this might be strange but what about fishman!sanji? as in, Sanji is raised on Fishman Island? he escaped Germa but nearly drowns if it wasnt for a fishman who rescued the strange human and he was brought down to be nursed back to health. If Jinbei's still there then maybe he argues to look after the kid as proof of improving human-fishman relations and Sanji is very happy to be there because!! he's actually in the sea!!! he always loved the ocean and fish and swimming and surely the fishmen can help him find All Blue (they dont know how but are endeared enough to let him expllore their archives for clues)
sanji ends up being a huge difference in terms of fishman attitudes towards humans because its so hard for anyone to hate this excitable kid who genuinely thinks fishmen and mermaids are cooler than humans and is obsessed with figuring out how to cook underwater. sanji is a little hesitant with the royals due to general trauma but ends up getting close to them! closest to jinbei tho, shark dad for the win!!
i picture sanji either meeting the crew at the baratie, maybe on one of his excursions to find clues on the all blue, or maybe at sabaody, because he snuck away from the island to try to save camie and any other enslaved mermaids. or maybe something else? rest is up to your brilliant mind <3
Sanji weak and fresh out of the dungeon in the ocean drowning and is found by a fishman. The fishman knows something is terribly wrong so he takes Sanji to Fishman Island and presents Sanji to Jinbei who as a former slave would be able to help the boy more. Jinbie spends a lot of time with Sanji, studying the boy and helping him. Trying to gauge how deep the trauma runs and it's deep. Sanji is skittish, not just from fishman but mer people and others too. Even his time on land has him hiding behind Jinbei.
He tells Jinbie about his dream and Jinbei offers to introduce him to the royals and help get him access to the archives. Sanji is shaking and doing his best and when the king asks about his fear Jinbei says it's not through prejudice but trauma. Trauma from royals specifically. The king nods and grants Sanji access so Jinbei takes him and Sanji flits around the room looking, he starts getting excited after a while. He's flitting around and talking animatedly about the All Blue. Jinbei smiles very fondly at the boy in front of him.
Jinbei helps him for weeks but they find nothing so they talk to travelers and nomads and migratory fishman and merpeople. They never find out but Jinbei teaches him cooking. How they cook underwater and what they eat and the diet he as a fishman follows.
Also in line with everyone but Mihawk, Jinbei absolutely takes Sanji to Warlord meetings and gets him into some of the archives and libraries. He talks to other humans about the All Blue. Sanji is an actual delight to have at Warlord meetings. Sometimes he'll bring snacks or Fujitora will take him to the kitchen to cook something and eat and tell the boy stories. Sanji still asks everyone about the All Blue.
Sanji grows up like a fucking immaculate swimmer. He can hold his breath for ages and dive so fucking deep. He calls Jinbei dad around eleven and just keeps it going. Jinbei smiles every time his son calls him that.
When Sanji is old enough he sets out to go search for the All Blue and gets a job at Baratie to find information from other travelers. Which is how he gets into the Strawhats crew. Everything is canon until Sabaodyish when they meet Chamie who is talking to Sanji like they're old friends and Sanji mentions off handedly he grew up on Fishman Island.
And when they get there after the time skip and the royals are welcoming Sanji back and everyone is confused again. Jinbei comes by to join the Strawhat crew and he and Sanji are hugging and calling him 'dad' and Luffy is like "oh, that's why all the warlords seemed to know you. How come crocodile didn't recognize you in Alabasta?"
"Probably because I never really talked to them, sometimes I would bring snacks but mostly I was looking for clues to the All Blue." Sanji shrugs.
And then obviously Jinbei promises to meet up with them soon and of course the next time we see him is in WCI and Jinbei listens to his son about not killing his birth family. Once they're in the clear Sanji and Jinbei are sitting together and Jinbei says if they step even a millimeter out of line they are dead. Sanji nods and says they have more important things to worry about. Jinbei nods and agrees and pats his son's head.
romaincrisis
origamiaround
titsay
dededos
germansingergirl
theartofmadeline
kaledo-art
jacobvanloon
