Chapter Text
Monkey D. Luffy: God Of The Sun, Joy, Freedom, Hope, Family That You Make; Warrior of Liberation; Guardian of Those In Bondage; Patron Of Pirates And Dreamers
Hail to the King Of The Pirates, Joyful Luffy, hear my plea, let me be free.
Marie knew that they were in deep shit, and that getting out of it was going to take a miracle of the highest order. But, they hoped, that maybe they could get something like divine intervention on their side.
They were locked in their room, as they had been since they turned eighteen a few days ago. The thick black bars on their windows and the chains on the outside of their room’s doors were in direct contrast to the opulence of the room. It dripped in stereotypical femininity with bows and lace decorating its gilded splendor.
(Not that there was anything word with stereotypical femininity, of course. Marie, however, didn’t feel at home with it. It made them feel unseen. Their parents had always made them feel unseen.)
They knew their parents were in negotiations with a man who was older than even their father for an arranged marriage. Something about consolidating the family business and securing their future, but Marie knew it didn’t matter. They had seen their parents’ greedy eyes at the thought of such a contract.
This was their duty, their parents had said. Though their parents were less…understanding of the pronouns Marie preferred for themselves. They didn’t want their “daughter” to be defective. So, Marie was only allowed to refer to them as them in their head.
The control felt like metaphorical chains weighing them down, and it was killing them by inches. They were in the most insidious and invisible sort of bondage.
Which was why they were hoping for a miracle as they wove a bracelet of red, blue, and yellow together, made from ripped pieces of fabric of their hated dresses. Each braided centimeter of it was full of their prayers to the God Luffy of the Straw Hat Pantheon.
The prayers in their heart were as familiar as ever, after all, Marie had been praying to Luffy since they were a child.
Long before they even had the words to describe themself, they had a belief in this god.
The Straw Hat Pantheon, or the Pantheon of Straw, had deeply dedicated worshippers the world over, from every corner to every far-flung part of the Blue. They were, after all, the ones who had freed this world and ascended to godhood for their efforts, from the prayers in people’s hearts.
The stories were all the same: they were gods who were pirates during the Age Of Miracles. They were a mortal pirate crew who had helped destroy the False Sovereign, Imu, and brought forth a new age. They saved the world and were changed by their efforts, by their desperate desire to achieve their dreams.
They changed the world, and the world changed them back.
Led by the Sun God, Luffy, they had brought in a new and wonderful dawn.
And what could be the people but worship in awe of them?
What else could they become in the end but gods themselves?
The first time Marie heard about Luffy, it was right before Nanny had to leave. They didn’t want Nanny to go. Nanny was the only to spend time with them and read them stories and let them be silly. Nanny loved them, and Marie loved Nanny.
Mother and Father, however, said that Nanny wasn’t needed anymore. Marie wasn’t a baby.
Even now, years later, Marie could remember how Nanny’s hands shook as she brushed back their hair. They realized that the woman was trying to hide her anger from them, her fear of what was to become of Marie.
At bedtime, Nanny told Marie a well-loved story.
“There was a boy who hailed from the island of the Dawn who loved freedom and life so much that he became the King of the Pirates and from there a god,” Nanny said softly. Her voice was like a spring breeze in how it made Marie feel warm all over.
“What’s he like?” Marie asked because this boy, who became a pirate king, who became a god, sounded like a lot of fun! They wanted to play with him. Marie didn’t have any friends and was lonely because of it.
(They wouldn’t even have Nanny soon, not that they knew in this moment.
Perhaps telling Marie about Luffy was Nanny’s final gift to her, the key needed for them to have the courage to free themself. Marie knew that there was a god who believed in them, their dreams, their hopes, and their freedom.
It made them want to fight.)
Nanny chuckled softly.
“He sails the seas and the skies and the land on a ship made of a thousand sunny days and the dreams of people who have hope in their hearts. His crew, who loved him more than anything in this life and whose loyalty superseded death itself, fell into godhood with him. They go around the world and beyond, having adventures and making friends because there is always something new to be seen and wonderful to do.”
“Can he be my friend?!”
Marie desperately wanted him to be her friend. They wanted to see his magnificent ship and have an adventure.
Nanny smiled, but it was so sweetly sad.
“Of course, you can be his friend,” she ruffled their hair. “So long as you are good at heart and do not step on the freedom of others. You can talk to him all the time if you ever feel lonely or scared. After all, my dearest, prayer is a conversation. The gods are there even when they’re not.”
Marie smiled excitedly at the thought.
Ever since Nanny left, Marie talked to Luffy every day.
After all, they were a lonely kid without a friend in the world. So why not talk to a god? Why not try to make friends with a god? Why not try to find something to believe in deep in their heart?
Marie had talked about their tutors and their parents and how lonely they were. How it was so hard to get free from this place, how they wanted to go sailing. They wanted to see the world. They stumbled into realizing that they weren’t a boy or a girl, that they just were. They tried to leave little offerings when they could because friends got each other gifts, after all.
Those disappeared when the bars on her window appeared. So, Marie believed that someone was listening to them out there. They needed that more than anything. Marie needed to feel like someone saw them.
Now, they were frantically trying to get the bracelet made. Marie couldn’t offer food. Something in it smelled off, and they believed that they would be drugged. If they were unconscious, then they would wake up in a carriage on the way to the altar or, worse, with their new elderly husband. And it seemed, well, bad to offer a god drugged food.
They haven’t eaten and they’ve barely slept in three days.
“Luffy,” Marie prayed on parched lips; their shaky hands tied the final knot of the bracelet. It was her most conciliatory and begging tone. “God of freedom, guardian of those in captivity, please hear my most humble…”
They swallowed and sighed.
This wasn’t right. This wasn’t how she prayed to her god. This god wasn’t one for formal offerings and prostrating yourself before them. He was their friend. He was Marie’s friend. He was their only friend. They had to believe that he was their friend.
“Luffy,” Marie tried again. They felt so weak and tired; frustrated tears leaked from their eyes. “Please. Help me. I want to be free. I don’t want to marry a gross old pervert. I want to be me for the first time in my life. Please. Please let me have my dream!”
They slammed the bracelet on the ledge, right where the bars of their cage caught the noon sun.
Marie turned their face to it. For the briefest instant, the sun seemed to sparkle even brighter.
And then, quite oddly, they heard music.
It wasn’t a huge surprise, of course. Mother had a record player that she was quite proud of, playing all sorts of classical compositions that seemed so rigid to Marie.
Odd though.
Marie pressed their ear to the door.
Why did they hear drums?
And why, all of a sudden, did they want to laugh?
Mx. Marie was a priestex of Luffy of the Pantheon of Straw. They lived in a cheerful little houseboat and sailed all around to various islands to aid those who needed it and to just feel the freedom of the world. They were cheerful and kind with a bright smile for everyone.
Their houseboat was a temple with paper chains with wishes strung on the bow that never seemed to get wet. Mx. Marie’s home always smelled of good food and the first hit of ocean sea spray. People were free to come and go, stay for a night or a meal. Or they were welcomed to sail longer with them until they found what they needed.
There was warmth and laughter, and open windows and unlocked doors. No one ever dared to rob them, despite the clear invitation. Even the most unreligious criminal didn't dare target a priestex of Luffy. It was bad luck and worse for business.
Sometimes, when they were in dock and a party had broken out, a young man with a straw hat would appear: at times he would be surrounded by a motley group, and other times he would be alone. But he would come for a meal or to play, and then it would just be a party.
A few times, he would come alone when the quiet didn’t feel so achingly lonely, and Marie would tie the knots of a new friendship bracelet that a child demanded they make for them.
Luffy would sit with his priestex and grin, their offering on his wrist, “You look much happier.”
Marie laughed and grinned, “I’m free. Why wouldn’t I be?”
Their god laughed.