#both being mistreated by arlong...

[brainyxbat]

Roronoa Venus AU: Hungry Days

In this particular timeline, rather than Venus being adopted into Zoro's family, they're fraternal twins! Zoro is quite protective of his younger, shrinking violet twin since they were both little, and wishes she would stand up for herself; his heart breaks whenever he hears about her getting bullied, and just taking it without so much as a single word. He defends her regularly, being called her bodyguard in mocking, but they're not together 24/7, so she's preyed upon behind his back.

Rich brat Charlos and his equally terrible sister Shalria are the worst offenders, gathering certain students to see if she would finally crumble, after they chip at her. Despite complaints, Principal Rosward refuses to keep his two children in line. It's gotten to the point where she gets panic attacks from crowds and loudness; other than Zoro, and not counting failed relationships, Venus had no friends in the whole school.

Not even fellow Goth Perona is interested in being friends with the freakier one. She likes spiders! And storms! Unironically!

Attempting to break out of her timidity shell after some reluctance, she joins her brother's peer group, led by Luffy. She's quickly accepted, as she feels like she finally has friends. Even if that Sanji's a little overeager...

It doesn't take long for her to fall in love; she's swept up by Usopp immediately, oblivious to her feelings being mutual, but is afraid to date again, due to bad experiences. Zoro is apprehensive upon hearing that Usopp's head over heels for his sister; he doesn't want her heart broken anymore.

But Usopp promises to be the one to break that depressing streak. He already loves Venus, and would never mistreat her like those in the past; she's the sweetest girl he's ever met, and he knows she deserves to be loved.

Zoro, with lots of hesitation, relents, and gives his blessing for Usopp to ask her out, thought not without a threat for should she get hurt. Venus is surprised, but agrees on a date with him; they go to a casual restaurant, and bond tightly over a fish dinner at Arlong Park. It's a success; they become an official couple following a few more dates, and she has never been happier.

Zoro is very happy for her, though for a a good while, he keeps his guard up in case of any problems. Arguments happen, but Venus and Usopp's relationship survives it all.

After a few months, they have their first kiss. On their one-year anniversary, she's given an adorable, novelty promise ring.

Epilogue: They get married.

[talesofmetalandmagic]

Do you think speed would go back to being bad if she was no longer under Tama’s devil fruit’s effect?

I don’t really know. It’s hard to trust Oda with female villains given his track record (namely Baby 5), but Wano so far has delivered in spades when it comes to the leading ladies, with Kiku and Ulti alone representing a needed spin in diversity and agency. 

Speed’s role in the story was criticized after she was brutally attacked by Kaido, raising accusations of fridging and gratuitous mistreatment. I second these accusations, but I also suspect that they might have been premature due to the fact that Speed may be returning. 

I’m not sure how long the effect of the Kibi Dango will last, or if it has any end at all, but I do hope it does seeing that it literally brainwashed two people and possibly more. Still, my idea on Speed and Kaido’s minor underlings (as in anyone who isn’t a Calamity or one of the Tobi Roppo) has them switch sides, but simply because they realize that Kaido doesn’t give a lick about them. 

Kaido’s crew is both the biggest and least close crew of villains we’ve seen. Among the previous ones – I’m excluding the nameless underlings, I only mean the named villains – there was always some sort of connection between the captain and his crew. Doflamingo’s underlings were also his family, Moria didn’t care for his zombie underlings but he cared a big deal for the humans, Hody Jones had been close to his fishy friends for long, same thing with Arlong, Big Mom’s crew are either blood of her own blood, people she offers protection to in Tottoland or mindless homies created by her Devil Fruit, and all the Marines and CP Agents are just doing their duty. 

The big exception here is Enel, with his Holy Guard only serving him due to sheer fear and devotion. McKinley and the White Berets reformed after his defeat and went on to serve Gan Fall. This is what I expect will happen to Kaido’s crew. They have no connection to him, he is a stranger to Wano and many of them probably lived there since before he and Orochi invaded the country. Speed was devoted to Kaido, but he was ruthless in attacking her. It’s smart of her to switch, since she probably realized that to his eyes, she is nothing. 

This is what I expect all the Headliners will think. Babanuki of course, but all the others as well. After Jack sent Sheepshead and Ginrummy on that fool’s errand, killing them all aside from himself, and Queen shot his bullets at his own men just to play that sadistic game, that should be enough to come to terms that Kaido is cruel and abusive. Speed could just be the example to follow, but they all need to get away. 

In short, I don’t think she will become bad again. But for once it’s a plus.