Couple's Therapy (closed)

[holdmyhat]

Who: Luffy holdmyhat and Zoro marimo
What: Luffy and Zoro work with professional dancers to unlock their mastery over beasthood through therapy. Spoilers: the dancers find out their relationship is surprisingly healthy.
When: All throughout May - July
Where: After hours at The Late Chanson

Content Warnings: N/A

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Question 1

[holdmyhat]

Lulu starts them off. Tucked in the back of the Late Chanson inside their manager's office, all four of them sit opposite each other—Zoro manspred and arms crossed; Luffy cross-legged on the chair with his hands resting on his bare ankles.

"So. How did you both meet, and what initially attracted you to each other?" Her eyes flit from Zoro, and then to Luffy waiting to see who speaks up first.

[marimo]

Under different circumstances, Zoro would have brushed off Candy and Lulu's insistence on this...evaluation, or. Whatever the hell this is supposed to be. But the old-man Hunter recommended these girls as masters in Beasthood, and Zoro's already committed to learning what he can. Compared to other things Zoro's endured, answering a few questions about himself is a small price to pay.

"This guy," Zoro jerks a thumb into Luffy's direction, "blackmailed me into joining his crew. It was either go with him, or be killed by firing squad. Didn't know what to make him at first, outside of him being a little shit, but—"

Teeth baring into a sharp grin, he adds: "Apparently he punched this one idiot for breaking a promise with me. That's when I knew he wasn't like other scum pirates I'd met."

[holdmyhat]

Beside him, Luffy chitters like a monkey at his own description. He takes it all as a compliment clearly.

"I wanted you on my crew!" he pipes up as if it's the most logical conclusion to take from such a strong title alone. All you have to do is look at Zoro to see his value.

"They were gonna kill him, anyway," Luffy explains to Lulu and Candy. "Zoro was winning the bet, and like cowards they took it back!" The idiot son might not piss him off anymore, but the situation still does.

"So, would you say you two were attracted to each others' morals?" Lulu asks. That's when Luffy looks at Zoro, and back at the two women.

"... We're pirates," he reminds them both as if they must have forgotten, because most people wouldn't call pirates "moral!"

[marimo]

"He's the man who's gonna be King of the Pirates," Zoro says, eyes glinting with a startling amount of confidence for a guy who'd been floating through some inter-dimensional ocean like a ball of seaweed just a few weeks ago, "and I'll be the world's strongest swordsman. Anything less is no good to the other."

Candy hums. "That sounds...transactional."

"No," Zoro easily answers. "You're free to see it that way—" because he really isn't having this conversation to impress anyone "—but Luffy's already a man of that caliber. I wouldn't be following him if he weren't."

[holdmyhat]

"That's very high praise," Lulu comments gently when she turns her attention to Luffy. "How does that make you feel, Luffy? Sounds like a lot of pressure to be 'a man of that caliber.'"

"Well, that's why we're here," he tells her. "To get stronger for our crew." It certainly doesn't answer her probing question, but it's certainly the truth. There is pressure, but not for the title. He feels it in his rubber bones that it's his destiny. But if he can't bring along each and everyone of his crew mates to the top with him, then what's the point? What power does he have then? None worth it.

[marimo]

Candy chews thoughtfully on the edge of her pen. If she noticed Luffy avoiding the f-word, she doesn't comment on it (though she certainly jots something down on her clipboard). At the same time, she remarks: "So, your long-term goals are aligned. And you two are together because neither of you is the type to settle." Her painted lips curve into a smile. "Mmm, I like that in a man ♥ Even more when it's a couple of men."

Zoro's eyebrows faintly furrow at that wording. He can't quite put his finger on why, though. Maybe it's some weird cabaret thing throwing him off.

"In that case, can either of you tell me," Candy continues with a glint in her eye that somehow makes Zoro feel like this is a test, "how the work you're doing with us helps you become stronger?"

[holdmyhat]

Ha! This is why he likes Candy so much. She gets it! He has no clue why she should be jotting anything down about what they've said, though. It all seems pretty obvious to him and Zoro, too. A more likely scenario, Luffy suspects, is that it's probably doodles. Maybe of what they will become once they've mastered their beasthood! They'll have to compare their drawings later and see who turns out right!

"Mm." He thinks about it, even tapping his temple to get it all working just a bit faster. Maybe even rattle something of an answer loose.

"Because you said it would," he finally concludes, a little proud of answering he trick question. See? He paid attention.

[marimo]

"Pay closer attention," Zoro admonishes. "She's teaching us to control our Beasthood and transform into animals."

Candy arches her brow and looks over at Lulu. Lulu, in turn, gives an encouraging smile and speaks.

"Well, you’re not wrong. But there’s a certain...key you need for that. The bond you two share,” she points to both pirates, "is that key. And these little chats? They'll help you turn the key. Once you turn it enough times, I promise Beasthood won’t overwhelm you. In fact..."

She holds out one manicured hand, admiring her thumb as it morphs into a single sharp claw. "It may even begin to feel second nature to you."

Zoro's eyes narrow with skepticism. "You're saying me and Luffy just need to talk?"

"That's one part of it." Lulu casually reaches out to link her fingers with Candy's, mindful not to scratch her. "Talking isn't so different from dancing with a partner. They simply use different parts of your body and soul."

Candy flashes Lulu a sly smile and squeezes her hand. Her gaze shifts back to the two men in front of her.

"How do you talk to each other?" she asks. "Normally, I mean. Is it hard to say what you need, or feel, or worry about?"

[holdmyhat]

"I dunno, we don't need to talk that much!" Luffy mentions first.

"Okay. Tell me more about that. You don't need to talk that much. What does that mean to you?" Lulu pushes gently.

"Ah, well, we just know. I look at Zoro, and he knows what I want him to do," he tells them both to the best of his ability. Words are not his best weapon, action is. When he has to explain his decisions.

"Do you agree with that, Zoro?" Candy speaks up.

[marimo]

"Yeah," he says with a small shrug and a thumb-jerk in Luffy's direction, "I can usually tell what this guy's thinking."

"Because of how long you've known each other?" Candy gently presses.

"Nah," Zoro answers. "It was pretty much from day one."

Lulu wordlessly places her other hand over her chest, and she exchanges a warm, tender look with Candy.

"Hey." The swordsman's eyes flicker from one girl to the other. "What's with those faces?"