3rd Form | Audio/Action

[slightoverkill]

[Mihawk is currently standing to the side of the main crossroad near the Good Spirits Bar, absently looking around and watching people fuss about their way what with the holiday spirit and such.]

Does anyone happen to have an estimate of how long will this glittery, colorful, over the top... celebration is going to last?

[Because he's seriously considering hitting the forest for a while until you people and your lights and trees and holiday cheer are done making him vaguely ill. And given how disgruntled he sounds, you can totally tell by his tone alone.

Congratulations, Luceti, you have a Grinch among your ranks.]

Comments

[Action]

[bubblywishes]

[Good day to you, Mr. Grinch, it seems you are not alone in the horrid distaste of this season. There is one (1) wrapped up bundle of young lady headed right for the bar, muttering curses and angry growls under her breath. She's holding at least three bags, possibly filled with gifts for friends or cooking supplies. Honestly, as much as Norma like a good party and holiday, and the lights and stuff really were pretty, she hates the cold.

Hates it. And the fact that she has so many new and old friends to gift, a godawful reason to leave the warmth and comfort of her home, she's not exactly feeling the "holiday cheer", either. Which may or may not be why, as she passes Mihawk by and hears his words - which weren't necessarily aimed at her - she spits into her scarf--]

Too long.

[Action]

[slightoverkill]

[There is a minute pause as he turns to face Norma and takes in... well, everything. He blinks slowly.]

Ah.

[His head tilts slightly to the side.]

I'm afraid I was hoping for something somewhat more specific.

[Voice]

[hollower]

[The urge to laugh is strong, yet, miraculously, Perona utters just a very faint chuckle. Mihawk, your disdain and discomfort is both amusing and just as enjoyable as the holiday itself. Perona's more of a "Halloween" girl, through and through, but a celebration where you get gifts left and right? Bring it on.

In fact, she's already been doing some thinking on what to give to her own friends and people she knows. Yourself included, Hawk-Eyes.]

You're not enjoying the festivities, Mihawk-sama? How sad...I was thinking to decorate a bit for the season. You won't mind, will you? [She lies, maybe, but still, it's fun to rile the shichibukai up.]

[Action] - 1/2

[bubblywishes]

[Oh, he's looking at her. Better stop (GRUDGINGLY, MIND YOU), and actually try and answer his question with and actual answ--

GOOD LORD, WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS GUY'S EYES?!]

Whoa!

[Action] - 2/2

[bubblywishes]

Uh... [Wow, that's...wow. Seriously. Norma may be staring a little bit, and not being all that subtle about it, either.] I-I mean, um. I think...I think all the holiday mumbo-jumbo doesn't end until after the first of the next month. Don't quote me on that, though.

[Voice]

[slightoverkill]

[This is a rare moment of unguarded self-awareness.]

Does my opinion on that actually matters?

[This is news to him. Bah, he's just cranky because of the cold and the ungodly cheerfulness of the place. Don't mind him, Perona. Not that you ever do.]

[Voice] /almost lost it in the english office, THANKS A LOT, FI.

[hollower]

[Okay, now she's laughing. Really and truly laughing. Well done, Mihawk.]

Horohorohoro! If you're asking that, then I think you're aware of the answer. ...At least a tree for you - a small one. You can even cut it down yourself if you like.

[SHE'S MAKING FUN OF YOU, MAN.]

[Action]

[slightoverkill]

[He is more or less used to the staring. It doesn't really faze him much anymore.]

I see.

[There's a small pause. He looks down at his book, then up again and actually narrows his eyes a little. Bet you didn't know he could do that?]

Is something the matter?

[Voice] /MAKES IT WORSE

[slightoverkill]

[There's a moment of silence from his end, almost as if he's waiting for her to finish laughing and being ridiculous. And then:]

I categorically refuse to wear a hat.

[He's darkly serious about this. Also, you're welcome for the mental image of Mihawk wearing a santa hat.]

voice;

[arcinvent]

Well aren't you a Scrooge?

[Sheese Mihawk, get with the holiday cheer.]

It's going to be this way until after the 25th.

[audio]

[slightoverkill]

[Never.]

A what.

[The question could not be flatter if it were a pizza. But the date makes him grimace inwardly. Dude, that's two more weeks of this he's gotta endure.]

[audio]

[arcinvent]

Scrooge. Oh wait, let me guess, you never read A Christmas Carol right?

[audio]

[slightoverkill]

And this is a crime, somehow?

[Mihawk is unimpressed by that remark, I'm afraid.]

[audio]

[arcinvent]

No, not a crime. Just making sure.

Ok let me lay it down for you. In the story there is an old man named Scrooge. Greediest guy you ever met. He just loves money more than anything else, including his own family. He also hates Christmas. A lot. Enough so that three ghosts come to haunt him and kick his ass into being nicer because they threaten him with death.

[Ok that is not actually how it goes, but lets be honest this is the shortest version he can give.]

[audio]

[slightoverkill]

[He lives right next door to Perona. Both Perona and Zoro currently function as those obnoxious teenage children parents are never ready to handle.

That and he's not really greedy. Just an asshole. That hates Christmas. Mostly.

Yeah, Mihawk is not really impressed by that story of yours, man.]

That... makes no sense at all?

[audio]

[arcinvent]

I'm giving you the abridged version here, it's a long story. Plus only one of the most renown authors, whose works are considered to be classical literature, wrote it. You probably don't know him.

[He sighs.]

Anyway the story is famous because it teaches the lesson of not being a huge selfish asshole during the holidays and to value things that money can't buy. If you are a huge selfish asshole, chances are you're going to die a horrible death and no one will mourn you.

[Voice] CHJVHDT FI, YOU ARE A *VILLAIN*. 1/2

[hollower]

[Mental image downloading....please wait.


...



. . .




. . . .]

[audio]

[slightoverkill]

I don't suppose I do, that is not very familiar to me, but so I've been lead to believe that what I consider familiar might not be so in this place.

[Mihawk makes a small thoughtful sound in the back of his throat.]

What I still don't understand is how you make the leap between not liking this holiday and being a huge selfish asshole, as you so colorfully phrased it.

[audio]

[arcinvent]

It's just a common saying for anyone who acts like Christmas is a huge inconvenience. Not like the bright lights are going to kill you.

[Voice] - 2/2

[hollower]

[Load complete.]

Ffft--HOROHOROHOROHORO! [You done did just killed her, Mihawk. Perona's image careens out of the camera of the journal, though her hysterical laughter can still be heard off screen. There may, occasionally, be a shot of her kicking feet passing by, though.

Please stand by.]

[audio]

[slightoverkill]

Hn.

[Maybe he just likes stars better, huh? Ever thought of that? All these lights make it real hard to see the stars you know!



...yeah, okay, he's mostly being cranky for the sake of being cranky, so your Scrooge point actually works. BUT JUST SAYING, THERE ARE OTHER OPTIONS TO CONSIDER, YOU KNOW.]

[Voice]

[slightoverkill]

Hn.

[HIS LIFE IS HARD AND NO ONE UNDERSTANDS. OKAY.]

[audio]

[arcinvent]

[He'll take that 'hn' as a victory.]

Well, hey! Like I said, you only got until the 25th. And I don't know if anyone here celebrates New Years or not. Just chin up and enjoy the eggnog until then.

[Except for him. He's going to explode fireworks.]

[Action]

[bubblywishes]

[Oh my god, that's perhaps the most frightening thing Norma's seen all day. Sure she's almost definitely served this guy a drink or two at the bar on occasion, but she never stopped to really...look at him. And now she can Norma why - she's almost sure this guy would be capable of eating her if pushed far enough.]

No. [Said a bit too fast, and she doesn't meet those crazy eyes of his - Norma's already making absurd hypotheses that they have some kind of hypnotic power or something - and casually points at the bar.] ...You going in? I'm on duty right now and on top of my toes about to freeze off, I'm...preeeetty sure I remember what you like. On the house.

[JUST DON'T EAT ME.]

[Voice] - 1/3 THIS IS REVENGE.

[hollower]

[While Perona laughs herself silly, a vile, terrible, wonderful idea comes to mind. No hat, he says? Fine, she can dig that. Totally respects your decision, Mihawk-sama.

Because she thought so something BETTER. 8)

With a shaky hand, and one hand covering her mouth, Perona draws a nice little picture in her journal:]