reineydraws · 6 months ago
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Twist villain!Shanks
Think about it.
hellooo i have thought about it 'cuz ive seen the idea floating around and sorry, i dont like it. 😭🙏 or rather, the idea of a villain shanks is fun in theory but if it's actually canon then i dont think it will pay off very well lol especially 'cuz he's the very first pirate we meet and it's been over twenty years. i would certainly be tilted.
idk how oda could write it in such a way that i wouldn't be mad aha, tho i'm sure if anyone could pull it off it'd be him. (and i mean villain!shanks as in "was always a villain", not "has to do antagonistic things but his heart is in the right place".)
i will say, however, that there is something delicious about possessive shanks, especially if it leans a little dark. like, he's a smiley pacifist right up until you harm someone that's his, and then it's game over for you and your friends and your livelihood. he's already like that in canon, but i mean like, it's to the point where his revenge gets a little cruel and he enjoys paying you back for the harm you caused.
i like attributing this to him 'cuz if he's dating mihawk, known serial murderer (of marines, if not also underwhelming challengers and entire crews of people that annoy him), then his "let's not kill people if we don't have to" thing could be more of an intellectual ethical choice for him rather than an emotional one. and once you've crossed that line for him by grievously harming or maybe even somehow killing mihawk, then it's over for you and you bet he'll enjoy it. (tho nine out of ten times i write him as a bleeding heart and mihawk is fond and exasperated by it haha.)
but yeah. i digress. 😅 it's a fun concept and i'll probably read the fic if it's mishanks and mihawk isn't his victim in a way that ends unhappily, but ultimately, the most i prefer is shanks with a dark streak.
if anyone's gotten to the end of this ask and adores twist villain shanks, feel free to try and convince me in the replies. maybe i'm just thinking about it the wrong way, and i'm open to ideas. ;P
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manofbeskar · 6 months ago
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Okay, I am interested in your Dracule Uta posts now. (She's just so cute and I just know he embroidered that flower on her onesie!!) I need to know more!!
I don't have too much details yet but this is what I have for now:
While Shanks finds her in a treasure chest after raiding another crew, Mihawk instead finds her after killing some marines and discovering her on their ship, eating a devil fruit. He figures the Marines probably don't have good intentions for her so he takes her with him.
For the first few days/weeks, he tries to find another home for her. He thinks his life as a marine hunter and lone pirate is too dangerous to care for an infant. A bit of a Buddy Daddies thing in that way, that he's too dangerous to be around and frankly doesn't want the responsibility.
When he finds out which devil fruit she ate (still the Sing-Sing fruit), he realises he can't risk her falling into the hands of someone more corrupt who can manipulate her powers. He decides to go all in and try his best to raise her properly.
He goes to Shanks for help. He himself never had good parents, but he knows Shanks had a good relationship with Roger and his crew also has older men who may have advice to offer. He gets closer to the RHP this way, learning from them how to best care for a baby.
Shanks grows close to Uta. He likes that her hair makes her look like his and Mihawk's baby. He also treats her like she is their kid, always accidentally calls himself her father. Uta also thinks of him like that. Similar to Buddy Daddies again, Mihawk and Shanks both acknowledge they have parental roles in her life but, at this point in time, don't view themselves as romantic co-parents.
(Of course, they have feelings for each other but Mihawk is oblivious to his feelings and Shanks is secretly crushing hard. He loves how good Mihawk is with the kid and how hard he's trying)
Shanks likes to bribe Uta with sweets to talk him up to Mihawk. Always backfires on him because she's way too frank about it (learned that from Mihawk). She'll just say shit like, "Mihawk, Shanks told me he wants to kiss you!" and it embarrasses Shanks every time.
Uta loves being carried by Mihawk. He carries and controls Yoru so easily. Even teen Uta is practically weightless in his arms. It reminds her of when he first found her and rocked her in his arms as they rode his boat back to his home.
Uta sees Mihawk and Shanks's feelings for each other grow over the years until on her 12th birthday she told them to get a grip and go out already. They went out and have been together ever since.
Mihawk and Shanks figured out a co-parenting arrangement a few years before Shanks docked at Windmill Village. Mihawk thinks it will be good for Uta to go sailing with Shanks every once in a while as his experiences sailing with him have always ended with fun stories and meeting new people.
Mihawk wants Uta to get out there and appreciate the world's vastness. He often takes her sailing (if she isn't sailing with Shanks) and shows her all his favourite spots. Sometimes Shanks comes along and tells her stories of "that time me and Mihawk came here ourselves and this really cool thing happened"
Mihawk let Shanks take Uta for longer than before when he docked at Windmill Village as he wanted Uta to make long-term friends that weren't twice her age like himself and the RHP, so she still meets Luffy. While he is a loner, he wants Uta to experience everything and meet people from all walks of life so she can figure out exactly who she wants to be.
Mihawk trained her to be a strong swordswoman since young. She's very skilled with the blade but told him she wanted to be a singer. Mihawk supports her preference and is happy to listen to all her new songs. As he strived to be the greatest swordsman when he was young, he now wants to help Uta become the greatest musician. He tunes in for every broadcast she does and makes sure the RHP catches them too. Uta still cares a lot about her swordsmanship and practices it often to stay sharp.
She carried a bamboo sword as a kid, then got Shanks's old one with the red hilt as a hand-me-down when she was 15. For her 18th birthday, Mihawk had a Yoru-inspired blade crafted for her. She named it "Musica". It looks similar to Yoru but the orbs are red and heart-shaped, the blade isn't black, and it's shorter.
She lives at Kuraigana with Mihawk but splits her time between there and wherever Shanks is. When Perona moved in, they became close friends. Perona loves hearing about her Mihawk stories. She also regularly duels with Zoro when he moves in, insists he doesn't stand a chance against Mihawk if he can't even beat his first student.
Uta's favourite colour is teal because it's the colour Yoru's blade shines.
Her eyes have rings as Mihawk also taught her powerful observation haki (I don't know if the rings are directly relevant to that but I like how the rings look on her)
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goingbuggy · 1 year ago
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What is Buggy's Endgame? A Post-1082 Analysis
Since the release of chapter 1082, we’ve gotten more insight into Buggy’s character than ever before, especially regarding his dreams and thoughts on past events. So, given our new information, I thought I’d revisit Orange Town Arc to see if 1082 re-contextualizes anything. What’s in the cards for Buggy as a character? What direction does Oda plan on taking him in?
To give you my answer, let me begin in a bit of a random place: the relationship between Shanks and Buggy. 
From the moment Oda first introduced their relationship in chapter 19, Shanks and Buggy already solidified themselves as character foils. Their first panel together is literally a fight over whether the North or South Pole is colder, which is pretty on the nose if you ask me (sorry… I had to). Their red-blue color contrast is also pretty self-explanatory; although green is technically red’s complement, red and blue are often used as visual “opposites.”
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Beyond all that surface level stuff, though, what makes these two foils of each other are their opposing values. As a pirate, Shanks wants to “make time to see the world." He has no sense of urgency and no inherent desire to conquer the world — at least, not right away. Buggy, of course, calls this a “soft way of thinking.” Unlike Shanks, he views treasure as the sole purpose of being a pirate. And not just any treasure, but material wealth, gold and jewels which "make its possessor a king."
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Shanks and Buggy’s contrasting viewpoints also embody the underlying themes of Orange Town Arc. One man's trash is another man's treasure, and Oda takes great care to emphasize this point, from Chouchou to the mayor.
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Luffy's hat ends up taking center stage in Orange Town, however, which I think is a great decision. The straw hat is what tethers Luffy and Buggy to Shanks. It's a weighted symbol, one that helped shape both of their characters — albeit in antithetical ways. Thus, when it’s used as a tool to explore their relationships, it works really well.
Take Luffy, for example. In his youth, Shanks was a pillar of support, friendship, and sacrifice; the straw hat is his treasure because it reminds him of Shanks, but also because it symbolizes what Shanks gave up for him. He owes his life to Shanks, but he uses that gratitude to fuel his own ambition, and to hopefully reunite with Shanks one day as a great pirate.
Shanks allowed him to go after his dream. Luffy knows this well.
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Now look at Buggy. He sees the straw hat as worthless, and it’s clear why he does: it’s a painful reminder of the dream that Buggy gave up on, a representation of everything he lacks in comparison to Shanks. And to add insult to injury, Shanks gave that straw hat away to what Buggy sees as an insignificant kid. Of course that would hurt. Seeing Shanks give up Roger’s legacy so easily, abandoning his potential to become Pirate King, when that’s all Buggy ever wanted in life… I mean, wow. It's an amazing role reversal. Buggy gave up on his dream for Shanks, but Shanks gave that dream to Luffy instead.
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I think 1082’s context adds some much-needed character depth, and explains a lot of Buggy's rationale. We know Buggy does not value sacrifice or friendship like Luffy does, nor is he the type to go out on a limb for someone. He’s greedy, manipulative when it suits his interests… I could go on forever. So to see that Buggy once sacrificed his own dreams for the sake of Shanks’ — only to have it backfire — makes so much sense. Of course he became a bitter, cynical, and selfish adult. One of the people he believed in most broke his unwavering trust, and he never healed from that experience. (Not to mention that this happened directly after Roger's execution. His faith was already shaken, and it was just one heartbreak after the next.)
The impact of that betrayal only feeds into his greedier tendencies; Buggy is a character who keeps things close to his chest, figuratively and literally. He learned to fear trust, and it shows. All of his adult relationships (Alvida, Galdino, Crocodile, Mihawk) are strictly rooted in business and mutual, self-serving interests. Nothing more.
Just take a look at Buggy and Luffy's reactions to the Bara Bara no Mi story. Buggy can only focus on the things he lost, instead of what he had: a friend who was willing to jump overboard for him in a heartbeat. But Luffy, a character who values the people he loves, obviously has a different perspective. He concludes, “So Shanks saved your life?” Where Luffy sees hidden treasure, Buggy sees nothing but loss.
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So why am I bringing this all up? Well, I don’t find it surprising at all that two of Buggy’s most prominent arcs — Orange Town and Impel Down — emphasize his struggle between selfishness and altruism. The internal conflict is played off as a joke in Impel Down, but Buggy has always been simultaneously comedic and complex. He actually parallels Luffy in that sense, but that's another meta for another day.
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The position Oda has placed Buggy in is rife with potential. He's now closer than ever to the things which would fulfill his materialistic nature: the One Piece, Captain John’s treasure, and the title of Pirate King. Yet, at the very same time, he's closer to one of his most honest connections in life: Shanks. If there was ever a time for a character to be forced to make a fateful choice, I’d say it’s right about now. People have been wondering why Oda made Buggy a final contender for the One Piece. Why has he “failed upwards” for so long? Comedy aside, I think the answer is a lot simpler than we’re all making it out to be: Buggy’s story just isn’t over yet. 
Oda still has something he wishes to impart to readers, and he clearly believes it will be told best through Buggy’s character. Based on what we know about Buggy — his greed, his guilty conscience, his past with Shanks — I think that story will lead his character to some very interesting places.
Do I think Buggy is going to have a change of heart? Maybe, maybe not. In that regard, he’s already been in a gray area since Impel Down. I wouldn’t be surprised if he accidentally ends up allying himself with Luffy again during One Piece’s conclusion. But with the Cross Guild putting bounties on marines, a (potential) three-emperor interest in going after Blackbeard, and an open-ended Shanks-Buggy plot thread about going to Laugh Tale... Well, there's a lot of places this could go. Would Buggy be willing to give up the greatest treasure in dire circumstances? For Shanks? For the world? Will he become king, and then lose it all? Will he make a sacrifice that parallels Shanks' when they were kids? Who knows!
What do you guys think? Is Buggy going to play a larger role in One Piece’s third act? What is your ideal conclusion for his character in the story? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
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the-bar-sinister · 7 days ago
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Fire in the Belly, Spirits on the Tongue (43592 words) by VickytheSnake, thesavagesabretooth Chapters: 10/?
Summary: Sabo promised that he wouldn't leave the Revolutionary army, but what will become of the three of them now that Ace is awake and alive in his heart, and more importantly, his body?
catch up here
-
A week later they were laying together in another rented room on, ironically of all islands, Dressrosa. They were there neither for sightseeing, nor for Revolutionary Army business, but rather because it was the last large island with any ties to the world government. Beyond the waters of Dressrosa the rest of the Grand Line was firmly the territory of the Emperors, and that was a problem. 
It was a serious problem because legal merchant ships did not sail into Emperor territory. Almost nobody sailed into Emperor territory except for their allies and vassals sailing at their bidding and doing business with their islands. Aside from those smugglers bringing goods at the behest of their pirate lords, nobody sailed in or out of those waters aside from crazy rookie pirates looking for Roger's treasure at the end of the Grand Line.
Which meant that now that they'd arrived in Dressrosa, they were at a standstill. Because everyone had told them— it was no secret— Shanks' ship was headed to a little island deep in Whitebeard's territory.
Barring a miracle, or a stroke of genius, getting there was going to be next to impossible.
It was a serious problem.
But it was also a 'tomorrow' problem.
For now Sabo and Ace put it out of their mind as they lay together, curled around Koala. A gentle night breeze from the window cut through the balmy Dressrosan air, caressing them comfortably as they lay there, skin to skin under the filmy linen sheet.
Koala had fallen asleep perhaps fifteen minutes before, and now the brothers lay there dozing, enjoying the comfortable repose and the soft sound of her breath as they chatted silently between themselves.
"This is so nice," Ace murmured, toying with a stray lock of Koala's ginger hair. "I can't believe she actually likes me."
Sabo bumped up against him in their mindspace, leaning his chin on Ace's shoulder. "Of course she likes you. I think she probably loves you, Ace, for many of the same reasons I do."
"Because you're an idiot?" Ace teased back. "It's the honeymoon phase. I'm sure she'll get fed up with me sooner or later."
"Koala gets fed up with me every other day and we've never fallen out of this 'honeymoon phase'." Sabo chuckled. He stroked his thumb down Koala's jaw as if it was Ace's, too. "Besides, I get fed up with you and I still love you."
"Because you're an idiot… like me."
The two of them laughed and took a long slow breath, feeling the delicious sensation of their shared chest swelling against Koala's back as they lay curled around her.
After a long, pleasant moment, Ace sighed, not unhappily, but longingly. "I'm sorry I missed so much of this. If I'd known you were out there, I would have come after you in a heartbeat. Maybe Deuce and I could have been Revolutionaries. Maybe you two could have been pirates."
Sabo sighed, too, pulling their body closer to Koala's. "I wish I'd ever had a wanted poster. Some way you could have seen my face. You'd have known me, even if I didn't know you."
Regret and could-have-beens filled the soft silence of the room.
"It's a small bed," Sabo continued quietly. It was true– their two bodies filled almost the whole available space. "But I still wish we were struggling to squeeze your stupid ass into it with us."
"It'd be a real tight fit. I got pretty big, Sabo."
"Oh now you're bragging." he laughed, but he felt hot tears leaking down their shared cheek.
In the space of their mind, Ace kissed him, and they pressed their lips against the back of Koala's neck.
Distantly beyond the window, someone in the quiet of the night picked away a melancholy tune on the strings of a flamenco guitar.
Koala stirred against them, arching against them with a sleepy murmur. Maybe it was the music drifting in the window or maybe the contact of them against her, but she roused enough from sleep to smile under the messy tangle of her bangs with an unintelligible murmur. 
They kissed her gently again, and resolved to settle into sleep.
-
They were having breakfast at a little Dressrosan open-air cafe near the docks the next morning when the miracle happened. It happened while they were chattering quietly over two large cups of dark, richly brewed coffee and steamed milk and thick slices of sweet toasted bread. The topic, of course, was what the hell they were going to do about getting through the further end of the Grand Line.
"Man, I never really thought about how hard it would be if you just wanted to travel to an island in the old man's territory," Ace grumbled, nibbling his toast.
Ace of course, had had free reign of it– but that didn't matter one lick now that he was in Sabo's body, and without a crew or a ship, or an anything.
Koala stirred her coffee again, glancing up at him with a bounce of her puffy red cap as she looked up at Sabo's eyes. "I bet—I mean, I can imagine you could go pretty much anywhere in it before. But if you're not one of his, it's basically a big wall. The Revolutionary Army's had a lot of issues trying to get agents deeper inside the Emperor's territories like—forever." 
"Yeah," he scratched his head thoughtfully. "Sabo said you didn't have any real useful contacts for this. I don't know what we're gonna do. What can we do, like, find a ship and a crew and sail it ourselves?"
It was not the kind of strike of genius he'd been hoping for. Sure, they could theoretically put together the funds for it but it would take a hell of a lot of time– and by that time Deuce might have left!
Koala took a long sip of her coffee, before she leaned on her hand. 
"I mean—I suppose we could, but we'd have to get REAL lucky, real fast. This isn't an official job so–it's not like we've got the funds on hand you know? At that point maybe we should just hope one of the underground's smuggling ships is in need of two able bodied recruits on a ship headed straight for Deuce's location." 
"Yeah but even if they were, we'd have to… convince… them…."
Ace's train of thought was completely derailed by something Sabo, watching from the 'passenger seat' of their shared mind, didn't immediately understand. Ace had been watching the crowd coming and going along the street to the dock, and their gaze had fallen on a burly man with a quite distinctive braided beard with a bow at the end.
While Sabo supposed it was eye catching, he wasn't quite sure what about the man had short circuited his brother.
-
Koala's foot brushed against Sabo and Ace's as she tilted her head. He'd suddenly gone rictus, captivated by the crowd—but she couldn't see anything of real note. Just your average flamboyantly dressed citizens of Dressrosa and some various visitors—likely pirates.
Still she leaned half over the table. "Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost." Her smile took on a teasing edge at the little pun, before she followed his line of sight and shifted in her seat to get a better look.
"Sorry, hold on!" Ace huffed breathlessly. He lept up from their chair and ran past her across the street, waving his arms. "Ribbon! Ribbon Hargrave!"
The old man with the ribbon in his beard stopped what he was doing and turned toward the oncoming charge.
Koala stumbled out of her seat, nearly spilling her coffee as Ace burst up from the table. Her hat fell down over her eyes with the weight of her goggles, obscuring her view for only a moment as she pushed her hat back up and bolted after him. "...huh??" 
By the time she was in ear shot the two were in an animated conversation.
Ace turned and grinned to her through Sabo's face. "Koala! This is Ribbon Hargrave! I know him— ah, through my brother Ace!"
Koala looked up at the man for a long moment, and then back at Ace with a questioning look.
This man was undoubtedly a pirate—and connected to Ace himself. The thoughts coalesced as a broad smile crossed her face. A pirate connected to Ace could possibly offer them a ride into the depths of the Grand Line!
More than that, it suddenly hit her as he was talking with the man, if Ace actually knew him that meant that they had already confirmed what they'd set out to discover without even yet finding Deuce.
If Ace knew this man, it meant that there was a ghost in Sabo's body.
Now it was Koala's turn to look like she saw a ghost—she doubted Ace and Sabo even realized it yet—but it was because she really had.Ace was real.
This man, who clearly was familiar with him despite talking to someone he thought was Ace's 'brother'---had provided undeniable proof that the dead could linger on.
-
Not twenty minutes later Ace had, on the strength of his fond reminiscence with the old man on behalf of his 'brother', negotiated them space on the pirate's smuggling ship directly into Whitebeard's territory. Hargrave had business in Dressrosa, but instructed them to be at the dock at dawn the next morning before he left them.
Koala was still reeling. Ace hadn't seemed to have put the circumstances together yet. She was sure that the way she'd fallen quieter and contemplative that he'd notice sooner or later that at least something was up with her—at which she'd pass along the good news.
As the man wandered off, Koala draped her arms around his shoulders and leaned against him from behind with a murmur of. "Well, that was lucky wasn't it?" 
"Practically a miracle!" Ace declared, beaming. He put his arm around her. "Come on, let's finish our coffee. I guess we don't have any reason to hurry but might as well not let it get cold."
Koala nuzzled her head against him as she flashed a lopsided smile. "Yeah, I think you're gonna need that coffee in a minute, handsome." 
He walked back arm in arm with her to their little table under its cheerful umbrella and he cocked his head doggishly. "Huh?"
Koala gently pushed him into his seat before pushing his coffee towards him, sitting down with one leg crossed over the other and a playful laugh.
 "---congratulations, Ace. You're as real as they come. You're not a figment of Sabo's imagination. I know this for certain now." 
Ace toppled into the chair and stared up at her with Sabo's eyes, big and wide as it finally dawned on him. "Oh– oh. Koala I wasn't even thinking…"
His mouth slowly fell open, and his manner changed— Sabo. "Holy shit."
Koala leaned over the table. "I told him that he'd need the coffee, Sabo. He went right up to a stranger— a guy you and I never met, and knew enough about him that he was able to get us passage on a ship. A guy who knew him back, and was willing to help his brother out." 
Sabo sat up and adjusted his hat— he looked thunderstruck. "I. My goodness. That. He really did. He really did. He was so far in front of me while it was happening I didn't even process it."
He scooped up his coffee and Koala could see that his fingers were shaking.
Koala reached out and grabbed his hand, feeling the warmth of the coffee just underneath it as she looked into his eyes. "You have your answer now—you've really got your brother in there with you." 
Sabo's dark eyes were filled to the brim with fat tears, glistening and threatening to spill over at any moment. His voice had a hoarse, slightly fragile quality to it. "He's real. My brother…"
Koala knew it had to be a lot for them to realize at once. That tenuous 'what if' that they'd all been hanging on had finally collapsed. For the better, towards the answer that she'd been expecting—and hoping for, in a way—but the one that was undoubtedly far, far more emotional than the other for Sabo and Ace.
She could only imagine what they were saying internally—all she knew was Sabo looked ready to cry.
Her eyes looked deep into his, as she reached out to instead brush her fingers just under his eyes. 
"He is—and that's a good thing, isn't it? I'm glad he's real too." She kept her voice soft and soothing, matching the small and sympathetic smile on her face "should we go somewhere quiet for a little bit? Or …what do you need?" 
He nodded, throat bobbing as he swallowed. "Let's… let's go back to the room. I'm sorry, I think I need to lie down."
She'd expected he might—the way it seemed to have taken them both out at the knees spoke to that much. She squeezed his hand as she helped him up from the chair and left the money on the table.
No matter what—through all of this—she was going to remind them that she was there to support them every step of the way.
-
Sabo held tightly to Koala's hand the whole short way back to their rented room, afraid that without it he'd simply fall to his knees under the enormous weight of his own confusion and relief. Inside their shared mindspace he hadn't let go of Ace yet— and wouldn't for quite some time.
Real. It was all real. 
That was immeasurably better, and immeasurably worse. All the grief and pain and regret he had felt from Ace in those dreams, in his mind these past weeks, all real.
"Sabo it's okay," Ace insisted quietly, holding him. "It's not like your life has been any easier."
"That's not the point!"
When they arrived back at the room, Sabo simply took off their jacket and their hat and layed down on the bed, grabbing Koala tightly as soon as she settled down next to them.
Koala wrapped her arms around him just as tightly, and held him firm in her arms. She was warm, and almost seemed to be trying to ground him with her presence. "Sabo–?" she murmured. 
He took deep breaths, letting her presence, as well as Ace's, sooth him. Ace was there, he was real. 
He had his brother back, even if he had died. Sabo hadn't been able to get to him but he still had him there, even if it was in this strange and impossible way.
He squeezed Koala back. "I'm here. I. I didn't want to let myself believe it. I didn't want to hope."
"I know, Sabo—" she whispered quietly as she let her fingers trail down his back. "It would have hurt worse to believe it and find out it wasn't true—but it is. He's really there with you." 
"How do you feel about that?" he asked, hesitantly. Ace had, a couple of times during the last week when they'd all gotten closer, expressed a minor worry that Koala was only as comfortable as she was with him, because she believed that he was just another part of Sabo.
Koala pulled back enough to meet his eyes with a smile that he could tell she was trying to keep subdued. She shifted against them, and looped an arm around his shoulder before she finally answered. 
"Fantastic, honestly. I think it's absolutely fantastic. I mean—Ace," she flushed a little "Ace is a charming man, and fantastic company. I'd have supported you if he were—you know, a part of you too. All the way, but I admit I'm—I'm kind of happy that he's not? Sorry, I know you're dealing with a lot as it is."
He shook his head. "Hear that helps. It helps a lot, Koala. And so does dealing with this together– as a trio?"
As Sabo hesitantly offered the description of the three of them, he felt the swell of Ace's warmth and excitement to be included. His love, it was real. It wasn't just a hope, or a memory, or a regret. Ace was real and he was there with him.
Their spirits clung desperately to one another. If death couldn't keep them apart then nothing could.
Koala's subdued smile bloomed into the wide and affectionate look he was so used to from her as she nodded her head. "As a trio—we'll figure it out and deal with all of this. Together. Just know I'm gonna be right there with you guys, supporting you the whole way, got it?"
They each grabbed one of her hands with one of theirs. "We insist!"
-
Their hands were warm around hers, and somewhere in her mind it tried to trick her into thinking it was somehow warmer than usual—that there was the combined heat of two bodies or perhaps that fire that Ace had been famous for in it.
But it was the same temperature as always, even if Koala felt herself heat into a flush of her own as she squeezed both hands as if they belonged to separate men—which in the moment she supposed they did.
"Then it's settled. I'm glad, you know? I'm glad for the three of us, and I'm glad to have gotten to know Ace as more than just a name on the wanted posters or in my intel. And I'm GLAD you two are back together, even if it's a bit odd." 
They squeezed her hands, and nuzzled their head against her neck gently, and affectionately. As they spoke, their voice wobbled in and out of each other's register. "It's so odd. But you're amazing, Koala. Thank you for… for being willing to put up with this."
It was odd, the way their voices seemed to fade back and forth—but they were both real, provably and definitively real— that strange vocal cadence was just a part of it all, wasn't it? It was a reminder that two people were sharing that space…and they were two people she'd—
It was amazing to say this, especially with how fast it came over her. Maybe the ease of knowing his closeness to Sabo helped. Maybe it was just his easy charm and the intimacies they shared— but they were two people she'd come to care for. Love, even.
She laughed, squeezed his left hand before using it to lightly bop himself on the chest. "Of course I'm 'willing' to 'put up with it' you idiots—I'm happy to put up with it. You're both stuck with me!" 
They rested their forehead against theirs. "We're stuck together."
Ace's voice came through more strongly and teasing. "Apparently there's no fucking getting rid of me, so."
She lightly punched him again, unable to stop a quiet giggle. 
"You do seem to have a way of sticking around, Ace. Good—after all, if you weren't here you'd miss out on your—what was it you said?" She leaned closer with an impish purr. "Equal share of the treasure?" 
Ace laughed and their face turned red, and he wiped their teary eyes with the back of their arm and leaned closer in toward her. "That's right, my equal share. I wouldn't want to miss out."
"It'd be a shame—and honestly dreadfully unpirate behavior if you did," she looped her arms around his waist with a flush of heat.
It was weird, it was—honestly like nothing on the Grand Line she'd ever heard of outside of the occasional sordid 1 berry novel, or ghost stories—but it was real. And she was smack in the middle of it with them. And if she could tease him a little about being a shared treasure? She was damn well going to do it!
"I wouldn't want to be un-pirate!" He laughed. "Especially when we're going to be on a pirate ship tomorrow. Actually, um…"
His brow furrowed slightly at some thought that had caught him.
Koala tilted her head to the side with a curious 'hmmm?'
"What is it, Ace?" 
"Well, I guess we need to talk about Deuce." He laughed, a little nervously. "Technically speaking we don't need to go after him now, since this whole thing started to confirm I was real."
Koala nodded thoughtfully, it was true that hunting down Deuce was originally part of the idea to confirm if Ace was real—which they'd now done pretty handily—but she had to imagine that Ace would still want to see the man, right?
"And we did figure out that you were, so—we're still going after him, right?" 
"I was hoping you'd say that!" His expression brightened considerably. He let go of her hands and stroked his fingers down her shoulders instead. "Uh, I think we've gotten to the stage in our… uh… relationship— we have a relationship right? That's what we've been talking about?"
"That's right, Ace," Koala stuck out her tongue as she leaned into his touch, her arms still around his waist. "I'd say we've got a relationship alright. So we've gotten to the stage in our relationship …."
He laughed nervously again. "Well…"
Sabo broke through with a great, heaving sigh and shook his head. "He's being ridiculous, Koala. He's trying to explain that he and Deuce were lovers. As though that wasn't plainly obvious."
"Oh!" Koala put her hands to her lips—she was certain that he'd already insinuated it, hadn't he? Or maybe she'd just read between the lines. "I'm afraid to say to him that I ah, already assumed that. From the way he talked about him, if nothing else!" 
Sabo laughed and shook his head. "He can't remember if he ever actually said it or not, and he didn't want things to be awkward if he hadn't. And he got embarrassed. Despite the fact that he already knows the kind of relationship you and I have. For a pirate, he certainly grew up to be shy."
Koala laughed with him.
"I'd say! though—I dunno, that's actually kind of adorable." She sidled her way closer, looking up at him with a grin as she settled into his lap. "But it's not exactly a surprise that he and this Deuce fellow were lovers. So I'm sure as hell not going to deny him his reunion!" 
"He's relieved," Sabo chuckled. "Of course he seems to think that getting Deuce to believe all this will be both difficult, and funny."
It'd be way harder than convincing her, she could only imagine. She'd kind of gotten the build up to it, the soft edges that eased their descent into the weirdest relationship she'd ever had— Deuce was likely just off sad somewhere, not expecting the absolute weirdness that was about to crash at his feet.
"It will be a bit funny, won't it?" 
-
After a week at sea on the ship of Emperor Shanks, Deuce found himself standing in front of the fresh grave of Fire Fist Ace. He had, without any input from Deuce, been buried right next to the old man.
It writhed in his chest, seething and twisting as he stood before the graves. Hot tears fell like rain upon the few remnants of his captain—his best friend—his beloved that there still were in the world.
His hat and his dagger adorned the X that stood dwarfed under the fluttering coat and looming grave of the damned old man.
Deuce's fingers clenched tight enough to cut half moons into his palms, his breath catching. His whole world, the man who he'd once called his very sun—was extinguished, and smothered in the shadow of the man who'd torn that sun from the sky and made him think he was hardly more than a candle's flame.
Why did nobody ask me? The roiling anger hissed as his shoulders began to shake don't they know that he deserves, at least, to be his own man in death?
Nobody asked him because he didn't matter. Deuce wasn't even his first mate anymore—hadn't been for some time. He was the old man's second favorite doctor—he was another soul bound to Whitebeard.
So of course they made Ace's final resting place all about HIM.
His mask slipped down his face somewhat as he took a sharp and shaky intake of breath, tears pattering down upon the smiling ornament on Ace's hat. "I'm sorry, Ace." he whimpered "I couldn't do better for you. I couldn't do shit. I couldn't even finish my stupid novel—I…"
He placed the flowers crushed in his shaking hand down before the grave and knelt in the freshly filled in dirt. "Love you, partner. I love you."
As Deuce knelt in the dirt before the grave, the thought of joining him in the soil loomed large in his mind.
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myonepiece · 4 years ago
Text
Shanks, Doflamingo, Mihawk headcanon- Reaction to falling in love w/ you but finding out it was an order from your captain so he could take them down
They’re kind long but I promise they’re worth it, I got a little too into it with Doffy’s ;-;
Warnings: angst, death, ab//se 
TW
Shanks
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Shanks had never felt this happy, he felt as if he could do anything, like he truly was the king of the world. You meant everything to this man and it could be seen by everyone- the way he looked at you like you were the only thing that he could see. The way you talked to him and held him made him feel safe but also like he had to protect you with everything he has
He had found out about your mission from one of his subordinates who had caught you conversing with your captain. In front of his crew he wouldn’t bat an eye, he wouldn’t let anyone see the pain and sorrow that consumed his every waking thought
He went to you and asked if this was true, begging you to say it was not, that it was just a misunderstanding. But Shanks was smart enough to know what he had to do, he had to protect his crew
Shanks would not kill you himself, but he would have one of his crew (most likely Benn) do it. He wouldn’t watch, only ask if it was done. 
He had never felt so disrespected and betrayed before. Very breath he took pained him and every thought was interupted by thoughts of you. He gave everything to you, he gave you money and jewels and gifts and his whole heart, and yet you threw it all away. 
He grew an intense hatred towards you, sometimes wishing he could’ve been the one to end your life. Your name was not permitted on his ship, the whole crew knew of the woman who had managed to break their captain, and all despised you and everything relating to you.
Shanks would not love again, he would have one night stands and fool around, but everytime he would compare the woman to you, and everytime they could not measure up.
He still loved you, this much was true. It was love buried deep behind his feelings of hatred and disgust, and he would not let anyone know. But when Shanks zones out, his eyes lost in the stars and a small heartbroken lovesick grin plastered on his face, his closest friends knew exactly who he was thinking of
Doflamingo
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Doffy had never planned to fall in love, but his armored and fractured heart had been captured by you. His mind no longer only swam with sadistic thoughts of pain and self-loathing, instead a small sparkle of light would enter growing so bright it blinded him. He trusted you with his everything, and it terrified him yet made him fall even deeper into the bottomless pit of your love, the pit which did indeed end up having a bottom- a bottom lined with spikes and spears that prodded at his body as he reached them
Doffy’s subordinate had brought back letters exchanged between you and your captain, telling of your cruel plan to claim the Heavenly Demon’s heart and use it to break him. Doflamingo did not bat an eye, neither screams nor anger escaped him, instead an eary silence swept over him encapturing the world around him. 
You had felt a chill run down. your spine as you took in the horrifying silence, the atmosphere reminding you of the calm before a storm. A storm that wore a fluffy pink coat.
Doflamingo had bursted into your room, no creepy smile accompanying him this time. His voice was kept completely level as he spoke each and every awful insult he knew, all limits were crossed. He used all of his strength to strike you down, hitting you over and over again as iinsults continued flying from his mouth. He watched as the color drained from your blood covered skin and the light that he loved so much, finally left your eyes. Only after you took your last breath, did Doflamingo smile.
He told all of his subordinates to wait outside and retreated to his bedroom, locking himself in, then took the rest of his anger out on his surroundings, crushing everything he could get his hands on. And as he sat in the midst of the destruction, he doubled over in pain as he let out a bloodcurdling cry of anguish. He let the tears roll down his face as he mourned the loss of the one sweet and innocent thing he had, the one thing holding him back from total madness and insanity. 
He had finally reached his breaking point, spending the next few days killing each and every person who had the slightest meaning to you, including your real crew and captain. He would never again let someone into his life, no more love for Doflamingo, no more. happiness or sense of security in your arms. He forbd the mention of your name, anyone who mentioned it would be swiftly killed without a seecond thought. He built the walls around his heart 100x stronger. He made everyone think he had forgotten you and completely erased you from his memory, but in the dead of night when the silence was too much, he would sit in darkness as he cried while clutching the diamond ring that once belonged to you 
Mihawk
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Mihawk thought of you as the center of his universe. The mature man had turned into a lovesick boy who followed you around like a lost puppy. You’re sweet and innocent personailty brought light to the darkness of Mihawk’s life, bringing feelings he had never felt. The two of you had spent nights together walking the grounds of Kuraigana island, dancing in the moonlight, sipping wine together while you both sat upon his throne. The safety Mihawk found in your embace was heavenly and the feeling of protection towards you overwhelmed his sensess, it was like a dragon guarding its treasure.
Mihawk was told of your mission by Shanks who had run into your crew. He knew Shanks would never lie to him, especially about something like this, so he knew he would have to put an end to your love. He would be lying if he said he hadn’t considered forgetting about this and continuing the heavenly lie, but his pride would not allow it. The direspect, rage, and betrayal he felt was rivaled by nothing. As he cornered you by the fireplace, you could see no emotion in his eyes, no fear or sadness. 
Mihawk knew he could not kill you, so he simply pointed towards the front door uttering a simple “leave”. As the sound of the door closing ssounded throughtout the now empty castle, he could’ve sworn he saw the moonlight grow darker and the shadows close in. He sat in his chair and drowned himself in wine, trying to forget the searing pain throught his body. 
He had Shanks hold your Captain hostage so Mihawk himself could kill him. Joinging Shanks on his boat, Mihawk put on a mask hiding his emotions away, he wanted to return to his castle and lock himself away from the world, but Shanks would not let his dear friend be alone in this time. 
Shanks handed Mihawk drink after drink trying to help him cope with the loss of his love. Everyone knew how much you meant to Mihawk, and all of the Red Haired Pirates now dispised you and reacted to any mention of you with disgusted faces and harsh insults. Shanks held a rage for you stronger than that of his crews’, for he could see the pain you were causing Mihawk and he was sure that if he ever came across you, he would do the one thing that Mihawk could not.
Only when Mihawk returned home to harrowing silence and emptiness of Kuraigana Castle, did he feel his exterior break. He fell too his knees by the door, covering his eyes as the tears he had been holding in for oh so long finally escaped. His broken sobs bounced off the walls. For hours the only sound that could be heard was the strangled sobs of a man who had lost his heart, because when you left you had ripped his heart out of his chest and carried it away with you, leaving a fierce warrior crying in the dark 
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alkhale · 4 years ago
Note
so... that new his dark materials on HBO got me feeling some things and thinking... Memos HDM AU?
Memos His Dark Materials AU Ko-Fi Request
(for context for the excerpt down below this, when someone’s daemon makes contact with another person’s daemon, it’s considered very personal and intimate. This is normal between family members and very close friends or loved ones, say, Luffy’s daemon would probably touch all his nakama’s left and right just fine, but for certain others, this may come as a bit of an alarming little sensation for them since people feel what their daemons feel and the same vice versa as extension of their souls)
- Hoku’s daemon is a white panther named Hau.
The two of them don’t get along very well and tend to get on each other’s nerves due to personal reasons. They’re capable of being a fairly good distance apart even though this isn’t normal and considered painful for most people. They sort of trained themselves to be able to be apart because they felt following their independent values was most important. It’s a bit of a messy situation but they’re the first ones either of them would turn to no matter what. He has the same marking she has painted around the curve of his left eye because it’s tradition for Pokians to paint it onto their daemons when they come of age. All daemons from Artopoki are also always colored white just like their hair.
His name means “happiness” in Hawaiian.
- Mahina’s daemon is a white horse while Manu’s is a small white wild cat. Mihawk’s is a massive, massive ink black raven named Sable. She and Mahina’s daemon got along really well.
- Shank’s daemon is a reddish tinted lionness who goes by Reina. Hoku and Hau are a bit smitten by her but Hau kind of hates Shanks, maybe not hate but he tends to be on the more skeptical end of him versus Hoku being a little doe-eyed for the man. Hau loved Mihawk though. Mihawk was the first person to ever touch him outside of Hoku’s parents (human to daemon contact is a super big deal when it’s not family or intimate loved ones, daemon to daemon is a little more tolerable but raises some brows)
- Luffy’s daemon settles as a springy lionness name Soleil who he calls Sol. She’s very energetic and can’t really read a room but she makes up for it with energy. She and Luffy are two peas in a pod.
- Nami’s daemon is an orange fox named Riki, the greatest thieving duo across the East Blue.
- Zoro’s is a massive bengal tiger named Masumi and she’s got a much more approachable personality than her counterpart but tends to be just as lazy and ferocious.
- Usopp’s is a chameleon by the name of Emmo. She’s a bit of a coward too but she’s funny.
- Sanji’s is a beautiful, rather stunning lady jackrabbit by the name of Celine who loves beautiful people and kicking. She seems a little wiser than Sanji.
- Brook’s is the skeleton of a songbird named Aretha. They’re the strangest case on the Grand Line because of his devil fruit. She sings beautifully for a pile of bones though.
- Franky’s is a female beaver named Aspen, they’re pretty much carbon copies of each other.
- Robin’s is a black owl named Yuval. He’s on the quieter side and tends to creep people out on first glance but he’s a very gentlemanly owl.
- Ace’s ends up settling as a red and black lynx by the name of Iskra. Sabo’s is a peregrine falcon named Brisa.
- Vivi’s is a fennec fox named Seti.
- I couldn’t decide of Kid’s should be one hell of a murderous honey badger with attitude named Naga or a crocodile or a bear. Any of those three felt pretty right but I lean more toward the honey badger HAHAHA.
- Law’s daemon is a snow leopard named Estrella. These two are an especially dangerous duo and Estrella tends to be a bit more on the mysterious side at first.
- - - - - - -
“Your blood,” Shank said, cupping her cheek. “Is worth treasures more than his.”
Hau bit at Shanks’ cloak, snarling as a white husky in protest, trying to pull him away. Reina watched him in utter amusement.
Steam exploded from Hoku’s ears, her entire face flushing red.
“Oops, hey, someone get Makino! I’m worried dove’s got a fever!”
- - - - - - -
“It’s nothing but a childish crush,” Hau said pointedly to her, perfectly aware of the fluttery, gross feelings inside Hoku spilling over to him. He walked after her, lashing his tail angrily while Hoku stared up at the sky in a daze. Shanks had just given them a living, ripe kiionohi tree. “He just thinks we’re cute kids. He likes teasing us. This is how he took Luffy!”
Hau worked over-time to remain as indifferent toward Shanks as Hoku originally wanted to be. Hoku had just given up and rolled over to the fact that Shanks was just… so hard to dislike. Was there even a reason to dislike him? Sure, she still got jealous that Luffy was so damn fond of him, but when Luffy was always pulling her around despite that, promising she was his first before anyone else—
“Are you listening to me?” Hau hissed at her, biting her ankle in protest. Hoku looked down at him. “I don’t like him! He’s just another schmuck! Nothing’s gonna happen anyway! Dream on! We’re just kids to him, got it?”
“I know that,” Hoku snapped, cheeks flushing. “I-It’s just adoration. Childish adoration. What do you think I’m gonna do, ask him to marry me?”
“No,” Hau muttered, “but don’t get any ideas.”
“I’m not,” Hoku snapped back at him, lightly nudging his paws. Hau swiped at her. “He’s just… he’s just charming, is all. And you’re one to talk, you know. You look at anyone that’s willing to scratch your ears like they’re god!”
“I don’t let people scratch me behind the ears!” Hau protested. “No one’s allowed to touch me!”
“Yeah,” Hoku snorted. “Except Luffy, right? I feel what you feel too, dumbass. Think about how it feels for me to get scratched behind the ears too, okay?”
Hau grumpily settled down onto his haunches, stubbornly looking over to the side, “But it’s Luffy.”
Hoku could understand that, but it didn’t make the sensation any more normal. Actually, I might be starting to get used to that. Luffy’s so damn touchy it’ll kill me. She didn’t even flinch anymore when Hau and Soleil were pressed tight together, rolling around or tumbling about each other or cuddled up in a pile. Luffy’s warm fingers patting Hau’s head, hefting him up into his arms—that was still something she was getting used to.
Or Hoku, cupping Soleil’s head in her hands, pressing a kiss to the top of the daemon’s head, committing utter taboo. Hoku, letting Soleil cozy up to the crook of her neck, shove her face into Hoku’s hand, weave between her fingers while Luffy laughed beside them—
The four of them, touching each other’s daemons, each other’s partners, each other’s souls—
But I am getting used to it. Hoku shivered. Never touching anyone’s daemon, huh?
Hau lashed his tail, “I won’t let Shanks touch me, you can count on that.”
“You’re just jealous,” Hoku said. “Luffy and Soleil already said we’re first. And it’s not like Shanks is going to be here forever, he’s a pirate, remember?”
Hoku rubbed the side of her arm, looking down at her shoes, “He’s just… he’s just become Luffy’s idol. You see how he looks at him—Luffy knows what he wants to do now ‘cause of him.”
Hau huffed, whiskers twitching. Hoku gave him a little shove and Hau shifted into a bull, ramming at the back of her knees as Hoku laughed, shoving back at him.
Shanks was just a bit of fun, that was it.
- - - - - - - - 
But Reina didn’t play by the rules.
“You’re getting faster, little dove.”
Hoku almost screamed. Her heart lodged into her throat, forcing her to choke as Mau nearly clattered onto the dirt from her hands had she not hooked it last minute. She apologized to the amused blade, checking for scratches and trying to work out a game plan in her head.
Hau frowned. As deep of a frown as an unhappy skunk could make, sitting by a log and looking pointedly Reina’s way.
She didn’t know when Shanks’ daemon had made her way over to them or where Shanks was, probably with Luffy to be honest, but there Reina was, living up to her name.
The lioness daemon was stretched out onto a fat slab of rock jutting upwards from the ground. Luffy used it as a launching platform a lot when they were playing. Her red-gold body rippled, leisurely soaking up the sunlight.
Hoku’s fingers itched.
Reina watched them with golden irises. 
“Thanks,” Hoku said, trying not to be awkward but feeling very much so. “I’m not there yet though.”
Reina’s chest rumbled, a deep sound that made Hau wrinkle his nose in protest. She laid her head down onto her paws, rolling over onto her side. Hoku noticed the scars lining her softer underbelly, the notch missing from a piece of her flicking tail.
“You’ll get there,” Reina said soothingly. “Why don’t you take a break?”
I feel like I’m talking to the devil. Hoku shivered. Temptation incarnate. “I haven’t hit my number of swings yet.”
“Shanks and Luffy are playing by the harbor,” Reina almost purred. “Don’t you want to join?”
Hoku frowned at her boots. Yes. “No. I’m glad Shanks is taking up all his time.”
Reina’s ear twitched. Her eyes glimmered playfully. Hoku felt as though if her feet weren’t planted firmly to begin with, she’d already be making her way over to the lioness for no reason other than the fact that Reina seemed to be beckoning her over.
“How come you two can be so far apart?” Hau blurted. Hoku shot him a look of disbelief. 
Reina’s whiskers twitched in amusement.
Hau hunkered down, waving his big bushy tail. “I-Isn’t it painful? It’s weird, daemons aren’t supposed to be able to do that.”
“You two seem to be able to go fairly far,” Reina murmured. “Is that not strange?”
Hoku and Hau flinched.
Reina laid her head down onto the rock, letting the sun color her pelt. She looked crimson gold in the sunlight. “He and I simply found it in ourselves to promise to live our lives to the fullest and the freest.”
Reina seemed to smile, lips pulling back to show her fangs. “Besides, like this, I can be with Luffy and he can be with little dove at the same time, hmm?”
Hoku and Hau blinked in confusion. They looked at each other and back to Reina who’d rolled over to show them her back, settling down for a nice, long nap.
“Finish up those swings, dove,” Reina purred. “Then let’s play.”
I miss Luffy. Hoku miserably flattened herself down against the grass, Mau propped up onto a trunk beside her. Hau was chirping haughtily in the tree branch above her, flapping his white wings even though he was supposed to be a toucan. I always run off even when he’s playing with Shanks. Maybe I should just suck it up and have fun with them too. Or, not fun. Just… spend time. Yeah.
Hoku groaned, rubbing her sweaty face with her hands.
“About time,” Hau chirped at her. “Let’s go! I don’t care if Shanks and everyone else is there, I want to see Luffy and Sol.”
“Yeah, yeah,” Hoku snapped. “I heard ya. You just want to get touched again.”
Hau flattened, ruffling his feathers, “That’s not true!”
It absolutely is. Hoku sighed, preparing her aching muscles to lift her sluggish body up. Hau was practically touched starved and Luffy’s generous pats were like a drug. He did a good job making sure Shanks never got near him though. Hoku didn’t even flinch. Touching other people’s daemons is still such a weird feeling though, I can’t get used to anyone else but them. 
She’d only ever touched Sable twice. Ki and Kekoa didn’t count because they were family. Soleil was the only one she ever really touch-touched, and even then, it was still a sensation Hoku felt all the way to the tip of her toes and down to her bones. Intimate. 
Bet no one else has a daemon willing to get himself pet. Hoku peeked through her fingers at Hau who jumped from the branch and shifted into a little white butterfly. He’d turn into a dog later because it was easier to play with Luffy like that. What daemon goes up to someone to get themselves touched? 
Some taboos just weren’t meant to be crossed.
A shadow fell over Hoku’s face and she blinked, moving her hands away to look up.
Reina looked down at her.
Hoku froze, stiff against the ground like a corpse. Her heart hammered stupidly loud in her chest, loud enough to burst through her ears. From this spot, she could make out every fine, red-gold hair smoothed over Reina’s slender face. She could see the dark lines that traced her feline gold eyes, followed the slope of her muzzle, to the long, elegant whiskers—a few cut short, and the few scars that lined her soft nose. 
This was the closest she had ever been to the daemon.
She could sense heat from the lioness, hulking power and muscle. Reina’s killing paws sat on either side of her head. She could crush Hoku’s skull without much effort. Rip her throat out. In another world, Hoku would be fearing for her life—even in this world, Hoku was still fearing for her life, but, but, maybe death at the hands of such a beautiful, powerful daemon couldn’t be that awful.
Hoku waited, staring at Reina with wide eyes.
Reina blinked once, slowly. Something like amusement seemed to shift over the fine hairs on her face and she lowered her head over Hoku’s. Her body seized up, unable to breathe.
And then languidly, a warm, wet and scratchy pink tongue rolled once across her face, down her forehead to her lips and over her chin. Reina pulled away, satisfied, looking down at Hoku’s disheveled, slightly wet face and bulging eyes before calmly sauntering off, hips swaying.
It took her a moment. A good, solid moment. Her heart did something funny, her body frozen stiff and ascended to some other plain of existence, her mind whirring and still buzzing from the electricity of the slightest contact with—
Someone else’s daemon—
 Reina—
Shanks’ daemon—
Touched—
Hoku’s face blushed a bright, scarlet red. She grabbed her face with her hands and rolled around in the dirt like the little bug she was.
Hau jealously nudged her face with his little ferret nose, huffing and puffing in displeasure.
She’d never been touched by someone else’s daemon before.
- - - - - - - -
The final nail into her own coffin was done by Hoku’s own hands.
At the crack of dawn, when the light was just beginning to crawl its way out of the horizon to peek over into the sky. Just hours before, Hoku had finally shown Shanks the book, speaking with him in the low light of that bar and making a total fool of herself—enough for Hau to tease and taunt her about it for hours until they fell asleep.
She woke up earlier than Luffy today, leaving him snoring in her hammock with Soleil sprawled as a baby badger over him. Hau woke up, slithering into her shirt and keeping himself warm by her stomach as they walked out into the forest.
Reina was already waiting for them.
“Dove,” Reina greeted, velvet voice carrying over as Hoku trudged through the dewy grass. Sunlight was warming her pelt, heating it up like a forge and turning the red-gold of her pelt darker and brighter.
Hau muttered a low, half-reluctant protest. Yesterday, Luffy had picked him up, holding him close and willingly thrusted Hau toward Shanks like some kind of sacrificial offering. 
Shanks didn’t take the daemon, simply grinning in understanding at Hau’s horrified expression. Her daemon had never felt more betrayed.
“Hau, you gotta get along with everyone!” Luffy laughed. “Don’t be dumb like Hoku!”
Hoku couldn’t stop the greedy, uncontrollable itch in her fingers.
“...good morning,” Hoku mumbled, tucking hair behind her ear out of habit. Reina was stretched out, regal and picture perfect on that same slab of stone. Dawn was rising over the fine curve of her spine and the lioness kept her gaze on them evenly, waiting as Hoku slowly came to stand beside the slab of rock.
Reina’s ears swiveled forward. She watched Hoku, eyes glittering. A soft sound left her parted jaws.
Hoku hesitantly took a seat on the rock, a few inches away from Reina. She could feel heat rising from the daemon, her head turning to follow Hoku as they stared at each other.
She weakly raised one hand. Hau’s heartbeat matched her own.
“Could I… Could I draw you?”
Reina’s jaws parted to let out a soft rumble. Her body curved more, keeping Hoku in the middle. Her paws stretched out and Reina kept her eyes evenly on Hoku’s.
Hoku softly set her hand down on Reina’s side. Warmth flooded into her fingertips, spreading up her arm and making half her body feel almost numb with the sensation. Hoku’s head spun, buzzing with that vibrant thrum of energy as Reina’s pelt shifted under her fingertips. Hoku daringly let her hand come down Reina’s spine, feeling the muscles and scars in one gentle stroke.
Reina’s scratchy tongue dragged over Hoku’s hand in approval.
“I hope that man is deep, deep asleep,” Hau muttered. Hoku agreed.
She thought her heart was going to burst.
- - - - - -- -- - -
“This place is crawling with marines now,” Smoker said. “What are you going to do? Let them arrest you like some kind of washed up drunk?”
Hoku lightly pushed the glass in front of her. The bartender nervously refilled the glass, jumping in fear when Smoker glared daggers at him.
“Hoku,” Smoker said.
The woman kept swallowing mouthfuls of the whiskey in her cup, ignoring him. Blanca’s fur had settled over her back, smoothing out. His daemon watched the woman before them in silence, looking at Hau and then back to Hoku.
A soft sound left Blanca’s lips. Smoker shot her a warning look. The smoky colored husky daemon lowered her tail.
“What happened to all that spunk?” Smoker continued. “You don’t give two shits if I cuff you and take you in from here?”
Hoku didn’t even turn to look at them. She kept her shoulders hunched, curling in on herself over the bar’s countertop and refusing to meet the gazes burning into her back. The empty glasses spread out across the wood counter beside her, the heavy smell of alcohol settling amidst the cigarette smoke.
Hau kept silent at her feet, curled up and head low. Smoker observed the daemon carefully, noticing the matted fur, the dirt stains in the crisp white that used to be his go-to for hunting them down in the crowd. His unsheathed claws, caked with dried dirt and blood. The cleanest spot was the blood red ink curled over his half-hidden face under the countertop’s shadow.
A new spot was inked into his fur. A small, blood red flame right where the muscle of his shoulder blade bunched under his right foreleg. Smoker’s eyes traveled upwards to the matching red flame inked into Hoku’s skin over her right shoulder blade.
“This is it?” Smoker said gruffly.
Hoku snorted. Blanca shot him a look, gray eyes hard to read but Smoker never needed to read her eyes, he could hear her thoughts loud and clear in his own head, in the space they shared.
“Who cares,” Hoku muttered bitterly. “You got what you wanted.”
Blanca fell silent. Smoker shot his daemon a sharp look, but she refused to meet his gaze, tail limp behind her and ears pricked far forward, focused on the woman before them.
Hoku bowed her head. Her hands went up, carding through her hair, holding them there as though she were cradling her head in her hands.
“You won,” Hoku whispered.
His daemon took a step forward.
“Blanca,” he warned.
The husky kept her muzzle shut, looking at him.
“Smoker.”
Smoker tossed his cigar to the side. His gloved hand clenched into a fist before it loosened. Smoker let out an aggravated sigh, shaking his head. He took a step forward, raising his hand up.
Hau’s growl ripped through the air like a knife. A single, resounding warning. Smoker glanced down to the daemon, glaring at them with icy venom, fangs and claws bared. Blanca lowered her head only an inch, her only way of showing they meant no harm. Hau pulled his lips back into a louder snarl, tail lashing in aggravation.
Hoku glanced down to her companion, frowning for a moment before she raised her head and looked back at Smoker.
Tears continued to trickle from the corners of her eyes. They slid down the curve of her cheeks, dripping down her chin. Hoku watched him in silence, expression unreadable.
The admiral hesitated for only a second. Blanca let out the softest, softest whine.
For a moment, Hau’s body untensed, staring. The foggy look started to clear. Hoku’s brows creased and Smoker reached out with his gloved hand one more time.
The doors to the bar slammed open.
The light winked out from Hoku’s eyes. Hau stood onto his paws, head lowered, eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. 
His men flooded the dimly lit room, raising their guns and shouting out orders as Smoker cursed in his head and Blanca’s ferocious barks of protest flooded the room over his, ordering the marine daemons to stand down.
Smoker lurched, eyes snapping in surprise to where Hau suddenly had Blanca pinned to the wooden floorboards of the bar. His daemon was silent, rigidly looking up at Hau with her teeth barely bared, body still while Hau’s jaws were wrapped around her neck. Smoker felt his teeth on his own, Hoku’s dead eyes looking at all of them.
“Go ahead,” Hoku said coldly. She turned to the marines by the door, half-smiling. “Just don’t forget, Hau’s got one more life over her.”
Blanca kept silent, staring imploringly at Hau. The panther ignored her gaze, keeping his jaws buried in the scruff of her throat, waiting. Smoker stared hard at Hoku and she kept her gaze on his men, expression devoid of emotion.
-- - ----- ----
“Estrella,” Law drawled, ice dripping with the roll of his tongue.
His daemon pounced.
They poor no-body marine dog never stood a chance.
--- --- ---- ---- --- 
“No,” Law said. “This is rehab.”
He kicked Hoku’s lower back, sending her flying down the stairs with an ungoldy screech and down into the boiler room. Penguin and Sachi peeked their heads around the corner, staring down into the darkest depths of their sub while Law shoved a hand into his pocket.
“Is she still alive?” Penguin asked.
“She’s got a couple, right?” Law asked Hau. “Which one was that?”
Hau flicked his tail tip, the only sign of his annoyance. Estrella watched him with peering eyes, following the sway of Hau’s haunches as he slunk down the steps into the boiler room after Hoku.
“Fuck you, Law!” came the ghostly holler. “I’m going to blow up your submarine! You forgot I’m suicidal, asshole!”
Law looked satisfied, turning his back on them and closing the boiler room door. To Sachi and Penguin he added, “Make sure she doesn’t come out until she’s done.”
---- --- --- --- ---
Law froze, his entire body stiff as ice.
He took a moment, reassessing the sensation he felt unfolding in his chest. He considered it carefully, made sure this… this feeling was not a mistake, that he had not wrongly interpreted the shared sensation between himself and his daemon. He picked it apart in seconds, slowly, rigidly turning his head to the corner of the deck.
It was dark, only a single headbeam lit from the corner pathway of the submarine. The deck on top of the rounded hull was bathed in darkness, but even in the thin light, he knew down to his bones he was not seeing wrongly. 
Law gave the woman beside him one discreet, searching glance.
Hoku looked completely and utterly unaffected. He watched her a second longer to make sure it wasn’t an act, but her careless, bored demeanor showed truthfully she had no inclination whatsoever to sharing his barely, barely startled turmoil. Hoku looked completely at ease, still squinting in the distance to see if she could make out the constellation they’d just discussed, mouth moving around the dried fruit she’d just popped into her mouth.
Law carefully, with great composure, withheld the light, creeping shiver that traveled down his spine. He narrowed his eyes, looking back, but Estrella coyly kept her mind blank, hiding all of her thoughts from him the way they’d taught each other to.
There, against the side of the entry doorway, the two of them laid. 
Hoku’s daemon had stretched out, directly in the middle of the deck to keep the perfect distance away from either side of the railings. His long, furred body turned a pale, ghostly shade of white under the moonlight, large paws hiding pearl white claws. Hau’s side rose and fell in lazy slumber, his tail stretched out behind him like a white whip, ears twitching only occasionally.
But the issue was who was beside him.
Estrella had silently made her way from Law’s side across the deck to his. Her lithe, powerful feline body almost nearly matched his in size. Law watched her with rapt, rigid focus, brows furrowed in dark disbelief as his daemon purposefully ignored his silent prodding.
She stopped inches from Hau’s form, sitting on her haunches, tail curled neatly over her paws. Hau’s ear flicked once in her direction to signal he’d noticed, but kept his eyes closed. Estrella stared down at him, icy gray gaze that had stared back as she ripped throats out of marines and pirates and their enemies alike, becoming almost clear.
Estrella rearranged herself, laying down on her stomach barely a centimeter—a heavy, tense centimeter Law could feel—from him. She folded her paws neatly over each other, staring out seemingly in boredom. Her striped black tail flicked from side to side, occasionally brushing against Hau’s limp one. A ghost of a touch.
Touch.
His daemon. Estrella.
Hau didn’t move, tail limp, body relaxed. Estrella turned her head to look down at the other daemon, expression carefully blank. Her tail curled and then the tip of it brushed against Hau’s flank. His fur seemed to shift, bright, scarred pink nose twitching but he remained relaxed. Estrella seemed pleased by this and her tail promptly laid out beside his own, curling idly over his.
Touching.
Law looked back at Hoku and she reached for another dried fruit, popping it into her mouth. She shuffled through her bag, debating whether or not to shove a handful more. Oblivious.
Is your connection to your daemon that terrible? Law almost bit out. Almost. It would have come out calm and cold and collected. Are you that dull? Is it that messed up? Are you an idiot—
He went rigid, gripping Kikoku with white knuckles. 
Law exhaled, slowly. He carefully turned over his shoulder, inch by inch, glaring daggers behind him.
Estrella didn’t even blink at him, eyes trained sideways and away. She looked silver against Hau’s snow white. Her long, raspy pink tongue slid out languidly from her mouth in soothing, relaxed motions. It showed off the dangerous curve of bone-crushing fangs. But Estrella’s tongue was now running over the top of Hau’s face, over his ears, around his neck as she turned her face and—
“Are you grooming him?” Law spat out in disbelief at her. 
The snow leopard lazily flicked her tail behind her in response. Hau yawned, stretching his paws out, unbothered, and resumed his slumber as Estrella continued her grooming, content.
Law ripped apart the shudder that almost raced down his spine. He shoved the sensations traveling from Estrella and Hau’s shared connection, the low buzz of energy, of electricity that came when two daemons touched each. A feeling he’d only ever felt when Corazon’s Rosa would curl her soft, furry body up around Estrella—
He grit his teeth, squaring his shoulders and forcibly maintaining his composure as he promptly knocked Kikoku against the metal railing once.
Hoku looked up, brows creasing. A fruit stuck out from between her lips. She gave him a look, as though he’d done something wrong for disturbing her.
Your daemon is touching my daemon.
“Somethin’ wrong?” Hoku asked.
Do you not feel what I feel?
Law gave her a flat look. Hoku continued to chew.
Go get your daemon—
“Hoku,” she and Law both looked down. Hau’s voice was smooth and not too low, like a melted rumble. He came up to her leg, pressing his big head against her hip and curling his tail over her leg. The white panther daemon blinked blue eyes up at them. Law could see gold.
Hau seemed to examine Law for a moment before his long whiskers twitched. The white panther blinked once. Law stared back at him, curious about the eye contact someone else’s daemon was making with him.
Without even pausing, Hoku’s hand ran over his face, pushing past his soft ears and turning against his cheek to scratch under his chin. Hau lifted his head for better access, a loud rumble filling the air.
Several feet away, Estrella slowly made her way toward them, nonchalant and shifting mass of silver and black fur. She didn’t even acknowledge the icy daggers her other half was fixing her with, haunches swaying as she came up and sat down loyally by Law’s feet. Estrella looked up at Hoku, whiskers twitching.
“What game are you playing?” Law thought at her.
“Nothing,” Estrella thought back at him, innocent. “Nothing at all.”
---- ----- -----
P.S - If you guys like this au, highly recommend checking out 500shadesofblue’s story “Echoes” on ao3, super good.
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whirlybirdwhat · 4 years ago
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Love your straw hats eldritch AU, but, for your consideration, may I present: ROGER PIRATES ELDRITCH AU. Raftel's never been just an island. It's old and twisted and dark in the way only a pirate can appreciate. When Roger walked the isle, something changed within him. A dark deal struck at the dead of midnight, a blood pact under a blood red sky, a sacrifice made to save a friend, or even nothing at all. What is known is that roger changed becoming twisted and dark. And so did his crew. (1/2)
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takes you. holds your face in my hands. i have written something for this but oh my god please write this in your own way too i will die just by your descriptions in your ask alone i swear to god!!! also i took this in a different direction than i think you meant,  but i hope you enjoy it was very fun to write fghjkl
laugh (tale) of the king 
read on ao3! 
When Roger finds the One Piece, he laughs.
And Laughs.
And Laughs.
A Laughtale, he calls the island, because its true name should never be spoken on any other tongue, what fun is that!
His crew laughed too, you know.
They never learned to stop.
At the king’s feet, something that was never quite an island writhes, and blood red sand becomes bloodier as three of the Pirate King’s dearest friends never leave its shores.
That’s okay, the Pirate King says laughing, they’re having fun now! What a Laugh Tale!
The water seems to smile, an arc of sun flashing itself across a red sky, and oh, how happy Raftel is, leaving its body to venture the seas.
How happy.
-
Here’s what they never tell you about the execution. What the press will never be able to describe and what it’s witnesses will never erase from their nightmares.
When the Pirate King died, his words launching the world into a new era, a new fate, a new, deadly dream, he smiled.
And he laughed as his teeth became sharp and the blades dug into his chest, and he laughed as sand poured from him instead of blood, and he laughed as people said The One Piece is Real and Monster! Monster! In the same shout.
The Pirate King smiled and laughed and the world was never the same.
But they’ll never tell you about the laugh, or the sharpness of his smile, or the sand from his veins.
No.
That story, that funny, traveling tale, does not belong on the tongues of man.
No Laugh Tale ever does.
-
Shanks didn’t go to Laugh Tale. Buggy didn’t either. They were left behind, on a small island just outside dangerous waters, and if they had less faith in their captain they might have said they were abandoned there.
But Roger was their captain, and they were his crew, and silly things like disloyalty and mutiny had no place on a pirate ship.
But when Roger came back, Shanks wondered sometimes.
About what really happened on Lau- Raftel.
Raftel.
(His tongue could never quite twist around the island’s name like his captain could.)
Roger left with a full crew and came back three less. Shanks knows the numbers and not the names, and that’s odd, because it’s usually the opposite. But there were three missing, three missing shapes in his memory, in his crew, in the hammocks around Shank’s bed.
Roger didn’t talk about it. Only laughed, his shadow stretching farther in the sun.
Shanks loved his captain. But he quickly learned to hold his tongue when Roger laughed lest he interrupt the way Roger’s mustache curled with fire and his eyes grew darker, the way he laughed and he world shook, just a little, as if something far bigger than any ship or crew or giant was laughing with them.
Roger wasn’t the same after Raftel.
(And neither was Rayleigh, or Gaban, or Oden. Shanks saw shadows at night and red sand on the decks in the morning, and even with Roger’s coat draped over him and Buggy he still felt cold sometimes, on his beloved ship side home.
The Oro Jackson’s red sails never felt so dangerous.)
Roger wasn’t the same after the island at the end of the sea.
After Laugh-
Shanks chokes on the name, chokes on wet grit in his mouth, and doesn’t think about what his Captain hasn’t told him.
-
Ace smiles sometimes, when he looks at Luffy, and it isn’t possessive or dangerous or conscious, but Sabo notices it all the same.
Ace has always been weird. His skin is rough and he doesn’t go down to the beach but there’s sand in the treehouse, and his shadow is always longer than most at sunset.
(Sunset, whisper the legends that Sabo has read in dark corners, the time when laughter blends into something worse.)
Ace looks to the distance sometimes, goes barefoot other times, feet without the callouses a jungle-raised boy should have. When he rests his head on Sabo’s shoulder, Sabo learns not to question it.
This is his brother, whom he loves.
Whether Ace fights like an island walking or not.
(Still, Ace looks so hungry after certain stories, after three boys play so much they can do nothing but laugh aftterwards, hungry in the manner of something being where it shouldn’t. Like Ace isn’t the only one there.
Sometimes Ace says lets go to the shore, and he says it to both Sabo and Luffy, but he’s really only looking at Luffy with that Not-Ace look in his eye, and Sabo says lets go hunting instead, and takes Luffy’s hand before Ace can.
He trusts Ace.
Not wherever Ace came from.)
-
When Shanks gave Luffy the hat, Luffy had to dump sand out of it before he put it back on his head.
It was weird, then. Red sand.
Why was the sand red?
(Why did it feel ever so slightly wet?)
There was no red sand at Dawn.
(Only red morning and nights, warnings and delights, times when little boys looked to the horizon and got a little lost, singing to some unknowing island’s praises.)
A mystery, Luffy called it, just like he called the pull out to sea, and eventually, the way Ace’s eyes would flicker in the moonlight, a mystery.
Shishishi! He laughed, then, building castles out of the sand that shakes from his hat, just wet enough to stick together in clumps when he so wished. Shishishi!
What a laughing, wondrous story it is.
What a Laugh Tale.
-
Zoro hears Luffy laugh once and only once, a Shishishi ringing out throughout the air, and he is taken.
There is a siren song in that laughter, a pull to something greater, a darkness deeper than the one that dwells deep and not quite dormant in Zoro’s chest.
Shishishi! Luffy laughs, and it echoes like the Ghahahaha! Of the Pirate King before him, echoes like the rumble of waves crashing into liquid shores.
Shishishi! Luffy laughs, and Zoro follows, but never, ever gives his own unique laugh into the fray.
No.
He won’t give that up, not yet.
(The crew eyes Luffy in the dark, sometimes, when he’s most like the tide. Pulling, and pulling, and pulling, to something bigger than all of them.
To Raftel, Luffy never says, as if the name means nothing to him, To the One Piece, he says, and louder, King of the Pirates!.
Raftel never spills from his lips. Only laughter.
And always, the crew wonder what that laughter-in-the-place-of-a-name means.
-
On Saboady, Rayleigh nods to Luffy like a knight to a king not his own, and neither of them seem to notice.
Shakky does.
Nami does.
Shakky looks at Nami and Nami looks at Shakky, and both of them try not to notice the way Saboady shies away from the footsteps of the First King’s right-hand man.
Rayleigh, Shakky tells Nami while the rest of the crew is chattering, smoke drifting from her breath, was different after Raftel. Is different now.
She doesn’t explain how.
Nami knows it in the way Rayleigh walks, the way he looks to the sun and he carefully doesn’t laugh at Luffy, only smirks and chuckles, quiet rumbling that echoes through the bar. The way he walks like a predator and the newspapers call him Dark King in the way they never did before Raftel.
There are islands, Nami tells Shakky as the rest of the crew is leaving the bar, where the winds say they shouldn’t be. As if the land is drawn to him.
She doesn’t say who he is.
Shakky knows it in the way Luffy tracks sand into the bar, in the way he wears a crown of his own power, the way he is The King of the Pirates in the way people say the sea is blue and the sun rises. Knows it in the way isn’t like Rayleigh yet, but Raftel is taking him, bit by bit, mile by mile, drawing him closer closer and closer to the end.
Nami looks at Rayleigh, at his sharp teeth and whispy silver hair, and the way that behind his glasses his eyes are dark pits, and wonders what will happen to her crew once they reach Raftel –
Once they set foot on bloody, bloody shores.
(Because, there has never been an option to turn back.
Luffy will be pirate king.
Nami is on the crew of the Pirate King.
They will go to – Lau-
Raftel.
They will go to Raftel.
And Luffy when not let any of them go.)
-
Three years from the day Monkey D. Luffy sets out, twenty-five years since the death of a king, another crew sets foot on Raftel.
On Laugh Tale – the name solidifying in their hearts, in their souls, in ten souls with more power sea resting in them.
The sand is soft beneath their feet, and for once, no sand falls from the crown of straw resting on Luffy’s head.
There’s so much red. Everywhere they look – red cliffs, red shores, red waves.
The end of the sea, at one dark, dark island.
(They don’t think of why it’s red. Why there’s blood drifting beneath their feet.)
Luffy is the first to walk forward, the first to enter into the island’s embrace, and he is the first to find the One Piece.
He does not laugh. He smiles.
-
Raftel is a false name, a name that falls on butchered tongues, a name unfit for an island’s truth.
Laugh Tale is the truth, a name that sounds like laughter and joy and secrets falling into place. This is the name men think of before they day, before their blood feeds into Laugh Tale’s sands and sinks into its heart.
Laugh Tale takes, just as the Grand Line takes the heart of men. It takes souls and laughter and dreams, and it takes humanity.
Takes what makes men and bleeds them dry onto its shores, for something greater than mortality in the end.
When Roger arrived he laughed at the treasure hidden on Laugh Tale’s shores, laughed at the bones left behind by great men, laughed at the truth of the world.  
A deal was struck then, on red shores under crimson skies.
He didn’t know it till later. Till he left and became Laugh Tale living.
(Till his skin became red sand and his veins became saltwater, till his eyes grew like dark island pits and his haired waved with the wind at the end of the sea.
Until Roger was so much bigger than the man who became Pirate King)
A laugh for a story, a dream for a legacy, an adventure for a fate.
A man for an island, really, it’s so simple.
A couple more years for an island to leave home.
Laugh Tale has been here since before the void swept the Earth for the first time, and will be here until the Earth drowns in sea-swept fury.
Truth, spilt out in laughter.
For that’s what an adventure is, after all.
Laughter.
-
(The second Pirate King laughs on Raftel and the island crumbles at his feet. No deal is struck as a new king expends indomitable will on the island, the world, itself.
There is no greed in his actions. No rage. No selfishness. No sacrifice made. Just a king taking the throne, taking a friend with him across the seas.
When he comes back from the end of the earth there is an absence in the world, and no sand piling at his feet.  The end of the sea is mere water, blood sinking into the ocean floor instead of white sand.
The Pirate King laughs and the world laughs with him.
The Laugh Tale of the Pirate King – on its rightful crew at last.)
(And if the king smiles sharper and the Sunny sails heavier, then it is no business of the worlds, now is it?)
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kob131 · 3 years ago
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Saga of Dargath Shadow-Blade Part 2: Weird Chanting Wall...
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... I can read what’s on this wall.
... And that’s not the weirdest thing about the wall.
So the moment me and Ralof made it outside of the cave and the dragon I strangely wanted to shank flew by, me and him started trotting towards Riverwood. Apparently he had a sister there. ... I have high hopes. 
Along the way, we came across a trio of standing stones. Even before he said it, I knew these were the Guardian Stones. The stones that housed and protected all of the other constellations, except for the Serpent. I almost laughed at the look on his face when I selected the Thief Stone. It’s not like being a thief is dishonorable or anything- it’s another way of carving your own path. Besides, Mother gave me some advice about this stuff and the Thief Stone’s just a placeholder for now.
Soon enough we ended up in Riverwood. Some poor old woman yelled about the Dragon and her son didn’t seem to believe her. I should show him the last entry to his smug lookin’ face. Moving past that, Ralof ran up to a Nord woman who musts have been his sister. Good news: She’s very pretty! Bad news: She’s married and doesn’t look like she’d take to some playful flirting. Ah...such a shame.
I let Ralof explain things while I cut up some firewood. I may have stripped those Imperial soldiers bare but adventuring is expensive what with the potions and inns and food. I needed all the money I could get. I did keep a close ear on what was said (rather touched Ralof considers me so close) and walked over when everything is said and done. Ralof’s sister, Gerdur, thanked me for my help and gave me an old map as thanks. It may look like some shitty parchment but a map is essential for adventuring after all! I did need to promise her to get to Whiterun soon though. And to be fair, I agreed. This place could be reduced to ashes in a second from that lizard farting.
Alas, it was getting late and nearly dying tires a guy out. So I passed out in Gerdur and her husband Lot’s floor. Next time, I spent a bit of time selling off my junk. Got some basic materials from the blacksmith to improve my stuff and got some basic supplies from the Riverwood Trader. ... Also got roped into finding a golden claw of some kind. The brother and sister were arguing, the brother pleaded with me and...I couldn’t say no. It’d be a disgrace to Talos if I didn’t help them.
So there I go, tracing up a mountain to hunt down thieves. Ironic considering my past. Along the way, I made a decision to test out the Reanimate Corpse spell. Nasty stuff necromancy, always hated it. A coward’s tool for trying to overcome one with numbers instead of skill. However, knowing the wildlife a familar could distract a troll long enough for me to slit it’s throat and I needed the practice. So I reanimated the corpses and killed the bandits a second time.
I would have felt bad if not for how they attacked me just for getting close. Don’t get me wrong, bandits are basically just lesser thieves and I’ll glad thin their numbers out but no one’s going up a mountain so I would have just helped them get this ‘treasure’ and be done. But after the last bandit died (idiot pulled a lever clearly for a puzzle without even checking around), I ran into a new problem: god damn Skeevers and a fucking Giant Frostbite Spider! I was DEFINITELY not fighting THAT thing head on. Luckily the fucker was too big to get through the doorway so I just pumped it full of arrows and used some empty vials for the venom.
I found the guy who stole the claw, all caught up in webbing. I cut him down and the asshole started running! Well jokes on him, he slammed headfirst into a spiked wall trap. Even if he didn’t, the following Dragur would have killed him anyway. I remember Mother telling me about these. Fire’s not necessary when a sword kills them quicker.
I managed to skip through the barrow pretty quickly. The Dragur were no tougher than the bandits and the puzzle at the end was just a matter of thinking literally (’palm of your hand’ I’d say it’s obvious but I know a few people who’d never get it). I did find a neat tunic and armor in a chest. I luckily picked up a key from the room with the Spider and scored a well crafted set of armor! Though...It doesn’t look like any craftsmanship I’ve seen before...
But that wasn’t the strangest thing. No, that would be the chanting wall that made me dizzy looking at it. It was just dots and scrapes...but I knew what it said. And the word ‘Force’ got stuck in my head after that. I would of asked the big tough Dragur that popped out if he knew what was going on if not for the frosty axe. ... Strange and stranger...
Ignoring all that, I popped out of the dungeon, detoured through a mine full of bandits (again, stop attacking well armored people on roads) and brought the claw back...only to ask how much it was. A bit steep right now but I’ll take it soon. Got attached to the little thing.
Anyway, I should get going to Whiterun. I’m sure nothing else weird will happen!
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madlymiho · 5 years ago
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“A candle in your window” 🕯️ New story!
Hello! Okay, this is basically me thirsting for Shanks all over again 🤐 I have decided to write a fiction about my ideal story with him, so the girl here is me, I’m not hidding it anymore... But since I’m not so selfish, it remains just a fem! s/o without a name 😋😋
There will be other chapters for this story! It’s a slow burn after all 😮
Rating : Mature
Words : 2592
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Chapter 1 : A Yonko in Town (read after the cut)
It’s a been a few months since you’re working for Mazel, the well-known former pirate who now owns a tavern downtown; his golden retirement after many years sailing the seas. The job isn’t the most entertaining, but at least, you’re having enough money to pay your studies. There’s a lot of people who comes in and out of the tavern, most of the time travelers, all of them coming back from different islands, stories about treasures and beasts for everyone to listen. Somehow, you like it deeply. It’s always crowded and warm inside, and you feel just at home whenever they all tell you about what you have always craved in life. Yes, it’s a dream for you. One day you will probably get on a boat and disappear far away from this island, chasing after your wishes of freedom and adventures. It’s a hidden promise you made with yourself a long time ago, when you’d be bored enough to stop your studies and run away. But from now, you appreciate hearing the many stories of those strangers, looking at them with fire in the eyes, your heart racing slightly faster than usual.  
Speaking of your heart, yours is entirely free, but also hurt enough to be closed forever. At 24 years old, you have lived enough drama in your life to wish not to have a boyfriend anymore. You’re afraid of this cursed feeling which slowly paralyzed every of your brain functions, all of your instincts almost numb, as you’re unable to think anymore. You don’t want to end up in your bedroom again, giving yourself to someone who’s not that honest nor worthy, offering a piece of your tender heart, looking at them crushing it days after days, using your kindness as the tool of your own desperation. That’s also why you like this job. Being the waitress gives you all the reasons to turn down every man who tries to seduce you, pretending that your boss, Mazel, wouldn’t be that pleased if you abandon yourself to such a delusional passion while you’re paid to work for him. Convenient, indeed… Until the day your life has been shattered for good.
The first thing your saw about him was his charming smile, quickly followed by a powerful and genuine laugh. It was like hearing thousands of angels and demons bursting into an impossible chorus, all of them singing for the glory of this man’s aura. You almost dropped your tray that night, unable to focus for a few seconds, absolutely mesmerized by him. With his own presence, he was enlightening the all area, all the eyes of the tavern lurking at him with a visible curiosity, as if they were all panting for more. More of his laughter exploding like a firework, more of his jokes and stories… More of his name whispered on every mouth. You learnt it after a few days ; he was Shanks, the famous captain of the Red Hair Pirate, one of the four emperor of the sea. You couldn’t believe it, at first. This man, this charming creature, was that fierce and dangerous figure. It felt as impossible as his visit in this tiny tavern, and for months, Shanks never showed up again. That night when you first encounter him was like it has never happened at all, and somehow, since that particular moment, you always feel an odd pinch in your heart whenever the door of the tavern opens up.
 ***
“Ah, Name! Did you get lost?” Mazel greets you as you come in, wiping your forehead after a long day of sun. “I was expecting you earlier!”
“Sorry, I needed to work for my exam next week; I told you it was a big one.” You barely answer, closing the door to catch some fresh air. It’s 5pm, but the place is empty for now. “Why do you need me? There’s no one…”
Mazel rolls his eyes and simply puts a few barrels on the bar.
“We are expecting a large crew tonight. I heard in town that there were several pirate ships anchored in the arbor and they will all probably visit the place.”
You frown, not very reassured nor pleased by what you have just heard. When there are different pirates gathered at the same place, it’s not always easy to control them, especially when they are drunk.
“Do you really want to have them all here?” You sigh, walking behind the bar to help him securing the barrels of beer and refill the gallons.
Mazel looks at you as if you have just insulted him, clicking his tongue impatiently.
“Of course I want to have them all here!” He snarls and shakes his head. “And you better be ready to work quickly tonight! I need you to be focus.”
“Fine.” You snap as well, not really enthusiast about the future events.
“Here.” Mazel plasters a notebook against your chest, along with a pen. “Go to the basement and make the all inventory. I need to prevent any burglar, so hurry up to be done before the opening!”
“What?” You catch the notebook before it falls on the ground. “It’s impossible, you have dozens of shelves, barrels and stuff you’re hiding everywhere!”
He grabs your shoulder and pushes on it, forcing you to start walking into the direction of the basement.
“Then you better move your ass, minx!”
 ***
When you get back from the basement, of course, the place is already crowded as hell. Dozens of pirates are here, loudly joking and yelling, almost half-drunk already. You make your way to the bar, using your tininess to pass them all, finishing your race behind the counter where Mazel abruptly throws to your face your usual apron. You put it on without a word, exhaling for a second, before you look at your first client and give him your most polite and welcoming smile.
“A beer miss,” the man says as he puts some money on the bar. He’s very tall, a few scar crossing the side of his face, a long grey ponytail falling behind his back. He’s looking behind him for a second, and then put another coin on the wooden counter. “Make another one; my captain has his jug almost empty.”
He gives you a polite smile and you just nod, feeling comfortable with this stranger. At least, he’s having manners, and it’s more enjoyable for you. You put two pints of beer on the counter and grip the money, counting them mentally.
“Sir, you gave too much!” You point out before he would disappear in the crowd, putting yourself on your tiptoes to wave at him.
Another smile, almost imperceptible, but real and truly warm.
“Keep the change.”
You giggle and turn your head to serve another client, a strange feeling of happiness blooming inside of your guts. You don’t know why, but there’s something very enjoyable tonight. Despite the many yells and shouts, people are acting civil, and it’s not always the case when the place is all crowded like this.
“Hurry up!” Mazel shoves a tray in your arms with snacks, sausages, cheese and a jar of beer on it. “Bring it to table 41, would ya?”
You don’t argue, gripping the tray with all of your strength, silently praying that no one will make you fall during your journey to the farthest table of the bar. You apologize a multiple times, bumping into everyone, avoiding some intrusive hands trying to steal some slices of cheese right from the tray. After a moment, you finally spot the table 41, and recognize the man with the ponytail, who’s peacefully drinking on his beer. You put on your best “commercial” smile, coming closer, until you hear something, which paralyzed you entirely. You feel your heart suddenly racing into your chest, pounding so hard that you’re feeling dizzy. The man with the ponytail moves slightly on his chair, and suddenly, it’s all of your vision which goes entirely blurry. It’s him. That man you have seen a few months ago. That man who’s known to be Shanks, one of the emperor of the sea. You gulp and slowly start to walk again, feeling the dark stare of Mazel on your back. You promised him to be quick tonight, after all, and your boss isn’t someone you want to piss off. 
Shanks is occupied telling stories to his people, a bunch of mesmerized women invited as well, all of them looking at him as if he’s just the most appetizing treat they ever seen. You make your way to finally reach the table, securing the tray with your hands as you put it down slowly.
“Here, let me help.” The man with the ponytail says as he grabs the different plates and starts to dispose them on the table to ease your work.
“You don’t have to!” You gasp, looking over your shoulder. If Mazel sees that, you’re going to have a really hard time later.
“Benn is always ready to help, you can’t change his nature, miss.” Another voice chuckles, tearing your guts into millions of butterflies.
As the tray isn’t there to hide your face anymore, you feel the piercing eyes of Shanks looking at you with interest. You’re thankful that the tavern is really hot right now, otherwise, it would have been obvious that the reason why you’re blushing is only because he just started to talk to you.
“Are you new? I don’t remember Mazel having a young girl serving here…” Shanks asks, scratching his beard with his eternal charming smile.
“No, not new, sir.” You shake your head. “I’m just usually behind the bar. I think it’s a gift from the house so my boss wanted me to bring it to you.” You point at the dishes with your fingers.
“See,” Shanks sighs as he looks at Benn. “I should always be the one to order to the bar. I almost missed this one.”
You furiously blush, managing not to shake on your legs. You politely smile, deciding to run away before your embarrassment would become too obvious.
“Hey, miss!” Shanks shouts as you are already turning your back. “Can’t you stay for a second and have a drink with us?”
This time, you’re ready. Turning men down has been your business for a little while, and you know exactly how to proceed. You look over your shoulder, your eyes finally meeting his for the very first time. But you don’t blink, you don’t blush anymore. For a second, it’s like time itself has stopped its race. His deep blue eyes are inviting you to say yes, as if millions of mermaids are singing in a pool of sapphires, trying to convince you. But before you would drown yourself in his irises, you curl your lips into your most beautiful and self-assured smile.
“No, thank you sir. I have to work.”
Shanks tilts his head, his expression changing. If before he was playing his role of playboy, perfectly wearing his mask of seduction, now, for a second, you see something different. Your answer, somehow, has tickled something within him. As he’s still looking at you, he grabs the handle of his pint and smirks, not even adding anything. You quickly turn your head, your legs walking back in the direction of the bar. Something happened. You don’t know exactly why, but you’re sure that Shanks would never looked at you the same from now.
For the rest of the evening, you have been too focused to actually take a look on Shanks’ table. The many pirates gathered in the tavern have been rather active, and before the all of them would actually reeling to the door, ready to find a place to crash, you have never stopped working. Sighing behind your bar, you are cleaning the many empty drinks in front of you, tired and sore after such a tremendous and busy night. 
“You don’t serve anymore?” A charming voice calls in front of you, and you don’t even have to lift your stare to know that Shanks is there. But you do it. You want to see how he looks after a night of binge drinking. 
Handsome. You can’t help but smile. 
“Care for another one?” You ask as you already put an empty jug near the beer’s barrel. 
But Shanks shakes his head, while he sits on a stool and massages his temples. 
“No, thank you. It wouldn’t be reasonable, I have to deal with some business tomorrow and I need to have a clear mind.” 
You smirk and he notices it. He raises an eyebrow, giving you an amused look. 
“By any chance, are you mocking me, miss?” He giggles, resting his head against the palm on his hand. 
“A bit.” You blush, and quickly looks down, suddenly so fascinated with the dirty pints disposed on the counter. “It’s just… You don’t seem someone really reasonable in general.” 
You hear a genuine laugh escaping from his throat, his voice slightly broken because of the booze, and maybe the tiredness. You act before you even think about it ; without a word, you pour some fresh water into a glass and add a slice of lemon, sliding it on the counter. 
“Here,” you point with your nose. “For the headache.” 
Shanks grabs the glass and smiles, winking when he lifts the glass up to his face, before he immediately drinks it in one breath. You look at the drop of water hurtling down his beard, wishing that you could follow all of them with your tongue, before vividly shaking your head innerly because it’s definitely wrong. Your eyes can’t get away from his moving Adam’s apple, feeling your own mouth become dangerously dry. When Shanks puts the glass down on the counter, he notices your shifty stare, and that obvious blush on your features. But as a gentleman, he doesn’t say anything about it. 
“Thank you.” He gives you his most genuine and seductive smile, his mesmerizing eyes always watching your movements. “I was about to say miss, but… I’d rather know your name, if you don’t mind.” 
You furiously squeeze the handle of the pint you’re cleaning, feeling your heart racing. 
“Why?” You can’t help but ask. It’s useless after all… He will certain forget about you tomorrow. 
He shrugs, locks on his red hair tickling his nose as he seems more serious. 
“I want to be able to greet you properly, next I will come in town.” He says with a deeper voice. “I like this place, I need to do business not so far from here so… I will certainly be back sooner or later.” 
He sounds so careless, but somehow, you feel something hidden in the tone of his voice. Is it a sort of promise? Does he really wish to see you again? 
“Name,” you say a bit abruptly, as Shanks frowns again. “My name is Name.” 
A bright smile appears on his lips, certainly bigger than usual with all the booze he had tonight, but sincere. He nods and gets off his stool, placing his coat around his shoulders. 
“Name.” He repeats, turning his back. “That’s pretty.” 
You can’t even talk as you look at him waving at you before he walks to the door, joining his first crewmate, Benn, who seems really desperate with his captain’s behaviors. You don’t know how to think anymore. You don’t know how to breath.
But what you know is that you desperately want to see him again. 
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admin-in-residence · 6 years ago
Text
Shanks and Law in a relationship...
Request: Headcannons of Shanks and Law in a relationship!
Shanks
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The lovely Red-Haired Shanks. Fierce pirate, one of the emperors of the seas...and he will be totally whipped by whoever he's in a relationship with.
Seriously though, this guy is just out here to please the person he falls in love with.
It would be pretty easy to catch Shank's attention, as he loves to look, but to complety enrapture him might be a bit difficult.
Because Shank's is an emperor, wanted by the World Goverment...he would be a bit worried to fall into a relationship...he doesn't want anything to happen to his loved one and he wouldn't want them to be uncomfortable being dragged around the seas.
However, if your ok with going off on an adventure with this man...he'll be happy to have you.
Shank's partner would have to be able to handle herself in a fight...not that she would ever be in one, but it would reassure Shanks to know that you have at least the basics and know how to defend yourself.
You would also have to handle yourself with the crew, if your a bit of a pushover, you won't last long around these guys. Not that they have anything malicious against you, but they only want the best for their Captain.
Therefore your going to have to be a little firm with these boys. Don't be afraid to knock them down a couple levels...they'll admire it and make them believe your truely befit of their Captain!
If you have any questions on how to handle the crew, just speak to Shank's right hand guy, Benn...not only will he give you some tips on how to correct the boy's behavior...he'll also add in his own two cents to the crew in private and believe me, you won't have any troubles after that.
Protection? Shanks AND his crew are going to become so protective of you.
Like I mean this man isn't going to let you go anywheres by yourself...he just can't risk losing you. So if he can't go with you, he'll send one or two (or twenty) people with you. Most likely Benn as he trusts Benn with you the most.
But Shanks does enjoy adventures with you, and would rather tag along with you so he can protect you himself.
The two of you could spend an entire day in a town together, walking around taking in the sights. Hands held together, he loves to give you little kisses here and there. And he loves to see the excited look on your face when you see things you've never seen before.
If you see something you might like, and you mention it aloud...3 seconds later it will be in your hands.
No matter the expense, Shanks is prepared to buy you the world if you asked for it.
Now...we should also prepare for handling Shanks.
Don't get me wrong, he'll listen to everything you have to say...buy anything you even mention for you...hes a great guy. But you have to be prepared for his more...rowdy side.
Lets be honest right now, Shanks will find any little excuse to have a party and release the booze. He'll also get completly hammered. It will be up to you to take care of this man when your in a relationship...the crew will completly relinquish his care to you.
Of course, his behavior doesn't really change...he just gets more excited, but hes also going to be more touchy.
Even before Shank's is drunk he likes to flash you around. Your always upon his arm, holding hands. He loves to give you little kisses and your seat is always in his lap. He likes the closeness and he doesnt have to worry about you as much if your close at hand.
Now...a drunk Shanks on the other hand, he'll do all of those things mentioned but his kisses become much more frequant...you could be talking to a crewmate and Shanks would just turn around and give you a kiss, then turn back around to whatever he was doing before (Probably drinking.) So its probably best that you get used to that and continue your coversation after he's done.
When Shanks isn't drunk, he likes you in his lap, but when Shanks is drunk he becomes a lapdog. He loves to lay his head in your lap, or leaning heavily agains't you. Hes clingy to begin with...but when drunk he won't leave you alone.
However...all good times come to an end, and you'll have to be the one to know when hes hit his limit. It will also be up to you to drag him back to the ship and tuck him intto bed.
After you tuck him in you'll have to know that this man is going to want cuddles...he lives for them.
As you two cuddle and slowly fall asleep, Shanks will just ramble on and on about the oddest things...aand one such thing catches your attention, and you sit straight up.
It had been after a harsh fight...one where the enemy had almost gotten to you...he had gotten drunk in success of defeating the pirates and as he lay there mumbling...
"Y/N...if I asked you to marry me...would you?"
Despite him being drunk, know that he is still in the right state of mind...he knows what hes asking and he will remember everything when he wakes up.
"Are you asking me to marry you Shanks?"
"Yeah. I think I am."
Theres really no other option then saying yes. And don't be surprised...but Shanks will cry.
Hes just so happy...despite him being an emperor and dragging you into danger...when he fell in love with you he knew you were the one. This would be the person he would marry.
When morning comes, expect to have the biggest shiniest ring waiting on the bedside table, Shanks having gone down to their treasure room and picking it out himself.
Law
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To get into a relationship with this man, you would have to be something extremely special.
Law just isn't the type of person to want a relationship...he has many things to do and achieve and he doesn't want anyone to drag him down on his mission.
I would have to say you would probably be a member of his crew, he wouldn't fall for anyone outside of it because he just wouldn't be focusing on relationships as he visits islands.
You would have to be quiet...Law wouldn't date anyone who was terribly loud...and you couldn't be any sort of push over.
You would first catch his eye when you asked him for some sort of reading material.
The crew had stopped on an island and everyone was out and about spending time in the town.
However...you just didnt want to deal with people at the moment so you tracked down your Captain.
Despite Law having a bunch of scientific books...most about medicine and medical procedures, I can picture him to have a couple classics.
He would offer you a few, and you would retreat back to your room.
After a couple days, you would return the books and request some more.
This would continue for a while, before Law would finally just allow you to come into his room and get any books you liked.
This would be a very monumental moment as this is where Law starts to trust you.
You would notice as you finished reading books....that more popped up? Brand new books that you were sure werent there before...
You were picking out a book, Law reading a medical book upon his bed when you brought it up.
"When I went into town at the last island I saw a few you might like, so I bought them."
Its short and simple, he doesnt say more or less...
But...this man, went into town? And got books...for you?
You would be so surprised, and you would get an odd feeling in your chest.
You wouldn't want to worry Law so you'd go to the next best person...er...bear...
Later after dinner, as you help Bepo clean dishes you would bring it up...trusting the bear.
"Law bought you books!?" Bepo would yell. You'd quickly slap your hands over his mouth.
Buut what? This is like such a scrapbook oppurtunity for Bepo...Law...caring about others! Oh gosh the polar bears already crying.
When you tell him about the odd feeling in your chest. Bepo's practically bawling.
This is just such a great moment...spmebodys fallen in love with Law. Bepo won't give you many answers...he's just going to keep crying.
Becaude of this...fearing the worst you'll return to Law. Knocking on his door.
Of course he's wide awake...and as he opens his doors hes kinda surprised...he already allowed you into his room...you don't have to knock.
"Oh! Law...umm...sorry it's kinda late, but I was talking to Bepo...and I was worried so I asked him...but now he's crying and I'm reallu worried..."
You'll just continue to ramble before Law grabs your shoulders and gently lifts your head up with his hand, your eyes meeting.
"What's wrong?"
When he does that...and you look in his eyes...the feeling in your chest returns...your stomach starts feeling weird...and your cheeks heat up.
"I-I...I dont really know!" You stammer out...tears welling in your eyes.
Law takes in your appearance and takes your wrist feeling your pulse race beneath his finger.
Law put's it together very quickly...and after all the quiet moments you two have spent together.
"I have just the cure for you Y/N. When we get to the next island...you will accompany me? Alright."
Law doesn't explain much or give an explanation.
But as you go out together to the next island. He takes your hand in his and you two spend the entire day together. You visit a book store together, he buys lunch for you. The entire time your with him your heart races, but it's a good feeling...and you find yourself often looking at your conjoined hands
When you get back go the ship Law will press a gentle kiss to your cheek.
"How do you feel know Y/N?"
"Good...really good..." You answer.
So this continues for some time without any explanation.
When you read together now...the two of you sit together on his bed, you leaning against him with his arm wrapped around you.
It's Penquin who finally tells you.
Everyone is at dinner, as its a very special day...your birthday!
Everyone's giving you cheesy speeches. And it's time for Penquin to take his turn.
He starts with the basics, what a great friend and crewmate you are, how he appreciates you being a part of the crew...
"And of course...who else would be a better fit to date our Captain then you!"
Everyone cheers and you turn to look at Law beside you. He gives you a slight smile...something he's been doing more often.
"Wait...we're dating?" You ask so suddenly, confusion upon your face.
Law laughs so hard...everyone on the crew freaks out...Trafalgar Law laughing? In the corner, Bepo's adding this to Law's scrapbook.
But that's exactly how you get into a relationship with Law.
Once your in the relationship, everything is pretty much the same as before...you just didn't know that you were in the relationship before.
You guys only hold hands in public, you don't do much else...his kisses are strictly reserved for private or abourd the Polar Tang.
Law will be fiercly protective of you, you've managed to fill his heart, and after hes lost so much he's not going to lose you.
It might get a little overbearing...but he means well. He just want to make sure your going to be ok.
And later on down the road, believe me when I say he will tell you that he's going to marry you...no surprises there!
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lawluheaven · 6 years ago
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LawLu: Luffy is the little mermaid! Law is Eric and I don’t know who would be the villain for Ursula. Random thought:: who would you pick as the villain?
Luffy snuck out again.  He knows that once Gramps found out, he would be in a world of hurt when he caught him. And he would catch him, eventually, but not as what he expects him to be. Hopefully. If this worked.
 It was only determined by how long Ace and Sabo could stale him if they would anyway.
While his brothers were tolerant of his hobby they too share the viewpoint that Luffy’s interested in the human world was dangerous. It was hard to explain to other merfolk why humans fascinated Luffy so much, why someone that could make such interesting things, lived so differently and yet be eerily similar excited him. 
He wasn’t just interested in humans, but the human’s world as well.  It was an adventure, something so different, and he wanted to study them, wanted to be there more then he could ever explain.
Zoro was the only one he could talk to about his treasure trove, the one place he was free to be himself surrounded by things he liked, but even then Zoro mostly followed him because of their friendship and not his interest in humans. 
If Luffy had been interested in whales, reefs hell even tides changes Zoro would be down to follow him and help him collect things as well. Sometime Luffy wished he could meet someone who got just as excited as he did when it came to studying humans. 
Maybe someone would understand then, why he was going to go trade his tail for legs. 
“Luffy, I know I’ve never said this before, but this is a terrible idea,” Zoro said swimming a little ways behind him.  “It’s one thing to be interested in humans, another to want to be one! Especially for a man you just meet”
Luffy turns his head to look at his friend, for a moment watching the way color rippled across Zoro’s scales on his tail, knowing his own does that when near the ocean surface. In an hour, Luffy would never see it on himself again
“It’s not just for Torao”  Though it was a really big part.  “It’s for me. I want this. I don’t want to be trapped down here forever being told what I should enjoy and what I shouldn’t. I can’t. Not anymore.”
Not after Garp destroyed his heaven. His one place where Luffy felt not broken. It wasn’t just the loss of all his treasured who’s-it’s or thing-a-gics, but the idea that Gramps had found the place and ripped it apart, knowing it would devastate Luffy, and doing it for “His own good” anyway.
Hurting him, to force him to accept his grandfather’s way of thinking. 
Ace and Sabo tried to comfort him about it, but they keep trying to get Luffy to understand Garp’s reasoning, hinting it was the best course of action. They didn’t understand just how deeply that hurt, how deeply their justification made him realize just how lowly they thought of his passion truly was.
“Luffy” Zoro sounded weary but acceptance had bled into his voice and he knows his best friend wouldn’t try to convince him to turn back now. After all, his fish friend had been the only one that saw Luffy break down when his cave was destroyed and had been the only one who didn’t discard his feelings about it.
“Just…be careful with the deal. You know what happened to the princess” 
Luffy did. The legend meant to scare merchildren into never trading their legs away passed down for so many generations that her name had been lost to time, was why he thought up this plan. He didn’t let it derail him. She may have not been able to get the prince to fall for her, might not have been able to stab him and bath in his blood and she might have turned to foam in the end, but that didn’t mean Luffy would fail.
Even if he did, being bubbles would feel better then swimming the castle walls feeling like he was at the deepest part of the ocean as the pressure increased each day with more expectations of him outgrowing his “hobby” among the court. 
Besides, the first little mermaid princess had fallen for a human prince, and she should have known as a royal how difficult it was to make marriages between nations work. Luffy fell for Torao, a mere human doctor that liked to go fishing, who lived a simple life near the beach.
He fell into the water one day when a storm blew him overboard and Luffy had been swimming by. The man had been just as intrigued by Luffy as he had, and though, it was a human wanting to know everything about merfolk not the other way around it was the closest thing he’s ever gotten to someone understanding. 
Luffy knows he loves Law, and he is willing to leave behind everything he’s ever known for him. But for also himself. Because this is Luffy’s choice, and no one, is going to take that right away from him.
“I’ll try my best to bargain with the Witch into not taking my life” Luffy promises. Both ignore the fact he never said he would win the bargain. They both know what it would mean.  
They finally arrived at where rumors claim the current Sea Witch lived. It was a downwards cave, nearly devoid of life par the active volcanos, letting out steams of heat. 
Luffy didn’t hesitate to swim through them knowing one could erupt under him and cook him alive. Zoro followed at his own past, both being careful. There was a moment where Luffy had to throw the fish because one exploded but they eventually arrived at the entrance.
The Sea Witch stood there waiting for them, tentacles gently curling around him.  Luffy had never seen merfolk with octopus tentacles before, everyone knows it was the symbol of a Witch. Witches weren’t allowed near the capital, and if they weren’t reportedly evil, Luffy would claim it was discrimination. 
Instead, it was cations, everyone knows that if the royal family didn’t have the trident they would be overrun by the Witch’s magic years ago.  
Still, despite the stories he heard of how hideous Witches were this man was rather attractive and he had a warm easy-going smile. Luffy knew he could trust him.
He was a good person. 
“Hello there,”  The Sea Witch said casually having one of his tentacles bring up a bottle to his mouth at the same time he waved.  
“Hi. Are you Shanks?” Luffy asked just to be sure. There was usually only one Sea Witch at one time but he could never be sure.   
“I am. What does the youngest prince want with me?” 
Luffy sucked in water, letting it swim in his chest and knowing that once this conversation was over it would cause pain instead of calming.  Torao called it drowning, and apparently, it was a terrible way to go for humans.  
Letting the water rush out of him, Luffy silently bid it and his mer-life goodbye as he let it go. Shanks watch him do so with a lazy smile.
“I want you to make me a human”   
Shanks’ smile got bigger, turning just a bit dark.  “That kind of request comes with a heavy price little prince”
“I don’t care”
“You’re a bit young for me to be doing that kind of magic on”  
“I’m not a little kid”
“Prove it” Shanks dares. Luffy is prepared to do so. He feels Zoro gills go rigid but he doesn’t stop him when the dagger rushed into his face. Biting his lip, the merprince allows the blood to flow in the water around him.  He tries not to show how much it hurt-
“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING YOU, IDIOT!?” Shanks burst sounding horrified and angry “WHY DID YOU JUST STAB YOURSELF?”
“T-t-to prove I’m strong”  Luffy gathers all his seventeen years of dealing with Ace’s comments of being a crybaby to stop himself from crying. “T-t-to prove I can-can do this”
Shanks doesn’t seem to like that.  “ARE YOU INSANE!?”
In the end, Luffy is rushed to the surface by a worried Zoro, water feeling his lungs like sharp little daggers with a pair of legs and a bandage on his face.  Shanks’ straw hat sitting on his head a promise to give it back when Luffy is about to die as the bargain.
All he has to do is live a good life as free as possible. One with Taroa, where he is free to like what he does and be himself. 
Luffy doesn’t care what anyone says, Shanks is a good guy and his new hero, Sea Witch and all. 
Bonus:  After Luffy left Shanks is talking to Benn
“And then he just stabs himself! In the face, with a human fishing knife!”
“Maybe you shouldn’t have dared him to prove himself.”
“I meant to prove his resolve with words, to convince me, not stab himself! Who does that!?”
“Shanks a day ago you stuck your head into a volcano to get back a bottle of rum that a human ship dropped.”  
“That’s different. It was alcohol. I wasn’t trying to prove anything, I was trying to get drunk. This kid is insane.”
“That’s why you like him and gave him Roger’s hat?”
A wistful smile as Shanks remembers the first merman to ever treat him like anyone instead of a danger else springs to his mind. He could have sworn the same merman was standing before him, staring at him from a younger face when the little prince arrived. Maybe he was. 
 “Yeah. That’s why.”
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marcoacesabo · 7 years ago
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In my honest opinion this world needs more 'Roger is being ridiculously overprotective and refusing to accept the fact that his son is growing up and has two boyfriends, neither of which Roger approves of' fics. Please?
Gol D Roger was a man feared far and wide. Among the emperors  of the sea he was by far the most powerful, the one with the most control- everyone knew that all of East Blue was his and a vast majority of the New World was dotted with the Roger Pirates flags- He’s crew had thousands and thousands of members all under sub captains that could be their own emperor if they choose to.
Hell, Shanks was considered an emperor and he was but one of the sub captains that followed Roger around.
Out of the all the emperors, Roger was also the one you want to piss off the less, because unlike the other powerhouse he would hunt you down himself. He would not rest, would not stop until he found his target to punish himself.
Now it was rather difficult to piss off Roger, in fact, he was known for laughing off most offensives, just as long as you didn’t touch his crew or his biggest treasure. Other pirates in the world believed that treasure was One Piece, rumored to be where all the Roger Pirates treasure was located at the end of the world.  
It is said that Roger would let you keep it if you managed to find it, simply because he thought the bravest and the strongest of them all should be allowed the power.
But that was just a rumor.
The truth was, Roger’s greatest treasure would never be up for grabs and the man would rather be skin alive than ever letting his little boy go.
After to a father, his child was the most precious thing in the world.
Gol D. Ace just wished his father would let attractive people talk to him. He wants a significant other, dammit.
“Heads up. Redhead and an older man on the move” Rayleigh said not looking up from his mug of beer. He didn’t even sound considered when Ace was in danger the ass!
Roger sprung up from his chair so fast his coat almost falls off, whipping his head towards his darling little angel who was smiling shyly up at a man that was leaning awful close to his boy, one of his large meaty hands placed on the wall near Ace’s head. He had his son trapped against the wall, from the way his lips moved he was telling Ace “Is it true you really never have? I could teach you. I think it is best for us to leave don’t you?”
Ace gave a breathless nervous laugh, face tilt just that bit red- obviously, he wanted nothing to do with this man!
Don’t you worry baby, Daddy will save you!
“I think the fuck not!” Roger sneered releasing a burst of Haki strong enough that some surrounding tables tumbled over. He would have thrown his haki at that bastard but his fainting form would land on Ace, and his child was already having to deal with him being in his bubble too much.
Luckily it was enough to grab the attention of everyone in the bar, including the redhead bastard. The redhead man turns around at the sudden burst of haki looking like a startled wild animal. His green eyes landed on Roger and then he stiffens in horror as the King of Pirates glared him down.
Good. He better fear him.
Roger stomped his way across the bar, people scrambling out of his way, some of them being his own men. His rage rolled off him in waves, making his skin feel tight and his face pull into a sneer so bad that his teeth made a loud clack sound when he snapped them into place.
The whole while he never took his eyes off the shaking bastard, who looked like he wanted to run but was unable to move. What felt like too long he was able to growl into the terrified man face  “step away from my son.”
There was a small splash sound as the man pissed himself. What a fucking wuss.
Ace’s displeased “Dad! Leave him alone! Tom’s just buying me a drink!” was ignored as Roger reached out to grab his collar “I see your face ever again and I swear to you, no one will be able to save you”
Meeting go of “Tom’s” - if that his real name- landed on his ass before scrabbling backward, so pale his lips looked like someone slapped some red piece of meat on snow.
Ace step forward trying to help him up,  “I’m so sorry you have to deal with this Tom. we can leave if you-”
“No!” The man gasped out tugging his arm free of Ace’s hold, eyes flickering to Roger who’s face was rapid darkening  “No! I-I’m sorry! I’m sorry please don’t-I’m sorry!”
With that, the man turns around rushing for the door his stain jean pants scraping against his body with a wet slush sound. A sense of satisfaction filled Roger’s chest even as Ace shouted “ Call me!” when the man burst through the door and dispersed into the darkness.
Mentally Roger patted his own back. Ah, another disaster avoid-
“What is your problem!?” Ace snaps wheeling around with an angry red hue “You ruin everything!”
Roger frown at his child, crossing his arms. It looks like they were going to have the same argument again. It was becoming rather common as of late, which was saddling. What happened to his little boy who cheered each time Roger save the day?  “He was dangerous”
Ace hands curls into fists, tight at his side “No he wasn’t! He was just flirting with me!”
“That’s why he’s dangerous Ace! He’s was just trying to get into your pants and I wasn’t-”
“I wanted him in my pants!” Ace cut in, voice filled with so much stress it could have been the cause of the sudden heart attack Roger was feeling  “Or a least have him take me out! Dammit, Dad!  I want a man’s attention on me without you coming in and ruining each of my chances!”
Roger clutch his chest back peddling as his son continue to rant about all the people he’s been trying to get to know over the years and felt his heart stopping at random moment.
“Ace”  He wheezed  “No. Not my little baby. He can’t be interested in hugs, kiss or s-sex-”
“I’m not little anymore!” Ace shouted throwing up his arms. His freckled face, so similar to Rouge, scrunched up as he screamed “I am twenty! I want to date!”
Roger started to hyperventilate  “B-but you’re so young and you don’t really know what you want yet-”
“Agh! Forget it! I’m going back to the ship! ” Ace slammed a palm against his face, before turning around and leaving the bar ignoring all of Roger’s shouts to wait. The force in which the youth yanked the door, it falls to the ground with a loud bang and he stomped his way out into the street.
His shout of “I hate you!” reaching the ears of everyone in the 5-mile radius.
The pirates and civilian in the bar watched on with mute wonder as Gol D. Roger busted into tears  “Whhhaaaa! My baby hates me! Someone help me! My baby!
The next few days, when the Oro Jackson sets out to sea again Ace barely leave his private room. He only comes out to eat or use the bathroom, otherwise, he goes back to his room.
Roger paddles around uselessly wondering what he can do to make his son happy again. The boy hadn’t spoken a word to him when he went back from the bar that night, had even acknowledged  his presence as he climbs up the ramp. Instead, his son was staring at a piece of paper he had.
He then had shut himself in his room.
It was so hard to be a parent. You wanted to be your child’s best friends but you had to be stern when it came to keeping them safe and Ace just wouldn’t understand that men (and women) were just trying to use him.
Some might say he was overprotective but Ace was his world. He was his small bundle of joy, the last link between Roger and Rouge. He was the little baby that won Roger over the moment he looked into his son’s eyes the first time they open.
He was the tiny little being that smiles at him, not even an hour after being born. . Every time Roger looked at him he felt his heart warm, felt pride and love for his child. Being a father was the greatest adventure, if you asked Roger, it was almost as amazing as being in love.
Ace is precious 
So maybe he couldn’t let go, not yet.
 He just had to win his son’s forgiveness.
“What are you doing?” Shanks asks watching his captain balance ramen bowls on every balance part of his body.
Roger grin at him toothy  “Bring Ace his favorite for dinner! I’m thinking of having some father-son bonding time”
Shanks’ eyes widen  “In his room? right now?”
“What a silly question. Of course right now-”
“You can’t go to Ace’s room!” Shanks shouts stepping in Roger’s path. He seems to realize what he is doing before rubbing the back of his head  “I- I mean you can’t right now. It’s pretty late and Ace might be asleep”
Roger frown at him “It’s seven pm.”
Shanks laughs, nose wrinkling slightly- a sure fire sign he’es lying “Well I know Ace said he would be sleeping early like around six so  we shouldn’t bother him-”
Hearing enough Roger pushed past Shanks. The redhead tried to desperate stop him but after a firm order to stand down, he let the Captain go on.
Over the years the redhead had become a sort of older brother to his son, and often Shanks knew when he was doing something risk less- like that time he’s boy snuck  out to go to a island party or that one time he ate a devil fruit on a dare- and who knows what the boy was up to this time.
Nearing Ace’s door he raised a fist to knock, pausing he heard voices through the door  “So-So I just describe how I’m touching..myself to you?”
“That’s right Ace. Tell us in full detail” A unknown voice cooed back.
“Um..okay..I’m-I’m touching” Ace’s voice was laced in nervous trembles as he talked “My thighs and-”
Roger has heard far enough “I think the fuck not!”  
He kicked the door open, to find Ace sitting in front of two den den mushi. His boy jumped from where he sat, while the den den mushi had leers on both their faces. His boy was flushed and only wearing boxers  
“Aghghhhhh! ” Ace shouted, trying to cover himself.
“Ace? Ace what’s wrong?” The snail with a top hat asked looking worried. “Did you hurt yourself? You’re not pushing yourself are you?”
The one with the droopy eyes was frowning something fierce  “If this is too much for you Ace we can just talk normally-
Roger ignored his fumbling child to go over to the sails snatching up the talk pieces to whisper into the speakers “I don’t know who you two are but I will kill you, I will hunt you down until both of your heads crack under my hands. No matter where you go, no matter who you hide behind, nowhere will be safe. You will live only long enough to fear every dark corner, every sound until the day I find you.I will drag out your deaths, till the point where you will be able to explain what purgatory is like right before the life leaves your eyes., ”
He finished his speech with a smile. Roger’s smiles were already far too bloodthirsty and ruthless sharp but this one had a more unhinge tilt to it. The sails looked appropriately horrified.
“Dad! Leave my boyfriends alone!”
“SINCE WHEN DO YOU HAVE BOYFRIENDS?!”
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