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Dec 24, 2015 13:20:50 GMT 7
Post by honey candy on Dec 24, 2015 13:20:50 GMT 7
| * " Uh, I'm sorry if that was not to your liking, maybe I was being rude - " The apology came as somewhat confusing to the girl, but it hardly showed through the expectant look on her face. " because we're only strangers -after all-, if you would like me to I'll introduce myself. My name is Yang Xiao. " The name clicked for her instantly, her lips remaining in a firm line as she slowly blinked her eyes - the only reaction he'd be getting for his introduction. She remembered now where she'd heard the name. Eavesdropping in the kitchen.
" Also, little lady, it's my treat. Please enjoy. " As friendly as his words were the sudden intensity of his gaze struck her as a challenge. A scrawny kid watching her with such a powerful stare without the soul to back it up wasn't worth her time. She wasn't budging an inch.
Her bored stare dropped down to the menu being held out to her, halfway tempting her to close the distance between them. It was the hand that extended toward her that did the trick, though most likely not for the reason the boy was expecting.
" It's nice to meet you, miss? " The tomato in her hold exploded suddenly as she tightened her grip, a mess of pale red flesh and watery pink liquid spilling through her fingers and dripping down her arm. The hand reached out to grip at the one offered to her, clasping around it just a bit too tightly as she held it there stiffly. " Candy Honey, " she answered firmly, inspecting his gaze with only the slightest bit of recognition before moving to pull her hand back and take the seat across from him.
Tucking her skirt beneath herself with her messy hand she sat down, cradling her last two tomatoes against her chest. " Do you want to try the white wine? I can re-order it for you if you want. "
" No thanks, " came a dull reply, her gaze wandering back over toward the chefs busying themselves with preparations for the rest of the evening. " I know you, " she admitted, resting her cheek on the knuckles of her dripping fist.
" Are you really the wizard you're talked up to be? "
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Dec 24, 2015 5:32:56 GMT 7
Post by honey candy on Dec 24, 2015 5:32:56 GMT 7
| * As a roar of cheering erupted from around her, a whistle piercing the air nearby, she tucked her coinpurse into the front of her shirt and got to work on making herself comfortable. Her tiny figured leaned forward, spindly arms resting themselves on the counter as she tilted her head slightly, resting her cheek in the palm of her had. The two men beside her, finally overcoming their surprise, glanced between each other. A crooked grin spread across the further one's face as he shrugged lightly, all to happy to accept the tankard being passed to him.
" Let's have a drinking contest! Winner gets 100,000 beli! "
Honey didn't pay the familiar voice any mind, but the grinning man seated nearby at the bar was certainly interested. Bounding off of his chair the ale in his tankard splashed out to spatter on the floor in front of him. " YOU'RE ON! " being his enthusiastic response as he jogged toward the white haired stranger. The man seated just beside Honey however turned his attention to the little girl and opened his mouth to speak, a call for attention piping up from just behind the pair. " Oy! "
Suddenly a head popped in just beside her, obviously trying to steal her attention away from the tender still working frantically to fill the large order she'd just placed. She saw it well enough from the corner of her vision, but she didn't bother to pay it any mind. "Where'd you get all that money, huh?" He continued, further wedging himself between Honey and the now snarling soldier set behind him.
" Even if you had rich parents, they wouldn't let their kid wander into a place like this, y'know, " he rambled on. " Did'ya steal it? " She didn't look toward him even as he paused for a short instance to think. " No, I guess not, you wouldn't be giving it away if you stole it. "
She finally turned her head to glance at Sable, her fingers curling into her palm as she rested her chin on her fist, lids dropping a short ways over her golden eyes. " You're not very bright, " she informed him flatly, taking note of the darkening expression of the muscled sailor behind the curious young man and the slight set of footsteps wandering closer toward them.
Her disinterested gaze remained set on Sable as the contents of Kevin's half empty mug soaked the back of the man's head. She blinked slowly, her focus shifting to the little boy with the same lack of concern.
" What's it matter to you what the -rich- missus does with er money? " came his now accented voice. Thankfully, most of the simple-minded patrons were already too distracted with Guy to pay their little exchange any mind. " I'd be a little more afraid of you stealin' it see'n a grown man like you tryin' to creepin' on a little girl like that! She'd be better off givin' it to me. " She stared flatly at Kevin, watching a goofy grin spread across his lips as he continued. " I'm probably her type anyway! "
The large sailor seated just behind the curious young man well into Honey's personal space reached to set a large, calloused hand on Sable's shoulder, and give it a sudden threatening squeeze. It seemed to draw Honey's attention, her focus shifting to the corner of her eyes to watch. " You've got a big mouth, kid, " he warned sternly, his free hand reaching for the tankard resting on the bar.
A light frown on her lips she returned her gaze to the little man sporting a now empty mug - one of her assigned partners. " I don't think you can help me. " Her tone dropped as she leveled her eyes with his, unimpressed.
As hard as she had been trying to listen in on the conversations humming about the bar, between Guy's contest, the curious stranger's big mouth, and her current teammate's "support," it was hard to gather much. A few murmurs about stocking up, one group mentioning setting sail in the morning. All in all, little to write in her report.
Her phrasing, though, did seem to catch the attention of an eavesdropping patron or two, a couple of sailors sparing her a glance before supposedly returning to their own business.
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Dec 23, 2015 10:00:23 GMT 7
Post by honey candy on Dec 23, 2015 10:00:23 GMT 7
| * Though she couldn't see his gaze wander toward the uniformed Marine seated nearby, she knew full well who the note had been delivered to. Her piercing stare didn't seem to let up at the arch of his brow, her lips remaining set as he looked to her with a bored look of confusion. There was only a brief moment of silence before he answered.
" What kind of stupid question is that? "
He didn't seem the least bit concerned. His nonchalant reply however did little to weaken her staring, golden eyes boring holes into him as they remained locked in their place. As intent as Honey was on staring at him, he didn't show much sign of being disturbed. He stared right back, even as he rose his hand to call for the waiter.
Her gaze didn't shift as the smiling man hurried over, no response given to the waiter even as he kindly asked for their orders. She watched as his focus dropped back down to his menu. " Sesame-crusted tuna with wasabi-ponzu sauce. " Though she recognized as food her attention was too fixed for her mind to sort out the flavor profile. " And what would your daughter like? "
The words just barely caught her attention, but one wouldn't be able to tell by her seemingly permanent expression. " What do you want pipsqueak? " Pulling one clasped hand away from the other she opened her fingers to push her own menu toward the waiter, not so much as tilting her head in his direction. It was funny how the stranger's words vaguely reminded her of her adoptive father on a bad day.
" Sesame-crusted tuna with red pepper ponzu. " " No wasabi, " she clarified. Taking her hand back she locked its fingers with its opposite, finally pulling her gaze away to turn her stare to the Marine the letter had been delivered to as the waiter quickly jotted down her order. Apparently used to such a tense atmosphere as lingered around the girl in the restaurant, the waiter simply quirked the corners of his lips further upward. " I'll have it out right away, " he assured them as he drew his pen away from the page, giving a slight bow before quickly departing from them.
She leaned back into her own seat slowly, hands kept folded neatly in front of her as her gaze shifted toward the doorway, now bustling with the rest of the Marines from her crew. It seemed she wasn't the only one taking advantage of the Captain's regular stop.
Her eyes turned back to Polo to study him in silence, the intensity of her gaze having waned only the slightest bit.
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Dec 23, 2015 7:45:24 GMT 7
Post by honey candy on Dec 23, 2015 7:45:24 GMT 7
| * " Their soup is pretty good. " Her softened gaze drew away from the patron headed their way to settle on Polo, catching sight of his deathly glare to the waiter headed in their direction. She could hear their footsteps shift nearby, turning to wander elsewhere - but it hardly seemed enough to satisfy the cigarette chewing barnacle seated across the table from her.
A frown set on her lips as he stretched to lounge like a lanky cat in his chair. Death is coming. The answer came to her suddenly, the words he'd written on the sheet of paper striking her as incredibly suspicious.
" Are you Death? " she asked coldly, reflecting his unwelcoming demeanor back at him.
Her gaze shifted as her golden eyes hardened, her focus directing itself to his menu. The moment the menu dropped from between them Polo would find the girl's intense gaze locked pointedly onto his own.
Honey's lips set in a grim line as her gaze narrowed only a fraction. The rest of the restaurant had been tuned out.
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Dec 23, 2015 2:35:14 GMT 7
Post by honey candy on Dec 23, 2015 2:35:14 GMT 7
| * It smelled good. Honey lifted her head slightly, scanning the windows of the second story windows of the pale-stoned buildings lining the street. It made the tomatoes carried in her arm seem meager in comparison. They hadn't even reached the plaza, and already her soft eyes had begun to burn with a familiar intensity.
The pair she was all-too-obviously following after was just ahead - through she wasn't able to identify their steps against the others clapping against the walkway. Her eyes dropped from the buildings as she took a hearty bite of the tomato still held in her grip, savoring its fresh flavor as her focused gaze fell once again on the chefs guiding her to her destination. With the scent of spices and seared meats weighing heavier in the air with each step forward, she was sure it couldn't have been far by now.
" So, is the new plaza to your liking? " Honey continued forward to the point she nearly bumped into Yang's back, stopping a reasonably uncomfortable distance away as she opened her mouth wide to gulp down the last of her held tomato. " Oho," the sound drew her eyes upward to scan over the plaza thoroughly. It was so -
" So when will the competition begin? " Honey stepped around the two to stand nearby, staring out over the competition grounds with a fiery pair of eyes. Her gaze eased along the edges of the decorated plaza, drawing from the chefs hard at work to the vibrant displays of giant fish, fruits, and vegetables. Taking a tomato from her arm she took another step forward, listening to the familiar clank, chop, and sizzle of chefs hard at work just barely hidden beneath the cheerful conversation of the happy crowd seated at the sheltered tables in the center. She could vaguely hear the pair behind her continue to chatter on, a chuckle sounding from behind her as her lips set in a flat line, taking a moment to scan the surrounding roofs and windows.
After a moment of standing and admiring the view, a clap from somewhere close by caught her attention. " Mister Yang of table one, I take it? " Her focus dropped down suddenly, centering on the bright head of hair she had been following earlier. " Yes, that's me. " As familiar as his name was, she was certain she had never seen his face before. She eyed his smile from her current position, reaching blindly to take a fresh tomato into her hand. Someone with such an irritating smile would have stuck in her mind, she would have thought. " What is it that you want to order? Sir? "
Sharp eyes shot immediately to the menu taken so gracefully into the young man's grip. Honey started forward again, standing a short ways away to try and read the words from a distance. The way he rose his hand to point at the menu, however, made it impossible for her.
" This is what I want, " he started, listing off his order easily for the woman as Honey's eyes slowly drew back to stare intently at his unfamiliar face, trying to place it. She noted too that the waitress seem keenly interested in the man, a tinge of pink just barely rising to her cheeks - growing just half a shade darker at the stranger's wink. So, she noted, listening carefully to his words. Yang has a friend coming.
The tomato in her hand rose a ways into the air as she tossed it upward, catching it easily and sending it back into the air again to catch again. It sounded strange to her, considering he hadn't even known where the event would take place. Her gaze remained locked on the boy as the waitress disappeared from view to place his order, the tomato landing softly in her hand suddenly gripped tightly by her fingers - straining its red skin. What a wimpy looking guy. Maybe she'd throw her tomato at his head for a little fun.
" So little lady... " She knew immediately that she was the one he was referring to, though she didn't recognize his call with any sort of reaction. Her piercing gaze remained locked, a subtle frown on her face, the skin of the tomato in her hand nearly splitting in her grip. " Why have you been following me? "
" That depends, " she responded sharply, relaxing her grip on the tomato to give it another toss and catch it easily in her palm. " Who's your friend? "
She didn't move from her place, watching "Mister Yang" with an unwavering gaze. As obvious as she'd been about her stalking, she would only be half surprised if she was the one he had ordered food for. However, if that was the case, she would have to wonder why he skimped out on the white wine.
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Dec 22, 2015 13:18:42 GMT 7
Post by honey candy on Dec 22, 2015 13:18:42 GMT 7
| * Honey stared up blankly at the scaffolding marking Gol Roger's execution, crunching noisily on a chunk of the red apple held in her hand. It was bizarre, she thought, tuning out the hum of activity surrounding her in the crowded market plaza. Her eyes glanced toward the edge of the busy square, settling on the covered booths surrounding it, the shouts of eager salesmen cheering out over the chatter of the villagers and tourists lured there. Slowly her gaze turned back to the stand. The WG had balls, she'd give them that. Keeping this thing standing even when it inspired so many pirates? She scoffed to herself, starting off to the other side of the plaza in search of a better snack, tossing her apple aside for some passerby to trip over. They must have seen themselves as truly unstoppable.
" C-chef Yang! " Quiet footsteps lead her up to a particularly luxurious farmer's stand, and old man sporting a particularly beaten looking straw hat , spraying down the fat watermelons and glossy tomatoes with a pale colored squirt-bottle. Funny. Her gaze drifted over the fruits and vegetables laid out before her slowly. The name sounded familiar.
"Excuse me, who are you?" Asked a polite tone from somewhere nearby, her ears tuning to eavesdrop on the conversation as she casually took a tomato into her hand for evaluation. The drops of water glistening on its smooth red surface made her want to take a bite. " You do not recognize me? " came a snobbish reply. Honey thoughtlessly took a bite of her tomato, the leathery old man caring for the stall giving her a dangerous look. " It's me, one of your former rivals from last year, Mister Champion. "
Honey instantly tuned the conversation out, glancing up from her tomato as she chewed languidly. Catching the staring of the owner of the stall her focus shifted to fall upon him slowly. She could vaguely piece together a request for an autograph, some mention of a food competition being dropped as she continued her bored staredown with the reddening face of the old man at the stand.
"Superior cuisine." The words rang in her ears, causing her to finally turn her gaze to the corner of her eyes to catch a glimpse of the mysterious chef the woman sounded to be fawning over. "HEY," came a shout from the stall owner, a spray of water hitting her face.
Her eyes shut tight as her nose scrunched up. Her eyes opened slowly to glare at the pouty old man, a deepset frown at her lips. In return he rose his squirt bottle, ready to let her have it again. Apparently, that was all the incentive she needed. A hand reached into her shirt to pull out her coinpurse, snapping it open and drawing a single bill into her fingers.
She held out her hand as she snapped the pouch shut, allowing the man to take the beli before tucking the purse back into her shirt. Grabbing a couple more tomatoes to cradle in her arm she took another spiteful bite, staring the old man down as she moved to follow after the amazing chef and his obnoxious rival.
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Dec 21, 2015 9:42:38 GMT 7
Post by honey candy on Dec 21, 2015 9:42:38 GMT 7
| * She was purposefully avoiding looking at Guy - seeing as he read exhausting the second she laid eyes on his big, doofy grin. Even from the side of the road she could feel the excitement gushing from his over-excited spirit.
Her gaze drew upward as the over eager Ensign moved on ahead, opening the door to the building and disappearing inside. She lifted her chin upward to glance at the sign now nearly overhead, faintly taking note of an additional pair of steps that seemed to have fallen in line with the group's own.
A voice piped up from just beside her, though she didn't turn her head to grant the speaker her full attention. "How do you suppose we'd go about finding interesting people without..." She slowly came to a halt, still staring up at the sign. "Getting to know them?"
She drew her gaze back downward, closing the distance between herself and the door and taking the handle into her delicate grip, drawing it open.
" Trouble thinking for yourself? " she questioned, turning her eyes to the patrons inside the bar. She couldn't help but wonder why Marley was there. Two kids assigned to survey a bar? They may not have been easily pinned as Marines, but it would still look suspicious in some respect. But then, she was never encouraged to question her assignments.
Her yellow eyes settled on the singing Guy as she stepped inside, relaxing under the warmth and fermented smell of ale. She stood there in the doorway for a moment before starting toward the bar, pulling a coinpurse from the front of her shirt.
She hopped up onto the barstool easily, the bartender and the particularly burly sailor two her side both cocking their brows and staring in mild confusion as she settled herself down casually, lifting her gaze to the mustached man on the other side of the counter.
" Water, " she ordered casually, as if a little girl walking into a crowded bar and seating herself at the counter was the most normal thing in the world. With a soft click she opened her coinpurse, revealing a wad of bills with more zeroes than a twelve year old girl had any right to carry. Her haul from her trip to the Baratie.
" And two anonymous rounds for the bar, " she added, easing a few bills from the clip and setting them on the bartop, scooting them toward the barkeep with a single tiny finger.
Both the man beside her and the tender stood there and gawked for a moment, another man seated nearby leaning over the counter to stare at the bills and the tiny hand resting there.
Honey drew her hand back slowly, eyeing the bartender with a confident smile drawn on her lips. " Can you handle that? " Her coinpurse snapped shut in her hand.
The tender nodded quickly, snatching the bills from the counter and stuffing them in his pocket as he spun on his heel and got to work, moving quickly to get the drinks ready as he bellowed out the good news over the rising noise of the crowd.
" Two free rounds! Courtesy our anonymous big spender! "
The two men seated at the bar gawking at her on in confusion, obviously having some trouble coming to terms with what they'd just seen.
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Dec 21, 2015 3:42:28 GMT 7
Post by honey candy on Dec 21, 2015 3:42:28 GMT 7
| * The sun had already begun set into the horizon, hidden behind the stone towers of the cityscape. Parents were on their ways home with their children, lights flickering in home windows as stores began closing up shop for the night, stars just beginning to peek from the passing bright light of day.
Excitement was already filling the air, but what else could be expected of Loguetown? The hushed chattering whispering through the streets, interrupted only by the occasional hearty laugh, was starting to grow louder - the streets starting to fill with people once again as night owls came creeping out from their homes and slinking their ways up from the docks.
A wooden sign swayed and creaked in the breeze, posted near a door on a building just up the street. The Gold Roger Bar was just ahead.
Honey sighed, her steps quiet against the stone-paved road leading up to the establishment. Hands in her pockets, eyes settled to the side of the road, a bitter frown hung at her lips. The fur lining the hood of her coat ruffled under the cold evening breeze, brows resting over her bored gaze.
Bar Surveillance? Her eyes narrowed at the thought, her gaze drawing to the corner of her eye as she scrunched her nose slightly. What a useless mission. She stayed off to the side, fully aware and actively keeping track of her assigned partners' locations. They could easily pass her up and head into the bar with the leisurely pace she saw fit to walk at. After all, at this point she didn't seem much for conversation.
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Dec 20, 2015 7:08:12 GMT 7
Post by honey candy on Dec 20, 2015 7:08:12 GMT 7
| * She had heard the displeasure in his confused little sound, the strong negative vibes sent in the direction of the waiter that had escorted her causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end. The little girl cocked her head to one side, her long white hair falling over her shoulders as she studied the menu closely - otherwise unperturbed by the stranger's decidedly grumpy mood. " Where's your parents, girl? " It seemed that this crabby sailor didn't miss a beat.
Her menu suddenly flicked downward as she flipped it to rest flat against the table, her gaze flitting up quickly to lock on her dining partner.
" Interesting," she started, folding her hands in a very polite manner. " I don't see that on the menu. "
From the looks of things though, it seemed her smart-aleck reply may have fallen on deaf ears. Her companion had already turned his gaze elsewhere. Her eyes narrowed slightly as he reached into his coat pocket, following the movements of his hand carefully as he began scribbling something down on a piece of paper. Her yellow gaze focused further, tracing along with his pen to try and decipher the message through its drops, loops, and point. It was clear in her eyes she was calculating, even as she turned her focus back up to the stranger as he handed off the note.
Just like that, he had propped up his menu between them, blocking Honey's view of the frown she was certain she'd caught a peek at. Her gaze fixed on his menu as the gears in her mind continued to turn. With nothing to distract her, the written letters were taking shape - the first word alone was -
It was her growling stomach that tore her from her thoughts, her steady gaze breaking from her partner's menu as she blinked quickly in her surprise. Lucky, considering she'd just about managed to stare a hole through the thing. The sound of footsteps followed soon after her belly's rumbling, drawing her attention elsewhere. Her eyes lifted their focus curiously, watching another patron be escorted through the tables. It seemed someone was headed their way. Whether or not they'd be seated with them or simply nearby couldn't be said for certain, though.
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Dec 20, 2015 1:45:08 GMT 7
Post by honey candy on Dec 20, 2015 1:45:08 GMT 7
open; @-- @-- @--
| * Gulls drifted by overhead, circling the ocean restaurant in anticipation. Their familiar cries sounded almost quiet against the churning of the waves below, the doors to the glorified little kitchen boat practically humming with all the activity going on inside. Honey's large round eyes widened as she stared down the double doors marking the entrance with an almost tangible air of eagerness, a small hand reaching up to pull at one of the handles. With the ocean at her back and the prospect of a delicious lunch just ahead, her stomach flipped in her excitement.
The rich smell of stewed meats and heady spices combined with the comforting warmth and cheerful energy of the restaurant welcomed her like a much wanted hug. Honey stood in the doorway, her chest puffing up with air as she took a deep, slow breath, a small smile creeping up onto her features. The lunch hour rush. The Baratie was packed nearly to capsizing with rowdy sailors and uppity busybodies alike, chattering away and having themselves a good time over gourmet dishes that made the girl's mouth water at a simple glance. The fact that there was hardly space to take a step hardly bothered her and, really, didn't pose much of a challenge for such a tiny thing. Slinking her way along, dodging legs, swords, and purses just ripe for the picking, she worked her way toward the front of the crowd and was quickly pulled aside by one of the waiters to be dragged off to a table.
Of course, with it being lunch hour, she could hardly expect the table to be anything other than occupied. With her hands grasping a newly "acquired" coinpurse in front of her, she smiled up at the table with an eerily wide grin, directing her focus to the menu rather than the fellow patron she faintly registered as sitting on the opposite side of the table. She swatted her waiter's hands away with a slight frown as he tried to help her up, clambering up into her chair by her own power. Waving him off with a pursed pair of lips, her gaze glued itself entirely to her menu.
Honestly, she probably could have benefited from a booster seat. She was already moving to draw her legs beneath herself in an effort to gain a few more inches over the table, tucking her coinpurse beneath herself as she got comfortable in her seat. Her tiny figure was nearly hidden from her lunchmate by the tall menu standing in her hands. Aside from her head of white hair, only her little fingers showed as she tapped at the menu's edge.
" What would you recommend? "
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