Haunted HQ [open]

[Lucia von Frevel]

The setting sun was painting the sky orange and the dark colors of the night crept after it. Uniformed people were marching towards the buildings, getting ready for the night. Today had been another serene, work-filled day at Marineford, the famously impenetrable stronghold of justice. The proud Marines had once again earned their rest, but... Little did they know, tonight, a plan was in motion... A plan to ensure no Marine would sleep soundly... For a dark figure walked silently along the paved path towards the biggest building. In its wake, the chilling wind was picking up, bringing more than just ominous shivers...

Just behind the massive front door, in a long entry corridor, two guards had taken over the night shift. They were already getting comfortable for a peaceful night. No one was foolish enough to attack the home of most powerful Marines after all. However, the lull was unexpectedly broken when a short girl with long twin tails, dressed in a dark Lolita dress, walked past them with a graceful stride, even though they could’ve sworn they didn’t notice the door opening. Regardless, after visiting hours this area was off-limits for all civilians, even for nobles. Nodding at each other, the duo decided to kindly escort her out. But when they turned to approach the girl... "Hey, Miss, this area is- ...huh?"

The hallway was suddenly empty.

Before the puzzled duo could ponder about it, a calm voice chimed from behind them. "Are you looking for someone?" They quickly turned around and took a surprised step backwards when the very same girl was now standing right there. A shadow from her hair hid her eyes while a black surgical mask covered the rest of her face. The soft voice spoke again, this time with a different question. "Do you think I’m pretty?" Unsure what to say, the Marines shrugged. "Well, you are kind of cute, yeah..." While there was something undeniably eerie about her, they didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

Only after giving the uncertain answer, the nervous men actually managed to get a better look at her. However, the sight made turned them pale. The cute, small girl was anything but cute. Her clothes were torn and stained with blood... She didn’t have eyes, only bleeding eye sockets... And as the final horror, she pulled the surgical mask aside, revealing a mouth full of razor-sharp teeth, twisted into a disturbing grin. "Do you still think I’m pretty?" The two Marines screamed from the top of their lungs "G-g-g-g-ghost!" and ran away fast enough to set some sort of record, leaving the ghastly girl standing alone in the empty hallway.

Once the silence returned, sharp ears could’ve picked up an amused whisper...

"Mufufufu... Oh this is just too easy..."

[Weegee Virotelli]

It was his third day at sea, having just 'escaped' from his homeland some unknown distance away now. He hadn't seen land at all, until that morning. But, of course, a small raft boat could only go so far when rowed. However, he was a little, apprehensive about going ashore in full view, so he worked his magi, weaving himself into the shape of a small spider, just before arriving in sight of any onlookers.

The sun was setting by the time his boat had arrived at shore, the empty-looking vessel banging against the docks as a few marines examined it. No one happened to catch the little spider scuttling across the docks faster than any spider should move, but that wasn't their biggest problem, as he barely avoided colliding into two panicked men as they rushed screaming out of a doorway.

'Ok, my interest is piqued.'

Quietly, he scuttled into the hallway, creeping across the ceiling until he was above a young woman in a rather interesting garb. As if from nowhere, his voice echoed down the hall as he spoke softly.

"And what do we have here before us? A young maiden scaring people from their own wits? I must say, thus is quite a conundrum of predicament to believe. However, I am of course, inclined to believe it, as I'm not sure of what this world can offer yet."

He remained above her as he spoke, hidden behind the illusion of being a tiny spider, that was merely rubbing its forearms together as it seemed to watch a fly on the wall.

[Lucia von Frevel]

The snickering vanished immediately when the girl heard another voice speak. She smiled devilishly and her empty eye sockets lit up with tiny blue flames. Another victim had walked right into her lap. Perfect. Her body remained still, but her head slowly turned around with a disgusting crack. Though her mouth didn't move, an ominous whisper echoed through the quiet corridor. "You shouldn't have come here..." However, this time it was her who found herself staring at nothing. How odd... She could've sworn someone had spoken just now. Falling deathly silent, the ghastly girl glanced around and even above her, but only saw a lone spider on the ceiling. Perhaps her victim had already ran away.

Yet, she still had a feeling that she was being watched...

However, the girl wasn't bothered in the slightest. She only glanced around once more before deciding to ignore the feeling, just like she ignored the spider on the ceiling. It simply didn't matter. Even if someone tried to spy on her, they wouldn't be able to read her actions. No one could anymore. She was supernaturally elusive. Her intentions, emotions and sometimes even movements just seemed to escape understanding. Not even the users of Kenbunshoku Haki could get more than one eerie sensation out of her presence... The unshakable feeling that this terrifying girl was already dead...

Turning around, the girl headed down the corridor with oddly dignified and graceful stride, quite unfitting for a bloodstained ghost. As she walked, her form slowly changed. The blood and injuries faded away in ghastly glow, until she looked just like a normal girl. Since there was no bounty poster of her, only her crew and people familiar with nobles could have recognized her as Lucia von Frevel, a former noble recently turned to piracy. Why she had appeared in the Marine stronghold was something only she and her Captain knew. Rest assured, it meant nothing good for the poor Marines stationed here tonight.

Lucia's soundless walk took her towards the office wing of the building.

Soon enough, she came across a door noticeably different from others. Unfortunately, she didn't have time to read the nameplate when another Marine arrived from a different corridor and approached her rather nervously. "E-excuse me, miss... I don't mean to accuse, but I was told there was a ghost here... And you fit the description..." Lucia smiled kindly and shook her head, starting with an honestly comforting tone. However, as she spoke, her red eyes slowly started to glow. "Don't worry... I haven't seen a single ghost during the 500 years I have spent looking for the Marine who murdered me..." With those ominous words, she passed right through the door, sending another grown man running in terror.

But what awaited her behind the mysterious door?

[Weegee Virotelli]

His arrival was greeted in a most unusual fashion from the young woman, one he did not expect from a human, or in fact, anyone outside of members of his own kingdom. A reply of ominous proportion, meant to scare anyone who was there, and surely, a shiver did trail down the back of his spine, but he smiled broadly as she looked up directly at him. His first thought was that he had found someone to play alongside.

As she took her leave, the Lischling prince followed along in stride, and if she were to notice the spider, she'd see it moving at her own speed across the ceiling. When another figure presented itself, Weegee watched in fascination at her ability to scare the living daylight out of the man, and of course the fascinating power she possessed to walk right through the door.

"Well now, what trickery does this new friend employ? Much more broad a spectrum than my own, but still upon the daylight can she walk? My, my, have I found myself an interesting date in these hopeless halls of little faith. A ghost in form and thought perhaps? Or rapscallion in guise of such?"

While still appearing as a spider, he gently lowered himself to the floor, he began shaking it violently as his spider-arms scraped slowly down the stone walls beside it. The commotion caught the attention of a pair of Marines, who had at first believed that all of the 'ghost' nonsense was tricks played by the lower ranks, but upon their arrival they would see nothing save a spider on the wall, if of course they were hardy enough to spare even that much time before running for the hills. The sight of cuts in the walls being made by something invisible was one that caused the lesser of men to quake in fear.

[Lucia von Frevel]

Behind the door, Lucia was met with a curious sight. The room she walked in was an office of sorts, with many large cabinets lining the white walls. An older Marine, clearly a higher rank than the ones she had seen so far, was sitting behind a massive table and going through thick piles of paper. He was so caught up in his work that he hadn't even noticed the young lady. Oh, this would be amusing. She approached the man without making a single sound until she was standing right in front of him. Her voice sounded out like a whisper in the wind.

"Good evening."

The polite, but eerie greeting was enough to snap the man right out of his workflow. He lifted his eyes towards the uninvited guest with a look of confusion and mild irritation. "Who are you and how did you get in here? I didn't hear the door opening." Smiling deviously, Lucia took another step forward, passing through the table. "That's because I didn't open it." Unlike the younger Marines however, the old veteran kept his cool, glaring at the ghastly girl with hardened eyes. "What are you and what do you want, little girl?" He had seen stranger things than this and he would be damned before he allowed a little girl scare him.

Unfortunately for him, Lucia took offense to his tactless wording. Her eyes lit up with red glow while her fingers slowly extended into scythe-like claws. She brought the sharp claw so close to his face that he could almost feel the chill from it. "Who or what I am is none of your concern, mortal." The contempt in her voice was threateningly clear, but he had brought it upon himself. He should have been more respectful towards a well-developed and in no way child-like lady. "And all I want is to rest in peace, but you Marines wouldn't allow me that." She was keeping her words mysterious on purpose. Humans were often afraid of uncertainty after all.

However, before Lucia could scare the poor veteran further, some commotion outside caught her attention. First, there was wall-shaking scraping, then more screams from Marines. The ghastly girl glanced towards the door thoughtfully. Hm, it sounded like someone else was causing trouble here as well. Were they an ally or perhaps an enemy? Her thoughts were interrupted when the veteran suddenly took advantage of her distraction and stormed past her. Taking out a Den Den Mushi, the man ran out of the door. "Come in Control Room! We have intruders! I repeat, we have in- hm?" His stone cold focus was broken when he saw the wall right outside of his office.

After a short double take, the veteran also took off screaming, making even the Den Den Mushi cringe. He could handle a creepy little girl, but an invisible monster with dangerous claws was just too much!

Lucia stepped out as well, glancing around curiously. She could see the marks and once again she had the feeling someone was watching. "Is someone else here?" For her, asking a nonchalant question in an empty hallway was nothing unusual.