03-01-2018, 03:06 AM
In spite of his smug smirk, Crocodile was surprised by how easily his poisoned hook had sunk into the shoulder of his black-skinned foe. He’d dealt with Haki-users before, and had thus decided to utilize poison as a means to bypass the unnatural defense afforded when one cloaked their body in it. But this was all wrong… Sure, the guy seemed a lot stronger than before, but there was no hardiness behind it. Had he never been trained in how to control his Haki? Or was this something else altogether, like the flames engulfing Croc’s lower body? It was only thanks to his own ability with Observation Haki that the Pirate was able to see past the melted fabric and blistering skin to the reality behind the illusion.
These thoughts were the distraction behind Crocodile’s slow response to Gilgamesh’s sudden backhand blow to his chest. His hook tore free from the man’s shoulder as his unprepared body took a blow unsoftened by his usual Suna-Suna-No-Mi ability and was sent tumbling unceremoniously across the foot-worn pavings of the Library. Croc’s momentum was halted a short distance away by one of the many bookcases within the venue, the venerable wood splintering and cracking beneath his bulk and sending its ancient tomes tumbling carelessly onto the marble floor. Strands of black hair fell across the former Shichibukai’s anger-twisted face as he struggled to regain his feet after the thing that was once Gilgamesh’s tremendous blow. As the demon who had once been Gilgamesh finished his rotation and stared down his new prey, something annoyingly familiar shimmered into view to his left.
“Looks like you’re havin’ trouble there, Croco-Boy,” bellowed the fabulous form of Emporio Ivankov, striking a pose which should have elicited a blush of shame on any man with pride. Crocodile forced himself to ignore the elephant-sized drag-queen in the room and kept his eyes on the slowly advancing King of Heroes. After all, it wasn’t like the freak was actually here… this had to be just more illusion and trickery; it wasn’t real.
“Maybe I ain’t real, Croco-Boy, but that don’t mean I can’t spill the beans on your dirty little secret. HEEEE HAAAAAAW!!!” Ivankov continued in boisterous fashion, answering the larger man’s thoughts and confirming his suspicions. Crocodile’s fist clenched painfully at his side, the realization of what this illusion was saying causing his heart to sink into his formerly-immaculate shoes. It was true… he knew from his own observations that the other three men in the library would be able to see and hear everything the mirage would reveal about the Pirate, just as he could see the rags on Gilgamesh and the insects swarming through Strazio’s body. Imaginary fire and pain he could deal with. Hell, he’d prefer the real deal over what the blue-haired Revolutionary would reveal about his past.
With an agonized growl, Crocodile asked the illusion the obvious question, “Whaddya want from me to keep yer lips shut?”
Stubby legs carrying him towards the oddly smaller man, Ivankov’s perpetual smile turned darkly sadistic as he answered.
“Oh, not much, Croco-boy!” Emporio said with a far-too-masculine giggle. “You just stand there like a good boy and take the punishment comin’ to ya, and I won’t breathe a word of it to anyone.”
These thoughts were the distraction behind Crocodile’s slow response to Gilgamesh’s sudden backhand blow to his chest. His hook tore free from the man’s shoulder as his unprepared body took a blow unsoftened by his usual Suna-Suna-No-Mi ability and was sent tumbling unceremoniously across the foot-worn pavings of the Library. Croc’s momentum was halted a short distance away by one of the many bookcases within the venue, the venerable wood splintering and cracking beneath his bulk and sending its ancient tomes tumbling carelessly onto the marble floor. Strands of black hair fell across the former Shichibukai’s anger-twisted face as he struggled to regain his feet after the thing that was once Gilgamesh’s tremendous blow. As the demon who had once been Gilgamesh finished his rotation and stared down his new prey, something annoyingly familiar shimmered into view to his left.
“Looks like you’re havin’ trouble there, Croco-Boy,” bellowed the fabulous form of Emporio Ivankov, striking a pose which should have elicited a blush of shame on any man with pride. Crocodile forced himself to ignore the elephant-sized drag-queen in the room and kept his eyes on the slowly advancing King of Heroes. After all, it wasn’t like the freak was actually here… this had to be just more illusion and trickery; it wasn’t real.
“Maybe I ain’t real, Croco-Boy, but that don’t mean I can’t spill the beans on your dirty little secret. HEEEE HAAAAAAW!!!” Ivankov continued in boisterous fashion, answering the larger man’s thoughts and confirming his suspicions. Crocodile’s fist clenched painfully at his side, the realization of what this illusion was saying causing his heart to sink into his formerly-immaculate shoes. It was true… he knew from his own observations that the other three men in the library would be able to see and hear everything the mirage would reveal about the Pirate, just as he could see the rags on Gilgamesh and the insects swarming through Strazio’s body. Imaginary fire and pain he could deal with. Hell, he’d prefer the real deal over what the blue-haired Revolutionary would reveal about his past.
With an agonized growl, Crocodile asked the illusion the obvious question, “Whaddya want from me to keep yer lips shut?”
Stubby legs carrying him towards the oddly smaller man, Ivankov’s perpetual smile turned darkly sadistic as he answered.
“Oh, not much, Croco-boy!” Emporio said with a far-too-masculine giggle. “You just stand there like a good boy and take the punishment comin’ to ya, and I won’t breathe a word of it to anyone.”
Quote:Not maintaining Ground Secco any longer. Crocodile will not retaliate, nor run, as long as Panic Outbreak continues. Ivankov looks like this, for the record: https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/onep...0109161029
Word Count: 546