The next few weeks at the Donquixote estate passed blurrily. Everyone had an important job to do. Pica, Machvise, and Gladius were in charge of constructing the new SMILE factory and lab. Their strength and terraforming abilities were making the work go quickly. Giolla was having a field day redecorating the estate, and despite her own dramatic tastes, she was doing an excellent job giving the house a feeling of elegance and aristocracy. Senor Pink and Dellinger were in charge of cleaning up the mess the invasion had made, and had a seemingly never-ending list of chores, supplied mostly by Diamante when he wasn't glued to Doflamingo's side plotting whatever it was they were plotting. Sugar finished transforming the children and was flooded with toys needing orders. They were mostly helping keep the house in order, since the new SMILE factory and lab were still being set up. They were taking orders mostly from Juliette, who was much more complacent now that she'd forgotten her daughter's existence, and she seemed to enjoy ordering the toys about. It turned Nuvo's stomach to think that the woman may unknowingly be forcing her daughter to scrub the floors of her own prison, but sacrifices must be made to firmly rule a kingdom.
Not that Nuvovniya felt much like a ruler these days.
With everyone being so busy, she hoped that no one would notice the chill that had emerged in her relationship with Doffy. They hadn't spoken any more than what was absolutely necessary since their argument. She couldn't sleep with Sugar forever, so she decided to set up her own bedroom in the indoor garden that she had discovered. Doffy didn't know where she was sleeping and did not bother to ask her. This hurt her feelings initially, but she realized it wasn't that he didn't want to know, it was that he was too proud to ask. She felt like they were playing a silly game of cat and mouse, but she could never be sure which of them was the feline.
…
Doffy wasn't sure who was the feline either, but he knew that he disliked his bed being cold. He had never been a sex fiend, even when his position of power would have easily allowed him to indulge in such behavior, but Nuvo had awoken something in him the night they had escaped Impel Down. He now craved a woman's touch feverishly; the feeling of thighs gripping his waist, the taste of feminine arousal on his lips. He wanted to sweat. He knew that the ice between Nuvovniya and himself would melt eventually, and ohhhh the heat when it did…
But he wouldn't let himself cave. Absolutely not. He would wait to see how Nuvovniya would try and make peace. He knew she would have to try eventually. She was smart enough to know that being on the bad side of the new King of Mariejois was not a position she wanted to be in. She was also smart enough to know quite a few positions that would please them both. And Diamante was smart enough to know when his Captain was not paying the proper amount of attention to him.
"Doffy, I sense that your mind is not focused on the task at hand."
The blonde man sighed over the map that covered the table where he and Diamante sat sipping brandy.
"Forgive my wandering mind, my friend. I'm distracted by my lack of distractions."
"I see. May I be bold?"
Doffy arched an eyebrow. Diamante was not the sort of man to ask permission for boldness. But it was a delicate conversation topic.
"Speak freely."
"Young women are painfully jealous things. They place a lot of importance on with whom you choose to spend your time. Perhaps the key to rekindling your…erm…relationship with the lady lies in creating a spark strong enough to ignite her passion."
"You're insinuating that I should spend less time with her to make her angrily desperate? She's not that simple, Diamante. I've barely breathed in the girl's direction for days and she hasn't budged. She is too stubborn."
"I am implying, sir, that perhaps you would do well to spend your time with someone that Nuvovniya would find more…threatening in that way specifically."
Doflamingo smirked at the older man.
"That is the most wonderful idea you've shared with me all evening, you old dog."
"Wait until you hear what I have to say next."
…
Dinners ran more like conferences amongst the Donquixote family these days. It was the only time the entire crew was together, and this made the evening meal the perfect time to discuss the business of building Doflamingo's empire. He sat at the head of the table, Diamante on his right, Trebol on his left, and the rest of the crew scattered in whatever way was convenient down either side of the table all the way to the other end, where Nuvovniya always sat. A romantic would notice that this seating arrangement allowed Doffy and Nuvo to gaze at each other through the clatter of dishes and ramblings of the crew. A cynic would notice that the physical distance allowed the stormy couple to ignore each other entirely while keeping the appearance of nobility. A realist would notice that the other two perspectives were both accurate, and a combination of gazing and glaring took place every evening between swallows.
"I expect our new facilities to be fully prepared by next week." Said Machvise through a mouthful of roast beef.
"The toy soldiers are ready," Sugar replied. "I've been preparing a section of them specifically for lab work, so that our scientist will have plenty of useful assistants when he arrives. It wasn't easy to get them away from Juliette's mountain of housework, but it's done, none the less."
The brunette glared at the small woman from her place across the room. Doffy insisted that she serve as leading waitress for dinnertime, and she stood waiting for everyone to finish their food so that she could clear the dishes. She and Sugar had developed a distaste for each other since Sugar did not appreciate her toys being commanded by someone other than the members of the Donquixote family. Not that Sugar had been especially keen on the woman since Nuvo had briefed her on the conversation in the indoor garden that night.
"Perhaps if the family did not insist on being so sloppy, I wouldn't have a mountain of housework to be done." Juliette snapped.
Sugar gave her Captain a look.
"Are you really going to accept such insubordination from a servant at the dinner table?"
Juliette had the good sense to look frightened, but Doffy only chuckled.
"She's not incorrect, is she? Mopping up Trebol's trail of slime has to be a time-consuming occupation."
The slime-man blushed as men at the table erupted in laughter. Sugar scoffed and Giolla rolled her eyes. Nuvovniya imagined that she felt the same way that princesses of old must have felt sitting at the royal table of the foreign kings that their parents had chosen for them to marry. Equally royal as everyone around them, yet still out of place. Worried for the future of their new kingdom and worried for their own fate at the hands of the king. To be bedded or to be beheaded, that is the question…
"Speaking of our scientist, we believe that we have located him." Diamante announced.
"Diamante and I have been searching for him in these past weeks, using our own resources and asking our recently released friends of the old Mariejois to keep a watchful eye and listening ear-"
"I thought that all the repayment we asked of the released slaves was that they spread the word of our kind deed?" Nuvo quipped. "but I suppose eternal obligation to your savior is a small price to pay for freedom."
The table went very quiet, and Doffy shoulders showed a hint of tension. Nuvo relished in the visible irritation of her lover, content to know that she had gotten under his skin, even if only slightly. Doffy cleared his throat and continued.
"One of our kind friends from outside the kingdom has notified us, completely of his own free will, that a horned man seemingly composed of purple vapor runs an establishment in the South Blue. It is the best lead we have on Caesar Clown. I plan on making the voyage myself. I have already sent a letter informing Caesar of my arrival at The Lavender Lounge, and plan to leave tomorrow morning."
"The Lavender Lounge? What is Caesar doing with a place like that? It sounds like a day-spa!" giggled Dellinger. "Or a country club!"
"It sounds like a whorehouse to me." Added Sugar.
Diamante sighed heavily. "It is a gentleman's club which caters to those whom-"
He was cut off by Sugar's snort of laughter.
"Oh my god, it is a whorehouse! Can you imagine Caesar Clown twisting tendrils of smoke around a dancing pole? Or playing awful music for a bunch of south blue peasants? The greatest scientific mind of our generation and he's serving cheap beer to a bunch of southern - Oh, my god!"
Sugar's laughter was contagious, and Nuvo found herself grinning while Dellinger continued to giggle.
"The club caters to a higher clientele than you imagine." Diamante clarified, rolling his eyes. "I am sure that whatever beverages he deems appropriate to serve are not cheap."
"Which is why I think it is appropriate to attend to this matter in person. This is an opportunity not only to retrieve Caesar, but to make new connections that may be useful for a King. I plan to travel there by boat, remain there a few days to convince our scientist to return, and then be back as promptly as possible. I expect to return in a few weeks. I want the lab and the factory finished and completely prepared upon my arrival so that Caesar can begin his work immediately."
"It will be finished long before you reach our shores." promised Gladius.
"I expect nothing less. Considering the length of this journey, I have decided that company is required."
Nuvovniya could only stare. Surely, he didn't think that he could make up for the past few weeks of silence by whisking her away on an isolated boat bound for a gentlemen's club.
"Juliette, when you are finished with your duties tonight, pack a bag. Include some nice evening gowns. I could use a clever servant for the trip, and Caesar is fond of attractive women."
There were no mice in the Donquixote estate, but if there were, even they would have quieted at the sense of unease that dropped over the dinner table, and would have remained just as breathlessly silent as the feasting group. Juliette's eyes darkened and she looked at Doffy through her curly eyelashes.
"I have no evening gowns anymore, my lord."
"Ah, of course. But Nuvovniya could assist with this problem. After dinner, follow her to her quarters and I'm sure she can whip up some lovely pieces for you. She was a princess herself once, after all."
Nuvo didn't take a single bite for the rest of the meal, for fear that if she opened her mouth, the entire room would be in flames.
…
"He isn't the slightest bit interested in her and you know it. You know that he's only doing this to get under your skin."
Sugars attempts to comfort her friend fell on deaf ears.
"Of fucking course I know that! I'm not angry because I'm jealous, I'm angry that he's deployed such a ridiculously childish tactic! Honestly, trying to use a servant to insult my womanhood…and in front of the entire family! It's embarrassing for both of us! And that stupid remark he made about my status! 'She was a princess herself…' UGH! As if I'm no longer considered royalty just because…because…"
"Because you drowned your entire kingdom in acid?"
"That's not even relevant to this mess!"
"Yeah, and I mean, it was only, like, the one time."
Nuvo felt her cheeks flush.
"Why are you tormenting me like this right now?"
"I'm not trying to torment you, drama queen. I'm trying to remind you that you are not a bitch to be trifled with, and you've proven it a hundred times over. Even if he's being the pettiest person in the world, you are better than this!"
"I don't think I'm much better in terms of pettiness. I conjured Juliette's evening gowns, but I made the first one so tight that she cannot possibly bend or breathe fully in it and the next in a shade of yellow I can only describe as diseased urine. The last one looks like an infant's dress in an adult size."
Sugar chortled.
"Now that's petty."
"I also made all the linings incredibly itchy."
Sugar could only groan and put her face in her hands. Nuvo felt herself smile, a little, but her features changed quickly to irritation again.
"It doesn't matter. I'm sure Doffy will just buy her decent things when they reach land. He can't have his lady showing up to the lounge looking like an overgrown baby."
"And you cannot continue acting like an overgrown baby."
Nuvo was initially hurt, but realized that her friend was only speaking the truth.
"You're right. I know he loves these silly mind games. I was foolish to think that he wouldn't play them with me after everything we've been through. I feel so patronized."
Sugar nodded sympathetically.
"My sister didn't like it either. But it's just the way he is. If you're going to be on his arm, you have to accept all of him. You can't just pick and choose the parts of him that suit you."
Nuvo didn't want to bristle at the mention of Monet, but she did anyway. Her head was already full of nasty pictures of Doffy and Juliette, but they were only her imagination being vicious to her at a vulnerable time. Doffy's fling with Monet was not imaginary, and it stung her heart to picture him with a beautiful lady who had loved him enough to die for him. She felt stupid for being upset over it; it was a long time ago and the poor woman was dead.
"I know that. But he cannot pick and choose with me, either. I am still a Princess, and if I play this game right, I will be a Queen. I must remember that this life is like a game sometimes, and I am just as capable of making moves as he is."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm not sure yet. But I am sure that I'm going to think of something damn good to get even. No, better than that. Fuck getting even, I'm going to one-up."
…
The ship was only a few hours away from making port, and for Doflamingo it could not come fast enough. The week and a half on the ship with Juliette had been practically unbearable. Juliette had adamantly refused to wear any of the dresses Nuvo had sent, so there was no choice but to clothe her in men's trousers and shirts for the voyage. Although they were an obvious misfit, Juliette still retained a touch of her noble grace in them, and Doffy respected her for it.
What he did not respect were her numerus efforts to seduce him.
Initially he was thoroughly puzzled by them. Why on earth would you want to hop into bed with someone who was tied to the death of your spouse and directly responsible for the destruction of your household and the removal of your title? But on further thought, Doffy remembered that women in Mariejois are taught from a young age to make an effort to please men of rank. Marriage was no more than a political move for Celestial Dragons, and impressing noblemen was critical if you wanted to secure a powerful match for yourself and please your family. Doffy was certainly a man of rank and she had nothing left to lose, so perhaps she thought throwing herself at him was her best chance at a better position.
And throw herself she had.
Over the course of the journey she had draped herself over him at every meal she was present for, going as far as to attempt to feed him wine dripping from her fingers. She followed him everywhere, even to the bathing rooms, where he had to practically shove her out the door before he could disrobe in peace. She waltzed into his private rooms wearing next to nothing several times; once after dining with the ship's captain, he had returned to find her completely naked in his bed, waiting for him.
She was a very attractive woman, and Doffy had been guilty of flirting with her before they left for the south blue, but that was mostly to annoy Nuvovniya, and at this point he wasn't sure it was worth it, considering the large inconvenience to himself and the fact that his red haired songbird had only seemed slightly miffed at dinner that night.
He hated to admit that he missed her.
He was jolted from his thoughts by the ringing of the transponder snail on his desk.
"What is it?"
"We're approaching the island, your majesty! Please prepare to disembark!"
Finally…this voyage has been an eternity long.
…
Doflamingo and Juliette approached The Lavender Lounge's tacky entrance slowly. Juliette was having difficulty moving in her too-tight dress, but it was the only one she could be convinced to wear in public. It took two fully grown men to hold the pieces in place long enough to be laced together, and Doffy worried the woman would faint if she exerted herself too much.
Once inside, they were escorted to a private room in the back of the business, decorated lushly, but clumsily. Caesar had no taste for design. The man in question entered the room only a few moments after Doffy's arrival. He was dressed in a bright purple suit, looking pale, even for himself.
"Good evening, Caesar. It is wonderful to see you again."
Doffy moved to rearrange his long legs on the violet sofa and Caesar nearly jumped out of his hideous suit. Even his smoke appeared to shake.
"I-It is fantastic to see you again, Joker! And in such excellent health!"
"You know why I have come here."
"O-o-of course, your majesty! And of course, I will go with you to Mariejois! It is an honor to be offered my old position. I would be insane to turn it down!"
"You'd be dead, actually!" piped Juliette as she traced her fingers up Doffy's thigh. "My lord is very serious about acquiring that which he desires."
Doffy rolled his eyes behind his sunglasses. You have no idea what I desire. You look a bigger clown than him. Caesar laughed nervously.
"I-indeed! Well, I see that you certainly have no need of my services as far as the lounge is concerned, but allow me to entertain you for an evening or two before we depart. I'm sure you must want to relax after your traveling, and I can promise you infinite relaxation here! Free of charge, of course."
Doffy was about to agree to a drink when Juliette suddenly fell to the floor. Oh, for fuck's sake. I knew she'd faint in that thing! thought the captain, but then the brunette began to scream. She tore at the bodice of her gown, desperate to take in enough air to allow the heaving sobs to escape.
"What's wrong with her?!" Caesar shouted, alarmed.
"M-my daughter! Elanor!" She hurled herself into a seated position and grasped Doffy's legs, tears rolling. "Where is my daughter? What have you done with my little girl?!"
…
Elanor sat at a small round table in Nuvo's botanical bedroom, stuffing her face with pork and potatoes. She had been bathed and dressed in a soft pink gown after Sugar had undone her spell, and was too famished to ask many questions.
"This is a little cruel, even for you." Sugar whispered as the girl continued to chow down.
"Do not speak to me of cruelty. You're the one who turned her into a toy in the first place!" Nuvo whispered back. "Besides, this is a good move and you know it. Not to mention that she's going to be better off in my plan than she was before."
"I suppose you're right. But still."
After licking every morsel from her plate, Elanor looked at the two women with wide eyes.
"Why was I a dolly, and now I'm not one anymore?"
Sugar and Nuvo exchanged glances before gently seating themselves at the table. They knew there would be questions, and felt prepared to answer. At least she wouldn't ask about the other children. She couldn't remember them.
"Well, you were turned into toy because your parents committed a crime, and when you commit a crime, you have to be punished."
"But Celestial Dragons can't commit crimes! We're above the law! Everyone says so. And if my parents did the crime, not me, why am I being punished?"
Guilt stabbed at Nuvo's insides and she didn't know what to say. Fortunately, Sugar went to the rescue.
"You are absolutely right. It isn't fair, is it? That's why Nuvovniya has decided to give you another chance."
The girl looked back to Nuvo. The redhead cleared her throat, steeled herself, and spoke again.
"That's right! But you must understand, this chance comes with a cost. The Celestial Dragons no longer exist. They have been removed from power, and that means that you also do not have the status you once did. Now, the Donquixote family is in charge of Mariejois. Our leader is called Doflamingo. He is your new King and you are going to serve him and this family alongside your mother. You will be punished again, worse than before, if you don't behave. Do you understand?"
The girl knitted her eyebrows together tightly, but nodded her head.
"Where is my mother now?"
"She is with Doflamingo on a very important business meeting. They are returning very soon, and I'm sure she will be thrilled to see you." said Sugar.
The girl nodded and looked to Nuvo again.
"If, erm, Do-fla-min-go, is King, who is the Queen? Is it you?"
"No. I am not a Queen. Yet." Nuvo grinned. "I am Princess of a land called Harmelude, and that means I have certain mystical abilities. Come!" Nuvo stood and grabbed the surprised child's hand. "I'll show you!"