gavemyword | three // [action]

three // [action]

[The lack of Zoro may have only been felt by a select few, but the angry looking child walking around the village proper should be of some interest to anyone just kind of hanging around. Clad in a slightly raggy outfit, leaves sticking out of his hair, he doesn't look like he's had a proper bath in days. But don't worry, folks, moldy green is his natural hair color. Strapped to his back is a familiar white katana; on his face: an equally familiar dark scowl.

If he looks a bit twitchy, forgive him. He's been hiding out in the forest and Luceti hasn't been very kind to him these last few days. He'll just be wandering around town, peering curiously through shop windows and trying to pretend he wasn't lost.

At some point in the day, he's gonna find that he's hungry enough to go ~~begging~~ demanding food at Seventh Heaven ~~or wherever Sanji is at the moment orz~~. Maybe they'll let him chop wood in exchange for a meal. Hmm, hmm.]

((ooc: The boy arrived September 30 so feel free to run into him when/wherever. Replies will be coming from

zorichan this time around. Have at!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Zoro's wandering around a bit absentmindedly as well, though his only excuse for it is that he's a lost, hungry 8-year-old boy. He accidentally walks into Vivi, sputtering a little.]

Oof-- [He'd start a fight, but he knows better than to piss people off when he's in a new town.]-- uh, sorry lady.

[Now to try and hurry off before she decides to get mad at him anyway. Adults were weird sometimes.]

It's all right. [She answers automatically, even before looking down at the small figure now beginning to back away from her. The moment her eyes drag across that trademark shade of green hair, however, she gasps in surprised recognition. The fact that Zoro had been kidnapped, and that she's seen this particular effect in the crew more than a few times (even experienced it herself recently) leave no doubt in her mind as to the identity of this child. Even if there were the slightest bit of uncertainty, the familiar hilt of the katana showing above his shoulder would be enough to banish that.]

Mr Bushido? [Ah, but of course that name will mean nothing to him at this age, and he's already on the retreat.] Z-Zoro-san! [She lifts one hand slightly in his direction, ready to make a grab for him if the sound of his name doesn't give him pause.]

[He stops in his tracks, confused. Zoro... san?]

Y... Yeah, what? [He tenses a bit out of habit. The lady didn't look mad but you never really know with some people.]

[Well. She has his attention. Now what? Vivi gives him a quick once-over, and--judging by the state of his clothes and his general grubbiness--decides he must have been on his own for at least a few days already. She quickly gives him a friendly smile.]

I thought that must be you. My name's Vivi. It's very nice to meet you. [She pauses for a moment before continuing.] Aren't you a little cold in those clothes? [...then again, this is Zoro, so maybe playing another card would be more successful.] Or...are you hungry? It's almost lunchtime. [Now here's hoping he won't find this all entirely too suspicious.]

[~~wow vivi way to be a creeper~~

He looks at her suspiciously. Because between Marco, Mihawk, and Vivi, Vivi is the one he decides to be wary about. 9_9a]

I'm fine. [His stomach growls loudly, obviously begging to differ. Begrudgingly:] ... ok, guess I'm a little hungry.

Me too. Should we get something to eat? [She shifts her posture, ready to head back in the direction of House 6 once she knows he'll follow. Clothes can wait. She can tell he's wary, and wracks her brain for what might be the best way to get him to relax. Well. He's too young to be a fan of booze yet (at least she hopes), but there's another subject she's certain he'll enjoy.]

That's a very nice katana. You must be quite the swordsman, am I right?

[Now you're talkin', lady. Have a smile for your troubles.]

Yeah! You can tell, huh? It's a good sword. [He looks up at Wadou proudly, though his smile falters a bit when he remembers how he got it. And why.] Um. I don't mind gettin' some food. I don't have any money, though.

That's all right. There's plenty to go around at my house. What sort of things do you like? [She begins to walk, slowly, glancing back to see if he follows.]

[And follow he does. He trots along next to her, hands casually clasped behind his head.]

Whatever you got is fine! I can eat anything! [He says that with the proud demeanor of someone who's had to eat eat bugs for breakfast once or twice.]

But don't you have any favorites? [Vivi doesn't doubt he'd gladly scarf down whatever she placed in front of him, but if she can do anything to make him more apt to willingly hang around, it would be helpful.]

I like spicy things. What about you?

Ummmm... [Thinking!] Sensei says rice makes you stronger, so I guess that!

[Vivi nods. Rice is easy.] All right! We'll have some rice, then. And maybe a sandwich? [Never mind that those don't exactly go together. Sandwiches are easy too.]

[She hopes someone else will be home when they get there; having another person to help her convince Zoro that he should stay with them would be a big help.]

Ok. We usually just have fish with our rice. [He says, as a general sort of statement. Zoro's actually kind of spacing out, observing at all the shops and houses they pass by. He's looking pretty relaxed, all things considered.]

Edited (nitpicking!) 2012-10-04 21:33 (UTC)

Well. We may have fish. I suppose I could try making some... [Sounding a little uncertain about that because she's never prepared fish before.]

Huh? Oh, that's ok. [Don't get him wrong, he's not consciously trying to be polite. He really was just thinking out loud.] That's just how sensei does it... umm. What did you say your name was again, lady?

Hm. Maybe just a compromise with tuna sandwiches; how does that sound?

[Lady. Okay, technically that's probably a little rude, but it's Zoro, and coming from him right now, Vivi can't see it as anything but adorable.] It's Vivi.

Vivi... [His face scrunches up like he's trying to see how the word fits in his mouth.

Yeah, he can live with that.] Vivi. Tuna sandwiches, huh. That's fine. [Zoro doesn't remember if he's ever had one, but he's usually willing to try things once.]

[She smiles as he repeats her name, glad he seems to be warming up to her. Maybe it won't be too hard to convince him he should stay.]

We're almost there. [She points to House 6 in the near distance, and idly wonders whether Zoro's sense of direction is the same even as a child. Is it possible it could even be worse?]

[He sees it and nods but feels no real interest apart from the rumbling in his belly.]

It's real big. [He offers, just in case she expected him to say something about it.]

Quite a few people live there. [She glances down at him, again taking in the state he's in--there must be some clothes that would fit him, left over from other crew chibifications. And, frankly, he's on the filthy side.]

Hm. Maybe while I'm making lunch, you might like a bath?

[He looks down at his clothes curiously.] Why? I just swam in the river yesterday.

[Even though that was to catch fish and, ok, maybe he wasn't in it for very long, and he'd forgotten to wash off those streaks of mud on his arm. But it still counts!]

Well, you'll need to wash up before you eat anyway. [Vivi states this as if it's an obvious fact.] And it'll warm you up. You must be a little cold in this weather in those clothes.

[She raises one finger as if a thought just occurred to her.] I think we may even have some nicer clothes for you to wear. Those are getting a little ragged, don't you think?

They're fine... [He mutters, but it's half-hearted at best. He was thinking about trying to find something to replace his old clothes anyway. He didn't even realize he still had them after sensei gave him uniforms to wear.]

... I guess some warm water would be nice.

[She beams at that, despite it not exactly being an enthusiastic agreement.]

That's the spirit! I'm sure it'll feel wonderful. [And here they are! Vivi pulls open the front door and holds it for Zoro.] After you!

[You win this round, Vivi. >B|

Zoro enters the house as warily as an arrogant 8-year-old kendo prodigy is capable of being, which means he's already stomping around looking like he owns the place. He crosses his arms and looks Vivi right in the eye.]

Where's the bathroom. [Period, not question mark.]