#willofd

wide, brown eyes stand out even upon an equally bronze face, aqua blue hair hanging around her chin a sharp contrast to the earthen tones; from behind her father's legs, the young child stands looking up at the impossibly tall figure before them, somehow taller than even chaka. her father had told her to stay out of the room while he had a meeting, but of course vivi couldn't fight the curiosity that burned inside her, leading her to slip away from igaram's watchful eye in order to sneak into the meeting room through the side passages. it seemed her father had yet to notice her, as he continued speaking to the giant man, which left her the chance to get a better look than she had before.

" … isn't that coat hot? " oops—small hands dart up to cover her lips, but it's too late; already her father's said her name, leading her to smile sheepishly and bow her head in apology. " i'm sorry, i just—i wanted to listen to the meeting— "

( i was thinking about what we were talking about with her knowing croc like practically since she was born and thought about her like properly meeting him instead of just being loosely aware of his presence )

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Crocodile had been stationed in Alabasta for a few years now. It had been a rather blustering, whirlwind of a change to begin with. Alabasta had made a plea to the World Government for aid in their growing pirate problem. After all, being so close to the beginning of the Grand Line meant that every pirate pursuing their place in the world might inevitably wash ashore there. Alabasta was a peaceful kingdom, full of a strong, stalwart people, but one not used to the affront of war that had increased over the years since the Pirate King's execution.

The Warlord had come in like a windstorm, setting up base where allowed, but ultimately his construction projects and infrastructure changes in Rainbase had taken root. The pirate attacks, which had been a consistent problem along the coast, had already started to dwindle, with talk of the rather gruesome and unmerciful way Crocodile dealt with them.

Some had even started to call him the 'Desert King', though in hushed tones amongst themselves. An inevitable discussion that would reach Cobra's ears, but the king was a fine-humored enough man that he hadn't taken it to heart. After all, if the people were happy, then that was what mattered.

The discussions between Cobra and Crocodile could range from a few hours to the Warlord staying for several days, but normally they were private, classified discussions. Recently, Crocodile had begun to show the King drawings and blueprints for a large casino that the Warlord wished to have constructed in the middle of the city, right above the oasis' natural spring lake. Promises of increased revenue, jobs for skilled tradesmen, and an overall great investment into the future of Rainbase as well as the Kingdom as a whole. Surely not an interesting conversation for a small princess.

When she had opened her mouth, Crocodile's back had been turned to her. The Warlord blinked, his head turned to look over his shoulder towards her. For a brief moment, he didn't even look down, only to find an empty doorway, but eventually those yellow eyes shifted downward to glance at Vivi's face. Crocodile had seen portraits of Vivi's mother hanging on the walls of the palace, and although Cobra did not speak much about his late wife, he knew she had been well loved and respected. Vivi bore a strong resemblance to her, though he saw a determination in the young princess' eyes that was all Cobra.

When Cobra muttered a brief apology for the interruption, Crocodile waved it away dismissively. The Warlord took a step forward, approaching the princess and looking down at her. If he towered over the likes of the King and his company, the young princess barely reached up to his thigh, but she carried herself like a royal. The look she gave him was enough to cause the man to give an amused chuckle.

"Heat does not affect me like it might others, Your Highness." He hummed as he brought his hand upwards to shove aside the edge of his cloak to reiterate his point. "I find it quite comfortable, I assure you."

The large man shifted to lean over, squatting down on one knee so that he was more to her height, and he offered his adorned hand towards her with an open palm.

"I think you'd find our business meetings rather dull, actually. "

Crocodile never did particularly well with children, but he could manage enough of a presence that hopefully he wouldn't frighten her. Even with his rather haggard face. Few liked to look at it, what with the massive scar that crossed it like a jagged desert crater. The Warlord hummed as he brought his hook upwards, but looped it into the fabric of his coat so that he might motion it towards her. A peace offering.

It is rare to get Luffy to set for any length of time when the Red Force is docked in Foosha Village, apart from when he is eating. Then he sits with snacks in hand, mouth chomping on the crackers that he's been offered as he listens to Argentí's snippets and stories. When the topic of love came around, it had seemed pertinent to probe a little, to stretch the lengths of his curious mind to discover just what made people fall in love and how quickly it happened and why it happened. A flurry of questions that were answered with patience and kindness, each piece of advice on the topic greeted with a severe nod and a resounding crunch of cracker.

"Guess Shanks was real gentle handling your heart then because you like him a lot." He pauses to chew on his food a little more, using a sleeve to wipe the debris of crumbs from his chin, looking almost thoughtful for a minute as he considers the sage advice he has been given and the couple that he watches diligently whenever they are docked. He goes to speak again, then pauses, cheeks puffed out and words on the tip of his tongue, brow furrowing as he attempts to string his thought process together, eventually landing on what he wants to say.

"Did he tickle you gently or tap your nose?" With all the gravity of a child seeking serious answer to his question, Luffy wonders just what constituted as a gentle enough touch to get a heart to open naturally. It didn't feel right, however, and his brow furrows as he tries to think hard about what the true secret of the heart could be before his eyes widen and realisation dawns. "Oh did he water you? You said hearts are like plants, so did he..." he pauses and mimes the use of a watering can over Argentí's head, standing on his chair precariously to do so, sending it rocking towards them.

@willofd asked: castillo de sevilla, vast empty as it remained, still felt noticeably more full with its two most-recent inhabitants; mihawk was no stranger to company, having been convinced to carouse with pelirrojo's crew on more than one occasion, but this was a far different experience than he'd had before. over the years, he and vápni had spent more time apart than together, always managing to make their ways to kuraigana to reunite before parting once again; it was over the course of vápni's time working at thriller bark alongside gekkō moria that mihawk had first heard of the girl known as the ghost princess, as vápni always had tales to tell of her whenever they met up.

having her on the island was perhaps less strange than having roronoa, even if that didn't make it not strange either—it was simply a change, something to adapt to, and while mihawk had no doubt in his abilities to do so … he also knew he was not the only one in need of adapting. while it wasn't as though they had gone so far as to kick the interlopers out, they also hadn't been the most hospitable host, merely continuing on living as they would if the younger pair were not present, but he also had no intention of putting on some grand gesture of welcome when the single point remained : they were intruders. [ perhaps too clinical a reading, but one that remained true, sans one's personal feelings. ]

however, despite what others might say or think of dracule mihawk, he was not a cruel man. he remembered well the stories vápni would share about the young ghost princess and her innumerous stuffed creatures, possessions which she had been forced to forfeit from her forced exile by kuma : possessions which the girl would make to keep herself company amidst the strangely lonesome nature of thriller bark.

[ the newfound presence of two did make kuraigana feel less empty : but the same could not be said for it feeling less lonely, either. ]

returning to the castle after a shopping trip on a nearby island, mihawk says nothing as he makes his way towards the room perōna has claimed as her own, entering only because he had heard her bickering with roronoa near the kitchen on his way up the stairs. in a few strides, they step across the room, placing a simple, handstitched basket-shaped bag upon her bed—inside are a few rolls of fabric, needles and thread, and various buttons which might be used to adorn whatever creations she may craft. there is a small amount of fluff to be used for stuffing, but not much; she will likely run out of it before she comes close to finishing even one roll of fabric. [ the seeds currently resting in his pocket shall ensure the ghost princess has more cotton to use in the future. ]

near-soundlessly, the swordsman turns to leave the room, shutting the door behind them; returning to their study, they sit in their chair to pick up the book they'd left off on reading, letting out a gentle hum. she may discover the items in her own time, without any sort of fanfare or expected thanks : she may very well think it a gift from vápni, which would be no issue either. whatever she thought of it did not matter much to him, really—just the thought that, perhaps, it might help her to feel more welcome.

This castle looms around her, despite its size in comparison to Thriller Bark, her unfamiliarity with the layout leaving her still tentative in her exploration, keeping to walls and using her hollows to scout ahead of her to check for surprises or the other presences she shares space with. She knows what to expect when she comes across Vápni, but she is still hesitant around the green-haired swordsman given their previous encounter, and the world's greatest... well she does not know what to make of them yet. With their ochre gaze and severe disposition, it is hard to know what he is thinking of any time, and she has not worked out yet a comfortable method of communication either.

Perona feels lost; bereft of her creature comforts and security and uncertain of which way to turn. Whatever Kuma had been thinking sending her here, she simply wishes to understand it, or at least have Vápni back from their travels to lean on.

A sniffle of sound escapes her as she storms away from the kitchen leaving Roronoa in her wake, hands curling around her body as moisture stings her eyes, the lamentation of loneliness that haunts her days. It is not something she wants the other two to see; cannot allow herself to be perceived as weak when she is supposed to be one of Moria's strongest. With a soft huff, she pulls on her hollows to give her direction, finding her way back to the room that she has claimed as her own in this place, decorated now thanks to the time she had alone until first Zoro had been dropped on the shores and then the inhabitants had returned.

Footsteps drag as she crosses the threshold of the room, the spectre of loneliness looming over her, and she presses the door closed behind her with a soft sound, filling the room with her hollows in hope that the crowd would make her feel better. They swirl about the ceiling, their tones nearer lime than their usual white, smiles falling periodically into concerned frowns. Her hands press to her eyes, willing herself not to falter, telling herself that Vápni would return soon.

When hands drop, she realises something in the room has changed. There's something new, and innocuous presence resting upon the bed, one that draws her curiosity. Drawing closer, she spots the shape of the bag and tentatively unpicks the contents. When she finds fabric, needles, threads and the necessary adornments for the craft she loves, she cannot hold back the tears that pour down her cheeks making a mess of her make-up. Even as she sobs, she begins to pull out her new equipment, moving to the floor where she could begin to craft. There are scissors that she had managed to bring with her, and a chalk pencil and she can begin to draw out pattern pieces, working in an almost frenzied state.

Mascara tracks are dried on her face by the time she finishes, frayed fabric and loose threads scattered on the floor and on her lap a range of small creations, a little bat in thought of Moria, a ghost in the shape of her hollows and a debonair, lop-sided rabbit who she gives a hat to and an open muskateer-looking coat. If it is reminiscent of the owner of this new place she is staying, then the likeness is coincidental. Or perhaps she has acknowledged the gifter of her materials in her own way. Her new trio take pride of place on her bed as she begins to clean up, fabric scraps saved to be utilised as patches if big enough or as additional stuffing, and buttons and tools returned to the basket they had been left in. Once the room is clean, she disappears to wash her face and returns to scoop up the bunny, curling him under her arm as she ventures towards the kitchen for a snack, hearing the sounds of the swordsmen in discussion.

they have all gathered in @treasureofthesea's room, since iceburg was still in the worst shape. she, paulie, and @willofd were also sporting some pretty serious wounds, covered in bandages. tilestone and lulu were also in rough shape from the assault from the cipher pol 9 members. sal begins to zone out; she can hear the talking around her, but it all feels like it's drifting away as she remembers...

' Didn't I tell you to knock it off already? ' The last thing he needed was some brat thinking they owed him something.

the reindeer's gaze was quick to look up, the book resting on his lap. it was true that he'd not put it down since he got it; but it was just so interesting that he couldn't quite take his hooves from it!

I found this One Piece reference in the manga "Someone Hertz" not too long ago while reading Shonen Jump.

Always good to see it entering more of the zeitgeist!

Will he really be able to do it? Defy his father and strip himself of the physical and emotional shackles Kaidō's placed on him? Will he be able to see th-- Yamato snaps out of his thoughts upon hearing his companion's voice, head snapping up. ❝ Hm? ❞

❝ Don't be such a stiff. ❞ @willofd speaks before taking a swig from the bottle they've been sharing for the past hour.

❝ Eh?!? You try having a father like Kaidō! You'd be this way too! ❞ A hand quickly snatches the bottle from Ace's grasp, taking a large swig to mask his utter embarrassment.