Valentine's Personal Log, Day 30
Preparations are going well. Winston and Saaresto have been invaluable help in planning out the island and how to best utilize the caves for therapy. Camilla has slowly been training the bioluminescent plants to cover more ceilings and walls, even transplanting portions of them to the darker caves. I find the soft blue glow peaceful and calming, but going to the surface and laying in the sunlight is nice too. I go up and look to see if my apple tree is starting to grow. I had a few seeds left from the apples I ate when flying to Batoidea that first time. While I warred for Kudra's respect I planted them on the highest hill on the island. It is a small break in the trees on the cliffside that oversees the whole island and the surrounding waters. From there I can see the rays swimming around and checking the mermaid purses for signs of hatching, waiting for their pups to arrive. Most rays just let their young float out to sea, but these rays seem to have developed differently in the still waters of the Calm Belt. If Kudra's behavior is any indication, they are fiercely protective of their young, especially before they can swim about on their own. Parvati seems happy with Raja. If I counted right this will be their eighth mating cycle since I raced with her. I wonder how many of these rays are her children and how many of these little black pouches bear her grandchildren. She lives a life I may never find, but my life is hers and hers is mine, so I feel I can take vicarious pride in her family. I couldn't ask for a better bond mate.
She and Raja have been invaluable to me. They travel as a pair to deliver mail. I've written Shakky asking for detailed information to help us map out our future endeavors, mainly production plant location and trade routes. I've also written Uncle Drac. I asked him not to reply but to find the time to keep Kuma updated on our planned activities. I don't know how closely he's being watched after Sabaody and am afraid that any contact between us will endanger his life as I know it. Maybe once Pierce has a handle on his abilities we'll go visit Mihawk, if things don't get too complicated on our end or if he isn't traveling on business. He's not really the type to play host, but he wouldn't turn us away either. He's reclusively sweet like that. It doesn't mean he wouldn't try to see how Pierce's new powers stand up in combat though, hence the third person I've contacted. I hate to bring up the loss of someone she cared for only months after the fact, but if she or any of her companions can give us pointers on how to train Pierce's new abilities it will prove invaluable to us. He doesn't talk much about his powers, mainly because he isn't healed enough to use them yet. I still think he resents the method in which they were received. Hopefully any training they can provide will show him how to find some sort of resolution.
Karmen goes to retrieve her bodyguard from Winston's workroom for the third time this week. She had been busy with other preparations all morning and he had managed to snag Pierce before she could protect him from being fitted for yet another outfit. She stiffens instantly as she turns the corner, a familiar scent reaching her nose and curdling her stomach. She turns accusingly on Winston who is fitting pins into a shirt on Pierce who is mouthing the word help. "Where is it?"
The tailor becomes defensive, holding his hands up in a cautionary gesture, setting his pins to the side. "Now hold on, Karmen," he says, sweat forming on his brow. "I know you don't like this fabric but surely you can allow me one little bolt."
"Where. Is. It?" she asks, drawing her quill. She doesn't give him time to answer. She fades and is behind him so fast that he doesn't have a chance to protect anything. She flings back the cloth covering his workbench revealing a 20 yard bolt of pink cherry blossom printed silk. It looks expensive. She kicks it into an open patch of floor and throws her whole quill into it. The concentrated sunblade in the bit catches the fibers almost instantly and within a minute it's a smoldering pile of ash. Winston falls to his knees in defeat. "Sorry, dearie," Karmen says in a tone that doesn't suggest any remorse at all. "There is to be no silk on this island."
He shakes his head. "I knew it would happen eventually," he sighs and mops his brow with a cotton kerchief as he stands. "Well onto other matters... And by other I mean Camilla..." His eyes become pleading. "She's driving me insane. You have to help me," he says in a rush, wringing his tape measure in his hands pleadingly. Normally he can eyeball measurements, but with her habit of wearing multiple layers of clothing he can't get an accurate read on her. It must be maddening for him. After having the audacity to bring silk into her domain she enjoys watching him squirm a little.
Satisfied with his display of discomfort, Karmen gently takes the measuring tape away from him. "Why don't you finish up here and go have a cup of tea with Saaresto. I'll see what I can do. You know. In exchange for torching that disgusting fabric." She gives a little wave over her shoulder as she turns to leave. "Have fun, Pierce." He could deal with a few more fittings for co-conspiracy.
She strides up the tunnel and knocks on the wall at the entrance of the nearest garden. Camilla is there, watering plants in her usual three layers of clothes plus cloak. "Are we training today?" she asks.
"Camilla, dear, it's eighty degrees up here. You're going to die from heatstroke if this doesn't stop," Karmen says.
She pulls her cloak tighter around her. "He's not touching me with that thing." She glares daggers at the measuring tape. Karmen tucks it behind her hip just in case it shreds on contact.
"I never said he would," she says softly. "No one here will touch you without your permission. If they do you have mine to stab them. I thought we might compromise and have me measure you." Camilla's glare softens slightly at this. "We'll go to the other side of the island, be alone in a private cave, and I'll record your measurements for Winston. He'll make you something thin but concealing that you'll be comfortable in."
Camilla looks past Karmen and glares at Pierce who had managed to slip away and follow her. "He can't come. I don't care if he's blind."
"That's fair," Karmen says. "Right Pierce?" She turns to look at her bodyguard who seems to have suddenly emotionally transformed into a lost puppy trying to regain his composure.
"If you wish to be alone, I have no objections," he says in a tone that suggests he may have a few. Or several. Camilla seems to enjoy seeing him uncomfortable. "H-how long do you think you'll be, Mistress?"
Karmen feels bad for him. He'd hardly left her side since his rescue. Even when Winston is fitting him she is usually still within earshot. Perhaps a while apart would be good for him. "Thirty minutes maybe," she says. "Maybe an hour."
"Very well," he says, looking a little paler than usual. "I will go see what Saaresto is doing."
"While you're with him you may want to discuss finding trees to make some doors," Karmen says. "If we're going to stay in the caves we might as well make things homey. And be sure to tell them to stay on this side of the island. You have my permission to tackle them if they don't. And tell them they have the same right for you."
"Trees. Tackling. As you wish, Mistress." He puts his hand on the cave wall and begins guiding himself down the tunnel in the direction of the good doctor.
"Oh, and take them this." Karmen takes a feather off her remaining quill, wraps it in her veil, and hands it to Pierce. Her other quill is still down there with Winston. It will be best for both of them to have something on hand.
"Sea prism?" he asks, shoulders drooping in disbelief. "If you feel it may be necessary, M'Lady." He leaves the room, ashen faced.
"I thought he was going to pass out," Camilla states when he's out of sight, sadistic glee in her voice.
"He can still hear us, you know," Karmen says. "He has very acute hearing."
"I know," she says pleasantly.
Karmen purses her lips at her. "Listen, Camilla, I know you have good reason to dislike men, but I take any mistreatment of Pierce personally. He is my second in command and while you are on my island you will respect him, no matter how you feel about him. Do we have an understanding?"
"Only because it is you asking," she says. Karmen makes a mental note to give Winston an actual apology later for her reaction to the silk. She doesn't regret burning it in the slightest, but he's a tailor at heart. He loves the fabric for the same events that had caused her to hate it. Maybe she could let him keep a handkerchief or something. But for now she'd deal with Camilla.
"And stop with this hero worship stuff. You'd already escaped on your own. I just happened to be around to give you a ride," Karmen says.
"If that is what you want."
Karmen sighs. She isn't the type to have groupies. "Let's just get this over with."
It takes them fifteen minutes to cross the island and find a suitable cave that is open to the outside but private enough for Camilla's needs. Even though they are alone the girl still seems to have trouble taking off her layers, especially since the top one was so tight due to the lack of size difference between it and the other two. Karmen has to help her, careful to only touch the edges of the fabric. She remembers when she made her red outfit, may it rest in peace, and how she had covered as much skin as possible. She had done this after only experiencing wandering hands and eyes. Camilla had endured so much more and it pains her.
She'd stop it. At least a few cases. Even one. Somehow this kind of thing had to end.
The second layer comes away sweaty and the third layer is completely soaked. Even her underwear is concealing, leaving only her forearms and shins exposed. While it isn't necessary to remove more for the measurements, they both agreed that they should let them dry a little and remove the last layer when they're done. Karmen makes an executive decision. "Let's get your measurements and then you can wash in one of the underground pools while I wash these." Camilla agrees hesitantly before stretching her arms out. Karmen works quickly, careful to touch her as little as possible. Though she's a woman she knows Camilla is mentally fighting every point of contact. It would take little steps to get her used to any form of touch again. This is a good start, but it will be a long process.
When they finish Karmen leads the way to the underground spring. It is mostly enclosed with only a thin stream of sunlight filtering in from the ceiling. When Karmen's back is turned, Camilla hands her the rest of her clothes and steps into the water, submerging herself up to her chin. Karmen keeps her back turned and finds a shallow area to scrub the clothes. "Are you still open to alternative forms of therapy?" she asks.
"How alternative?" Camilla responds. Karmen hears the water ripple as she turns towards her.
"You would be uncomfortable to be sure, but not overly so."
"What are you suggesting?"
Karmen takes a deep breath. "I want you to let Pierce see you."
There's a pause.
"He's blind."
"That's right."
"He can't see."
"He sees, just not like we do."
"You want me to let him touch me."
"Just your face." Karmen stops scouring the clothes. "You can say no if you're not ready."
Camilla exhales a deep breath under water and resurfaces. "I'll do it if you remain in the room."
"I promise not to leave you alone," she says. They continue washing. Though Karmen finishes first and lays the clothes flat she keeps her back turned until Camilla is finished. She pulls herself up onto the shore and they wait for her and the clothes dry. The girl shivers on the rock she's perched on though it is not from the cool cave air. Karmen finds the cloak among the other fabric in the dim light. Being the outside layer it had survived being drenched in sweat and hadn't been washed as a result. She walks backwards, careful not to slip on the damp rocks until she's standing just behind her and holds the cloak out. Camilla takes it and wraps it around herself, pulling the hood far over her head.
"Thanks."
Karmen sits down behind her, careful not to brush up against her arm or back. "So, do you have any color preferences?"
"What?"
"For your new clothing. Winston has his own styles, but he'll take your tastes into account. So, what color do you want?"
"Black," she says. "And purple."
Karmen smiles. "That's a good color combination, concealing with a hint of personality."
"I guess," she says. "Why do you like red?"
Karmen chuckles. "When I use my reverse observation Haki most people can't see me. Sometimes I use it to give myself a ghostly, mist-like look. Other times it's because if anyone has observation Haki strong enough to see me at full fade then they deserve to see me."
"So it's your challenge to your enemies?"
"Not exactly." Karmen sits quietly but doesn't offer any more explanation.
"It's not really fair. You can read me so easily, but you stay so guarded. It's hard to tell what you're thinking," she says.
"Living two lives will do that to you." Karmen nudges a rock into the water with her toe. "I didn't really mean for it to happen, but the red dress sort of became my symbol. It gave me the name The Scarlet Secretary. Yes, it is a noticeable color, but I don't wear it to draw attention to myself. I wear red because when I expose Ikaika and Willow and other people like them to the world I don't want anything to be hidden. People like you and Pierce have experienced far too much for anything to be swept under the rug. People like your sister."
"They didn't even mention her in the papers," Camilla says. "It all focused on him and what a good king he was and how much his twenty wives were grieving. How his thirty children had already started assassinating each other for control of the throne. They don't mention that they broke her neck in three places. That her arm had been twisted out of its socket. That she had been… There was a boot print on her face. On her face. She was thirteen." She lays her head on her knees and her shoulders shake in silent grief and fury. "Do you really think we can stop it? Will what you're planning to do make any difference at all?"
"Not all of it, not everywhere," Karmen admits. "But it will make a difference for someone." She leans back slightly, letting her side touch Camilla's back. She stills instinctively, but relaxes a few seconds later. "When I was a child I freed a mermaid at a fish race. Her owners were angry but I had gotten away clean. I won that race, went home, and never heard if anything had come of it. A few months ago I ran into an octopus fishman and a mermaid. They were friends of the one I'd released. Even to this day she tells people about the human girl who picked a lock with a bobby pin. Fishmen mistrust humans because of people like the Celestial Dragons I grew up around, but her story has helped the efforts towards peace between our species. And then there's Fisher Tiger who broke slaves out of Mariejois. His success inspired others to help those who couldn't help themselves, even after his death. If I die during this, someone will tell my story. Even if it's Winston or Saaresto, or Pierce, or you. Somehow the injustices we've faced will be heard and I hope that the story will spread until it cannot be ignored. Not all of it makes sense outside my head, but that is why I wear red."
She feels Camilla lean against her a little. "If I die, will you tell her story?"
"It is already being told," Karmen says, thinking of how she'd learned the hidden details of the event from Shakky's letter. "But I will make sure it is not forgotten."
The clothing takes a while to dry so Camilla puts on the thinnest layer and they carry the rest to the surface to dry in the sun. She stays wrapped in the cloak while they make the fifteen minute walk back to the other side of the island.
They hear the commotion before they even enter the cave. Looking at each other, they descend into the projection of muffled voices that get louder the deeper they go.
"I'm telling you she's been gone too long to be fine!" they hear Pierce's echoing yell. "Let me go!"
"And we've told you time and time again that she's capable of taking care of herself," Saaresto says. "If she chooses to take longer than she said then she may do so at her leisure. Now if the sun would set before she came back, then you would have reason to worry."
"I'm telling you she could be hurt! I am ordering you to release me!"
Karmen clears her throat and scuffling sound instantly stops. Though she is still several passages away she knows his acute hearing picked it up and the others picked up on the change in his behavior. They enter the chamber five minutes later to find the three men in Winston's workshop. Winston and Saaresto look exhausted and happy to see her. Pierce is leaned against the wall, immobilized by about a hundred yards of fabric that she suspects also holds the sea prism dart she'd sent with him. His pale face, which is turned away from her, is pink in the cheeks and ears.
"Hi boys," she says. "I see you've been having fun while we've been gone."
"You've been gone for four hours," Pierce says. "I was worried about you."
"I can see that," she says. "Winston, dear, I think it's safe to release him now?"
"Yes, ma'am," Winston says. He deftly slices open the fabric with a pair of scissors leaving Pierce and his clothing completely unscathed. The man slides to the floor where Saaresto retrieves the sea prism dart and returns it to Karmen. Pierce stands a little shakily, but is able to regain his composure. In his hand he grips her now very wrinkled veil.
Karmen hands Winston his tape measure and Camilla's measurements before retrieving her quill from him. "Purple and black are requested. I will deliver the product once you are finished." She turns and secures Pierce by the arm. "We'll meet you all for dinner." She leads her bodyguard from the room. "You didn't have to give them so much trouble, you know."
"You said you'd be gone for an hour. You were gone for four. I think it is logical at that point to assume something has gone wrong and to go looking for you," he says. His voice stronger now, relief replaced by something else. Anger?
"We live on a guarded island, Pierce. If anything were wrong the rays would tell us."
"They can't reach inland, Mistress," he says. His voice shakes.
Karmen stops and turns him towards her. "Tell me what you need."
He holds up his hands, palms up. "Can I just… hold you? You don't have to hug me back. I know you're still worried about my wounds. I just want to see in my own way that you're alright."
Karmen turns her back and guides his hand to her shoulder. He wraps his arms around her and leans his forehead against her hair. She holds his arms to her and tucks her chin into them. He is careful to touch only her arms and shoulders with his hands. "I'm sorry I took longer than expected. I didn't mean to worry you."
"No. I know I'm being irrational," he says, breath warm against her scalp. "I know you have responsibilities that will sometimes take you outside of my range of hearing. I will try to remain calm in the future." She can feel him calming, his fluttery heart rate steadying to a hum against her back. She closes her eyes. "Tell me if I make you uncomfortable."
"I do not mind your touch," she says. He withdraws his arms but keeps his hands on her shoulders. "We should redress your wounds soon." He releases her and they move into the next room which they had designated as their makeshift medical ward. Saaresto had been steadily restocking it in preparation for the upcoming missions and the expected flux in island population. Pierce sits on a steel table and removes his latest shirt, a pastel blue cotton button down v-neck with half sleeves, the one Winston had been fitting for him this morning. Karmen takes a pair of medical scissors and cuts away the bandages. She cleans the morning's ointments and traces her fingers along a few healing knife wounds. "Your skin is starting to grow back. Good." She begins applying fresh ointment along his torso. "We'll be able to remove some of these stitches in a few days, I think."
"We have company," he states.
Karmen waits a few second before looking up as she begins applying fresh bandages. Even then she can only see Camilla's outline coming up the passage. She reaches the room and glances between them, looking several times at the wounds on Pierce's body. "Did you need something?" The question is asked in a way that invited her to focus on Karmen.
Her eyes look back up at the Secretary. "I thought this might be a good time to do that therapy you mentioned."
Her eyes go back to Pierce's wounds. Karmen wraps a little faster. "I'm glad to see you taking the initiative on this," she says.
"Therapy?" Pierce asks. "I'll let you be alone then, once you're done with me."
She smiles, silently commending his efforts. "Actually I'd like you to help us." She ties off the last of the bandages. They're a little crooked in some places, but that can be fixed later. "I want you to take a good look at Camilla's face." Pierce looks like he's about to be tested on his reflexes with the help of a very sharp object. "She's not going to stab you, I promise. We discussed this."
Pierce stands and faces her. "I am happy to help," he says, still sounding hesitant. "May I have permission to touch you, Miss Camilla?"
"Yes," she says, closing her eyes, brow wrinkling in an anticipation of displeasure. He starts with her forehead, lightly tracing the outline of her face along her hairline. He then touches her jawline and chin. His thumbs brush the underside of her lips and she flinches, causing him to pause. She breathes. "Continue." He traces her eyebrows, her eyes, the shape of her nose, and across her cheeks. He keeps his fingers light but exploratory. He finishes by smoothing her hair, learning its texture and length.
Pierce steps back. "Thank you. It's nice to put an image with a voice. You are a very pretty woman."
"Well?" Karmen asks. "How was that?"
"Uncomfortable," she says. "But not overly so. Forgive me if I go wash my face now."
"I am not offended," Pierce responds.
"Would you be willing to do this or something similar in the future?" Karmen asks.
Camilla glances back down at Pierce's bandaged torso. "It is not as bad as other things. I suppose there is a further step?"
"Next we'll do the same thing with Saaresto and then Winston," Karmen says. "Eventually, not any time soon, dear, I would like to work up to a full examination from Dr. Saaresto. I promise you he is a professional and I will remain in the room with you if you want me to."
Her face is as pale as Pierce's and she supports herself against the wall. "For now let's stick with the face touching." She takes a deep breath and steadies herself. "How long does therapy like this usually take?"
"It could take years," Karmen says. "For the both of you. And your therapy will be good for Pierce."
Both Camilla and Pierce look confused. "What does touching my face do for him?"
Half a smirk plays on the corner of Karmen's mouth. "I thought it would be obvious," she says. "Exposing Pierce to other people reminds him that it's ok to trust someone other than me."