Hidden away in his little nest in the crows nest Usopp decides to finally read the letter he's be deliberating on opening or not all morning, he's worried and terrified about what it's contents contain since it's from the unluckies of all people… creatures… but since they didn't try and kill him on whisky peak and didn't attack Sanji for some reason on little garden he figures he should give them the benefit of doubt and at least read the letter.
'Mr long nose.
Thank you very much for the fun game we played on whisky peak! Mai and I haven't had so much fun in ages! We never expected you to beat us! We're pretty strong you know! We've trained with CP9 agents and everything! Especially that crewmate of yours! Mai was so shocked! (Pun intended!) Also thank you very much for not killing us and giving us some first aid! We know you could have easily gone and ended us if you wanted to so we're glad you didn't! Our friend's the un-luckies are also real glad you didn't kill us and helped us out after our battle and so will not report your very much alive self's to Mr, Zero! We're certain Miss Monday knows though, we're not certain how but she always seems to know everything! It's very annoying!
Also as another thank you for not ending our lives and helping us the unluckies and we have decided to no longer join in Mr, Zero's little game, not that we mind of course! Mai and I only like fun games and winning and everyone knows the bad guys never win full-term! Not even the stupid Navy! They'll get there's some day!
So please don't worry Mr, long nose about having to face us or our unlucky friends again! If you win and our paths cross again we hope that we can join your crew! We love being on the winner's side and you seem like winners to us!
Have fun and kick butt okay!
From Ai, Mai and the unluckis!
P.S Mai says to thank your crew member for a fun game!
P.P.S also be careful of a man named June! He's a very… unique but very dangerous man! He simply loves little darling cinnamon rolls like you!
…Usopp… honestly doesn't know how to take the letter… he means he is very thankful for the girls and the unluckies discontinuing the fight, he's also pleasantly surprised at the request to join the crew if they manage to defeat Crocodile and the warning of once again another person being added to the time-line… though he does wonder what Ai meant when he called him a darling little cinnamon roll… also worried, very, very worried since if this dangerous guy June likes these cinnamon roll people and he apparently is one then how does he change or at least hide the fact!?
He doesn't want to be eaten or whatever the heck it is this June guy does! He's not a desert! He's people! Not food!
"Hey Usopp stop freaking yourself out and get down here! The love-cook says lunch is almost ready!" Zoro calls up to him but he pointedly ignores the man much to said mans annoyance.
It's mean of him he knows but then Zoro shouldn't have kept him strapped to the bed for a whole two days after they left drum island and braided his admittedly long length of hair.
Despite being shocked that Zoro even knows how to do so and admittedly liking the braids Zoro also knows he does not like touching people he does not consider family and still touched him while he couldn't escape just to piss him off so his pettiness is valid.
"If this is because of the bed thing you know it was for your own good, you don't rest enough as it is, constantly running around doing something or scheming revenge against us!-" he does not scheme he plans Zoro "-last thing you need to do is to do so when your sick! So come down already!" No Zoro he will not come down because he in fact did not need bed rest! When you're sick and injured you idiotically claim you only need a nap! So therefore why can't he claim he only needs to be left alone?
Frowning at his very sarcastic thoughts, especially when he knows they we're only concerned for him, after all he is literally the only one on this ship who is constantly sick and or injured and they are friends so it's only natural to worry, at least he thinks so since he's always worried about his friends few as they are… but it kind of seems like he's… become either a lot worse or… well different since they left Drum Island.
It's concerning how… different he feels and has been thinking lately but hopefully it's only due to the stress and the fact he's currently still sick and being treated by Chopper… who now that he thinks about it is another concern since he still seems… well frightened of him for some reason…
He would ask why but… well he has his own suspicions and he's just… honestly too scared to find out if it's the truth.
Wham!
"Dumb-ass I said to stop freaking yourself out and working yourself into a panic attack and to come down already! Lunch is ready, your sick and you need to eat to keep up your strength, since you are incapable of resting without being forced too" Usopp resents that statement, he is too capable of resting! Just what does Zoro think he's doing now if not resting?
Well trying to anyway, it's kind of hard with a muscle-headed idiot trying to force him to eat when he doesn't want too.
Maybe he would feel hungry if not for the fact Chopper said he needed to eat more while in the presence of Sanji of all people and therefor have been forced to eat much larger quantities of food for the past few days then he either wants or is used to.
He's not complaining… not really… he's just stating the fact he is not hungry and should be left alone! Unfortunately since Drum what little good luck he had possessed seams to have died.
"Either come down yourself or be carried down! Your choice Usopp" Zoro demands and looking up into his sinistely smirking face, he contemplates a moment but then Zoro twitches and he teleports to the ground much to Zoro's laughter, missing the slight disappointed look Zoro sports for a few seconds.
The asshole did that on purpose! Inwardly giving Zoro the finger he makes his way into the kitchen to await his unfortunate torture.
Maybe he should pick the lock on the fridge and let Luffy eat everything again! It would be mean and incredibly selfish of him… but at least he wouldn't be forced to eat such large quantities…
Unfortunately he could never bring himself to let his other crewmates and friends starve, couldn't even for complete strangers let alone his friends and precious little ones.
Tiny is a growing dragon and needs his food! Yes Usopp knows he could hide some food despite knowing how guilty he would feel for it… but with Luffy on board… he's like a blood-hound when it comes to sniffing out even the smallest crumb, it would not be safe!
Only reason Luffy hasn't eaten his large stash of chocolate is because the last time he stole a bar he rigged Merry's figure head, tampered with his food with Sanji's permission and let's not even talk about the meat, he couldn't even touch it with a ten foot pole let alone eat it!
He has many a diabolical viol on his person or in his workroom, as well as knowledge so it is very easy to concoct something to temporally make one… adverse and allergic to meat or any other sort of food and or substance!
Heck he even has a substance that can make people allergic to metal! He's saving that for Zoro! …he'd do so now but… Well he hasn't tested it and he refuses to use his friends as lab-rats, only reason he did back on Nami's island with the viol he gave him is because of how injured he was and that he knew, at least in part that it worked because it was based off Sanji's own medication he had made for him and he had personally tested Fresh Renewal when he had a cold once.
Certainly Liquid Fever was more potent and more aimed towards the healing of wounds but even if that had failed to work as intended it still would have worked similar to Sanji's viol so he was willing to risk it.
Sure the risk of them being allergic to something was possible but… well call him mean but… far as he is concerned he was banking on the monster trio being so idiotic and simple-minded it would be impossible for them to be allergic to anything.
Isn't the saying or phase go that says idiot's can't get sick?
"Usopp are you okay? You've been blanking out a lot lately!" Apis asks breaking him from his thoughts causing him to blink in surprise, looking down at the little girl sitting next to him in the galley he smiles softly unseen and nods, giving a slight thumbs up, pleased when Apis grins happily.
"That's good! Guess it's cause your still a bit sick right? Don't worry! With Chopper on board you'll be all better in a week or two!" Apis comforts and he smiles wider, touched and feeling warm at hers and the rest of his crews concern despite feeling like he doesn't deserve it, doesn't… why they all care for him so much and even if it does irritate him sometimes…most of the time…all the time…. Inwardly shaking his head he gently pats her head in silent thanks before turning to the food Sanji just put in front of him.
It's mostly soup, mush and all other soft food but theirs so much of it he can't help but scowl (Pout) before reluctantly starting to eat when Sanji just glares at him.
Honestly why does it feel as if ever since drum the crew has seemingly collectively decided amongst themselves to treat him like a child who cannot look after himself?
Even Apis and Karoo the dirty traitor have been following him around making sure he doesn't do more then sit, eat and or work on his projects when he allows them into his workroom since that involves him sitting for hours.
Which means he only let's Apis inside since she isn't a giant clumsy bird and likes learning and watching what he does quietly like a good little girl but still!
He is not a child! He is… probably emotionally older then all of them! He says probably because he only has one snippet of a memory but he at least now knows for absolute certain, firming his belief and solid conviction that his knowledge has a real source! That he had a past life so therefore is emotionally older then all of them.
He'd say mentally as well but… well he knows he is… kind of hard not to grow up with his burdens… foreknowledge and knowledge…. It's an extremely heavy burden to bear… so much so he couldn't stand under the pressure and…
Well he doesn't want to think about it, doesn't want to remember.
Sighing he looks up as the rest of the crew chat and laugh together, arguing over Luffy stealing off others plates again… well all but his own unfortunately, seriously Luffy you've got someone here willingly wanting you to steal their food and you completely ignore it!
It's a conspiracy he swears, everyone on the crew but his darling Tiny and egg are against him! It has to be because of his revenge pranks because he can't think of any other reason why they are doing this only to him!
"Hey Usopp what was in that letter you got?" Sanji suddenly asks as they mostly finish their food… well he still has a lot but he can only eat so fast so he doesn't get sick.
"Letter? You got a Letter? From who? Is it Kaya? That fish guy domino?" Luffy asks curiously the others doing the same and after informing the idiot that no, it is not from Kaya or Cosimo he then tilts his head in thought before deciding nothing incriminating is in it or overall negative and decides to show them, besides maybe they can explain what on earth the twins meant when they called him a cinnamon roll, so he can hide or change whatever it is that supposedly makes him one.
He doesn't even care for the teasing… mostly that he'll no doubt receive for being called such since cowards like him don't care for such things like that as long as it has a purpose in making them safer!
Taking out the letter he passes it over to Nami who quickly reads it, raising a brow at him with a slight smirk but he shrugs it off before taking out his whiteboard.
'Nami what is a cinnamon roll mean in regards to people? How am I one?'
"Cinnamon roll? What's it say Nami?" Zoro asks with an amused smirk aimed his way making him huff.
"It's basically a thank you letter to Usopp and Apis for a fun battle they had with the twin girls Apis spoke about, for Usopp not killing them and giving them first aid and a letter of surrender for both them and those creatures we saw on whisky peak called the unlucky's saying they won't fight us in the battle for Alabasta, a request to join the crew if we manage to win the battle against Crocodile and we cross paths again and a warning for mainly Usopp for someone called June who is supposedly really dangerous and loves adorable cinnamon rolls like him" Yes Nami thank you for explaining can you tell him what a human cinnamon roll is now?
"I didn't find that battle very fun…" Apis mutter's, face scrunching up and looking overall adorable so he quickly snaps a photo though he does agree with her, he didn't find that battle fun either! He'd prefer not to fight at all!
"Course not, you were the most hurt pipsqueak" Usopp inwardly flinches at that, don't remind him he still feels extremely guilty over it.
"So? I still beat her Zoro!" True.
"If it wasn't for you finding that weapon Usopp had just finished making you and because of the ammo he released in his fight with the other brat you'd be dead" well that's also true, it's also true that Apis is the one who figured how to use it on her own, she's got brains Zoro! Something you lack!
"So what! I've never fought anyone before and I still beat her! Even with Usopps help!" yeah Zoro so what?
"Pure luck!" Lucks very important Zoro! He'd know since his has vanished!
"Luck's half the battle!" So true Apis! He'd be dead already if it wasn't!
"No it's skill and strength, both of which you severely lack" Not true! Apis has natural skill and brains!
"What about Luffy's battles then huh!?" please don't compare your battles to Luffy's Apis, you'll lose brain-cells.
"…You got me there but he's got strength where you don't"
"I'm getting stronger!"
"Only because I'm training you"
"Keep picking on me and I'll make you food again!" And it's a knock-out! Apis wins!
"I'd let her too shitty-moss-head" please let her! He wants a photo of that moment!
"…." Huh… he's never seen Zoro speechless before… quickly snapping a photo of his expression he grins when Zoro glares at him, totally uncaring to his suffering right now since misery just loves company!
"…Oh thank goodness at least that's four main opponents we no longer have to fight… but June…" Vivi sighs, relief clear in her voice before lowering her head to think for a moment before her eyes suddenly widen and she stares at him with a look he does not like!
"…Yes, I agree with the twins assessment! Usopp should definitely stay away from June! He's extremely dangerous!" She declares firmly and Usopp glares at her.
In this crew her saying that is tantamount to saying to the universe that yes, lets let Usopp meet this dangerous guy who is possibly a cannibal!
"How dangerous is this guy June Vivi? He's not a number, day or holiday agent that you told us about" Nami asks and while he is curious too you still have not answered his question Nami!
"June is the only agent given a month as a code-name, if you wanted to guess his strength, it would be on par with miss Monday and mr Zero" …Vivi you do realise that you have jinxed him meaning that he is the one most likely going to fight such a powerful individual yes? WHY MUST YOU CURSE AND SCARE HIM MORE!?
"So strong!?"
"Yes, his devil fruit power is well known, the mythical zone Ryu, Ryu no mi model: Salamander! But though he is extremely powerful also well known is his… unique personality" A mythical fire salamander in the desert... Usopp is going to make more of his water and ice bullets then he already has he decides firmly, nodding his head in emphasis to his thoughts, it's always good to have more then not enough! Especially when you've been cursed!
"Unique personality?"
"Yes, for instance he is really lazy, loves eating and drinking, sleeping, is known for disobebying direct orders from Crocodile without repercussions and… well absolutely adoring and capturing and bringing home anything and everything he finds… well as the twins said, darling adorable cinnamon rolls like Usopp here" Vivi you explain everything but what a cinnamon roll is! Tell him so he can hide!
"Oh… then we definitely can't let Usopp meet dune or whatever! He's our cinnamon roll sniper! Not anyone else's!" Usopp freezes, shocked as he stares horrified at Luffy who declared strongly that he was theirs, the others nodding along and while he means yes he's pleased but how does Luffy of all people know what a human cinnamon roll is when he doesn't!?
What is he missing here!?
"Yeah, given how innocent Usopp is he wouldn't even know what it is he wanted!" Usopp may not know what a human cinnamon roll is Sanji but he is certainly not innocent! He's probably the least innocent person here!
"Yeah, he doesn't even know what the term cinnamon roll means, it'd be horrible if he was taken advantage of!" Apis you too!? Since you know then tell him already!
"Che! As if anyone could take advantage of him with me here!" Zoro please don't look so scary and smug, your only scaring him more.
"Don't you take advantage of him all the time?" …What do you mean Sanji? How does Zoro take advantage of him!?
"He's so oblivious it's just too easy to do" Zoro states smirking, shrugging and not even bothering to deny it which pisses him off.
How is he oblivious! How does he take advantage of him!? And why does he not know what anyone is talking about right now!? Did he somehow become infected with idiocy like they all are when he got sick?
If so how does he fix it? Is there a miracle cure in this world for caught stupidity?
'What are you guys talking about!? What is a human cinnamon roll!?' He demands after writing on his white board in growing anxiousness.
"Shishishishi! You wouldn't understand even if we told you! So don't worry about it Usopp!" Don't worry? How can he not when apparently he's in danger for being said cinnamon roll and has seemingly become more of a simpleton then even Luffy of all bloody people!
Usopp knows Luffy is smarter then he appears, acts or even thinks but he isn't blind! He calls him an idiot for a reason… because he is one!
"Roaw!" Please don't say Tiny is betraying him too!
"Hahahaha! Tiny said, yeah carer! Don't worry! I'll protect you! Hahaha!" Apis you've grown corrupted! Where'd his sweet and innocent little girl go? He wants her back!
"Quawk! Quawk!" Even Karoo is pitching in!?
"Yeah Usopp! Us fellow cowards have to stick together! So if he shows up or anyone else wishing to take advantage of you I'll pick you up and run faster then the wind!' is what Karoo said" Chopper translates, grinning and he scowls (pouts) since how does Chopper know what a cinnamon roll is when he doesn't!?
Okay that's it Usopp isn't normally one for telling lies but he doesn't care right now, he hates all of you!
'WHAT DOES A CINNAMON ROLL MEAN!? HOW AM I ONE!?' he writes in all capitals and shoves it in all their faces, growing increasingly annoyed and anxious but they all just sigh at him and shake their heads as if he is some sad hopeless case!
"Even if you knew it wouldn't matter, you'd never be able to hide it or change so just relax shitty-sniper and finish eating your food before it gets cold!" Sanji scolds pushing his soup bowl towards him and staring him down and he huffs, who said he couldn't hide it or change!?
How would he know if he could or couldn't if they don't tell him what it means!?
It's official his luck is dead and there is a conspiracy against him and they are all in on it! Even his darling baby Tiny!
Why did you all go to the dark side?! His side has cake damn it!
"Hey Usopp can I talk to you for a minute?" She asks, coming into the room Usopp has commandeered as his workspace.
Though still pouting over them teasing him the other day Usopp still hesitantly nods making her smile softly. Honestly he really is an adorably kind cinnamon roll, can't even make his pettiness truly apparent unless in regards to Tiny or that egg he picked up, how someone as kind and innocent as him decided he wanted to be a pirate…
"…Thanks, I was wondering if you could build me a weapon like you did Apis? I've realised that… out of everyone in this crew… I'm the weakest member, sure there's Tiny but he'll grow up quickly and though Apis is new to fighting and a kid she's a natural prodigy with the whip and with the whip you built for her she's a powerful member in the making… I know I'll never be as strong or powerful as the idiot quartet or you but I can't keep being protected, I want to be able to fight with all of you! To become a powerhouse in my own right!" She requests, with holding a smirk as Usopp points to himself and rapidly shakes his head, all but flailing in his swift denial of his own strength with as Insecure and anxious and worried as he always is over everything.
It's sad really, Usopp is so much stronger and braver then he'll ever realise, that he'll ever acknowledge in being.
Eventually Usopp stops panicking and takes a deep breath and brings out his white-board.
'Actually I was just about to leave to look for you! I've been working on a weapon for you for weeks! I hope you like it! Here!' Usopp then brings out a small box and passes it over, nose red and trying not to fidget making her grin happily in joy.
"Really!? Thanks so much!" She thanks and quickly opens the box, eyes wide and sparkling and astonished at the golden staff, about the size of a ruler incrusted with nine different small oval cut gems, about the size of her fingernails running along the length with sparkling silver sounding them in the form of flowers and leaves smoothly etched in like some form of art, a lot like the wood carvings he likes to make when he makes stuff useful for the crew.
"It's beautiful Usopp… it must of cost a fortune to make! How does it work?" Nami grins, looking up and not even complaining about him using gold and jewels like this, Usopp always has a reason for doing something or other, it may not make a lick of sense to them at the time but it always ends up helping them out in the long term big time.
Besides she can already guess where it's from, her share of the gold and silver from Laboons stomach never did appear in her room, only reason she didn't complain is because she saw the million berri he left to more then make up for it.
'Well for starters take it out of the box and press the ruby' Doing so Nami's eye's shine impressed as it quickly extends to it's full length of what she calculates is a metre, more detailed and exquisite silver carvings appearing along it's side of sea's, storms and lightning, even a small carving of their crews flag and Usopps own personal insigniar of a cobra with a kabuto beetle resting on it's head much to her fond amusement.
'I know it doesn't look like much right now… but I designed it like this with the hope of improving it in the future if given the chance! Sort of so it can grow in strength with you! And I promise though it's currently weak that it's got more power and tricks then you could dream of! It's too dangerous to use it inside and it would take a lot of time explaining all of it's features so I made you this booklet, I'd suggest you read it before we get to Alabasta so you don't end up panicking when in battle' Usopp explains, looking down on his skills again because if this is what he considers not much then he's more self-conscious then she already realised, it's absolutely beautiful, the detail… still though sad as she is that her friend doesn't see his own talent and worth she nods determined, truly grateful and fully trusting his words.
She doesn't even need to think about whether or not it is, she's seen his crazy almost science defying ammo and she's seen Apis's whip, if he says it's dangerous to use indoors and that it's more powerful then she could dream then it is.
Besides how could something worth so much, so gorgeous and fit for a literal full-blooded empress not be powerful?
"Alright, I'll do that, thanks again Usopp! You really are a cinnamon roll!" she thanks leaving the room with a cheeky grin, laughing as she closes the door when he puffs up in anger and huffs, twitching.
Shaking her head still grinning she flips open the booklet and skims it as she heads up before freezing in her tracts, eyes widening and re-reading the first page again before huffing incredulously, grinning with almost manic glee as joy and amazement shoot through her whole being.
This… this is the absolute perfect weapon for her! Usopp truly is a literal bon-a-fide genius!
Respect rising exponentially for her masked crewmate she quickly heads back upstairs and after checking that they are still on course quickly heads back inside to her room to fully study and memorise this booklet on her weapons functions.
She wants to know everything about the weapon that is going to make her a true weather witch, as Zoro likes to call her.
Or perhaps weather empress is more appropriate she muses with a small smirk, lightly stroking her gold, silver and jewel encrusted staff.
She's always inwardly felt like royalty.
Usopp doesn't claim to understand Luffy's mindset in any sense of the word, in fact he doubts anyone other then possibly another D could but surely him crawling and sniffing on the deck of the Merry Go like a dog is going a bit overboard right? Especially since Usopp knows theirs plenty of food in the galley so he can't be looking for that since he could just ask Sanji or himself to make him something.
Not that he would of course, he's still upset with him, who asked him to constantly call him cinnamon roll and tease him for not knowing what it means!
"Um… Luffy what are you doing?" Vivi asks him strangely, asking the question he also wants to know.
"I'm looking for the wolf!" looking for one or pretending to be one?
"The Wolf? You mean Choppers friend?" Don't you mean girlfriend Vivi?
"Shishishi! Yep! The old lady said she joined our crew but we haven't seen her! So I'm trying to sniff her out!" …Luffy sometimes he really wonders about you…
"I thought she only said that so Chopper's decision to come with us would be easier" the old witch maybe a tsundere or something similar of the like as he recalls from his knowledge but she is pretty honest, so long as it doesn't come to her own feelings or the like.
"The old lady doesn't lie so she has to be here! Right Chopper!?" Luffy declares with a slight huff, turning to Chopper with an expectant grin making the poor adorable doctor to jump slightly.
"Um yes! But… I can't smell her anywhere…" Chopper says sadly, relief and disappointment clear in his eyes but trying to hide it, making Usopps heart ache for him, empathy, sympathy and concern for his friend.
He may have only known Chopper for a week but… well he understands the pain he's in, knows all to well the agony and heartache that comes with someone you love, no matter the meaning of which hating you… wishing you dead for your mistakes… it's a torture he wouldn't… doesn't wish on anyone let alone his new friend and crewmate.
"Yeah the wolf-bitch hasn't tried to kill him in his sleep either, I doubt she's on board Luffy" Zoro why must you always say horrible worrying stuff like this!? Especially with Chopper right there or can you not see or care that you've upset him!?
"Ro wouldn't do that! S-she w-would d-do it f-face to f-face! S-she's n-not l-like that!" Chopper stutters out strongly, slightly angry.
"True, The wolf-bitch didn't look like the underhanded or cowardly type, proud warrior through and through" Usopp resents that statement! Cowards don't always use under-handed or despicable means like that Zoro!
"QUAWK!" See! Even Karoo agrees! … Well he thinks so anyway, he isn't Apis or Chopper but given his angry expression it's safe to assume he is also resentful of that statement.
Moral and upstanding cowards like them only use underhanded tricks to escape not kill people!
"Yeah! The wolf was awesome! So she's gotta be here! If only to kill you Chopper! Shishishi" Luffy your inner sadist showing, reign it in and please don't say scary stuff like that!
"Well she's a contractual beast that's contract stone was owned by a human before, so since the human died she should have returned to the stone… right?" Nami asks uncertainly, and he looks towards Chopper curious himself on the answer but it's Vivi who answers.
"Only if she was a true-born contractual beast, acquired-contract beasts and blood-contract beasts would have either died when the owner did or have their contractual status revoked, strength and powers stripped and returned to that of a normal animal like Tiny, Karoo or Chopper depending on the bond shared between man and beast"
"You certainly know a lot about this Vivi, Are their many different kinds of contract beasts?"
"Yes, in the past two of my ancestors has had contract beasts, and a true-born beast, also known as the guardian beast of Alabasta roams the dessert so we are required to learn about them and no, their are only four kinds and each one has a massive difference in class and strength between them, True-born, blood, Acquired and accidental, in that order with true-born as the strongest amongst all of them, born with the natural ability, skill's and power on par with humans such as those like the four war-lords of the sea or the top marines in the Navy"
"Like Shanks or that hawk guy! Then isn't that like super duper amazingly strong!?"
"Yes, terrifyingly powerful, thankfully though true-born contract beasts tend to stick to themselves, staying away from humans unless needed to protect the land they roam from committing harmful deeds such as over-poaching of certain species, deforestation and the like so they don't accidentially risk being contracted to a human if they should manage to touch their stone"
"The wolf-bitch was strong yeah but she didn't seem that tough! Sure you aren't over-exaggerating Vivi?" Usopp is more surprised then he feels he should be that Zoro actually fought a woman, animal or not, didn't win and still complimented their strength.
From what he recalls and knows of from the knowledge Zoro has only ever acknowledged Kuina as a strong female opponent he is… or really was willing to fight as a true equal, certainly he knows that Zoro isn't Sanji level of extreme in his views, let alone would ever admit it but he also clearly has a mentality of viewing woman as the weaker sex, no matter how powerful or strong, refusing to fight even Monet on punk hazard, forcing …. To fight her for him, he knows that he could have easily taken her and that Zoro has his own pride and that he doesn't mean to be but…
Well… Usopp kind of feels disappointed… because though he has no right to judge it feels like… like he's betraying Kuina in a way, that he is disregarding the words he spoke to her, silently promised her when he made that vow with her for one of them to become the greatest swordsman in the world…
When he point blank told her that it didn't matter that she was a woman… he doesn't know why it hurts him personally since it shouldn't… but… it does, more then he can express that it makes him wonder once again if he was a woman in his past life.
It would certainly explain some things he doesn't care to think on to hard about.
"True-born contract beasts, once contracted to a human will be bound by strict rules, no matter how powerful, skilled or strong will only be able to access the amount of power there contracted owner is capable of achieving themselves in their whole life's" Vivi continues that he pays half an ear too, trying to dislodge his morose thoughts.
"Huh, so what your saying is if the stupid love-cook contracted her the only strength she'd be able to access is that of a normal or weak runt of a wolf?"
"Shitty moss-head! Those are fighting words! Who are you calling weak huh!?"
"Obviously you idiot love-cook or are you deaf too as well as stupid!?"
WHACK! WHAM!
"SHUT UP IDIOTS! Sorry about that! Please continue Vivi" Nami says much too sweetly for the violence she just committed, frightening him shit-less! Scared and concerned as she makes him though he's admittedly amused too, snapping a quick photo of the idiot duos pained and twitching forms.
"Um… y-yes as I was saying it really does depend on the humans own innate talent and strength, even if they never manage to attain it themselves the true-born contract beast will still be able to access that strength and use it"
"I get it! She's a really super cool mystery wolf!" guess who is making him lose thousands of brain-cells by the second.
"Moron! Anyway none of this matters right now, Chopper you said Ro was a true-born right? So that means she's currently locked in her stone, since your master said she's joined us… then that must mean one of us has her stone then yeah?" Nami asks, eyes narrowed in thought and Usopp isn't sure why, but he's got a bad feeling on where this conversation is heading.
"Ah! That must be it! One of you must have her stone! Did any of you pick up a cold, smooth moon-shaped white stone!?" Chopper asks agitatedly, excitement and hope clear in his eyes, dimming as disappointment and tears edge his eyes when the others all shake their heads negatively and Usopp dies a little inside.
He knew his luck had died! He just knew it! Upset as he is though he still slumps, not being able to withhold something as important as this, especially if it will hurt or affect his friends and so takes out the necklace he picked up from out of his clothes and pout's at all the shocked bug-eyed stares he gets for it.
How was he supposed to know this was a contract necklace!? From his knowledge contractual beasts didn't even exist in this universe! He only found out about their existence due to his own studying back at home and even then the books didn't go into detail!
"Ro! That's really Ro's! wahh! She's really here!" Chopper cries, rushing over and snatching the necklace, hugging it close to his chest as joy, hope, wariness and all manor of other complicated emotions are shown clear in his expression making his heart go out for him.
"Hard to imagine the wolf-bitch is in that small stone" harder then devil fruits, the grand line, the calm belt and almost everyone in this crew and your hair existing?
Not to mention your incapability to walk down a straight road with no ally-ways or exits?
"Yeah, does this mean Usopp's Ro-chan's master now though? He is the one who picked it up after his owner died" Sanji asks blowing smoke and he frowns, he hopes not! He'd feel utterly awful and wretched if he has accidentally trapped another being at his side unwillingly, no matter the circumstance's Usopp never wants to be responsible for compromising another's freedom, never wants to have such a hold over another being's life…
…Even if he was such a person… even if he somehow desired it… Usopp is the literal last person who would deserve such a weighty title, such a position and high responsibility… the last person on earth who would ever deserve such an honour as being able to call a true born contractual beast his companion…
"Should be the case" Nami states making him start to despair and feel even worse, guilt quickly rising within him and unknowingly his breath picks up and his heart starts to pounds, loud and fast.
"Sugoi! Hey Usopp tell the wolf to come out so we can meet her and have a party!" Luffy cheer's stars in his eyes but he doesn't… can't…
"A party for what?" it's getting hard to breath… why is it getting hard to breath?
"You really are stupid Zoro! Obviously it's to celebrate our other new crewmember!" it's hot… are they near Alabasta already?
"LIKE YOUR ONE TO TALK IDIOT!" it's so hot… why is he shaking like he's cold?
"Shishishi! So! Still smarter then you!" it's getting dark… oh…
"THAT'S IT! GET BACK HERE!" he's having a panic attack… right…
How… pathetic… he… he's got to… hide… get away… c-can't worry the others… again…
"Usopp? Usopp are you alright?" He's fine Vivi… j-just going to the b-bathroom… he thinks, stumbling towards said door weakly, losing sense of just what's going on around him so not noticing her increasing concern as she eyes his shaking form.
"Chopper I think something's wrong with Usopp!" Vivi states concerned, bringing Chopper out of his crying state while hugging the stone of his friend.
"E-eh? (Hic!) O-oh no! He's having a panic attack!" Chopper exclaims, running up to Usopp and switching into doctor mode, he may still be slightly scared of him but he is still his patient, his fellow crewmember and more importantly his friend.
"Crap! Usopp can you hear me? I need you stop for a minute alright? Can you do that for me?" Sanji calmly, slowly asks appearing next to him, not daring to touch him when he's in this state. They may piss him off sometimes by purposefully giving him light touches every now and then despite knowing he hates it, but it's only because their trying to make him realise their not going to hurt him, that their trustworthy and a family sailing under the same flag.
"Usopp! That's good! now I need you to listen to me this time, take deep, slow breaths alright, if you can't right now that's okay too, take your time and just copy me okay? I'm gonna stay right here and we'll get through this together" Chopper speaks, softly, calmly and takes slow deep breaths, inwardly sighing in relief when he starts to copy him a few minutes later.
"What's wrong with Usopp!?" Zoro calls worriedly, spotting the love cook and Chopper next to Usopp who is shaking, breathing heavily and crouching on the ground trying to calm him down from his obvious panic attack.
"He's having a panic attack, the conversation must have stressed him out too much" Nami explains, bitting her lip worriedly in concern.
"Is it because I asked him to bring the wolf out?" Luffy asks frowning, just as worried for Usopp.
"Che! No moron! Given Usopp's personality we really should have expected something like this happening, the too kind idiot would hate and feel awful knowing he took another beings freedom from them, unknowingly or not"
"But he didn't take Ro's freedom! He's giving her it! If he didn't pick up the stone she'd still be waiting for someone to find it possibly forever if that old guy didn't drop it! Or worse be picked up by someone who'd force her to do things she didn't want to do, least with Usopp she'd be free to do what she wants" Nami instantly argues, frowning.
"Yeah Zoro! With our cinnamon roll as her owner she'd be free to travel the seas with us, go on heaps of fun adventures and do whatever she wanted cause he'd never order her to do anything when he get's his voice back! Oh! Except allow her to kill Chopper or harm the rest of the crew!" Luffy agrees, nodding in emphasis at the end.
"We know that, heck the wolf-bitch still hiding in the damn rock most likely knows that given her contract with him but do you think Usopp honestly knows or even cares about that when he is the one she's been forced contracted too since he's the one who picked up her stone given the state he's in!?" Zoro sighs irritated and annoyed, wanting to go over and help Usopp but the damn love-cook and Chopper are already around him and he doesn't want to make him worse by crowding him.
"No… then can't he give the stone to someone else then?"
"Unfortunately not, the first person to pick up the contract stone is the new owner, only when he dies will a new owner be able to claim her" Vivi sighs, just as concerned for Usopp, it's clear to anyone who spends some amount of time with him that he'd rather die then do anything that could permanently effect or hurt someone else, no matter how cruel or awful they've been to him or his friends.
Miss Valentine and Mr, 5 are proof enough of it, they hurt Tiny, the being it is clear to see he cares and worries the most about in the crew and currently the most helpless and still went out of his way and did everything he could in treating their wounds back on Little Garden before they left, even applying bug spray and giving that preventive injection and placing them under the shade, in such a spot away from where the creatures of the island could get them before they left so they'd be protected.
"Oh okay then never mind! Usopp's ours! He can't die! At least not until we accomplish our dreams together and sailed to the end of the grand line!" Luffy declares strongly, dismissing the notion instantly.
"Agreed, all we can do for Usopp now is wait for him to calm down and assure him that he's not at fault and see how things play out with the wolf-bitch, despite the fact he's not going to believe it and blame himself to the end of time, the idiot" Zoro agrees, sighing agitatedly, honestly the masked idiot can't go a day without doing something to make them worry for him all over-again.
"Guess that's all we can do" Nami mutters, sighing herself.
"…Hey guys since our cinnamon roll is like this where do you think Tiny and Apis are? I haven't seen them all morning" Luffy asks suddenly, just realising that Usopp's two little tails are no-where to be seen despite him having a panic attack again, last time he had one Apis and Tiny were glued to him crying and panicking themselves.
"…Eh? Now that you mention it where are those two troublemakers…"
A few miles away in a drifting barrel…
'Apis, den mate or not soon as the others find us I am going to help my carer prank you to Valhalla and back!' Tiny declares, glaring at his human den mate, very unimpressed at being trapped in a barrel in the middle of the ocean when his human is still recovering.
"Ehehehe… sorry?" Apis apologises sheepishly, chuckling nervously.
'Mmph!' Tiny just huffs in annoyance, his human den mate's clumsy-ness is almost on par with the idiotic green ones strange ability to get lost in straight lines or worse and as he's witnessed more then once, get lost in there own den!
Tiny still doesn't know how he manages to do it since surely one shouldn't be able to get lost in there own den! Yet every week at least once he does just that!
How the idiotic green one hopes to attract his human to mate with him when he can't even tell his left from his right is beyond him since Tiny still firmly believes his human could do much better, not that he need worry about his human attaining a mate yet.
His human carer is very brilliant and knowledgeable on many subjects and things yes but his human is also very, very naïve, gullible and practically clueless when it comes to such matters, his EQ being on the extreme end of one side or the other in many facets, not helped with how mentally ill he is.
Not that anyone else knows just how unwell he is of course! They only know and see the obvious traits his human knows he cannot hope to hide despite his best efforts such as his anxiety and the like. Though Tiny thinks the deer-man doctor knows a little, given how wary and scared of his human he is that he tries and fails to hide.
Which is stupid, Tiny knows his human carers aura, knows his scent and his human is the least bit dangerous! His human only ever fights others to protect himself and his friends and his revenge pranks while… effective never permanently or physically harm his friends and only ever last at the most three moon rises.
Tiny knows its only if his carers mental egg is ever cracked or broken that the deer needs to worry and fear for his and the rest of the crew's safety.
"Ah! Tiny look! What a weird ship! Let's ask them for help!"
Usopp isn't usually the type to resort to violence, disliking it as a general rule but… well then the rest of the crew shouldn't of lost Apis or his darling precious Tiny should they?
Steering the merry back the way they came he ignores the groans, whines and shouts of complaints of his friends and just continues to watch the horizon, looking for any sign of Apis and his darling.
Usopp really can't wait till they reach Skypea, he doesn't care if the dial for Nami's waver is extinct he is going to build an even more powerful motor and mode of transport with the dials they do have available! With his knowledge what can't he build or at the very least figure out how to build if he truly wants to?
"Ushopp unies ish alady!"
"Please! Or at the very least untie me! I'll give you a few of my jewels if you do! Luffy's drooling on me and It's utterly disgusting!"
"I gan elp ish!"
"I DON'T CARE! STOP SLOBBERING ALL OVER ME AND TURN YOUR HEAD MORON!"
"Please don't! Then I'll be the one getting slobbered on!"
"SHUT UP VIVI! YOUR NOT A PRINCESS ON THIS SHIP SO TAKE IT LIKE A PIRATE!"
"WHAT DOES BEING A PRINCESS OR A PIRATE HAVE TO DO WITH BEING SLOBBERED OVER BY LUFFY OR NOT!? HE'S YOUR CAPTAIN!"
"Get the hell off of me shitty swordsman! I'm not your damn man!"
"Trust me I would if I could stupid love cook! I don't like being stuck to you anymore than you do me!"
"THEN STOP RUBBING YOUR JUNK ON ME MOSS-HEAD!"
"LIKE HELL I AM SWIRLY BROW! WHY DON'T YOU STOP RUBBING YOUR LEG ON MY JUNK!?"
"WAHHH! I ACCIDENTALLY KISSED KAROO! WAHHH FORGIVE ME RO!"
"QUAKE!"
Idiots, the lot of them, Sanji and Zoro could easily release them all by simply untying Luffy's arm he bound in a knot that is right next to them! Still the sight is hilarious so he's glad he took many photos of them before he reversed merry's course.
He doesn't care that by reversing course he could very well be testing fate, not when Tiny and Apis are, although he isn't certain most likely drifting in the ocean of paradise in a damn barrel!
Side's as horrible as it is, as wretched as it makes him feel he knows that he's already changed the time line simply by possessing the knowledge he does and although blackmail isn't something he likes resorting too, especially with his friends it certainly does not mean he's afraid to use it either!
Especially when said blackmail comes from his friends inability to keep an eye on the troublesome dynamic duo, otherwise known as their children crewmates in the brief two hours he was working, otherwise known as Apis and his precious baby dragon.
"USOPP RELEASE US ALREADY!"
Mm let's see… How about no?
A sweet, tinkling laughter seemingly echos on the wind and Usopp nods in agreement with the unspoken comment.
He fully agrees with you Merry, their crewmates are irresponsible imbeciles!
"Hahaha! Thanks for helping us Mr, Bon clay! We thought we'd be drifting in that barrel forever!" Apis beams at their rescuers, really happy to be on a ship again instead of drifting along with the currents in a small barrel.
"Raor!" Tony chips in agreement, not that they know for sure but Apis is certain they understand given the beaming smile from the really funny looking man who must be these guys captain.
"Oh you little swans are very welcome! Your both just so cute and adorable how could I not stop and pick you up! It's my Okama way to help sweet little things like you! It's no joke!" Mr, Bon clay replies and she tilts her head curious.
"Okama way? What's that?"
"Oh Yes! Come my little blossom buds! Let me teach you about my Okama way! No… better yet let me show you via spectacular entertainment! BOYS! Let's show these little lovelies a performance befitting of the Okama way!"
"Yes! Mr, 2 Bon Clay!"
"En douse tress! OoooKamaaaa waaaay!~"
'Apis these humans are nuts'
"Hahaha yep! There really fun and nice though!"
'I know, still they are crazy'
"Crazier then our crew?"
'…Good point'
Usopp has come to terms with the fact that no matter how things change some things still ultimately stay the same… or more correctly that some events, important or not to the fate of world still happen.
Given how the unluckies never interrupted Sanji, Crocodile had no reason to suspect Mr, three of lying and failing his mission and thus send Bentham to kill him, so logically in theory they would have no way of meeting him, let alone a day or so early given they haven't reached the active underwater volcano and yet, due to the actions of two of their members who weren't here in original Usopp's timeline they have.
Or will in a few minutes given that he can clearly see the iconic pink swan ship, hear the loud laughter and music and off-key singing and most importantly of all, see Tiny and Apis aboard said ship waving manically at them.
Usopp is admittedly not impressed, here he and the others are worrying sick about them and yet they look just peachy! As if they are coming back from a party and didn't fall overboard and were most likely adrift for hours in a Tiny barrel, at least that's what he has managed to clue together given Apis's training barrel was gone along with her whip and with Apis's clumsiness… well it doesn't take a genius to figure out what must of happened.
Though how his precious Tiny was involved is pure guesswork since he doesn't have the mental or emotional energy to figure it out on his own right now.
Never does have much strength really to do much of anything after a panic attack still always manages to get things done despite the lethargy though, if only because of his work effic and desire to help out his friends, such as when he was back on Nami's island.
"Oh! Apis! Tiny! There okay! Awesome! Shishishi! And here I thought they drowed or something!" Luffy just because Nami figured out how to free you and the others does not mean you are safe from his wrath! Don't say such horrible morbid things!
"Apis-chan! We've missed you~~!" guess who.
"Thank good-ness there alright!" Nami sighs in relief, a small exasperated smile on her lips, shining and hair still wet from the long shower she took after escaping.
"Yes, though I wonder who those people are there with" Vivi agrees just as relieved, Shining and hair as wet as Nami's from the shower she also took after Nami was finished.
"Who cares, they obviously rescued the idiots so let's just thank them and get back on course" What do you mean who cares Zoro? He cares!
What if they were slavers or something equally despicable!? Just because he knows there not doesn't make it any less nerve whacking since they could have been found by slavers, pillaging pirates, corrupt marines or, as horrid a thought as it is… even more despicable and horrible people he refuses to even think about.
"Shishishishi! They are really funny looking! Especially the weird bird guy!" True, Bentham is quite… unique looking.
Though he certainly wouldn't say as such, it'd be quite rude after all and everyone has their own forms and ways of expressing themselves, especially in a world such as this! Even his own way of dress in many ways can be considered quite strange and unique to many an individual, in fact, his style of choice is certainly the most unique amongst the crew, victorian steam-punk fashion is most definitely not seen in this world everyday and if it is, it's certainly not to the extent he himself takes it.
His new cane only adds to the look, though obviously he has modified the cane to suit his own needs, using the mechanisms and astounding in-genius and insightful formula's within it to enhance Nami's weapon and a few other projects he's currently tinkering away with.
Even that horrid memory gas has been incredibly beneficial for him.
Lost in thought as he is Usopp still knows the exact moment they come beside the other vessel and after nodding his head in greeting to the other party jumps aboard and picks up Tiny and hugs the living day-lights out of both him and Apis. Not acknowledging his slightly shaking form and the tears threatening to spill as pure relief shoots through him now that they are back in his arms. Relieved that they are truly safe and unhurt.
He doesn't… he couldn't… if anything had happened to them…
Usopp doesn't believe he'd survive another break…
"Usopp it's okay! We're alright!"
"Roaw!"
Mm! He knows… still as soon as he finishes hugging you both and reassuring himself of your uninjured statuses your both very much grounded.
Honestly he can't take the crew anywhere without them getting into some sort of trouble!
"Shishishishi! Thanks for saving our crew-mates bird guy!" Luffy laughs happily, the other's expressing their own forms of thanks as well, Usopp himself just nods slightly, while he knows that Bentham is a good guy at heart, it still doesn't change the fact right now they are currently enemies.
"Swan Welcome! It was our pleasure wasn't it boys?" Bentham exclaims joyfully, spinning around like a ballerina.
"Yes sir! It was our pleasure!"
"Sides we Devil fruit users simply have to help each other out when in the seas don't we my little buds?" Usopp isn't exactly sure to be honest, as horrible as it is and makes him seem he would have to think carefully on weather or not to save some specific individuals he recalls of from his knowledge, with only two he would refuse to save no matter how horrible a person it would make him.
"Yeah!"
"So you can't swim either? What's your power?" the clone-clone fruit, though personally Usopp thinks it's more a copy-copy fruit.
"Well I suppose we have a few minutes to spare to entertain an audience! Behold my power!" Bentham crowns before slapping sanji in the face and into the deck of the merry, much to his amusement.
Crash!
"Wah! Sanji!"
"Why you…!"
"Wait, wait wait! It's all a part of my act you see! Ta-da! This ain't no joke!"
"Woah…!"
"Sugoi! He looks exactly like you Sanji!"
"Yeah… it's kinda creepy"
"Just having to look at you every day is disturbing and creepy love-cook"
"Shitty swordsman! You looking for a fight!?"
"Hell no! I've had just about enough of your pathetic attempts of flirting today for a life time stupid look cook!"
WHAM! SHWISH!
"WHO THE CRAP WAS FLIRTING WITH YOU SHITTY MOSS-HEAD!"
"YOU IDIOT! THE GUY WHO KEPT RUBBING MY JUNK WITH HIS DAMN LEG!"
"LIKE HELL I WAS ASSHOLE! YOU WERE THE BASTARD GETTING YOUR KICKS OFF ON ME!"
"Hahahaha! See! I told you our crewmates were really fun!" Apis your few on fun people is questionable.
"Yes! What passion! What tension! It must be hard to get any sleep with such macho men constantly beating around the bush huh my lovelies!" Usopp wonder's what he's talking about, Zoro and Sanji fight all the time but not at night unless they are forced to stay up together at the same time which is extremely rare, they aren't stupid enough to make them do night shifts together after all.
"Not really! They only fight in the day time!" very true.
"Roar!"
"Hahaha! Tiny said idiots should mate with idiots! Not smart people!" …wait mating!? That's what their talking about!? Tiny! He doesn't care how many life-time's you've lived! Right now you're a hatchling so behave like one! Don't corrupt Apis!
"HAHAHAHA!"
"WHO ASKED YOUR OPINION PIPSQUEAK!/BITE-SIZED SNACK!"
WHAM! WHACK! CRASH!
"SHUT UP IDIOTS! DON'T SAY SUCH CRAP IN FRONT OF INNOCENT CHILDREN!" Agreed Nami! Don't talk about such perverted crap in front of Apis and Tiny!
"Yeah shut up guys! I want to see more of bird guys powers!"
"Me too, me too!"
"Well alright if you swans insist…!"
Usopp loves his crew, truly but sometimes… on the very rare occasion like now he wonders if he should have gone it alone instead of having to constantly be surrounded by idiots despite his knowledge.
He doesn't regret it, he never will but the thoughts still there.
Word Count: 10039
'Is freedom anything else then the right to live as we wish? Nothing else'
'Freedom is the oxygen of the soul'
'Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves'
'May we never forget freedom isn't free'
'Freedom is being you without asking permission'
'Living with Anxiety is like being followed by a voice. It knows all your insecurities and uses them against you. It gets to the point when it's the loudest in the room, the only one you can hear'
This chapter is a bit all over the place in my opinion but neither do I really care. It may seem like a filler but it's setting some things up for me.
Also he didn't break down into a panic attack just over his newfound ownership of another being, but a whole heap of concerns and combinations that came to a head with the revelation.
Just letting you know.
OnepieceZoroOc thanks you all for reading!