#i have this little basement wife meets robin for the first time wip in my docs that portrays as more wicked than i'm used to write him as

[ofallthingsnasty]

Crocodile using your embarrassment/shame to get what he wants out of you because it's such a powerful and easy tool to use. On top of the way he likes to taunt and belittle (especially in Alabasta) basement wife must feel like she's under a microscope whenever he's around, and 10x worse when actually asking for something

It's 2am you can't do this to me... 😳 Nooo Sir don't make repeat myself, ask you loudly and clearly for what I want while you watch me tremble and fidget.

Ah, you're so right. He has so much more heat in Alabasta, is less calm and more of a cunning pirate than his later portrayal in the series. I think we can agree that the a-hem 'daddification' did him good but his shorter fuse, animated faces and grand words during his original arc were a treat as well.

Not only is it a tool he likes to use - it's simply fun to watch you squirm and hem and haw for days and days over tiny little favors you'd like to ask of him. Favors that are entirely inconsequential to him, that he'd allow you with a wave of his hand if you were to ask him with a bit more fervor. You've been around for long enough to know better; to know that good behavior gets you pretty much everywhere. And still you fear him, cower in front of his authority like a shaky-legged calf... He enjoys that level of respect you have for him, finds it entertaining and quite cute how tiny you can make yourself. And if you're already willing to show him your soft belly over something like a simple book you'd like to read, why not ask for a little more? You're already offering, aren't you?