#luffy’s honesty and straightforwardness is so important to me

[crowdusk]

thinking about the boa sisters (esp hancock) and the story of medusa…a myth about shame and rage and abuse of power from patriarchal agents. the way medusa literally is made monstrous by her grief and pain and betrayal. the sisters are so strong and respected but they carry the shame about their past literally burned onto their skin. to the point they have to invent themselves a myth to hide it. hancock has put up the highest walls/become somewhat cruel in order to protect herself after she and her sisters were subjected to the most horrific kinds of violence (heavily implied s*xual violence too). that thing anne carson wrote about monsters in myth being mostly women with deranged boundaries…yeah. idk what i’m trying to say but they’re important to me!!! their rage is important to me!!

[cebwrites]

Hello! What if in an alternate path, Kaku joined the Straw Hats (Franky still joins)? To me, he seems the most likely to swap to pirate, and he seemed to actually enjoy his job at the docks. How would he handle the crew? What role would he have? Thank you!!!

a/n: dunno if anon would still see this answer at this point, though i finally came around to this idea - maybe it’s the holiday season 🎄

What if Kaku joined the Strawhats

slight zosan/usonami word count: 1.5k

He definitely does seem to be the type to switch sides, I feel like in his mind, given more freedom, Kaku would like to align himself with whatever seems the most interesting even if not entirely conducive to coming out on top - in canon the latter part is more important but something tells me he made his way into CP0 partly on a whim, to see watch what would become of the new era from a higher perch

Say for the sake of argument he gets cast aside entirely by the WG after the events of Enies Lobby (afaik the CP9 agents had a short romp in a cover story about raising funds to get back on their feet so maybe this was during then), he’s desolate and paranoid at every turn because in the back of his mind, even the kindest of civilians could be someone sent to keep an eye on him post-failure

So Kaku turns to the people he has no doubt would never hide anything from him, the only kid forthcoming enough who had the gall to march into a government island and declare war on the whole world - Luffy was the last person who’d be sneaky about his feelings and that’s exactly what Kaku needed right now, good old fashioned honesty

And it’s honesty he gets, when Luffy tells him that he doesn’t like this Usopp imposter (after needing a reminder as to who he was and complaints from Sogeking himself) for hurting Robin and that he should leave - as straightforward an answer as Kaku could get

Due to extenuating circumstances, though, be it the Grand Line’s unpredictable weather, enemies getting in the way, or plain old, “ah well, we can’t just drop him in the sea, that’s a bit too cruel” though certain members would beg to differ, and bonds would slowly be formed over the course of spending time together

Imagine there it takes longer for them to get to Thriller Bark or Sabaody where other plot things happen or something shdfbshtgndf

Considering his fickle (to outsider eyes) nature however, among other more important reasons, it’s difficult for the Strawhats to take as well to him as Luffy’s go with the flow attitude - although it has to be said that a former enemy who did hurt their own in the past eventually becoming nakama isn’t entirely out of the blue, given Vivi and Robin herself

Kaku is aware of this, he’s been aware of people’s mistrust in him since he was a child, always with too-wide eyes for the adults around him and a smile that never quite reached it, so he’s used to being held at arm’s length

It’s the unsurprisingly the youngest of the crew that warm up to Kaku first - Chopper tending to his wounds after Kaku helped the SHs in battle, he quickly becomes endeared with the little reindeer’s antics and complex about compliments, Usopp being very skittish at first but eventually spinning Kaku the long, tall tales he does to everyone else, and Luffy’s unwavering kindness that leaves little else to be said.

That, and Luffy’s endless amusement at his Zoan form, that seem to entertain the other kids on board as well. The next is Sanji, silently showing his care through his cooking while still being very verbally hostile, being one of the first to threaten Kaku during the first week that he was stuck on their ship due to unforeseen circumstances that if he dared to hurt another hair on Robin’s, or anyone else’s for that matter, head then being out of house and home - how he came to them - would be the least of Kaku’s worries; the cook still fed him though, and to Kaku, that was more than could be said about others he often found himself around before the Strawhats. Zoro follows soon after, laying down the fact plain and simple that he didn’t like him but if they were to cohabitate per captain’s orders, things would go much smoother if they learned how to get along sooner rather than later, Kaku doesn’t make the jab that it seems that Zoro and Sanji still don’t get along to this day in the moment, but over time he’d learn that the two of them shared something beyond anything Kaku himself has had, or even allowed himself, to experience. Zoro puts Kaku through the wringer day after day with sparring, only resting when Chopper yells at Zoro for overexerting himself since he’s keeping the newbie on his toes while still picking fights with Sanji and getting injured that way, so Kaku has to find other ways of making himself useful on a ship as lively as the Sunny.

It’s here that he finds himself helping out with Usopp’s tinkering, listening to the lad talk about grand would-be fantasies, helping him with parts of his inventions, and teasing him about the shy yet longing glances Usopp sends their lovely navigator when it seems like she’s not looking, not quite noticing Franky’s encroachment into the workshop until their resident Cyborg is firmly seated in his usual spot. Franky’s just a blunt as Zoro is, he’s up front about his feelings on the situation regardless of Usopp’s presence - when Sogeking tries to sneak away from a potentially very tense and awkward interaction Franky tells him to sit his tuchus down and get back to work.

Franky is painfully, well, frank, about the anguish Kaku’s previous allegiances have caused this crew and he states that it’ll be an uphill battle to earn everyone’s trust truly, let alone the Funkfreed in the room that Kaku’s only barely managed to avoid interacting with too much during his stay, but also says that he sees how hard Kaku’s trying, and that deserves recognition more than anything else. Nami doesn’t offer any leeway when Kaku finally gathers the courage to face Robin, determined to protect her friend at any cost when their lanky, tweedy new crewmate (but distinctly not nakama) makes his way up to the table under Nami’s mikan trees that the girls often lounged under - before Nami can rip into him too hard, though, Robin puts up a hand and asks for a moment of privacy between the two of them - Nami’s unhappy about it but acquiesces. 

Within the few short interactions Kaku’s had with Robin previously on this ship, it’s either been with tempered ire, suspicion, and then jabs said with her calm but characteristically unnerving smile, showing clear (warranted) apprehension to his very presence around her nakama, so he bears his soul - Kaku doesn’t spin a sob story or make grand gestures that would attempt to garner sympathy like his pathetic excuse for a former boss, but plainly and simply states his intentions, his anxieties, his remorse, in a very Zoro-esque way, one would even say.

Kaku knows that more than anyone here, Robin had suffered the most at Enies Lobby, he had been conducive to that suffering, and here he was, begging for a place to exist on the same crew that took her in, the very one that he’d been ordered to take out like nothing a few months ago; the small crew that the World Government severely underestimated and paid dearly for. 

He’d say he knows it wouldn’t mean much to her, nor does he have the audacity to ask for her forgiveness, but for what it’s worth Kaku is sorry.

Being under Robin’s scrutinizing gaze burns but Kaku doesn’t waver, he faces her head on even though through even passing second, it feels like this woman wants to explode his head with her mind. Almost like some strange, unspoken game of chicken to test his mettle against her, the direct consequence of his own actions. And Kaku blinks. He tries to excuse himself, to hide away in some dark, cold corner of the ship where he can bottle up all these thoughts again and manage his guilt in silence.

But he’s not allowed to. Of course not.

Robin says, just as he turns to leave, that obviously even if he were to get on his hands and knees to grovel like the worm that he was, eyes unemotive, he would never gain forgiveness, much less hers, that way. Only a fiery grave awaited those who were so spineless. She says that she doesn’t know if she’ll ever be able to forgive the things he’s done as a person, a former government agent. A dog to cruel masters. Her eyes follow the bob of his Adam’s apple as she takes a long, calculated sip of her tea.

But she wouldn’t be unwilling to start over with whoever Kaku made of himself now, as a potential ally. Not a friend yet, not nearly close to nakama, but it was a start and, smiling, Robin was interested in seeing what he’d become on the journey to get there. 

Contradictory to what anyone had to say, Kaku did not cry that day.

[more-than-a-gentleman]

Why is Oda making sure to avoid giving Sanji a full on successful moment with other women?

+extension

My question to Oda is: Why are you holding back with Sanji? If two strawhats are not supposed to end together then why hold back? With other members it is not difficult at all but with Sanji why are you super cautious?

Isn’t Sanji supposed to be the “Knight”? The “Prince”? The “Love-cook”? The “Gentleman”? (1 / 2)

Sanji is supposed to be the character that always saves women, but here even though Sanji proposed to keep Vivi safe, the one who saved her later on and got a moment with her is Luffy.

Sanji was the one to hear Tashigi’s cries and he went to save her. But after he clashed with Vergo, the ones who carried Tashigi away were the G-5 members. Sanji did not get a chance to, but then we get Zoro having a moment with her and infront of Sanji. Since he is the ladies’ man why couldn’t Oda give him at least that?

Exact same thing with Hyori. But this time it got even more apparent. Hyori slept next to Zoro at first, then when she got in danger and Sanji was there.... nope... let Zoro have her.

Im sorry I dont need to explain this one...

This is just a slap in the face honestly, cant get more straightforward than that.

Are you kidding me? You can’t be serious....

So the man who literally was supposed to be all about “Women” got sent to an island with, not only okamas, but not a SINGLE woman. While Luffy goes to an island where, not only has ALL women, but also the most beautiful woman on land..... how is that fair?

All those moments where he could have had something nice but got cheated by other characters. What if I told you he got absolutely robbed by plot as well?

So, he seems to be having a good time. Things are going well👍🏻 finally!!! But oh no, the ship got attacked. He has to leave. Compare that to Zoro and Luffy’s moments, he just cant have it.

And now to the big one...

Eventhough he is clearly faking it, Sanji is trying to find a drop of water in the empty glass. He can’t do anything else at that point. Seems to be going well.

I hope you get something Sanji, you deserve to be a little happy AT LEAST😊😊:

... 😶😶😶

You are just messing with me at this point.... ladies’ man my ass, he cant even get one decent moment with one for crying out loud

But then, oh Pudding started to love Sanji and he knows that. YES! Sanji finally getting somewhat of what he wants, seems to be moving smoothly. And plus a KISS!! Let us see this😁😁:

Seriously.... he cant have that as well.🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

Zoro can sleep next to the most beautiful woman in Wano, that is fine.

Luffy can have the most beautiful woman on land love him, that is great.

Sanji can’t even have a kiss from a girl that loves him and get away with it. Why? For what reason?

Even compared to the woman Luffy and Zoro had moments with, the girls Sanji met are nowhere near as important, its not even close:

Pudding is a 35th daughter of a Yonko, a nobody pretty much. And Violet is a secondary princess compared to Rebecca who played more of a role in dressrosa.

So what now? Is he never going to get any successful moment ever? That is unbelievable...

But that is the thing....

Well... now I ask you a question.... why is it always when it comes to her it is successful?

He always saves her, not like other women where somebody else does it before him.

When it starts to look good it actually ends good not like with other women.

He carries her like Zoro carried Tashigi (but better😅)

He saw her naked like Luffy saw Hancock

He caught her like Luffy caught Vivi

He might not have slept next to her like Zoro did with Hyori but I dont think that is needed at this point🤷🏻‍♂️.

The thing is people might think I am attacking Sanji x Pudding or ignoring Sanji x Violet, but in all honesty, how I am reading the manga they dont seem to be all that special. They are just other women who Sanji managed to save because there was no one there to steal it away from him.

Violet: “I’d heard that you are weak to women, to think it’d be this bad.... how disgraceful”

Sanji: “I will not doubt a woman’s tears”

Pudding: “Dont worry you will soon lose your life too! I have decieved countless people like this!”

Sanji: “And were you yourself one of them Pudding-chan?”

Any woman in love with Sanji is a win in any Sanji fan’s book, but when the characters around him and the plot itself ruins it... it is just not meant to be

[plume8now]

Promises

LawLu fic for @humblingbumble‘s ask based on this sentence:

58:  “I’d die for you. Of course, I’d haunt you in the afterlife but really, it’s the thought that counts.”

On AO3

“Say, Torao…”

Law let out a groan. What did Luffy-ya want this time?

“Toraooo…”

The Heart Pirate shook his head. There was no way he could ignore the other Captain, was there? He’d known this from the very start, and yet here he was, still trying to ignore him.

Well, sometimes, that was actually fun. Driving the “Future Pirate King” mad. Somehow, getting his attention was very important for Luffy.

His face appeared just in front of him, hidding the book he was holding in his hands from his sight. Of course, he was pouting now.

“Don’t ignore me like this,” he said like a spoiled kid would.

Law stared at him. There was still a possibility to use his ability, and read that book elsewhere. Wouldn’t be the first time it happened. Wouldn’t be the last.

“Huhu, no,” Luffy said as he kept staring at him.

And before he knew it, Luffy’s hands and feet were all around his body, making sure he wouldn’t try to escape or something like this.

“So that’s it, hu” Law sighed, smiling despite himself.

He heard Luffy’s light laugh on his shoulder, and his smile widened.

“What do you want, Luffy-ya?”

His laugh stopped, and he remained silent on his back for a few seconds. His arms and legs went back to normal, and Law relaxed a bit. Dating a rubber man was alright, but he still wasn’t at ease with that kind of excessive touch. Anyone could understand that.

“We’re gonna separate again soon,” he heard, “and we don’t know when we’ll see each other again.”

Law couldn’t help but smirk.

“What, are you gonna miss me?”

Luffy frowned. “What do you think? Of course.”

The former Shichibukai opened his mouth for a second but finally closed it. Damnit, he did know his boyfriend was straightforward, yet again that would always shock him. After all, he hadn’t really had a great experience of trust and honesty as a child.

“Just promise me you won’t let yourself get hurt or anything.”

Oh.

That’s what it was all about.

He knew Luffy knew how little Law valued his life back in Dressrosa, and even though he assured him he was fine now, that it was over, Luffy would always come back as if he needed to check on him to be sure.

Maybe he wasn’t wrong, maybe that was the thing to do. Maybe that helped Law remember he was important. That someone cared. Not that he needed anyone to care, he had his own crew, and he also cared about them. But that was a sort of reminder.

Don’t die.

Why?

I care about you.

Why?

‘Cause I love you, Torao!

Hah.

I love you, too.

“Promise me.”

“We already talked about this hundreds of time, Mugiwara-ya…”

“No. We didn’t.”

Law frowned, but realized- he was right. They never said it outloud.

He sighed.

“I’m not gonna let anything happen to me, Luffy-ya. I know what I’m doing.”

“Ace knew what he was doing too.”

That statement took him aback and he found nothing good to reply. He couldn’t.

“I can’t promise not to die. No one can do that. If they did, that’d be uncounscious.”

“So?”

“So we’re gonna make a deal.”

“A deal?”

“Yeah.”

“Is there…”

Law’s head slightly leaned on the side. Luffy seemed a bit anxious suddenly. What about…?

“… food involved?”

“Hu,” he let out, somewhat relieved. “No. No food involved.”

“Good,” the Straw Hats Captain sighed as if that was the question of the century.

“We’re still enemies, remember?”

“We’re nakamas,” Luffy replied.

That was Law’s time to sigh.

“We’re only temporary allies, Luffy-ya.”

Luffy shook his head.

“Nakamas.”

Obviously. There was a sort of contradiction in this. They weren’t nakamas, they weren’t friends, they were just allies, they were rivals, enemies, and they were dating.

“No one will die until one of us reaches his goal, alright?”

“What do you mean?”

“There can only be one Pirate King.”

“That’d be me!”

Law smiled.

“That’s what I thought.”

The other Captain chuckled, hugging him softly. Law raised his hand to touch Luffy’s arm and relaxed.

* * *

Later on, the crew finally reunited to eat in Sanji’s kitchen, and the subject had somehow ended up on family and friends relationships. Everyone shared a bit of their experiences with someone they loved; Usopp couldn’t stop talking about Kaya and their stories together, Chopper narrated a few moments he had with Dr. Hiluluk he regarded as a father figure… even Robin shared a bit of her history. How everything began, how it kept going, how – if it did – it ended. Luffy’s stories were pretty much about everyone, starting with Ace and Sabo – no surprise there. When it came to Law’s turn, Luffy just repeated what he’d say all day to anyone who wanted to hear him.

“Torao looked so cool! When we fought the marines, he just cut the Marines like that, and they’d still be alive! How cool was this? And then, you saved me back in Marineford, took care of me, kept my hat safe. When we met again in Punk Hazard, I was overjoyed! When you offered the alliance, it seemed like my heart was imploding.”

Chopper leaned on. “So that’s when you knew it?”

His Captain blinked. “Nah. I don’t know when. I just love Torao.”

Usopp shrugged. Of course, everything had to be both so simple and complicated with Luffy…

Nami looked at Law and couldn’t help her curiosity – she asked:

“What about you? How did you know how you felt about Luffy?”

Law stared at his plate. He didn’t talk much, and his boyfriend kept rambling about anything and everything for so long, obviously he couldn’t escape his moment.

The Heart Pirate turned to his ally and stared at him with a very serious expression.

“When I thought that I was ready to put my life in line for you. That I’d die for you. Of course, I’d haunt you in the afterlife but really, it’s the thought that counts,” Law stated, twitching a smile, clearly amused by the look on Luffy’s face as he heard those words.

“Torao! You promised!”

Law’s smile turned into a not-so-innocent smirk. “Promised?”

“No one will die until one of us reaches his goal!”

“Yohoho?” Brook hummered. “Could it be your goal to die for Luffy?”

Law opened his mouth but no sound came out. He realized he was taken aback by what the first mate’s words meant, and how things turned.

“He did say he’d die along with you though,” Robin puffed.

“Wha-”

“He can’t,” Luffy pouted. “He won’t do that. He knows that losing one of my nakamas would be worst than death to me. I’d never allow that.”

At this sentence, everyone just peered at Luffy, astonished.

Of course, they all knew their Captain was devoted to them as much as they were to him. But never once they discussed this. It was normal, they were all ready to die for one another. But- hearing this.

That was still- huge.

Zoro laughed, and the short but brutal silence that had invaded the room broke in a second. “That means you’re also breaking that promise and are ready to die for him, Luffy.”

“What? No! I-”

“What if- what if you just all stopped talking about death and sacrifice and just enjoy your life at the moment?” Franky offered.

“Yeah, that’s- that’s sad!” Chopper cried.

“That’s just how they say 'I love you’  to each other , can’t be cured I’m afraid,” Sanji said.

“It’s not-” Law started.

While everyone seemed pretty busy thinking about this, Luffy’s attention didn’t last much longer and…

“Oi Luffy what d'you think you’re doing?!” Usopp’s voice screamed, changing subject all of a sudden. “That’s my meat!”

“Shishishi, too late!”

“What the fuck! Give it back!”

That was supposed to be a damn joke. He was teasing him- but of course, he never usually joked. So obviously no one got it. Well, maybe joking about death wasn’t such a good idea to start with.

Or maybe, deep down, he knew.

He knew he wasn’t joking.