(no subject)

[alabastajewel]

Who: Anyone who wants to come!
What: Vivi's birthday party
When: February 2nd, afternoon and into the evening
Where: the hot springs
Summary: It's Vivi's birthday, and Nami arranged a little surprise gathering for her friend.
Rating: probably not above PG-13 for language and possible hot spring ~hijinx~.

[Nami's suggestion that they spend the day up at the hot springs was one Vivi happily accepted, not suspecting that there was more in store than just a day with her friend. It's with surprised delight that she steps from the teleporter to find the place decorated, and throughout the day, many of her friends arriving to wish her a happy birthday.]

[The main hall has been decorated with balloons and streamers, and there's a large banner reading "Happy Birthday, Vivi!" hung from the front rafter. Off to the side is a large table stocked with all sorts of food (go nuts; whatever you can imagine, Sanji probably made) and of course an enormous and elaborately decorated birthday cake. The other side of the hall has some games set up: pin the tail on the donkey, twister, and a ping-pong table.]

[Outside, the privacy screen has been slid back to join the men's and women's sides of the springs, and it should go without saying that people will be expected to wear swimsuits into the water. The trees are hung with more streamers, with strings of lights and some decorative lanterns for after the sun begins to set. There's a smaller table of refreshments out here, too.]

[There's also plenty of alcohol on hand, though juice and soft drinks are available for those who don't want (or are too young) to drink. Later in the evening, there's a high possibility of a party game like Truth or Dare starting up. (Thread here!)]

Comments

WOW I LOST THIS TAG SOB /flings self into traffic

[hollower]

[...Does he really not understand the concept of a break? Perona stares right back at Sanji, though her stare is a bit baffled than anything else, really. She's only satisfied when he finally tears his eyes away from the tables and a smile spreads out on her face at last. Success! Now she can get to spend some quality time with him for herself - hopefully with no interruption from witch women or their probing eyes and the like.]

Thank you, Mr. Cook! The water feels fantastic, especially in the chill. I'm sure you'll enjoy yourself. And you're have good company as well, horohoro.

[As is her way, Perona will be taking hold of Sanji's arm and promptly dragging him toward the spring a few feet, before letting go to, remove whatever she was wearing to cover up - be it thin robe or towel. Afterwards, she'll slip right in and beckon Sanji to follow.]

WHAT. B| NO DYING. /flips cars out of the way

[concasse]

[Following. Right. Sanji will do that as soon as--]

Awaaaaaaah~! Perona-chwan's bathing suit~! Magnificent~! Encore~!

[Well, as soon as that's over. *_* Damn girl, why are you wearing that robe again? Sanji just floats right after, like a man hypnotized.]

askdgjjckmd ;A; ♥♥♥

[hollower]

[FFFF--well, it's not like she didn't half expect that reaction, and it's not like Perona's displeased by it. In fact, she's rather pleased to know Sanji enjoys how she looks, even if her face becomes a soft shade of pink around her cheeks and nose. She never really feels this comfortable showing off so much skin.

Anyway, she's just going to sink in the water a little to kind of hide, before knitting her eyebrows together and huffing.]

Are you coming in or aren't you?!

[concasse]

Right behind yooooooou~! [Okay, okay, he'll calm down. No matter how much he appreciates the view, it's hard to focus on flirting for more than concentrated spaces of time - meaning that Sanji obeys with little effort, all his hearts already disappearing into hammer space. He slides next to her with just enough space between them to stay respectable. There's a small smile on his face as he leans back.]

Aaaah... I really need to do this more often. [Stretching and exercising are their own rewards, but there's nothing like hot water to melt through your skin and sooth aching muscles]

[hollower]

[Oh, yes, the view is very, very nice. Perona has a hard time not looking Sanji up an down as he comes to join her in the water, eyes glancing off to the side to watch...whatever. Perona is the master of subtlety. But at the least, now that she's in the water, she can place the blame of any more blushing on the heat from the steamy water.]

Mm, I agree. [Perona pushes her wet hair back, tugging a few loose strands from her neck and cheeks.] You work too hard, Mr. Cook. You looked a little...exhausted from time to time, when I've seen you around. Are you all right?

[concasse]

[His closed eyes suddenly slit, gaze shifting until he's peering at her from his peripheral. Heeeeeeh...

So she noticed. Not really a surprise, and Sanji can't say he was going out of his way to hide anything. Still, he feels bad enough people are picking up on his jumbled emotions. His eyes close again]

A good friend of mine went... home. [It happens often enough that the news shouldn't be any kind of surprise, which is exactly why Sanji admits it. In Luceti, shit like this is old hat] So did his family.

But don't worry, Perona-chan~! It's nothing time won't cure.

[hollower]

[Quiet, Perona listens, her face calm if only for the frown that appears on her lips after a second of two. So that was it, then. Someone left, and took their whole family with them. She doesn't know the details, but it does seem lucky. At least they have each other, right? That's better than nothing, right? Hopefully...

With a sigh, she scoots a little closer to Sanji and pulls him to her side, snuggling against his shoulder as she hugs his arm. She really has no idea what to say in these circumstances, and cheering people up isn't exactly her forte. Still, she does feel back, and does want to offer some comfort somehow, even if it's just her presence.]

...Sorry. It's never easy to say good bye, is it? I've never liked having to. But you'll have your memories, mm? That's still something to hold on to.

[concasse]

[There's a reason Sanji doesn't tell her Wolfwood is dead and his child with Milly has been taken by the Malnosso. Sometimes, withholding details just works better for everyone involved. It's not something he wants to share, either; hell, he doesn't even care to be cheered up right now. The wound is too fresh, too open. Only time will eventually lessen the ache.

Not to say he won't count the shoulder-snuggling as a perk. His face lights up like a Christmas tree on contact, little hearts automatically sailing over his head while he glances over at her.] A-aa! Of course you're right. [His memories, and the pictures Wolfwood left him. It might be a long time before he pulls them out again, but still... it's something]

[hollower]

[It is better to keep that information private. Perona's never really been great with cheering people up - it's not her strong point. She never knows what to say or what to do, but because Sanji's so very important to her now, she wanted to do something. Even if that something is just her presence close by. And, if it is or isn't helping, she's at least glad to see bits and pieces of the adorable cook she loves glimmering through his saddened state.]

That's better. [She smiles, and pokes his red cheek with a giggle. Cutie. ♥] I'm glad to see you looking on the bright side. Remember, Mr Cook, good things will come to you.

[THUMBS UP. B|b]

[concasse]

[... Really, Perona. A thumbs up? Sanji bites his lip to keep from chuckling]

... You're pretty damn optimistic for a Ghost Princess.

[hollower]

[Shut up, it's a foolproof way of lifting one's spirit. B| Blushing around her cheeks, Perona sinks lower into the water, a pout forming on her lips. I-It's not like she was trying to be optimistic! That's not what she's known for! Her second alias was the Negative Princess, after all. It's just...j-just--]

I like it better when you smile. [....Rewind.] A-And I can't stand it when I'm not the one causing grief and despair to people around me!

1/2

[concasse]

[aslkdjfasdfphipj;k]

[concasse]

Aa-- right! Makes perfect sense! [Meaning what a terrible save, girl, but praise is preferable to sitting there blushing in tempo with her. He's conveniently looking in the complete opposite direction and thanking their luck that none of his crew are around to see this. Shit, he'd never hear the end of it]

[hollower]

[Yes, yes, they better not be watching. CoughROBINcough. Otherwise Perona may get a bit flustered and shouty, all things considered. She's not yet willing or ready to take the accusations that may arise if someone saw them together like this. Even if they're really not doing anything more than talking and enjoying the hot water together.

Speaking of, Perona tilts her head one way - after blushing furiously for a minute of two first - then flicks a few drops of water at the chef's face from her fingertips.]

Horohorohoro, glad you agree!

[concasse]

[YOU ASKIN' TO GET DUNKED, GIRL. Except no, he isn't an asshole. Perona!dunking is off limits for obvious reasons.

He is, however, an occasional tease, and meets the water splashed in his face with barely concealed amusement, followed by his finger wrapping around a stray piece of pink hair. He gives it a gentle tug while grinning.]

Maaah, but Perona-chan, not to criticize your work, but you might wanna work on the grief and despair part~! [Because you aren't doing a good job right now.]

[hollower]

[Tilting her head toward the chef, to give the piece of her hair some slack, Perona lifts a brow to Sanji's words. She knows he's kidding, as teasing, but how to respond? Surely she could be a little sadistic and let out a hollow to hover over them both, but heaven knows what anyone who saw that would think - and Perona's almost sure there's at least one pair of eyes watching them.

So, instead, she taps a finger to her lips, looking thoughtful, and hums.]

Weeeh....but I've already tormented Zoro today! And I can't think of anyone else who deserves to have my hollows pay them a visit. But if that's what you want, Mr. Cook...

[Think fast! Because this time, when Perona flicks her fingers at him, a little Tiny Hollow flies from her palm and smacks gently onto Sanji's face, arms and teensy legs spread wide to hug his face. Unlike her Negative Hollows, these ones actually have a fair bit of consistency, and feel much like squashy blobs than nothing at all. And look how cute it is, smiling at him!]

[concasse]

[Aaah, Zoro torment: ever a stress reliever if there was one. He's about to applaud her innovation when suddenly there's a thing on his face, and instinct has him cringing on impact for the incoming soul-scooping. Jesus, he didn't think she'd actually do it in front of his crew; if he falls into the water, this might turn into a blood bath.

So color him a little surprised when he gets to keep his range of emotions and not just the negative ones. Very slowly he cracks open a eye, scrunched expression smoothing out into bemusement. Yes, there is indeed still a thing on his face - a hollow, he surmises, despite the lack of a good angle at which to see it.]

... This one's a lot smaller than your usual ones. [he kinda wants to poke it. Except it might bite him.

Or explode.

But that would just be silly]

[hollower]

[It won't explode unless its mistress commands it to - with a snap of her fingers. Right now, all it's doing is staring at Sanji and smiling, before releasing his face and floating up to perch on his head, sticking its tongue out at him as it peers down from his hair.]

Mhm! This is another type - my Tiny Hollow! Isn't it cute? [She seems so proud of herself, and holds her hands out, to which the little ghostie flies into, hovering and floating between the young woman's fingers.] Did you think negativity was the extent of my powers? Horohorohoro, I can do many things with my spirit powers!

Eh, but these ones won't hurt you unless I tell them to. And you can touch them, too. [She demonstrates, by picking up the hollow by its fat head, with her thumb and forefinger.] See? Just don't poke it too much...

[Bad things may happen. <__<a;;]

[concasse]

[Hearing she has a more thorough control over her powers than just emotional manipulation is hardly surprising, but even still, Sanji peers close with obvious intrigue. My gods, it is kinda cute in a plump, Pillsbury Dough Boy way. Her warning is the only reason he doesn't tickle the shitty thing.]

I would expect nothing less from the brilliant Perona-chwan~!

What does this one do? [Inquiring chefs really want to know]

1/2

[hollower]

[Ah...ahaha....ha.]

2/2

[hollower]

...They explode.

[E-yup.]

[concasse]

[And then Sanji was leaning the fuck back B|]

E-eeeeeh?!

[It's probably a momentary mark of betrayal, but Sanji really has to wonder how Usopp managed to defeat her if she most likely sent a legion of exploding ghosts after him. Usopp is fuckin hardcore.]

[hollower]

[THAT'S USOPP'S A STUPID LYING CHEATER WHO CHEATS AND SHE HATES HIS FACE AND HIS STUPID NOSE.

But yes. Maaaaybe it was a bad idea to tell Sanji about that little power she has. Waiting for him to calm down some, she closes her hand around the little hollow and reabsorbs it into her palm. Hopefully that'll set his mind at ease some, even if she wasn't going to activate it, gosh...]

They only explode when I tell them to! And I wouldn't do something so careless and dangerous here, where there are so many people! And I myself could get hurt if I wasn't thinking! I wouldn't risk my safety by being unwise! I just wanted to show you, but its gone now, see?

[She opens her hand, and turns it to and fro. Behold, not a trace of the little ghostie.]

[concasse]

[it's not exactly fear running Sanji's expression - just shock. Exploding hollows didn't really rank high on his assumed list of Perona's possible attacks, so the reality takes him aback.]

Doesn't that hurt? I mean, aren't you basically exploding your own... soul...? [Or maybe not. He just always figured Perona was literally manipulating her own spiritual being: splitting it into pieces and giving it a ghostly makeover.]

[hollower]

[Stop ruining her high, bro. B| Regardless, Perona blinks and tilts her head to one side, chewing her lower lip thoughtfully. That's not...exactly how it is, or she's never thought of it like that. Her power is a bit strange - certainly the first time she walked out of her own body she freaked the fuck out right proper - but she's never had a problem with her hollows exploding at all.]

Mmhn...well, they are a part of me, and I can see and hear what they do, but I've never had any problem with making as many as I can or them blowing up when I command it. My Negative Hollows can even multiply by themselves without my given order, and it's never hurt me before. The only problem is when I have to monitor many hollows at once via my Ghost Network I have to be asleep because I usually have hundreds of them spanning a large area.

I can't really explain it, but you don't have to worry about me, Mr. Cook. [Even if it is sweet.] I've had my Devil Fruit ability for a very long time, and I can control it.