gen's big ol' fanfic rec list!!
hey hey! as a way of sharing my love for some fellow writers in the one piece community, i figured i'd list, categorize, and summarize some of my favorite OP fanfics! i will link them all here, but they can also be found in my ao3 bookmarks :) i will also link this list to my pinned intro post on my profile for your convenience.
well, without further ado, i present some of my favorite one piece stories, organized loosely by categories of my obsessions <3
if i tagged you as an author and you do not want to be tagged, let me know ASAP!! :) i attempted to tag every author i could find, but if i missed someone, plz let me know!!
dofladile stories
figured we'd start strong with this ship, since they're quite popular!! most of these stories are quite dark, but i'm a huge fan of consistent characterization, and this is a villain pairing...
Funny Games ~ by ThisisVenereVeritas / @sourbat
rating: M
warnings: creator chose not to use archive warnings
genres: angst, dark, whump, modern AU, character study, conflict of interest, gender issues
status: complete, (resolution in the comments of the fic) 27 chapters, 166,768 words
summary: The path to adulthood is littered with traps and trickery that make life nearly unbearable. With each action is a consequence that worsens your chance of accomplishing the true goal. Doflamingo thought there was a way out of it, that he was immune to any surprises life tried to throw at him. But then someone he cared for threw a real curve-ball. A story about two boys risking the game called life.
my thoughts: i think this was one of the first dofladile stories i read. it is dark. that "creator chose not to use archive warnings" carries quite a bit of weight. there is some dubcon, graphic violence, drug use/abuse, torture, murder attempts, suicide attempts, offensive language, etc, etc, etc. very very heavy topics. absolutely not a happy ending, not a walk in the park by any means. that being said, the writing style is glorious. the storytelling kept me smacking the shit out of that "next chapter" button. the characterization is spot on for a modern AU, the incorporation of certain events and characters is just perfect. not to mention the intense conflict of interests. this writer has some other shorter dofladile stories as well, and some really fantastic crocorosi!!
save tonight, save the show ~ by ghostwit / @hazeism
rating: E
warnings: none
genres: PWP, light humor? banter
status: complete, oneshot, 1,821 words
summary:
"Ooh, don't debase yourself for me, Croco."
“Maybe it’s the weather."
(Set post-Roger's execution -- Before all the hurt and complication, where they're ambitious and hungry and just beginning to get a feel for each other, both of them feeding their own little brands of cruelty and learning where, how, etc. they can push each other.)
my thoughts: one of my favorite authors, i just cannot get enough of their style. very stream-of-consciousness, mind-whirling, eye-candy of a read, every time. and every reread offers a little dose of something new. in this story, i am completely won over by the banter and characterization. i can be kind of picky with how certain characters are depicted, (especially characters like doflamingo) but haze has got the magic touch keeping their dynamic feeling lively and believable.
Just like kittens ~ by 123_crowbar_solo
rating: T
warnings: graphic depictions of violence
genres: dark fluff/humor
status: complete, oneshot, 1,628 words
summary: Do bananadile hatchlings play with toys, like kittens? Crocodile and Doflamingo make a bet in which more than ego may be at stake.
my thoughts: i truly love the flow of this piece. this author is fantastic at writing these two constantly at each other's throats, but i love this take on them too, putting the knife down to make a bet instead. and of course, there is murder involved, because, well, it's doflamingo and crocodile. also. baby bananadiles.
New Low ~ by ghostwit / @hazeism
rating: T
warnings: none
status: complete, oneshot, 2,729 words
genres: humor, canon compliant, character study, sexual tension
summary: He gives his wrist a shake, waggling his brows, “Even villains like me deserve true love, don't'cha think?”
Oh.
What?
my thoughts: sorry for calling you out again here haze but this one is my new favorites of yours. this story isn't dofladile-centric, hence why i listed it at the end. it's more of, "how would rosinante respond to dofladile?" and it is funny as shit. i believe in my bookmark i captioned it: doflamingo gets a boyfriend. corazon encounters a mental "error 303".
donquixote family stories
sometimes you just need some donquixote family shenanigans. you can tell i have a favorite author for when that craving strikes... mostly gen or T rated stories, fluff, humor and angst.
Thicker Than Blood ~ by ScriptedScarlet / @simplyscarlet
rating: T
warnings: graphic depictions of violence
genres: slice of life, coming of age, canon compliant, mild angst, character study
status: complete, 22 chapters, 44,954 words
summary: It was an ordinary day for the Donquixote Family, when the den den mushi rang with a call from one of their traffickers informing Doflamingo that they might have something of interest to him…
The Donquixote Family did not quite know what they were getting themselves into when they took in the strange baby with horns, a fin, and a mouthful of sharp teeth. They were far from an ordinary family, and Dellinger was far from an ordinary baby.
Jora discovers that it’s hard enough to raise a baby, much less a baby that bites, breaks fingers, and throws itself off the ship to swim before it can even walk. But Dellinger thrives under the doting care of Jora and his family. He grows to take the Corrida Coliseum by storm (and jazz hands), watches Baby 5 make bad relationship choices, tries to make Sugar smile, amasses a closet of the finest shoes in the New World, refuses to acknowledge gender norms, and sneaks out at night to go swimming with "his own kind."
But the reign of the Donquixote Family is not a permanent one.
A coming of age/slice of life story about growing up in a strange family, where 'normal' means something very different.
my thoughts: this is another one of those longer stories like Funny Games that stole my heart and ate it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. when i was watching dressrosa, i fell in love with dellinger. like a lot of the family, he didn't seem to have much of a backstory. and then i found THIS lovely story. ugh. i accidentally started rereading it while skimming over to write this summary, it's just, it's so good, i love the way the family is portrayed, i love the perspective and story beats, the various bumps along the road. highly recommend for any donquixote family fans.
Designer Unknown ~ by ScriptedScarlet / @simplyscarlet
rating: gen
warnings: none
genres: slice of life, fluff, humor, canon compliant (?)
status: complete, oneshot, 2,498 words
summary: Pirates and Marines alike are all out to make a statement on the seas, and their fashion choices say it all. But just where do those heavy coats, fancy pants, and ridiculous getups come from? How do Zoans not rip apart their clothes? Who coordinates all of CP9's ensembles? Where does one possibly buy a coat of thousands of pink feathers? And just where does Trafalgar Law commission all those customized outfits of his?
A secretive designer in Saobody has been sewing for the biggest names on the seas for decades. Her work has been seen in every newspaper on both pirates and Marines alike.
Oneshot. Slice of life. Takes places across multiple timeframes/non-linear.
my thoughts: this story focuses on an original character who is a devil-fruit wielding tailor! explains some of the questionable outfit choices worn by pirates across the globe in such a humorous, whimsical way. i just love the subtle details and theories! general focus on the donquixote family, but it branches out to other pirates and crews as well.
Family Portraits ~ by ScriptedScarlet / @simplyscarlet
rating: gen
warnings: none
genres: family fluff, slice of life, humor, family feels, mild angst
status: incomplete, 2 chapters, 2,782 words
summary: Vergo did not buy a camera in Dressrosa. But the Donquixote Family did have a camera. And it was put to good use.
Viola is cleaning the castle after the fall of Dressrosa, and finds things. Personal things. Things that she isn't quite sure what to make of.
A collection of short stories about the Donquixote Family. Mostly one-shots, prompts or drabbles I've written on the side that don't really go anywhere else - ranging from serious to funny. I'll add to it as I write stuff.
my thoughts: this story is so bittersweet. little reminder of "hey these evil pirates are human". really puts emphasis on the family as a family. second chapter is hysterical jora/giolla pov of getting her nails painted. a great light-hearted read!
Hearing Silence ~ by ScriptedScarlet / @simplyscarlet
rating: gen
warnings: none
genres: character study, angst, mild fluff
status: complete, oneshot, 2,448 words
summary: Rocinante observes his brother's 'Family,' all while reflecting on being trapped in the silent role of "Corazon." That is until one of the Family's new recruits tries to give Corazon a voice.
my thoughts: i fell in love with this story so hard. finally another story with a rosinante & gladius friendship - although it's not that black and white, hehe. hence the angst tag. really great short read on rosinante's pov, nails that rosinante vs corazón dichotomy i'm obsessed with. and gladius is a prominent character!! what more could i ask
Monsters ~ by ScriptedScarlet / @simplyscarlet
rating: T
warnings: none
genres: angst, moral ambiguity, angst again
status: complete, oneshot, 5,404 words
summary: Rocinante survived his brother's attempted murder, and now works among the masked ranks of CP0, a double agent for the Revolutionary Army. However today, he goes with Vice Admiral Tsuru to visit Impel Down, and see a child that he abandoned.
my thoughts: i think this is the angstiest story from this collection so far. nothing like a good cora lives AU, until you throw some guilt in there, some imprisoned dellinger. a not so friendly reminder that being raised as a pirate from a baby and then being sentenced to a life in prison after sixteen years is... an unpleasant existence, to say the least.
Field Trip ~ by 123_crowbar_solo
rating: T
warnings: none
genres: dark humor, angst, mental health issues, non-graphic genocide
status: complete, oneshot, 3500 words
summary: Annoyed at his pupils using the words "mass murder" and "genocide" interchangeably, Doflamingo takes them on a field trip to teach them the difference.
my thoughts: one of those stories you feel bad for laughing at. if you appreciate some dark humor and like the donquixote family, especially doflamingo, this story is for you. has a delightfully satirical take on the donquixote pirates and doflamingo's strange whims/motivations, with a twist of his unavoidable mental health issues. love the approach to the strained brotherhood between rosinante and doflamingo, too.
doflamingo-centric stories
the psycho flamingo man got his own category, although it's kind of small (for now). these stories are stand-out character studies that do a great job tackling his wacky thought process.
Da Capo al Fine (second verse same as the first) ~ by freckledshoulderblades
rating: M
warnings: graphic depictions of violence
genres: time travel, time-loop fix-it, character study, PTSD, trauma
status: incomplete, 2 chapters, 7,644 words
summary: Left unchecked in Impel Down, Doflamingo has a visitor that declares their ability - an awakened Toki Toki fruit - and their intent to send him off into the far past to repent for his sins. When he wakes up, he's eight years old again and his father is gently knocking on the door, asking after his well-being. He carries with him the knowledge of everything he's lived up until being sent back - killing his father, killing Rosinante, running the Donquixote Pirates - and every action he takes is colored by that information.
The Toki Toki user seems convinced there's a shred of good left in him, but he's not so certain anymore.
my thoughts: the relationship tag for this fic is "donquixote doflamingo/the consequences of his actions" and i think that just fits perfectly. when i think character study, i think of this story. strips doflamingo of his power, aside from his memories, and forces him to relive the most harrowing (and innocuous) period of his life. gets a little gory at times. this writer also has some fantastic stories about rosinante!!
a brother is a person who never lets go ~ by theogonies / @theogonies
rating: T
warnings: graphic depictions of violence, major character death
genres: character study, prose poem, angst, dark, trauma
status: complete, oneshot, 1,324 words
summary: you came too late to take your brother home but you're bigger now. stronger, and smart enough to understand that home is the place at the end of the road, not the beginning. this time will be different.
a prose poetry character study of donquixote doflamingo, his early life, and his relationships with donquixote rosinante and trafalgar law.
my thoughts: another delight of a character study. the flow and prose of this is such a dream to read, for such a nightmare of a character. nails the motivations that spur doflamingo's heart and mind, and the mantras that must crawl around his mind. mind the tags if you check this one out!
cora & law stories
like many cora and law fans, i just don't think those several episodes of their adventure was enough. so, here are a few stories to remedy that absence! lots of hurt/comfort, adventure and angst lie ahead!
won't the waves crash on ~ by slycel / @lanhours
rating: not rated
warnings: major character death
genres: angst, adventure, canon compliant, hurt/comfort
status: complete, oneshot, 9,730 words
summary:
“Stop being the good guy. There have to be better things you could be doing.”
“So what if there are? I’m here,” Corazon said, tapping Law’s back lightly, “and so are you.”
my thoughts: another one of those stories that i always start to accidentally reread anytime i take a quick peek at it. the portrayal of these two is just so good, the various elements of their adventure bring some real life into them!! a good blend of light-hearted banter and angst, ugh, some real gut-punching lines in this one. a must for cora & law fans, a MUST!!
From Your Lips To The (False) Gods' Ears ~ by HyperbolicReverie / @hyperbolicreverie
rating: T
warnings: none (major character death)
genres: hurt/comfort, angst, worldbuilding, language/linguistics
status: complete, oneshot, 11,335 words
summary:
“How do you do it?”
“Hmm?” Corazón hums around the cigarette between his teeth, cocking his head as if to listen to him better.
“How can you just…change your accent at the drop of a hat?”
Language was never anything particularly special to Law. It was just the different ways people said the same things.
Until he was the only person left who spoke his.
my thoughts: the worldbuilding in this story makes my mind spin. introduces and incorporates the idea of "what if there were different languages in OP?" with masterwork precision. and the way it ties into the cora & law relationship is the tragic cherry on top. you get a good dose of their adventures here too, and some heartbreakingly deep conversations between them. it is not tagged with major character death, but rosinante's death is referenced, (and made me tear up, dammit), hence why the warnings might look a little confusing. this writer also has another story of a similar premise that focuses on rosinante!!
Bridges and train tracks hem in a town ~ by Harmonica_Smile (Rescue_Remedy) / @chromatic-lamina
rating: T
warnings: none!
genres: character study, light angst, humor, modern AU, friendship
status: complete, oneshot, 5,337 words
summary: Sixteen-year-old Law wanders down the bush track away from everything at home, just for a little while, needing to be alone. Kid follows, not wanting to be alone.
my thoughts: the atmosphere of this one is so tangible and oddly comforting. modern AU with a nice infliction of angst. it actually focuses primarily on kid and law, but i'm including it here because there is reference of an angsty state of life for cora and law, and i simply adore it. this writer has excellent prose and storytelling skills, and writes a wide range of other OP stories, too!
Before you leave ~ by Schangia
rating: T
warnings: none!
genres: AU, time travel, hurt/comfort?
status: complete, 2 chapters, 4,015 words
summary: There's a café that claims to take you back in time to meet someone from your past. Law has met many people in his life, but there are only two he needs to talk to one last time.
Inspired by Kawaguchi Toshikazu's absolutely brilliant series "Before the Coffee Gets Cold".
my thoughts: this is one of the most cathartic stories i've read. perfect balance between "too perfect" and "not satisfying", law gets only a few minutes to chat with the ghosts of his past, and the conversations he holds with these characters are just, perfect. honestly this story helps me sleep at night. i can't explain it. characterization is solid, pacing is great. good, good read!!
that's it, for now!! (i say, as if this list isn't absolutely massive). i may edit and add more as time continues and i run across more brilliant stories.
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