#So imagine if people's expectations of what S-Bear should be like based on Kuma were projected onto the poor angel

[moongothic]

So the Seraphim only take orders from certain people they've been programmed to follow (namely the Vegapunks and the Gorosei), but also they do take orders from individuals who possess an authority chip. Between that and the knowledge that the Seraphim are cyborgs, it makes me wonder...

Like, do they have somekinda control chip installed somewhere in their bodies (brain, spine?) that acts as the thing that forces them to follow orders and not act (too much) on their own will? 'Cause would the existence of an authority chip, a thing that essentially "sends out orders", not also imply the existence of something that recieves the order (like other than their brain) and forcibly puts it into motion? Something similar to whatever visual scanner+database combo Vegapunk installed into Kuma that allowed him to instantly recognize certain people and whether or not they were enemies or allies to him (at least as far as the WG thinks)

'Cause if so, like. I wonder. Could you remove that chip and basically free the Seraphim from being just borderline-mindless flesh robots?

In that scenario... what would they become?

Because, like, we don't know how much Free Will the Seraphim even have, how developed their minds are? Are/would they be fully functional human beings (if immature because they're still kids) who have just had half their mind essentially turned off so they don't think about anything else except following orders? If you freed them from the WG's control would they be able to live and function freely just like Stussy's clone can? But when being under that kind of control is all they've ever known, would they know how to function? Like what do you do, where do you go, who do you become? Who are you to begin with, does that even matter? What about your relation to the person you were cloned from, what does that mean? Are you doomed (🐊🦩🦇) or expected (🦈🐻🐍🦅) to become just like the person you were cloned from? Do you even want that? What will having that kind of freedom to do and become whatever you want even mean to someone who has never known what it means to even want something for themselves?

(But also, depending on who you were cloned from, would people even trust you enough to allow you go free and live your own life, or would you be deemed a threat by simply existing because you are the clone of a horrible, heinous person?) (Of course, we know existing is not a crime, and no one is born into this world a criminal. But we also know the World of One Piece does not always think this kindly)

[genomynt]

Unexpected Facts

A mini-fanfic for SaboKoa week 2018! Day 4: UNDERCOVER

 Author’s note: This is the prequel from the Day 2 drabble that I wrote for the SaboKoa week~ This may be a bit longer or if you guys want me to continue it with further chapters, I can do so! I used female pronouns to Ivankov and treat her as a transgender. Take note that the setting of the story is based on the behind-the-scenes of the Reverie. This is only a fanfiction, anything that happens here is not related to the canon story of One Piece. I also used Nantokantte’s first name, Sarie, instead cuz it’s too long -_- Also, English is not my first language, so please bear with me. XD Anyways, enjoy!

Warnings: Drunk Koala, swearing, contains spoilers for those who are not manga-readers, hidden Vine joke ahead.

Wordcount: 5,045

 Sabo sat restlessly in the underground heat with Lindbergh, Karasu, and Morley. He can’t stand the truth to accept that Kuma, their gentle Kuma is now a slave under the filthy hands of the Celestial Dragons. He just expressed his anger by telling them there are only two products of their mission: Death or Success. Which, he can’t let the first option to happen. His pace loops around the secluded space and Morley decided to cut the thick atmosphere, “S-Sabo-san, look, about what you have said, we need more men to infiltrate them and rescue Kuma.”

“I agree,” followed Lindbergh and Kuro came with a nod. “No, we can’t sacrifice any more men. We’ve lost enough soldiers from what happened in Baltigo and I mustn't increase their number again as the next leader for the next generation.” His stern voice made them swallow. “But, Sabo—” Lindbergh was cut by the ringing Den Den Mushi which he immediately answered. “Yes? Yes, sir. Sabo, Sir Dragon wants to talk to you.” Lindbergh hands the phone to him and Sabo take it with a sigh before he grips on it.

“Sir?”                                                                                            

“Sabo, so you’ve successfully hidden underground huh?”

“Yes, and I have a heartbreaking report sir,” he paused and swallowed a lump before he continued. “Kuma was captured and is in the hands of the Celestial Dragons as Slave.” Silence followed after, “In that case, I’ve sent some additional manpower to help you save Kuma and overthrow your brother—”

“He was never my brother,” Sabo interjects. “Stelly,” Dragon corrected, “And you don't have to send any additional people to sacrifice this mission." Sabo interjects again."Too late, boy, I've sent Ivankov, Betty, and Koala." Sabo heard the breathy grin Dragon made. "No, wait— you send girls?! That's—"

"My final decision. Meet them later at night at the dock; they will be arriving on the boat."

"Yes, sir," Sabo copied and ended the conversation.

————

Sabo with Karasu went to their rendezvous, "They're here." Sabo looked through the lens of his telescope and lowered them as their figure is drawing nearer to dock. Karasu offered his enormous arms to help the ladies disembark with their luggage.

"Vmy, it's been a while, Karasu-chan," Ivankov cooed, "How're your flying friends doing?" Karasu answered with a thumbs-up that made Ivankov frowned. "Still a man with a few words, ey? Some things never changed," Ivankov shifts her eyes to Sabo and smiled. "I'm glad you arrived safely, ladies."He smiled, "I've heard what happened to Kuma," Betty said with a cigarette between her teeth. "So have you decided to send to rescue him?" She blows a smoke, "Pardon me, Betty-san, I'm not fond of second-hand smoking." Koala coughed and swayed her hand into the smoke in the air. "Oh, sorry," Betty stomped on the cigarette. "Well, allow us to accompany you to our underground, it's not a long walk, Morley is waiting for us," Sabo said as they made their way through their hideout.

“Did Dragon-san tell you why we’re here?” Koala asked out of nowhere. Sabo let out a heavy sigh before he replied, “Yeah, just to bring more manpower he said, but he only mentioned that after I learned that it was you gals.” Koala raised a brow in his tone. “Anything wrong about that?” she clenched her teeth phrasing her sentence. “Oh, looks like Sabo-chan doesn’t want Koala-chan to babysit her…” Ivankov turned her enormous head to Sabo’s side but he just replied with a long hum. “Eh? The chief-of-staff is being babysat by the Fishman Karate teacher?” Betty grinned as she rests her sunglasses to her head. “It’s been a decade,” Koala sighs with that comment.

“Morley we're here!” Sabo waved at Morley as if he didn’t hear anything. Morley grinned stretches from ear to ear."Betty-saaan! Koala-saa—""Hush now, Morley, dear!"Ivankov warned, "They might hear us!" Morley dropped his head, "I'm sorry," he initially used his Devil fruit powers to made a path to the underground. Sabo leads the way by lighting his hand with his flame as their guide to the secluded hideout. Karasu puts down the luggage as they gather around the table. Sabo removed his white coat and hang it on the back of the chair and grips his hand on it, "Dragon-san didn't mention how do we infiltrate Stelly in his current residence, I suppose that we start a strategy?" He started. "A lot of guards is on its posts and it's hard to infiltrate them."

"I suggest we go in different posts," Lindbergh suggested. "Betty and I will go with the communications, Morley will hide in the underground until we gave the signal to make a riot to distract them to escape if something happens." He showed his sketch of the plan on the table. "And how will we able to do that?" Sabo asked. "And what will be the others' assignment?" Ivankov answered him by sliding him an envelope in front of Sabo. "Vi got it from a bar while Vi was disguised with my hormones, and he expects me to come with him," she shrugged her shoulders, "But Vi think that this invitation suits for you and Koala-chan." Sabo opens the envelope as he read the invitation for two: The Celestial Dragons has received the Elders' commands to invite: Mr. Edicius and Ms. Ivankov to the Astraea Grand Masquerade Ball. He raised an eyebrow to Ivankov.

"So do you guys dance?" Ivankov asked.

—————

Stelly savors his luscious meal on sitting on his cushioned, velvet seat. "Dear, the Reverie will be in a few days, aren't you excited? And a grand ball will be held before that!" Sarie Nantokanette joyously drank her wine with her pinky rose in the air. "Imagine what gown I will wear!" She lowers her glass and her eyes gleamed under the chandelier above them with greed, "Oh, I'd better get my dress sewn by the best seamstress in this damn place or I would like a filthy commoner!" She pulls her ruff with a frown. "Don't worry dear, we'll get it in no time," reassured Stelly as he wipes his mouth with a napkin. "Oh, and have you heard the news, dear?" Sarie guides a hand to her mouth as if she were shocked, "Celestial Dragons has been tracing fishmen as their top in-demand order if slaves!"

"Oh? I thought that they only prefer human slaves?" Stelly raised a brow, "I thought so too, but it seems time has changed."Sarie smiled at her wine glass." You know, I think I might get myself a slave too, "Stelly sliced the tender meat on his platter. "Father kept a log of slaves given to him by the Celestial Dragons as a token of appreciation for his nobility and partnership with him. They said it might be for his future use. What surprises me from what I've read from the log is that some slaves were reported to escape and when the escapees were been retrieved, it was recorded that one of them is missing, which its location is unknown yet." He paused and drank his last gulp of wine, "One of the slaves was tortured and was forced to tell where did the rascal go, and he said the slave fled with the fishmen, which sounds dubious, like who's a fool to come with those stinking fishmen?” Stelly let out a guffaw that fills the dining room.

—————

Koala received a newspaper from the News Coo on their alternative hideout in an old abandoned house just above their underground. She read the latest headlines which are written in bold and capital letters:

CELESTIAL DRAGONS OPEN FOR FISHMEN AS SLAVES

Saint Rossward says that a huge number of celestial dragons were demanding fishmen to be their slave for their rare physique and unimaginable strength. Various fishmen, pirate or not, had been captured and collared by some of the notable celestial dragons as their own. Other reports say that they are hunting down and tracing members of the famous disbanded Sun Pirates considering them as a slave as they—

"Koala," Sabo greeted from her back as he descended from the stairs. "Is that the daily newspaper?" He tilted his head on Koala's back where she suddenly hides the broadsheet. "Oh, oh yes," she hands him the newspaper to him and walks away. "My, this damn Celestial Dragons were out of their minds, huh? Getting fishmen in all ages as their slave..."Sabo's voice echoed softer as she headed to Betty and Lindbergh outside the house. "Betty-san, Lind-san, may I have some of your gin? Where do you have them?" Betty lowered her sunglasses as she puffed a smoke, "Wow, I didn't know that you drink Koala, anything wrong?" She asked. 

"Nah,"

 "Suit yourself, it's on the basement" Lindbergh took a huge gulp from his mug of beer. "I will not drink today, I'm just curious how did you manage to bring that amount of alcohol during this mission." She rests a hand on her waist. "I do my things my way, girl. Drinking for me eases the mind and think about what words should I say when cheering people up; you can say it as my meditation while drinking." She winked. "Okay, but don't abuse yourselves," she said with a fake smile that Betty noticed and headed to her room upstairs.

She sat on her spring bed, old, and tattered, which reminds her of her past, she removes her frilled blouse just down through her elbows and turned around the mirror to see her scar. "Ugh." was all that she said as wants to see the full view of it but it didn't. She looks at her lamp table and reread the invitation.

"So do you guys dance?"

"I don't dance, Iva-san," she sighed dressing up and landed her back on the bed, arms spread on her both sides, as she looked at the ceiling fan rotate. "I've never danced." She gripped on the sheet remembering what she had read on the newspaper; those words were nothing but horror to her pooling tears on her eyes. She considered the Sun as her family. She hasn’t told to anyone about her past, except to Ivankov and Inazuma. Ivankov used to bathe with her with her feminine physique when she was just fresh from the trauma and newly recruited in the army. 

“Vhat’s this, my child?”  Ivankov stopped undressing the young Koala, and she remained silent. “It’s okay, dear, you’re safe here,” Ivankov assured her with a smile on her face. as she helped her to step on the water-filled tub and joined her. 

“What’s a revolutionary army?”  Koala asked meekly playing the waters in the tub, “Well, we fight,” Ivankov wets hair and squeezes a handful of shampoo and lather it on her damped hair. "We fight what we think what is right, when people are blinded in these corrupted doings of the government, we have to change that and to make peace to the world. “If you want to promote peace, then why fight?” “Oh, dear, how can Vi explain to you, child? “Ivankov sighed. “You’ll know when you grow up.” 

“Okay,”

She keeps on thinking nostalgic things that could ease the pain that she is feeling in her chest. What if someone noticed her on the day that she escaped? Do they know about her? Has her scar been revealed on her tattered clothes from her escape from her village? What if her mom didn’t tell the marines? Questions bothered her thoughts as she locked herself in the room in the meantime and she had an idea to practice her dance to ease herself. She found some dusty books inside an old shelf; blew the dust and wiped it off. The art of Music and Entertainment engraved on the spine, she opened the book turned the page to her desired chapter. 

Illustrations of dance steps printed on the pages, she tried to mimic each step but the room doesn’t have enough space for her to move, “How embarrassing,” she murmured. 

—————

The day will be tomorrow night. Sabo studied the map of Stelly’s current residence, which is a mansion, and the chosen venue of the ball, “It’s been a while to attend such gathering.” Sabo runs his fingers on the huge map rolled on the table. “Don’t you think it would be fun?” Betty said, “We’re not there to have fun, we’re in a middle of a mission,” his voice is stern. 

“Dancing?” Betty snorted,

“Not just it. There’s this guy and that one, we need to take down,” Sabo hands pictures to her, “The first guy is this Edicius which I would go by a name to, and the other guy, is one of the main guards in Stelly’s document room,” he added. 

“What’s inside the room?”

“Boxes and shelves of files and important records are stored in there,” he added. The agenda is we have to find the slave logbook where Kuma is recorded,” he said. “Then we will head to where he is being kept. He points a pin on the map while drumming his fingers on the table. “Fine, then we will stay here to connect you with you guys,” Lindbergh polished his new invention with his hands carefully. “By the way, does Ivankov be staying here?” Betty asked. “She volunteered to come with us, but she will not go to the ball, maybe she will be staying at the carriage.” Sabo added, “Any dashing outfit for the gentleman?” Betty grinned with her lighted cigarette. “I do have some spare clothes for the night,” he said. 

—————

Bartholomew Kuma sits on the cold floor tainted with dried blood from the previous slaves that have probably died and tortured in place, his dried blood mapping his white clothes, his open wounds gave tingles in the cold wind, his stomach rumbles for days, but he never showed expressions in years. He reads his worn-out Bible under the only small thin light provided by the moonlight. “How’s my favorite pet?” chains echoed in the prison halls, “Smells like shit in here,” Rossward spat on his jail bars. “Hey, what’s that?” he received a no reply. he opened his prison cell and hit Kuma with a baton and a stream of blood trickled down his face.  “Still not saying anything, eh?” he grinned. “I like that.” Rossward made his way out from the cell.

—————

It’s almost two in the morning and Sabo is arranging papers in the living room, in the house.  Sounds of crickets and barks of dogs can be heard from outside. Sabo sighed and open the fridge what’s left to eat, he had skipped dinner while he was busy planning for tomorrow's event. A faint laugh was heard from the basement when he was just about to eat his sandwich; he didn’t flinch and silently moved his chair aside. He walks into the basement, his fingers were aflame as he slowly opens the door, “Who’s there?” he illuminates the room and saw the chuckling suspect...

“Sa-bo-kun!” Koala answered with an open grin, with a drool hanging on her face, her head rests on her right arm laid on the table as she was holding a mug of alcohol. “K-Koala?!” Sabo stuttered and looks at her with confusion. 

“I’m fi—” a pool of vomit didn’t finish her answer. “See? Hehe,” she smiled with her hooded eyes. “Oh geez!” Sabo reached to her to help, “Look at you, you even vomited on your clothes!” a look of grimace is evident on his face, he looks on a patch of vomit seeping from her chest downwards. “C’mon, let’s get you a bath and change,” Sabo helped Koala helped her on her weak knees, as he was figuring out how to carry her through her room. “Up we go,” he put her arm around her shoulder and lift up her knees; like a bride. “What’s with you? This is the first time I saw you drinking this much?” he asked not looking at her. 

“You know nothing, Sabo-kun,” she murmured, and he turned his head to her with confusion, “YOU KNOW NOTHING SABO KUUUUUN~!” Koala threw her arms in the air and straightened her back on his arms. “Hey! Hush! You’ll wake the others! And stop moving so much, I might drop you!” he said and opened the doorknob to her room; he placed her on her bed gently. He looked around the closet to find some spare clothes for her to change and just randomly picks them. “You can handle yourself in taking a bath, right?” he asked. “Uh-huh!” she answered in a cheerful tone. “Right...” he turned to the closet again, “I’ll leave you your towel and robe on this chair”, he placed her bathing needs on the chair, he also prepared her bath and helped Koala stepped into the tub. “Just tell me when you’re done and I’ll hand it over to you.” he closed the door and sat on her bed. “Okie~” she cooed back. Sabo sighed heavily and roams his eyes around the room. It was dusty, but Koala did have some time to rearrange the furniture and obscene books on the small shelf he thought how Koala loves to get things organized, which he remembers how she was nagging him when he would misplace important folders to another stack of papers, or that he would just leave his coffee-stained papers on his desk, sleeping; and the day he would wake up, a sparkling clean desk surprised him with a note on the desk, “Good work today, Mr. chief-of-staff! –K.”; in where he would just smile and— his senses came back when Koala called, “Sabo-kun! I don’t have shampoo here!” Sabo hesitantly enter the bathroom, good thing it has an opaque shower curtain.

“E-excuse me,” his voiced is shaking and suddenly remembered what did he came into, “Where are they placed?” he straightly said. “At the small closet right there on the wall.” Sabo took the shampoo and other hygienic needs and handed it to her through the shower curtain. “P-pardon my intrusion,” he keeps gaze on the floor just when he heard a huge distance of sliding of the curtain in front of him.

“Wha—”

“Oh, come on, I’m not even naked,” Sabo slowly raised his head to the soaking wet Koala. “What the hell did you do?!” he even slides the curtain more, “I’m washing me in my clothes!” she said with a thumbs-up. “Just how much alcohol did you drink, woman?!” he could not help but stare at the outline of her brassiere from her wet blouse. “Sabo, you pervert~” she teased but he did not answer, he just thought that Ivankov is awake to help him. “Just,” he immediately slid the curtain close, “hurry up and bathe yourself, and I already leave you a towel and clothes here hanging so you’ll not call me anymore,” he said closing the door behind him. He propped himself on the bed and exhaled deeply and slowly. He knows Koala drinks alcohol but he sure knows that she is aware of her limits, and what triggered him more is that when she said that she knows nothing. Something’s going on with her.

Koala step out from the door and Sabo went to her to assist her from her tipsy situation and headed to her bed and the both sat facing each other. Her eyes were half-lidded and facing down, and hair was still soaking wet and he just smiled and shook his head to her. “You know, I think I will say everything while you’re drunk,” he continued to dry her hair and koala replied with a faint, “Mhmm,” “Look, first of all, you don’t need to drown yourself with alcohol when you’re down, you can tell me everything so that I would know what that ‘nothing’ means that you said earlier,” he paused and he runs his hand slower this time. “I know that I’m reckless and you always babysit me, annoyed when you’re nagging me when you told me I’m always loquacious about my little brother,” he snickered. “And, at least I’m glad that I’m making up to you now from all the bother I’ve caused you, right, Koala?” He stopped his hands as he waited for her response, but he saw that she was already asleep; Sabo chortled and gently lay her down and tucked her in the blanket, “Good night, Koala.” He poked her cheek with his finger and leaves her room.

—————

Koala drowsily rubbed her eyes and stretched her arms. “Eh?” she was surprised that her clothes were different from the last night. She checked her clock and displayed: 10:30. “Damn it, I overslept!” she hurriedly wears her morning slippers and runs into the kitchen to get breakfast. “’Morning Koala, dear~” Ivankov greeted, and now in her feminine physique. “You seemed had a hangover last night…” Ivankov placed a buttered toast on the table. Oh shit. “I’m sorry that you went all the trouble to dress me,” she said and sat on the table, and everyone is present; Betty reading the newspaper, Lindbergh, was in the living room, arranging his weapons, Karasu is just staring outside at the birds perching at a tree, Morley enjoys his towering pancakes pooling with maple syrup. “Oh, don’t mention it, dearie, just don’t abuse your body that much.”Ivankov turned to her with a smile, “Where’s Sabo?” Ivankov looked away, “He’s still sleeping. He’s a busy man, you know.” She added, and an “Oh,” was all Koala said. “Ah, Sabo,” Betty suddenly said and everyone turned their heads to their drowsy chief-of-staff.

“I owe you one, Iva-san,” Sabo whispered when he walked through Ivankov in the kitchen and she replied with a wink, “Have a coffee,” she gave him a mug of his favorite black coffee as he sat on the table and rests her his chin on his hand on the table. “Had a load of work for tonight, Mr. Chief-of-staff?” Koala asked. “Lemme guess, you had a good-night sleep?” he smiled on his mug and raised a brow. “I overslept…” she frowned. “Oh? I take it’s a good night sleep then,” he lowered his mug down. Koala shook her head from the comment and went back upstairs. She took her guidebook and before she proceed to go outside, she made sure that everyone is busy, and sneaked out of the house and went to a secluded place; she hid from a worn-out barn that is not far from them. She opened the book and started taking a few small steps and movement of her body, following instructions guided with the illustrations it presented while looking at her feet at the same time. She sighed stared at the webbed ceiling then closed her eyes and exhaled.

“Practicing?” the sound of the voice made her jolt and threw the book behind her, “S-Sabo-kun… What are you doing here?” she straightly said breathlessly. “You could just say no to the mission if you don’t know how to dance,” he chuckled and walked towards her and offer a hand. “Here,” she stared on his hand then back to his eyes. “Y-you dance?” she sheepishly asked. “Well,” he rolled his eyes and the corner of his mouth smiled, “I guess you can say that I learned something useful from those guys when I was a kid,” Koala could tell he’s talking about his parents. “As expected from someone who is a former noble,” she teasingly accepted his hand and he guides her other hand to his back. “Try me,” he snaked his hand on her back, “Look, your muscles are tensed, relax,” he gave a light nudge on her shoulder, “and remember to let the gentleman lead the dance,” he added. “Just don’t do anything reckless,” she chortled, “I won’t and I’m not reckless when it comes to dancing.” His octave went lower that made her legs jelly.

“Okay, let’s start— And, one, two, three, and one, two thr—Ow!” Sabo parted from his stomped foot. “Oh, I’m so sorry! Are you okay?” she wailed looking at Sabo fixing his shoe, “I-I’m fine, and don’t look too much on your feet. Just trust me,” his hands went back where it settled. Koala felt unease in the awkward silence while dancing, she hummed a tune to break the silence. “That’s nice, it is not a dance without music,” as he commented and guides her and turned them around by the corner of the barn, “Oh, that was my mom’s lullaby for me,” she turned her head away from him, smiling, “It’s lovely,” he smiled, “Okay dipping…” he suddenly bends her body without her consent.

“Whoa! Wha—” Koala’s eyes widened, “That’s one of the steps they do when dancing,” she grinned at her, “At least, warn me before doing it so!” she slapped his shoulder, laughing.

—————

“WHERE IS MY SEAMSTRESS?!” Sarie’s voice roared from her room that was heard in the hall. “C-coming, your highness!” a running woman with her sewing kit, panting. “Just what is this design that you made? It doesn’t show my curves this way!” she pulled the hair of the woman straight to her gown that she is holding. “F-forgive me, your highness, I’ll alter it in no time!” the woman pleaded. “Hurry up, you slow-ass bitch! Ugh, all of this stress would make my face haggard for tonight’s ball!” she sat on her velvet chair in front of the mirror. “You still don’t have your dress yet?” Stelly said leaning on the door and walked towards her. “Oh, love, that old hag just designed me an awful dress that she made,” she pinched the bridge of her nose with a sigh, “Shall we fire her?” he asked. “Yes, please.” She puffed her face with powder, “I guess I choose on one of my dresses again…’” Sarie sighed.

“Does having a fishman slave ever considered your mind?” he asked breathlessly. “I would love to, honey~” she cooed, “A fishman slave it is then,” Stelly confirmed with a fill-out document on his hand.

“Speak of the devil,” I heard that the runaway slave is still alive and well,” he paused as Sarie turns her head, eyes widen in shock. “Really?” she exclaimed. “Yeah, and what some of my advisors said that she joined the Revolutionary Army.” Stelly walked through her and showed her a picture inserted from the old logbook, “A girl? What a fool.” Sarie commented. “Yeah she is, I better prepare myself for tonight and check the hallway for our guests later, dear,” he walked out from her room and he passes by his servants busy in putting up decorations and cleaning the mansion. He went back to the document room to return the document. “A pleasure afternoon, sir,” the main guard greeted, “Return this back where it came from,” he hands him the old logbook. “Yes, sir,” the guard obeyed and entered the room. A small picture is slightly revealed that was inside the book and he curiously viewed the picture of the grown-up picture of the girl from the logbook.

—————

A knock was heard from her door and came in an enormous head. "Ko-a-la-chan!" Ivankov wink from the ajar door, "I bought you guys an outfit for tomorrow night!" Ivankov revealed a pale rose-colored gown, with thin, translucent linen that covers the embroidered flowers in different pale colors on the skirt. The neckline would reveal her bare shoulders but her sleeves were sewn through the wrist cuffs; it comes a silver belt shaped like a two stem entwined with a pink stone shaped like rose attached. A zipper is sewn at the back. "Try it!" Ivankov handed the gown, "Oh, Iva-san, where did you get this? It's so beautiful." Koala caresses the fabric with a smile. "Oh, Betty and I went to a shop for a while and got you a gown. Betty doesn't have any knowledge in the fashion that she chose a back one with a slit on the leg, and my, oh my, the neckline goes down through your waists, “Hmp!" She huffed. "Now, try it on, dear!" Ivankov gave light pats on her shoulder to try it. At first, Koala hesitated to try it on. She donned the gown and stepped out with her head looking at the floor in front of the mirror.

"Iva-san I—"

"Ravishing," Ivankov lifted her chin from behind and lightly massages her shoulders, "Uh, I think my back is a bit revealed..." Koala turned her back to the mirror. "Nah, the scar it's not that obvious...” Ivankov checked her back and adjusted the zipper. “I also got you your mask”, she revealed a lavender butterfly-shaped mask, made of real lavender lace embedded into a translucent base. Eyeholes were edged with gold on the lower eyelids and the whole mask is edged in a sequin braid. “Also this, for your hair,” she placed a headband with small flowers that perched on silver. “Iva-san, this is too much,” she let out a sigh hiding her face. “Oh, you look gorgeous!” Ivankov puts her hands on Koalas cheeks and pressed them lightly and noticed the said in her eyes. “What is it now, dearie? Anything that I could do for you?” she asked, “Have you read the newspapers yesterday?” Koala asked, Ivankov knew what she meant; the celestial dragons might hunt her down, “Don’t you worry, honey, everything will be all right,” she assured her, “Now, here’s your purse; everything you need is in there and let’s get going now, Sabo’s waiting downstairs!” Ivankov gave her a little push outside the door and went downstairs.

Sabo is there standing, donned with his formal night attire, a white polo shirt, layered by a black vest and finally a navy blue tailcoat patterned in toile of navy blue and silver, his black cravat is fixed with a dragon-shaped like a ring, surrounding the silk with its whole body. The two stared with each other for a moment until Koala asked, “Where are the others?” she walked towards him and headed outside, “They went off already in their positions.” He said and helped her on the carriage. Ivankov lowered the hood of their cloak and made their way to the ball.

To be continued soon at AO3…

(Cuz I’m tired in my internship and slept at 3 am)