ShuggyManiac

I commissioned the amazing “MISUCO2020” on twitter

You can check out their account here

Based on my one shot story “Witch AU” from the series “Different future AUs” on Ao3 you can find it here

I’m in love with the colors, the emotions, and the small details OH GOD!!!

reminds me of how some choices in those games are misleading. Imagine the scene options in this cursed dating sim:

Buggy’s Villain Route Attempt #47:

Buggy, cackling maniacally in his flashy captain coat: “Hah! Time to show this red-haired bastard who’s the real star of the seas! I’ll crush his pathetic dreams!”

Choice 1 (What Buggy thinks is pure evil):

“Shanks, you pathetic drunk! Your stupid straw hat looks like it belongs on a scarecrow. I bet no one could ever love a reckless idiot like you.”

What the game registers:

+50 Affection❤️

Romance Flag: “Tsundere Confession” unlocked

Shanks leans in with that soft, knowing smile, eyes sparkling: “Heh… You always notice the little things about me, Buggy. Makes me happy.”

Inner-Buggy: “WHAT?! No no no- that was an INSULT! Why is my heart meter filling up?! This game is BROKEN!!”

Choice 2 (Buggy trying to cause chaos):

What Buggy says: “I hope you get lost at sea forever, you flashy bastard. I’d never waste my time chasing after someone like you.”

Actual game text that pops up: “I can’t stop thinking about you… Even when we’re apart, my thoughts keep drifting back to your smile.”

Shanks, visibly blushing: “Buggy… That’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me.”

Buggy, internally screaming, voice cracking: “THAT’S NOT WHAT I MEANT!!! I was trying to doom you to a tragic solo voyage, not- not write you a love poem!!”

The worst part?

Every time Buggy picks the “darkest” villain option, the game just translates it into the most poetic, heart-fluttering Shanks-bait possible.

By the end of the route Buggy is supposed to be the big bad final boss who “steals” the love interest… but he keeps accidentally triggering the secret “Mutual Pining” ending where they end up sailing together under one flag while Buggy has a full-blown meltdown in the corner.

While there, there are other people and some joke with about peeking into the women's bath. Shanks mind torns into 2: he would not do something like that in principle, but if he is already peeking it means that he is already on top of the bamboo barrier so that means he is halfway so that means he only needs a little push and be already on the other side and be with FemBuggy and take a bath for old time sake as well as for some reason he can't understand he also want to do it and maybe she will be not wearing a towel and....

While Shanks is spiraling, he hears a shriek from the men around himself and a very distinctive voice.

FemBuggy on top of the bamboo barrier, with an arm drapped over it, while she supports her chin on a fist: "When I heard that you can peek into the other bathroom, I though that I would see something interesting. But you are covering with towels. This is as much skin as I see daily on the boat."

FemBuggy turning around and screaming: "Girls, there is nothing worth seeing at the other side, at least we are pretty".

All the men suffer such a blow to their egos that the "At least we are pretty" becomes a major insult.

I love this mostly because it doesn’t end with the cliche of Shanks managing to get to the other side and Fem!Buggy getting embarrassed m, but rather our Fem!Buggy boss turning the cards on the men!🤣

The men are all relaxing in their side of the springs when Shanks starts spiraling internally, half-tempted by the “what if” of peeking. Rayleigh already dragged him away earlier like a misbehaving puppy, but the curiosity is killing him.

Then comes the shriek.

And then there she is!

Fem!Buggy is casually perched on top of the tall bamboo barrier, one arm draped over it, chin resting on her fist like she’s watching a mildly interesting show. Her hair is up in a messy bun, cheeks slightly flushed from the steam.

FemBuggy, completely unbothered, deadpan: When I heard you guys could peek into the women’s side, I thought I’d see something interesting for once in yours. But you’re all just… covering with towels. This is the same amount of skin I see on the ship every day, kind of disappointed actually.”

She turns around dramatically on the barrier and yells toward the women’s side:

FemBuggy: “Girls, there’s nothing worth seeing over here! At least we’re pretty!”

The echoing giggles of women make men’s egos collectively implode. Gaban drops his towel in shock. Rayleigh looks personally offended. Roger is cackling somewhere in the background.

Shanks, face bright red, half-hiding in the water: “Buggy!- What are you even doing up there?!”

FemBuggy, grinning wickedly: “What? I got bored. You were taking too long to make up your mind, Red-Hair.”

Shanks, confused: make up my mind?

FemBuggy, rolling her eyes: PUH-leeese! You have been begging Rayleigh to let you join me into bath and then You hear about peaking over the barrier and not act upon it? I could read your mind at this point.”

The entire men’s side erupts into panic and yelling. Someone shouts, “She’s gonna tell everyone we were thinking about peeking!” Another guy dramatically covers his chest like a scandalized maiden.

Later, as they’re all drying off and the crew is still recovering from the blow to their pride, they turn on the real culprit:

Gaban, pointing accusingly: “This is your fault, Shanks! If you hadn’t started overthinking and looking suspicious, she wouldn’t have climbed up there to mock us!”

Crew member: “Yeah! We were all innocent until you put the idea in the air!”

Shanks, defensive, waving his hand: “I didn’t do anything! I was just sitting there!”

Roger, still laughing: “Classic. The one time Shanks gets curious, our dignity gets destroyed by a tiny clown.”

FemBuggy, now back on the women’s side looking extremely pleased with herself, just shouts over the barrier one last time: “You’re welcome for the reality check, boys~”

While I'd rather stay away from this concept because it hits too close to home (lol), I also like to think that if she were a co-captain with a Male!Alivida, like they did in canon, it would give her a bit of friendship she'd need: A guy who doesn't have any romantic expectations on her and would just expect her to be a competent captain, as he had heard of her in the East Blue, which she'd be happy to prove.

I've always liked the friendship hcs the fans have for them: catty but there's fondness underneath it all. Like yes, Alivda is glad her co-captain isn't a simp and acknowledges that she's a good captain. But would she sell Buggy for berries? Absolutely. And Buggy knows this and would only be like, "Bitch, it better be a lot," because he knows his worth.

I’m really happy that many of you are enjoying the Fem!Buggy answers and don’t mind the realism in it.

I do love the idea of Fem!Buggy being spoiled rotten by the crew, being his happy girl who is loved by all, but I know it won’t be right to dwell into that idea, especially since I was failed by the families patriarchy in some ways, so as you said it does hit too close to home, but it’s the truth…

Plus it has some delicious angst to it like “Hurt/comfort” type of fics.

But yeah, Growing up surrounded by larger-than-life men who, despite their love for her, defaulted to traditional ideas about what girls “should” become created this quiet but constant pressure.

It wasn’t outright cruelty, but the subtle messaging, that her value might eventually shift from “promising pirate kid” to “future wife or mother”, chipped away at her sense of autonomy.

That environment made her hyper-aware of how she was perceived, leading her to build thick emotional walls, especially with Shanks. Their friendship became laced with unspoken tension because she was always bracing for the possibility that even he might one day see her through that heteronormative lens.

It makes their bond tragically beautiful but also messy: Shanks’ genuine affection keeps clashing against her fear of being reduced or sidelined, creating moments where she pulls away or lashes out to protect herself.

Now I have to admit I never considered “Male!Alvida” in all of this.

Thinking about the dynamic feels like such a breath of fresh air and a necessary counterbalance. Male!Alvida will represent the kind of peer relationship she never really got on the Oro Jackson.

Someone who evaluates her purely on her skills, ambition, and pirate prowess. There’s no hidden romantic subtext, no expectations tied to her gender. He respects the reputation she built in the East Blue and treats her as an equal captain from day one. Their partnership is competitive, sharp-tongued, and full of ego, but underneath it is real mutual recognition.

Male!Alvida might tease her flashy style and dramatic entrances, but he’s quick to acknowledge her tactical mind and leadership when it counts.

Fem!Buggy, in turn, enjoys having someone who can keep up with her flair without making her feel like she has to perform femininity or overcompensate for her past. Their banter has that fond cattiness fans love, she’ll call him a vain musclehead, he’ll call her an overdramatic clown, and both of them know they’d sink ships for each other.

This friendship would give her space to heal some of those old wounds without the weight of romantic complications or crew-wide expectations. It lets her redefine what partnership looks like on her own terms.

I think blending these elements, the painful ways the Roger crew unintentionally failed her, contrasted with healthier dynamics like this one, makes for really rich storytelling. It shows Fem!Buggy’s growth while honoring how deeply those early years affected her.

The crew almost has aneurysm as they realize that this scene looks like it came out of a Wano p*rn book. With much tact they ask what are they doing, and they tell them that they are reenacting what they saw in a book illustration.

Gaban, known wh+re, clutching his pearls: ¨What llustration?¨

Shanks, clueless: ¨This one´. He shows him an indeed Wano p*rn book, opened in a page describing how a lord pulled a young woman obi, making her spin, with the accompanying illustration.

Gaban, almost on tears: ¨Why this part?¨

FemBuggy, also clueless: ¨This is the only part that we understood, the others were just talking about flowers and spring time.¨

The crew finally breaths, but now they have a new mission: beat Oden, and lock their own books down.

I can’t help but imagine Gaban being an accomplice to all of this.

He was the one who burrowed the book but wasn’t carefully with us and let Oden take the fall like this guy…

And Oden being THE GOAT takes the fall for the shameless perverted pirate.

He tries to do his make up when Shanks is out or sleep, so he does not know about this.

This continue until one day, when Buggy realize he has run out of water and does not have anything to wipe his makeup, and realizes that he needs to go all the way to the kitchen. Being lazy, he just disjoint his hands and head.

You can imagine the scream the crew lets out, when they suddenly see that in the middle of the night. Some even have nightmares for days.

The nightmare fuel comedy amongst the Oro Jackson never fails to draw me in, especially after the ghost ship ask.🤣

Buggy runs out of water to remove the mess but Too lazy, and too embarrassed, to walk all the way to the kitchen with his full body, he does the logical Buggy thing which is detaches his head and hands and sends them floating off like a horror movie prop.

Imagine the poor crew:

Some random crewmate stumbles into the kitchen at 3 a.m. for a snack and comes face-to-face with a floating, heavily makeup’d Buggy head with disembodied hands grabbing a cup.


Crewmate: “WHAT THE F—?!”

Screams echo across the Oro Jackson. People are running out of their bunks in panic. Someone drops their weapon. Gaban nearly has a stroke. Roger is laughing so hard he’s crying.

Shanks, waking up groggily: Buggy…? Why is everyone screaming- OH MY GOD!!!”

Floating Buggy Head, trying to act casual while sipping water with detached hands: “What? Can’t a guy get a midnight drink in peace?!”

The crew has nightmares for weeks. Some refuse to go to the kitchen at night ever again. Rayleigh just sighs deeply and adds “do not let Buggy experiment with makeup unsupervised” to the mental list of ship rules.

Bonus: Shanks eventually finds out and teases him mercilessly, but also (secretly) thinks Buggy looks kinda cute when he’s all flustered and trying too hard to be flashy.

But I also like to think that after this nightmare disaster Rayleigh steps up and tries to not discourage Buggy from testing his interest.

Rayleigh, sighing, pulling Buggy aside one evening with surprising gentleness: “Kid, if you’re going to experiment with makeup, at least do it properly. Shakky showed me a few things back when we were on some island together.”

He takes the make up platter, which is as probably stolen and explains: You want that smoky look? Start with blending, not whatever war paint you were doing. And for the love of the sea, don’t combine it with that dark lipstick unless you want to look like a vengeful ghost again.”

He gives Buggy a few basic but genuinely helpful tips, how to apply eyeshadow without looking like a raccoon, how to pick colors that suit his skin tone and red nose, and even sneaks him some better quality stuff he “borrowed” from Shakky’s stash last time they docked.

This single act of support from the respected first mate suddenly makes Buggy’s makeup phase “crew approved.”

The Rest of the Crew’s attempt of Support :

Roger: Thinks it’s hilarious and fully encourages it. He starts dramatically complimenting Buggy every time he sees him with makeup on: “Now that’s the spirit of a flashy pirate! You look ready to conquer the seas… or haunt them!” He even suggests Buggy should make a signature “Captain Buggy look” for when they raid Marine bases.

Gaban: Tries to be helpful but his advice is terrible. He brings Buggy some bright red war paint from a previous island and says, “This’ll make you look tougher, kid!” Buggy ends up looking like a murderous clown for three days.

Shanks: Supportive but also a menace. He keeps “helping” by stealing better makeup from islands they visit and leaving it on Buggy’s bunk with little notes. But he also teases relentlessly: “You know, with that eyeliner you actually look kinda cute… ow!” (Cue Buggy throwing a detached hand at him.)

Other crew members: Some bring actual decent cosmetics they “found” (stole). Others bring absolute garbage, one guy gives Buggy blue glitter that gets everywhere and refuses to wash out for weeks. Another suggests adding a fake beauty mark “for extra drama.”

Buggy goes from secretly practicing in shame to loudly declaring his new hobby as “a flashy new weapon in my arsenal!” The crew’s chaotic support makes him bolder, even if half the time he still ends up looking like a horror movie extra.

Rayleigh just sits back, smokes his cigarette, and mutters, “I created a monster…”

Shanks, of course, secretly loves every messy, over-the-top look. He thinks Buggy’s attempts are adorable even when they’re terrifying.

Why is this time different you ask?

Because they had a new employee and the moment I mentioned looking for “Buggy” I swear I could see SPARKS! ✨ Behind his eyes for a moment before he..and with the most disappointment I could tell from behind the costumer service smile…he said “No” which I expected.

But he didn’t give up!

This guy went behind the counter and started typing and looking through theirs system eyes filled with determination! Even when I politely tried to tell him to not waste his time he kept going, until he finally found a figure of Buggy when he was a kid during “Roger pirates VS WhiteBeard Pirates” flashbacks .

He explained how it is located in another location at a DIFFERENT COUNTRY and offered to have it ordered for here. Only for him to let out a small shout of anger that he held back, because in the end he was still in the middle of work, when he realized the item was sold out EVERYWHERE!!

I tried comforting him and we had a small chat about how amazing Buggy is and how his charisma is so infectious everywhere in the Grand-Line and everyone loves him even us in the real world!

I maybe didn’t get my figure but it felt refreshing connecting with a fellow “Buggy pirate” in real life and more the action of someone putting effort for you. Honestly made me very happy all day.

Aww, this message made my day!! ❤️😭

Thank you so much for taking the time to say that!

Especially since you said you don’t usually do this kind of thing. That makes it even sweeter!

I’m really glad you’ve been enjoying the silly Fem!Shanks and Fem!Buggy headcanons and scenarios. They’re so much fun to play around with, and hearing that they inspired you to actually write something makes me super happy and excited!!

There really isn’t a ton of content for Fem!Shanks out there, so I’m extra glad the ones I’ve been throwing out are hitting the spot for you. Please feel free to write as much as you want, I’d love to hear about your takes or read anything you feel like sharing whenever you’re comfortable of course!

Buggy has been abeal to see spirits since he was young, wich is grate because he’s never been able to connect much with humans. His best friend is even a fire spirt who he sees as just a red ball. He’s thrilled when his family announces a move a fresh start! But when his father takes a different route because of a fire he ends up somewhere he’s never seen. He of course, lured away by the ball of red that once was a spirit turning into a boy. 

Who enthusiastically takes his hand and shows him around. Later he hears sqeeling of pigs and thinks he sees something strange around where he left his parents are but shanks takes Buggys face in his hands and says he has a gift for buggy and gives him a gorgeous golden fire bracelet wich he of course being Buggy excepts.

Going back to where his parents were, Buggy finds nothing and becomes terrified they left him. Shanks says maybe, and in any case Buggy has to find somewhere to stay and work in the spirit realm or else he could be in danger. He then leads Buggy to the bathhouse where big mom runs the joint. Where buggy is told (by her) his parents were turned into pigs. By now buggy is suspicious. Somethings going on, but he has no choice but to be employed there.

As soon as she gets buggy‘s name, shanks takes it and keeps it for ‘ safekeeping’ his new name is blue. Or bug (depending on how possessive shanks is of the name, blue). At every turn, this shanks encourages buggy to forget that blue was his real name and he never had a family outside of the spirit world. His mind is spinning, trying to remember, but trying to forget.  some friendly spirits, try and help buggy out with remembering, but it’s hard when it all powerful fire spirit does not want that to happen. 

On Shanks part, he doesn’t feel bad about what he’s pulled. The humans in buggy‘s world were nothing but mean to his precious blue, buggy didn’t belong there buggy is his and belongs with him in the spirit world. safe with him, but it’s too dangerous in his realm. so buggy needs to stay in the in between world for now. And the parents turning into pigs was the result of their own actions that’s just what happens to some humans. 

The horror of being erased and rebuilt by someone who claims to love you.

Found family vs. possessive “love.”

The pain of never fitting in with humans and the terror of losing your last ties to them.

The seductive danger of letting someone else define who you are.

YYEEEEESSSSS!!

Honestly, you can never go wrong with Ghibli movies. You can either copy past the story or rewrite it or maybe just go with the Univision itself and your stories will still be hit!

A dark romance of Spirited Away, a possessive psychological story that is centered on Buggy and Shanks. I can’t my hands are itching to do something similar if my plate wasn’t already full.

The story keeps the core beats, spirit world crossing, parents-to-pigs, name theft, bathhouse work, but twists them into themes of isolation, identity erosion, and toxic “love.”

How Buggy’s lifelong disconnection from humans makes Shanks’ fiery spirit companionship feel like twisted salvation.

Shanks being guilt-free possessiveness to the level of renaming him “Blue/Bug,” erasing memories for “safety”, creates compelling moral ambiguity and yandere tension. What if “Buggy” wasn’t even his name it was the name that Shanks used to nickname him with and it just stuck!

And our poor buggy feels too passive so having subtle resistance would make the story so interesting!

I always find it hard to try and Balance between seductive romance and horror. So this is beautiful!!

Also imagine these scenes:

1-Buggy alone at night, tracing the bracelet and muttering his real name. Shanks appears suddenly, pulling him close by the fire, kissing his temple, and murmuring, “Why fight it? You were never happy as Buggy.” Buggy’s conflicted comfort turning to quiet panic.

2- A secret meeting with kind bathhouse workers who show Buggy hidden spirit lore or a reflective pool revealing glimpses of his human past,only for Shanks to interrupt with simmering jealousy.

3- During a busy bathhouse night, a kind spirit flirts lightly with “Blue” and claims he wants to help him recall a childhood memory. Shanks witnesses it and the entire wing flares with controlled flames. But they don’t know that not after the “kind spirit” burned alive. Later, alone, he pins Buggy against warm tiles, voice low and intense: “No one else gets to remind you of what you left behind. Only I decide what you need to remember.” The mix of anger, fear, and possessive tenderness leaves Buggy breathless and conflicted.

4- finally the Confrontation, Buggy challenges Shanks about his parents. Shanks admits everything without shame: “They never saw you. I always have. You’re mine, Blue.” Intense eye contact, firelight, and physical closeness that blurs fear and desire.

This is a really intense and creative take!

I love how it ties into Ivankov’s fruit and gives Fem!Buggy such a deep, personal reason for the transformation.

Young Fem!Buggy, already obsessed with flashy dreams, hears the world around her saying those dreams are for Men or for for those who are considered beautiful, who can “catch” powerful men.

I think she might try to fight the Norms of society before she decides that becoming a boy as the only way to chase freedom and greatness without compromise.

I think Fem!Buggy would find the Devil fruit sitting dramatically on a velvet cushion inside a half-open treasure chest, is a weird, swirly fruit that practically screams “flashy.” It’s bright, eye-catching, and looks like something a superstar would eat. To Buggy, it feels like destiny.

She takes thinking it is something that would make her stronger only for the fruit to make her go through transition, of course she panics at first but then, fully commits . loud, dramatic, flashy Buggy who never looks back, even through the hardship. She builds herself into the ultimate pirate clown, refusing to let anything, especial societies expectation, to hold her down.

Then during a crisis where she unleashes Conqueror’s Haki for the first time to protect that Shanks, the fruit’s effect finally breaks. Boom! back to her original female form.

Shanks, eyes wide, staring at the very obviously female Buggy in front of him, still catching his breath: “…Buggy? What the- …You’re… a girl? Wait, you’ve always been a girl?!”

Fem!Buggy would have this huge breakdown as her secret is exposed, believing that all this hard work was for nothing, and that her enemies will not see her serious and that her crew would probably abandon her.

The CrossGuild will be shocked but mostly because of how they couldn’t see it from the start and allowed themselves to be fooled, but I think it would be mostly Mihawk as for crocodile he would probably see it as a major inconvenience.

The Buggy pirates will be even MORE dramatic, They’d rally hard though. Buggy has always been their flashy, larger-than-life captain. Most would just roll with it and amp up the theatrics: “Our captain is even flashier than we thought!”

And as you said shanks of course will be supportive at first. Classic Shanks, he rolls with chaos. thinking maybe Buggy was a trans man who just decided to revert.

But once the full truth sinks in, that Buggy spent decades living as a man out of fear and resentment, hiding her real self the entire time, he has a quiet crisis. The realization that the person he’s known and loved since they were kids was carrying that much fear and pressure alone hits him like a truck.

Shanks, voice softer, almost guilty: “All this time… you were scared they wouldn’t let you be a pirate if you stayed a girl? That I… that the crew wouldn’t accept you? Buggy, I- …shit. I wish you’d told me. I would’ve chosen you no matter what.”

It adds such a heavy, emotional layer to their relationship. Shanks suddenly understanding just how much Buggy sacrificed and hid to stay by his side (and to stay “flashy”) would make him even more protective and attached going forward.

As for her past with the Roger pirates:

Rayleigh: Almost certainly had suspicions. As the smart, observant first mate, he would’ve noticed little inconsistencies over the years, the way “boy” Buggy sometimes moved, certain emotional reactions during puberty, or how Buggy would get unusually defensive about personal topics. He probably chalked it up to “Buggy being Buggy” (dramatic and insecure), but deep down he felt something was hidden. He never pushed, respecting the kid’s privacy.

Roger: He might have had a vague gut feeling. I always headcanon that Roger was incredibly perceptive about people’s hearts and dreams. He could tell Buggy carried some deep insecurity and fear, but he assumed it was tied to the red nose and feeling “not strong enough.” He treated Buggy with the same loud affection as everyone else, never realizing the full gender secret.

Gaban & other senior crew: They probably felt something was “different” about Buggy compared to the other wild boys, but again, they attributed it to personality. Gaban might have been the most casually protective without knowing why.

This AU has so much potential for angst-to-fluff and identity exploration. The moment Buggy finally feels safe enough to drop the transformation because of Shanks is chef’s kiss tragic and beautiful.

Me: How can I not? Have you seen the way he giggles behind his hand like a school girl when he thinks he is being sneaky?

Yes.

Like…HOW CAN YOU NOT REMEMBER THIS?!

I spend weeks talking about it!! We revised previous exams as references! YOU came to my office several times asking me to give YOU private tutoring to make sure you understood!! I gave you summarized papers for better understanding!! I posted it online!! I even sent videos of me explaining this!!

SO WHY ARE YOU ANSWERING IN A COMPLETE WRONG WAY IS IF IT WAS THE FIRST TIME FOR YOU?!