….Rated T for language, BTW : )
PHEONIX ESTATE PART 2
Doflamingos surprisingly stayed and held a conversation with Marco. Although it was more about business and what's been going on in the area. Crocodile found some people of interest himself and sat with a small group of Underworld leaders who were discussing a group of kids who had been wrecking recent deals and destroying business. Interestingly, they all thought it was a small group…possibly a duo. Crocodile took the information with a smirk. Whoever they were, they were messing up business for his competition, and he knew robin could take care of two people easy if she were attacked. he didn't doubt that. Suddenly a woman came up to offer him a drink, saying another guest had requested it for him. Crocodile couldn't get a name out of the woman but took the glass anyway, finding his thirst over curiosity. Taking a few sips suspiciously he found he rather liked the drink. a deep red liquid that tasted like raspberries and another odd flavor, almost a spice. He soon finished it and didn't think it another thought. Little did he know two people were watching him intently, and a small bag of poison berries was discarded down a flower vase? Where the berries had come from, is another story. Let's say Law took the time to walk through some of the outdoor garden of the mansion and found a few rather interesting plants worth taking note of. With some extra knowledge from robin of course, he found out raspberries were a soft spot for crocodile, and his like of the flavor would soon blind his suspicion. Exactly two minutes after the drink was downed crocodile started feeling a burning itch from his arms and throat. Clearing his throat he caught the attention of the others at the table that had been listening to another man talk and not facing him. There was a loud gasp from the entire group. Croc raised an eyebrow, and one man passed him a metallic glass to see his reflection. His face had turned a bright red with sickly purple droplets collecting on his forehead. He stood in shock, feeling oddly fine as he did despite his appearance, and drew up his sleeves to find his arms in the same condition. he barked out a demand to know who had tampered with his drink and what "BASTARD DARE DO THIS TO ME, I'LL HAVE YOUR HEAD!" if crocodile were a lesser person he would have pulled a gun out then and there and fired a warning shot into the heavens as extra demand the culprit show themself. But of course crocodile was too classy for this and instead did not pull out a gun he did not have and glared around the room. the effect was ruined by the drinks change in his skin tone. Marco came by looking weary and gained an almost amused look on his face." I'm so sorry, sir crocodile. it seems a maid picked some of those bastard color berries and left them in the kitchen…don't know how they ended up in your drink though." he ended with a raised eyebrow on an amused note. croc growled and ignored this and questioned further." color berries? hell is that." " harmless little berries that change the consumers skin tone and sweat color for a while, they can cause a nasty itch though. " Marco again handed croc a wet towel that he took and stomped away with, eager to find someone in mind.
it had to be that bastard. Nobody else could be responsible. How else could it be explained unless someone else deliberately wanted to die! Crocodile surmised in his thoughts as he all but shoved his way through the crowd of rich aristocrats and dangerous looking underworld dealers. Finally he found a blonde head speaking with some people, and the itch in his arms intensified.
Meanwhile, at the top of the stairway, a young robin laughed uncontrollably, actually shaking from the force and holding back tears. Now standing a few feet away with a lazy grin and a shaking frame repressing laughter himself was law. he was leant over the railing with his arms over each other in front of him, eager to see crocodiles face and waiting for what would happen between the two down below when they confronted one another." i can't believe… He's actually sweating purple!" robin continued laughing and law kept replaying the mans shocked face looking back at him through the glasses reflection.
…"OI BASTARD." maybe it was because he'd heard crocodiles voice, but Doflamingos turned his head back immediately. He raised an eyebrow till his eyes rested on crocodile's face, steam almost visibly coming off the mean from anger. A grin of true delight spread slowly over his lips." i see you put your face into more fruit. if you wanted that badly crocodile, you could've just asked. I'm more than willing to toss more strawberries in your face again." he said a bit sourly, still angry from the man's childish prank earlier. Crocodile looked near ready to explode and ignored the jibe completely. " that drink is the last damn straw, another move like that and I'm sending my subordinate to take yours' head off, Doflamingos!" do flamingo tilted his head in question. "Drink? Have you started hallucinating? i don't know what you're talking about." eager to simply get the man to admit to his act he described the crime done." the waiter who brought me the drink, said another guest sent it. it was you, don't try to deny it. Nobody else would be that stupid to do such a thing!" crocodile pointed a finger in the man's face. For a moment Doflamingos was silent. Then he threw his head back and laughed. Taking a breath he smiled down at crocodile once more. " …And what are you gonna do about it?" he leant in to crocs face. by some miracle Marco appeared at the last moment, grabbing Doflamingos face and shoving back, also lowering crocodiles accusing finger. "Alright Boys, please, I'll ask one last time, Calm. down." he grit his teeth and let go of both body parts, looking at two scowling faces glaring at each other like he wasn't even there. Crocodile, the berries harmless, i assure u it was an accident. I'm sure whoEVER sent it didn't know." crocodile gave him a long hard look before he scoffed and walked away, raising a hand up. The berries effects were all already more than halfway gone. " whatever. Keep that child away from me." Doflamingo scoffed himself and walked away in the opposite direction. Marco sighed and rubbed his forehead. Kids.
"….he actually played along! He actually let him believe he did it just to piss him off, for kicks!" Robin was leaning on the rail for support now; almost in shock law's boss would do such a thing just to grate on the other man's nerves. She could almost see the way law acted in him. Beside her Law tched, with a roll of his eyes and an almost proud smirk on his lips as he stayed in his position on the railing looking down." perhaps we should have used real poison berries…" robin chuckled the responded." no, they might have actually started a fight then. Better for us to keep a low profile." Law nodded in agreement before taking a sip from a glass of his own he'd gotten.