Valentine's Personal Log 10: New Crewman and Planning

That Lieutenant from Baratie sailed by us today. He wanted to capture Luffy now that he has a bounty but took one look at Sanji and ran. I guess our new cook is handy to keep around, even if you do have to beat him off with a stick. He always makes sure to smoke downwind from us, which I appreciate, but still. Part of me can't get past that twisty brow of his. It makes me uncomfortable. Nami turns all his attention to her favor. I just can't seem to relax enough for that. It might be why I find myself gravitating more towards Zoro. He sleeps so much it creates a peaceful air. I use that to my advantage. If Sanji comes spouting poetry, Zoro wakes up and they start arguing, which takes all attention away from me and gives me the peace and quiet I need. Seeing him sleep so much makes me tired though.

Luffy tried to steal my food at lunch. I was in a bad mood because I hadn't slept well and Sanji's poetry, so stabbed his hand with a pen. Sanji kicked him in the head and he stole from Usopp instead. It gave me an idea. If I added it all up right, it should only take up the rest of my savings and a whole lot of time, but I think I can pull it off.

Soft snores rise from the dining room table. Zoro walks through on a return trip from the bathroom and stops to look at the ship's secretary. Karmen is lying face down in a logbook, pen still in hand. She shivers slightly in her sleep, causing the pen to leave a zigging scribble on the page. The only words he can see around her face are, "but I think I can pull it off." He smiles and drops his top shirt over her shoulders. "I don't know what you're up to, but I like your plan for the day." He sits diagonally from her and is soon snoring as well.

Sanji finishes drying the last plate and frowns distastefully at the swordsman. "If it wouldn't wake her up as well I'd kick you out." Instead, he steps out onto the deck for a smoke. He and Karmen had argued earlier over if tea or coffee should be served with the evening snack. She had ended up drinking a cup of both and she still fell asleep. "It seems Karmen's insomnia is catching up with her. She fell asleep writing. Maybe she's getting too much caffeine from her tea."

Nami sets down her book and watches Luffy peer in the doorway. "Zoro's sleeping too."

"Crap swordsman," Sanji mumbles around his cigarette.

"She doesn't sleep very well," Nami says. "I think she has nightmares. Or maybe she just doesn't feel comfortable sleeping in the same room with me after we fought Arlong."

"It couldn't possibly be you, Nami!" Sanji kneels at her feet and takes her hand. "Being in the same space with you is like breathing in heaven." Nami pulls her hand away.

"She really likes you, Nami, but you're both right," says Usopp, leaning against the mast. He crosses his arms and frowns at the deck. "When Karmen first came to Syrup Village, she said that she was the survivor of a shipwreck. A cargo ship found her and brought her to the next island that they docked at. They took her to the mayor and she asked for a place to stay.

"She had no money and had only been able to save a few personal belongings. The only clothes she had were the ones she was wearing. The townspeople felt sorry for her and a kind woman named Tantonia took her in. She wanted to work so that she could buy her way home and spent all her time cleaning houses. After she heard me yelling about pirates for a few days she asked me if I could help her come up with a story for her father. She said she didn't want to tell him the truth about the shipwreck or for him to find out where she was because he would bankrupt himself to bring her home.

"Karmen worked hard and did her best every day. Every night she would stumble into Tantonia's house exhausted. Not long after, for at least month straight, she would start screaming in her sleep. It was always hard to help her because she flailed violently. When she was woken, she would say that she dreamed of the storm that sunk her ship. Her face would always be completely void of emotion and she would barely say anything else. I think it was because she was so exhausted afterwards. Karmen started brewing tea to keep herself up at night and she would drink even more tea because she was tired the next day. Not even our doctor could help her sleep well."

"That poor thing," Sanji weeps.

"She hasn't screamed while she's been on our ship," Luffy says.

Usopp shakes his head. "She stopped screaming a while ago, but she still has nightmares."

"She practically crushes her pillow every time it storms at night," Nami confirms.

Zoro slides one eye open and looks at Karmen who is still sleeping peacefully. He wonders if anyone else ever notices her sharpening her pens at night or how she keeps a knife hidden in her boot.

He remembers when she fell asleep in the crow's nest. He climbed up to trade shifts with her and found her passed out. He had barely touched her shoulder when she buried a pen into the wall where his hand had been seconds before. She was too groggy to acknowledge that she even made the action. There had been no bloodlust, but there was a defensive terror was in her breathing. When she was awake and aware of her actions, she asked if it was alright for him to be climbing up the netting with his injuries, completely oblivious that she had almost increased them. Whatever she has nightmares about, it isn't just a storm.

Karmen starts to stir, so Zoro pretends to sleep. She rubs her eyes, closes her logbook, and slides it into her bag. She is a little surprised to see that Zoro had given her his shirt as a blanket. She drapes it over the back of his chair and gives him a little bow. "Thank you."

She secures her pen into her belt before making her way out on deck with a yawn. Sanji dances up to her. "Karmen," he croons. "You have ink on your face. Is that my name I see smeared across your cheek?"

"I was writing about the meal, so it's possible," she says softly. "Be a dear and get me a wet rag to clean it off? Sorry I fell asleep. I slept worse than usual last night."

"Anything for you, sweet Karmen." Sanji grins and runs off to the kitchen. A loud thud proceeds his entrance and there is soon yelling between him and Zoro. Sanji returns with the wet cloth and a goose egg.

Zoro follows soon after, giving a huge yawn and buttoning his shirt. He looks around. "You should have woken me sooner. It looks like you were having an interesting conversation."

Once Karmen's cheek is clean, she stretches and turns back towards the kitchen. "I'll go make some tea."