A.N.: Hello everyone!
Sadly we're getting to the end of Karmen and Pierce's time in Alabasta. I almost feel guilty for preparing to throw them back into the world of Nobles, Warlords, and Emperors. (Almost.) I'm getting nostalgic about this country and they haven't even left it yet. Be prepared for things to start getting dark again. Not everywhere can be as sunny and happy as Alabasta, especially under DavenGallow influence. There's still a few chapters until then, but I feel like I should drop the warning, nevertheless. KeturahDaine, WyseInk, and I always seem to get back onto the subject of how I torture my characters, sometimes literally (Sorry, Pierce). All I can say without giving spoilers is that sometimes things have to get worse in order to make them better.
The last section is a commissioned piece for CANT HANDLE THIS VANILLA who wanted to see more Karmen/Vivi. I know this isn't exactly what you were looking for, but it's the closest they're going to get. Still, I hope you enjoy. I'm going to go ahead and say it's canon.
I'll be taking story-related commissions for another two weeks, so if you want to know something like if Camilla can get Dr. Saaresto to do a backflip, see Karmen ride something other than a fish, or see what Ikaika does when he's not ruining someone's day, shoot me a message or drop it in a review. Heck, I'd be up for making something explode. I look forward to seeing what you all can come up with.
Down in the basement of the palace, Pell nods his satisfaction. "Well, I'm sure you won't fall out of the sky now. You've made some great improvements this week." Chaka makes a small hum of agreement.
Pierce had just woken up after the flight demonstration. He'd slept the entire night and eaten twice as much as usual for breakfast. King Cobra gaped in amazement at the amount of food he was able to pack away, but the princess and royal guards simply smiled at his enthusiasm. Pierce still hadn't talked about the extra body parts he can create, but now he knew that Karmen knew and they could keep an acknowledged silence between them on the subject. She'd said he could talk about it when he was ready. He didn't seem to feel the time for this had come, but ever since his transformations had come with less reluctance.
Now that they'd had a breakthrough, he seemed eager to continue his training. Pierce bows his head in acknowledgment to the guard captains. "Thank you for being such a patient teacher, even if you do use my Mistress and her belongings as collateral."
"Oh, we're not done yet." A mischievous grin spreads on Pell's face and Karmen can't help but think what's about to come next will be interesting. She's glad Pierce can't see it, or else he'd be shoving her behind him instead of preparing his wings for another chase.
Pell steps over to a stone slab against the wall that's covered by loosely woven fabric. He gently lifts this aside to reveal two weapons. They look like police batons with razor sharp blades coming from the top and curving in a long arc down to the bottom. They're weapons meant for a defensive purpose which can be used offensively if the situation required.
"These are tonfa blades," Pell says, leading Pierce's hand to them and making sure he doesn't cut himself on the edge. His fingers flutter across the blade, down the arm guard, and back up to the handle. He picks them up, spreading his wings a little so that he can hold the weapons comfortably. Pride swells within her as Karmen takes in the sight of her bodyguard. He makes a striking figure, edgy and fiercely protective. "I noted that you tend to guard with your forearms while sparring. These ought to save you a few bruises in your future endeavors."
"You're saying I can keep these?" Pierce asks.
"King Cobra said to consider them a gift from the Nefeltari family."
"I couldn't possibly-" Karmen clears her throat and Pierce improves his posture as Vivi descends the stairs. "I'll be sure to thank His Majesty at dinner tonight. These make a wonderful gift. I'll put them to good use."
Pell and Karmen share a smile. While it's rude to refuse a gift from royalty she doesn't think Cobra and Vivi would really mind if he preferred something else as his primary weapons. Pell offers him a set of plain tonfa to practice with.
Chaka grins. "My turn."
Karmen is suddenly sitting at a small table covered with a lace cloth and fully ladened with a porcelain tea set from the kitchen. There is a second chair that she offers to Vivi. "You're going to have to tell me how you do that," the princess says. Karmen only smiles and sips her steaming drink. Pierce gives her a grin. If he had eyes she would have returned it with a wink.
"So what's the game this time around? Knife dodging?" Pierce asks, holding his bladeless tonfa up to demonstrate that he's ready. He bounces slightly on the balls of his feet.
Chaka draws his shinai. "I want you to do your job."
Pierce's ears turn between Chaka and Karmen. "Her Royal Majesty and I would not like to be disturbed," Karmen says.
Pell draws his own bamboo sword. "I'll cover Vivi."
"Come on," Pierce says. "I don't need that much help."
Chaka draws back the shinai for his first strike. "Atrophied muscles, dearie," Karmen reminds him. Pierce is barely able to deflect the lunge as it slices across his guarded forearms. "You may have been able to beat him two years ago, but Dr. Saaresto's assessment shouldn't be ignored. I expect you to do your best. That's an order."
Pierce shoves Chaka's sword to the side. "Yes, Mistress."
Karmen tells Vivi about her recent work with her toxins using the medical wing's equipment while the men train. The sharp relief of wood against wood does nothing to stifle their conversation.
Pell blocks one of the heavier over the head swings from Chaka and Pierce reverses one of his tonfa to jab it into the guard's stomach. Chaka swings his leg around and kicks the weapon causing it to twist to the side in Pierce's hand. The tonfa grazes Chaka's side uselessly and when Pierce recovers he'd already pushed Pell away and is preparing his next attack. He swings down at Karmen's unconcerned head and Pierce thrusts a wing forward to pull him backward. His clawed thumb catches the man's right shoulder and he pulls hard. The shinai smashes into the ground inches away from Karmen's foot. With a twist and a turn of the heels, he flings Chaka away from the table and regains his position between them. Pell rushes forward, lunging at Chaka's midriff. He parries and sends Pell towards the center of the room, assisting him by striking him across the back. This time Chaka pushes forward, feigning a slice at Pierce's head but driving his shoulder into his stomach instead. The bodyguard almost falls into the table but at the last moment he produces two sets of wings. One set pushes him up off the ground as he uses his feet to push Chaka back. His second set of wings braces against the wall over Karmen's head. He flips over her and pushes off the wall with his feet, launching himself at Chaka. Instead of striking with his tonfa he extends a set of wings and drives them into his chest. The soldier counters with a swipe that Pell blocks.
With some pacing and a few pauses to give pointers, this session last about an hour. By this point, the tea and snacks are gone and Vivi is giving Karmen pointers on economics and peaceful resolutions in stressful situations. Karmen has given every illusion that she's completely forgotten about the training happening all around her but Vivi catches her glancing to the side mid-sentence when Pierce takes a particularly heavy blow. At the end of the hour, all three men are exhausted and drenched in sweat. "Bath time?" Pell asks. The other two nod.
Pierce stows his weapons against the wall and stretches. "Mistress," he says slowly. "What are you going to do?"
"Hm?" she looks up at him to assess his thoughts. He's trying to act nonchalant but she can tell he's having a hard time not fidgeting. "I was going to go back up to the medical wing and work on my poisons."
"Ah. Ok. I'll just head up with them, then." He withdraws his wings and takes slow steps towards the stairs.
Karmen gets up and begins walking next to him. "In case you were wondering," she says in a low voice, "according to my haki there aren't any eels in the onsen."
He exhales and visibly relaxes. "Am I that easy to read?"
"You have me check every time," she responds. There is no indication in her tone that would imply she finds this fact tedious. "I've got your back."
He smiles at her. "Have fun in the lab. I'll come annoy you when I'm done."
"Fat chance of that, dearie," she says. "You don't even annoy me when you're snoring on my back."
"I snore?"'
"I wouldn't quite call it chainsaw, but it's certainly consistent some days and you tend to put your face right next to my ear."
"My apologies, Mistress."
"Don't apologize for something you have no control over," she says with a smile. "Like I said, I don't mind." In truth she'd sometimes sit there listening to him sleep, still marveling at the fact that he was there and alive. It had been touch and go for a while, especially before they'd found Law, but his progress up to this point is something she can't help but be astounded by. There had been points when she'd never thought she'd hear him make any sound ever again. She'll take snoring, yelling, screaming, crying, anything, so long as he's alive. He'd grown stronger each day and she'd rely on that strength in the months to come. Again, she's happy to just have him there by her side. This alone gives her strength.
Over the next three days training goes much the same. The men spar for an hour at a time in the mornings and usually lift weights in the afternoons. Karmen spent several hours in the medical ward but Pell and Chaka both agree that Pierce improves faster with her in the basement for him to defend. They decided to move her chemistry equipment downstairs and have him ensure that not a beaker wobbled. It usually helped when Karmen stated that she was working on a particularly delicate mixture that needed her utmost concentration and as little disturbance as possible. Pierce always used more of his transformations for combat during these time windows. They kept them short at first, but Karmen eventually began drawing out her delicate mixtures and day by day Pierce's muscles remembered what they had once been conditioned for.
At sunset when it's cooler they go out into the courtyard and Karmen works individually with Pierce. She ties a sash over her eyes and only uses her haki and other senses to face him. This way they both got some training in and Pierce gets used to Karmen's fighting style. Pell thought she might pass up her sea prism infused metal quills to give him more of an advantage, but she doesn't hold back past only using her itching venom. Pierce uses his bladeless tonfa against her. Several soldiers and servants join the royal family and their guard to observe them. Pierce is never comfortable with several pairs of eyes on him, but Karmen doesn't give him much of an opportunity to give them his attention. "This will help your concentration. Feel free to retaliate, not that you'll be able to hit me."
"I don't really desire to strike you, mistress," Pierce says.
She gives a smirk that he can hear in her voice. "Don't worry, I'll change your mind. Sync." She gets into a forward-leaning fighting stance and dashes towards him on light feet. "A Thousand Ants." He pulls back but doesn't defend, allowing her to leave a small nick on his forearm. She watches him stumble and almost fall at the touch of her weapon and, through her synchronization, she can feel his strength momentarily leave his body before the bit leaves his skin.
He takes a few steps backward and rubs the scratch. "That really itches."
"I concentrated it," she says. "If you don't want to itch, don't let me hit you." She draws her quills up in the beginning of a ribbon dance that she'd learned as a child. It would be perfect for dodging his attacks. "Hit me if you can. That's an order."
He sighs and strikes at her half-heartedly. "I'm supposed to be defending you," he says as she swings her arms in wide arcs, knocking his away. "Not attacking you."
"Think of it this way," she says as she strikes her quill into his left shoulder. His momentary weakness is replaced with a skin-crawling sensation. "The harder you try to hit me, the better I'll get at defending myself. I can dodge just fine but if anyone can see past my haki I'll be in trouble."
He strikes with more conviction. "So I'm putting myself out of a job?" he asks.
She sweeps her leg up with her arms and plants her foot firmly in his chest. She catches his foot as he tries to keep his balance and flips him over his own head and onto his stomach. "You're making sure that if you are ever put out of commission will be able to survive long enough to see you again." She holds her hand out to him. "What do you say, bodyguard. Save my life?"
He spits grass out of his mouth. "Well, when you put it like that…"
He sweeps his legs around, aimed at her knees. She leaps over them with a grin. "Now that's more like it."
Despite his renewed efforts, Karmen did not much improve over the next few days. Still, her haki allowed her to remain standing unharmed while Pierce writhed on the ground, too itchy to continue the training until she administered the antidote. Each time Karmen pushed the sash up to her forehead and sat there for a moment staring at the bottle before saying she'd be working in the medical ward. Pierce would have to drag her from her chemistry set to bed. Too quickly it seemed, the last week dwindled away. When their last full day arrived, Cobra suggested they spend it relaxing.
Deciding to go to the market and enjoy their last visage of normal life for a while, Karmen and Pierce set out with Vivi, Chaka, and Pell shortly after an early breakfast. They have to engulf Pierce in heavy robes to protect him from the sun. He wears the large tricorn hat and proudly straps his new weapons to his belt sash. They chat happily as they walk. The early morning sunlight had yet to begin baking the stones and streets and for once Pierce looks quite comfortable walking through the desert kingdom in the day.
"Your people seem so happy," Pierce says, lifting his chin slightly as he listens to the laughter and bustle of the nearby shopping district. "It's a refreshing change. If it wasn't so hot here I'd consider buying a summer home."
"I'd happily loan you the money," Karmen teases. "We haven't done anything with those gems yet and you turned down a cabin back on the island." She glances at the princess. "Do they build subterranean homes here?"
Vivi giggles. "You're welcome to our basement any time."
A few people bump into him on their way through the kiosks. "Maybe something on the edge of town. I'm not too fond of crowds." He was right that there are a lot of people out at this time of day. Some are buying food and general household items for the day. Others are tourists or locals enjoying a day off from work. It's sensory overload, even if you don't have heightened senses. Still, he doesn't complain. Karmen examines fabrics that Winston might like and Vivi shows her colorful glass bangles and other traditional jewelry.
They are all enjoying themselves when a child screams, causing them all to freeze. The men reach for their weapons but halt when they realize her eyes are trained on Pierce. Karmen recognizes the look of flashbacks on the faces of the guards as they force their fingers to relax. She wonders if, like Pierce, their recent trauma still lives ever present in their minds.
"Mommy! Mommy! What happened to that man's face? He doesn't have any eyes!" The child trembles and hides behind a woman's skirts. Karmen grits her teeth and her hands tighten until her knuckles turn white.
The woman's face turns pale as she realizes who Pierce is walking with. "Your Majesty, please forgive her. She's just a child." She pulls her child forward, forcing her head into a bow as she herself bends at the waist. "Apologize this instant!"
Karmen steps forward and kneels in front of the child. Her anger has been replaced by a soft smile. "This is my friend Pierce. He's a very nice man. You're right. He doesn't have his eyes anymore, and I know he has a lot of scars, but he's not scary, I promise," she says. "Would you like to meet him?"
The child's eyes flick from Karmen to the starburst scarring around Pierce's eye sockets. She steps closer to her mother. "What happened to him?"
Pierce crouches next to Karmen and gives his friendliest smile. "A mean man hurt me because I stopped him from doing something bad and that made him angry," he says. "But my friend helped me and I got away. We came to visit your princess and the soldiers to help me get better."
She steps forward half a foot. "Will your eyes grow back?"
Pierce's smile tightens. "I'm afraid it doesn't work like that. I see with my ears now."
She looks at him. "You're weird and creepy," she says, voice wining slightly. "Mom, mom, can we go? Please?"
The mom grasps her daughter's hand, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. She bows deeply. "Please forgive her insolence. I am so sorry. We won't bother you again." The woman rushes off, dragging her child behind her. Karmen stands slowly, face lowered. She opens her mouth to speak when Pierce jolts back into a standing position.
He lowers his hat far over his empty sockets and straightens his collar nonchalantly. "Shall we go on?" he asks, voice casual.
Vivi bites her lower lip. "Are you alright?" Her voice is soft and concerned.
"I'm sorry if that made you uncomfortable, Lady Vivi," he states in the same tone as before. "I suppose I'll be getting a lot of that being out in public." His voice trails off at the end. "Please forgive any inconvenience I've caused you and your associates, Mistress. I could walk a few feet away from you if it would make you more comfortable."
Karmen fades momentarily and reappears to give him a kick to his back, sending him sprawling in the dirt on his face. Several pedestrians rush to the side to prevent him from crashing into them. Vivi gasps and steps forward to stop Karmen but Pell puts a hand on her shoulder and holds her back. This is between them. The crowd parts slightly, fearing a fight might ensue. "I swear," Karmen growls. "You say one bad thing about a single one of your scars and I'll smack you." She removes his hat completely and grabs him by the horn, pulling him up to her eye level. If he had never known Karmen he would still have his eyes and pristine skin. Every single mark on his body is there because of his association with her. "Every scar you have is a sign of what you were willing to go through to keep me safe. They're signs of your service and devotion and I am honored by every. Single. One. No, you never deserved what he put you through, but the fact of the matter is that it is an experience you will live with the rest of your life. You asked to stay on as my bodyguard knowing what we're going to throw ourselves back into and that's a strength that I can only admire. I don't care if you don't have eyes. I wouldn't care if you had half an ear, one arm, and a peg-leg. I don't care if you sprout so many claws that you look like a sea urchin. You survived. You beat his sick, twisted game, so spread your bat wings and own it."
The corners of his mouth twitch slightly as he tries to come up with a response. "Forgive my bluntness, but it's quite obvious that you were raised by world nobles."
Her scowl thins slightly. "I'm assuming it's the abnormal signs of affections and not the eleven years we've spent together that gave you that insight?" she asks. They both laugh and she drops his horn, letting him fall back to sit on his knees.
"Thirteen," he says. "We've known each other for thirteen years."
She presses his hat back over his head, tilting it back away from his eyes, and grabs his arm to help him to his feet. "Yeah, but I wasn't there for the last two." She hooks her elbow through his. "Come on. People have been staring since the kid showed up."
The crowd parts to let them through with the royal escort. Karmen notes the soft smiles of the guards behind Vivi and the princess' exasperated but heartwarming one. Her elbow tightens around his and she places her free hand on his arm. Let them stare. He'd earned his time in the sun a thousand times over.
"Sometimes I still don't think I am worthy to be your bodyguard," he says softly.
She gives a content sigh. "You really are an idiot."
They move to a less crowded area of the market and find a booth selling medical equipment and chemistry supplies. Karmen picks up a mechanical medicine grinder off a table and turns the crank. "Do you think Saaresto would-"
Pierce grows a set of wings, tearing through his clothing, and takes to the air in a rush of wind that nearly blows them off their feet. The wares on the table are still rattling as he disappears over the rooftop of a nearby building. They soon hear an alarmed cry from an alley two buildings away. They hurry over to find Pierce pinning two men against the wall with one of his tonfa blades pressed to their throats. He has the other held in reverse, ready to punch them in the gut with the blunt end if they try anything. Both men look like low-level thugs. They wear beige robes and have daggers that are now lying uselessly on the ground. One man has violet hair and the other teal.
The top half of Pierce's torn robes dangle in shreds at his waist, belt the only thing keeping him clothed. His shoulder and arm muscles ripple dangerously with each snarling breath he takes. Pell gives Karmen a concerned look but she shakes her head. He may be angry, but he's still in control. "Report."
"They made you," Pierce growls, fur sprouting along his shoulders. "They were about to report your location."
"Doflamingo?"
"I believe so."
Karmen gets a steely look in her eye. "Right. Good work. I'll handle things from here." She leans in and glowers at the men. "If you know who I am then you know the kind of people I grew up around. Do you really want to make me angry?" They aren't given time to start sweating. With a few pricks of deadbolt, she immobilizes the men and Pierce picks them up like loose timbers under his arms. She glances around. They're against the back of a restaurant. Karmen pushes open the kitchen door and Pierce follows. She gives a pleasant smile to the confused staff as the royal escort steps in behind them. Not wanting to interrupt royal business, they quietly turn back to their work. "We're going to borrow your bathroom." The owners can only stare as Pierce pushes the requested door open and deposits the men inside. Karmen shoes him out the doorway and leans against the frame. "This will only take a few minutes." The door closes and the lock clicks.
"Shouldn't we be helping her?" Pell asks. Interrogation isn't his favorite thing in the world but he knows it can prove effective in the right situations.
"She said she'd handle it herself," the bodyguard says.
"What is she doing to them?" Vivi asks hesitantly.
"It may be better not to ask," Pierce responds.
"Do they need help?" Chaka asks.
"Not in the sense you mean," Pierce states flatly. "Karmen would never go as far as Ikaika or Willow, but I would be lying if I said she didn't pick up a few things."
"You said they were going to report to Doflamingo? The warlord?" Pell asks.
Pierce nods. "Karmen informed me of her battle with the Baroque Agent Mr. 6 during her last visit. He was a bounty hunter employed by Willow. The men who killed him were on Doflamingo's payroll."
"But he died after eating a desert strawberry spider," Vivi says. "It was our medical staff who performed the autopsy."
Pierce gives her a mirthless expression. "They put it there, yes, but during the time in which it would have taken the poison to take effect, he was pursuing Karmen. When you're on a job for people related to Celestial Dragons you don't stop to forage or snack."
"How many of Doflamingo's men do you think are still in our country?" Vivi asks as the information settles in. Rage of having another warlord's influence over her people flares in her eyes.
"I'm sure that's what Karmen is asking our friends in there," Pierce says. "He has his claws in most black markets and undergrounds. It's actually hard for us to get information without running into his men sometimes. If we didn't have our golden sources back West we wouldn't be getting anywhere."
Chaka raises an eyebrow. "You have black market contacts?"
Pierce cocks his head back at him. "Is that such a surprise? Karmen is a pirate facing off against World Nobles and serving under Straw Hat Luffy. We can't exactly go to the Marines for assistance."
"I expected them to be screaming," Pell says, leaning close to the door. He'd kept his focus on the bathroom the entire time they'd been speaking. "Is she really interrogating them?"
Pierce frowns in the same direction. "I have barely heard anything either, which is strange. The door's not that thick." He turns his back to the door, acting as a physical barrier between it and the others. "I'm afraid I cannot let them be disturbed until she's finished."
"We weren't going to force our way in," Pell says as he takes a few steps back. "We know she's not killing them."
"Unless there's something we don't know about?" Chaka asks, eyes narrowing.
Pierce hesitates until he catches the faintest trace of Vivi's perfume. He'd almost gotten used to her wearing it. Karmen trusts them. He should trust them too. That's what she'd wanted him to do, right? Start trusting people again? He takes a deep breath and speaks quietly. "Before Karmen killed herself Doflamingo tried to recruit her. During this interaction, he admitted having Mr. 6 killed to monopolize information. His enlistment methods generally don't involve asking the person's opinion on the matter beforehand, especially if he goes through the trouble of asking you in person. He has a join or die policy. We've seen it before. If he knew she was still alive, things would get a lot harder for us."
"On the roof the other night she said he told her that Ikaika and Willow weren't her real parents to try to convince her to join him. Why does he want Karmen?" Vivi asks. The guards give the princess a shocked look at this new bit of information.
Pierce sighs. "He has his own sick, twisted purposes that we have yet to be informed of. It's just the kind of filth he is. I'm afraid I cannot express how I fully feel about that man in the presence of a lady." His voice shakes with anger as he says this, but he composes himself. Still, fur begins to sprout from his bared shoulders as his jaw works with the murderous phrases he bites back. His ear turns suddenly and the fur disappears as the door opens behind him.
Karmen steps out, tucking a quill into its holster on her belt. She has a small stack of papers tucked under one arm, each covered in freshly dried ink. "They won't remember a thing about us now." Everyone except Pierce looks past her to where the men lie slumped against each other unconscious on the tile floor.
"What did you do to them?" Pell asks.
"I used the flexomn toxin and nicely suggested that they tell me everything they know." She looks around at their dubious faces. "What, you didn't think I would waste sunblade on that scum, did you?"
"And the memory?" Vivi asks.
"I have a variant of the same toxin that erases the last thirty minutes from a person's mind," she answers.
"You never told me about that one," Pierce says, leaning forward curiously.
"You don't remember me telling you about it, you mean," she says. She laughs at the dumbfounded expression he gives her. "I'm just teasing, dear. I was playing around with my toxins and discovered it the other day. I had to tell one of the poor doctors how to make the antidote for desert strawberry venom all over again. I told you poking around the desert and Little Garden would be beneficial." She hands a portion of her stack of paper to Chaka. "I think you and your soldiers will find these people need to be asked a few questions. Take care of it as quietly as you can. Doflamingo isn't the type of man you want angry, though these guys are probably the bottom of the totem pole."
Vivi peeks over his shoulder and blanches slightly, eyes widening. "This many?" Each sheet has at least three columns of names sectioned off into various towns and business locations.
"That few," Karmen corrects. "I think you rounded up most of them with the Baroque Works agents. That being said, Pierce and I should get off the streets for a bit."
Vivi catches Karmen's sleeve as she begins to walk by. "Thank you."
Karmen stares ahead and gives the ground a distant smile. "What are you talking about? I'm a dangerous pirate who traded knowledge for safe passage through your kingdom. Make no mistake, I got the information for me. Helping clean the trash off the streets is just a bonus."
Vivi smiles. "Of course you did."
Karmen looks at the remaining papers in her hand with a thoughtful expression. "You guys have a communications room in the palace, right?"
-Somewhere far beneath the Grand Line-
Bedo-bedo-bedo-bedo
Bedo-bedo-bedo-bedo
-Hello? This is L-
-Dr. Spots!
-(groan) Oh. It's you.
-So I've decided we need code names. You never know who's listening in on these things. We'll be Ghost and Demon.
D: Mistress, isn't mine a little obvious?
G: That's the point. People can easily identify you this way, dearie.
-Well if we're doing code names I want to be called-
G: Yours has already been decided, DR. SPOTS.
Dr. S: And I don't get to pick my own because?
G: Because I can't imagine calling you anything else.
Dr. S: -Sigh- Whatever.
D: He sounds like Camilla.
G: I'm sure Dr. S is a lot more mature than her… in some areas… at least in strategizing…. I hope… He can fight better than her.
D: She can't fight at all as far as we know.
G: She's getting trained while we're away. I'm sure she's improved. What should we make her code name?
Dr. S: Did you just call to insult me or is there a point to all this?
G: Oh, right. I just wanted you to know that we're all recovered. Demon even has his mojo back. We've had some flight training and we'll be dive bombing our enemies in no time.
Dr. S: -Glances at a calendar on the wall. (The news had come sooner than expected. The secretary-ya does impressive work.)- Of course he is. I'm the one who fixed him.
D: Thank you for your excellent work, Sir L-, I mean, Dr. Spots.
G: How's the hunting? Do you have enough yet?
Dr. S: It's only been a few months. It takes a while to track these people down.
G: Really? We already have our first twenty targets picked out. We're starting that this week, by the way.
Dr. S: And any news on that relative of yours?
G: I spoke with some people who were all too willing to give me information after a few prods with my quills. I'll send you the reports by ray as soon as I finish transcribing your copy. They'll be arriving within the week.
Dr. S: Should I even ask how you know where to find me?
G: Oh, Dr. Spots. I've had a team reporting back on your location ever since we left you. Please treat my aquatic friends nicely should you catch sight of them. Though, I find it hard to believe you haven't noticed. We're partners in this, dearie. The least we can do is be vaguely honest with each other.
Dr. S: Fine. Honestly speaking, they're really hard to give the slip, even with my devil fruit powers. They're almost as annoying as you two. They keep poking their noses against the windows and distracting my crew.
D: They must be bored then. Maybe you should get Granny to switch out the teams.
G: You don't get them at all. They like you, Dr. Spots. Otherwise they'd keep a distasteful distance. You should surface and play with them some time. It's a lot of fun.
Dr. S: I'm not going to play with your pets.
G: -sigh- They'll be so disappointed. B will play with them, won't you, dearie? Taking a swim will be a nice change to being cooped up in that stuffy sub.
Dr. S: Leave my navigator and ship out of this.
B: I'll do my best, Ghost!
G: It's been so long since I've seen you and the crew. How are you?
Dr. S: This isn't a social call! Is there anything else you have to report before I hang up on you?
B: Captain! I feel jilted!
G: Nothing at the moment. I'll let you know how things go on our end. Be sure to call or send a response by the usual method to let me know what you make of those files. You know, once they get there.
Dr. S: You do realize messages in bottles are supposed to drift out to sea and not get delivered on the fish express, right? There is no "usual" to your method. Anyway, I'll get around to responding eventually.
G: You're the best. Bye B-
Dr. S: Goodbye, Ghost.
-click-
G: He actually hung up on me.
D: I'm sure he's very busy and didn't mean anything by it.
V: Sooo… Who's Dr. Spots?
Though Karmen senses Vivi enter the medical wing she doesn't look up from her microscope. She instinctively lowers the heat on one of the poisons she's distilling to keep from damaging the components she needs. It was a tricky mixture and she needs it to be perfect if she's going to use it in battle without killing anyone.
"The banquet is going to start in two hours," the princess says as she approaches. "I thought you might want to get ready for it together."
"I'll go in this," she says, still not looking up. Karmen is currently wearing shorts, a tank top, and sandals with her hair pulled up into a messy ponytail.
"But Terracotta has all these kameez and salwars and jalabiyas for you to try on," she says. "She's been picking them out all day. She even made sure not to use any silk."
Karmen sighs and turns the flame off, finally pulling back from the microscope. "Vivi, please tell Terracotta that I appreciate her efforts, but I'd like to pick out my own clothing. I've spent too much of my life being treated as a doll."
Vivi nods and gives an understanding smile. "Then come try on clothes with me," she says. She grabs Karmen by the hand and drags her gently from her stool. The secretary sighs but doesn't resist. They end up on the other side of the palace in an interior room with no windows and heavy doors. The walls are covered in mosaics depicting the history of Alabasta and fresco paintings of the local religions. The room smells of just enough incense to mask the smell of the silk in the room. She wonders if that was Pierce's suggestion. Terracotta is there, making last minute adjustments to robes that appear to belong to Cobra. "We're going to browse."
"That's fine, Vivi," she responds. "Your father's lost some weight recently with all the reconstruction and I'm busy taking in his clothing. Tonight will be good for his appetite."
Despite Karmen's earlier comments, she gives Terracotta a warm smile. "Thank you for taking the time to pick out clothing for me."
She points to a rolling rack filled with dresses and accessories. "They're over there, sweetie. If you'd like something different just let me know."
"I'm sure something over there will suit me. Thanks again."
Vivi continues pulling Karmen behind a dressing screen before dragging the rack to them. "I haven't been to a banquette since your crew was here last time," she says excitedly. "This is going to be so much fun."
Karmen shakes her head. "If you expect me to put chopsticks in my nose and dance on the table with a basket you'll be sorely disappointed."
Vivi giggles. "Actually," she says, pulling a book out of her pocket, "I was hoping you'd do this with me." She flips it open to a marked page near the middle and holds it out for her to observe. The page depicts women dressed in belly dancing outfits with diagrams indicating the rotation of the hips, torso, wrists, and the rhythmic stomping all through it. "It's a traditional dance," she continues. "It's done by the women here before a battle." She closes the book and holds it to her lips. "I thought it might bring you some extra luck."
Karmen's chest fills with a warm sensation. Vivi is worried about her, that much is certain, and she's trying to be supportive in the best way she knows how without dampening the mood. "I'll dance with you, but I'm not going to dress like that," she says, lifting the fabric of her tank top a foot and pointing to her still purple bullet wound scar. "I may be proud of this but it's still not the most attractive thing in the world."
Vivi leans down and inspects the scar. Its small purple jagged edges create a glaring contrast to Karmen's otherwise smooth skin and its color draws the eye. "It's not that noticeable," she says. "But if you aren't comfortable showing it then there's plenty of other outfits here." She turns to the rack and begins picking through the clothing. "Dad doesn't like showing his either."
Karmen remembers how they had said he'd been crucified on the palace doors. Now when he shook her hand or embraced her, his grip is slightly weaker than she remembers it being. When she shook his hand as a child, when they'd met in passing during a Riviere, his grip had been firm but gentle. Now it's only gentle. Then again, that could be the difference of sensation between being a child and a grown adult. Still, his age is becoming apparent in the spreading gray along his temples and the stress of the civil war still clung to him like a cloak when he thought no one was looking. "I have to admit, I get a little jealous of you some days," she says. "I know you and your kingdom still have your struggles, but this is a paradise compared to what I grew up with. You get to see your father every day and the people who were trying to kill you are behind bars."
Vivi's hands still on the fabric. "You could stay here, you know. We could hide you. You'd be safe and you could experiment on desert poisons every day."
Karmen pinches Vivi's cheeks and gives her a stern look to dilute the horror that washes through her at her statement. "You're too kind for your own good. Do you know that?"
The princess smiles. "I'll leave the offer open, just in case."
Karmen shakes her head and turns to the clothing. Maybe it would be nice to pretend, for one night at least, that doing so would be anything but a disaster.
Vivi pulls out a heavily jewel-encrusted green jalabiya with sheer sleeves that trailed all the way to the hem of the skirt. The embroidery depicts flowers and birds and sea cats in a myriad of yellow thread. The dress draws in slightly at the waist to emphasize the hips and shoulders. "What do you think? Isn't it beautiful?"
She gives an approving nod. "It would compliment you."
"You aren't going to wear it?"
Karmen shakes her head. "What would I do with all those jewels other than sell them on the black market?" she says with a wink to let Vivi know she's teasing. "No, I think something more like this will suit me just fine." She draws out a long-sleeved blue salwar suit dress from the rack. It has a vest-cut to the torso that trails down to a split down the center of the skirt, revealing a decorative green underskirt. The torso, sleeves, and the bottom of the skirt are heavily embroidered with flowers without a jewel in sight.
"You're right. That one does suit you better." Vivi begins pulling off her shirt. "Let's get dressed and pick out jewelry and shoes."
Karmen groans and turns away to give her some privacy. "You mean you're going to force me to accessorize too?" This receives a giggle.
Vivi is completely changed before Karmen even pulls off her tank top. "Are these scars too?" She feels the princess's fingers tracing lines between her ribs. She notices how still Karmen had become and pulls her finger away. "Sorry."
Karmen shakes her head. "Kudra, the sea king stingray that protects our island, broke a few of my ribs a few months back. It may still be a little discolored. I don't really pay much attention until it hurts to swim."
"If you have broken ribs then shouldn't you wait a while before going on your missions?"
She shrugs. "If I rescued Pierce with broken ribs then I can rescue slaves. It's not like you can do anything except wait for them to heal. I don't plan on having the slaves wait and die while I recover."
Vivi lowers her chin. "You're right. I'm sorry."
Karmen raps her knuckles on the other woman's head. "Don't apologize for expressing concern," she says. "If you didn't, I'd start to worry that you'd gotten sick or something." She shrugs out of her shorts and puts on the dress, removing her ponytail holder in the process.
Despite her standing there, dazzling in her own dress, Vivi can't help but marvel at the design of Karmen's. "You look amazing!" she exclaims, dragging Karmen to a mirror. "I know you don't want to be reminded of your ex-family, but you do look like nobility."
Karmen observes herself in the mirror. Her curls drape over one shoulder. The skirt begins just above her hip bones and the v-neck of the bodice emphasizes her squared shoulders. The dress hugs her curves without making them a focal point. There is enough drapery to hide her weapons in the folds and make her feel comfortable. It does give her an air of power and wealth that is a faint glimmer of the life she once knew, but the simplicity in comparison to Vivi's gives her a humble contrast. She takes a few seconds to imagine how the skirt could be twisted and tied into battle-ready pants should the need arise. "It's a nice dress."
Vivi drags her to a table ladened with necklaces, bracelets, anklets, earrings, and other jewelry. She picks up a string of heavy gems that is obviously supposed to be draped over the head. She begins to move it towards Karmen, but the secretary backs away. "Oh no. That one will look better on you." The princess purses her lips but drapes it over her own head and pairs it with matching earrings that hang down to her shoulders.
Karmen gives a teasing scoff. "It's a banquette, not a wedding."
"Too much?" Vivi asks, inspecting herself in the mirror.
"If you want to wear it, then wear it," she responds with a shrug. "I've worn enough pieces like that for one lifetime."
Vivi sets down the other jewelry she'd been looking at and turns to Karmen. "I know you have bad memories associated with fancy clothes, but they don't all have to be that way. You should still let yourself dress up. You're allowed to let yourself feel pretty."
Karmen grins at her. "Vivi, dear, I don't need jewels to feel pretty. Being pretty is what got me into trouble for all those years. I am very aware of how I look. Not decorating those aspects of myself is my choice, one that I happily make."
She is given a smile in return. Vivi holds up a plain gold head chain with a single emerald that hangs over the forehead. "Simple, then."
"Oh, that's much better." Karmen drapes the chain over her hair and centers the gem. It's just heavy enough that it won't slide around when they dance later. She inspects the other elements there. Her eyes fall on cuffs covered in small bells. She gives them a test jingle and admires the gentle chimes they give off. "And I'll wear these on my ankles."
The princess cocks her head. "I thought you liked to move quietly."
Her thumbs trace across the metal. "Pierce used to love watching me dance. These will let him follow it, even if he can't see it."
Vivi's eyes soften on her. "You're a very thoughtful person," she says. "When your island is filled with hurting people, they will look to that side of you during their healing process."
"Your people have more favorable qualities to look to," comes the response. "But thank you for thinking so."
Vivi continues to comment on what good leadership qualities Karmen has but may not recognize as they cover their arms in glass bangles and select cloth slippers. They apply some light makeup, make one more final check in the mirror, and head down. The men are already in the banquet hall.
"Finally!" Pierce says. "I'm starving. I know you don't think much about food but some of us have been training all day."
Igaram smacks him across the back of his head. "If you could see them right now you wouldn't be concerned with food," he says quietly. He returns his gaze to them and gives a big smile. "You both look extravagant."
"You forget that I saw her dressed up like a princess almost every day growing up," he responds, rubbing the back of his head. "The bells are a nice touch, though. I don't have to do a height check to know which one you are."
Pell rolls his eyes but smiles. "Don't mind him. He got one over on Chaka this morning and he's feeling full of himself." Pierce elbows him but grins widely.
"Vivi's wearing the bells," Karmen says, enjoying seeing him being so friendly with them. She wonders how much he had to drink while waiting for them to arrive to make him let down his usual rigid demeanor.
"You forget I can hear your heartbeat," he says, giving her an eyeless wink. "I know when you're lying."
"Just testing."
"Anyways, you're always pretty. I don't have to have eyes to know that," he says. He shrugs. "Even if you weren't, I just have to worry about how you smell." He'd definitely been drinking. Chaka makes a swigging motion with his hand to confirm this fact.
The women take their places at the table and the food is brought out. They dine on fine delicacies as musicians play. Karmen poisons everything set in front of her, tending to favor spider venom tonight. Out of the corner of her eye, she makes sure Pierce is eating plenty of protein and drinking water to balance out his training and intoxication. Vivi elbows her gently. "Relax. We won't get to do this for a long time."
"You're right," she says, scooping more fruit salad onto her plate. "A night like this should be enjoyed." Despite the amount of food brought out, she keeps her portions light, mind on the book Vivi had shown her. Chaka and Pell talk about the improvements Pierce had made this week and he responds by telling them exactly how he'll be using his training to lay out overseers. Cobra talks about how he and Kohza had been working together to rebuild towns that had taken the brunt of Crocodile's attacks. Terracotta and Igaram discuss the preparations they're already having to make for the Riviere coming up in two years, where leaders and nobles across the world meet. They ask about the details of the missions she and Pierce plan on carrying out but Karmen tells them that the less they know the better. This doesn't seem to satisfy them, but they don't ask any more about it. After the meal, Karmen and Vivi move to the open space at the edge of the room and kneel on the floor. Knowing this beginning, the musicians start a new song that emphasizes the flute and the drum. Karmen synchronizes with the princess so that their movements remain together and precisely on the beat.
"Oh," Cobra exclaims, understanding spreading across his face as the music begins. "The Dance of the Desert Guardians." Though he seems deeply humbled by the cultural relevance of the dance he almost seems sad as he watches them rising from their positions on the floor.
They start off with small stomps that jingle the bells on Karmen's ankles. Slowly, they begin to add in reaching motions with their hands that move their entire bodies in a sideways rocking. They reach in the opposite direction and rotate their shoulders in small circles, then their torsos, and work the roll down to their hips. It stays there, on their right side, moving their hips in circles timed with the drums, slowly speeding into a shimmy. As their hips shake their stomping grows more pronounced and they begin moving in slow circles, working their torsos and wrists, making symbolic hand gestures as they go. Karmen recognizes the falcon, jackal, scorpion, and the snake. They circle each other and continue the dance with their backs close together. At one point she can feel the fabric of Vivi's dress against her back. Shaking, shimmying, rotating. They add kicks and dips. Their hips never stop moving.
Through the motion, their bodies tell the story of how the jackal and falcon formed an alliance to save desert dwellers from invaders. Their hips are the desert, their shoulders the sky, and their torsos are the harmonious union between them. Invaders had come from the sea and, while the revered sea cat did what he could to destroy the ships, he was only one being and could do nothing to protect the country once they reached land. The invaders were seasoned warriors, pillaging and burning as far as their feet could carry them. They drank wells dry and slaughtered innocents. Many fierce warriors opposed them, but all fell short. In this day and age, the dugong had yet to learn kung fu. The mouse was too weak and meek to do more than cause a momentary distraction before fleeing back into its hole. The serpent fought well during the day but the cold nights left them nearly defenseless. The scorpion chose to remain underground during the day and often found the land surrounding their homes already combed through when they awoke. The camels were forced to carry the plunder across the desert. It was the fighting prowess and steadfast loyalty of the jackal and the fierce speed and aerodynamic carnage of the falcon that had driven them back to the sea. They worked as a team, dividing and disposing of the invaders until their numbers were few and their forces weak. After the final surrender, the invaders left Alabasta and never returned. In honor of their valiant efforts the jackal and falcon were named guardians and have forever since held a seat of honor.
When the dance finishes both women are drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. Their chests heave but they smile. Karmen allows these last few happy moments with everyone to sink into her memory. She wants to protect them too, them and all that they love, and that causes a great weight of sadness to settle in the pit of her stomach.
Until Doflamingo and the Gallowcombs are dealt with, she and Pierce can never return.