A/N: Written for 20 years at sea over on tumblr, Day 1 Prompt: Characters. (Also posted over there).
Storyteller
Usopp knew that in the end Robin would be the one to write the history of the crew. Chronicling the adventures and ridiculous coincidences that seem to plague their journey for future students of history, or those that may just be interested in the facts of the second Pirate King's journey to the position. But academic that she was, she would only give the facts of the story.
How many other academics would believe the truth of the members of the crew and their personalities, if she included them in those histories at all? How many would think she was pulling their legs and rewrite them with the rumours of their reputations?
Usopp on the other hand had always been a storyteller. Almost as much as he was a sniper. He was known among those of his home island to be a liar, if it embellished a more interesting story, and he knew at least the Usopp Pirates had taken to retelling his stories of their adventures in their village with his embellishments.
When he told his version of the story, the crew would be seen as characters, maybe ones based on their actual existence, but given quirks to make them more interesting. To add hilarity to what might have been a tragedy or a horror story. To explain that which in reputation is unexplainable.
In his version, the fearsome and unpredictable Pirate King, will be a childish, ever hungry idiot who couldn't seem to understand the simple concept that is logic. The bloodthirsty and ambitious World's Greatest Swordsman, will be an overgrown cat who can sleep anywhere and through anything who constantly mistakes north for up and other illogical directions. The great navigator and weather witch, will be a money hungry witch who held more power over the crew in peacetimes than even the Captain. The powerful and chivalrous Black-Leg, will be a flirtatious idiot who could not allow anyone to go hungry. The monstrous and skilled doctor, will be someone who delights in fun, games, friends and sweets. The devil child historian, will be the calm space, telling morbid jokes at inopportune moments. The great cyborg and shipwright, will be a pervert who constantly made modifications to himself purely because he felt they would make him more "super". The Soul King will be an old man who constantly cracks bad jokes and askes to see female's panties.
And maybe, just maybe the God Usopp, the Sniper King who never misses what he aims at, will be liar and a coward, with more insecurities than even his own imagination. The storyteller is a known liar after all.
Maybe, this is how Usopp's stories will be passed down the generations with only slight changes. Maybe, someday far in the future someone will hear Usopp's stories and read Robin's histories (maybe even the originals) and will find the truth. They will know that people are the characters and the characters are the people.