Prompt: Give Up
Disclaimer: Eichiro Oda created One Piece. The anime and manga are licensed by Shonen Jump. I make no money for the writing of this fan fiction.
"You... Really enjoyed that didn't you?" whispered Robin, shivering at the sounds of Sanji and Luffy's shouts. She could make out the wicked leer tossed her way from her captor sitting on his sofa like a throne.
After sipping some brandy he picked up one of the snails. "How's the bypasses going?"
"We should have main power restored soon. Unfortunately that blonde haired bugged screwed us over good .."
"That tank was just for our above ground facility. But you and I are quite safe, Miss All Sunday," Marlin crowed, pouring himself more brandy. She smelled the thicker sour scent of a cigar, lit not by a flame but an electric eel lighter in one hand.
"So they saw an illusion in studio 8..." Murmured Robin. "Developed no doubt by technology you stole or..."
"Legitimately purchased my dear," Marlin interrupted. One by one the screens flickered back on, and the main green lights grew stronger.
"Main power restored from the geothermal tap," called out one of his second in commands.
Gold eyes flickered back from Robin to the screens. "And the cameras?"
"Coming back online one after the other boss," spoke another fishman wearing a headset, hunched over the control panel and mixing board.
"Recording still?" Persisted Marlin, leaning forwards on his sofa.
"Still recording. The back up eels have gotten the power on the tone dials," reported the second fishman sitting next to the first.
"When will you give up this pointless game?" Asked Robin next, leveling her gaze at him.
"Pointless you say?" He snapped, tossing a gleaming object at her. A crystal brandy glass smashed next to her head, dousing her with alcohol.
Taking a deep breath Robin noted the maniacal light present in his eyes. Was he close to the edge of had she spoken a trigger word? "There is no need to get angry. Not when you hold all the cards."
Rising to his feet Marlin walked over to her with his other brandy glass in hand. "Oh now you're resorting to flattery. Sorry but it wont work. You shood know better than to resort to such a cheap tactic, Miss All Sunday..."
Robin fell silent. His cool fingers grabbed her jaw and forced it open while she tasted brandy on her tongue. She coughed and gagged as he forced her to drink it. "There's a good girl. Have a drink with me and celebrate. Let's see if we can split up your friends even more..."
"You are slightly less crazy then Spandam was," Robin panted, unable to wipe the drops of brandy off the corners of her lips.
"Don't compare me to a miserable human, my dear," Marlin snorted, draining the rest of his brandy.
"This brandy, it's Old Mom's blend isnt it?" She guessed, tasting the unique sour tang that would appeal to a fish man.
"Indeed. That's one of the other products my family makes, it's become very popular on Fishman island. To fishman it induces a pleasant buzz. But to humans it's a bit of a narcotic..."
"Something that I am familiar with," Robin admitted with a slight smile. "But isn't it foolish to give me something that could dull the terror you wish me to feel?"
"Not this particular brand. You'll feel fear much more intently. It's triple brewed.." He snickered.
Already Robin felt her heart pounding more rapidly in her chest as she saw the various shots of her friends. Luffy clung to a ledge with Sanji dangling from his other arm on one. The second camera showed Zoro and Nami running through a corridor which was slowly filling with water. The last camera trained on both Usopp and Chopper struggling to stop the newly repaired boats from being damaged as Franky bore down on the second wave of fishmen.
The usual calm that she had relied upon was leaking away seeing her friends unwilling to give up even an instant. Neither could she give up trying to keep her sanity as a guest of this madman.