The basement of the casino was actually rather impressive, especially size-wise. But bananawani were giant creatures and needed a lot of space, so it was probably only natural. The underwater view of the lake surrounding Rain Dinner was also quite something. The water only barely let through the lights of the city outside, little spots of light were reflected here and there all around like through a diamond. It was actually quite beautiful, if you were into this sort of thing.

At one point Crocodile had called for some servants who now hurried in with a laughable amount of raw meat on a cart with weels. They all looked terrified, but Doflamingo thought to himsef it was probably for the better, with what a bunch of predatory reptiles and one Shichibukai in the same room. He laughed at his own joke and Crocodile gave him an irritated look and rolled his eyes when Doflamingo only smiled broadly at him. Fufufu, he had him trained well after all.

"You can go," Crocodile advised the servants, who were glad to comply. He pushed a button that opened a fall door in the perfect white marble floor, walked over to the pit, raw meat speared on his hook, and threw it inside. He still held his tumbler in the right hand, golden rings the same color as his drink, his coat huge and dark loosely around his shoulders. His silhouette was impressive; the gruesome sounds from the pit to his feet only deepening the dangerous aura the man had.

Doflamingo shivered in silent anticipation. Then he walzed over to his side and looked down, curious to see the giant creatures come out of the water and fight for the food.

He gently whispered through his teeth. "Fierce indeed."

"They're always hungry. They will eat anything. It's an art not to overfeed them in captivity," Crocodile said although he didn't think Doflamingo was all that interested. He kept on throwing the meat from the cart into the pit, and while each of the giant reptiles did get its share, the fighting over the rations wouldn't stop.

Doflamingo giggled. "Yeah, sounds familiar alright."

Crocodile frowned a little more than he did to begin with. Third time this evening that Doflamingo—without much finesse—implied there was more than gambling he was hoping to get from his visit. Not that it hadn't been obvious from the beginning. He never actually came for the gambling.

But Crocodile would not take the bait. The damned bird could very well try harder. He did come here on his own accord after all.

Come to think of it... Crocodile had been to Dressrosa before, and they met at Mariejois every so often, but it was much easier for Doflamingo to come here, and he actually did. More often than not, really. And the man had a family to tend to, too... To think he had so much control over Doflamingo gave Crocodile a rush of adrenaline that he blamed on his high-percentage whiskey.

Doflamingo meanwhile noted the repeated lack of interest in his little hints with growing bemusement. Okay, time to change strategy.

Crocodile kept on saying, "They have adequate outdoor run, but they don't have to hunt, so they get fat easily. I spoil them too much, but I can't help it." Doflamingo opened his mouth, but Crocodile was faster. The hook shot up to beneath Doflamingo's chin and closed his lips for him. "Don't even think of it."

"What a spoilsport. You wear that stick up your ass higher than ususal today, Croc," Doflamingo said through gritted teeth, not because of anger, but because the pressure Crocodile applied was serious.

"All the more reason not to let you near it," Crocodile hissed, and Doflamingo laughed again. Oh, that had been surprisingly easy. The man was always so composed, so jaded. To get him so far as to use this kind of language was very exciting.

"Don't be like that. You know why I'm here," he said gently, trying to look hurt, but the grin plastered over his face betrayed him.

"Yes. This is your favourite casino, I've been told." Crocodile withdrew the hook and turned around, leaving Doflamingo behind. He rubbed his jaws. Shit, the man was good.

He hurried after him. "Ye-es," he said, putting his arm around Crocodile's shoulders once more. To his surprise, Crocodile didn't push him away this time either. Oh, the game was on, was it? "But let's be honest here," he added with great gestures. "The gambling I can do at home, I own the damn place, I do whatever the fuck I want. But still, I'd rather come here. And do you know why?"

"The furnishing doesn't scream slaughtered paradise bird," Crocodile said flatly.

Doflamingo thought of the ridiculous giant bananawani's head that adorned the casino's roof and laughed some more. But it quickly subsided. "Don't play hard to get with me, Croc. You're really putting me on edge tonight." The tone of his voice had changed, Crocodile noticed.

"Personally, I think you're playing rather hard to want." Crocodile made sure all his dear pets were as happy as he could make them, closed the fall door shut and rang for some staff to take the cart away and polish his hook to remove any excess of meat. He had a servant hold his tumbler for him while he lighted a new cigar, the old stub discreety disposed via anther hushing servant whose sole purpose was to be an accessoire to the great Hero Alabasta loved so dearly.

He surely had mastered his way around daily life with just one arm. The cigar was tugged tightly between teeth that looked sharp enough to bite through bone. He easily lighted a match with his right hand, the fire illuminated his sharply defined face, drawing deep shadows over the crude scar that weirdly enhanced his otherwise quite conventionally handsome face. His hair always so neatly slicked back that even the anticipation of a single strand coming loose excited Doflamingo in a way he'd hardly admit to himself.

He quite enjoyed the view. The damn reptile had style, he gave him that. He was made to be served. Maybe not by himself. Well, a little. Sometimes. Just to keep him happy enough. But the reptile shouldn't get used to it. Doflamingo knew from a reliable source that crocodiles in captivity were an art to keep happy.

Ah, about that...

"Well," he concluded, clapping his hands. "That was fun. I'll be in the arcade now, if you'll excuse me." The look of surprise on Crocodile's face could have easily been missed, and was gone in an instant. But Doflamingo had seen it. And it broadened the grin on his own face once again. "I'm sure a busy man as yourself has a lot to do, so nevermind me, I know my way around," he added cheerfully. He knew he had the upper hand now. Not knowing what was going on would make the Crocodile furious. That was a good, a dangerous thing. And he liked dangerous. "See ya later, alligator!"

"It's Croc—" he heard the man moan, but Doflamingo was up the stairs with remarkable speed.

Oh, he would tear these fine walls Crocodile had built around himself down.