though i personally read the romance dawn trio as Vivi's strongest connections (Luffy being the most significant, then Nami, then Zoro as a close third), i also think that what Vivi had with the rest of the Strawhats shouldn't be dismissed either. after all, it's something that the narrative insisted on for the entirety of their adventure. Alabasta Saga had so many notable moments that emphasized how Vivi didn't just bond with the east blue five as a unit, she actually built a genuine, unique relationship with each of them.
this is also why i want to talk about Usopp and Vivi for a bit, because people tend to overlook their friendship despite the unique unlikeliness of it even happening. [long post under the cut + general spoilers up to Alabasta Arc!]
Usopp virtually had nothing in common with Vivi — unlike Nami, who saw this sixteen year old girl's lone struggle to take back her kingdom and probably saw another girl that (until a short while ago) had been trying to buy back a whole village by herself, or unlike Zoro, who watched this princess silently carry the weight of ten million lives on her shoulders and probably gauged someone who also understood what it truly means to serve and protect. Usopp and Vivi don't have any unique preconceptions of or expectations for each other either — unlike how it was with Sanji, who saw Vivi's situation as a damsel-in-distress mission from the get-go and positioned himself as a helper accordingly, or how it was with Luffy and Vivi, who greatly frustrated each other for lacking the one leadership quality the other had understood as essential.
so even from a storytelling standpoint, some kind of awareness has to develop between Usopp and Vivi before a convincing dynamic — that won't pale in comparison with what they had with the other four — can take hold. this is most likely why in Drum, Usopp was singled out as the Strawhat who got to be with Vivi the most.
(a great decision imo, because through his apparent cluelessness about Vivi and willingness to empathize with her despite of it, Usopp ended up becoming the perfect audience's surrogate for getting to know Vivi — especially in an arc where the story is deliberately withholding key information about her character for the next one)
i think this is why it was Usopp who had to be there as a witness when the story started elaborating on what kind of princess Vivi really is — a brave one, yes, which has been made obvious since Whisky Peak, but more than that she is a royal who took the gravity of her station seriously, one who firmly believes that all monarchs are beholden to their duties as the caretakers of their people, and who are deeply sympathetic to others people's suffering —
Chapter 134 / Chapter 151
and why it's Usopp who had to be there as a mouthpiece for the narrative when it first explicitly stated that Vivi is a worrier! that she is a softhearted person who's always willing to help others, and even though her compassionate nature has helped her won many people over — including the Strawhats — to her side, it could also become a flaw when ran unchecked!
Chapter 147
this is an issue that'd been hinted as far back as in Little Garden (!) when Vivi expressed guilt for being the cause of Baroque Works agents' destructive presence on the island. the first time we saw Vivi excessively assume responsibility and supervision over a situation she realistically had no control of, the story made sure the Strawhats were also there to wave her worries and self-blaming away.
notice how Usopp was also in the panel when this happened, but instead kept to himself while Luffy and Nami tried to cheer Vivi up / reassure her that they never held her responsible for their battles.
Chapter 128
i think it's interesting that when Usopp finally spoke up about it in Drum, he did so with a reprimand, and in a much more direct tone than the ear pulling Nami did back in Little Garden. but he's not telling Vivi not to worry, he's telling her to stop doing so much of it. this is the crucial difference that could turn Vivi's compassionate personality into a serious flaw, and the story managed to highlight that so astutely by having pre-TS Usopp — a character burdened by anxieties over his own weaknesses, his perceived need to measure up to his monstrous crew and the chances of his crew surviving the dangerous seas they're sailing in — as the one to voice it. of course it had to be Usopp who called Vivi out for being an overthinker; it takes one to know one!
and while what Usopp said might seem like a pretty straightforward reproach in context of the chapter (plus, a simple setup for the comedic 'i don't wanna go up the scary mountain' cop-out moment later),
Chapter 147
i also think he had brought up something that Vivi might've never seriously considered before here: the concept of relying on your peers and fully trusting them to succeed. especially because it's revealed later in Alabasta (where the story finally allowed us readers for an intimate peek into Vivi's past) that she came from an environment that specifically raised her to be someone who does all the thinking and the doing, and viewed her bleeding heart as a blessing for the greater good of the collective, regardless of — and this is strongly implied — the toll it would take on her as an individual.
Chapter 164
One Piece isn't subtle about its thesis of good vs bad rulers, and Vivi's character, who is deeply intertwined with this particular narrative, is obviously set up to be the story's romanticized ideal of a good one. the flashbacks of Vivi's childhood and her actions during the Alabasta civil war greatly supported this. the historical epic-esque tone of Alabasta arc should also count for evidence, i think, as well as the arc's prevalent subtext of Vivi having the makings of a good sovereign of almost-mythical proportions just like Cobra.
but unfortunately, just like her father, Vivi was also willing to bear the weight of that position alone no matter what, often to the point of being self-sacrificing. i think an (accidentally) apt example of this can be seen in how the scenes that portray Cobra's solemn resolution to sacrifice himself and Vivi's tenacity to save the kingdom despite her downtrodden state are literally shown one page apart.
Chapter 203
because these are two sides of the same coin! this is the lonely creed Vivi was born into! that to be a Nefertari means to endure for the sake of your people and country — even if it comes at the cost of your own life!
this fatal selflessness of Vivi, rooted in her upbringing as crown princess and worsened by her fear of losing the homeland she loved, was a reoccurring topic that reached its climax in Alabasta arc, and was something that Luffy ended up taking upon himself to confront and persuade her to change — because at that point, Luffy had came to know the extent of Vivi's compassion and sense of duty, and (correctly) intuited that this personal principle, if followed through to its ultimate consequence, would only result in her getting killed.
Chapter 166 / Chapter 206
and i love how the previous Usopp scene in Drum proves that while Luffy might be the one who finally got through with her, it's very likely that Vivi's decision to change her approach to save Alabasta was also a result of accumulated effort from the other Strawhats indirectly telling/showing Vivi how to rely on others during her time on the ship. after all, Vivi wouldn't defer so easily — and so emotionally — to Luffy's words if she hadn't seen firsthand how the Strawhats operate under Luffy's brand of leadership (which involved complete faith in your crew's abilities to hold their own and do what you cannot do) and what they can achieve with it.
but most of all, i'm glad all the above Usopp-Vivi interactions happened because they made this scene in Alabasta all the more poetic:
Chapter 205
after Drum, Usopp have become adept in spotting what Vivi would worry about (and get distracted with) the most, and just like in Drum, he was there to reprimand her for letting her worries paralyze her when she should've just kept moving and trust the friends fighting along her side.
something about the physical language in this scene feels a bit similar to that Nami and Vivi moment in Whisky Peak to me; when after witnessing Igaram's ship going up in flames and Vivi's refusal to weep in front of it — mirroring Nami's own vow to never cry during her years under Arlong — Nami reached out to Vivi and hugged her in silent understanding, even going so far as to tell her that they'd safely get her home in spite of the powerful enemy they're facing.
Chapter 113
but that's also where the similarities end. because where Nami comforts and reassures in confidence, Usopp redirects and brings the priority back into focus — all while also commiserating on Vivi's frustration over her own helplessness. he encourages her by reminding her he's on her side but he doesn't beat around the bushes either; he's honest about the negativity of their situation, and honest about his willingness to still strive for a better outcome. which is!! such a huge thing coming from Usopp!!! someone who'd normally resort to bluffing and try to 'captain' his way out with lies and faux bravado!!!!!
i also love that by the time they reached Alabasta, Vivi had apparently reciprocated Usopp's gesture of paying attention, as proven by the great regard she seemed to have for his character. in the scene where Mr. 2 tried to kidnap her by impersonating Usopp, the story made sure to show that what first tipped Vivi off wasn't the wrong placement of his arm band or the absence of the Strawhats' secret mark, but rather the callous way he dismissed a greatly wounded Karoo who'd used his body to shield Vivi.
Chapter 182
because at that point, the obvious aside, Vivi had come to know Usopp. and that means understanding that the real Usopp would never abandon nor demean his friends no matter how dire the situation is; that Usopp is loyal and cares deeply about his friends' wellbeing and honor — things that are often framed as one and the same in One Piece — despite his cowardice (which! would be proven immediately in the next few chapters!! when he stood up against Miss Merry Christmas and Mr. 4 for laughing at Luffy's dream; his best friend's ambitions, his captain's pride!!!)
Chapter 186
and it's such a wonderful thing! this mutual willingness to get to know the person who are fundamentally so different from you! this readiness to protect and defend what you've both silently learned about the other regardless of the short time you spent together!! what are the odds of characters like Usopp and Vivi being the pair to share that? a lesser story wouldn't even bother to allow them this dynamic, let alone taking the time to properly show the readers how it came to be.
one of the great things about Oda's writing is how he allows his characters to be different versions of themselves with every other characters they meet, and i believe that Usopp and Vivi are a subtle example of this. the dynamic they have with other characters might be flashier or more prominent in the grand scheme of things, but the unassuming bond Usopp and Vivi cultivated during the Alabasta Saga will always be one of the most endearing relationships in One Piece to me.
