hollower | ☠ 8th Haunt ☠ - [Action

☠ 8th Haunt ☠ - [Action | Voice]

[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.]

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[Understandable isn't justification. There are a lot of things that are understandable that aren't justified. But Law knows wild creatures - or at least he knows Bepo. He knows that wild animalistic urge to defend when backed into a corner, regardless of who's the aggressor or not.

So in this case...]

... aa... [There's subtle but visible relief in that sigh. Not the worst case scenario. No witch hunt to worry about. He'll have to look into the victims... but right now that can wait a while. The tone is asking for help and help he will give.] I can help with that, then. The Battle Dome has transfusion supplies and I believe Good Spirits still has a stock of blood for any vampires in town. I'll make sure to find out if that's still the case if a back up is needed.

[If not, he'll just hunt animals in the woods and bleed them if worst comes to worse. He can barter the meat and skins with the people receptive to a trade, perhaps get something useful in return.]

[No witch hunt indeed, thankfully. Most, if not all of the people she attacked were familiar with her in some way - which meant quite a bit of explaining on her part. Or avoiding them and hoping this blew over sooner rather than later. Better yet, she won't have to go on her own hunt either, especially if blood is stored in the bar and, obviously, the battle dome clinic. She was wise to seek out Law for this.

Sighing, Perona stands up, though she is keeping most of her weight on her good leg. She crosses her arms over her chest lazily and nods her head toward Law. She doesn't thank him, that's not how she operates, but at the least Perona can make her gratitude known.]

...I'm indebted to you.

[Law inclines his head slightly in acknowledgement - quiet smile appearing. Yes she is, he won't deny that. But he won't hold it over her head either - he likes her after all. Rather have her company than any other payment. He and she were the only two pirates he knew of in Luceti left.]

... I should mend that leg for you. It can't be nice to stand on.

[It's that very same like, that fondness, that makes Perona want to repay her debt owed. If it were anyone else, she'd never even speak of compensation due for such a large favor, but Law was...hm. She's not quite sure what their relationship is in words, but whatever he asks of her, if ever he needs help in turn, she won't turn a blind eye to it. All she can really offer in a place with no money, nothing to barter, and little knowledge of what Law likes or demands is her services. Her strength.

That's the way of most pirates - you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Or not stab it.]

You don't trust my skills? [She laughs, and an actual smile pulls up on her face. Now you're just spoiling her.] It's not a problem, don't trouble yourself, Mr. Law.

[It is their way and he can happily live with it. Baby steps in rebuilding what was lost.]

Aa, but I would be no sort of gentleman if I didn't offer. [Not that he considers himself to be terribly one, but he did hold himself to higher standards than the average boor roaming their seas.] I'm glad it's not a trouble, though.

Chivalry among pirates? [Perona raises an eyebrow, feigning shock...or perhaps she's impressed. She's not met many gentlemen in her life - and especially not among pirate folk like herself. They're pirates, after all. But hey, who is she to complain?]

It's just a dull ache now.. That man wasn't shooting to kill. [Which is also very surprising - in a good way. She was very lucky to have gotten just a wound on the leg. If she had attacked anyone else, there may be a bullet in her skull of her chest, not her leg.]

The light hurts more.

Not as dead as reported. [Because Sanji. Not really himself. He's trying for manners, though. Because, screw you, Eustass.]

Hmmm... [That is lucky. And narrows things down. Because most people, good as they are here, still would shoot to kill.] I believe it. [Traditional weaknesses for vampires and all.] ... that's another thing to do, come to think. Lightproof your apartment.

Edited 2014-03-28 04:56 (UTC)

[Perona grins at the first bit about chivalry among pirates not being quite as impossible as she first thought, but her smile goes sour pretty fast. That's right, she's got to change her entire lifestyle now that she's changed... Another bothersome thing to worry about - she has to seclude herself in the dark otherwise she may get hurt, or die.

Her lips roll back over her teeth, and her fangs are finally revealed...as a growl rumbles in her throat. Even her eyes flash dangerously - a deep, wine color around her irises - and she breathes out slowly, to calm herself.]

How frustrating...but you're right. [Her wings ruffle, and she looks sideways, scowling.] If only I had a chance to get my teeth in those vile people that did this to me...they'd think twice about it! Vampires are nice, but I don't want to be one! The sooner this ends, the better...

[He doesn't start as fangs are bared and her eyes take on a bloody hue. The reaction is more than understandable.]

I hope you do someday. The Rogue Malnosso have it coming, not that the entire Organization doesn't need to answer for things, and at least one of us in here deserves to deal some retribution.

[Perona hasn't been keeping too in touch with the goings-on of the Organization, but what she has learned she's kept thoughts to herself. Why risk herself when others more capable and willing are here to do it? It's just wise. Reap the benefits of the hard working...and step over their corpses if she must.]

Until the time comes when I can, I'll bide my time...and my frustrations. [What else can she do other than that and complain? Not much.] ...How long does this usually last? You've been here longer than I have, haven't you?

Over three years...

[Law wishes he had that luxury... it's been a delicate balance of standing back and reaping the rewards, and going forth to do the work himself to get what he wants. Influence and power in Luceti must be earned and earned constantly, and while he does not want the spotlight, he does want a voice strong enough and respected enough that when he speaks, the village will listen.]

A week usually. A week and a half in all but the most extreme cases. I've heard of effects lasting longer, but they are very rare.

[Three years? Goodness, Peron didn't think they could actually e stuck here that long... Though considering she was stuck in an undesirable place for two years herself, and found good in it, this may be something she can grow from. Even so...the mutilation of her body is something Perona can certainly do without.

Those shits will pay if she gets her hands on one of them...]

A week... [Not too bad. She can do a week, as unsavory a thought as it is.] It's so troublesome to have to change my routine for just a week, but...I'd prefer it. What's the longest time you've seen these effects taking to wear of?

A month and a half...

[Might as well give it to her straight.] That's the longest I've seen non permanent shifts last.

What?! I can't stay like this for that long!

[With her anger flaring up, Perona stands quickly, a little too quickly for her injured leg to bear. Her injured leg gives out and she nearly collapses to the ground, whoops.]

[...

Well. Knew that was coming.]

It is very unlikely you will though. [He's just going to touch on this again.] I've only seen one person where that's been the case during my time here.

Edited (English. I know it. 8|) 2014-05-06 03:57 (UTC)

[Huffing, arms crossed over her chest, Perona opts to just float in mid-air, it's easier and more comfortable anyway. Growling, she chews her lower lip in irritation.]

...Fine. I'll put my faith in your word. There's little that can be done regardless. [Which gets a deeper scowl. Perona hates not having some form of command over her own goddamn body.] So long as I can be fed properly, there shouldn't be an issue. I...don't like having to lose myself like that.

[And hurting people she marginally liked, too. Speaking of--] ...Can you restrain me, Mr. Law, if that's necessary? I'd like to think you have the skills to do so without too much incident.

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