ellie-v1ne

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as long as you exist, I will too

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some strawhats posting

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more band au stuff … nine drumstick style roronoa zoro

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his chiropractor

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I added Brook and Franky to this panel so all 11 of them could stare at you.

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an offering from a god

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Luffy still not realizing that he is who the Iron Giant is talking to when it is calling him Joyboy is very funny

but it also reinforces the themes surrounding Luffy and the concept of Joyboy and Nika.

Because while Luffy in gear 5 looks similar to how Joyboy has been depicted, he is not literally a reincarnation of Joyboy. He is not the second coming of a god, he is - first and foremost - Monkey D. Luffy, the man who will be King of the Pirates. And him still not acknowledging that he could (even potentially) be the "Joyboy" that the robot is referring to solidifies that.

And what is particularly impressive to me about this thematic throughline, is that it is able to coexist with the belief of characters like Bonney, Kuma, the giants etc. that Luffy is the second coming of Joyboy, of Nika. Because Luffy isn't that. We the audience know that Luffy awakened his devil fruit, and that his resemblance to the Nika and Joyboy of history is because they both had/have the same fruit. We know that Luffy is still Luffy. He has not been possessed by a god (hell, we don't even know if deities actually exist in the would of One Piece, as we have only ever seen the worshipers of them), or by the previous wielder of the fruit. Luffy is still Luffy. If anything, his awakening has amplified who he is, not changed him. And it is in this way that Luffy sort of becomes a Schrodinger's Chosen One.

Because the narrative of One Piece does not present him as a chosen one. He awakened a devil fruit, but not because that was his destiny, or because he knew of some greater prophecy surrounding it. Luffy's actions are for no one but himself and his friends (as in he is not making his decisions with the knowledge of a prophecy, whether it be to fulfil it or avoid it). He is not guided by fate, and anytime we see Luffy follow in the footsteps of another by inheriting their will, it is his own choice. Luffy chose to pursue being the next pirate king, and chose to keep Ace's promise to Tama (and the people of Wano). But certain characters within One Piece do view him as this pre-ordained return of Joyboy. And they are not treated as idiots for this, their faith in the return of their god is treated seriously, and with respect. And their faith IS rewarded, just not necessarily in the way they were expecting. They DO get Joyboy, but not as a reincarnation or a possession, but as a person who can choose to take up the mantle of Joyboy, if he so wishes. And even if he doesn't, Luffy cares enough about freedom (both for himself and others he cares for) that they will still get Joyboy, even if that isn't his name.

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Chapter 1119 Spoilers

I really do love how gear 5 Luffy is like 90% wacky Looney Toons shenanigans, and the other 10% is actually horrifying Eldritch Abomination. And these two panels

are definitely the latter.

And I love that any time we do get eldritch horror gear 5 (whether in the anime or manga) its always in the context of Luffy fighting or getting ready to fight an oppressor.

I've talked about this before, but scary gear 5 is always directed at the people who are in direct opposition to the ideals of Luffy (and by extension Nika) and never to those who are on his side. Gear 5 is only "scary" if you are against the freedom and liberation of people. The giants were excited and happy to see Nika Luffy, who looked much more friendly and approachable to them. Hell, they were dancing to the drumbeat of Luffy's heart despite their ship being on fire and being under attack from the Gorosei.

The Gorosei don't see (or potentially hear) any of that. All they see is the looming figure of an angry god, because they stand in opposition to Nika. Freedom incarnate is not going to look appealing to them, as all they crave is control and power.

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A pirate holding a devil fruit walk into a bar....

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HATERS MAD I CAN EXPERIENCE CHILDLIKE WONDER ☀️🌟‼️‼️‼️

egghead becoming animated has permanently changed me as a person

[ellie-v1ne]

Egghead arc goes CRAZY.

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[ellie-v1ne]

"Beat loudly, heartbeat!"

[ellie-v1ne]

live laugh luffy

[ellie-v1ne]

JOYBOY!!! :D