A Performer's Poison (Portgas D. Ace x Reader)

Chapter 2

(A/N: Slight gore and violence warning.)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-"SOLD!"

So much happened, you didn't have the time nor the ability to process it all. Am I being sold to Nobles? But before you could question it any further, the man who brought you on the stage came back and pulled so hard on your chain you thought you'd go flying. You were then thrown into a new room on the opposite end of the building from where you started, a room filled with people also wearing chains. You were shoved to the ground and the man left the room. 

-"Psst. What's going on?" You whispered to the fish-man next to you.

-"You don't know? Were being sold as slaves." He said, fear still painted on the blue man's face, unfaltering. "I was taken from my wife and son. I let them escape, but at what cost? Now my wife is practically a widow and my son will be without a father." Tears began to prick the corners of his eyes, he practically radiated sorrow. 

-"I'm sorry that happened, but why do you say 'practically a widow'?"

-"I'm a fish-man. The Celestial Dragons either use us for labor or experimentation. Either way, we die." He tucked his knees by his chest, long dark-blue hair falling over his shoulders, and looked back at the ground. "You're lucky, ya' know. You're going to be used for entertainment, I could here what they were saying. I think you're going to live. We're going to the same Nobel so this isn't the last time we'll see each other."

-"Oh I almost forgot! I'm (y/n). What's you're name?" You asked, also turning back towards the cold concrete floor. 

-"Batu. Let's stick together from now on."

You agreed and gave him a reassuring smile, but the interaction was cut short when the door opened and the two of you fell silent. Everyone got up and formed a line to go to their respected owners, so you followed behind. 

(...)

Upon arriving at the new estate, you and the other slaves were taken to a room where metal stamps were resting alongside a burning oven. You stomach dropped and you felt sick. You were so busy focusing on the inhumanity of it all to realize you were next. Before you could pull away a burning hot metal stamp was pushed into the skin of your side, tears welled in your eyes and you began screaming violently. When it was over, you were dragged aside and began heaving. Though your legs were giving out beneath you from the pain on the side of your torso, you had to keep moving forward. 

After exiting the stamping room, you and Batu were split up to go into your own housing areas. Your cell was the same as the rest, but you had the privilege of getting three dresses, assuming it was for performing in front of more than one Noble. All three were mid-calf and a sad grey color, but with some style variations between them. You had already been stripped of your slip dress and were now in simple overalls that had a zipper running along the chest. 

With nothing else to do, you laid down on the slightly elevated platform of stone, a sad excuse for a bed. At least they gave you a small pillow so small that it was the size of both of your hands. You didn't realize how tired you were until you found yourself able to actually sleep, though you woke up many time from accidently rolling on your welded skin. 

(...)

You sprang up suddenly to the sound of a guard banging on the bars of the cell.

-"Get up, Saint Goldiers wants you."

You got up and walked out of the cell, no need to change into anything special. You were marched to a huge, dimly-lit room with a throne and a piano in the center. There in the throne sat the Celestial Dragon who bought you, anger boiled within you and your fists began to clench so hard that your nails pricked your palms, allowing a little blood to form. You were ordered to play the piano and some lights lit up, exposing a few more other slaves like you holding their instruments and shaking. Sheet music on all of the stands, though you realized you already knew most of the songs. 

The piano was turned at an angle so the side was facing Saint Goldiers, the rest of the band on the other side of the piano.

-"Ah, look at that. My set is finally complete. Go on, start!" The Dragon's annoying voice boomed.

(A/N: Yes the song says she a lot and is in the POV of a man, but I'm going to change them in the lyrics below to fit the reader better. You don't have to listen to the song here while you read, it's just here if you feel like listening to the original song.)

You looked towards the band and nodded your head, they returned the gesture and the alto sax started. Then the trumpet came in, followed by the trombone and more. 

-"Folks, I'm goin' down to St. James Infirmary,
See my baby there;
He's stretched out on a long, white table,
He's so sweet, so cold, so fair." 

You sang as your fingertips danced along they keys, but there was still blood lingering on your palms that was now being smeared, leaving a train of where your fingers had been. 

-"Let him go, let him go, God bless him,
Wherever he may be,
He will search this wide world over,
But he'll never find another sweet girl like me."

The alto sax player to your left seemed to have noticed because he began breaking into a nervous sweat and giving apologetic glances. You looked down and noticed the blood, cursing yourself internally. You didn't want to cause trouble on the first day.

-"Now, when I die, bury me in my straight-leg britches,
Put on a box-back coat and a Stetson hat,
Put a twenty-dollar gold piece on my watch chain,
So you can let all the boys know I died standing pat."

Every time you tapped on a key, you tried to wipe off the blood using your fingers, but it only made things worse. There was nothing you could do. You didn't know what was going to happen when the Dragon noticed, but you had a feeling you were about to find out. 

-"Folks, now that you have heard my story,
Say, boy, hand me over another shot of that booze;
If anyone should ask you,
Tell 'em I've got those St. James Infirmary blues."

The song continued until it's closing with you tapping along. But then it finished, now for the real fear to settle in. The Dragon stood up from his chair giggling like an overgrown cheerleader, flashing his disgusting teeth with a piece of chicken still visible between a few of them.

-"Haehaehaehae! Marvelous!" He screeched as he stepped closer and closer.

Beads of sweat formed on your face and back when his smile suddenly dropped into a deep frown of disgust and anger.

-"Look what you've done, ya' gone and ruined this fine paino."

-"Piano", you corrected softly under your breath.

All of a sudden his hand came out of no where and smacked your head into the keys. You couldn't even cry you were so surprised, not to mention the ringing of your ears from the loud sound produced by the instrument.

-"DID YOU JUST TALK BACK TO ME!" He screamed with a tomato-red face. "CLEAN THIS PAINO RIGHT NOW!"

You got up and began to use the fabric of your sleeve to wipe off the blood from the piano, but his ugly laugh stopped you.

-"Haehae! Use your tongue!" 

You paused for a moment is shock, but turned towards the piano and slowly stuck out your trembling tongue. Before it could make contact with the keys, Saint Goldiers grabbed the back of your head and began slamming your face back into the piano, over and over again. One...two...three...four... You lost count. 

You were knocked out and when he was finally finished, you limp body slid off of the piano and onto the floor followed by a trail of blood after your nose erupted. The Dragon turned towards the other band members who looked pale and were shaking violently.

-"You are dismissed", he said as the ran out. "I needed a new paino anyways." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for reading!

7/26/2022