☠ 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

[concasse]

[Oh ho, the game isn't over yet, Perona. Once Sanji's had his fill of playing the fool, he slowly begins to circle toward the young girl's hiding spot, deliberately dodging the area a few times before creeping ever closer.]

Hmmm, I don't think I've checked here yet! [Announcing his presence nice and clear, just to see what she'll do.]

[tinyhollow]

[Uh oh...he's getting awfully close. Perona stays as still as she can, crouching down to make herself smaller, and even goes so far as to hold her breath so he won't hear. She watches the little hole she crawled into carefully, hearing his footsteps and his voice and just him coming closer. Bah, maybe he'll pass her by? There's not way he's find her so fast, she's the very best at hide and seek!

Yet at the same time that Perona doesn't want to be found, her heart is beating furiously, and the corners of her lips are turning up into a little smile. What was his name again? Sanji? He's good at this game! If he's not cheating, then she just might make him her servant knight after all.]

[concasse]

[So she decides to stay put and wait it out. Excellent. Sanji checks a bundle of prickly bushes only a few feet away from where she's hidden, pushing branches out of the way for a clearer view with dedicated, if forced, concentration. He can't find her too quickly. Gotta wait it out until the last, possible moment.

Though actually, he feels tempted to wander back off again, give her some room to breathe and maybe find another hiding spot if she's so inclined. In fact, he likes the idea enough that he stands up, brushes some dirt off his slacks, and begins wandering off, a stumped expression stamped on his face.

Let's face it: he can afford to give her a few chances. It's not like he cares about winning so much as giving Perona time to enjoy herself.]

Hnn, guess she isn't over there either.

[tinyhollow]

[Oh, he didn't look here after all! And he's going to a different place! Maybe if she's super sneaky... Huffing quietly, Perona peeks her head out of her hiding spot very carefully and makes a sprint for another, slipping on a patch of icy snow and...pretty much going splat on her face. Whoops! Scrambling to her feet quickly, she scurries behind a tree, panting hard. Ugh, that was really close! What if he heard her fall?! And she can't stay here forever, either, there needs to be a better place to hide somewhere...hm.

Looking around quickly, Perona decides to try and climb up the tree where she's at. It's hard, the branches are too high, and she gives up pretty fast. Stupid, dumb tree. B| Where else is there to hide? Somewhere a little warmer, her toes are freezing, and her nose is chilly, too. A hot cup of cocoa sounds nice after their game--]

Ach-oo! [chdhjhfr OH NO, SHE SNEEZED! UGH NOW HE'S GONNA FIND HER, GOTTA RUUUUN!!]

1/2

[concasse]

[WHAT WAS THAT THE SOUND OF A CHILD SNEEZING THE WORLD IS GONNA END SCREAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--]

[concasse]

[OKAY no. He doesn't react quiet that strongly, but he does give his head a sharp turn and squints in the direction Perona had run off to. Hmmm... maybe they need to cut this game short, after all. He hadn't thought about the possibility of her catching a chill.

Which means Perona better run hard, and she better run fast. Now the chef is stalking off after her.]

[tinyhollow]

[She is running as fast as her twiggy little legs can carry her. 8|! Which means to say not too much faster than the average small child. Though she is rather wily, and zips between the trees whenever she thinks Sanji's not looking, sniffling as quietly as she can. She can hear him coming, and there's really not many places where she can hide without making more noise getting there...

It seems like their game of hide and seek turned into a cat and mouse sort of game, and Perona's not ready to give up her crown to a yucky ol' grown up. ...But running is rather hard, and she needs to take a break to catch her breath at some point, and her panting is a bit loud, too...]

[concasse]

[Daww, look at her go! Sanji catches a flash of pink that stands out like a neon sign against the backdrop of white, green, and brown, and doesn't bother to bite back a smile. Rather than run at full speed, he slides through the trees at his own pace, just barely keeping her in his line of sight.

... Until he gets a better idea.

Very abruptly, the sounds of pursuit end all together. Save for Perona's running and panting, the area resumes its previous state of quiet. By all accounts it's like he disappeared, or just gave up.]

[tinyhollow]

[...Why's it all still and quiet all of a sudden? Perona doesn't move for a few seconds, listening and waiting for a sound of life, but there's really...nothing. Nothing at all. Did he give up? Or is he being sneaky? She waits just a little while longer before her curiosity and impatience get the better of her and she peeks out from behind the side of the tree she was hiding behind.

Spinny eyebrow man, where did you goooo~? Are we done playing? :C]

[concasse]

[Of course not, sweetie. 8Da

Sanji's just chillin out in the tree you're currently hiding behind, with his legs dangling over the side of one sturdy branch large enough to support his weight.]

Perona-chaaaaaaaaaaan~! I fooooooound you~! [Guess who?]

[tinyhollow]

[ahsjvhdhjhjgr--where?!

Jumping nearly out of her little boots, Perona squeaks with surprise and looks all around, even behind her hiding spot before looking right on up into the tree. Oh, that's...that's not fair! She wanted to climb the tree first but couldn't because she was too little! Huff, huff.]

No fair, no fair! You tricked me! And you can't go up high, that's cheating... [Even though she wanted to. <_<a;]

[concasse]

Oi now, Perona-chan, how is that cheating! You told me to find you after counting to a hundred! [he jumps off the tree branch and lands a few feet away, absentmindedly flicking pieces of bark off his jacket. Oh, the way he grins will probably please her even less, but he tries to play it off like an apology.]

Isn't that what I did?

[tinyhollow]

[Yes, she is greatly displeased with you right now, Sanji. B| Because that really was what she said, but it didn't mean you could get a higher vantage point from that tree, you sneaky-sneak! That's just not fair at all, you could probably see the whole world from up there!

Huffing, she stomps right on up to Sanji and points up at him. Oh, you are in trouble, mister.]

No! You're not supposed to leave the ground! So you cheated and you can't be my knight ever. [Crosses her arms (like her mommy does) and TURNS HER BACK ON HIM.] And your eyebrow isn't cute or funny, either.

[concasse]

[What an impressive hissy fit. Sanji arches a brow at that, not at all ruffled by her childish behavior, and instead leans against the tree trunk while he massages his chin]

I see. My humblest apologies, Miss Perona-chan. [And he heaves a loud, dejected sigh that's too overdone to be real]

Guess this means I can't take you flying like I wanted -- but I understand! I will leave you alone.

1/2

[tinyhollow]

2/2

[tinyhollow]

Okay, you can be my knight.

[Yeaah, that didn't take very long at all. But come on, flying?! What other little girl can brag about going flying with someone? Though she's not exactly sure how this guy's supposed to fly (does it have something to do with the wings on everyone's backs?), but she really doesn't care much to think too hard about that. There are stranger things in her world than people flying, after all.

So, she trots right on up to Sanji and clings to his leg before he does something bad like pretending to walk away. You'll never leave this place without your new, pink barnacle.]

I wanna fly! Really, really high up! I tried, but my wings don't work, see?! [She releases her grip on Sanji's leg, then jumps up and flaps her very small, very puffy, very pink wings. She doesn't get off the ground, though. :I]