Just sitting here thinking about how Shanks was looking at the baby Seraphim he was delivering to Karai Bari that looked just like his best friend. Just like the man he loved but wasn't sure would ever love him back. Letting the sweet little burbling clown with downy black wings hold his fingers as he allowed himself to fantasize about a future where he gets to see this child grow up a little more every day. Where he gets to see Hawky's son grow up and Crocodile's son who reminds him of Luffy for some strange reason.
He knows he's deluding himself though. He doesn't exactly have the best track record with raising a child found at sea. No, this little guy will be happier with Buggy.
Just like he would.
The little guy was an handful most of the crew couldn’t handle but Shanks knew most of this tricks by heart. From falling quite literally apart during tantrums to a love for all things shiny and new, Shanks felt these familiar pangs in his chest.
On another planet, during another time, in a kinder world…Buggy would be on the ship with him, preparing a bottle and playfully bitching about Shanks's inability to. Shanks would laugh and remind the clown of his current limb situation to which Buggy would wave off without thinking, telling the red head he seemed quite capable of doing lots of other things one handed.
The tot stirred. He hadn’t thought of a good name of the little fella yet and they were fast approaching Karai Bari. He was half expecting to be vetoed when he got there anyway and had taken to calling the baby Blue. The clown cherub stared up at him with big starry eyes that seemed to burn with something even stronger than his little back flame: Boredom.
Not ideal, a bored baby was bad enough but a bored Buggy? That always (used to) end(s) in an explosion! Shanks quickly wracked his brain and settled on old reliable, he sang. Buggy had always “gently discouraged” (the clown’s words) Shanks from such an activity, saying that singing was a performance art and he was versed in neither (fine by Shanks, he’d much rather get the opportunity to unapologetically stare at Buggy performing anyway).
The tot seemed to enjoy the performance at least, giggling with his chubby arms outstretched as if he could pluck the notes from the air. Shanks chuckled and tucked him a little closer, pointedly ignoring the calls of land-ho.
(Just a minute, all he needs is another minute in a reality where he can pretend they were still together through it all, where he didn’t fuck everything up at Loguetown, where he got to see the star perform everyday.)
Our dear Chairman, Buggy D. Clown, surrounded by loved ones. His partners and lieutenants, Sir Crocodile and Dracule Mihawk.
Followed by their dear seraphims, Sir Gabriel (age 9), Nemo D. Clown (age 1) and Dracule Gryphon (age 9). And flanked by their brothers, Orion C. Buggy and Oberon M. Buggy (both age 6).
(*Gonna post it as is cuz I don't think I'll ever finish it. I'm not exactly proud of how Mihawk looks or how choppy it is. But it is what it is.)
Orion and Oberon belong to @blackroseraven2023
Seraphim names and S Bug belong to @wyvernslovecake
-As the Marines and the World Government were more focused on catching the prototypes, new Seraphim were not manufactured for quite a few years.
-But due to all the changes that were happening in the world, they decided to cease their persecution and create the final seraphim with the DNA of the new warlords and yonkos
-S-hippo is the oldest of all, having seven, then there is S-leopard with five and S-bug is four and a half the rest of the seraph are babies that are still in their incubators.
-In the midst of the destruction of the Island, Wendy and Doki (who had accompanied the Straw Hats) helped the other Seraphim escape and go to Wano
- As for personalities...
S-leopard is quite skittish and always sticks close to s-hippo (the egghead scientists and the vegapunks weren't very...friendly, to say the least).
While s-hippo is quite aggressive to anyone who gets close to him, he is too(He was the troublemaker and disobedient, even with his modifications, he still didn't follow orders no matter what the punishment was or if he was threatened)
S-bug is quite quiet and gets scared when people raise their voices. (he has selective mutism)
(These three have been through a lot in a short time, which is why they are distrustful of adults and anyone wearing a lab coat.)
-There are Four babies in total: s-red s-whale s-candy s-koi
All four are healthy and quite happy babies.
s-candy has a big appetite,
s-koi likes to pull people's hair,
s-whale is calmer, but if he starts crying, he can generate small earthquakes.
S-red is the quietest so to speak
s-candy and s-whale have the powers of Big Mom's and Whitebeard's fruits.
While s-bug has the nagi nagi And s-red has the chop chop no mi (It's kind of funny that Shanks' seraph has Buggy's fruit)
S-koi has the baby 5 fruit (which I forgot its name sorry)
S-hippo you still have the gura gura (only that it is awakened being able to create devastating earthquakes and tsunamis)
Do you think sometimes Crocodile plops Nemo into Dragon's arms when he can see that Dragon is experiencing dad withdrawals? Like "oh shit, he's remembering he missed out on all of Luffy's milestones, give him a few hits of relatively new baby smell so he can remember that joy"
Or Gabe and Gryphon see that Tayta's sad so they invite him over to play. Have a turn on the swings, do some hopscotch, put funny hats on Ed and Viggo.
It always hits hardest in the Spring.
Luffy was born in the Spring, when the world was shaking off the last winter. The sky, the trees, the grass, the flowers… all of it had looked so much brighter when he held that baby.
Then he had to let him go… and nothing has looked quite as vivid or beautiful since.
The little seraphim soothed that ache, though. And they desperately needed all the love and support they could find, so he was happy to give it.
They had almost been robbed of their childhoods. And he had almost been robbed of his fatherhood. Slowly but surely, both parties were healing.
He still wishes he could have been there for Luffy…
Crocodile: Last on the itinerary, we're going to be cleaning out the wani pens tomorrow morning, so I need everybody to exercise the highest caution and competence. They'll be no less eager to get to the lagoons than any other day and we don't want to risk a trampling.
Daz Bones: With all due respect, sir, we're never going to entirely prevent tramplings.
Crocodile: Well that's a given. Obviously we'll never have zero tramplings, but we can have fewer.
Daz Bones: True.
Crocodile: *noticing the wind shifting* Now get to work. If you'll excuse me, I have a reservation for dinner. *walks out between the tents and shifting the cigar between his teeth* For such an organized leader, you don't have any qualms about being late.
Dragon: *appearing in a gust of wind and flutter of amaru wings* I just couldn't resist seeing you at work.
Crocodile: Hnn. It's nothing special, that's standard procedure.
Dragon: Yeah, but you do it so well. 😏
Crocodile: Thankfully my wallet isn't as cheap as your flattery.
Dragon: Wani...
Crocodile: *putting away his cigar I know. It's a non-smoking establishment. I'll get it out of my system.
Dragon: *kisses his cheek* I'm so proud of you.
Crocodile: Yeah yeah. We should get a move on to beat the crowds.
Dragon: Oh good point, I hear this is one of the fanciest places in town.
Gryphon: *sitting by a small chalkboard and fairy lights resembling a restaurant's front of house* Welcome to the Fancy Restaurant! Do you have a booking?
Crocodile: Yes, under "Crocodile"
Gryphon: *peeking at a sticker book* Hmm... gimme a minute...
Crocodile: How many other Crocodiles do you have in there?
Gryphon: *flipping to a page covered in crocodile stickers* You'd be surprised.
Dragon: It is a more common name in this decade.
Gryphon: Ah yes, here you are! Right this way please!
Nemo: *fluttering over in an oversized bow tie tugging the two men to a tiny table* Ehbababa!
Gabriel: *peeking his head out from the toy kitchen which is a mess with both clay and real food splattered everywhere* Tell them to order the special!
