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[cheerupemoborg]

[There's something scuttling up and down the castle halls this evening, stalking from the shadows.

Maybe you see something out of the corner of your eye - a flash of red and black. Maybe you hear the sound of metal briefly scraping against the the floor, or maybe you sense something else entirely.

Either way, walking down any of them, you can't help but like you're being watched. Or followed.

Or, y'know, both.]

Comments

[Action?]

[not_a_codfish]

[Hook was taking an evening stroll, when the feeling of being watched settles in. He attempts to ignore it at first, but the feeling doesn’t go away.

Finally able to take it no more, Hook draws his sword, brandishing his hook at the shadows.

Come out and face me!

[Action!]

[cheerupemoborg]

[From the shadows comes... a foot tall, bladed red thing. It stares at Hook incredulously, focusing mostly on his attire. And his mustache.]

[Forever!]

[not_a_codfish]

[Hook is taken aback by the outlandish appearance of the small creature before him. He stares for a beat, nonplused, then recovers his wits.

Lowering his sword slightly]

Well, hello there, and how are you on this fine evening? Who might you be?

[It can't hurt to be polite, right?]

[cheerupemoborg]

[The creature tilts its head, slightly.]

...Pawn. Pawniard?

[not_a_codfish]

[Sheathing his weapon, captain hook doffs his hat, bowing slightly.]

Well met Mr. Pawniard. I am Captain James Hook.

Why, if I may ask, are you following me about?

[cheerupemoborg]

[ZEROES IN ON THAT SWAG HAT, aw yeah.]

Pawn!

[In a single movement, the Pawniard leaps into the air... and right onto Hooks' head, bladed hands latching into his hat.]

[not_a_codfish]

[Aaaagh! Hook attempts to reach the small creature with his steely appendage, attempting to hook Pawniard under his helmet, or by some other protrusion.]

What the devil? Off! Off, I say!

[ooc: Feel free to have him escape]

[cheerupemoborg]

[lol okay.

Pawniard, hat firmly impaled on his claws, leaps back to the floor and dart offs down the hall.]

[not_a_codfish]

[Hook tears off after the little thing, yelling for all he is worth]

Come back you little thief!

[It quickly becomes apparent that Hook is outmatched by the smaller and more agile Pawniard. Man, Hook really needs to see about getting back into shape... Or hiring a crew to do the running for him... hmmm]

[cheerupemoborg]

[The Pawniard slows down just enough to give Hook time to catch up, teasingly waving the hat in the air.]

Paaaaawn...

[not_a_codfish]

[Hook barrels down the castle's corridors chasing Pawniard, making sporadic lunges for his hat]

pant I'll get you, fiend!

[Hook is clearly getting winded]

[cheerupemoborg]

[Pawniard does his best to keep out of Hook's reach, eventually jumping up and digging one of his claws into the top of the wall.

He lets the hat dangle form his other claw.]

Pawniiiii...

[not_a_codfish]

[Hook leaps upward, attempting to latch on to his hat with his hook]

Come... jump-miss Down... jump-miss Now!

[cheerupemoborg]

[The Pawniard pauses to consider... and bounces off the wall to land on Hook's face.]

[not_a_codfish]

[Ahhh!

Hook makes some muffled yells of protest, flailing about.]

[cheerupemoborg]

[This guy is just too much. Pawniard, feeling bold and mischievous, ditches the hat and starts to slash at Hook's clothes. Because potentially naked pirates are hilarious, right?]

[madetosin]

[Muraki isn't exactly accustomed to being the stalk-ee.

How strange.

He'll stop in his tracks and cast his eye expectantly over his shoulder, his mechanical eye peering in the shadows, but otherwise he says nothing]

[cheerupemoborg]

[The second Muraki turns, something stops moving, freezing in place. To the unaided eye, it was nothing, but for those with extraordinary or abnormal eyesight...]

[madetosin]

[Oh, he's got a certain edge, for sure, though it's not obvious by looking at him.

He turns a little on his heel]

...what are you?

[cheerupemoborg]

[The Pawniard leaps from the shadows to stare him down.]

Pawniard!

[madetosin]

[Stares back]

I said what...not who

[cheerupemoborg]

[Blank stare.

Is this dude dumb or what?]

...Pawniard.

[madetosin]

[Sorry, fresh out of strange robot monsters where he comes from

His lips thin thoughtfully]

Insistent, and not very helpful. Why are you following me?

[cheerupemoborg]

[Shrugs.]

Pawn.

[madetosin]

No reason?

[He moves towards Pawniard]

[cheerupemoborg]

[Copy's him.]

Pawni?

[madetosin]

I wonder...are you a resident...[He keeps walking until he's within arm's length of Pawniard, and then kneels down]...or one of their pets?

[cheerupemoborg]

[Pawniard watches him, and scoffs at the pet comment.]

Pawni Pawniard.

[madetosin]

You object, do you?

[cheerupemoborg]

[Nods.

He's not a poodle!]

[madetosin]

Too bad you can't speak.

[cheerupemoborg]

P-pawni?! Pawniard!

[What the hell do you think I've been doing?]

[madetosin]

[He seems unimpressed]

Don't be so indignant. There are some things no amount of gesturing can convey.

[cheerupemoborg]

[Pouts. You people should know these things, man.]

Pawniard...

[With that, he turns to the wall and starts scratching soemthing into the wood.]

[madetosin]

[Muraki watches silently, waiting see what it has to say]

[cheerupemoborg]

[It doesn't take long for the shape to show up: a stylized S in a diamond shape.

He turns back to Muraki and points at the picture expectantly.]

Pawniard?

[madetosin]

Should that mean something to me?

[cheerupemoborg]

[He stomps his little feet before pointing to the picture again... then to a residents door, to Muraki, then back to the carving.]

Pawniiiii...!

[Have you seen my dickhead of a master?]

[madetosin]

[He hasn't yet had the pleasure. At least in person]

That means nothing to me.