#loading crew craft

[xtaleunderverse]

New XTALE X-MAS CHARMS!

NOTE: Shipments are expected first week of January, but we are working with the supplier to attempt Christmas time delivery!! https://www.loadingcrewcrafts.com/store?Category=Jakei+Art

[jakei95]

COMIC BUNDLES!

MOMMA CQ: - Books 1-6, Asy's Backstory, and Coloring Book available individually! - Pick 3 Books (out of 6 total) - Complete Series (all 6 main volumes) - Medium Bundle - ULTIMATE Bundle

PAPER CRANE: - Solo Book - Small Bundle - Large Bundle

XTALE - Solo Book - Original Large Bundle - Alternate Large Bundle

MCQ Orders including Volumes 5 and 6 should be going out late February at the LATEST.

Any delays will be informed via our Mailing List.

Digital Copies of everything are also available !

[spotaus]

Hi. So. My roommate got me a bday gift that came in today and it started the urge to doodle N with Killer!Sans. (N is like, 5'8", Killer is just short AF)

More Context below the Cut

SO MY ROOMMATE. MY BESTIE. MY BELOVED. (@/neonsix67) got me a gift. She doesn't know most utmv things (recognizes a few guys, only into it years ago because of that one MafiaFell comic, etc.) Decides to order me a Utmv merch item. She gets me this:

(Dakimura of Killer ^)

Because she enjoys torturing me and also is the best. And this is amazing on its own, but he's also only tall enough to reach my chest when I unfurl the pillow case and I just thought "I need to draw him being short" and imploded.

Anywhoooo I don't think this is a self-ship exactly. More just I'd like to be on very good terms with this guy. I think we'd bond over knife-collections frfr 😌😌😌 BUT I enjoyed drawing him and have been losing my mind over the dakimura all afternoon lol---

[bigcats-birds-and-books]

CRYING SCREAMING THROWING STATIONARY THE CURSE OF BEING A DISCOVERY WRITER WHEN YOU'VE GOT SOME BUT NOT ALL OF YOUR SHIT FIGURED OUT!!!!

[mixing-up-details]

AHHHHHHHHHH

I GOT HIM

I LOVE HIM

I LOVE LUST

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

THANK YOU LOADING CREW CRAFTS!

[dravidious]

You're cool

The new ranked season on MTG Arena just started and I did a quick draft this morning, and I got matched against the bottom-of-the-barrel bronze players I've seen in months. They attacked me with a 4/4 when I had a 5/5 vehicle primed and ready to be crewed, and I figured "oh dang, I guess they have a combat trick. oh well, I'll force them to use it" so I blocked. And they just let their 4/4 die. So THEN I was like "oh I guess they just attacked to trigger its ability? not really worth it tho." And THEN they played a Dusk Rose Reliquary on my vehicle (exiles a creature or artifact). After combat. That they had in their hand from the start. Did they just... forget that vehicles can block? Truly, we cannot comprehend the advanced tactics of the bronze rank players.

[elodieunderglass]

Hey bestie whats a narrow boat? I saw you tag that on something you reblogged and I'm pretty curious now!

- Terry Darlington, Narrow Dog to Carcassone

A narrowboat (all one word) is a craft restricted to the British Isles, which are connected all over by a nerve-map of human-made canals. To go up and down hills, the canals are spangled with locks (chambers in which boats can be raised or lowered by filling or emptying them with water.) As Terry says above, the width of the locks was somewhat randomly determined, and as a result, the British Isles have a narrow design of lock - and a narrowboat to fit through them. A classic design was seventy feet long and six feet wide. Starting in the 18th century, and competing directly with trains, canal “barges” were an active means of transport and shipping. They were initially pulled along the towpaths by horses, and you can still see some today!

Later, engines were developed.

Even after the trains won the arms race, it was a fairly viable freight service right up until WW2. It’s slow travel, but uses few resources and requires little human power, with a fairly small crew (of women, in WW2) being capable of shifting two fully laden boats without consuming much fossil fuel.

In those times the barges were designed with small, cramped cabins in which the boaters and their families could live.

During its heyday the narrowboat community developed a style of folk art called “roses and castles” with clear links to fairground art as well as Romani caravan decor. They are historically decorated with different kinds of brass ornaments, and inside the cabins could also be distinctively painted and decorated.

Today, many narrowboats are distinctively decorated and colorful - even if not directly traditional with “roses and castles” they’ll still be bright and offbeat. A quirky name is necessary. All narrowboats, being boats, are female.

After a postwar decline, interest in the waterways was sparked by a leisure movement and collapsing canals were repaired. Today, the towpaths are a convenient walking/biking trail for people, as they connect up a lot of the mainland of the UK, hitting towns and cities. Although the restored canals are concrete-bottomed, they’re attractive to wildlife. Narrowboats from the 1970s onward started being designed for pleasure and long-term living. People enjoy vacationing by hiring a boat and visiting towns for a cuter, comfier, slower version of a campervan life. And a liveaboard community sprang up - people who live full-time on boats. Up until the very restrictive and nasty laws recently passed in the UK to make it harder for travelling peoples (these were aimed nastily at vanlivers and the Romani, and successfully hit everyone) this was one of the few legal ways remaining to be a total nomad in the UK.

Liveaboards can moor up anywhere along the canal for 28 days, but have to keep moving every 28 days. (Although sorting out the toilet and loading up with fresh water means that a lot of people move more frequently than that.) you can also live full-time in a marina if they allow it, or purchase your own mooring. In London, where canal boats are one of the few remaining cheapish ways to live, boats with moorings fetch the same prices as houses. It can be very very hard for families to balance school, parking, work, and all the difficulties of living off-grid- but many make it work. It remains a diverse community and is even growing, due to housing pressures in the UK. Boats can be very comfortable, even when only six feet wide. When faced with spending thousands of pounds on rent OR mooring up on a nice canal, you can see why it seems a romantic proposition for young people, and UK television channels always have slice-of-life documentaries about young folks fixing up their very own quirky solar-powered narrowboat. I don’t hate; I did it myself.

If you’re lucky, you might even meet some of the cool folks who run businesses from their narrowboats: canal-side walkers enjoy bookshops, vegan bakeries, ice-cream boats, restaurants, artists and crafters. There are Floating Markets and narrowboat festivals. It’s generally recognised that boaters contribute quite a lot to the canal - yet there are many tensions between different kinds of boaters (liveaboards vs leisure boaters vs tourists) as well as tensions with local settled people, towpath users like cyclists, and fishermen. I could go on and on explaining this rich culture and dramas, but I won’t.

Phillip Pullman’s Gyptians are a commonly cited example of liveaboards - although they were based on the narrowboat liveaboards that Pullman knew in Oxford, their boats are actually Dutch barges. Dutch barges make good homes but are too wide to access most of the midlands and northern canals, and are usually restricted to the south of the UK. So they’re accurate for Bristol/London/Oxford, and barges are definitely comfier to film on. (Being six feet wide is definitely super awkward for a boat.) but in general Dutch barges are less common, more expensive and can’t navigate the whole system.

However, apart from them, there are few examples of narrowboat depictions that escaped containment. So it’s quite interesting that there is an entire indigenous special class of boat, distinctive and highly specialised and very cute, with an associated culture and heritage and folk art type, known to all and widely celebrated, and ABSOLUTELY UNKNOWN outside of the UK - a nation largely known around the world for inflicting its culture on others. They’re a strange, sweet little secret - and nobody who has ever loved one can resist pointing them out for the rest of their lives, or talking about them when asked to. Thank you for asking me to.

[little-noko]

We had a small mishap with out Xtale shipping where some of the clients didn't get their button bundle, while the issue was resolved, we decided to make this wallpaper as compensation for the clients who didn't receive their full package without an issue.

And now that this wallpaper is done, it is now available on the loading crew craft for whoever who wish to purchase it for themselves!

Art(c) @little-noko & @alainaprana Xtale/Underverse(c) @jakei95

[ltwilliammowett]

The “Eastern Monarch” ablaze in Spithead, 3rd June 1859, by Arthur Wellington Fowles (1815-1883)

Built at Dundee in 1856, the full-rigged “Eastern Monarch”, 1,844 tons, was owned by Somes Brothers of London and traded regularly between Dundee and India. Early in 1859, as she was loading cargo at Karachi, she was chartered by the Indian government to bring home a large contingent of sick and wounded troops in the aftermath of the Indian Mutiny, some of whom were accompanied by their wives and children. After a cramped but otherwise uneventful voyage, “Eastern Monarch” arrived at Spithead in the early hours of 3rd June [1859] with almost 500 people aboard including 352 invalid soldiers, 30 women and 53 children. At 2.30am., about an hour after the vessel had dropped anchor, a loud explosion was heard closely followed by billowing smoke and flame. With the ship’s ports all open for ventilation, the initial fire spread rapidly; despite the valiant efforts of the officers and crew however, the blaze could not be brought under control and the ship was soon ablaze from stem to stern.

Thanks to perfect discipline amongst the troops, there was no panic and those aboard were ferried ashore by two sailing barges, “Providence “ and “Petrel”, which came alongside, as did boats from H.M. ships “Falcon” and “Flying Fish”, both anchored nearby. The prompt actions of the rescue craft saved all but eight persons but the ship herself was totally destroyed, it was believed, by the spontaneous combustion of a quantity of saltpetre amongst her cargo.

[infinitestarsdev]

Devlog 2024-02-09 (Episode 4 - Part 1 is out NOW!)

It's Friday! And this is a special Friday because it's a RELEASE Friday!

That's right! Episode 4 - Part 1 is now live!

Update Edit: It's also a sad day for my family. I lost someone dear to me this morning, someone even dearer to my loved ones, and my heart is aching with them for our loss. I wish things weren't the way they are. I wish I could do more to ease their suffering.

Project Details:

167,666 words in total. (That's roughly the same length as the first two Harry Potter novels combined)

825 possible choices.

Patrons can get their version over here (win|mac|lin) or here (android), and everyone else can get the full game on Steam or Itchio!

Episode 4 - Part 1 continues the story after the dramatic conclusion from Episode 3.

It introduces several new characters, several new and redrawn backgrounds, several new portraits, several new music tracks, an overhauled story controller, a new free-roam mechanic, a new star system navigation interface, a lore gallery with unlockable entries, a system for players to load custom-made stories written by other players into the game, a seasonal event (Spooktober Heist), and nearly 40K additional words of content (some being intimate content for Kiaria, Lochem and Khalil).

It also includes two very special player portraits! Thanks to the amazing ladies from Wanderlust Games, you can now play your Mah'Abeu as a younger version of Damon or Ayame from Andromeda Six! (Seriously, if you're hearing about Andromeda Six for the first time– You're about to fall in love. Go check them out and support them if your wallet allows!)

We've been working extremely hard to bring this release to you, and while we've added a ton of new things, we would have loved to add more. Sadly, we had to draw a line in the sand and release what was available.

Some of the things that we could add before the deadline that were requested by our beta testers:

MC is more knowledgeable about the Cephilusk.

Added a location hint during free-roam sequences.

Made Kiaria more Kiaria when dealing with current events.

Your Mah'Abue now crafts the notice being sent to the crew.

Several more personality options (with more on their way)

Most free-roam scenes now have the crew members touching on or hinting at the current situation.

Fixed some logic bugs with Sonia's scene.

Adjusted Andreas' scene with an additional choice if he becomes too much.

Added some additional logic and checks to the response you can give when the crew/your LI asks about how you are coping. (Might still expand on this.)

Your Mah'Abue now has more control over how they handle Nikau.

Added Lindi's music track.

An additional intimate scene for Khalil

Some of the things that we couldn't add before the deadline that will be added very soon. (over the next week or three):

Implementing some more of the Beta Tester feedback requests.

The start of Tabitha's character arc.

A free-roam scene for Lebeny, along with an additional intimate scene.

Adding a semi-intimate, more risque scene with Matthias.

Adding additional character expressions to some of the free-roam content.

Additional music tracks where there is only silence.

Missing Lore Descriptions, replacing the WiP notice with actual content.

The new trailer for Episode 4.

Some of the things that we couldn't add before the deadline that will be added down the line. (more than a month from now)

Additional backgrounds and characters.

Continuing Episode 4, including the much-anticipated Matthias Elevator scene.

Additional Lore items to unlock.

More free-roam content, more character content (Reyna and more), more intimate scenes.

Character relationship arcs (and intimate scenes) for Raymond, Matthias, Veera and Tabitha as a prioity.

Character relationship arcs (and intimate scenes) for Cephilusk, Andreas and TBD a little further down the road.

As always, despite the hours and hours and heaps of financial resources poured into the project, Infinite Stars is still entirely free! If you like what we are doing and can afford to show your support, please consider joining one of our paid Patreon tiers!

Infinite Stars wouldn't be nearly as cool as it is without the support of our amazing Patrons who believe in us!

If you can't afford to support us, that's cool. We still love you, and having you enjoy our game fills our hearts with joy! If you like the game, share it with your friends or give us a positive review to help with the visibility algorithms.

Have a peaceful weekend, enjoy the release, and go hug one of your loved ones!

[floridaboiler]

(I had to recreate this post from the original person since it wouldn’t reblog for me)

LEGEND

BENAVIDEZ, ROY P.

Rank and organization: Master Sergeant. Organization: Detachment B-56, 5th Special Forces Group, Republic of Vietnam

Place and date: West of Loc Ninh on May 2, 1968

Entered service at: Houston, Texas June 1955

Born: August 5, 1935, DeWitt County, Cuero, Texas.

Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. BENAVIDEZ United States Army, distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions on 2 May 1968 while assigned to Detachment B56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam.

On the morning of 2 May 1968, a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters of the 240th Assault Helicopter Company in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam to gather intelligence information about confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North Vietnamese Army. After a short period of time on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance, and requested emergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but were unable to land due to intense enemy small arms and anti-aircraft fire.

Sergeant BENAVIDEZ was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoring the operation by radio when these helicopters, of the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, returned to off-load wounded crew members and to assess aircraft damage. Sergeant BENAVIDEZ voluntarily boarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt. Realizing that all the team members were either dead or wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone, he directed the aircraft to a nearby clearing where he jumped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75 meters under withering small arms fire to the crippled team.

Prior to reaching the team’s position he was wounded in his right leg, face, and head. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioning the team members and directing their fire to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft, and the loading of wounded and dead team members. He then threw smoke canisters to direct the aircraft to the team’s position. Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried and dragged half of the wounded team members to the awaiting aircraft. He then provided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved to pick up the remaining team members. As the enemy’s fire intensified, he hurried to recover the body and classified documents on the dead team leader.

When he reached the leader’s body, Sergeant BENAVIDEZ was severely wounded by small arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in his back. At nearly the same moment, the aircraft pilot was mortally wounded, and his helicopter crashed. Although in extremely critical condition due to his multiple wounds, Sergeant BENAVIDEZ secured the classified documents and made his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out of the overturned aircraft, and gathered the stunned survivors into a defensive perimeter. Under increasing enemy automatic weapons and grenade fire, he moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition to his weary men, reinstilling in them a will to live and fight. Facing a buildup of enemy opposition with a beleaguered team, Sergeant BENAVIDEZ mustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directed the fire from supporting gunships to suppress the enemy’s fire and so permit another extraction attempt.

He was wounded again in his thigh by small arms fire while administering first aid to a wounded team member just before another extraction helicopter was able to land. His indomitable spirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft. On his second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed from behind by an enemy soldier. In the ensuing hand-to-hand combat, he sustained additional wounds to his head and arms before killing his adversary.[5][note 1] He then continued under devastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching the aircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing the craft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door gunner from firing upon them. With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to the perimeter to ensure that all classified material had been collected or destroyed, and to bring in the remaining wounded.

Only then, in extremely serious condition from numerous wounds and loss of blood, did he allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft. Sergeant BENAVIDEZ’ gallant choice to join voluntarily his comrades who were in critical straits, to expose himself constantly to withering enemy fire, and his refusal to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of at least eight men. His fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion to duty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of overwhelming odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Army.

[xtaleunderverse]

Don't forget to check our exclusive Xtale merch on Loading Crew Crafts: - Books - Charms - Posters - Dakis... and more!

[nekophy]

Emotes commission I did for @alainaprana 💖 It's the Worldview casts! :33

edit: putting a more.. Loading Crew Craft color on it n I think it's pretty ✨

[judgemark45]

The LHD-3 USS Kearsarge (LHD-3) is a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship that serves in the United States Navy. Here's a brief overview:

* Commissioned: June 2, 1993

* Length: 844 feet (257.5 meters)

* Beam: 106 feet (32.3 meters)

* Draft: 27 feet (8.2 meters)

* Displacement: 40,000 tons (full load)

* Speed: 22 knots (25.6 mph)

* Range: 6,000 nautical miles (11,110 km)

* Crew: Approximately 1,000 personnel

* Aircraft capacity: Can carry up to 20 helicopters, including CH-53E Super Stallion, CH-46 Sea Knight, and UH-1Y Venom

* Amphibious vehicles: Can carry up to 1,500 personnel, including Marines, and their equipment

The USS Kearsarge is a multi-mission ship designed to support amphibious operations, including:

1. Amphibious assaults: The ship can carry a large number of Marines and their equipment, and can deploy them onto the beach using landing craft or helicopters.

2. Air support: The ship can carry a large number of helicopters, which can be used for transport, reconnaissance, or attack missions.

3. Medical support: The ship has a hospital with advanced medical facilities and can provide medical support to troops in the field.

4. Command and control: The ship can serve as a command center for amphibious forces, providing command and control capabilities for ground and air operations.

The USS Kearsarge has deployed to numerous regions around the world, including the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. It has also participated in several humanitarian missions and disaster relief efforts.

The USS Kearsarge is one of the largest warships in the world and is an important part of the US Navy's amphibious fleet.

[thewisaaaaad]

AAAAAND here's a bit more from Narinders Locker AU!

this time its about spooky cat himself, along with the failed vessel!

Narinder is very much the same, but instead wears a white coat with a red stripe down the middle. They are still a half skeletal cat, but his chains do not strictly keep him in place; the other captains just chained him to four anchors and threw him into the sea, after all. So he just drags himself across the seabed, looking through wreckages and searching for adventure with his two adopted demigods.

The lamb always knows where to find him, though. The crown makes a very handy compass.

Narinder loves fighting, more than everything else. Everything except his morals. When he was mortal, he loved to start bar fights, especially in defense of people who could not protect themselves. When he ascended to godhood with his family, it was his and Shamuras idea to include an oath to protect the mortals of the sea, to watch over them and not use them as tools, so as not to become the very gods they had set out to slay.

Narinder knows that one day he will no longer be a god. As per the oath, a Captain is chosen by their crew, not the other way around. And the lamb has a naturally magnetic personality, and a drive that pulls faithful crew to their side. One day, when the Captains have fallen, he will challenge them to a duel. He will naturally give up his godhood, but wants to go out on his terms: a blaze of glory, a legendary fight that the crew will talk of forever more. That will be his immortality, as his soul gets to rejoin his family in the deep.

But that isn't what happens, of course; the Thing in the Moon has other plans for their lost champion.

Ratau is an old bartender at this point, running a lonely tavern on an island far from the Captains strongholds. He holds on to the old Iron Veil, beached deep in the forest of the island he retired on, hidden within a lake at the center.

He has a sailors tongue, and passes the time playing nucklebones with his trader friends, when they come to visit.

When the small sloop loaded with woolly refugees docked at the lonely island, Ratau welcomed them with open arms, inviting them to stay the night at no cost. The sheep, exhausted from running, gladly took shelter with the unaligned tavern master.

While there, a young sheep took interest in his craft, and Ratau taught them many things, including a couple knife tricks to help defend their family.

Imagine their surprise when they see that same sheep show up at his bar in an empty ship once belonging to the green Captain, drenched and dripping seawater on his floor, bearing the red crown.

Both of them took time to mourn that day, and the Lamb has returned many times since.

[novosg]

Luffy Having a Crush on Another Captain

Ft: The Strawhat crew, blackfem!reader

I had like 5 ideas when I was trying to go to bed and this was one of them. Never wrote for Luffy before so I hope he doesn’t seem ooc or anything.

SFW, use of Y/N, fluff, 1.5k words

The first time you and Luffy met was when a few of your crew members had nearly clashed with his.

Earlier that day you had docked at an island that the Strawhats just so happened to be on as well. You hadn’t realized this, of course, until your sniper had come rushing back to the ship, exclaiming he had spotted the jolly roger that was nearly impossible to not know. The jolly roger belonging to the recently appointed yonko himself-Monkey D. Luffy.

Of course, your crew wasn’t one to back down from any sort of confrontation and that’s exactly what had happened when they stumbled upon the rival crew. Fortunately, you and the others had met up with them before things could escalate to a full on brawl (much to Luffy’s seeming disappointment), and apologized on behalf of your crew.

Luffy hadn’t minded, especially when you extended an invite for a small gathering where food and drinks would be served on your behalf, to truly let bygones be bygones. To be frank, you had mainly hoped to gain the captain’s favor in doing so, since becoming friends with an emperor of the sea didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

And become friends you did. Once the remaining tension between your two crews had well and truly fizzled out, they all meshed well together. The same thing could be said for you and the cheerful captain. Luffy was a whirlwind of joy and charisma, one that you couldn’t help but be swept up in.

You had heard rumors of his ability to befriend practically everyone he met, but they were nothing compared to the real thing.

Luffy also took a quick liking to you as well, which he didn’t mind voicing. He admired your ability to lead and could sense how strong you were. You were a joy to talk to, and your crew was great! Your chef was amazing at his craft and his skill blended well with Sanji’s, and throughout the night Brook and your musician swept through multiple duets that had everyone cheering and asking for encores.

He certainly wasn’t blind to your natural beauty either. The evening glow of the sun made your skin look practically ethereal and the rays illuminated each of your individual curls. Throughout the time you two spent together, he couldn't keep his eyes off of you.

By the time morning of the third day came and you were ready to head out, some of your crew started whining while they were helping with the clean-up.

“Captain,” your shipwright groaned, “Are you sure we can’t stay for one more day?”

“Yes, I told you guys we’d only stick around for a few days. But, if any of you wanna stay that bad, ask Luffy and see if he’ll let you stick around.” After that little quip you didn’t hear much complaining.

But a certain captain couldn’t help but voice his objection to your guys’ sudden leave as well.

“Cmoonn, Y/N! Stay for one more day and party with us! It’ll be fun!” He cried, pouting slightly as he watched you help load up the last of yall’s stuff. You smiled, flattered by Luffy’s clear want for y'all to stay.

“Sorry, Luffy, maybe next time.” Although the two of you would be rivals again the moment your ship left the shore, you couldn’t deny your similar want to stay. “How about this: the next time we see each other, we’ll have an even bigger get together. Deal?”

Luffy beamed at your offer, lips curling upwards as he gave you his signature smile. “Deal!”

You glanced back at your crew as your navigator called down to let you know you guys were ready to set sail at any moment.

“Well, that’s my cue. Bye, Luffy,” you gave him a quick wink, lips still pulled in a soft smile, one that made the young captain pause as he watched you turn and make your way back up to the deck of your ship, giving out the order to set sail.

Luffy briefly frowned as he watched your ship get further and further away. He wasn’t quite too sure why he was so upset seeing you leave, you were a pirate just like him. Staying in one place for too long wasn’t like you guys. But he still felt off. As Nami called for him to come on, he decided not to worry about it too much. With one last glance at the horizon, he turned and raced to catch up with his crew.

“Hey, you guys, I think I see Y/N’s ship!” Usopp called down to the deck one day. Luffy quickly perked up, nearly slipping as he made his way down from Sunny's figurehead.

“Really?” He cried, rushing up to the Sunny’s railing. Sure enough, off in the distance, was your ship. He grinned, eager to see you again.

Shortly after spotting Luffy’s ship, you changed course and pulled up alongside him. “Y/N!” He shouted, perching atop the railing as you made your way over to him, giggling softly at his antics.

“It’s good to see you too, Luffy,” you said, unable to not smile in his presence. As the two of you briefly caught up, the Strawhats observed you both.

“It seems Luffy-san has left his mark again,” Brook commented cheerfully as he toyed with the strings of his violin.

“When doesn’t he?” Nami sighed playfully.

Sanji chuckled as he lit up a cigarette, “Guess I better get some food ready.”

Robin, however, was quiet as she watched the two of you. Ever since your first meeting, Luffy had been quietly stewing in his excitement to see you again. Like the others had said-he had left his mark on you, but it was clear the same could be said vice versa.

Luffy was always eager to make new friends, even if said friend was a fellow pirate who, by all technical means, should be a rival. That had been the case with their most recent ally, Trafalgar Law. Although Law had only viewed their alliance as what it was from the start-an alliance, Luffy deemed him a friend and continually referred to him as one.

But he hadn’t looked at Law like he did you. In his eyes sat a restrained admiration and infatuation that was clear from even where Robin was standing. He hung on to your every word (which was certainly unusual for him), and his eyes twinkled with mirth with every laugh he pulled from you.

It had been like that from the moment you two had met. At the time, Robin couldn’t put her finger on what seemed different, but now, the explanation was quite clear.

Her revelation brought a giggle from her lips that caught the attention of her friends.

At their looks of confusion she said, “It seems our captain has a crush.”

A mutual hush fell over the crew as they all mulled over Robin’s words, before it seemed as if a joint lightbulb above their heads had turned on. Zoro blinked his eye in confusion as he sat up, well and truly awake now. Sanji seemed mortified as he looked between you and Luffy frantically, Brook and Chopper aww’ed at the revelation, and Jinbei chuckled while Franky lifted his shades with an amused smirk. Nami and Usopp, however, seemed the most shocked.

“Luffy? A crush? No way!” Their long-nosed sniper exclaimed while Nami nodded beside him.

“It’s impossible! Right?” She pondered, exchanging a look with Usopp. Zoro shrugged as he placed his hands behind his head and leaned back.

“Guess not,” he snickered, letting his eye fall shut once more.

As his crew stewed in their newfound revelation, Luffy was too busy going over his ideas for the banquet he was intent on having with you and your crew for the next few days. And with every word he spoke, you listened contentedly, that same soft smile that made Luffy feel strange every time it was directed at him toying at your lips.

Unbeknownst to them, however, you were well aware of what the way Luffy looked at you meant. Fortunately, you didn’t mind. In fact, you were glad you weren’t the only one who had been caught up in these slow but surely developing feelings for the other.

Later on, when the Sunny was packed with his crew and yours, Luffy stayed practically glued to your side, making his enamoration towards you even clearer to his nakama. You became more accustomed to his physically affectionate side, as it seemed he wasn’t keen on straying too far from you. Not that you were complaining, of course.

Luffy wasn’t quite sure why you made him feel so strange, but at least it was a good strange. Maybe he could ask Chopper about it later. What he did know was that if being around you made him feel this giddy, he wouldn't mind making a few detours in his journey if they lead back to you.