's eyes were tightly shut, and her arms were over her head, lest the sight of that poor animal getting cut up would have been...rather shocking. The smell of irony blood is more than enough to tell her something's up, she has no idea what, but her fear tells her not to open her eyes just yet. A sick sixth sense tells her that that smell is a bad smell, and even though she's so little, Perona's sure she knows it's blood. Is it her blood? Is she dead? Did the big, mean bear eat her, and the smell she's smelling is her own blood? Is she even still alive right now, or is she gobbled up and dead inside the animal's stomach? Perona doesn't know, and whimpers as she stands statue still - save for a whole lot of terrified shaking - and her eyes tightly shut.

The only thing that's moving on the girl is the ruffle of the wind through her hair and dress, and the trembling of her lower lip as she quietly whines. She's too afraid to open her eyes, scared of what she'll fine when she does. The icky smell of blood is scary, yet she doesn't feel any pain at all. Maybe she really was dead. Maybe it happened really fast so it didn't hurt? Maybe she should just take a little peek?]