One Piece Obsession

Buggy grew up feeling teased as Roger's little jester boy, a hand-me-down for Shanks, who he thought would be the next Pirate King. Shanks was the favorite, Shanks got the attention; at least when Shanks was King, Buggy would have Shanks's attention at last, except Loguetown happened and suddenly Buggy wasn't even good enough to be Shanks's jester. He just wasn't good enough.

Meanwhile, Shanks grew up thinking the literal sun shone out of Buggy's ass. It didn't help that the rest of the crew kept giving Buggy praises that Buggy never heard because let's face it, he'd get a big head about it that Shanks felt compared to. Buggy had no qualms about stabbing someone. Buggy could climb the ratlines and rig up the sails as fast as a seasoned pirate. Buggy could pick out counterfeit gold and accurately guess a jewel's carat or cabochon at a glance. Buggy was immune to Conqueror's Haki and doesn't know. Buggy had the Devil's Luck, something most pirates would kill for.

Shanks felt he never had to worry about Buggy. Buggy's bounty staying 15,000,000 while he stays in the East Blue? Buggy must be lying in wait, biding his time. Buggy got sent to Impel Down? Poor Impel Down, Shanks pitied them. Buggy was there at Marineford? Shanks didn't expect him to show up so soon, wow! Buggy's a Warlord? Called it. Buggy's now a fellow Emperor? As expected of the Genius Jester! Buggy's working with Crocodile and Mihawk and not him? Goddamn it, he's gonna have to try harder to get on Buggy's level and get Buggy's attention.

The more we know, the more i'm convinced Shanks would let Buggy be the captain. He would let Buggy go after the One piece even if he wanted it.

In another universe, Buggy is sailing around with a very whipped Shanks happily fulfilling his every whims (still teasing Buggy to death but the clown is in charge).

In this world, it's a litteral clown and the most overpowered golden retriever on the seas being very happy and probably very insufferable too.

I'm thinking about Buggy being told by the world and his own terrible self-esteem that he is just inherently lesser than Shanks, inferior, and crafting his entire bombastic, self-aggrandising personality in response because fuck that and fuck Shanks.

I'm thinking about Buggy at Loguetown, grieving and vulnerable, finally letting himself believe what he thinks is the truth - that Shanks was always meant to be his captain. Offering to sail under him to find the One Piece.

Going back and reading the manga, the first meeting of a Luffy and Zoro will always be something that is funny but also a moment I treasure. Them meeting was the moment I knew they were ment for each other, Luffy refusing Zoro's refusal is really funny because Luffy just gained a best friend and a future partner by refusing him.