☠ 8th Haunt ☠ - [Action | Voice]

[hollower]

[Action

It's nearing dusk - many of Luceti's residents will be finishing up their daily activities or returning home or, perhaps, beginning their nightly activities. That new club that opened up sure is a hot spot....and the bar is open until the wee hours of morning sometimes. But whether someone is going home or heading out, they may very well spy out of the corner of their eye a figure curled up with her back pressed to the wall of a building, huddled up in the shadows with her arms and legs drawn up close and tight to her body. She's wearing a dirty, white sun dress - the New Feather garb - but it's much too raggedy for this young woman to be among the new arrivals.

Grinding her teeth together, Perona breathes hard, digging her fingers into her arms to the point where she may begin to bruise them. It's too bright...too hot and bright and burning. She can't leave her little patch of shadows...not yet...but she can hear and see and smell all the people passing by. Each beat of their hearts, every exhale drives her senses crazy and despite how hard she tries to remain in one solitary spot - wait a little longer - a screaming, clawing, biting urge gnaws angrily at the back of her mind. She's so hungry...it's awful. But she can't do anything just yet, and the wait is sickeningly long. But she has to be patient, as much as her legs are itching to spring her at the next person that passes by.

Curious folk ought to be wary, because she will be counting every second it takes for the last rays of light to sink below the horizon, won't hear a word they say against the echoing beat of their hearts in their ears - thu-thump, thu-thump - and she'll look at them only with desire, like a ravenous animal would, and only bare her very new, very sharp fangs at them when the sun has fully set.

Through the night though, and with each unlucky person she nets and feeds from, Perona will regain a little more of her sensibility. By the time she's come full circle and gotten a full grip on herself will she backtrack to where she first arrived back in Luceti and find her journal, addressing a certain person in private, voice low and shaking.]

[Voice: Filtered to Trafalgar Law 80%]

M-Mr. Law? [It takes a moment for her to think of what to even say. How does she even go about explaining this? It's not like she really even wants to come clean, but if there's anyone she could talk to, it'd be Law.] I've--...may I speak with you? Now.

[Her head's swimming, trying to find words and how to piece them together. Perona can still taste blood in her mouth, and while half of her finds the notion utterly revolting (it's not at all charming like her favorite books make it out to be), the other half she's become finds the decadent, irony taste extremely satisfying.]

By the schoolyard...p-please. [It was the closest building near her. And just as she's about to close her journal, where the journal feed seems like it's ended, she adds in a very tiny voice--] ...Be on your guard.

[Just in case.]




---
[OOC: Okay, just some clarification, but Perona has been returned as a vampire. Chronologically, Law's thread will be last, but let me know if you want Perona from the get-go is ravenous, bloodthirsty hunger or a more sane attempt to get a bite. Characters also don't have to be bitten! Perona can interact with them when she's a little more herself, but the conversations will be very short, and she may attack them, which gives the option of the character also escaping.

And yes, she still have her Devil Fruit abilities, too, so if you want your character attacked by them or not, let me know. You can ping me on plurk (MelonFlavored) or PM this journal for questions.]

Comments

Bumped to 100% ->action

[deathsdoctor]

[Law frowns on the other end of the feed, immediately concerned. Perona calling out to him? A rival pirate like him? It must be serious.

It also leaves him wary, because pirate pride dictates one does not call for help. That breathy '... be on your guard.' makes him cloak himself in Haki instinctively, because she knows he is strong and...

Be on guard for what?]

I'm coming.

[He let's Itachi know what's up before leaving. Soon enough, the Supernova is on his way.]

action

[hollower]

[Perona understands how shameful it is to ask for help - she has never had to ask for help before, ever. Everything she wanted she was given or could very easily take. This, though...well, it's not like she really wants to attack every person that unknowingly crosses her path when she's not in her right mind. The people she did come across thus far were ones she didn't know nor very much care for, but...how long would that last? Plus what if she come across someone stronger than her? Someone not afraid to put her down for good.

And who else can she really just talk to? It's strange, but she's more comfortable around a fellow pirate like herself than some of the people here. Familiarity, maybe. Or just that she knows what to expect from him to some degree.

Without any thanks - she's never been one to voice her appreciation for things - Perona shuts her journal and waits by the schoolyard, trying to at least make herself look a little presentable. It's hard to, when her white dress was littered with splotches and flecks of blood from one of her first few feeds, but what can she do about that? At least she's wiped her mouth and hands free of the red by the time Law arrives within range of her new, heightened senses. His footsteps ring in her ears, and the beating of his heart in like an enormous gong...and then there was the scent of his blood, pumping nicely through his body.

Shaking her head, Perona rubs her face one last time and looks up from her seat on one of the swing sets at the school, her grip tight on the chain.]

Good evening. [Thanks for coming.]

action

[deathsdoctor]

[The entire scene is reminiscent from a horror novel. It's too quiet. The shadows from the play equipment throw the environment into sharp corners and weird angles. Aside from the pink haired woman in the blood splattered white dress (and doesn't that send Law's fighter instincts into overdrive) there's no one in visible sight.

His Haki doesn't pick up any life energy but Perona's own. No enemies. No one he needs to kill, if that was the reason she called him out here.

He watches her fingers squeeze the chain. She's uninjured. The blood's not hers..

... she's too smart to get into a fight unprovoked here, though. Law well knows that Perona knows the Luceti score. Knows of all the heroes itching to beat down anyone who shows themselves as a potential villain and a threat. He had a conversation recently that one of the points was 'what is the village prepared to do if someone goes rogue.' There's got to be more here.

So...]

Good evening. [What the hell is going on?] You called?

action

[hollower]

[She didn't come here to fight. Not against Law, at least. Even if she wasn't rather fond of the supernova, she's also smart enough to know she wouldn't last long against him - he's far stronger, has more fighting experience than herself, and that's the honest truth. No, she's here to talk, and to maybe even ask a favor, something she's not fond of doing in any circumstance, but necessity dictates she swallow her pride. Necessity not only for herself, but for Luceti, too.

She remains seated - she doesn't trust herself to move suddenly anymore - and the chains of the swing making a faint squeak as she sways slowly on them. How does she even explain this? Where does she begin? Just coming out and admitting the truth of "oh, I'm a vampire!" seems a little tactless, and it's not like she's entirely pleased with becoming a monster. Reading and imagining herself as one was nice, but becoming one is far more trouble than it's worth fawning over.]

Mmh. Trafalgar... [She drops her nickname for him, to stress that this is a serious matter.] How familiar are you with the undead?

action

[deathsdoctor]

[Calling him by his given name certainly is. It happens certainly, back home it's accompanied by derision and mockery, something meant to get under his skin by Marines and other Pirates. Generally Law didn't care, but Eustass had managed it.

This is different. This is more like what happens here when people use his first name here (when they are not close). A serious matter. And so he'll return the favour to show he's paying complete attention. Drop the honorifics.]

Only with what I've read in stories and what I've encountered here, Perona.

[It certainly gives him a direction to begin figuring out what's wrong. The blood on her dress...]

[Action]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash stumbled out of Good Spirits. Laughing loudly to himself as he nearly fell over onto his face. It was very late at night, but it wasn't unusual for him to spend his nights at the bar. Headed home some time after midnight. It was better then his empty apartment.

A grin on his face he weaves his way for the Ice Apartment building. He doesn't bother with the main street. He's lived in Luceti more than long enough to know his way through the buildings to find his way home.

Lungs taking in that nippy air he pulls his red jacket close around him. Attempting to stifle his laughter as he moves to avoid waking anyone up.]

[Action]

[hollower]

[The reek of alcohol would have been off-putting, but then again...the pulse of blood pumping feverishly through this fool's body was maddening, and Perona was in no state to be picky. Her throat was too dry, her head was too muddled with thoughts on how best to spring on this one. Not very good thoughts, either, the seething urge to just do it driving away most of her focus.

Her teeth clench together, nostrils flaring as they take in the scent of Vash's blood and breath. It's not the best smell - mingled together with whatever it was he was drinking - but her hunger drives out her choice. It's necessity now, to feed, and shakily she gets up, looking a bit awkward as she tries to stand.

Ugh...ugh, she can't even think straight. It's so hard to even get a word out - put on the charm and seduce the drunken fool into getting what she wants - and instead she just forces out a choked sound. Is he alone? It sounds like it...she can't hear or smell anyone else around. That's good. But what if he's armed? No, it doesn't matter, she has to take the risk.]

[Action]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash pauses his drunken shamble down the street. Even over his laughter he heard that choked sound. Swaying he looks around the ally he had found himself in. There wasn't usually anyone around here this time at night with most of the shops having closed long ago.]

Hello? Someone there?

[Action]

[hollower]

[Oh, but today is a special day. Perona's only barely visible in the dim light of the alleyway, leaning sideways against the wall and looking the picture of raggedy. Or at least her hands, feet, and dress are covered with dirt and grime. She''s trying to control her own breathing, but it's hard when all she can hearing is the thundering beat of this guy's heart, the puling of his blood running through is veins, and the scratching desire clawing at the back of her throat to sink her teeth into his and just feast.

It takes all her power to not do that, to reign whatever his sudden urge is, but it's not going to last. The urge is too strong, her throat is too dry, and he's right there. She could easily rush him - he's drunk, this should be easy...]

Uugh...g-get--..gh...

[She can't even get more than that out before her teeth grind together and a low, rumbling growl rips from her throat. She can't keep it contained anymore, it's too strong, she's just too hungry.]

[Action]

[niceguypose]

[The sun is just setting, and Rock Lee is steadily jogging from the Battle Dome to the Flame Building for a quick evening meal. He's sweating profusely, with a towel draped over his neck.

He doesn't mind taking the scenic route. It means more exercise, and maybe he can find some familiar faces to catch up with...]

[Action]

[hollower]

[Perona's still huddled in the same spot, waiting for the final streaks of light to fade over the distance. Her nose crinkles up at the disgusting scent of sweat approaching - now there's a scent she's not whiffed in a good while, though is very used to take a bath, Zoro - but she also can hear and whiff the overpowering sweetness of blood swelling and pulsing furiously. Exercise is just fabulous for getting the blood pumping...

And that is driving Perona crazy. Her grip tightens on her arms, her body curling up and in on itself, knees drawn close to her chest. Ugh...ugh! Shes so hungry and that sound, that smell, it's coming closer and closer! But she can't move yet, not until the sun's completely set. Recklessly, she moves one of her bare feet out from the shadows and into the dimming sunlight and hisses at the searing agony she feel, pulling it back to herself and checking her skin. There's an angry, red burn on a part of her leg. Shit...she has to wait. Just a few more minutes, it shouldn't be more than that.

Can she last that long, though? The beating of this one's heart is like an agonizing siren's call. Perona breathes hard into her knees, clenching her teeth together and swallowing several times, to wet her parched throat. It doesn't work.]

[Action]

[niceguypose]

[It's been a long day of training. Rock Lee's heart rate is up, as he continues to exert himself with his jogging. And now he does approach the area where HQ is.

And he comes to a stop - but only due to noticing the last fading rays of sunlight. He looks towards the setting sun just to get the novelty of seeing the moment when day becomes night.]

Another day of training comes to an end... But like the springtime of youth, training endures even into the night!

[Action]

[hollower]

[The voice she hears is one she recognizes, and Perona's eyes widen for the split second it takes for her to to lose control to the beast. The anger and distaste she has for the owner of that voice is enough for it to take full control, and she bares her teeth in the direction she hears the voice, a muddled wine color lighting up the edges of her usually dark irises. The sun is gone, and he's right there. Why should she care if she attacks him? It's not like he's her friend or anything...perish the thought! This asshole is getting just what he deserves.

As she moves to stand, Perona's fingers clench and curl on the wall supporting her, her nails scraping on the hard surface. There's no way she's passing this opportunity up...she can feed herself and get revenge on this foul idiot for that embarrassment from weeks ago. She hasn't forgotten, and hasn't forgiven. Such a luxury comes with much work.

Getting up at last, she wobbles out from the shadows of the alleyway and into the open, though she's still braced on the wall. She's been curled up for so long earlier, waiting for night, that her legs and arms aren't quick to work properly. Plus, her mind's a screaming roar of voices, mostly from the beastly hunger and dislike for her "meal". She's just...otta make her body work. Focus.

Don't let him get away.]

Rrgh...

[action~]

[gunkonmyboot]

[The thought of night clubs never crossed Seventeen's mind. It was one of the only buildings active at night which caught his attention.

As for Seventeen, he spent most of his day at the battle dome. His dark shirt was torn enough it left one shoulder bear revealing his long sleeve under shirt and a couple of dirt scratches. It didn't phase him one bit. Even though he looked like he just walked out of a gang fight, Seventeen looked calm like he had better days. His breath and heart remained steady and calm.

Seventeen's hands remained in his jean pockets as he walked pass the club. He didn't pay much attention to the people around or saw the young woman in the shadows.]

[action~]

[hollower]

[By this time, Perona's already managed to sate her appetite. It was well into the night and completely dark, though she could see perfectly. And even if she couldn't, her heightened sense of smell and sound could easily pick up where her eyes could not. What she senses though...it's got her puzzled. She can hear a heat, but the beat sounds almost...irregular. She can smell blood, but it smells...strange. Not right. Not normal.

Not human.

Her lips curl over her teeth, as she spots the messy looking male, wrinkling her nose in his direction. She's curious - or at lest her other half is to figure out what this guy is - but she has bigger things to worry about. Cleaning up is a must, and then there was this new monstrous self... She can't exactly go around attacking people to feed herself, can she? She already got shot at once, and that was just a shallow wound in her leg to slow her down. The next attack on her may not be so minor...

She tries to make herself look as inconspicuous as possible - or unseen. She's not exactly in the mood to chat, after all. And with no need to feed, she's more for getting this mess sorted out. Where's a good place to send out a message...hm.]

[action~]

[gunkonmyboot]

[It was hard to notice someone with a white garment in the shadows. Or perhaps it was the pink hair. After the Valentines Day special the Malnosso stirred up. That event lead him to avoid females for quite a while, and women clothes. He couldn't believe he was somehow controlled.

Seventeen's head shifted towards the woman robotic with a blank stare. His icy-blue eyes met with her gaze made it clear he watched her. What was her story? And why was she watching him? Even if she tried to attack, it wouldn't do any good for her.]

[[ooc: If she wants to, she can use her powers.]]

[action~]

[hollower]

[When her eyes lock with the strange male's, she surveys him then turns her head away with a sneer. His scent was too odd, and she wasn't hungry enough to bother with feeding off him. She was curious, but now that she's lost the element of surprise - the bloodstains on her dress aren't exactly making her look inconspicuous, either - it's not just worth the trouble. She's been shot at once and still has a bit of a limp due to that.

Besides, she's got to speak with Law first and foremost. She can't waste time on anyone else, even if her curiosity has been piqued by this stranger's bizarre scent. Hopefully she can just be on her way without him staring anymore, though, she doesn't want to waste anymore time dawdling. Who knows how long she'll have reign on the beastly side of herself now? She only fed off three...four people? Is that enough for one night?]

[action] I will let you choose how awful this will be

[relinquishing]

[He doesn't spend much time at the club most evenings - the energy level was thrilling, sure, but it came from a small space packed with a lot of people. A lot of people included a lot of women, which Guy wouldn't be against if he weren't always far too close for comfort. Nothing ruined an evening out faster than a scream and furniture toppling.

Thankfully a man who tries to learn from his mistakes, Guy has slipped out of the club an hour after sundown, jacket casually tossed over his shoulders as he makes his way back to House One. He's not in any rush - no telling what kind of late-night chore from certain housemates he might have to be prepared for.]

[action] PEER PRESSURE

[hollower]

[It wasn't enough. Just a few people wasn't enough to satisfy her, not yet, and while Perona isn't frothing to get a drop of blood in her system anymore, she's still not quite herself, and the beast inside is still commanding her mind and body completely, whispering in her ear and reminding her at every chance that what she had already is not enough.

She's just cleaned herself up somewhat too, at least her face and hands (her dress isn't something she can easily remove blood from), when she picks up the sound of footsteps nearby, and a heartbeat. Immediately, she pursues her potential meal, keeping close to the shadows and using her powers to float in the air instead of walk - there's no need to alert him to her presence...and even barefoot her steps would echo when it's so barren out now.

Ah, she knows this one. She's spoken with him once or twice, though she can't recall a name. Not that it matters anyway...she won't need his name to make a meal of him. But if she remembers, he's a jittery sort, but helpful...good, kind.

She can take advantage of that easily.]

[action]

[relinquishing]

[With the lack of footsteps to cue him towards her pursuit, the blond keeps moving down through the plaza. The feeling that something is watching him can't be shaken, though, as strange as it seems. Once in a while, the reality of the Malnosso would hit, bringing its own discomforts, but this felt... different. Different enough to send a chill up his spine.

Maybe he just needed sleep.

His pace is quick, but it shouldn't stop anyone from catching up with him, much less someone hungry enough for a chase.]

[action]

[hollower]

[But why chase an idiot if she can take advantage of a trait he knows he possesses and lure him to her? They're familiar with one another - nothing serious, but it's enough. He's a good person, and that she can work with. It's so simple to trap the good ones.

But she has to position herself just right, so she does pick up the pace somewhat, just enough so he'd be able to hear her when she touches down on the snow and cement hard, her body making a dull thud, and lays there a moment before trying to get up. She flicks her wings and curls them in on herself for a more dramatic effect, then just curls up on the ground with a soft groan.

He's a good person...or so she hopes, so she recalls. He should come over. She just has to make her ruse believable.]

[dedicatednoless]

[A couple feet was about all he could see a head of himself since he stepped into the darkness outside of the bar, but he thought nothing of it as he was more or less drunk and in higher spirits. The unfortunate unknown consequences meant that he would walk, sometimes stumble on his path home, all the while musing to himself about how fun some of the nights conversation was and making himself an easy target for a vampire.

About half way home, though, is about where he starts to feel the other effects of slow beer. Dizziness being one of them, so he decides to take a moment to stop and rest against the building wall, unfortunately also stumbling in the right place at the wrong time. Still he was in high spirits though.]

Whoaaa, haha. This is not good. Maybe I should have taken Jade out with me after all...

[hollower]

[She's fed enough by this point in the night that Perona's at least in a variable state of mind when she sees--...no, smells Peony. She was crouched in an alleyway, tending to the gunshot wound left by her first victim, cleaning out the small hole and - with a lot of grunting and hissing - managing to take out the bullet itself. She's no experienced doctor, but she has a good enough knowledge of medical procedure that she's improved greatly on over two years back home.

But some antiseptic, gauze, and bandages doesn't stop the ache in her thigh, and she's still not yet fully satisfied her thirst for blood. Again the scent of blood, breath, and alcohol reaches her nose and she crinkles it up, a low growl vibrating in her chest. That was how the first one was...and here she is now, tending to a wound. It shouldn't be difficult is this one is actually drunk, and she shouldn't go crazy now that she can think straight, but...caution. She needs caution.

Standing up with a bit of a wobble, she follows after the scent and--oh. Oh, this is a bit upsetting. Perona hesitates from her spot in the shadows, lips pursing together. She knows this one...Peony, right? That was his name. And while no where near friends, she had a slight fondness towards him. He wasn't one she actively wanted to harm, but then again this is necessity. And she can't override the whisper of her inner beast, muttering to just take a little. He'll understand, it's necessary. You're hungry, and he's a good fellow, he'll understand...

Just as he's about to fall over for the nth time, Peorna glides over and catches his arm. Hopefully he won't question her bedraggled appearance or the blood on her dress. She can always lie about it, too. She's a pretty convincing liar.]

Too much fun tonight, Peony-san?

[dedicatednoless]

[He's drunk enough that he continues to either talk to himself aloud or do so in his head for the moments he still thinks he is alone. When Perona comes out from seemingly no where to catch his arm, however, he's all but able to bolt away from her. Really, his sight is too dizzy, and instead what he is able to do is turn, somewhere between slowly and sharply so that he doesn't just make himself sick or fall, with a surprised or shocked look. Hard to tell, but despite his state he almost relaxes right away when he sees who it is.

Bonus points go the the fact that it isn't Jade, but a beautiful lady he knows.]

Ahhh! You really... swared me, Persona. How did you know I had a little too muwh fun tonight? [Blergh. Speaking is starting to get a little grosser, but he chuckles anyway, happy to see her.]

[hollower]

[Whoa, a little jump there, isn't he? Perona almost thinks she's been found out, taking a careful step back as her muscles tense up. Thankfully, they relax a moment after and her sugary smile is back on her face. Peony is wise to be on guard, though she's curious about just what he was avoiding, or thinking would show up, to startle him so much. She'll have to play her cards right to not spook him any more. She may miss out on her last meal of the night.]

Ehe, you wear your good time rather obviously, Peony-san. Do you need an escort home? It'd be no trouble at all...