A.N: Spoilers up to manga chapter 731 and some of the latest episodes; read with your own risk.
Hatch 22: Decorating the Christmas tree
"There!" Sabo said as he set the year's Christmas tree in the middle of the empty dining hall.
"Wouldn't it be better if it was in the corner?" Robin asked "There it wouldn't be in anyone's way."
"But when it's here everyone can see it" Sabo said "And it's funnier to decorate it when you know that both sides will be seen by someone."
"Yup" said Koala as she came in carrying five boxes, two in each hand and balancing the fifth on her head "And here come the decorations."
Robin sweat dropped at the amount, but since Sabo didn't bat an eyelash she guessed there were meant to be that much.
"Good, now we can get started" Sabo said "Man, it's been years since I last won the Christmas tree lottery."
"Christmas tree lottery?" Robin asked.
"Oh yeah, you didn't participate" Sabo said "Bet you were in the library again, stuck in your own little world."
"That's how you missed last year's lottery" Koala reminded him as she put down the boxes, making Sabo blush "And the year before that."
"Well anyway" Sabo said, clearing his throat "Decorating the Christmas tree is something way too many people here would like to do, so each year we have a lottery to choose who will do it. Those who don't want don't have to participate tough; I don't think Hack's ever done it."
"Each year the winner gets to choose people he or she wants to decorate with him, if the chosen ones want to of course. And you and I get to be here since Sabo's just a nice guy" Koala said, making Sabo's eyebrow twitch "You blackmailed me!"
"No I didn't" Koala said innocently. A clear lie "How about you Robin, how'd you get here?"
"I just happened to see Sabo-kun carrying the tree and decided to follow" the archeologist said "I find it amusing that you have won the lottery at least twice, tough. You must be lucky."
"Yeah well, actually there are three to four, sometimes even five, lotteries per year" the blond said, scratching his head "One for the dining hall, one outside and one where ever the winner of the third one wants it. On some years we also have one in the main ship and if we bother Dragon enough we also get one on the roof or the training grounds."
Robin laughed at the "bother Dragon enough" part, asking: "So, which did you get last time?"
"The one where I could put the tree where I wanted" Sabo said with a grin "I was eleven back then, and decided to put it right in the middle of Dragon's office. Obviously, he got angry, but I got good laughs."
"All good laughs come with consequences" Koala said as Robin laughed. The pirate raised an eyebrow and Sabo smiled a sheepish smile as he said: "Yeah well, the next year Dragon himself got the dining hall and when everyone came to eat he picked me up and tied me on the top as the star."
Robin laughed again, very surprised by this revelation. She hadn't known Dragon could be so... well... similar to her captain? Not that her captain could come up with something so clever, but still right now the father and son seemed to remind each other more than before.
"Enough with that; time to start!" Sabo declared, giving Robin a glare as she asked: "Will you be a decoration this year too, Sabo-kun?"
"I'll pass" he said, ignoring Koala who was laughing so hard she could barely breathe "But if you want to be one feel free to do so."
"I think I will pass on it as well" Robin said. Rolling his eyes, Sabo got to work with the two women. At some point the two of them decided that instead of decorating the tree, they could decorate Sabo, so before the blond knew it he was tied up with the decoration ribbons with smaller decorations hanging from his ears and fingers.
"Okay, you got your fun, now let's take this seriously" the man said, shrugging the decorations off of himself. Even though they now took the task seriously they still had fun.
"Turned out pretty good, huh?" Koala asked.
"Yeah" Sabo admitted "One question tough..."
Koala and Robin turned to look at Sabo, who did not look amused.
"Which one of you two threw my hat on top of the tree?"
"So you finally noticed" Robin said with a chuckle "Do you think Koala would've gotten it up there?"
"I suppose not" Sabo said, glaring at her "So that leaves you."
"Brilliant conclusion" Koala said.
"You two drive me crazy" Sabo said with a sigh "You are going on a mission together at the start of the next year, right? I really pity the poor soul who has to come with you."
"I received the details this morning actually" Koala said; sweat dropping "You're that poor soul."
Sabo froze. The next year would not have a pleasant start.
"Why me!?"
A.N: I love writing about these guys... which is why we'll see Sabo tomorrow too, but with the Straw Hats.