#allowing him to grow both as a swordsman and as a person

[t-u-i-t-c]

chapter xxxi

[madwomansapologist]

it's best to keep it quiet | nami

Navigation | More Nami | AO3

synopsis: Working while eveyone else sleep was common for you and Nami. But you would never grow tired of having to stop yourself for laughing so no one else would wake up.

warnings: pure fluff. fem!strawhat!reader.

Going Merry heading towards the Grand Line, the Coco Village left far behind, salty breeze against your face. Life felt just right. Maybe because it was just right.

Sanji creating new, different dishes. Usopp telling amazing stories during dinner. Zoro falling asleep in seconds after a hard day, barely touching his food. Luffy eating everything on his plate, then stealing whatever was left on Zoro's. The swordsman knowing exactly what he was doing, but never trying to stop him.

And Nami watching. Observing, assimilating everyone's happiness. Drinking on their laughter, consuming the glow on their eyes, feeling all those types of joys she denied herself for so long out of fear and duty for her people.

And you, watching her.

You're so grateful Nami accept help. That she asked for it, trusted her crew, allowed herself to be vulnerable. When Arlong fell down, you enjoyed every second. As he suffered, you didn't felt any guilty about watching him being tear apart.

Nami was fine, and she will forever be fine if it depends on you.

There is another reason why you are so happy that she's there with you. And maybe it has something to do with that fact that sometimes it feels like you both are the only functional adults on the ship.

"It is what you think?" Nami smiled. Lately she does this frequently. It never ceases to move you. "Well, I'm grateful it's just the two of us here."

You pulled your chair closer to the table, metal dancing between your fingers. While she worked on copying the map of the Grand Line, you focused on a new sort of bomb. "Why's that?"

The pencil in Nami's hand suddenly became heavier. She looked at you for a moment. Concentrating on putting the right amount of gunpowder into the metal container, you didn't even noticed. Nami went back to the map.

"I like being alone," her whisper travel through moonlight until your ears. "And I like being alone with you."

You could feel your belly getting warmer. "Me too," you whispered, just like her.

Nami was afraid of losing (or that someone would stole) the map, so she was very careful to transcribe everything correctly. She was concerned with the proportions, with the capes and bays, every tiny island. She worked with technique and precision, as if it were second nature to her.

You take precautions. Luffy isn't exactly the calmest person in the world, and fights seem to be drawn to the crew. You want to stop being caught off guard by these moments. Smoke bombs, paint that sticks to the eyes, cannonballs that are more effective than those bought in the villages.

With the right explosives, battles that would previously take all of the team's energy could be ended in minutes. Why make Zoro use all his swords if you can just blow everything up?

Even when everyone was long asleep, you both continued to work. And if it was on you both, sleep would only come after the work was done. But it wasn't.

It was the third time you tried to cover your yawning. You didn't want this moment to end, for you both to get separeted until the other day, but it was getting harder and harder at every second.

You were filling a tube with powder, and then it was falling on down your finger. You slept. For barely five seconds, but still.

"What if we finish everything tomorrow?" You rubbed your eyes with the palms of your hands, trying to keep it clean of gunpowder. "It isn't thaaaat important."

Nami looked at you, her eyes also heavy. She sighed, and rubbed her thumb against your cheek. She cleaned the powder stain on you, and returned her focus to the sheets spread out on the table.

You had never felt so grateful that Nami didn't pay attention to you. Otherwise she would notice that your eyes widened and lips parted.

"Please?" You tried again. "Pretty please?"

This was something Nami needed to get right. She runaway with the map, and came back knowing that everyone was aware of how she would've ended their plans for her people. Nami wants to make up for her mistakes. To prove herself worthy of everyone's care.

"Coffee," was her answer. If it even can be considered one. "Let's make coffee and then we can come back to working."

You could've said no. Entered you room, locked the door and went to sleep. But you never would leave her alone. So, when Nami held your hand and pulled you towards the kitchen, you let her. You murmured and complained, but you let her anyway.

"Sanji told to not enter his kitchen without supervision," you cried out. "He has a sixth sense for this shit. Do you want him to wake up and start to yell at us?"

"He wouldn't yell at us," Nami rolled her eyes, opening the cabinets in search for something that would keep you both awake. "All you need to do is to look at him with those beautiful eyes of yours and Sanji will forget about everything."

You bite back a smile. "You think my eyes are beautiful?"

"I'm supervising you," she ignored you. That made you smirk. "Now keep it quiet."

It was definitely the worst timing for you to bump into the metal pots. Your eyes were as wide as those fancy plates the blond bring with him, and you bite your lips as if it would stop the noise.

When you looked at Nami, you both burst into laughter.

You put your hands in front of her mouth. Everyone else was sleeping, you both couldn't just wake them up. Luffy is already a problem because is like he can smell when someone is looking for food, and you add noise to that?

"Shut up," you whispered. "They gonna hear us."

"You started this," Nami said with your hand still covering her mouth. She breathed in, controlling herself. "Coffee. Now."

"You're so... stubborn," you whispered. "And bossy."

Nami blinked her eyes at you, and you could see she was trying her best not to laugh at you. "Stubborn and bossy?" Her voiced betrayed her, the laughing scaping her throat. "That's the worst you can do?"

You bit your tongue, trying to keep it quite.

if you enjoyed, please reblog! i promise it makes a difference ♡

@ madwomansapologist.tumblr.

[imasimpforshanks]

Heya! Hope you're doing well and having a good day~!

Just wanna request a certain three-swords style swordsman for the fluff alphabet? ;w;

Zoro Fluff Alphabet

a/n: hello! Im doing very well thank you! I hope you are having a lovely lovely day. thank you for requesting <3 i hope you enjoy 🤩

A-Activities (what do they like to do with their s/o? How do they spend their free time with them?)

zoro enjoys doing anything in your presence. working out together, drinking together etc. but, his favourite thing is napping together on the deck of the sunny. it’s simple but still allows him to be fully there with you.

B-Beauty (what do they admire about their s/o? what do they think is beautiful about them?)

something zoro really admires about you is your passion for the things and people you love. even more than that, he loves the way your eyes light up - shining like stars - when you talk about the things and people you’re passionate about. it’s the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen.

C-Comfort (how would they help their s/o when they feel down/have a panic attack etc.?)

although zoro can be a man of few words, he always knows exactly what to say to make you feel better. he’s not necessarily touchy-feely but he’ll take your hands in his, place a kiss to your forehead and listen/talk as much as you need.

D-Dreams (how do they picture the future with their s/o?)

zoro would never say this aloud but he has woken up - more than once - since meeting you, having had a literal dream about the two of you many years in the future. things aren’t much different from how they are now, you’re living happily together doing what you both love, and having fulfilled your dreams.

E-Equal (are they the dominant one in the relationship or rather passive?)

he’s definitely a more dominant personality, and that extends to your relationship as well. but, it’s not in a toxic way. it’s more in a he balances you out sort of way.

F-Fight (would they be easy to forgive their s/o? How are they fighting?)

very rarely do you and zoro fight. often it’s just light-hearted teases and jokes towards one another that are always followed by laughter or eye rolls.

however, if a serious argument with zoro was to arise he would give the both of you time to cool off afterwards. after that though, he spends the next few hours being around you constantly. he doesn’t do lots of physical affection, it’s more just being around you, spending time with you, and ensuring you’re okay and not still upset about the fight.

G-Gratitude (how grateful are they in general? Are they aware of what their s/o is doing for them?)

for the longest time zoro couldn’t quite put a finger on what it was he was feeling. he saw all you were doing for him and all of a sudden he felt this warmth in his chest and a weight off his shoulders. once he realized it was gratitude he was feeling, he made sure he was showing you how grateful he was any chance he could.

H-Honesty (do they have secrets they hide from their s/o? Or do they share everything?)

zoro doesn’t go out of his way to tell you things but he also doesn’t intentionally hide things from you. with zoro, you simply need to ask and he’ll tell you. he can sometimes use that as an excuse and it can lead to minor arguments: “why didn’t you tell me?” “well you didn’t ask!?”

I-Inspiration (did their s/o change them somehow, or the other way around? Like trying out new things or helped them overcome personal problems?)

you’ve helped each other grow and change for the better. his unwavering loyalty and support of you helped you to become more confident and sure of yourself. and you opened zoro’s mind to other possibilities. you helped him realize that he’s allowed to enjoy and love other things.

J-Jealousy (do they get jealous easily? How do they deal with it?)

very very rarely does zoro get jealous. he has no need to be. he knows you love him - it’s as simple as that. but… try to limit how much one-on-one time you spend with sanji otherwise zoro will start fights.

K-Kisses (are they a good kisser? What was the first kiss like?)

your first kiss is also the first and only time you’ve ever seen zoro look so awkward. he actually doesn’t have much previous experience so he wasn’t really sure what to do which is why he never initiated anything. you were the one that had to make the first move and once you do zoro actually gets uncharacteristically flustered.

the first kiss may have been a little awkward and stiff, but zoro is a firm believer in practice makes perfect and it doesn’t take him long to learn what you like!

L-Love confession (how would they confess to their s/o?)

it’s was a complete accident. he didn’t even realize he had felt the way he did. but you were there laughing to yourself about something and he got so caught up in the moment that the words just slipped out. it caught himself off guard just as much as you.

M-Marriage (do they want to get married? How do they propose? What would the marriage be like?)

marriage, zoro is open to. a wedding? not so much. the only part of a wedding that piques his interest is the drinking - so just promise him a small wedding with lots of booze.

but, in terms of actually getting proposed to and married, it’s not going to happen till much further down the line.

N-Nicknames (what do they call their s/o?)

he’ll call you babe, or moron (endearingly). zoro likes to keep it nice and simple.

O-On cloud nine (what are they like when they are in love? Is it obvious for others? How do they express their feelings?)

he tries not to be too obvious about his feelings but it’s easy to tell because his behaviour changes slightly. well, it only changes in the smallest of ways meaning you’re the only one that notices; he starts to be around you more than usual, really finding any and every opportunity to be near you.

P-PDA (are they upfront about their relationship? Do they brag with their s/o in front of others? Or are they rather shy to kiss etc. when others are watching?)

zoro is not a big PDA guy. the most ‘PDA’ he’ll do is holding hands with you, or napping next to you on the deck of the sunny. if your head is in his lap (he might even place a little kiss to the top of your head if he’s feeling risky).

Q-Quirk (some random ability they have that is beneficial in a relationship?)

zoro can open up every single jar in one go. you never have to worry about struggling to open a jar.

R-Romance (how romantic are they? What would they do to make their s/o happy? Cliché or rather creative?)

if you’re ever expecting huge romantic gestures, think again. zoro’s not that sort of guy. instead, he’s romantic in his own way. he’ll open doors for you, carry your bags, give you advice. all those sorts of things. little romantic gestures that make your heart flutter.

S-Support (are they helping their s/o achieve their goals do they believe in them?)

zoro would rather die than get in the way of someone else’s dream. there isn’t a doubt in his mind that you can achieve your goals. and while he’s there to help you if you need, he believes with every fiber of his being that you can do it all on your own.

T-Thrill (do they need to try out new things to spice out your relationship or do they prefer certain routine?)

zoro is pretty content with the way things are. he likes to keep things simple because your lifestyle is pretty interesting enough as it is.

U-Understanding (how good do they know their partner? Are they empathetic?)

to others, zoro seems like a big brute who says the first thing that’s on his mind. but, that’s actually not the case. zoro has this uncanny ability where he always knows what to say. he can get a good feel of the situation and immediately knows. oh, and he’s not the type to sugar coat things.

V-Value (how important is the relationship to them? What is it’s worth in comparison to other things in their life?)

at the beginning of your relationship zoro told you that nothing was going to get in the way of his dream of becoming the worlds greatest swordsman. he reminded you that it was the most important thing in his life, and you completely understood. however, over time things changed and he realized he couldn’t be the worlds greatest swordsman if he didn’t have you. that is how important you are to him.

W-Wild card (a random fluff headcanon?)

one time early into your relationship you made a comment about his bandana and how cool it was. days later he gifted you a matching one. he feels his heart grow three times when he sees you with it.

X-XOXO (Are they very affectionate? Do they love to kiss and cuddle?)

just like he’s romantic in his own way, zoro is also affectionate in his own way. when in front of others it’s linking pinkies, head pats, shoulder bumps and lots of acts of service. but when you two are alone he’s a lot more open with his affection; you’ll find yourself receiving a lot of kisses.

Y-Yearning (how will they cope when they are missing their partner?)

when you’re away zoro works out twice as much. he keeps himself occupied so he doesn’t focus on how much he misses you. he actually sleeps using your pillow when you’re away because it smells like you.

Z-Zeal (are they willing to go to great lengths for the relationship? If so, what kind?)

zoro would kill for you. he’s the most loyal person you will ever meet. he would do anything and everything for your relationship.

[rollinouttahere-writes]

Okay this is out of left field I know, but I thought up and love the idea of Mihawk also having a daughter in the Strays AU, but he’s actually a good, normal father and him and his daughter have a nice, perfectly healthy relationship.

Like Doll and Lizard are out here struggling with their shitty fathers and their damaged, if not outright awful relationships with them and Mihawk’s daughter is just watching like “damn that sucks sis…” while painting her dad’s nails (using black polish of course). Shanks is begging for his “secret” but doesn’t process it when Mihawk says that he and his daughter have mutual respect for each other and Mihawk obeys her boundaries and lets her have a room on the opposite side of his castle from his own room because she’s a young woman who needs privacy and space to grow and be herself.

But… I also do like the thought of her being like early 20’s and having a huge and painfully obvious crush on Zoro, which makes Zoro terrified every time he interacts with her because he’s scared Mihawk will show up and kill him if he seems too enthusiastic, or too uncaring. Little does he know that Mihawk doesn’t mind and is completely fine with his daughter having a relationship as long as it’s healthy and consensual on both sides. In fact, he’s quietly pleased with her choice because he respects Zoro as a swordsman and knows that he’s a good person who would protect his child.

Could be reader insert, or she could be an OC because I like the idea of her looking like Mihawk, especially if she has his eyes. And I think it’d be cool if her name was Mina, like Mina Harker from Dracula.

I actually do have a request for dad Mihawk, and like this it isn't yandere. I haven't started on it yet, but it is outlined.

I'll refer to this daughter as Mina in this to avoid confusion. Doll would have definitely met her a few times growing up. While her and Mina would be friends, Doll would struggle intensely with envy towards her. She gets to see what a healthy, normal father-daughter relationship looks like, and it feels like a knife in her gut to see that but not have it.

I've touched on Doll and Mihawk's relationship here, but in this scenario Mihawk would visit more frequently and feel more compelled to help her. He always brings Mina with him so Doll can be exposed to at least one other person her age, and he even tries to convince Shanks to allow him to bring Doll with him back to his home so she can have a sleepover with Mina. He had every intention of never giving her back, but unfortunately, Shanks wouldn't agree to it unless he came with them.

Mina would be extremely blunt like her father, and routinely calls out Shanks for being weird and stifling. He always laughs it off, which annoys her.

Once Doll is free from him and Shanks starts asking where he went wrong, they both lay into him. It's all in one ear and out the other because of how delusional he is, so they quickly change tactics and focus on helping Doll.

In the case of Mina being an adult and crushing on Zoro, I agree that Mihawk would be fine with it. However, I feel like Zoro is the most oblivious man on the planet when it comes to someone being interested in him, so he has no idea. He could walk into his room and find Mina lounged across his bed with rose petals everywhere and just be like 'damn I got lost again, sorry for intruding'. Mina has never been more frustrated in her life and complains to Perona about it.

[wordy-little-witch]

Okay so I have been…. Thinking big thinks about Agere!Buggy I can’t really put anywhere else so don’t mind me if I just drop this here. Tw for involuntary regression and Buggy having a not so fun time being little tough.

Personally I can really easily see as Buggy being someone who you… wouldn’t necessarily pick out as being regressed when it happens, partly because his upbringing was more unusual, living on a pirate ship and all, which means what he wants and needs tend to be different from people who grew up with a relatively normal childhood on an island or similar.

Buggy gets even more of a temper when he starts to regress, flips out more, seems to be ticked off at the smallest things, but not in his usually flamboyant, constant screaming manner, but more in a way that insinuates that he’s five minutes away from completly shutting down. When he finally retreats to a place where he’s alone he will most likely wreck parts of his room in anger and frustration, before breaking down quietly sobbing, because what Buggy longs for during those times aren’t toys or games specifically. When he feels small he longs for the feeling of someone playfully ruffling his hair and telling him „It’s gonna be fine kid.“ he longs for the times someone lifted him and Shanks on their shoulders while his family their crew was celebrating till deep into the night, he misses gruff men with calloused hands teaching him how to tie a decent knot. He misses a time before he had to grow up way, way quicker than even he would have thought, a time where Roger dying seemed like a nightmare you half remember the next day thinking to yourself how you could even come up with something like that. A time where Shanks would drive him to insanity but he also was certain he would sail him to the edge of the world. And no toys and no games will ever give that back to him.

Closing this angst fest out with saying that I actually do believe he could still gain some comfort from being little if the circumstances allow it. Both Mihawk and Crocodile fill in roles that in some ways would have fit in well with the Oro Jackson back in the day.

Crocodile is a big and intimidating man, not really cruel to him anymore but it would be a stretch to call him „nice“, yet little Buggy immediately feels relaxed in his presence, maybe even more so than big Buggy. He can count on Crocodile to protect him, even if he’s scolding the clown for being a pain in the ass, he doesn’t have to worry about anyone when he’s with Crocodile, strong, smart, wise Crocodile, who always seems to hug him just a bit closer when he feels small, even if he tries to play it off as casual pda towards his lover when they are in public.

The same goes for Mihawk, who’s imposing in a different way, but who has a natural knack at finding out what Buggy needs. Who can snark „Your bad mood is intolerable. You should lay down until you cooled off.“ and Buggy can whine and moan all he wants about that, his big side even haughtily proclaiming he doesn’t need to listen to Mihawk seriously assign him „Nap time“, but who more often than not find himself waking up next to Mihawk on their fancy couch, the swordsman reading a book next to him and seemingly paying no attention to him, but also Buggy doesn’t remember that he laid down with a blanket when he first slinked up next to Mihawk in the first place.

And if there was ever any room for a happy ending including Shanks, their crews would definetly see them emerge from the woods of an island they have just docked at, late in the evening. Both of their captains bantering and laughing, carrying a bucket of fish they just caught. They both look like messes, full of dirt and apperantly fruit juices, and Shanks just laughs when Yasopp asks what on earth they where doing. „We found some blackberry bushes and had a blackberry fight.“ neither of their crews fully get it but they do notice that their captains seem lighter after those days.

Jesus christ on a motorbike YES YESYES GIMME ALL YOUR THOUGHTS I will hoard them like a dragon I SwEaR!!!!!

Buggy would absolutely have really hyperspecific needs that he can't articulate or even fully grasp, big OR little.

Like.

The bit with Crocodile?? That makes him teeter more than most things. Big, Warm, Calloused Hands make him melt in every way imaginable but when Croc pats his head or gives him a squeeze, part of him just unfurls a teeny tiny little bit.

Mihawk just showing his care casually and quietly is always a good tale, especially with "assigning nap time" and the casual little blanket bit, just aaaaAAAA♡♡♡♡

And the TEMPER tes, Buggy has negative emotional regulation skills, but regressed?? That threshold just EVAPORATES. He'll slip sway, rage, and shatter alone because solitude is the safest thing to him. Maybe a few HIGHLY trusted people know, but... honestly, I think it'd be wild if Cabaji and Mohji knew, but once the Impel Down Thing happened and they went with Alvida as a captain, it fundamentally Altered Buggy's trust in them. Like. On the one hand, absolutely survival, he gets it, but on the other hand that's his crew, his people, and it stings ((and reminds him of another crew, one he trusted with his heart and soul and safety, who left him in pieces, bloodied and hunted because his father was killed and nobody was enough of an adult to help the literal children in their care)).

Also:

Buggy having weird little things he associates with childhood and the sensation there, it all being unusual to most is absolutely true 110%, no 1000000%. Learning knots just AAAAAAA Buggy regressing and his favorite toy being a rope kinda kills me /pos AND /neg.

Just. Imagine fir a minute all these small things culminating up until Crocodile and Mihawk get faced with smth mundane and typical like a stuffed animal or a certain toy, and Buggy just.... doesn't understand. He doesn't even recognize it. He's not entirely sure what the heck this thing is even meant for. Crocodile bought it, bc he's the type to spoil people, and Mihawk helped pick it out bc it was a generic thing, but there's zero recognition. And that hurts.

They knew Buggy's regression went hand in hand with the traumas and experiences he had, but this... it just slots all these pieces together in both men's heads that this honestly happened. Buggy was hurt as a child; an innocent child was stained in fear and blood and grief.

As for Shanks, I can see Buggy and him being aware of the stints where Buggy goes NUCLEAR even as a child, and them having a tentative system set up because they were Red and Blue, Shanks and Buggy, the literal embodiments of Ride Or Die. They are a package deal, Do Not Separate. So when it was just them after Roger disbanded the crew, they already had a solid basis. Roger helped somewhat, but nearing the end, he was sicker. They began pulling back, trying to let him rest as much as they could. So on their own, not much changed.

I'm also incredibly soft for the Shanks-And-Buggy-Never-Really-Separated concept ((#Thanks-Stereden)) so just. Them having frequent calls over Denden, safe and protected from prying ears, where Buggy was Big, Little, In Between and Shanks delighting in it all.

The day they all meet up, crews mingling, they go into the woods to look for a treasure maybe, and Buggy is always the safest with Shanks, can actually let loose a little more, can just BE. And one thing leads to another and they find the blackberries and Buggy drops because who else can he trust but his Red? His Red who is so very vulnerable, looking off to the treeline... they come back a mess, tired but happy, and Buggy's still not quite Big but not fully Small, but he's comfortable, he's happy, and he's very very excited to drag Red over to Hawky and Croccy because the got SO many fishes and berries and it isn't beri, but they're still good-!!

Ough I'm feral, shaking the bars of my cage THANK YOU ILYSM this ask made my dayyyyy ♡♡♡♡♡♡

[pampushky]

Creature (Both Haunted & Holy)

Vinsmoke Sanji/Reader - Chapter 27 - 5.2k

Sanji reflects. Recovery is not always linear, but you’re there to help him, at least.

ao3 | series masterlist | masterlist | next part

Pell sits amongst pirates he views as his equals for the first time in at least thirty years, but he doesn’t recognize nearly any of the faces that have landed on Seal’s Drop’s shores. He has his back turned to them, and stares at the specific mound his daughter and her wife are buried, surrounded by their twin pups, and their eldest.

A cask sits beside him. This is not what he’d imagined breaking open the sealed barrel would feel like. When Pell had imagined it, he’d pictured Coth by his side, with Feann and her Pod on the other, celebrating whatever one of his grand pups would inevitably follow in his footsteps to become a pirate, and giving the lucky pup their first taste of true sake— to egg them on into landing in the New World, to Wano.

Instead, he breaks it open beside Edward Newgate silently, his former rival now watching him somberly. Marco perches on his shoulder.

“Can I help you, Ed?” Pell doesn’t even turn to look at him. They both smell of devil fruit, though Whitebeard’s is growing fainter with his age. 

“Pelleus…. You weren’t subtle, you know. With your display at Impel Down.” Whitebeard sits down with a little grunt, gently shooing the man on his shoulders away. “…. you were the first to break in, I hope you know.”

“… That won’t make me feel any better if that’s what you’re trying to do.” Pell pours the sake onto the grave. An offering, to make his daughter’s time in the afterlife a bit better. To hopefully help him forgive himself for being useless to protect her against a monster.

Whitebeard only sighs and sits quietly beside the selkie for as long as he will let him. 

They sit there until it turns to night, and Pell allows himself to be guided to the Moby Dick .

For the first time since your escape from Arlong Park, you finish a full plate of food all on your own. You’d managed to finish a full plate of food without getting sick from overeating. And gods, you’d looked so proud of yourself when Luffy pointed it out, at first more upset that he didn’t get to eat your leftovers, before screeching that you didn’t have any leftovers. 

“Ott! You did it!” Luffy’s arms stretch over to touch your face, his hands pressed against your cheeks when he accidentally causes himself to rocket over the table and crash into you. Before this, you’d have been sent into a bit of a spiral from Luffy’s touchiness, not yet used to a friendly touch, but now you’re trying to peel him off of you while the rest of the crew jumps into action to clean up the mess Luffy’s made. You just cringe, so incredibly used to your captain’s lack of a personal bubble, or understanding of anyone else's. Chopper is still adjusting and is trying to hide behind Sanji’s legs.

“Touching–” 

“Oh, sorry.” Luffy’s hands slap back to where they’re meant to be, though still laying on top of you with a silly grin on his face, while Zoro just lays next to you on the ground, covered in beer, staring up at the ceiling until you make another warning warble that eventually stirs him to pick up Luffy under his shoulders. Your captain takes no notice and chatters the entire time when you sit on the floor with Nami patting your head sympathetically.

“You smell like beer, Zoro!”

“I wonder why,” Zoro looks at Luffy, who has gone onto a completely new topic as you slowly process that you’ve eaten a full plate of food. The swordsman just gently pats you on the back and offers a little nod for praise. 

You’re gaining weight back–  it has been nearly four months now, after all. But then again, you’ve had ups and downs in your recovery. Right now you’re doing good, it’s been more consistently ups than downs. Sure, there are times when you stumble a bit. The crew gets frustrated with something unrelated to you and forgets to watch their tone or words as you’re on the deck beside them, though this was discovered one screaming match between Zoro and Sanji too late. It had taken two and a half hours for Sanji to find you, and when he did, he found you crammed between two barrels of fresh water, shaking and keeping your eyes on the ground. That had been a hard stumble and one that had taken a few days for you to recover from. 

“You did it,” Sanji helps you up from the floor with a wide smile, and you slowly return it, hugging him close, your face in his chest while you inhale his scent, “Oh, good job, good job, you did so well, ”

You have a pod who loves you dearly. A man courting you who worships the very ground you walk upon. You have never felt so close to the water as you do now, able to dive under the slip to perform routine checks on the keel and hull as a whole whenever you want. You can hunt for whatever fish are around you, dive as deep as you want, and never fear the repercussions of being gone for too long. 

“You in there honey?” Sanji gently taps your cheek, teasing you as you pull yourself from your mind, smiling as you look up at him. “Hi.”

He laughs when you press your nose against his, rumbling from deep within your chest as you hug him closer to you with your arms looped around his waist, eyes closed in bliss as he steadies the two of you. “Someone’s happy…” Sanji rubs your cheek gently, watching your blissed-out expression.

“I ate a whole plate,” you murmur back, opening your eyes again, and looking up at him. “Full, normal portions.”

“Mhm.”

“And I gained… fifteen pounds back.”

Sanji gently squeezes your tummy, and you squeak before breaking into a fit of laughter as he tickles your sides, the two of you rolling on the couch in the galley. 

“ And you’re looking radiant and doing a great job as our bosun,” Sanji coos to you, pressing dozens of kisses against your cheeks and nose as his eyelashes brush against your face. You shudder, and let him continue to make your brain fog with all of his praise. Gods, do you adore this man.  

You settle into his arms a bit, not quite pinned under him. That would have implied you were trapped. Sanji was more so a weighted blanket than an effective trap. He just clings to you, whining whenever you have to move to get up and do chores. But not now, when it’s the end of the day and all of your chores are complete. It’s time to relax and get ready to do it all again until you land in Alabasta and come up with some plan to liberate the country. 

It’s peaceful. The calm before the storm. Selfishly, you want it to stay that way forever. Where you could lay in the galley after dinner and watch the light fade through the windows. No threats or danger, just sailing on the Going Merry until you find what you’re looking for. You think you deserve to have such wishes, so long as you never act upon them. You’re allowed to have these selfish thoughts, so long as you don’t act on them. 

But, these thoughts must end, as you trudge down to the storage room to do a final check for the night, just to be sure there are enough dry goods for the final leg of the journey to Alabasta. Everything is fine– until you check the fruit, and scream. 

There, amidst the limes, is a glowing, lime-shaped fruit. It’s golden, and you drop your journal as Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp come sprinting. Zoro doesn’t see what’s wrong at first until he looks down at the little fruit. You’re too busy shaking as you look at it, your pointed ears flattened to your head while you warble. You look utterly terrified, as Zoro picks up the fruit. It’s got zig-zag-like patterns on it, and your friend looks at you skeptically.

“This… is just a Devil Fruit,” Zoro holds it out to you, and you shriek. 

“It’s a cursed fruit, ” you hiss, and hide behind Sanji, who looks equally as confused as to why you’re hiding behind him. “Those are bad news— toss it to the sea!”

“Hold on— we can sell that—” Usopp reasons, and you look even more miserable, glowering at him from your spot behind Sanji. “....or we can toss it to the sea, yeah, sure,”

“...Beloved,” Sanji starts carefully, craning his neck so he can look at you, “Luffy ate a devil fruit… so surely not all of them are cursed?”

You snort at this, and Sanji yelps when he feels you chomp down on his shoulder, grumbling and warbling as you eye Zoro warily. After a minute you stop biting him, though Sanji’s shoulder throbs, and whatever emotions come through the bond are muddled. 

“Luffy is a special case.”

“H-how…?” Sanji rubs at his shoulder, wincing still. 

“He fought Arlong, so he gets a pass,” You sniff, and appeasingly kiss where you had bit Sanji’s shoulder. The man just sighs and gently rubs your head. “...sorry I bit you. I panicked.”

Usopp snorts at that and takes the devil fruit from Zoro, at which you flinch as the sniper starts to study it, pulling his goggles down. You look at him over Sanji’s shoulder, while the cook and Zoro lean over to watch Usopp as well. The sniper has a small frown on his face, with his nimble fingers turning it around in his hands. He frowns. 

“... looks like that’s a…. Huh, Wave-Wave fruit,” Usopp pulls his goggles back on his forehead, and turns the fruit over again. “We’ll check the encyclopedia, just to be certain— we’ll sell it when we get to shore. Solves the money problem.”

You cringe as he tosses the fruit in the air, shrinking back behind Sanji. To his credit, despite being bitten, he rubs your head softly. Nami pokes her head into the room, with Vivi and Luffy chattering behind her. Her eyes light up when she sees the fruit in Usopp’s hand, and you swear you can hear her going through the money she can make off of it before you make a low rumbling noise to make your displeasure known. 

“We’ll be able to afford some more… extensive repairs, and won’t need to worry about anything else,” you shudder as you take the fruit from Usopp’s hands, and physically stop yourself from gagging as you hold it, making your way out of the storage room. You drop it on the kitchen counter, looking at it loathingly. Sanji followed you into the kitchen, resting his chin on your shoulder as you glared at the fruit. 

“What’s the issue with the fruit?” 

“They’re poison. Anything that could sever our connection to our Mother…” you trail off, shuddering at the thought of being unable to swim anymore. “...when the world was young, the Sea Mother was wed to the Sea Devil. Their first children were the first of the selkenfolk, or so it goes. Each child was the first of that specific lineage, and so on, and so forth. They were closer to their mother, which angered the Sea Devil. In a fit of rage, he made it so that selkenfolk couldn’t eat any of the fruit he had planted in the world…” 

You look at the little fruit quietly, shaking your head. “...that’s what we’re taught. Some selkies’ve tried to eat devil fruits,” a shudder runs down your spine, and a low warble pulls from your throat, “...they’ve never lived more than a week. They always go mad.”

“... can, hybrids… eat? Devil fruit?”

“Maybe. It depends on all the genetics.” You shrug helplessly, as Sanji takes the fruit from the counter, examining it, before putting it back. “... don’t tell me you’re going to eat it, we don’t even know for certain what it is,”

“No, I enjoy swimming too much,” Sanji admits, and laughs, pressing a quick kiss to his forehead. “How will I be able to enjoy the All-Blue if I can’t swim in it,” 

This… makes sense. Sanji plans things, immaculately. The kitchen is beautifully organized for anyone who could stumble into it could make a cup of tea and a sandwich on the rare occasion he wasn’t already preparing something. So it doesn’t shock you that he’s weighed the pros and cons of gaining miraculous powers and how it may aid his overall goal. Guiltily, you watch how he winces a bit when trying to rotate one of his shoulders, and warble, pressing a kiss to where you had previously bit him. 

He just chuckles, ruffles your hair, and that’s the end of it.

“Why couldn’t you do this simple task?!” Judge bellows, towering above Sanji. He is just seven in this dream, with thin wrists and easily bruised knees from how much he was physically pushed to achieve. Academically, he was a bit smarter– but still nothing in the eyes of his father. “Kill it!”

The poor little rat trembles from where Judge had kept it, its paws already stuck in the glue trap. Beady black eyes look up at Sanji, and the blond fur makes him shudder. It’s the same color as his mother’s hair, as his own. There’s terror in the little creature’s eyes, and Sanji hates how his father is holding it. Maybe if he could get it away, he could use some soap to help get its paws out of the trap—

Judge crushes the rat under his boot the moment he sees Sanji trying to think his way out of this situation. He watches the boy scream, how his eyes widen, highlighting yet another imperfection in what was meant to be his ultimate weapon. Sanji tries to pull Judge’s boot off the rat, sobbing and begging his father, who remains motionless. Sanji could only see his mother, sweet, kind, Sora, with the same pretty blond hair the rat had, the same hair that Sanji had inherited. The same hair that was now buried in the ancestral crypt, was the only time a member of the Germa royal bloodline was allowed to return to their abandoned homeland, in death. How tragically poetic.

“It was a pest Sanji,” Judge growls, and his sobs grow louder. “Royalty does not serve the pests, we thrive to spite them, to crush them under our heels for their impudence,”

His breath is stolen from his lungs with a harsh kick, sending him skittering across the brick floor. There is blood on his shirt, sticky and warm from the rat. That was when he’d had his first panic attack, crying on the floor of his too-big bedroom over a rat as his father left him there. 

Sanji opens his eyes again to see the crushed rat. And hundreds of others, all killed at the hands of his siblings and father to try and teach him their cruel, cruel lessons. The stone brick under him is rougher than he remembers, and it’s so, so much warmer too. He casts a glance up only to realize he’s back on that damned rock, Zeff beside him, except this time, the old man has cracked his ribs open to feed Sanji his very heart.

But before he can do anything to react, the rats swarm around him. They knock him to the ground, his knees hitting the rough stone. He screams, begging, pleading with the creatures he’d tried so desperately to save to please, leave Zeff alone, leave some piece of him for Sanji to bury so he can at least rest. The noise makes him nauseous, and when he feels something tighten around his face, and hears the clicking noises near the back of his head, he opens his mouth to scream—

And slams his head into the ceiling, instantly cutting off his scream. Zoro grunts in his sleep. Luffy just snores louder. The giggling from the floor below stops for a second and starts again as Vivi, Usopp, and Nami start talking about gods know-what again. You snap awake instantly, a terrifying growl in the back of your throat as you slam him into the bottom of the hammock. Your eyes reflect in the dim light for a second as you press yourself over him protectively. He’s never heard that growl from you before. Your more seal-like noises have always been playful, but now it’s primal and terrifying. You’re more animalistic at this moment, looking around the room with a dangerous glint in your eyes he’s only ever seen once before when you were certain Arlong was chasing you through Whiskey Peak. 

Zoro grunts again, and your growls subside, sniffing the air, before glancing down at him. You nudge him with your nose, rumbling gently as you look down at him. Your eyes still reflect a bit, piercing his very soul as he looks up at you. Your hair makes a partial curtain around the two of you as you lean over him. 

“Sanji? Are you okay?” 

But he can’t answer, muffling his sobs as he presses his hands over his mouth, not wanting to wake anyone else. His eyes squeezed shut tightly as he forcibly tried to quell his panic in a way that he’s long since learned is unhealthy, but that doesn’t mean he’s stopped doing it. It’s bad enough he’s woken you up, being the burden that he is. Sanji feels something against his face and opens his eyes just enough to see you nudging at his hands with your nose, a soft, comforting rumble making him crumble. His mind itches with the gentle rhythms and notes that spell out concern, nightmare, and dearest that finally break the barrier of his muffled sobs to pull you tightly into his arms.

If Sanji wasn’t so lost in his own mind, the little huff you’d made after he did that would have been humorous, along with the little pats along his shoulders to try and calm him down. The 180 of how competent you can be with social interactions is endearing to him, and he manages to stop crying enough to laugh when you start to pat on his cheeks softly, rumbling the entire time. Perhaps it’s the differences in Selkenfolk and Human communication, but it’s certainly something that keeps him on his toes with you. 

“How about I make tea?” You mumble, looking at him, eyes still reflecting in the dim light. “… and you don’t burn yourself on it this time.”

Watching you work in the kitchen is oddly soothing to Sanji. You’ve gotten back to a point where you’re able to control the water around you like little arms, measuring out the seeds and spices you need. You even trill and rumble a bit, all of those little noises that had once been forced out of you now falling from your mouth without so much as a second thought. 

However, you side-eye him from the stove when he tries to light up a cigarette, a little tendril of water holding the pack out of reach while he looks at you miserably.

“Not fair,” Sanji weakly reaches for them, and you huff, placing the pack on top of the cabinets, soon followed by his lighter, leaving Sanji with a soaked cigarette hanging from his lips rather uselessly. 

“You shouldn’t smoke inside. The smell lingers. And Nami won’t say anything but it gives her headaches.”

“It does?”

“Yeah, it’s why her mom had to switch to herbal ones when she was little.” One of your ears twitch. “…doesn’t it mess up tasting things?”

“You sound like the old man right now,” Sanji groans, slumping forward to lay his forehead against the island counter. “….I wanted to impress him, so about a year and a half of him taking me in I started. I wanted him to think I was grown.” 

“Then why’ve you kept it up to this point?” You put everything in the newly purchased kettle, a result of a run-in with another group heading for Alabasta. 

“…became addicted,” Sanji shrugs and lets the wet cigarette fall onto the counter. Some of the tobacco falls out along with it. “Y’know it’s bad for me to quit cold turkey, right?” “I know.” One of your ears twitch, as you focus on the kettle. The open flame under the burner flickers a bit. You don’t look at him though, cleaning up the little mess you’ve made with the mortar and pestle. “Next stop. I’ll get you the same brand my sister used to smoke… they were herbal. With a bit of blue lotus in them. If that’d help.”

He manages to snicker a bit, resting his chin on his hand as you gently scrub the mortar and pestle. “You’re trying to drug me now?”

“.... it’s a drug?” You turn this time, looking genuinely confused. “It had the same effect as tobacco on selkies…” and then it dawns on you, your embarrassment and realization making him feel giggly and jittery through the bond, “Oh. You’re not a selkie.”

“Did you forget that?”

“Sometimes I do.” You shrug, leaning back on the counter. “...you, Luffy… everyone just…adapts well to me. Like you understand me.”

“I understand you sometimes. I want to know more, speak your language.”

“It’s the same language… I don’t even know if you’d be able to hear it the same way. My ears are different,” You twitch them to emphasize that, “I mean, you can hear… whale calls, and stuff, but it’s more than that.”

Sanji attempts to rumble as you’ve shown him, and though it still sounds mangled your heart flutters. He’s trying for you. 

“... did I say that right?”

“You got the point across,” You laugh, smiling widely as the kettle starts to whine. You let it go for a few seconds until it turns into a proper whistle, wanting the tea to be at its best. Sanji lets you pour it and then watches as you very carefully put your hands over the two mugs until the steam isn’t as heavy. You’ve… cooled them down, using your abilities, showing him just how much control you’ve gained over it the past four months. When he takes a sip, it’s at the perfect temperature for drinking. He feels downright giddy over that– that you’ve made such a sharp improvement so quickly. 

The silence is comforting. The two of you go to sit in the crow's nest, and even if Sanji is a bit annoyed that no one was on a real watch of the ship, he’s happy you’re next to him. You point out the constellations to him, and then, hold up your hand, lining it up with one of the brightest stars, and then helping him to do it.

“… That’s how the Sea Devil found his wife, the Sea Mother,” you whisper, as Sanji finally seems to understand how you’re telling the distance of the sea around you. “He followed the stars, mapping them with his hands, and weaving a map of shells and palm fronds.”

You lean against the mast, taking a sip of the tea. “Their first children were the first Selkenfolk, a litter of dozens if not hundreds. But they loved them all the same.”

“You said that earlier,” Sanji laughs, looking at you as you stare into the cup. “That poor mother.”

“…I gave a rushed version of the story.” You whisper. “The Sea Devil… he loved his children. Every single one he helped to name and cradled after they were born. But they were godly. Divine. Their childhoods were over in the span of a week, and he mourned the fact that he did not get to spend as much time with them as he had wanted to. So he devised a plan to keep them young for another year— so that he could cherish their youth and watch them grow again. So he decided to grow fruits that could do just that.”

“…the Devil Fruit, I’m assuming?”

“I’m getting to that part,” you playfully punch him in the side, laughing a bit. “The children misunderstood, of course, and begged the Sea Mother to stop him. And being the doting mother that she was, she was willing to. So, when the Sea Devil laid down for a nap after all of his work in the garden, she made the ground shake and made frost go deeper than it ever had to kill the seeds. Thunder, rain— everything.”

You shake your head with a little huff, annoyed.

“But what she had done was make the fruits unstable, and not what the Sea Devil had wanted them to be. They had been controlled before, but now every seed was corrupted, and completely different from the other. Not one was the same. He was devastated, obviously, and told her what his plan had been— to simply spend more time with their children. Realizing her fault, she wept and told her husband what she had done, and he grew upset that the children, in his anger-clouded vision, had wanted to leave them so quickly, that he declared that they would never be able to eat the food that he or their mother had grown, making all Selkenfolk grow sick and eventually die if they were to eat a Devil Fruit.” You finish the story and take a long drink from your mug. “And that’s the story my Gran and Baba used to convince me to never doubt my moms.”

Sanji lets out a low, impressed whistle. “…and that’s why you’re so freaked out by Devil Fruit? They’re… good intentions spoiled by a lack of communication from parent to child?” He rests his hands behind his head, his nightmares far from his mind now. “Wow. Divine family needs some serious therapy sessions.

You gently box one of his ears, trying to look annoyed and utterly failing to. “There weren’t therapists back then! They were the first beings to— be !”

“Uh-huh. And Zeff is definitely old enough to have probably known them personally.”

You both dissolve into a fit of laughter, loosely holding onto each other under the stars. Sanji puts his focus back on the sky, and then on the grain of the wood in the railing. 

“… What devil fruit would you eat?”

“I… wouldn’t?” You splutter, confused. “Didn’t we just cover this— I’d die, Sanji.”

“But if you could ?”

“… still wouldn’t,” you shrug and lean on him. “I like swimming. I like the ocean. Even if I was human, I’d rather not eat one.”

You then look at him, narrowing your eyes. “…you have an answer already, don’t you?”

“I mean— who doesn’t?” Sanji laughs nervously. “Clear-clear fruit. Easy.”

“…that was quick. You’ve thought about it.”

“I mean, yeah, ” Sanji looks down at you, smiling softly. “Yeah. I’ve thought about it a lot. To pass the time.”

“Wanna tell me why that fruit?”

“It makes you invisible,” his voice sounds oddly delicate as he speaks. “Just. At your will, able to sneak around without any worries. It’s tactical.”

“… would you sneak into changing rooms and watch people?”

“Wha— no— why would you — I would not do that, Ott, ” His voice nearly cracks from how you’ve startled him with that. “E-even if it was a very attractive person I would not do that. I am a gentleman —“

“That’s the only tactical thing I can think of,” you tease, squeezing his pink cheeks, and laughing at the blush. “Stealth isn’t really a thing with our crew, so as a victim of gross perverted stuff—”

“Oh my God, Ott— “

“— I mean why not , you could get so much blackmail ,”

“…did you just refer to your own trauma as blackmail material?”

“It’s my trauma, I can do what I want with it. Not gonna do much else for me.”

“….seas help me, you’re a menace—“

“— Don’t you wanna know if Luffy has crazy stretch marks? What about if Zoro has a tattoo? Oh, Sanji I bet it's a really stupid stick and poke! All uneven too, now I have to know if he has one—”

“That’s— if this was coming from literally any other member of this crew I’d be concerned—“

“But what else could it be used for, I’m just sayin’—“

“Hiding. From my family.”

The words tumble out of his mouth before he can even think to stop them, a terrified confession from his very soul. You’re frozen with your mouth in an ‘o’. And then you pull him into a deep hug. Before Sanji can even protest, you're suddenly much larger than him, in your Selken form, curled around him protectively. The bond buzzes at the very bottom of his skull, making him let out a soft groan while you flood his thoughts and forcefully push the nightmare from his mind, replacing it with rumbles of affection and love.

Good. Kind. Loved.

Your arms are tight around his shoulders. Part of your long tail wraps around him. Your nose is pressed into his hair. And Sanji has never felt so safe. It’s different from his Mother’s aura of calmness, and Zeff’s presence after nightmares. It’s you, the sea breeze, and the ship gently swaying.

“I don’t know what they did,” you keep your eyes on the stars and feel Sanji hold you a bit tighter. “…but I know you’re wonderful. That you go out of your way to cook and make sure everyone has food in their belly and that they aren’t sick. You care about this crew, and don’t ask for anything in return.”

If you can feel the tears on your skin, you don’t mention it. 

“… You’re wonderful. And you can tell me when you’re ready to. But if they make you think you’re not worthy of good things, and having a loving pod, then they’re dead wrong.”

The crew finds the two of you curled up like that in the morning, the tea long since gone cold. Zoro’s the one to find you, seeing your tailfins hanging over the edge of the crow's nest. Sanji groans and tries to fall back asleep, regardless of Luffy poking the side of his head and asking him to cook something, before turning his onslaught onto you.

“C’mon, Ott, can’t you catch me something?” Luffy stretches just enough to drape himself over the both of you, effectively shoving his chest into Sanji’s face.

“It’s too warm here, I’ll be too sluggish to swim fast enough to catch anything,” You stretch a bit, slowly materializing your legs back, causing Luffy to let out a loud whine, dramatically slumping over the railing. 

“C’mon, we’ll catch some fish,” Zoro puts Luffy over his shoulder and carefully makes his way down the rope ladder. Sanji cleans the two mugs used the night before, and prepares a breakfast of grits and dried meat. Just as you’re about to check the ship for damages, starting near the figurehead, you hear a scream from Nami and look over the railing onto the main deck to find that Luffy has pulled a rather oddly dressed man from the sea.

[mega-ringsandthings-world]

Hi I’m back! With more ideas! Also did you like my art? I really liked how it came out in the end. Also Thank you for replying to my asks and for continuing to create this au Finals is destroying my will to live and this is a bright light in the tunnels of all my citing.

Anyways on to throwing up my internal probably not coherent brain sludge that are my thoughts!

I’ve been thinking about what Mihawk and Shanks are going to be like after being traumatized and what they are going to do after. And how it’s going to be an absolute nightmare.

The more I ponder these changes the more I think about the differences we might see in Shanks and Mihawk in this AU compared to the canon counterpart, the more I think that the Loguetown boys will have this franticness about them, this wounded creature under their skin and in the corner of their eyes. Like they're calm, and civil but also two seconds away from bolting or ripping your throat out.

The canon counterparts have had the time and freedom and luxury to grow and gain and sense of stability in their positions-they've both built themselves up—Yonko, Warlord, World's Greatest Swordsman, and the only emperor to use only Haki. Politically, both are untouchable, and even if not, they have the ability to forgo that political safety and still be okay. They have the assurance of that power, the knowledge of their strength, and years of enemies and battles to prove it. They have nothing to prove, no need for more power; they are the pinnacle to strive for in their world, and they know it. They have nothing to fear, and they know that as well.

These two, on the other hand, are probably going to be afraid of everything forever. The world was knocked out from under their feet at a young age, and people took their power from them, holding it over their heads and laughing at their pitiful attempts at fighting back. They are irrevocably scarred, physically and mentally. No matter how powerful they get, no matter how powerful their enemies are, they will never believe themselves safe, will never believe they can't be trapped or hurt or lose or be used. For good or for ill, they are going to be the underdog in their heads no matter what. And that can make them sometimes irrational and paranoid, not thinking things through in the moment. Not that it will make them stupid, but it will make them slow to trust, slower to understand, and slower to put down roots.

I believe entirely that trauma doesn't make a person; it just breaks a person. I mean, look at canon Shanks after his dad was murdered in front of him, and his best friend and crew left him to fight for himself. He became an alcoholic but was probably lucky enough to have people who later could pulled him from the worst of that—he had time to grieve, grow, and learn, and the freedom to allow himself to be content and comfortable with himself, with opening up to other’s, with his relationships and with his power.

With the trauma these two kids are going to go through, I don't see them coming out of it anything but worse. They both didn't have the luxury of time or freedom or people around them that cared enough to allow them to process it. They had no coping mechanisms, no internal hopes aside from ambition (on Mihawk's part), and a memory of a family gone (Shanks) to pull strength from. All they had is each other, and even that's messed up because the others had time to develop their relationship, to reveal vulnerabilities and fears, and the small, intimate human things that make loving someone worth it.

The boys got all of that all at once but forced, no control, no consent, all of their vulnerabilities and humanities on full display and no time to process, to develop, to have space to create an identity for themselves. They will forever be Mihawk and Shanks. Never alone, never without the other. And even when they get out, with all that horrible in their veins, they won't be able to leave each other to find or develop past that. And that's really, really sad. Because as someone who has gone through the hard process of healing or getting better surrounded by people who are also trying to heal, you need that distance. Or you will end up hurting each other, and that pain can lead to resentment.

The worst part is they are both forever going to be a trigger for each other's trauma, but they can't leave each other because if they do, there's no coming back from that. Where could they go anyway to heal, huh? The government's probably still after them; they probably don't trust anyone, and they are both so entwined with each other. Separating would probably kill them. It's going to be so messy. And when I said I believed they'd probably both be more than happy to crawl into each other's skin and live there, I meant it.

Anyways, this is making me sad. And I still want to write that AU where canon meets these boys, just for the mental image of Shanks and Mihawk—these two larger-than-life beings, these big lazy cats like a lion and a tiger, sitting close but not touching their food forgotten as they watch these two vibrating, traumatized, probably-used-to-be circus animals sit next to them practically crawling into each other’s laps. Devouring food somehow both delicately and exactly like a D. And while both parties are going, "Oh god, what the fuck is wrong with you! For entirely different reasons.

I love your art! If you ever decide to make more in the future I'll find some way to give you a million dollars. I'm really invested in this AU, thanks to everyone who also took interest in it and of course, you. I'm glad it's helping you through finals, lol. Hmm, these are all such good thoughts. I love every point you bring up. "the Loguetown boys will have this franticness about them, this wounded creature under their skin and in the corner of their eyes. Like they're calm, and civil but also two seconds away from bolting or ripping your throat out." A pair of wounded, cornered young animals. Because as far as the Marines were concerned, that's what they were, and that's what they nearly turned them into. Loguetown Mihawk and Shanks are going to obtain the power/status of their canon selves because of their desire to never be hurt again, rather than obtaining it by-and-by through the years. Instead of the their reputations forming around them, they are going to make their reputations with their own hands. They'll seek out power. And use it as a shield. When they finally get out, they're going to walk out of the metaphorical arena hand in hand, broken, and ready to die rather than go back. They have everything to prove, and nothing to lose. They have to prove that they are not animals, that they are not broken, (or that they are capable of putting themselves back together) that they are strong, that they can be strong again, that there is revenge to be had, and that they can take it. One of the driving forces is revenge. In Marine custody, they weren't able to protect each other. But they were able to swear vengeance in each other's names, and that keeps them going during a period of recovery that would otherwise have seen them dead. As you mentioned before, Mihawk holding Shanks and thinking he can't die, he has to live for him, to be his protector by his side. Shanks sitting by Mihawk in the cold Marine cells, watching him sleep, the only bit of peace they have, and knowing he has to live. If only because of everything Mihawk did to protect him. That they won't trust anyone is so true, but they will do so eventually, and it will only be the ones who suffered along with them under the Marines. AHHH, that gets overlooked so often! Shanks' drinking habits are huge point of fun, but if you really look at it. Yeah. He's an alcoholic. Our Shanks is going to turn to alcohol too, if more reservedly. Canon Shanks had his crew, he became a captain two years after Roger's death. That two years will be spent in Marine custody for Loguetown Shanks, and even though he finds the people who will become the red-haired pirates, they are in no position to support him as they did in canon. The plan behind the Loguetown AU is to make a dark mirror of everything that happens in canon, with Mihawk/Shanks as the focal point. needs pt. 2 again

[trollamulet]

legend of zelda au - extended information

as a general rule of thumb, jim is a knight that ends up under a curse, and depending on the secondary ‘world’ of the time the thread takes place in, he’s either a demon by night, or while he’s in that world.  he can be defined as either a monster or ‘some kind of goron’ due to being rocky.  over time, he tends to start blurring the line between forms, as they are both him, one and the same, and has more control of the fluidity of transformation - world allowing.

sealing war / pre-skyward sword - #we'll sing a song of days gone by

a demon on the surface of hylia's precious lands - jiki is one of the few that revolted against demise and is in hiding. he lives outside of the faron region, bordering on the ancient lanaryu region. relatively human-shaped, jiki bears three fingers and a thumb on each hand, nails like dark claws and darkening from knuckle down in a gradient.

he's happy to talk about the past - about the war, however certain topics make him uncomfortable. those that were important in the army make him skittish - after all he was one of the few that rebelled, seeing the value in human life. he wants peace and somewhere to have a quiet life without worrying about the king.

little does he know, a curse was placed on him personally, bound to reincarnate to the same cycle as the mortals he loves, and upon his death, he is fated to continue to reincarnate as a mortal that will eventually find themselves in a cursed form, one of living stone. he doesn't know that this happens when he dies.

if encountered, jiki has a trinket lost in the lanaryu region, and as it becomes a desert, it's buried under sand on the docks before the lanayru sea. it's a strange watch-looking amulet, and upon the return to jiki, the demon gives five gratitude crystals.

skyward sword - #ear to the memory of a golden age

a student of the knight academy, in the same class as most of the other kids. acquaintances with link and zelda, as it's a small town. he and his mom live on another sky island nearby, but travel to skyloft for his classes daily. life is peaceful, until zelda is pulled from the sky. jim pays no mind to link leaving, until he himself feels a compulsion to follow him down.

and he does, finding his way through faron untill he stumbles an old cottage, rundown and somehow standing - covered in moss. it's familiar, impossibly so. opening it up, he finds the interior is still.. alright? he can't find his way back to the surface before night, and he spends the night there. it's the first night he changes - no pain, a foot taller with horns and fangs. it spooks him.

ocarina of time - #have you heard the story of the rabbit in the moon

wip

twilight princess - #lift up the evening ; just for a while

a resident of kakariko village that has since moved to castle town to seek out an apprenticeship with the knights of the castle. after learning more about corruption within the knights, he ends up joining telma’s band, frequenting her bar. 

he’s rather ordinary - just a swordsman who likes cooking and talks to telma about food there. that is, until zant takes over and twilight covers hyrule. he watches in horror as he transforms into a monster with skin as hard and unforgiving stone. 

once the twilight is clear from the region, jim still changes at twilight, and back to human at dawn - eventually getting used to it, but the condition never goes away, and he fears someone finding out about the dual life and hating him, or worse.

breath of the wild & tears of the kingdom - #and what if they should falter

jim strangely finds acceptance among others in a world full of oddities. malice corrupts the landscape, yet a young man who shifts between human and inhuman like day does with night is a little concern when the moon can grow red and revive the dead beasts.  he doesn’t know what caused the change - it has happened since he was ten, but he would like a way to stop changing forms, or at least as frequently. he has no control over when he changes, and it’s painful and sore for him. he’s often found during the morning and evening after he changes on death mountain in the pools, soaking away the pain.  he sides with link, and will hand over crafting materials he’s found on his travels, ranging from gems to various bugs. he’ll trade for rarer objects he’s found, such as weapons and star fragments.  he has a personal sword that he uses the most - a one-handed weapon named daylight.  in areas of darkness, jim has a habit of transforming anyway. his other body has a better night vision, as well as a general sturdiness against unpredictable threats, as well as the fact malice tends to affect that in the dark a little more. 

hyrule warriors - #so hold on ; or we'll all fall down

pulled from the era of twilight, jim stumbles across the army while they fight with the twilight realm and cia’s fight. he’s pulled into the battle when all he wanted to do was have a small break from the mystery occurrences being unraveled in the era. ultimately, he returns home with agitha and midna. 

[amorelray]

#1. Sword Art Online⚔

❗WARNING - DARK THEMES❗

I have words upon words upon words upon words that I could say about this show, but I will try my best to keep it fairly concise.✍🏻

The biggest reason that I've been attached to this show is because of the main character, Kirito. In the beginning of this show, he's young and lost. He reminded me quite a bit of myself & who I was growing up. I will be sharing ❗spoilers❗ from here on out. So, if you'd like to watch the show (& haven't yet) - all I'm going to say is that it's worth it.

Starting with his survivor's guilt that he has over his fallen guild, I too have held myself responsible for things that I thought, "if I had just shared this info," or "told them that one thing," I could have changed fate. I've held responsibility in my hands over things not quite as heavy as watching a group of friends die, but on things that weighed on my heart too. Just like Kirito, I find myself taking the blame and burden for things around me - even when it's outside of my control. He had no idea that his guildmate would fall for the trap and he desperately tried to stop them before it happened; he also fought tooth and nail just to make it out of there alive. He was 14 at the time; he did what he could, but he blamed himself anyways...and honestly, I would have done the same.

The next thing that I immediately gravitated towards with him was the fact that he cut himself off from everyone because he was afraid to hurt anyone else. To say that I've done that would be sugar coating it🙃. When I was younger (& even still some today), I shoved people away - people that I loved at the time, because I felt like I was a monster, a burden. He felt that with being a "Beater" (Beta Tester/Cheater), he put others' lives in danger and instead of risking it ever again - he was the lone, black swordsman. I felt that loneliness with him. I understand what it feels like to imagine that the world would be better off if you were just a person passing by - not causing any troubles. It's lonely, but you think you're doing everyone else a favor by not getting in the way. You're sad when you go to sleep at night, but you desperately try to tell yourself that you're "doing the right thing" in order not to fall asleep in tears.

As he grows and gains friends (that sometimes he had 0 intent to have), I also feel that emotion with him. Over the years, I've allowed myself to open up a bit more and allow others into my life; just like he did. I also watch him time and time again put his life on the line for those friends - people he deems worthy to keep on living. I resonate with that idea and that passions because I would also put my neck out for those who I loved and saw as "family."

Over and over, he's thrown new situations and dilemmas that he has to do his best to adapt to. I, as well, have had to deal with the curveballs of that life has thrown my way and take it in stride. Kirito and I both do our best to act like we're 100% okay on the outside and push aside our emotions, but deep down - we're both broken and very emotional human beings. He bottles it all up, just like I do. We're the same in many, many ways.

I'm really putting my heart on the line with this post, but if you ever want to "get to know me" better, watch Sword Art Online and realize that Kirito is a lot of my bad, but also a lot of my good. We're both human and really think along the same lines of what we'd do for ourselves and those around us. There's a big reason why he's stayed my number 1 for 8 years (about the amount of time I've been watching Anime as well😅).

This guy really deserves to smile after the years of agony that he's been through - & so do I. 🖤

I love this show so much that I've seen every season at least twice through (Season 1 more like 6-8 times) & I've seen/own the movie (Ordinal Scale). It is by far my favorite and easily my comfort show. So, if you watch it, I hope you enjoy it too!

[insomnia-productions]

@nureyev-steel-institute hell yeah you can! the ones i've been thinking about most recently are these three kiddos i've had since high school, which i recently revamped:

This guy is Karna, a changeling and exiled prince. Magic is a largely unknown, secretive world in his story, so he had no idea he wasn't fully human until his magic started to manifest when he turned 21. Karna's mother, the queen, was always afraid of him, because she knew his father, one of the Folk, was a pretty terrible person with pretty powerful magic. Because of her fear, she kept him at a distance, and so he grew up with deeply-rooted people pleaser tendencies as he spent his whole life trying to gain her approval, or the affection of literally anyone he met. When his magic manifested, it took the form of cell manipulation -- specifically growth and healing. So he would heal wounds and grow pretty flowers, all in service of getting people to like him. But as soon as the queen found out that he had magic, she had him arrested and sent to be executed, saying she should have done so from the start. Karna escaped and eventually made his way to an island largely populated by exiles and refugees. He was deeply changed by this betrayal, and so his magic changed too, turning from growth and healing to rot and decay. He basically turned from a cleric to a necromancer.

The whole story is about Karna coming into his own as a changeling, learning more about the world of the Folk, and, of course, getting revenge by taking back the throne. It's like a villain origin / corruption arc story, but framed as Karna's liberation. Basically it's like if those ex-people pleasers talking about how they're entering their "villain era" actually went on to commit atrocities, and the comment section was 100% on their side.

This is Ashe! He's a mercenary swordsman that Karna meets on the island at an underground fighting ring. Karna becomes the first person to best Ashe in a duel, and Inaya (Ashe's partner in crime) insists that he join their duo. Ashe was dead-set against this, but Inaya always gets what she wants, so he begrudgingly allows Karna into the group, although there's a strong one-sided rivalry there for the first few months. Ashe likes to think of himself as the pragmatic one, but he's die-hard loyal and kind of a softie at heart when it comes to the people he loves, a list which includes only Inaya and Karna. When Karna decides to seek revenge on the queen, Ashe is the one who insists they go with him (only because the payout for them would be huge, of course, and not that he cares or anything but Karna would get murdered within a week if left to his own devices). Ashe and Karna also eventually become lovers. He thinks it's super romantic when Karna lights a city on fire to spell out "I love you" from above (he's right). Ashe becomes Karna's advisor after they take over the kingdom; Karna really respects his counsel.

Finally, this is Inaya, Ashe's partner and the primary scheme-haver and gunslinger of the mercenary duo. She was originally a merchant’s daughter, but fled home to avoid an arranged business marriage to a much older man and to seek adventure. She met Ashe, already a mercenary thief at the time, when he tried to rob her father’s vessel. They joined forces, combining Ashe’s know-how with Inaya’s insider knowledge of the merchant world. Inaya is much more chaotic and impulsive than Ashe, she really fucking loves pyrotechnics, and she has a girlfriend in every major city. Despite being generally the most reckless of the three, Inaya is also the most pragmatic. She might choose to give in to her impulses a lot, but she tends to make her actual decisions based on reason, while both Ashe and Karna tend to act purely on emotion, and Ashe just finds logical explanations for his actions after the fact. After they usurp the throne, Inaya becomes Karna's general, being the best strategist of the three. I haven't yet figured out the exact technologies available in their world, but I really want her to have a giant over-the-shoulder firearm of some sort, like a really big bazuka or something. She deserves it <3

[hotpotrandomfics]

RWBY OC: Rory Nightingale

Name: Rory Nightingale

Age: 18

Race: Faunus (Red Wolf)

Height: 5’10”

Physique: A welter weight physique with defined arms.

Eyes: Royal Purple

Hair: Cherry Red

Faunus Trait: Wolf ears

Complexion: A smooth copper brown skin tone, a birth mark under his left eye, and scar on his left abdomen from a spear.

Personality: Shy and secretive, Rory prefers to keep to himself as to not engage with people but will do so if it’s something small. Though he refrains from speaking anything personal or of major importance to others he doesn’t trust. This level of distancing and distrust allows him to better observe and perceive others with critical analysis.

Likes: Rare meats, Oolong tea, sketching, walking, and naps

Dislikes: Fish, brussel sprouts, White Fang, extremist, and arrogant people

Hobbies: Meditation, training, sketching, trying new restaurants, sparring superior opponents

Allusion: Marcus Aurelius, the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome

Symbol: A wolf head with a set of spears crossing behind it.

Weapons:

Autumn Resolve: Formerly a traditional katana handed down from Rory mother, reforged as a fair well gift, Autumn Resolves handle has a slot for precise dust crystal and the blade is mix of non magnetic metallic alloys and gravity dust in the mix. The handle being an autumn red and the blade a dark stones like color with hints of purple from the gravity dust. The method behind the forging of the weapon was only secret to the blacksmith in Kuo Kuana making the blade amongst the rarest weapons on Remnant.

Autumn Whisper: A custom P226 Equinox full size with a ROMEO1PRO optical sight and an extended 15 round magazine with assorted dust round variants, an Atlesian pistol that Rory received on recommendation from one of his professors in Atlas Academy when they advise experimenting with firearms in order to diversify Rory skill sent.

Fighting Style & Skills:

Iaijitsu

Iaido

Sōjitsu

Wing Chun

Atlasian Combatives

Semblance & Abilities:

Instinct: Instinct is a semblance that allows the user body to move autonomously without out the interference of thought. Defensively, it allows the user to evade their opponents with little to no effort. However, it does not allow the user to attack effectively and burns through aura at a quick pace.

Instinct (evolution): The evolution of Instinct also the user to attack and defend autonomously with little to no effort, allowing to gain the upper hand in battle in a quick manner. However it still runs into the issue of draining the user aura at slightly slower pace.

Home: Menagerie

Academy: Atlas Academy

Biography: Born to Carmine Nightingale, an Atlas Academy alumni, Rory was raised primarily by his mother on Menagerie after his father and mother had a falling out in early stages of her pregnancy. Rory and his mother lived in relative comfort as she was a senior member of the Kua Kuana Guards. This allowed Rory to feel a sense of safety and molded his respect for fair law, especially how his mother disapproved of the new methods of the White Fang which his mother had arrested a number of the more violent members that were trying to cause infighting with their own people.

As he got older, Rory began training under his mother and the captain of the guard, Saber Rodentia, both felt his gentle and reserve nature would make him a target for coercion from the other sects of the White Fang on Menagerie. Eventually, he’d become proficient in both their styles of fighting, an excellent swordsman that caused his mentors to train harder on their own time to not be outdone by the growing Rory but to teach him the value of there always be a bigger challenge ahead.

Once he was eighteen, he had submitted an application to Atlas Academy on the recommendation of his mother status as an alumni. Rory would begin his journey to becoming a huntsman and protector like his mother and the Nightingales who had adopted his mother when she was but young child. At Atlas, he’d meet a number of colorful characters and good souls that gave him comfort and sense of belonging regardless of his heritage and appearance…

[shiroi---kumo]

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ He's slow to receive the bottle and unscrew the silver lid. There is a short moment while the prince takes his time to let the cool liquid inside rush down his throat. It's soothing to feel the water coating from the inside after using so much energy previously in the last confrontation, but still he finds himself exhausted - beyond exhausted and he doesn't know what else he's supposed to feel when he just held a piece of his soul so delicately in his hand. Eve- Roy says he wants to know more about his family. He says if he's up for it, he would love to learn more about him and it takes the prince a moment to process this to decide if he really does want to talk about Misterica or not. 

Roy says he doesn't have to tone it down for him. Roy says that it's okay for him to just be himself, but he doesn't know how to do anything else other than tone it down. He's had to tone himself down for other people ever since he was a child. It was long before Gaudium that he would have been toning himself down for those around him. Piipsa Sumu did not care to deal with him at his truest self and his Arkkipiipsas were the same. None of them cared much for the idea of suffering a child; even if that child was the Child of White; even if that child was Lady Tiamat's Holy Vessel himself. 

Chaos was no different. The one that Wonderland knew as one - Earl Tyrant-  would not suffer him either. He had few in his life that were ever kind enough to deal with his antics. But they are gone now. Those that gathered around him and told him they loved him were long since dead. So it's strange to have someone express such care for him when he has not felt such a thing for nearly two decades now. Roy was kind and earnest in his words. This Amestrian honestly meant him no harm, or did he? There is a voice in the back of his head warning him to mind his words and to keep personal information to himself. 

 “ Do not trust him, Pilvi.“ The voice warns “I don’t care what he’s telling you now, he previously just called you his prey only a few hours ago we cannot trust him.”

But he wants to talk. He wants to think about something - anything other than the scars and the jagged lines creeping up his skin and growing ever closer to his heart by the day. No one has seen. Not since Cid saved him after the fall of Gaudium over a year ago and even then the engineer hardly knew what they meant. They were hardly the size that they are now. And most certainly not Black Wind.

The man of dark gales could never see the truth of what lay just beneath white fabric. He could never see the truth of what was running over alabaster skin. If he saw then - if he saw what he was hiding then what would he do? Would his Other finally understand the words that live only in his eyes that his lips dare not speak to him aloud? Would he finally hear him then?

There has to be something else to think about.

So he's allowing himself another moment to take a longer drink from the bottle in his hands before his lips part to speak.

"Usva was four years older than me. My family was just Usva, myself and our parents. I didn't have any other siblings, just him. He was practically my best friend. Usva was all I knew of friendship so that is why I say it is still a rather new concept to me." He stops to neatly fold his hands in his lap after he sets the bottle down to his side.

"Punainen Usva was his name. You would have called him Red Mist in the same way you call me White Cloud. He was disciplined yet wild. Both at the same time. Usva was the greatest swordsman I have ever seen. He dedicated his whole life to it. He mastered everything there was for him to master. He was both a Mist Mythic and a Summoner...and he refused utterly to teach his craft. No matter how much I begged him or tried to barter with hm. Isoveli simply would not teach me.

"You'll get hurt." He said. "I don't want you around such powerful magic." and he refused to teach me. I guess in a way he was right. A Mist Mythic is one who can command the elements with their Mist, you see. Except a Mythic cannot command them all, just the ones compatible with the color of their Mist. "

"Isoveli was a deep red in color so that means he could not command Wind based spells due to their connection to green mist. Any colors that were opposed the wielder cannot command. All except for me. White is the absence of them all so that means I was a blank canvas and had the ability to command any element I was taught.

That's why I hounded him like so, but still Usva never cracked. Even to this day I can only command three of the nine existing types, all because Usva saw the explosive nature of my Mist and refused to teach me fire. He was a master of it. To think something so wild could be born of his Soul's Breath and yet he would have the ability to tame it.

It was fitting. It was just like him."

There's a sigh that leaves him as he allows himself to lay back down on the ground, still safe enough away from the flickering flames of the campfire to be able to not redraw his mask but at the same time to gain no benefit from it's heat.

"I am sorry about all of this Evers - Roy. Being stuck out here in the woods with me. I will work on getting better control over my anger so such issues do not arise again. If you have questions, I can answer to the best of my ability. I do not mind. I just am feeling a bit lightheaded so I need to lay down, yet I need to stay awake considering my condition. Truly, I apologize for the trouble."

Blue and white bottle. He could do that. In an instant, Roy rose to find White Cloud’s bag to grab said bottle and bring it to him. For now, he kept the bag closer to the both of them in case either of them became hungry in the near future. With nerves settling a bit, he hoped White Cloud could eat some. After expending such an exorbitant amount of energy, he needed the calories. 

“Here you go.” Roy found himself smiling as he returned to White Cloud’s side, bottle in hand. To be told he reminded his friend of someone he held dear was quite an honor. Usva was his name. Would it be imprudent to ask more about what Usva, and the rest of his family, was like? He knew so little about his friend’s culture and background, only just beginning to scratch the surface of his language. To know White Cloud was to know where he came from, who and what he loved, and where his passions lied—and Roy wanted to know. 

The Flame was a sun who thrived when he could keep others warm and help them shine. Now, the question became whether or not White Cloud wanted that from him.

“I’m honored.” His own cheeks turned a bit pink at such a compliment. “Truly. If you’re ever up for it, I’d love to know more about them—your family, I mean. I never had a brother.” He didn’t want to force that conversation, especially when White Cloud had to be exhausted. Family was a difficult subject anyhow with him being the last Misterican. How he flew with all of that grief weighing him down… Roy couldn’t imagine. Ishval prepared him a tad in that regard, but to be the last of one’s people was a few degrees above when it came to grief.

Best not to dwell on despair. Instead, he turned his gaze back onto White Cloud and what he had to say. It was an explanation of more of the Misterican he spoke: always, my friend. Well, as long as he was in Wonderland. One of Roy’s eyebrows perked up. Did he… did White Cloud expect their friendship to end once he returned to Amestris? Granted, Roy couldn’t say he fully understood how pillars between worlds worked, or if they would be able to traverse between Amestris and Wonderland, but he did know one thing. He knew that any friendship he made could not be considered temporary. Even if he never saw White Cloud again, he would still consider the Misterican his friend.

Was that foolish of him? Probably. The Lieutenant did occasionally describe him as such. But, as he continued to listen to White Cloud, the desire to preserve this friendship, no matter what, only strengthened. Living as royalty led him to be isolated. No friends outside of his brother, which had to be lonely. Roy couldn’t say he knew that sort of life. Surrounded by his sisters and extended adopted family, and gifted with the charm to befriend almost anyone he met when he wasn’t being a smartass or too much, he knew almost everyone within Central City alone. He could befriend anyone.

But, the people he considered his friends, the ones allowed to see more than the surface, were far fewer. White Cloud was now one of them. 

“You don’t have to tone yourself down for me.” He shook his head. “Friends are allowed to fumble the wind with each other—am I using that phrase right? What I mean to say is that I’m not expecting perfection. I only expect that from myself because I’m a dumbass. When you meet my sons, they’ll gladly tell you.” Edward especially. With this comment, Roy rolled his eyes before he shifted his gaze to the ground.

“Here’s the thing about me, White Cloud: I’ve toned myself down a lot for others for a variety of reasons. But, when it comes down to my friends and family, they don’t treat me like I’m too much. So, I do the same for them, which means I’ll do the same for you. You can be you around me, whatever that looks like.”

[inkybirdy]

of course I'd be happy to tag you, @takemetotheastral ! and I'm happy to offer some basic notes on the wind waker au, currently titled "a different tune" on Ao3!

in brief, the wind waker au is one in which aryll is the one who goes on a quest to save her sibling, and gets embroiled in a high-seas fantastical adventure instead of link. meanwhile, ganondorf and tetra are both rival pirate captains fighting to settle a centuries-long dispute over territory, magic, and the power to shape the future of the world. link wants a nap.

a few more specific character notes below!

Aryll is very recently 12 years old, an auspicious age for those of Outset Island! She’s now old enough to train in the island’s traditional sword fighting style, as well as take on new responsibilities to protect her home and assist her brother with his own tasks. It’s an exciting time! And also bitter - while it’s nice, growing up, to have new opportunities and a broader sense of agency, Aryll is already starting to miss being able to blindly trust that her brother would take care of everything that needs doing. She wants to help, wants to prove herself, but it’s all a bit daunting, isn’t it? She has her brother, though, in the end. As long as they’re together, as long as he’s around to help steer her in the right direction, she has faith everything will turn out alright.

Link is in his early 20s and doing his best. After the death of his grandmother when he was in his later teens, Link was not only left with the responsibility of raising Aryll but also acting in his grandmother’s place as caretaker for the island’s fairy fountain and various spirits, shrines, and artifacts. Among these are a couple of the island’s treasures - a small golden pendant that nobody is allowed to pawn, and the Wind Waker, which has proven fairly useful to have on-hand to shoo dangerous storms away from the island. Of course Link takes his duties seriously, but he tends to the island’s caretaking in the same way that he tends to any other household chore. Really, his focus and any energy he’s had to spare has been put toward his efforts to raise his sister. He won’t say he’s good at it - he knows his love of naps and idleness has turned into longstanding fatigue, and his charming snark has turned caustic - but he’s determined to do all he can to make sure Aryll is cared for and given the best opportunity to grow into a well-adjusted person.

Ganondorf - otherwise known as Captain Dragmire, or simply Ganon - is already one of the most notorious and influential pirates on the Great Sea, despite only being in his mid-20s. He’s an expert treasure-hunter, an experienced scallywag, a deadly swordsman and gunslinger, and - according to some - a truly impressive knack for magic. His crew, based in the Forsaken Fortress, is devotedly loyal, approaching their goals and the goals of their captain with dogged and dangerous enthusiasm. Heir to what is understood as an ancient and potentially world-shaking power, Ganon pursues glory and destiny in all things. When not fulfilling his role as the charismatic and deadly pirate captain, though, Ganon is bright, inquisitive, easily flustered, and impulsive - which, often, sends him tripping into variously unfortunate and terribly embarrassing situations. It’s fine. He’s fine. He’s totally got this, it’s fine. Crew and reputation established, skills honed, magic and minions at his beck and call, Ganon is ready for his greatest conquest yet - Finally claiming his ancestral power and proving himself the rightful steward of a long-buried legacy, and destroying the last vestiges of the chaotic forces that once cursed and drowned the world.

Tetra - also known as Captain Nohansen, Captain Tetra, or The Great Sea’s Terror - is a match made in the deepest parts of hell for Ganon in how their journeys to greatness have paralleled. Also in her mid-20s, Tetra is a prodigious mage, a lethal swordsman and gunslinger, a savvy explorer and trader of treasures, and a ruthless force to be reckoned with. While her crew has no proper base aside from their common haunt, Windfall Island, they’ve become a staple in stories and nightmares across the Great Sea. Her crew follows her without question, with religious fervor and unending loyalty that disavows even the most minor slight against her - they’re her best friends, bonded in spilled blood and drunken oaths over years of companionship. Tetra’s charisma strays from Ganon’s more smooth and charmingly cocky persona into sheer command and brutal competence. The instant Captain Tetra walks into a room, it is her domain - she knows exactly what she wants, and it is highly unlikely even gods could help those that dare stand in her way. Sarcastic, capable, confident, she is the picture of a legendary pirate: Whether that’s good news or not depends on the person standing across from her. However, all that confidence and support tends toward bullheadedness. When given the choice between arguing a point with Tetra or throwing one’s self into a nearby whirlpool, it may be easier to fight the tumultuous ocean current. Again similarly to Ganon, Tetra is the heir of what is said to be a power capable of bending the future of the world to one’s will. She aims to outclass Ganon and claim her ancestral right once and for all, to reveal the truth of a centuries-long struggle and possibly even draw the drowned earth once again up from the seas.

altogether, they’re fun. I’m having fun. And I hope everybody sticking around to follow the story does too!

[moonlit-mystery-writer]

Different One Piece Men Taking Care of Their Babies Part 3

[Part 1]

[Part 2]

Mihawk, Luffy, Zoro, Marco, and Smoker

Mihawk

Mihawk reacts rather calmly when you tell him you’re pregnant.

He  rubs your belly softly for a bit then promises he’ll make sure to take excellent care of you and the baby.

When your baby girl’s born, she’s the spitting image of Mihawk. The two of you take a bit, but settle on the name Scarlet for her. 

Mihawk loves carrying Scarlet everywhere for the first few months. 

At one point she wouldn’t stop fussing until Mihawk was holding her. And that’s the story of how he had to bring Scarlet to a Warlords meeting with him.

After she comes/crashes onto the island, Perona loves your daughter. She sometimes treats her like a little doll she can dress up, which Scarlet doesn’t seem to mind

During the timeskip, in between Zoro’s training, he allows the green haired swordsman to play with his daughter. Under his supervision of course. 

Her first words of course were Papa and sword. Thankfully she soon followed it up with Mama.

On stormy nights, he loves to take your baby to your shared bedroom and hold her close while cuddling you. Sometimes he’ll even hum little lullabies to soothe her.

Luffy

Luffy was a little confused at first about the pregnancy, but the rest of the crew helped him figure out what it means.

He loves wrapping his arms around your belly while it grows with the baby. He laughs when he feels the baby inside kicking.

When the baby is born, Luffy so eloquently names his son Tiger.

Tiger looks just like you, but has Luffy’s personality through and through. 

Luffy loves watching you feed your son with this sweet infatuation in his eyes.

He’s so upset when he can’t share his meat with Tiger yet, prompting him to tell your son to hurry up and grow teeth.

He loves putting your son in his lap while he’s fishing, being very mindful of his presence as he does so.

When Tiger’s fussing a lot, Luffy loves putting his straw hat on him and telling him different pirating stories while rocking him. 

Luffy can’t wait to be the pirate king with his son by his side!

Zoro

Zoro’s first reaction when you told him was a sleepy okay and drifting back to sleep then he jolts completely awake when your words dawn on him. 

Your pregnancy makes his protectiveness go through the roof. It’s not that he doubts you or sees you as weak like this or anything, he just knows that there’s people out there who’ll take advantage of your more vulnerable state. 

He relaxes a little once your son is born. Kentaro is chubby and happy and has Zoro’s light green hair.

Zoro now has a nap buddy with him. You can often find the two of them sleeping together in Zoro’s favorite spots.

The man has a surprising talent with babies and it’s so cute. 

Kentaro took his first steps trying to get to Zoro when your husband sat him down for a little bit. 

Marco

As a doctor, he’s quick to realize you’re pregnant. 

When you’re ready and give him the okay, he happily tells the other Whitebeard pirates.

You two have a very happy time celebrating your pregnancy with the rest of the crew. Whitebeard himself loves joking how he’s “too young” to be a grandpa

When your little girl is born, she looks just like you but with Marco’s blonde hair and his perpetually lazy look. 

After a bit of deciding, you two settle on the name Stella for the baby.

Marco loves reading and talking to your baby, often answering back to her babbles with his own commentary. 

At one point, to try lulling her into sleep, he carefully strapped on a baby carrier and carefully flew around with her for a little while. It worked like a charm. 

The two of you often trick Ace into being a bottle warmer when he’s not busy. 

Stella’s first word was a very sweet and very happy “Yoi!” Turns out she has the same speaking quirk as Marco.

Smoker

Smoker was a little surprised when you told him you were pregnant. 

He’s both excited and nervous about it. Being a marine is a dangerous job and he’d hate it if your kiddo woke up one day without a dad because of his job.

When your son is born, Smoker adores him. When he’s around him and holding him is one of the few times you see him without any cigars. 

After much debate, you two name him Azure.

He’s an absolutely amazing father. He’s very sweet and affectionate with the kid.

A few times his men have come to talk to him while he’s in the middle of taking care of the baby. So more than once he’s had to bark orders and such while bottle feeding a baby or changing a baby’s diaper. 

The only time he completely makes his men leave the room before talking to them is when Azure’s trying to nap. 

He does his best to be a good influence on your son and make time for him.

[nameless-shrimp]

𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 — RORONOA ZORO

↳ PAIRING: Roronoa Zoro x GN! Reader

↳ TYPE: one-shot

↳ WORD COUNT: 5k (i'm so sorry)

↳ WARNINGS: no major spoilers, post-timeskip ish, reader is an artist, shy and insecure reader, Zoro is probably OOC, heavy grammar errors, i did my best okay

↳ SYNOPSIS: Being the lonely and quiet artist on the ship, Zoro has taken quite an interest in you. Though, he's unsure how to properly speak out his feelings.

↳ AUTHOR’S NOTES: damn i go missing for a month and come back to a one piece fic, sorry this is so bad, i haven't written in a while and well tbh, this was based off a dream LOL. please forgive me if this is written incorrectly with the timeskip stuff, i have a long way to go and just wanted to write zoro content because it's ZORO <333

Forever.

As if one man could dream for a lifetime, though he was sure of his obvious fantasy. A little ring around someone’s finger—where his dream of the future could slowly come to a reality, despite the harsh differences between his occupation compared to the possibility of another. Although, one captivated his interests. A lone traveler, wandering aimlessly into his life, only to capture the heart of a—who was once—pirate hunter that now held a dangerous bounty.

His captain didn’t hesitate to have you on board the ship for a short amount of time. Although the passing of a few months had led to the growth between you and him. Eye stares slowly gazing into his mere curiosity of innocent turmoil; the man aiming to be the world’s greatest swordsman had fallen in a funny little trickle called love?

Sanji nearly spat at his boots for it; as if the mosshead was capable of such a thing.

Though he caught onto it fairly quickly. The cook knew a man in love when he saw one. Much to Sanji’s demise, he didn’t argue against it. However, the secret was kept between them—two annoying men who bicker consistently enough to drive the navigator crazy. It humored you, causing you to fancy the swordsman more.

He’d be lying if he wasn’t so deep in the tunnels of curiosity of what love was meant to be.

Eventually, the relationship sparked into something more. A night resting on the crow’s nest, where you sat there away from the others, occupied with your own drawings and the view of the horizon creeping into its night. End of dawn; Zoro knew you enjoyed your time alone from the others. (And with Luffy’s consistent chaotic state, how could you not?)

“I don’t want you to always feel like you’re alone.”

Those words from his mouth echoed throughout your head that one night, where Zoro spent his time to bring you dinner and you both shared about your personal dreams. An artist just wandering across the seas in hopes to find a new home, lost in nothing but sketchbooks and scattered paintbrushes. Although Luffy had made it clear that you’d grow to be a stronger, well-mannered, and cultivated pirate if you remained to be at home with the crew.

Zoro occasionally laid his head down on the floor, where you allowed his head to rest on your lap while you focused on your own portraits. He did his usual bantering, but did he want to do it? Truly, he definitely did.

As if the stubborn swordsman wanted to fully admit the truth.

Love was doubtful to his eyes as if he could earn someone in his life forever. To love and cherish a dangerous man like him, though his heart had its own sense of purity—in some cases, he thought.

“Hey.”

His voice perked up, right before his eyes slowly closed. Your pencil was set down, where your fingers ran through his hair. Scar eminent on his eye, and your delicate fingers trailed along with the memory where he only smirked. Satisfaction; not wanting to admit to it, he decided to keep his stubbornness tingling along a little bit longer.

“Yeah?” You responded.

He cleared his throat. “Have you ever been in love?”

And it was a straightforward question for him to ask, where you both sat in the crow’s nest underneath the pale moonlight. Silver light sparkling. You hummed; finger tapping the chin, and a sigh was audible.

“No. I’d like to experience it with someone special… though.”

Zoro chuckled, all before closing his eyes cautiously.

“As do I.”

Everything he needed, yearned—heart wanting for a specific desire; all of it could have been accomplished with your presence by his side.

Though you had no experience in combat, and you were mainly the one who had to tag along with the others to ensure your safety, Zoro had grown to a new beginning in his life. At least with you—a bond. Everlasting friendship. Only in hopes of growing it into something more, and even Sanji scoffed about it even from the stare he gawked at you every so often when you were alone on the ship.

“I was going to finish a painting back at the ship.”

“I like your company,” he noted, hands gripping the swords. “Plus… I also tend to get lost, as the others say. You’ll surely have better direction than me.”

You chuckled. “Sometimes.”

“I trust you on directions better than anyone else on the ship.”

“Ha?” Your eyebrow twitched in confusion. “Funny of you to say, I’d expect you to trust anyone else more to help guide you back to the ship.”

Zoro sighed, head tilting down. He eyed your fiddling fingers—a habit you tended to do due to your shyness, mostly around his presence. It could have been due to his intimidating nature that resembled nothing but a frightening swordsman with grimacing smirks. Was that a possible checkmark for being attractive? He’d ask the cook for an extra bit of love advice, but. No thanks.

“Well, if we find an art shop here, I’ll buy you anything you need,” Zoro stated, eyes furrowing ahead of him on the dirt path. Gifts. That was a good clue to ensure his feelings for you—truly, absolutely, had to be.

Zoro was not a man of romance, clearly.

“You don’t have to do that,” you said. “It’s nice to walk around and get off the ship every so often.”

“You’re always occupied in another room or hiding in Chopper’s office,” Zoro noted. “Sometimes I feel like you’re trying to avoid me.”

“Wh—no,” you retorted, palms sweating. “I’m just not used to your crew’s company yet. I guess.”

“After a few months?”

“I’m a little weird.”

“It’s fine,” Zoro responded. “You prefer your alone time. I can respect that.”

“I’m not a very big fighter,” your head shook. “I like to avoid situations that’ll get me out of any trouble.”

Zoro snorted, fighting back a chuckle. “Luffy is the one that tends to create any trouble, I’m sure you know that by now, Y/N.”

Your eyes rolled. “For sure.”

“But you’re not avoiding me?” He asked, eyebrows raised.

Your head shook once more. “No. I like…”

“Hmm?” His feet stopped on the dirt path.

“I mean—” you coughed into your fist, turning away. Zoro eyed your behavior with curiosity, almost finding amusement in the delight. ‘How cute’, he thought, right before his eyes widened at the thought and he turned away. “I like your company the best. Luffy has his moments, Sanji’s very flirty for me, and the others are fine. It’s just…”

Zoro’s head tilted. “Go on.”

“I don’t know. You’re comfortable for me to be around. Maybe it’s because you nap and hang out with me in the crow’s nest when I want to be alone to do my sketches.”

“I did say I like your company.”

“I know, and I’m saying I like yours right back.”

He laughed, raising his hand to pat your head, right before your lips pursed into a flustered line. When your body turned, causing your hands to fall upon your arms to provide some type of heat due to the chilly air—and, realistically, a fidget in order to cope with the flustered state you were in—Zoro took note.

His hands grasped onto his green kimono, right before he swooshed it around your figure. A gasp echoed, where his body remained still. Heart beating into infinity; countless beats that were continuing in a rapid face. Sudden maroon tickled his cheeks, though his stoic expression attempted to keep his blushing state at bay.

“Hey,” you spoke, grasping onto the sleeves of his kimono. “Aren’t you going to be cold too?”

“I’ve trained in extreme weather conditions when there were blizzards out,” Zoro responded, keeping his hands on your shoulders. “A little wind is not enough to bother me.”

“I feel bad.”

“Why?”

“Well, ‘cause it’s yours.”

“And I offered it to you. Don’t be silly.”

You wanted to smack him—out of childish antics, of course. Not to purposefully tick him off.

“Okay, but if you shiver, don’t get mad at me,” you pouted.

He laughed. ‘Why… so damn cute?’ Zoro thought again, only to mentally slap himself from the protruding thoughts creeping in about your personality. Though he couldn’t help it.

And after a passing ten minutes, you both ended up in a simple city, where wagons creaked from their wheels and passengers were minding their own business, trapped in their own worlds. Zoro’s presence was known to you, keeping your body close to his—through his fingers twitched, only wanting to grab ahold of your hand. An easy excuse for this was that so you couldn’t get lost or—maybe, even he wouldn’t get lost himself.

Not a bad excuse, really.

“Where do you want to go?” You asked, hiding deeper into his kimono. “I’m not sure what you wanted to do.”

“Just wander around. The cook went on his own to grab ingredients and food, while Luffy and Usopp went on their own path,” Zoro explained. “Franky and Chopper offered to stay back at the ship. And I’m only assuming the others are on their own somewhere around here.”

“Any particular reason why you wanted me to come?”

He turned to you, earrings dangling from the wind. “Told you, I like your company. Also didn’t wanna get lost. I trust you better than anyone else, remember?”

“I know, but—”

“Let’s take a look around,” he interrupted hastily, quickly rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.

Zoro stood for a moment, causing you to look at him. Face completely puzzled, much to his head. ‘What would that damn cook do?’ He thought to himself, all before gazing down at his hand before twirling his fingers around. You gawked at him, wondering if others were staring at how he paid more attention to his open hand rather than the scenery around him.

“Uh, Zoro?” You blinked. “What the hell are you—”

“I have a favor,” he retorted.

You gulped. “Um, okay. What is it?”

‘This is harder than I thought,’ his mind brushed a subtle thought, only to fight back a forced chuckle.

“Sorry,” Zoro sighed, right before slapping his face with his palm—lost in disbelief.

‘What the hell am I doing?’

“What the hell are you doing?”

Christ—did you just read his mind?

He coughed into his fist, all before he shook his head. Zoro bit his bottom lip, right before throwing his hand down to grab ahold of yours. Your widened eyes caused his heart to race. Mind lost in a daze, completely overwhelmed by the want for more. A little more affection to ease the tension of his heartstrings strumming along to his rapid beats. A moment so little, yet Zoro did not want to forget it.

Your fingers intertwined with his while you tried to fight back the chuckle escaping your lips while Zoro looked away, unamused with his own weird behavior.

“If you wanted to hold my hand…” you murmured, looking down. “You could’ve just said so.”

“Oh, yeah?” Zoro quipped, gritting his teeth while covering the blossom of roses tinting his cheeks with his palm. “My bad. Didn’t wanna make it more uncomfortable for you.”

“Huh?” You blinked. “No… I kind of like this.”

“Well,” he exhaled. “Don’t let go.”

You smiled; eyes flourishing to full bloom.

“I won’t.”

Zoro stood near the shelves with full attention to your curious expressions. Eyes wandering from different brushes on the shelves as canvases were laid out amongst the walls. Ranging from acrylic to watercolor, all portray different fantasies and universes from single brush strokes. Your mind remained lost in thought; hand in hand with his, where he eyed down the knuckles and brushed his thumb across yours.

A mental note that he was around—just to ensure that he was nearby.

Zoro’s eyes darted near the front door, where whispers were audible of a group of Marines stepping foot on the island in search of the pirates. And he groaned mentally, fighting back a glare to the light illuminating from the outside.

‘Let’s hope our idiot captain didn’t get us tangled in any mess this time,’ he wondered.

“Is something wrong?”

Your soft voice caused his eyes to widen, only to where he fought back a grunt and only to force a tug of his lips, portraying half of a smile, and then he gave a head pat. “We might have to get going soon if we don’t want any trouble,” he stated; you nodded. “Is there anything you want here?”

“Honestly, I think I’m okay,” you said. “It’s nice to look at other people’s artwork, though.”

“I don’t have the skills or talent like you and some other people do,” Zoro spoke, gazing up at a watercolor painting on the wall of empty farmland. Peaceful. Much like the kind of future Zoro hoped for his—maybe. “Well, when it comes to all this artsy stuff.”

“That’s okay,” you smiled shyly. “At least you’re skilled and attentive to any danger around. I don’t have any of that.”

“You’ll find your own ways of protecting yourself,” Zoro responded. “But I’ll be there to protect you.”

‘Huh?’

“What?”

Zoro gulped, placing a palm on his head before his lips began trembling. “I mean—” he choked on his words. ‘No, no, I meant it,’ he spoke to himself mentally. “I want to protect you. I’m here for you.”

You blinked before smiling, rubbing his knuckles when your hands were interlocked with one another. “Everyone is so protective of each other in the crew…” you explained, eyes looking down. “I’m hoping that I can provide something to make the others comfortable around me.”

He looked at you, with full attention. He sighed, only before showing off a rare smile, causing your eyes to enlighten his expression even more. Zoro slowly placed his forehead on yours, not minding that you two were in a large aesthetic art shop—covered by different supplies amongst the walls and the pieces that were up for show.

“You seem to make everyone happy just the way you are,” he said sternly. “But I meant it when I say that I want to protect you.”

Your lips trembled, watching his deep stare into your own eyes with his forehead resting amongst yours. Warm. That was how he felt; safe, comely—a place to call home.

“If I can protect you too,” you laughed brightly. “I want to do the same.”

‘Stop… acting cute.’

Zoro smirked, pulling away before the stomping from the outside grew into loud thunder. His eyes darted from its rare soft composure to a more grimace glance. Not to be rudely interrupted by the irritating Marines, but it was best to find a way out of the shop as soon as possible—and hope that he’d be able to make sure you’d head back safely to the ship.

When the crowd of bantering Marines had died down from the outside, Zoro grabbed ahold of your hand and then dragged you out of the shop harshly. He murmured faint apologies, not wanting to cause you to fall into a frantic panic, but it was best to find the way out of the city fast—with the beating of his heart falling into a rapid marathon, he was truly uncomfortable with these consistent emotions.

Need, want, the desire to protect you—or just you. Every ounce of you, every fiber of your heart, and the brightening cherry blossoms blooming in your eyes for every rare occurrence that you are laughing around others. An unusual feeling of pink swirled inside him; as if pink and raspberry mixed together within his heart.

He liked it—and much to his surprise, he wanted more of it.

Happiness. With one person.

“We have to go,” Zoro said bluntly.

You nodded without arguing. “Ah, sure, okay. I think I heard that the Marin—”

“Let’s not talk about it in public, right now.”

“Got it.”

“Don’t let go of my hand, ‘kay?”

“Sure,” your bottom lip trembled. “Sorry.”

He looked back, still walking towards a familiar dirt path that you both walked across on. And God, let it be the correct route.

“Why’re you apologizing?” He asked, raising a brow.

“I feel like it’s my fault.”

“What—no,” he retorted. “You know the Marines have always been on our ass for a long time now. Don’t apologize; roll with what’s happening. We’re going to get back on the ship safely—that’s if the others made it back before anything shitty happens.”

He ran, with your hand tangled with his. No other questions, arguments, or bickering had been made. Zoro sensed the tingle of insecurity brewing within your stomach. He never understood much about that tension of anxiety—and uncertainty of one’s self. Though he did try to relate to it on a different basis when it only came to his own swordsmanship.

“Are we going the right way?”

You asked, and he nearly jolted on his steps. “I think so,” Zoro exhaled quickly, only to hear rustling near the trees after you both escaped the city. “You’re my guide. Lead us back home to the ship.”

“Do you hear that?”

“Loud and clear.”

And within seconds, he took out two swords, ready to twirl one into his mouth right before a sneaky Marine tried to get ahold of him. Silly gestures from these folks were something he had grown used to, only hopes of you not getting injured in any way.

“Watch it, Y/N!” He shouted, using the back of his sword to hardly push the soldier away back into the bushes. Zoro turned to you—eyes enlarged with your hands shaking. A pang of anxiety hit; it usually did, whenever your presence was in the sight of danger. ‘Why? Oh, yeah.’ He definitely knew, though did not fully wish to physically admit it.

“I—”

“Are you okay?” He asked. “That was nothing but you seem shaken up. Still not used to everything yet?”

“I mean, it still catches me off guard,” you spoke cautiously.

“Our ship has flown high off the sea and you’re still scared of one little Marine, huh?” He chuckled humorously, only to have you keep your head down. “Don’t worry about it. Glad to see that you’re safe.”

“I’m—”

“Don’t apologize,” Zoro interrupted sternly, voice blunt in its tone. “Stop apologizing for things that are out of your control.”

“I’m so—” you placed a palm over your mouth, letting out an awkward chuckle. “Ah, I was about to just—”

“I know,” he smirked, only to sigh afterward. “C’mon, we can’t wait any longer.”

“Ah. Right.”

Slowly, his smirk grew into a rare soft grin.

“You’re supposed to lead me back home. So take my hand, and try not to let go.”

“Figured I would find you here.”

You ignored the familiar voice, only to have you sit close to the Sunny’s head, where you rested your body on the railing. Zoro mentioned that you didn’t show up for dinner, nor did you try to snatch a plate after hours where you’d be the most comfortable.

The moon shone silver; constellations scarred with its stars. Navy blue looked appealing, with each star to guide one home. Zoro watched you look up, only to glance down at the sketchbook on your lap and then eye the stories up above. However, his eyes could only faint down to your quiet posture, where not one moment of eye contact was shared.

He sat down next to you, arms crossed; the kimono he lent you was still prominent around your body. Zoro wanted to comment on it, though he remained quiet and chose that actions were a more definite sense of speaking how he felt within the moment.

Scars would bleed, though at least, his heart believed in the identity of what home could be. To be with the Straw Hats—and to dream of a future with a person that he could cherish every moment with. One to protect, one that’d make his heart blossom roses and tulips in ways that he’d never imagined his own garden would grow—one to announce his sense of happiness and desire in a sentimental signal.

“You don’t have to talk,” he said before trailing his hand with yours.

He turned his head, knowing the growth of warmth creeping up the pillar of his neck. Though the stars above enlightened the fair bits of his skin tone, and you snuck a glance his way every so often.

“Do you want to hold my hand?” He asked; you didn’t nod, instead, you decided to respond back with the entanglement of your fingers with his—all in one.

“Remember,” Zoro said, gripping your hand tight. “I don’t want you to always feel alone.”

Shyly, you turned away, biting your bottom lip. Zoro watched your behavior, wondering if he had been pressing matters too far with the hand-holding. Though, part of his mind cheered him on—how it all felt right. Exactly as he pleased and wanted. And he exhaled tiredly, only to have him straighten his back against the wall of the ship.

“Zoro…”

Your voice soothed him, much like the waves of the sea. He raised a brow, trying to prevent his legs from shaking in nervousness. How could a swordsman like him be so voiceless with his own feelings—especially for you?

He was not like the cook, that was for sure.

(Thank God.)

“Yeah?” He responded.

You looked down, watching the empty page in your sketchbook. Hand lost in its shakes; moon glowed from afar. “Would you feel uncomfortable if I asked you for a favor?”

“Depends on the favor.”

“Would you?”

Zoro fought back a yawn. “It depends like I said. Although, if it’s you… don’t think you could make me feel uncomfortable, really…”

You blinked, slowly gripping onto the pencil with your free hand.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Okay, um.”

He blinked. “Yeah?”

“Is it okay if I could draw you?”

Zoro stared at you for a moment, with a brief pause, and the chilly wind to dangle his earrings. He huffed childishly, crossing his arms after letting your hand go, and then he rolled his head back against the wall of the ship.

“Would my usual pose be me when I take my naps?” He joked, showing off a hint of a smirk. “Go ahead.”

You eyed him for a brief moment, and your eyes locked onto his. A moment quiet and pleasant enough to capture a picture for a memento. Though an illuminating smile was enough to cause his heart to flutter, and he closed his eyes; smirk softening to a thin line. And you sketched him out, from shoulders and up.

For what was twenty minutes that seemed like forever, Zoro noted the sweet moment of peace. He offered night duty—again—only to capture your attention once more. And he replayed the short bickering of the cook in his head, on how to properly charm a woman and that Zoro never understood the difference between handling kitchen knives compared to his swords.

Anything to keep his head occupied, though he occasionally opened an eye to peek at you fully immersed with the dragging of a pencil upon rough paper. He was no artist, not unless it came with his sword styles, though Zoro was fully aware that he could manage to respect other people’s peak of creativity—he envied it, almost. With the pale moon above him to speak loudly of his feelings, at least, for the little moments he shared with you—he embraced his interest in others with your presence around.

Never did another person make him feel the way you did. Adventures with the Straw Hats were exhilarating. He was a man hungry for blood; thirsty for a battle if it meant for him to improve bit by bit in order to achieve his goal to be the world’s greatest swordsman.

However, you were different.

When did the adventures of just napping in the same room as you ever bring him a heavenly sound of peace? Or the moments where you both did not share many conversations yet he preferred to be around your space more than any of his other crewmates? Consistently, he asked himself—though the feelings were obvious from the start.

‘I think I’m in love with you.’

But how could he say those words?

“I think I’m done.”

He opened his eyes, and you turned your sketchbook over to show off his portrait. The lines were hatched, but he knew it was him. Truly, you were delicate with your own work—passionate with every stroke possible.

Zoro smiled softly, looking at the shading areas below his neck and on his face, most likely resembling the moon shining from up above.

“It’s beautiful,” he said. “Just like you.”

You choked. “Ha—”

“I didn’t mean it in a bad way!” Zoro retorted, gritting his teeth from his sudden comment. “Shit, sorry to make it weird.”

“No, you’re fine, I just…”

His eyebrows elevated. “What is it?”

“I want to smack you for this.”

“What?”

“Like,” you groaned, shutting your sketchbook to a close. “The way you make me feel. I know how I feel about you, and it’s annoying me every time I get near you.”

He blinked, raising his head straight. “Y/N, list—”

“I’m sorry,” you exhaled, placing a palm on your face. “I probably ruined everything because of what I said but I don’t really care anymore. I think I love you.”

Zoro sat up properly, furrowing his eyebrows.

“I really screwed everything up, I didn’t mean—”

“Y/N, listen to—”

“I’m sorry, Zoro, can you forget what I—”

“Dammit, Y/N, listen to me!” He nearly shouted, only to get your attention properly before he threw his hands on your face, causing you to gasp. Zoro’s arms shook; eyes enlarged. His body was rushing in adrenaline, yet he showed no fear—for once, with his confusing feelings. “I didn’t mean to yell, but I need you to listen.”

Your shoulders lowered, giving him access to place his forehead down close to your neck.

“Can we please forget what I said?” You pleaded.

Zoro sighed, before slowly throwing his arms around you and then pulling you close to his embrace. Not once did he ever show this kind of affection to any other member—this was different. New. An open light at the end of a tunnel; and he smirked proudly, even with his lip quivering.

“No,” he responded harshly, before clearing his throat. “Because I love you too.”

“What?” You said, face shaking in surprise.

“I don’t know what the hell you do to me, but I got confused with my own damn feelings. Every time I’m around you, I can’t control myself right,” he confessed, gritting his teeth. His grip on your body tightened, causing you to gasp. “I feel like I have to protect everyone here, but with you. It’s different. Something about you makes me feel like I need to make sure you’re safe with me. That you can trust me.”

Zoro pulled away from the hug, only to keep his palms inching further up to your face. He sent off a soft smirk, blush prominent on his cheeks before exhaling.

“I’m pretty sure those feelings make it obvious on my end th—that I love you too.”

“Wh—Zoro,” you gulped. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Don’t blame you. I never really say this stuff to… anyone.”

“But…” you grinned, fighting back tears in your eyes. You shakily put your hands on his arms, where he parted his lips at your quivering state. “I’m so glad you feel the same way.”

He nodded, right before he placed his lips on yours. In a surprising turn of events, you found yourself kissing him back, feeling the prominent smirk on his lips. Zoro noted the change of color within his heart throughout the kiss—from a dull contrast to a brightening, shade of pink, all colored on his cheeks and the swirly feeling within his chest. Not once did he regret the moment of tranquility.

When he broke the kiss, he grinned proudly, right before you threw yourself onto his chest. He fell back on the floor, only to chuckle deeply at your happy reaction. His hand met with your shoulders, and the grip from his other hand tightened around you protectively.

“I love you, Y/N.”

“I… love you too,” you whispered back.

Time unknown; moon glistening above. His blush was eminent. Zoro chuckled pridefully, continuing to soothe your shaking shoulders with his hand.

“Did anyone know about… your feelings?” You asked.

He shrugged, smirking at the sky. “A certain cook, I guess.”

“Did you ask him for, like, I don’t know,” you laughed. “Love advice?”

Zoro rolled his head further back, only to see a cloud of smoke near the upper deck and a familiar man with blond hair. Due to the dark light, he wasn’t able to notice much, except for a smirk following suit from the familiar chef after he had lit his cigarette. Zoro told himself to lay off the fighting with Sanji, even for a bit—at least for a while.

Then, he eyed the clouds above him—all hiding stories beneath them with waves of constellations. A future that was meant to be calm, soothing, filled with endless harmony—to spend it with a special someone, in hopes that it would be you, where your souls intertwined at the blink of the ocean’s horizon.

Zoro couldn’t help but snicker at your words.

“Something like that.”

[oneprompt]

Helloooo! How u doing? Hope things going over there!

Glad to meet another one piece x reader blog! 💕💕 I was wondering if I could have a drabble or headcanons (whichever u prefer honestly) about jealous Zoro x chubby s/o? It can be NSFW or SFW (again whichever u prefer)

A jealous partner just hits different u know? 😳😳😳

Thank u for ur time!

authors note : hello ! <3 im doing rather well , thanks so much for asking <3 hope you’re doing lovely <33 i hope you don’t mind that i picked NSFW for this one ;; jealousy just blends perfectly with NSFW .. Anywho ! i hope you enjoy the headcanons + drabble <3 Oh ! i mainly kept the reader gender neutral , as i wasn’t sure if you wanted it as a female , male or nb. i hope that’s alright with you <3

NSFW WARNING BELOW <3 please skip if such content makes you uncomfortable.

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Jealous! Zoro x Chubby! Reader Headcanons

tags : jealousy , ( slight ) breeding kink , possessiveness , marking

• It takes quite a lot to get Zoro jealous. He’s a swordsman and swordsmanship is all about honor and respect , even towards opponents.

• But if a certain Straw Hat even breathes in your direction, he’s quick to make jealous. Sanji had no limitations when it came to his flirtatious attitude, he didn’t even hold back flirting with you, someone who was knowingly in a relationship, let alone someone who was dating Zoro.

• Zoro doesn’t hesitate to stride over to you and Sanji, quick to shout and possibly hit Sanji. Who does Sanji think he is? Zoro hated that sleezy face Sanji would make, allowing his eyes to trace along every piece of exposed flesh you had as you sunbathed on the ship deck. And Zoro especially hated how your face would flush in embarrassment from the other mans compliments.

• When he’s jealous, Zoro gets a lot tougher when it comes to bed room activities. Most of the time, he’s slow with his strokes, leaving light kisses along your stomach or neck, depending on what position you two were in. But when he’s jealous? Boy, oh boy... Jealousy is the plague! Do not expect to be able to walk straight afterwards

• He’ll definitely bury your body in hickies and bite marks, wherever his mouth can reach, it’ll be throbbing from Zoro’s lips. Zoro lacks shame, really. He doesn’t mind if people notice the marks he leaves upon you. If anything, Zoro wants people to see them, it strokes his ego.

• Zoro wants to be able to see your face 100%. He loves seeing your sweet expression sink with pure ecstasy. The way you’ll drool and blush an unbelievable shade of red as he rams up into the warmth of your body makes him grin with delight. Zoro knows nobody can do this for you, that only he can. And that feeling is the greatest to ever bask within him, the feeling of superiority of all the men who have ever looked at you in a lewd way.

• Zoro loves to grope your body, as well. He likes to feel every bit of you, from your chest to your lovehandles, he wants to feel it all. He loves knowing your plump body is only for him to feast on.

• If you ever show shame in your body type, Zoro is quick to correct you with eager touches. How idiotic do you have to be to neglect such a treasure? Zoro will always be there to remind you of the value your body holds to him, and why you should find pride in it as well.

• When Zoro is in a mood, he often likes to drain his seed inside of you, filling you to the brim with his musky semen. He’s very territorial , as you can tell. Very into marking, wether with marks or his own cum.

Jealous! Zoro x Chubby! Reader Oneshot

“H-hey... can’t you be a bit gentler?” Your voice seeped out in between the harsh pants that circulated from you. The way Zoro was palming at your body was as tight as the grip he would use upon his sword. Mixing such powerful touches with the grinding of his rock hard member made it even more difficult to speak through. You could feel his precum dribble against your hole, making your warm body hotter then it already was.

Zoro didn’t make an effort to reply, as he was clearly in his own little world. All of this over Sanji and his cooking .. All you had done was compliment the chef on the straw berry and vanilla parfait he had graciously served you. It wasn’t your fault Sanji took ever little thing to heart... Yet, even as you had explained the scene, Zoro still didn’t let up with his sudden yearning for your body.

It was embarrassing, nearly. The way Zoro’s face smothered against your stomach, his calloused fingers scaling against the surface of your body. Everytime Zoro would leave a kiss or hickey against your stomach, you’d jolt in pleasure. It felt so good but having him smother your stomach like that... it was far too much.

“Zoro...not my stomach...its-“ You gasped out loudly as you were suddenly impaled on the forth of Zoro’s member, that action completely cutting off your words. You felt your toes curl and your legs tremble from the intrusion. You were already so sensitive, and that certainly amped it up further. Your eyes peered up at Zoro as he sat up, his tanned hands firmly squeezing your love handles as he let you consume every inch of him.

“Eh? It’s not what, Y/n?” Zoro smirked down at you, letting out a raspy laugh. He didn’t hesitate to begin to move his hips, letting his member exit your warmth before burrowing deep inside once again. “You better not have been thinking what i think you were...” Zoro knew how you felt about your body. You didn’t hate it but some days he would notice the way you’d gaze upon yourself, a small frown taking over your face. “Because.. the whole Grand Line can tell how fucking hot you are,” Zoro hissed, his breath growing slightly heavy as he quickened his thrusts.

You couldn’t tell if your face was hot from the temps tire of the room and the man that hovered over your naked form, or if it was hot from what Zoro had just said. Zoro was never new to vulgar compliments but that one was far too for you to handle, making you tighten around Zoro’s shaft. This was certainly different from the sex you two typically had. Zoro was never a man to falter, always staying at a steady pace but today, it was nonstop. You couldn’t help but let the loud moans that brewed within your throat out. You felt guilty, because God knows the rest of the crew was trying to sleep right now. But you couldn’t help it, you couldn’t help but gasp and call out for your lover as he pounded your deepest parts.

Zoro felt a never ending source of confidence against the rest of the ship and their mates. He knew he was the only person to make you scream in such a way. The thought that he was the only one who ever got to see you in such a manner just made him even more excited. Nobody got such a great view, nor would they ever. You were Zoro’s and Zoro’s alone, no one could come between you two, not even a damn War Lord.

Zoro was consistent, never stopping his rapid and rough strokes. He didn’t even pace himself, as you two got further into the session. It was sloppy, at that point. You two had been going at it like animals for about an hour or so, giving not a single Straw Hat time to get a blink of sleep in the time window. Fluids gushed from the both of you, the sticky fluid you dumped against his member just made such a lewd noise every time he would thrust inward. It was loud as he rammed into you, matching with the smacking of flesh.

You were close, and with the look that rested on Zoro’s face, he was just as close as you were. The room was full of moans and groans, the playful banter from before had ceased to be, melted within the bed sheets, along with the sweat that was produced from you and Zoro.

“Zoro...! I’m close!” You mustered out, throwing your head back into the mess of pillows that remained behind you. It was as i you were molding into the bed, slowly sinking into the wet bed sheets, marked with your own juices as well as the ones from your lover.

With how suddenly your walls clamped against Zoro’s shaft, it didn’t give him a single moment to think about pulling out. It was as if you were attempting to milk him of every drop of cum he could produce. And so, you did. The warmth of Zoro’s seed was an overwhelming force that seeped into you, painting your walls white with the thick fluid.

An animalistic groan escaped Zoro as he drained his balls, filling you as much as he could with his semen. It felt so satisfying to fill you, almost as if he were trying to impregnate you, wether he could or not. The feeling of him not just branding every bit of you on the outside but as well on the inside was the best feeling he could ask for.

You were his. Inside and out, you were marked by the worlds top wanted ‘ pirate hunter ‘ , the right hand man to the worlds future pirate king.