#chakapell

warriors

Commission for @kosmatish

really loved how this one turned out!

What other ships do you like in one piece? I see zoro/sanji - shanks/buggy and chaka/pell (which is very cute and would definitely read your fic)

I definitely caught those death flags Oda's throwing up, but maybe Cobra will recover. Tbh I want him to for Vivi's sake. I miss Vivi too. Glad she's doing well, though. Baby girl deserves it. :')

So as far as emotional investment goes, my ships are Zosan, Shanks/Buggy, Namivivi, Chakapell, Frobin, Lawbin (it just makes a lot of sense to me and is definitely one of those ships that are based on asking "what if" rather than actual canonical interactions), Usolu + Usona which I often just combine to make a polycule that I call Lusona (Lu and Nami aren't dating tho), and that's pretty much it. I've managed to write about each ship I'm emotionally invested in minus Chaka/Pell, but maybe one day I'll surprise myself. For now I just have a list of headcanons that I came up with when an anon asked me.

And, well, I'm the kind of shipper that I have different tiers when it comes to shipping. So while I'm emotionally invested in a handful of ships (which tbh is a lot more than a lot of people hahaha) I do have a list of ships that fall into different tiers. I made a list.

Something about the consequences for Pell after the explosion

1. Burns

2. Breathing problems

3. Frequent headaches

4. Decreased stamina

5. Difficulties with transformation

Ah! What a lovely surprise to wake up to! I love asks like this. They make me think because while I enjoy Chaka/Pell, I haven’t really developed any headcanons about them because back when I was watching Alabasta I wanted to see if there was any interest for the ship or the characters and... I didn’t find much. So I kinda just let it be. But your ask got me thinking.

A note: I haven’t seen Alabasta in a hot minute, so this is all just a gut reaction. I went onto the wiki for a refresher, but it turns out I didn’t really need it because, well, we don’t see all that much of Chaka and/or Pell. My city now, basically.

I’ve said before that I ship them and that their marriage is law on this blog, so we’re starting with that. And I’m nothing if not a romantic, so watch me trot out some of my favorite tropes.

There was a lot of mutual pining in the beginning. There was this unspoken agreement between the two for the longest time that duty came first. The king and their captain Igaram would never allow it. Serving the royal family and their country came before personal feelings, and that was that for a long, long time.

So you know what that means? Emotionally charged silence, meaningful touches, looks of longing from one when the other has his back turned and they think no one can see.

I mean. Everyone who worked around them knew. Cobra and Igaram knew. But we’re going to stick a pin in that and come back to it later.

They like playing chess/go/whatever the Alabastan equivalent of a strategic game with game pieces is. Keeps their minds sharp and allows them to relax with each other. (Leads to witty/flirty banter.) Also makes for a good excuse. “No, no, we’re playing because the game forces you to think! It’s for work!” An excuse that no one buys, but they leave them be because these weekly games of theirs clearly make them happy.

Cobra and Igaram have had slightly very inappropriate conversations about Pell and Chaka’s personal lives. Igaram remarks that both of them seem to think that Cobra and Igaram would disapprove of a romantic relationship between them. 

This leads to shenanigans out of a romantic comedy/fanfic where Cobra and Igaram try to “nudge” them into a relationship. The idea is to put them into romantically tense situations to the point where both realize they can deny themselves and each other no longer. It’s also fun for Igaram and Cobra to gossip and generally behave inappropriately and unprofessionally.

It works. Kinda.

Chaka and Pell spend the night together after years of longing and denial, but it doesn’t turn out like Igaram and Cobra wanted. Instead of bringing them together, Chaka and Pell both agree that they have to come to their captain and their king and ask both for their forgiveness and offer to resign from the guard if either of them think it’s necessary.

So Cobra and Igaram panic. Like no no no no, it wasn’t supposed to turn out like this.

Cobra and Igaram come clean and apologize to Chaka and Pell for interfering to the degree that they did. They admit that they should have been upfront about it from the beginning.

Honestly, though. They should have known better. They did know better. Putting aside that they’re all adults, Chaka and Pell are some of the most honorable men you’ll meet. Of course they’re going to put duty before their own happiness.

With the captain and the king’s explicit approval, Chaka and Pell take it from there.

There’s a little bit of uncertainty. It’s an adjustment, knowing they’re free to pursue each other, after years of yearning.

Chaka’s a true romantic, though. He tells Pell that he wants to woo him, now that he has the freedom to do so. Pell smiles at him warmly and tells him that he did that long ago. Chaka laughs and tells him that he wasn’t even trying, that Pell should see him when he’s trying.

“Very well. Woo me. Sweep me off my feet.”

They remain professional on the job, but out of work Chaka lavishes Pell with tiny gifts. Pell isn’t the type who needs gifts to feel loved, but he recognizes that gift giving is one of Chaka’s love languages, and they’re so personal. And it’s nice to know that Chaka’s thinking of him when Pell retires to his room after a long day and finds some of his favorite fruit and a love poem from one of the country’s most famous poets waiting for him.

Chaka knows calligraphy. I’ve decided. He copies poetry that moves him in a delicate hand and leaves them for Pell.

Pell has all of the poems Chaka gifted him during their courtship. He had them bound into a book. Chaka’s eyes lit up when Pell showed him. He vowed to give him more poetry, enough to fill up another book.

They enjoy nightly strolls around the palace grounds. Chaka has kissed Pell in one of the palace gardens under the light of the moon on more than one occasion.

They call each other beloved. Chaka calls Pell his sweetheart/sweetie.

They both propose to each other at the same time. Pell asks first. Chaka laughs and pulls out the ring he’d been intending to offer Pell that night. They share a laugh and a loving kiss before they exchange rings.

It’s a small, intimate ceremony. Just them, the royal family, Igaram, and a few of their close friends from the guard. Igaram officiates the wedding.

So. This means I get to talk about Pell’s sacrifice.

Pell and Chaka both understand that their job comes with certain risks. It was something they had to address when they both had a talk about being together. 

But knowing this doesn’t make the loss Chaka feels any less devastating. His love. His partner. His light. Gone.

They’re quiet when Pell makes it back to the palace and they finally have time alone. They gravitate to each other. They stand there, holding each other for the longest time.

Chaka does not begrudge Pell’s decision, but damn it, he’s so relieved to have him home.

These two deserve a vacation, just like Vivi deserves a vacation. Igaram deserves a vacation. Cobra deserves a vacation. They all deserve a family vacation.

And, uh, I think that’s it. Wow, when I first sat down to write this I thought I was gonna come up with three headcanons, tops, but here we are. Hope you liked it. ^^