#there is zolu in every line of this

[kitkat121306]

Something something drunk on a rhythm by gothic tropic is a zolu song

[asweetprologue]

i'm loving the little garden arc rn bc I think zoro's behavior is a peak example of how luffy changes him as a person. when he and the others were getting turned into statues he was completely serious and was about to cut off his own legs so he could try to go out fighting. dire situation that he was treating with a dramatic sense of urgency. and then he sees luffy for 0.2 seconds and immediately starts doing bits. he's bleeding out and turning to wax and he's ribbing nami about striking a cool pose. the instant luffy is within shouting distance zoro reverts to a silly little guy. which is really just what luffy brings out in him all the time. zoro is fundamentally a goofball but he only drops his serious façade when he knows luffy has his back

[pareidoliaparadise]

Ough rereading Impel Down and yep this kid needs a nap…

[king-of-kaoss]

ripping my hair out because photopea is broken and wont let me change or even browse any fonts even after i click and drag to load a custom one so i cant finish the gifset i was gonna post before bed and now im distraught

[erlandious]

Written like that “You’re a werewolf and im a full moon” line from Be Nice To Me

you're my captain. and i'm your first mate.

[biscuitboba]

Prepare for a very long wordvomits from yours truly (or just ignore)

The thing about me being so frickin obsessed with luffy and zoro's relationship is that... i just think they really are that compatible and perfect for each other in a way that they just, makes sense 

Like yeah i think one or two ships involving zoro and luffy (other than zolu/luzo) are cute or at least ok, but like the amount of love i have for them is like dust compared to my love for zolu:"D And if i'm being reallyy honest, personally i can't really imagine zoro being with someone else that's not luffy IF luffy is present in his life and vice versa?, like for example i think *insert other luffy ship* is cute, but like zoro can't be present in luffy's life for that ship to actually work for me?? So it's gotta be an alternative universe where they don't meet... I can appreciate the fanarts of the other luffy and zoro ships though, as long as they are not insanely wayyy too out of character?? (i just don't actively seek out content of ships that i'm not crazy about)

Not to state the obvious but luffy is my favorite character in one piece:) and right after him, unsurprisingly it's zoro (zoro used to be my number one when i was younger but now he is number two, but i'm sure zoro is fine with me loving his captain just a little bit more, haha)

When it comes to the ships involving my favorite character(s)... i am actually suuuper picky about it? i have to think very deeply about it, like i only want what's best for them, but also the best for the other person too cuz it can't be one sided! And i literally love both luffy and zoro almost equally? (actually i always love the two characters that i ship cuz i can't ship my favorite character with someone that i dislike) With zoro and luffy i've done a lot of thinking. Like, a lot. I thought about all of their potential love interests, every single one of them, but always arrived at the same conclusion that no one completes them the way they complete each other. Proof? Plz just scroll through my tumblr #zolu or #luzo i literally only talk about their relationship😭 They really are the most perfect person for each other. It's almost like they were made for each other? Everything about them, their principles, their personalites, they just fits

Like they are so insane, because at a surface level they can be interpreted as just platonic (which is a completely fine interpretation for the non zolu people out there!), but when you try to look more into it, on a deeper level, looking at every part of their interactions while considering their characterizations, motivations et cetera, like everything just clicks. Their devotion towards each other, all the little things they say and do relating to each other. They are best friends, they are the captain and the first mate, and maybe they are also something a lil bit more? Sometimes i don't even think i can label their relationship, cause from the outside… their relationship looks so simple, yet not without depth (so much depth!) and nuance. With zolu, you either get them or don't get them at all. One thing for sure is that they work really well together!!

Also, everytime i think about zolu as just friends.. but then i compare my relationship with my best friend(s) to luffy and zoro's relationship... and i don't know, if my best friend treats me the way zoro and luffy treat each other? I fear i will have to drop the "what are we?" question. I'm so serious, like that man? zoro?? He is enamored. Completely whipped- bewitched, body and soul. While on luffy's side, his way of expressing love is more subtle, but i've talked about that before here.

They say there's a thin line between love and hate... but there's also a thin line between platonic and romantic love, and maybe that's why one of my favorite tropes in ships is the one where they start out as friends... (harurin from free, bakudeku, pegoryu, fluri, soriku, cloti, cleon, kimron, percabeth, kataang, lumity, appledash, katyana, korrasami, harlivy, etc #friendstolovers ftw!)

Like luffy and zoro... The god personified and the non believer. Oda is literally so insane for that..

One is very carefree and easy to put his trust in others. And the other is the more rigid one and needs to slowly build his trust. One is the more emotional one. The other is the stoic and more composed one. They share the same values, the same braincells, they can communicate and understand each other even without having to say much.

Their colors complement each other, their zodiac signs are compatible, their personalites can be quite contrasting but they actually blend perfectly. They are different but also the same. No one makes zoro smile as much as luffy, no one else luffy likes to lean on as much as he likes to lean and rely on zoro. No one makes zoro worry as much as luffy, even though luffy himself is very strong. No one luffy trusts with his crew as much as he trusts them with zoro, and his nakama means everything to luffy. They are the happiest when they are together.. fighting side by side, laughing with each other, talking with each other... They respect and understand each other the most. They are just so insane and i am also insane and-

They are the only two strawhats with twin numbers for their birth dates and months. The only two strawhats with CoC. The only two strawhats fighting for the greatest titles (pirate king and world's greatest swordsman respectively) they are the only two strawhats with a lot of parallels (let it be between each other like the hero talk in fishman island, or with the other captains and their first mates, which i kinda(?) have talked about before, here).

Zoro's the only member of his crew that luffy actually tries to find (he doesn’t stumble upon him like how he does with the rest of the strawhats) Zoro is the first person in canon that we see luffy enthusiastically feel it's okay to share his meal with. The first person outside of his family (i consider shanks and his crew, dadan, and makino as part of his found family!) that he cries and worries for (baratie arc). Zoro is the first person that he mentions when he splits up with his crew and the first one he calls whenever they meet again (alabasta, skypiea, punk hazard, zou, etc)

Zoro is luffy's anchor especially during difficult times (e.g. water7), he is luffy's voice of reason (e.g. pre-egghead), and luffy often listens to him (like when zoro gives luffy his assessment of a situation and how he thinks they should handle the situation and luffy immediately agrees to his plan)

And kinda random but meat is like the perfect food for beer! luffy's perfect for zoro!! Meat paired with the right beer can amplify each other's flavors. Even their favorite food (luffy) and drink (zoro) complement each other, like oda are you serious?? and the crazy thing is i'm pretty sure i haven't written down all the things that make me crazy about them

From their deal in shells town, then BOOM! zoro's sacrifice in thriller bark, all the way to luffy's blush, the iconic hug, and whatever tf that "if you're gonna invite our captain to hell, i'll come along as well" // "sorry... now you have no reason to die" bs in wano

Like how can i be normal about the two characters whose dreams have already merged into one that they can no longer achieve their dreams without each other by their side? i'm on my knees crying thinking about the bond between luffy and zoro-

[crocodilenjoyer]

op fic recs...2!

g

feed your plants a little sunlight by swordsmans | ambiguous setting, post-timeskip | zolu | 4.2k | complete

Instead of napping, Zoro helps. It is his job, after all.

Trochilus by stealth-black-leg | ambiguous setting, post-wano | gen, robin & crocodile-centric | 2.5k | complete

The trochilus, sometimes called the crocodile bird, is a legendary bird which was supposed to have enjoyed a symbiotic relationship with the Nile crocodile.

how to talk without speaking by swordsmans | post-shells town through pre-baratie | gen straw hats, luffy-centric | 6.9k | complete

In the beginning, Luffy does not know how to read. In the grand scheme of things, this does not matter.

Little Monsters by blue_wonderer | post-wano | gen, straw hats-centric | 7.7k | complete

Vinsmoke breathes out, a smirk on his swollen, bloody face.

“Our captain is here.”

Or

Post-Wano, some lucky (or not-so-lucky) Marines capture the still-injured Sanji and Usopp. Naturally, the rest of the crew casually rips the world apart to get them back. One lone warship never stood a chance.

The Many Marriages of the Straw Hat Pirates by LadyCrimsonAndBlack | across canon, pre- and post-timeskip | gen, straw hats-centric | 2.9k | complete

There are a lot of strange traditions to be found on the Grand Line. Sometimes, the Straw Hats get caught up in them.

(Or: The Straw Hats get married to each other. Repeatedly.)

so much like stars by blue_wonderer | post-dressrosa, pre-zou | zolu, pre-zolawlu | 12.1k | complete

“Why are you the way you are?” Law asks, gesturing to Zoro and Luffy in their entirety. “You look pathetic.”

“Luffy fell in,” Zoro shrugs. Law thinks he may be the only person in the world who can convey both “Luffy fell in, he’s such a fucking idiot” and “Luffy fell in, what else was I supposed to do but follow?” in one line.

“I’m very sorry.” Luffy reaches up and pats Zoro on the chest.

“You’re a terrible liar.”

Luffy wheezes a short laugh. “I like swimming with Zoro.”

“Shut up, you little shit.”

“How about you both shut up and let me work,” Law grouses.

OR

Stargazing and snow, festivals and dreams, and the quiet change in the dynamic between Law, Luffy, and Zoro during a few cold nights on the way to Zou.

t

Seabound by AnkhPosts | au; canon timeline n/a | deuceace | 8k | complete

Ace is a selkie, making one of his periodic stops on land to catch a breather and get some ridiculously tasty human food, maybe see some sights if there are any. His pelt is safely hidden, he'll stay a day or two at most and be on his way.

Deuce is a mer, alone on the sea and traveling as he pleases for the first time in his life, and while he might not be terribly interested in actually interacting with humans it's hard not to see them as fascinating.

Ace meets Deuce. Deuce meets Ace. Neither knows the other isn't human.

The Jester whose nickname is Fate by stealth-black-leg | pre-canon | dragodile | 2.5k | complete

Crocodile believes in luck, gambling, coincidence, but not fate. He believes in free will, and that every person can choose any future they’d like for themselves, if they’re strong enough to build it.

He didn’t choose this for himself though, and if there indeed is a fate, then Fate, pardon his French, is a fucking little bitch.

By Any Other Name by ginger_snappin | au with information from wci | sanlu | 10k | complete

Sanji should stop doing this.

He recalls Lucy’s earnest smiles, the insatiable physicality of him. The tugging Sanji can feel in his gut toward his friend, an urge to follow him blindly that Sanji cannot resist.

He thinks of Lucy’s full fat stomach after a meal, sated, the murmured, “thanks for the food,” and the mismatched HUNGRY HUNGRY HUNGRY that Lucy’s soul exclaims whenever those warm brown eyes meet his own blue ones.

Sanji cannot stop.

-

A young king comes to power, and his hungry suitors follow… even the reluctant ones.

You've Got A Friend In Me by Hazel_Athena | post-timeskip, pre-egghead | zosan, perona & zoro | 19.1k | complete

Zoro grunts, likely because she hits him with more force than either of them are expecting, and then returns her surprise with one of his own by wrapping his arms around her and hugging her back.

“They hurt you?” He murmurs, and she shakes her head.

“Nothing I couldn’t handle.” She insists, although which of them she’s trying to reassure, she isn’t certain.

Interim Arrangements by Hazel_Athena | au, post-wano | zosan | 43k | complete

It’s so quiet in the war room that you could hear a pin drop. Not a single person dares to say a word - not even the favored princes - and all eyes remain fixed on the head of the table, where a large figure sits hunched over in its chair, clutching the latest newsreel between two massive fists.

Having been forewarned of some of the contents of said newsreel, Sanji does his best to keep anything from showing on his face, to maintain his expression in an implacable facade. He thinks he largely succeeds in controlling himself outwardly, but inwardly his gut is churning with emotion.

The newsreel twitches, and the five people not holding the paper sit up a little straighter in their seats, each of them bracing for impact without actually meaning to as slowly, oh so slowly, the paper is lowered down until it’s resting flat on the table.

“Well,” Judge says, his mouth working like he wants to spit. “This is certainly an … unexpected development.”

Stakes by CaptainJojo | post-wano | gen, luffy & zoro | 4.2k | complete

Zoro has a good grasp of what fights are- and are not- worth his time.

Or: Zoro gets lost and gets in one (1) fight about it.

(The real fight begins in chapter 2 but I'm leaving 1 in because I wrote it so it gets posted and that's the rule)

lion-skinned by kurgaya | ambiguous setting, post-timeskip | zolu | 10.6k | complete

If there was ever a reason to eat a Devil Fruit, Zoro supposes it would be in the process of saving his idiotic buffoon of a captain from a certain and most horrible death.

Familiar by NothingSoDivine | pre-canon | smoker/benn beckman | 1k | complete

"You look familiar."

The stranger chuckles. The sound warms Smoker down to his boots. "I get that a lot."

Years before being stationed in Roguetown, Smoker runs into a familiar face in a bar on the Grand Line. Unfortunately, Smoker can't quite place where he's seen the guy before...

A Little Assurance by nocturneequuis | ambiguous setting, post-timeskip | frobin | 1.1k | complete

Robin wonders how much further Franky will take himself. When does the man end and the machine begin?

e

Arctic Birds by LibbyLune | pre-canon with information from water 7 | mihawk/iceburg | 15k | complete

“Oh yeah, you want Water 7,” Shanks declares, kicking the hull of Mihawk’s small sailboat with a careless boot. “Sailing around in this piece of crap doesn’t suit the World’s Greatest Swordsman, Hawksy.”

Mihawk is a man of high standards, but the expert shipbuilding is not the only feature of Water 7 that he ends up impressed by.

The Onigiri Story by leghair | post-alabasta through the end of wano | zosan | 40.1k | complete

It had been bad enough trapped on a boat with Zoro, body and face and voice sending Sanji's imagination racing, bitter-knowing he was straight as his swords and half as sharp. So Sanji had ignored the attraction - maybe allowed himself a greedy little peek now and then, but he’d never let it become a problem. He’d never let it become anything. He'd known that's how things were going to stay and he was fine with it, he had been dealing with it, this wasn't his fault. It's not like he'd ever wanted Zoro to know.

A canonverse getting-together fic with lots of porn, some plot, and plenty of feelings, following the progression of their relationship and the canon events that impact it. A couple of common zosan tropes get flipped, there's a smidge of angst for good measure, but with a very happy ending.

Finally updated post-Wano and WCI!

nr

Chasing Flowers by taizi | probably g or t | ambiguous setting, post-timeskip | gen straw hats | 4.7k | complete

"It's an old tradition in our town; on the second week of the second month of the year, you leave flowers for the one you love, for them to follow back to you. By their house, where they work, nooks and corners that are special secrets between just the two of you."

(Luffy's crew leaves him flowers, and an old innkeeper gets drawn into the chase.)

Clinical Practice by taizi | probably t | ambiguous setting, post time-skip | chopper-centric | 2.4k | complete

"I'm his doctor!" Chopper all but shrieked, closer to hysterical than he'd ever been- because in four days time those people could really have hurt Luffy, and he was so tired of being treated like a kid. "I'm his doctor, and I'm going to find him right now!"

Inanition by taizi | probably g | ambiguous setting, post-timeskip | gen straw hats | 1.9k | complete

in·a·ni·tion, noun; lack of mental or spiritual vigor and enthusiasm; exhaustion caused by lack of nourishment.

(In which Luffy's metabolism is faster than his doctor understands.)

[alevens]

zolu and while they don't care about traditions or someone else's "yes" except each other's, they both choose to ask for each other's hand to avoid any conflict in the future (per Nami's and Usopp's insistance)

Luffy asks Nami first, because he thinks it's only fair she gets to give her okay since it has always been them three, in a way, of course she says yes, even tells him half of Zoro's debt is now forgiven, next, it's Chopper (who's already Zoro's best man, mind you) and between cries of "don't think this makes me happy, you bastard!" and a bunch of "yes, yes, yes" he gives them his okay, then Luffy asks Mihawk and Perona, much to Mihawk's amusement and Perona's annoyance (meaning she's actually touched about it), and it's not much asking as it is announcing it. then he asks Johnny and Yosaku, and he has to wait for like half an hour for them to stop crying and give him their "yes", and when they're in Zoro's home island, he asks Koushirou (and if they're not quick with that visit, it's because Koushirou probably would start telling embarrasing stories about Zoro and how he tried to use like twenty swords to fight when he was a kid) and finally, he asks Kuina, when they go to visit her grave, she's the only one Luffy greets properly, and the only one who's actually asked if she's okay with Luffy marrying Zoro.

Zoro starts with Jinbe, who right away tells him what an honor he thinks it is to be considered someone so important that he's asking him of all people for Luffy's hand, then tells him that shouldn't even be a question, because if it's not Zoro who he marries, then who else? then, he probably asks every single strawhat, more or less, because at the end of the day, it's their captain too, and even if he rather die than ask the shit cook for his opinion on the matter, he knows this is important for them too. everyone says yes (except of course Sanji, who says something along the lines of, "Luffy deserves someone better than a good for nothing mosshead, but if that's what he wants, then sure") next is Sabo, who does an excellent job of scaring Zoro half to death when he straight tells him "no", thank the devil he's only joking, laughs in his face about it amd everything, and even if he tells him there's no one better for Luffy than him, he makes it extremely clear that if he were to do anything to make Luffy even frown, he'd make sure to hunt him down to the ends of the ocean to erase him from existence,

after he's made sure to ask the strawhats and Sabo, he dreads (slightly, anyway) the fact he now only needs to talk with like half of the Grand Line and then with the infamous "Makino" back in Luffy's home island to be finished with the whole thing

[diggitydangletmelive]

zolu aroace positivity post!!! because if you're aroace and you celebrate the gift that is zolu, I want to share why they mean so much to me as an aroace.

what makes zolu so special to me is because first and foremost, zoro and luffy went out to the vast open seas of the world to chase after their dreams. luffy wants to be the pirate king, zoro wants to be the best swordsman. even after being recruited, even after all they went through, they never stopped having their dreams as the forefront of their characters. but it just so happens that both their dreams are intertwined with each other, the best swordsman in the world's most fitting place is by being right next to the pirate king, and the pirate king believes that he would reach his goal by having the best by his side.

the reason why I believe zoro and luffy's relationship is so strong is because by fighting for their own dreams, they also strengthen their bond with the other. zoro wants to be strong to be the best swordsman, but it's also to protect the crew and to best support luffy as he guns for the title of pirate king. luffy wants to be strong to be pirate king, but it's also to protect the crew, but also? by being strong, he proves time and time again that his crew did not make the wrong decision to follow him, that he is a Captain that deserves to obtain the one piece (i think of luffy aiming to be strong so that his crew will never have to falter about his leadership, especially after water 7).

as an aroace, this feels like the best way to showcase love and devotion and trust with each other. knowing that someone's dream becomes a part of your own, that every time you fight for yourself and you aim to be a better version of yourself, you're not only working for your own sake but for the better of you and your partner. that i come to love my partner because they understand me, and they know why i fight so hard to reach my goal. and not only that, they fight as equally hard for their own goal. together, both of our dreams ultimately help each other become the best version of ourselves.

knowing that zoro believes in luffy wholeheartedly that he fought for his dream too, enough to put his life on the line for luffy. knowing that luffy can leave his most precious family and crew to zoro because he trusts zoro wholeheartedly to win.

to me, this is how I envision love. it's about getting to know each other, understanding each other, loving each other to the point that their dreams become yours, and fighting together side by side to make that dream come true.

zoro and luffy have that in spades. imo, zoro and luffy's appeal as a relationship is that they are intertwined with each other, and they go through hell and back and fight for each other and their dreams together. it's no wonder that aroace people like me are drawn to them, their love and bond transcends just having an attraction to each other. because it's also about having this person change and inspire me to be better.

[general-cyno]

y'know, one zolu moment I don't talk about nearly as much as I should but that I love and find super interesting is the bar fight on jaya. and though I know there's mixed opinions on the latter, I also like the contrast between jaya AND whiskey peak.

when it comes to whiskey peak... I'm somewhere in the middle. as a concept I find it interesting too, since it involves zoro doing things on his own for the sake of the crew for the first time (iirc) and luffy being faced with the possibility of zoro not acting as honorably as he believes or trusts zoro to be at that point. thing is, luffy is someone who places great value in the kindness he receives and returns it tenfold. it's something we see throughout the story and in jaya as well actually, with cricket and his crew! this is also what's attracted him to most of the straw hats (if not every) and his allies also. so in theory, I don't think luffy reacting negatively to zoro attacking the ppl who'd been kind to him and the crew for seemingly no reason is entirely out of character, especially after waking up so disorientedly, and at least not that early on in the manga. he emphasizes it too, when he shows up to fight zoro,

the problem for me lies more on the actual execution of it rather than the idea as a whole. kinda goofy for luffy and zoro to drop lines like "now we'll find out who's superior" during it as if they'd had some sort of fighting style rivalry beforehand and it's kinda removed from the og point of the fight but they're dumb kids and the story can take some goofy turns at times so. shrugs.

I can't tell if whiskey peak was originally meant to have an impact or effect on their relationship afterwards (some opinions I've read insist oda was forced to include it) but if anything, it ended up demonstrating zoro and luffy are better off fighting together than against each other, even as they're going on about killing and beating the other up over a misunderstanding. it reminds me of one comment I read on a r/ddit post a while ago (about another topic though) that pointed out how in terms of fighting styles, zoro and luffy kind of complement and make up for each other's weaknesses, which is such a nice detail and layer to their relationship imo.

and assuming there was a genuine point to it all (it's more fun that way heh), I'd say that it really highlights the importance of moments like those in jaya and luffy choosing to trust zoro not to fight back against bellamy's crew.

as luffy has learned this far, zoro would never hurt anyone for no reason and if there's a "reason" it's usually, if not always, rooted in his wish and duty to keep everyone safe (in whiskey peak, the townsfolk were actually baroque works agents, bounty hunters, who had a tendency to trick pirates like them at the start of the grand line). plus, zoro may enjoy battle but he doesn't fight for revenge or feelings/motives of the sort, as he admits later in skypiea. he does, however, react when the people he cares about are in danger (*waves hand and points at anything involving luffy*), hurt (chopper in skypiea as an example, but there's plenty more) or he witnesses great injustice (like yasuie's execution in wano). he's also not the type to enjoy beating up someone weaker, much less for shits and giggles. he will even save enemies if luffy asks him to, as long as it doesn't pose a bigger or immediate (real) threat to the crew.

compare zoro saving smoker in alabasta vs him refusing to accept x drake as an ally at first due to his known status as a traitor in the wano arc, for example.

and of course jaya isn't an exception. when bellamy attacks luffy, zoro responds as usual:

luffy himself stands up ready to fight too, at first. but as nami brings up the sky island and everyone mocks them for it, then bellamy specifically takes it upon himself to ridicule them - insisting on how foolish it is for ppl to "waste time" chasing their dreams, especially pirates, luffy decides not to fight back and tells zoro to do the same.

this is one of those instances in which the "lu" of zolu really shines through, if you ask me. zoro's got a handful of grand gestures toward luffy on his belt, but this is one in which luffy does the heavy lifting for me. this is acknowledgedment and an insane amount of trust, a moment in which luffy's relying on zoro to understand his motives and to push back his usual protectiveness when faced with an enemy displaying a lot of hostility. and zoro gets it, stays true to the trust luffy's placing on him. he doesn't fight back, not even as nami watches and wonders why.

I sound like a broken record at this point, but OP's brought up in several and different circumstances the fact that luffy and zoro are actually pretty similar. they tend to behave the same way or echo each other's words even when they're apart, share similar views on death, on growing stronger for the sake of the ppl they care about, and more so when it comes to chasing and fighting for their dreams.

in the aftermath of the bar encounter, blackbeard tells nami that luffy and zoro actually won that fight. this includes a curious panel in which luffy reminisces both shanks and ace.

it makes sense why luffy shared this particular moment with zoro, when you think about it. those two are dreamers through and through, and if there's characters who can understand the importance of not only chasing those dreams but also keeping a promise, it's them - whose dreams they initially shared with ppl they cherished as kids and made promises to. for luffy there's ace and sabo, and shanks. for zoro it was kuina, then as an adult there was luffy himself. in a lot of ways, the straw hat is to luffy what wado ichimonji is to zoro. during that fight, bellamy represented everything luffy and zoro stand against both as characters and thematically speaking. and that, along with everything luffy's learned/come to know so far about zoro, is what he relied on. it's so good.

later, there's this scene with zoro and the rest, where nami wonders why zoro didn't go with luffy to face bellamy again:

(fun bit here is that zoro actually asked luffy before if he needed his help. it's a small panel but cute! he trusts that luffy can handle himself, as luffy told him he could, and knows there's no stopping him when he's made up his mind lol.)

whether zoro was referring to bellamy's strength or his lack of belief in/mockery of dreams, or both, it's clear he understood why luffy chose to do what he did and asked him to stay put back in the bar, and he could relate to luffy's motives as well. as I mentioned above, it makes sense why zoro in specific would, without luffy voicing them out loud.

the nicest part is how all of these moments are a product of the writing that's gone into luffy and zoro's relationship/dynamic. when luffy chooses to trust zoro with stuff like this, there's a chunk of context that precedes it (like whiskey peak). and when zoro decides to follow him, too, it's because his loyalty for and understanding of luffy has been continually built as the story progresses which is super compelling, and also wonderful to see.

[strawhatsemerald]

Cannot reblog the shit, but you can read the whole disscussion here

And this is basically my answer to this.

This is actually disgusting as fuck. Stop giving ZoLu fans that aro/ace shit. And what's with that

Also, if we’re honest, canon Luffy really just is an aro/ace icon

shit?

Who said so? Zosan stans who are just so pathetic to prove there is any proof of their ship at all while there isn't, that they came up with that pathetic argument? It is just a headcanon! Nothing more. And lol no, there is no reason to ship Zoro with Sanji, people just see two white hot looking guys who has nothing in common but bickering. Everything else is just out of character and headcanons having nothing to do with actual manga or anime series. They are just another cliched yaoi couple you can see in every other yaoi manga. And it works only because it is cliched.

There is nothing wrong with Zoro and Luffy fucking (because there are a lot of spectrums, including demisexuals, who actually fuck), no matter what those Zosan stans, who you support, are saying. And you are protecting the fuckers? Those who're basically saying "oh I think Zoro and Luffy cannot fuck but Zoro and Sanji can so Zosan is better"? Really? You're just a fucking hypocrite who chose to defend another hypocrite who is literally shitting on ZoLu, because they cannot stand these particular characters fucking.

Also that line is funny

stop implying that everyone who ships Zosan is a depraved sex-freak

You serious? While saying this shit

I however personally headcanon Luffy as Aro/Ace so my primary ship for Zoro is Sanji.

THIS is basically saying "I want Zoro with Sanji because I want/see them fucking while Zoro and Luffy cannot"

This is just soooooo pathetic. And well, it actually proves Zosan shippers are depraved sex-freaks.

Otherwise posts like this wouldn't even exist

[one-idea]

Every one here needs to go listen to the ‘At All Cost Demo” because it is so Zolu coded I can’t.

The only problem I have is which character gets which verse belongs to which character. Because these two are so crazy devoted to each other it’s wild.

The first verse goes

Is this Zoro reflecting on his captain? That line about someone being tangible happiness is so Luffy. And Zoro was lost before he met his captain. He had no direction on how to get to his dream. Until his rubber boy bounds into his life and sweeps him up into his adventure. This wind pulling Zoro along, pushing him forward. Giving Zoro a feeling of belong and home. His captain is a wonder that people search for all of their lives.

Or is it Luffy. Zoro is his first mate. The first person to join his crew, to make his dream of being the pirate king a reality. Zoro’s friendship and support have to bring joy to Luffy. He’s always praising his swordsman telling everyone how amazing he is.

Then you have the second verse

And on one hand it’s so Zoro, especially Thriller bark. Because Zoro fought for Luffy in a way Luffy could never imagine. He never wants his captain to know what he was willing to sacrifices that day. But everything he does is for the hope that he can stay right by his captain

On the flip it could be Luffy. Especially Skypia “how could this happen when you (Zoro) were here?” Luffy can’t imagine Zoro losing, can’t imagine him getting hurt. Luffy also fights in ways Zoro doesn’t know to protect the crew. (Does the crew ever find out that gears 2 and 3 shorten Luffy’s life span when he uses them (Enies Lobby) or what he went through in Impel Down?)

They both hit the second verse so hard like I can’t with these two fools.

The you have the bridge.

Swearing to find the other when ever they are lost you can’t tell me that isn’t Luffy guiding Zoro

Followed immediately by a line about swimming and ocean to be beside the other. Like Zoro has tried and will try again for Luffy.

And this isn’t even touching the refrain. Like just go and listen to it and see my vision.

[thychesters]

20 Questions for fic writers

@acewithapaintbrush posted and said "go for it" so here i am! putting this under a cut because it got long lmao

How many works do you have on Ao3?

33

2. What's your total Ao3 word count?

303,124

3. What fandoms do you write for?

dc/batman/birds of prey, with some until dawn and uncharted thrown in there. right now it's mostly one piece though.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

ship to wreck. (one piece/zolu)

ocean breathes salty. (one piece/zolu)

ronald mcdonald eat your heart out. (dc/batman/bruce & dick)

the salt & the sea. (one piece/zolu/reincarnation au)

misery loves company. (dc/batman/jason & damian)

5. Do you respond to comments?

yes! i appreciate them a ton. sometimes it might take me a few days but i try to respond to every single one

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

ooh that's a tough one, because while i like to include a lot of notes of angst, most of the endings have been on decent notes. maybe if you go out in the woods today (until dawn) because it's a vanishing hitchhiker au.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

probably the salt & the sea. (one piece)! i'd like to think all of that build up to the end and the reunion was worth it. (and it was to me, at least!)

8. Do you get hate on fics?

luckily i have not!

9. Do you write smut?

hehe i have and i want to again!

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you have written?

nope! not really my thing.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

years ago i noticed some similarities in ideas, but nothing too major.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

i haven't!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

i have... considered doing so...

14. What's your all time favorite ship?

since i tend to bop between fandoms, i don't really have one! right now it's zolu, but i also really enjoy the dynamics of the straw hats as a whole. i'm rotating them in my mind like a rotisserie chicken.

15. What is a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

i think unfortunately the first op fic i started is going to end up being something the buzzards (me) pick at for lines and ideas. or maybe someday in the far future it will see the light of day. (i started it 70 episodes into my watch and stabbed zoro haha)

16. What are your writing strengths?

i like to think i can convey emotions and character interactions. i also enjoy some of the physicality between them, so i hope that shows as well!

17. What are you writing weaknesses?

balancing out dialogue between a large cast of characters and pacing in action sequences. want to keep enough happening to keep things moving, but not repeat myself four times.

18. Thoughts of writing dialogue in another language in fics?

why not, if it works?

19. First Fandom you wrote for?

honestly i think my friend and i wrote twilight parody fic when we were in middle school LMAO

20. Favorite fic you have written?

more recently i'm very proud of the zolu reincarnation au i've mentioned above, but i'm also really, really happy with the way the zoro pining fic ode to an ocean. turned out. that one has a few of my favorite lines in it! (also maybe my next wip ... or who knows)

thanks for the tag by proxy ace!

if they're interested in doing so, i'm tagging @lookforanewangle, @beck-a-leck, @sciencemyfiction, @ghostlandtoo, and @microcomets! (hi claire!)

[swordsmans]

wip wednesday! the bitch who said they would be finished with this (zolu) thing by next week (today) was a liar. but! good news, it’s gonna be two or three chapters long because it’s getting that out of hand. i probably won’t post this until the whole thing is finished, then i’ll schedule the chapters out a week at a time. i’m still only at ~15k because i trashed the original 7k and restarted about a week+ ago, but it’s definitely much better than it was.

text under the cut! this is still a draft, so apologies if it’s rough--but it keeps making me laugh every time i edit it, so i thought it might be fun to post.

Nami waves the parchment through the air, and Zoro can see that it’s a stack of drawings—map drafts, probably. “Don't ask me! It's just faster this way,” she says, frustrated. “You're the only one who ever knows exactly where he is.”

Zoro rolls his eye. “Well, I haven't seen him yet, so—oh, no, wait,” he says, pausing just for a moment, and Enma almost bites him. Zoro adjusts his grip, frowning because that's not how this works, and changes to a closing stance. Discipline. If Enma will not cooperate, Zoro will not give it what it wants.  As he moves, he tilts his head to the side a little and grunts, “Here he comes,” to Nami, who blinks at him.

“See?” She replies, exasperated, “It's ridiculous.”

Zoro almost shrugs. “It's just observation haki,” he says, and Nami just gives him a look he can't even begin to interpret.

She huffs, “It's really not,” and just sort of stares at him for a second before whipping her head to the side as the frantic slap! slap! slap! of familiar sandals comes within hearing range down the hall. “Wow, that was—”

“Straw Hat!” Law’s voice erupts from out of sight, followed by a manic shishishi!

Nami turns her gaze to the ceiling, and Zoro can’t help the snicker that escapes his own mouth as a second enraged yell echoes after them both—Kid, screaming, “Get back here! I’m going to fucking kill you!”

Nami rolls her eyes, and then turns to where Luffy has presumably turned the corner (still out of Zoro’s line of sight), and Zoro sees her eyes bulge. “Luffy, what are you—” As Luffy’s laughter gets louder and louder, more hysterical, and the screams behind him change in pitch from livid to unhinged.

Seconds later, a pale (and yellow? blue?) blur blasts past the doorway, narrowly missing Nami and moving so fast that her hair physically whips with the force, and Zoro hears his Captain shout, “Sorry, Nami!” between giggles.

Nami opens her mouth to say something, but he’s already gone—and then Kid and Law both appear, shoving each other out of the way, red-faced, wheezing, furious—and without pants. Kid has his devil fruit engaged and Law is yelling, Grab him, what are you even good for? At the same time Kid shouts, “Aren’t your powers fucking teleportation?” and then they’re off again, screaming at each other (“He’s fucking rubber, magnets don’t work!” He’s moving too fast to stay in my range!) and screaming at Luffy, whose howling laughter is already starting to fade in the distance.

Nami blinks at Zoro, expression completely bewildered, and Zoro blinks back—and almost doubles over with his own guffaws because only Luffy could steal clothes from two pirates powerful enough to take down an Emperor and then streak half-naked across a fucking castle, flapping their pants in the wind behind him like bait. Nami recovers as Zoro dissolves and she throws her hands in the air with a kind of incoherent noise of frustration, but Zoro can see that she is trying desperately not to burst out laughing herself.

He grins at her and exhales, “We’ll figure it out on the ship,” and she snorts, rolling her eyes a little.

“Yeah,” she replies, smiling fondly. “We’ll have to.” Then she waves a little and turns to go. “Don’t be late.”

[demonic-snake]

Zolu

Fanfic

Part 1 end

Cycle: no words

the long and eventful day of their meeting comes to an end.

The island with the base of the Marines has long disappeared from sight. The boat sways smoothly, actually given to the will of the wind and waves, because neither Zoro nor Luffy understand anything about navigation and can not follow the course. Yes, and they do not yet have any more definite course than the cheerful "To the Grand Line!" captain.

Zoro already understands perfectly well that fate brought him together with a daring reckless boy, but this does not bother the swordsman. As well as the absence of a ship from the future king of pirates, the absence of a team that has yet to be assembled, and other "little things" of this strange voyage. It doesn't matter, because in the afternoon, having accepted his katanas from the hands of a stubborn boy, Roronoa has already made a decision which he is not going to regret.

At night they sleep, because there is no point in leaving someone on watch. Zoro settles down at the stern of the boat, Luffy takes a nap near the mast. They have practically nothing - not even blankets to cover themselves. And the night is pretty cold. So cold that Zoro isn't, surprised to feel his skinny body press against him in his sleep, immediately warming his side. He only pulls Luffy closer, so that the black disheveled head rests on his brad shoulder, and the cozy warmth becomes more. Gradually, both warm up, and under the quiet snoring of the capitain, Zoro again plunges into a deep sleep.

He wakes up quite early - from the pleasant tension spreading over the lower abdomen. Luffy is no longer lying quietly at his side: in his sleep, he slowly rubs his groin against Zoro's thigh, breathing deeply through his open mouth. He almost hugs the swordsman with his whole body, clasping his arm across his chest and thowing his leg so that a thin knee gently rests on Roronoa's cock hidden by clothing, smoothly riding over it with every movement. Zoro's body does not mind at all, it readily pesponds to this peculiar caress.

This is the awakening that started it all. It was worth stepping back, extinguishing the barely flared excitement - and after a while this little accident would have flown out of Zoro's head. Just think, the capitain had a pleasant dream - who doesn't happen to him ... But he doesn't do it. He wraps his wide hand around his capitain's buttocks, pulling the squirming body a little tighter, and pushes a little, setting his own rhythm. Luffy groans softly as he exhales, his sinewy body tenses, and he opens his eyes, still covered in sleepy veils, but with dilated pupils flooding brown irises.

Zoro looks at him calmly and attentively, without pulling away or removing his hand. Luffy doesn't get embarrassed and doesn't try to move away, just licks his dry lips and smiles. Not already familiar to the swordsman wide smile in all thirty-two. It's just a soft curve of parted lips, relaxed and trusting - Luffy seems more mature and even more handsome.

In a moment, sly sparks flash in his huge eye and it's not by chance that his knee presses on the perceptible bulge under Zoro's pants, and he pulls Luffy even closer, puts him on himself, squeezes the boy's tense buttocks with both hands and pushes his hips towards him, picking up and prolonging other people's movement. Luffy's breath breaks, becomes faster and hotter. The earrings in Zoro's ear tinkle softly in time.

They do not close their eyes - they look at each other inseparably, intertwining their eyes, as well as their bodies. A blush burns on Luffy's cheeks in bright strokes, he breathes hotly through his smile, pressing close to Zoro almost painfully. And they are fine as it is, but he swordsman knows how to do even better. A few awkward movements - it is inconvenient to cope with clothes with one hand, which can hardly be squeezed between the bodies - and both shudder massively at the first contact of naked flesh. Zoro sucks in a noisy breath through clenched teeth. And Luffy, blinking, finally drops his gaze from the swordsman, rests on his shoulders and watches as Zoro caresses them both. A wide palm gglides over dark, damp skin, fingers confidently touching sensitive areas - and Luffy breathes so loudly that Roronoa can't hear anything else but these hoarse sounds.

Zoro cums when Luffy arches his back impossibly and smears his fingers and stomach with white spray. And then they lie side by side, silently looking at the brightening sky, and they are still fine. And why are words needed when Zoro turns on his side and Luffy lazily rolls his head to meet his gaze, still smiling that weird grown-up smile? And he squints contentedly when the swordsman's warm hand wraps around his cheek and Zoro slowly strokes the scar under his eye with his thumb.

They are slient. They already understand each other without words.

[biscuitboba]

Back with my zolu brrt again!!

As a zolu fan i know that i tend to focus on luffy and zoro so soo muchh, and maybe that's why i can't ever shut up about them, but anyway-

Thinking about how when it comes to anything relating to luffy, zoro's responses... they always stands out? Like i don't know how to explain it, but let it be his response being the first/last one shown (too many examples for this one) or the significance of the words he says, like it's just-

Sometimes in big or even small moments when luffy talks about something, or has defeated someone, or at least about to... in those kind of situations when the others are silent, or their responses are not immediately shown, it's usually zoro who seems to have something to say??

(not in order of the arcs btw!)

In drum island arc, when luffy asks for chopper to join the crew, only zoro shown to adds a little comment..

Or in alabasta, how his responses to anything luffy-related always stands out?? (that smile?)

Tbh... during the alabasta arc, usually it's just a zoom in of vivi reacting to luffy and then followed by zoro's reaction (but vivi is literally the princess and important to this arc so like...)

Like he is not the only one who always makes his reactions known, but i just can't help but to notice him?? In dressrosa, during the "lucy luffy has made his entrance!!!" part, there's just something about his expression- his smile?? (proud bf reaction) or during luffy's fight, zoro with his "hurry, luffy!!" line (again, emphasizing on zoro's reaction to luffy)

Or after defeating doflamingo.. franky's reaction is shown first before zoro's, but like i said earlier "....let it be his response being the first/last one shown or the significance of the words he says"

And of course about zoro's reaction to ace's death and later to 3d2y

Also his reaction in enies lobby, punk hazard and in water 7??

Like i can't mention every single moment from the animanga (of course, cuz there are too many of em), but when his reactions to things relating to luffy are shown, i just can't help but to pay close attention to him?? pay attention to him and let my eyes linger just a little bit longer (my bias for zolu definitely contributes to that fact, but well, i am a zolu truther) Like zoro pays attention to his captain so muchh, i just can't??

Like sometimes with luffy it really is "zoro-tachi"