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Hey, look! Another Poll! (Halfway Broken)
🕑 Added 2024-11-04 22:00:18 +0000 UTCSo...sick of polls yet? I'm not! I like the feedback ;-). More to the point, this one is sort of important, and I've put it off way too long. In fact, I was originally intending to run it last month. Last month, unfortunately, was super busy and it kept slipping my mind. Plus, of course, I was running extra polls anyway for A Very Confused Pokémon Adventure. This poll, on the other hand, is for One Piece: Halfway Broken. It's the poll a lot of you have, I think, been waiting for! Specifically, it's time to determine the rest of the pairing for Halfway Broken.
Now, having said that, part of the reason I haven't put this up before is because it's going to be a bit complicated. Specifically, there are three things you need to be aware of.
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1) Nami and Robin are already locked in and aren't going anywhere. They will be part of the pairing regardless. Don't ask me to change that fact. Robin is my favorite character in the entire series, and Nami is...well...already riding the Luffy train.
2) There is one option on this list that will cause me to close the pairing down to just three girls. Specifically, Boa Hancock is way too high maintenance for me to consider adding any girls after her. If she wins, the pairing with be Nami/Robin/Boa and that's it. If anyone else on the list wins, I will at least consider adding a fourth girl. I don't guarantee I will, but there are a few combinations I can see working. Yamato and Vivi, for example, I think would play out as remarkably compatible with the Nami and Robin combination. Other combinations, like Hina and Vivi, I don't think would work out all that well. On the other hand, I could see Hina and Perona working out, oddly enough. Four girls is the absolute, hard limit I will go to, period. Note, I also won't be doing one-night-stands or side girls. This isn't a smut fic, and it's hard enough to build a realistic(ish) multi-ship without that sort of massive complication. Don't ask for it, I will ignore you and your arguments in favor of that sort of thing.
*Edit For clarity: Boa isn't 'high maintenance' purely because of her personality. While that's part of it (she's very much a Dramatic Diva), it's only half of what I meant. The other half is the fact she's not really capable of joining the Straw Hats. She has her own crew, in addition to being an actual ruler instead of just an heir like Vivi. Her 'maintenance requirements' to take part in the story are extremely high, as I have to arrange for her to balance those needs with spending time with Luffy and his crew. The point of limiting the number of girls is to make sure the romance doesn't bog down the storytelling. Boa adds more complications than any of the other girls.*
3) You will notice an absence of most of the Post-Timeskip girls. The reason for this is that I'm not very familiar with them. I apologize to anyone that was really hoping for a post-timeskip girl, like the various mink and such. But I have almost no knowledge of them, and I'm not willing to blindly say I'll add a character I know nothing about. While I've seen a bit more of One Piece than 'Alex' had, and I've read a lot of summaries and such of later content, I haven't watched/read most of the more recent One Piece material. Mostly, it has to be said, because it didn't exist yet when I first hit the 'end' of the available series. Yamato is the only exception, and even her I'm mostly familiar with due to the number of fanfictions and such that popped up after she was introduced. She's also one who I'd be blatantly modifying a little bit, because I am not dealing with the 'I am Oden' thing she has going on. It's simply too much of a minefield for me to want to touch it with the relationship stick.
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Okay, with that out of the way, time to vote! Who do you want to be the Third girl in the story's pairing?
Comments
Novus Peregrine
Okay so...yes and no. Going to hit a few points here. But first, I actually DO understand, and I will say without question that Vivi won't get into actual sex until she's at least 17. (I'd honestly prefer 18, but that might be stretching it to the point of impracticality). Which means sometime during what would have been the timeskip. (I'm not doing the timeskip the same way, the crew won't be splitting up and I'll be showing major parts of it). Up until that point, romance and flirting only. That said, the points: 1) Vivi might come across as innocent because of her personality. But she's arguably been part of worse things than Nami. Nami saw horrible things, and from a young age, but she never participated in anything more than theft so far as we know. Vivi, on the other hand, is virtually certainly a killer a dozen times over. Bounty targets, of course. But still a killer. There's no way she made it as far as becoming one of Baroque Works top ten agents without proving herself capable of it. Likely quite a few other crimes, as well, given the criminal nature of the organization. In some ways she's probably less 'innocent' than anyone on the crew but Robin. 2) Vivi's actually seen worse than THAT, as she's previously attended at least one Levely (possibly more), and seen the shit the World Nobles get up to as a result. Between that and being heir of Alabasta, she's arguably as seen more of the World's dark side than Nami...possibly even Robin in some specific ways. Robin stayed in Paradise, never actually going close to the Archipelago so far as I know, and thus might not actually have much knowledge of the World Nobles/Slavery/Etc. 3) I suspect (and will write) that Robin is actually less 'experienced' than you'd think. With violence, death, and betrayals, yes. With intimacy? Probably only at surface level, as she hasn't exactly had a lot of people she could trust (as in, none). She almost certainly has some experience with one-night stands, possibly a bit more if she tried seducing someone for protection at some point. But I can't actually quite see her doing that. It doesn't really fit her profile very well. Meaning she's actually likely somewhat less experienced than you're thinking she is.
Novus Peregrine
Honestly, I would have been find with that too. Or even just Robin. But people wanted the multi-ship :-p. And if I'm going to do that, I might as well give as many people the girl(s) they want, up to the limit I think I can juggle. Which is 3 or 4 depending on the girls in question.
BookDragonling
I would have been fine with it just being Nami and Robin.
Camille Favre
I don’t want this to come across too harsh, just wanted people to think about it a little. Vivi is one year older than Chopper… She is a child honestly
Camille Favre
Guys, shipping Vivi (16 year old virgin, quite innocent despite infiltrating a criminal organisation) with Robin (28, experienced, world weary) and Luffy/Leo (17+10, experienced) makes me uncomfortable… Is it just me? I don’t feel that way about Nami strangely enough, although she is 18 so there’s that, and she is less innocent too. But imagining any 28 year old with a 16 year old gives me the complete ick.
Novus Peregrine
That's pretty much what I intend to do, assuming she ends up as part of the pairing. It's a proverbial windmill I'm willing to tilt at, or I wouldn't have made her an option ;-). That doesn't mean I'm blind to the potential drama. At least, if she ends up being voted as part of the pairing, I'll be comfortable that the fans of Halfway Broken are on board with it. Which is enough for me :-).
Mr Fox
My advice there is that for once you should ignore your fans and do what you know is right. That's what oda did and it seems to be working out alright for him. Just throw an authors note in explaining that like you did here. As far as the people who think she's still a Trans icon it's because that's what it looked like she was going to be when she first showed up same way it looked like she was going to join the straw hats. When it became clear that wasn't going to happen people ignored it because they wanted her to be a Trans icon and they wanted her to be a member of the straw hats. Oda did the right thing by ignoring his fan base and sticking to the story he wrote and not the one his fans wanted. Listening to feedback is important but you also need to know when to stick to your guns especially when it comes to sensitive topics like this. So in summary handle yamato however you want but do what you know is right and damn anyone who disagrees. P.s. also your kinda in a no win situation anyway if you pander to the people who want her to be a Trans icon you'll just be pissing off all the people who know she's disassociative instead.
Novus Peregrine
I'm aware of that. My concern is that the One Piece fanbase doesn't seem to be so aware as a whole. I see a lot of people holding Yamato up as a Trans icon when that doesn't quite fit her circumstances. Yamato is an Extremely blatant case of a trauma induced dissociative disorder, rather than having any form of notable gender dysphoria. She isn't actively trying to become MALE, she's trying to become SOMEONE ELSE, who just happens to be male. It's actually the sort of thing that would get her flagged as a 'No' in those states that require psyche sign off for trans procedures. Specifically because it's not a gender issue. Its verrrrrryyy strange for the trans community to actually like the character, as she should be basically anathema to them. Transitioning is supposed to be something you do because you are trying to become YOURSELF when you feel like your body doesn't match your sense of self. Yamato is specifically doing the opposite, trying to become SOMEONE ELSE, because her sense of self doesn't match her circumstances (as she wants them to be). She is, manifestly, mentally unwell. Not because she sees herself as male, but because she's disassociating and trying to escape her trauma by becoming something or someone else. The change in tone as her circumstances improve is another case in point. Frankly, removing her from her trauma environment for any length of time is likely to cause a mental rebalance. My concern is that by doing that rebalance the fanbase might lynch me, since there are vicious, vicious arguments over the gender thing for her.
Mr Fox
So just wanted to say you actual wouldn't have to change yamato much. A lot of the subtext in the post onigashima part of wano arc implies that the "I am Oden" part of yamato's character was essentially a form of escapism for her and she actually backpedaled to "I want to be like oden" almost as soon as she got off onigashima instead. She only said "I am oden" like twice after getting off onigashima and mostly in a joking manner both times. If she has been away from kaido for any real amount of time before meeting luffy and crew she'll probably have chilled out on that part on her own. Though she would still probably have a very masculine personality.
Ototsu_Yume
That sounds great, the story could even be an abridged version of Luffy's parents who he's never seemingly met since one is a descendent of the previous rulers making him prince of the D clan and his mother was a celestial dragon making him a dual prince himself too spurring him on into making one great big royal family lol. 😂
Novus Peregrine
Okay. This sounds like a fascinating story all on its own. Get a Luffy whose obsessed with collecting Princesses to better be Pirate King. Possibly due to some ridiculous tall tale Shanks told him. Either as part of his harem or as little sisters, he wants ALL the princesses. He ends up collecting a very different crew made up entirely of Princesses or Princess-Adjacent individuals...many of whom are baffled how they ended up in this new life.
Ototsu_Yume
I'm sure a devil fruit would solve that, especially if it's one that governs size, age or shape similar to Jewelry Bonney's (Jewelry Bonney could even use hers on her to fast forward her maturity) She'd also make for a third princess if you include Vivi and Yamato, fourth if Bonney joins as a little sister character meant to be protected. 😅 There's also that gladiator chick from Dressrosa which could make a fifth if you went all-in on princess collecting.
Novus Peregrine
O.o. The Giant Mermaid that won't even have legs for like another decade and a half?
Ototsu_Yume
Sad, best girl Shirahoshi-chan isn't an option. :(
Novus Peregrine
Yeah, his original behavior annoyed the heck out of me, so I toned him done a bit in order to not tempt myself into having him brutally murdered in some way ;-). I could totally see Hina being a sucker for a romantic, though. Vivi, too, actually. Though from the current voting Vivi might be busy elsewhere ;-).
The Foreign Traveler
Ha! Oh Novus...I bet there certainly are~.
Novus Peregrine
I've seen a few fics that do either Vivi/Robin (mostly smut fics, to be honest) or add Vivi and Robin both with Luffy. Vimenthusiast's Stallion of the Line seems like it's heading that way in the most recent updates, just for one example. Plus the fic Loghead101 mentioned looks that way too. Several of the more harem-happy fics that make it far enough for them to both be around include it as well. It's admittedly somewhat rare, though, mostly because very few stories have Vivi decide to go with the crew. Even I wouldn't have done it, save for the workaround I provided with a long-distance teleportation type movement ability allowing her to effectively have her cake and eat it too. As for the Vivi/Robin tensions. The fact that she knows more of Robin's history and motivations in this story due to Luffy's meddling means the tensions were never quite so strong in the first place. And there are certainly ways to lower them farther...
The Foreign Traveler
Ah! Primordial Vortex? Been reading that story and his work for years now actually! That story, along with Kaiomaru's "Logia Brothers", are two of the closest stories I've come across for a relationship between Vivi and Robin to potentially head in that direction. Thank you so much for the suggestion though! Makes me honestly want to go and reread Supernova again! Been too long since I last did that...
Loghead101
Whatever plans you would have to bring in Yamato early I am 100% on board with. I’m not the biggest fan of Perona but I would be happy to see her end up with Zoro and Kuina. No need for the others to not get all their special ladies too.
Novus Peregrine
Well, not another Man, no. Possibly a dozen women in a harem for the Empress, though. Given Amazon Lily's no-men policy, I can't imagine lesbian relationships are exactly uncommon there...
Loghead101
Yeah Sanji has showed himself to be much more of a gentlemen but he would absolutely be turned to stone if those two met. Hell he was turned to stone just for seeing Shirahoshi.
Novus Peregrine
Since a few people brought up the high maintenance thing, I added a clarifying edit to that section :-p. It's not just her personality, but the complications she brings with her. Check out the edit for more detail :-). The timeskip I can say 100% won't happen the same. They won't be splitting up the way they did in canon, though they will be diverting from going straight into the New World (This Luffy has a MUCH better idea of the strength difference between Paradise and the New World than canon Luffy did). If Yamato gets chosen, I actually do have a plan for her to join them much sooner than they would meet her in canon. In fact, the reason I'm having to run this poll NOW, despite some of the people in it not even showing up yet, is the result is going to determine how I shuffle certain events. Particularly those regarding Perona and Yamato.
Loghead101
If you want a story that looks like it would go in that direction then check out Supernova by Primordial Vortex. I won’t spoil too much but Vivi and Robin are on good terms with each other and will eventually end up with Luffy.
Novus Peregrine
Since a few people brought up the high maintenance thing, I added a clarifying edit to that section :-p. It's not just her personality, but the complications she brings with her. Check out the edit for more detail :-). As for your votes...very good reasons, both! Hina, in particular, is even more a voice of reason than Robin. Robin can and will egg people on for amusement, as she likes watching the antics that result.
Novus Peregrine
Since a few people brought up the high maintenance thing, I added a clarifying edit to that section :-p. It's not just her personality, but the complications she brings with her. Check out the edit for more detail :-). As for Sanji, I've deliberately left him be for the most part (aside from his flings with Nojiko) precisely because he's somewhat compatible with a few of the girls if they don't win. Not Boa though, I'd think.
The Foreign Traveler
Considering both Vivi and Yamato are both Princesses of their respective Kingdoms and have through so much hardship for them, it'd absolutely make sense that they'd bond pretty damn well. Well that and...Vivi and Robin I have yet to come across a story where Vivi and Robin have..."intimate relations" together, whether as a couple or if their both in a relationship with Luffy. Always imagined how that would go was things being tense between them, even if potentially one sided due to Vivi which wouldn't even categorize as a surprise honestly. During their journey though both would get to know each other, and after Enies Lobby, all of Vivi's tension toward Robin would evaporate and she'd soften and understand Robin better. After their intimacy together later down the line...Vivi would forgive Robin and even tell her she's genuinely grown to love her. Robin would be overjoyed and relieved to hear that from the Princess and for one simple reason: while nowhere near the same, her helping Crocodile with brining Alabasta to near ruin "had" to bring back unpleasant memories of Ohara and what the WG did. Robin can give off the icy and cool facade as much as she wants but she's still capable of empathy. Helping commit something similar to Vivi's home that the WG did to her's had to weigh down on Robin pretty damn hard and Vivi's proclamation to her would heal the fractures their relationship already had and would help it blossom beautifully. ...Ahem, apologizes. Not only did I go off on a tangent but I went completely off script too. This isn't me telling you how to write your story Novus, just how I see this being one way a more intimate relationship between two genuinely good characters can go. Anyway, to get back to the original point, Vivi and Yamato have my votes. Eagerly waiting for the next batch of chapters!
Rhyalys
Boa all the way, she deserves a happy ending, and I just know she won’t go for any other man.
WhatAFungi
Never actually watched one piece, but when looking at pictures of the characters… I gotta say Hina is my vote 🤤
Loghead101
You drive a hard bargain man. My choices would have been Hancock and Yamato. Then you would have had all of the best girls in One Piece and would have been perfectly happy. Making Hancock a hard limit I can somewhat understand even if I’d argue against it. But I thought more about the story and realized that I wouldn’t really mind so long as Hancock doesn’t actually show up in the picture. Basically with how the story is going, there may not need to be a separation of the Strawhats. There all fairly strong and so long as Luffy works to prevent Cammy from being kidnapped then there wouldn’t be an attack on Sabaody. So yeah, it pains my heart but if Hancock doesn’t actually show up or rather Luffy and her don’t meet then I can see it working out. Basically I wouldn’t want Hancock to get heart broken and I can’t really see her character without having Luffy in the picture in a sense. So my choices would be Vivi and Yamato. Vivi has every reason to jump Luffy now considering he was the Lynchpin that saved her country and he is actively helping Alabasta further by arming it with Devil Fruits. And Yamato SHOULD HAVE BEEN A STRAWHAT! She had every reason and want to join the crew but didn’t and with the shitty life she lived she deserves to be happy. Maybe if you still want to do the time skip and separation then you could have Luffy sent to Wano. At the time, Kaido was getting ready for the war and was waylaid by Shanks so it would be the prime oppurtunity to rescue her. They could then spend the next two years tackling New World foes before reuniting with the crew. Either way I’ve see my piece. Can’t wait for the next update!
Y. B. A.
I feel like Hancock is either ultra-high maintenance, or ultra-low maintenance. She goes from an unreasonable diva with almost as much pride as Escanor to a lovestruck fool who pines for an idiot who only loves freedom and meat. Thus, I think she would work, but wouldn't allow anyone else to join after her unless Luffy explicitly desires it. With all that being said, I voted for: - Hina: contrasts nicely with Robin, has the training to command Luffy' future fleet if his disagreement with the WG escalates - Yamato: amazonian tomboy. Nuff said.
Novus Peregrine
Correct. It would be a five-way relationship in those cases. 4 girls + Luffy. That's the absolute max I feel I can juggle, and it's honestly pushing it a bit for this story. Assuming Boa doesn't win, the possibilities will be narrowed for one final poll, based on who wins this one. That poll will be complete with an option NOT to add a fourth girl, as well. I'm sure I'm not the only one that thinks that might be pushing the edge of a sustainable multiship :-p.
Aragorn93
I happen to like all of these characters. Maybe not Perona as much, but she's alright. Unless you already have pairings in mind for Sanji, he is also an option. Also, while I agree that Hancock is high maintenance and that the whole simping for luffy thing is kind of weird, you have the option to not write her that way. The problem with including Sanji when it comes to Hancock is that I can't imagine her going for anyone but Luffy, and I do want her to find some happiness. I had to edit this comment a bit because I had Zoro as well, but I remembered he has Kuina in this story.
Keht Jelicho
Just to clarify the 'Yamato and Vivi' or 'Hina and Perona' mentions are for each to be added to the Luffy/Nami/Robin to make a five-way? Not being added as an existing couple (so Yamato/Vivi or Hina/Perona) that are being added as their own couple for more of a throuple+couple dynamic?
