#Dressrosa gets to much shit it doesn't deserve

[moongothic]

Kinda started rereading Dressrosa and... Although I always chalked up the similarities between Crocodile's plan to take over Alabasta and how Doflamingo took over Dressrosa as nothing but Oda reusing similar plot elements but in a slightly different way (just to show us what could've become of Alabasta had Croc gotten away with his schemes, what Luffy helped prevent from happening to begin with)...

Robin's reaction to hearing the story of Dressrosa and HOW Doflamingo took over the country, that simple little "...!!", actually does kind of speak volumes

Like if you wanted canonical evidence to Crocodile having been "inspired" by Doflamingo, then yeah, Robin would be The Person who would pick up on that, she'd be the person who'd be like "hey, that story sounds awfully familiar to what Crocodile did", since he was her boss

Do want to note that, timeline-wise, Doflamingo only took over Dressrosa 10 years ago, where as Crocodile had been Scheming and establishing his position as the Hero of Alabasta for 16 years. Like Croc's intent to obtain Pluton and create his military nation utopia absolutely pre-dates Doffy's takeover, so that wasn't and can't have been inspired by Doflamingo at all. It's more just the plan and method Crocodile ended up going with (framing the king (through a bloodbath) and putting the country in a position without a ruler where he could just yoink it for himself with ease) where the similarity becomes more obvious. But it is also kind of where it ends. Doflamingo wanted Dressrosa because he felt like he was entitled to the island (as his family had been its original rulers and he was a Tenryuubito), and was using the island for his own gains (Smile manufacturing etc, for his dealings with Kaidou), all while having a great distain and hatred of the world and how he had been "wronged" (=Tenryuubito rights revoked). Meanwhile... yeah, Crocodile wanted to create a "utopia", only targetting Alabasta because he believed Pluton was there and because Pluton would be needed for his ideal military nation. That minor difference and Crocodile's clear and great distain and hatred of Doflamingo combined...

Yeah, I dunno, this is just interesting to me. God I need Robin and Crocodile to have a lil reunion chat

[fanaticsnail]

Every day I wake up and think "Why is there no Childhood Friends Doflamingo x Reader fics?" and every day one of my Discord friends tell me "because Kid Doffy would literally treat Kid Reader like someone beneath him cus everything is still fresh for him" but I bring you counterarguments for the Childhood Friends Doflamingo x Reader story:

1. He meets Reader after his house gets burned down. Reader is Rosinante's age, so eight years old. It's when DQ brothers are being beaten by the thugs; kid Reader gets a bat and protects him and Rosinante from the thugs who were beating on them over bread

2. she brings them food from the restaurant her parents own - home cooked - and meets Homing & Mrs Donquixote, who encourage Doffy & Rosi to befriend her but Doffy remains careful

3. Doffy has confused feelings about Reader but she's only ever treated his injuries (the first human not to hurt him) so he decides Reader is "his human to protect" not "human to enslave" yep he has groups in his mind, little crazy baby flamingo boy

4. Reader teaches Doffy & Rosinante to climb trees. Doffy comments that's what monkeys do, but Reader teases him that whether it is what monkeys do, he still can't reach her if he doesn't climb. Doffy accepts the challenge. He doesn't take long to get the hang of it. Right when he is nearly at the top, he nearly falls but Reader grabs his hand and pulls him onto the branch. I think this is where Doffy starts having a little crush on Reader. He doesn't realise that's what it is.

5. I don't know Ace, Sabo, Luffy I know Doffy, Rosi & Reader. Sure they would not be as wild as ASL since the thugs in North Blue are probably much more deadlier than in East Blue, but they'd be good thieves.

6. Reader is so gentle with Rosi and Doffy gets jealous and says his brother is a crybaby and Reader shouldn't help him, he needs to learn on his own. Reader just blows Doffy a raspberry which makes Rosinante giggle - the first time Rosinante has laughed since their house burned down

I just think if we just put in some thought, it can be plausible for Kid Doffy to have Kid Reader as a friend in his childhood days. He'd feel challenged by a "human", someone younger than him, and want to prove his heavenly status, why he's better. Reader just nods along with it and is kind to them both. They don't do any sort of competitions, they just co-exist.

Kid Doffy is like a street cat. He bites and scratches, and tries to claw your face off, but it's cause he's been through terrible shit and he doesn't trust strangers. He needs patience and kindness.

The fic would require just some patience and kindness I think, for the childhood part of their story, so Doflamingo by the end of it considers Reader precious to him to the point he thinks he is the best person to protect her. That it's his duty. He'd probably call himself her heavenly guardian or sth in his mind when he reaches that point.

Of course, that then can turn into him becoming very possessive of Reader as they grow up (Doffy even when becoming the young 10-11 year old leader seems to stick to one headquarters in that timeframe) and his crush from childhood evolving through time from protectiveness into a wish for a romantic relationship.

Anyway, kid Doffy & kid Rosinante deserve to have a friend during that terrible time, and they both latch onto that little amount of kindness, they appreciate it a lot. Doflamingo only realises it later down the line how much it meant for him Reader supported him.

They show appreciation for that differently later. Doffy comes into the restaurant Reader inherited from her parents all the time and makes sure everyone in the North Blue knows that's his territory, and the place where his crew gathers to celebrate things. He always sends Reader gifts such as jewelry, and kisses her on both cheeks whenever he sees her, using the excuse of it being a custom in Dressrosa to his advantage. Rosinante shows his love with hugs. When he sees Reader when he's Corazon he just hugs her. He doesn't give a shit.

Also, Reader & Kid Law & Baby 5... Reader would feed them all the food and pamper them.

Doffy can't go without Reader's home cooked meals. Food is very important to him, I think, after experiencing starvation. He probably invites her to join the crew as their chef cook when they head for the Grand Line. If not...

Well, kidnapping you is always an option 🤣

(he would lie about what happened to Rosinante. either that or get completely drunk and cry in your lap, confessing everything. You know what, I like the latter. Let the big man cry. I love pathetic drunk Doffy.)

- Yandere Doffy Anon

Okay okay okay okay okay. This was gorgeous. I am in love, and all of the relationships with all of the kids, and the coddling of Rosi. Yes. Please. I love their relationship, the silent confusion in the "what is this feeling" -> it's addictive, and I love it. "My human to protect" WHERE DO I SIGN UP????

Here is my interpretation of what childhood friendship would look like with Doflamingo.

What about a young son of a celestial dragon having regular interactions with a contractually bound daughter of another celestial dragon? And then he's taken away from you by his father? Doflamingo x f!reader image.

Your parents schedule regular playdates with one another so your faces do not grow lost on you both over time. From toddlerhood, to childhood, your friendship grew with your betrothed spouse as you both read with one another, and made puzzles and sculptures together. He pulled your hair, you brushed off his glasses, he bit you on the hand, and you cried to your maid.

You are a bit stuffy and spoilt, but what child of the pinacle of society isn't? Similar to Doflamingo, it is your birthright to be treated with the utmost respect and worshipful adoration.

But your heart becomes kind.

When becoming lost in a crowd of unfamiliar faces, the kindness of a stranger who knew nothing of your face changes you from a prissy young miss to a girl spun in webs of charity and compassion.

It makes the young Doflamingo disgusted seeing you interact and thank his servants when they fix you and him lunch. Conversing so freely with the chaperone, asking questions about his children, it makes the eight year old sick. He'd rather trick them into being scolded and thrashed.

When Donquixote Homing defects, the ties that strung you together lay severed and desolate. The friendship between you forbidden, but your mind often wanders into what had become of him. You both had this unspoken hatred and the closest friendship with one another any two children could have.

Inseperable.

Until you were separated.

It took four adults to restrain you from running to him in the council chambers. Hearing Doflamingo had returned with Homing's head, you had nearly lost yours with glee at his return. When he was denied a rise in reinstating his former title, you were overwhelmed with a grief beyond your years in capacity.

Over the decades, you wondered what had become of him. Your heart had been broken when your father renounced your coupling. Each time a potential spouse was presented to you, you would shut it down with haste. Although you were only young, you spoke with such indignation regarding your disdain for such an alliance. What if this one was taken from you too? Nothing would ever match up to him.

They would never be Doflamingo, and you refused to be the spouse of anyone who didn't meet his equal. His insanity mirrored a darkness in your heart that you had since clothed in kindness. He was your absolute, the stop at the end of the line. He was yours, and you were his completely.

When Tsuru had invited you to the first gathering of seven warlords of the sea, you had no idea what to expect. No matter what you prepared yourself with, your readiness mattered not for the sight that was to welcome you in. Charity was your character, and your humility is what made you the chosen celestial dragon the world government asked to converse with the most.

Pink feathers, rosy glasses, blonde hair, and a sinister grin you had long since burried, had your chest swell and eyes flood with every emotion. Silence was all you offered in your shock, your face shrouded behind a veiled cloth you often travelled with.

You knew exactly who you were looking at, and he had no idea it was you. The way his presence demanded attention, his sinister playfulness with Sir Crocodile and Tsuru, the way he openly taunted the former Marine Hunter Mihawk: each motion captured your soul and held you hostage.

It was only when Tsuru had asked you to speak did you stifle the warmth in your chest. You knew Doflamingo would likely hold disgust for the Celestial Dragons due to their lack of restoration, and you chose to ignore him - just as he ignored you.

When your attendants removed the veil from your extravagant headpiece, the first sound to travel through the realm was a collective gasp. You were young, a woman, and incredibly beautiful. Nothing any of the seven warlords were expecting was anything amounting to a single scrap of you. And you chose to play coy to the slack-jawed blonde in the corner.

After speaking your well rehearsed speech, Tsuru thanked you with her head bowing low, encouraging the other marines to pay their respects in kind. Sir Crocodile offered you a polite bow alongside Kuma and Jinbe. Mihawk tipped his hat to you, which you nodded in kind.

Immediately rising to his feet, Doflamingo's arms hung limp as his lips lay parted and almost quivering. His hands shook, his shoes feeling like lead in lieu of leather, and he finally stood before you. Your attendants sprung up to your side, your guardians guiding their hands to the hilts of their weapons: only ceasing when you hold up your own hand to stop them.

With that same hand, you hover it in front of Doflamingo's face, guiding it in an intimate expression without ever colliding with his skin. He rises his own, mirroring your motions and causing your eyes to flutter shut. An inaudible movement of your name courses through his lips, no sounds to voice them other than a single breath.

"Time has not been kind to you, mi amor," you whisper, Doflamingo's knees buckling at the tone your voice had grown into. It was the greatest symphony he had ever heard, the voice of his childhood friend blossoming into the bloom of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

"Time saved all it's kindness for you, mi querida," he managed string together beneath his petrification.

The room was silent, all watching in awe as the most detestable inhabitant in the council chambers was brought to his knees with a single look from a powerful woman. The familiarity had Tsuru's stomach tighten, wondering if extending an invitation to you was in her best interest. Although, seeing Doflamingo behave with his absolute best manners had her lip twitch up at the corner.

He was yours again. A man who was once everything, became nothing, and built himself up to something again. And he was yours.

And he couldn't be happier to be in your presence once more. Why else would he have fought so hard to rise to the top? For mere power alone?

No. That is far too simple. He is far from simple. It was for the chance to be once again worthy to stand in your presence and kneel at your feet as an equal in potential matrimony. But would you still have him after all the time that had passed between you?

Only you held that answer.

Edit to add, I got distracted by the roast chicken and forgot to add the tag list. I'm sorry everyone.

Tag list: @mfreedomstuff @daydreamer-in-training @since-im-already-here @gingernut1314 @writingmysanity @sordidmusings @i-am-vita @indydonuts @feral-artistry @the-light-of-star @empirenowmp3 @racfoam @sunflowersatori @carrotsunshine @skullfacedlady

[rollinouttahere-writes]

Honestly I feel like even in an Au where Doflamingo does succeed in 'resetting' Lizard he still gets his ass kicked but it's bittersweet now because Doflamingo was able to succeed in his goal of 'resetting' Lizard. And Luffy would probably allow Crocodile to come with them because Lil' Lizard is super clingy to her daddy and Luffy doesn't wanna leave Lizard with Crocodile and everyone is hoping that maybe just maybe they can return Lizard to normal

Oh yeah definitely. Luffy's gonna kick his ass no matter what, and now he has all the more reason to do it.

This got very long, I'll put it under a cut

This could lead to an interesting alliance between the Straw Hats and Crocodile. With how out of hand everything has gotten and how desperate Crocodile is to make sure Doflamingo can never do this again, he is open to working with the Straw Hats. Loath to admit it as he is, Crocodile needs their help. He can't stop Doflamingo on his own, but maybe Luffy can.

Besides, he has his own target. After handing over Lizard to Robin (an awkward exchange no doubt), he was on a mission. Doflamingo was only one of the perpetrators here, and Crocodile is NOT about to allow the piece of shit that directly did this to his daughter get off scot free. But he won't kill the devil fruit user either, no, that would be too light. Crocodile snags a pair of sea prism stone cuffs and goes to find his target.

With how fucking pissed and determined Crocodile is, he's able to use armament haki. It isn't particularly strong, but it's enough for what he needs to do. It's not like the devil fruit user is going to be particularly skilled with it yet, they've only had it for a few hours at most.

As soon as Crocodile is able to subdue them and get the cuffs on, they assume the he's about to kill them and say as much. The grin that spread across Crocodile's scarred face was enough to make anyone's blood run cold.

Crocodile takes great joy in telling this person exactly what kind of fate they're about to suffer. Killing them is better than what they deserve. What's going to happen is this: Crocodile is going to drag them out of here kicking and screaming with his hook embedded in their shoulder. After that, they're going to track down Boa Hancock and Crocodile is going to pray that they are able to remain consciousness while they're stuck as a statue for all of eternity.

It's just a theory of his, but Crocodile hopes that by turning the devil fruit user to stone, the devil fruit itself won't be able to reincarnate. While some of this plan is pure spite, most of it boils down to him wanting to guarantee that what happened to his kid will never happen again.

As for what happens after Doflamingo is defeated... it's complicated.

Lizard doesn't remember the Straw Hats anymore. She doesn't particularly want to be with them, at least not long term. Her being "reset" hits the crew hard, and as much as they want to keep her to themselves, they have to act in HER best interest. It's for the best that she's with her father, and none of them can bring themselves to try and stand between Crocodile and his daughter after everything he's been through. None of them are that cruel.

I could see Crocodile leaving Dressrosa with them initially. Doflamingo likely had whatever ship he came in on destroyed, so sailing with them is kind of his only option. It's awkward to say the least. He's tried to kill most of the people on board at least once, and while he's appreciative of their help, he wouldn't consider them friends or even true allies. They just had an agreement in Dressrosa, that's it.

Everyone knows that he's going to leave the second that he sees an opening, so they try to strike a deal with him. They'll drop him and Lizard off wherever he wants, but they want to stay in touch. Crocodile agrees, though everyone involved has their doubts about how much he means it. They don't push the issue. They plan to keep tabs on him, so they'll just randomly show up for a "play date" with Lizard if need be.

Crocodile is never really the same after this. He's lost that cool and confident air he had to him before and is very stone-faced and callous to anyone that isn't Lizard. He has a thousand yard stare going on whenever he isn't interacting with his kid. Sometimes Lizard will find him picking away at a statue with his hook in his office late at night.

Crocodile's career also changes drastically. The Cross Guild is completely abandoned and he goes back to old roots in a sense. He never goes for something as ambitious as what he had going on in Alabasta, but he returns to doing underworld type shit. Think like black market dealings. With his money and connections, it's easy to establish himself, but it's only a small part of his life.

He becomes a helicopter dad. Every second of his life not spent doing work is spent with Lizard. He feels like something horrible is going to happen to her again if she leaves his sight. He's doting to an extreme and is much more likely to blow off work for minor reasons.

Client: I heard you were selling something I want. Can we arrange a meeting this afternoon?

Crocodile, looking down at a tea party invitation written in crayon: No, I'm completely booked for the rest of the day.

this kinda helps the business because it makes him seem even more in demand than he is lol

Crocodile is simultaneously better and worse than he used to be. He is actively trying not to do things that could drive a wedge between him and Lizard like before, but he's also intensely paranoid about her getting hurt and losing her in any way, shape, or form.

I almost forgot Lady Camorra. Lizard doesn't immediately recognize her when they first reunite. Last she remembered, Lady Camorra was only a few feet long, she needs Crocodile to explain to her that the giant banawani is in fact her beloved pet.

Lady Camorra is devastated. Where did HER Lizard go? How could this happen? She's a lot like Crocodile in the sense that she becomes insanely protective of Lizard. She tries to eat anyone that breathes in Lizard's direction that she doesn't approve of.

There is no reversing the effects of the devil fruit power. The old Lizard is gone forever. This is an angsty timeline.