#Johnny & Yosaku's fish

[swordsmans]

i just really, really love the idea of zoro having no real "survival skills" because he had a much more traditional (if atypical) childhood/youth than most of the crew. bandit heritage aside, he was raised in a tight-knit and relatively peaceful community with (at best) agricultural outskirts. he doesn't leave until he's much older, at which point he becomes a bounty hunter as a way to make money (to pay for food, shelter, etc. presumably in villages, towns, and cities). we know from the non-canon johnny and yosaku backstories that he "hunted" for bounties in cities/towns, at least partially.

meanwhile luffy has been running around the wilderness since he was like seven years old, securing his own food, building fire and shelter, and just generally toughening up/learning how to live in nature. we know he had a pretty extensive knowledge of bugs and how to catch them, so with that + his childhood i don't think it's a stretch to assume he also has an understanding of edible plants and non-monstrous wildlife (even if its not all applicable outside the East Blue). he's survived on his own in the wilderness for years at a time at least twice in canon.

i think it's fun to think of them having... some sort of "zoro is lost in more ways than one" kinda vibe early on in their journey, especially since they're constantly broke pre-timeskip and we know that at least by little garden the crew has started hunting and foraging to supplement their stores. you could absolutely rope the rest of the east blue grew into this, but zoro is still sort of the outlier with his background.

i dunno. maybe i just like the image of luffy trying to teach zoro how to hunt or fish and both of them just having the dumbest time with it. luffy would be really earnest but impatient--and zoro would be stubborn about admitting he doesn't know shit but would still listen and absorb anyway.

luffy having no clue how to start small and work up to new skills, so they end up going after massive wild boars or something as a first or second lesson and zoro just rolls with it because sure, yeah, thats normal. what the hell does he know? (and also hes fucking. zoro. so.)

or luffy teaching zoro to fish normally but also like a bear fishes (standing knee-deep in the water and catching fish with his bare hands) because it looks more fun that way and he cant. and zoro just fucking up soooo bad but getting really competitive anyway, even though luffy is just, like, sitting on a nearby rock yelling (frankly terrible) directions at him or something. zoro catches nothing and luffy tells him he looks stupid getting angry at the river so of course zoro is going to master fucking. bare-handed fishing because the man's got one braincell and its 99% stubborn pride.

he fucking sucks at starting a fire, wouldnt even consider building proper shelter, and in general would not make it 0.2 seconds outside a populated environment without his captain--a guy raised by the jungle and ace, who was basically a wild animal himself.

idk. survival-competent luffy is very near and dear to my heart.

[pooks]

part 4 of straw hat! Ichiji and we're at the last legs of the East Blue Saga; Arlong Park and Loguetown arcs

finding Nami and encountering the Fish Men

Ichiji arrives to a new island, along with Sanji and his new captain Luffy. on the journey there, he and the others were filled in by Johnny and Yosaku about what happened previously.

Sanji is in denial that Nami would have anything to do with Arlong while Ichiji is more rational and believes that there might be blackmail involved.

when they re-encounter Nami again, Ichiji realizes that he was right in his theory but he doesn't have the whole story and he decides that he can't interfere with something he have no business with, not when Nami rejects them.

Ichiji becomes very annoyed with Sanji's lovestruck behavior and outright tells Zoro that he has his full permission to fight Sanji if it shuts him up (and Zoro took that to heart, judging of how many times he would bicker and fight with Sanji in the future XD)

"Fight him, argue with him, tie him up, kick him in the ocean-I don't care! Just make sure he doesn't make a damn fool out of himself! I need to think." - Ichiji's exact words.

Ichiji, in dire situations, is a thinker and he sense that something is wrong here. compared to his crew maters, Ichiji responds to being attacked by the Fish-Men in a rather cold, calculated way. he hates to admit it to himself, but his training at Germa never left him and he uses it to his advantage. the Fish-Men discovers the hard way that Ichiji is not a "normal human" when he takes barely a scratch or even a bruise. when asked what he is, Ichiji replies in a chilling way

"Oh, I'm no human. I'm a monster."

Arlong, upon hearing about this, decides that Ichiji could be useful for him and orders his goons to take him alive to Arlong Park.

common ground with Nami

when the straw hats re-encounter Nami during her breakdown of being betrayed by Arlong, Ichiji understands that they're not so different after all; both of them has made a deal with a "devil" to save something they love (Ichiji, for Sanji and Nami, for her village). when Luffy declares that they're moving out to Arlong Park to defeat Arlong, Ichiji extends a hand to Nami and tells her that he has, also, sacrificed like Nami.

Ichiji then parts the hair that covers his left eye and reveals to Nami and the straw hats his secret; there's a star-burst shaped burn scar on his left eye. his eye is unharmed, but he tells them this was the prize to pay for the freedom of someone he loves. Sanji is the only one who isn't surprised about this revelation, but he looks away before anyone can see he's silently crying. Zoro catches on Sanji's reaction but says nothing (because what can he possibly say in this situation?)

they walk to Arlong Park, in the badass iconic way as they do

fighting Arlong and the Fish Men

Ichiji fights with his legs, just as Sanji does, and this is where he unlocks "Sparkling Red" for the first time. his new "power" reinforces his kicks in a more powerful way. Ichiji doesn't know what's happening to him and he has a mild crisis over it until Zoro shouts at him to focus on the fight and worry about that later

it doesn't take long for him to understand that whatever Judge experimented on his during those six months of hell is now paying off; he knows that something has changed and he has a strange power, but he uses now Sparkling Red to his advantage

of course, in a very villain-esque way, Ichiji do encounter Arlong and he gets the whole speech about a human-looking non-human would belong with his midst. Ichiji coldly laughs at the idea and says "why would I align myself with someone who doesn't keep their word? a true man would always keep his word, fish-men or not."

he reflects back on Zeff's "lessons" about being a man. the third lesson was that a real man always keep his word and stands for it.

with Sparkling Red enhancing his speed and strength, Ichiji no longer holds back and defeat most Fish-Men (the force of Sparkling Red spreads across his legs, like sparkling red lines wrapped around his legs and thighs)

he gets worried about Zoro a lot (he got his wounds reopened and has a fever), but trusts that they can pull through this and they can address Zoro's injuries afterwards

Ichiji panics when he sees Arlong Park collapse and nearly assumes the worst...until Luffy emerges from the wreckage and claims victory. overwhelmed with joy, Ichiji can't resist from hugging Usopp and dances merrily with him.

the mood is nearly ruined because of corrupt Marines and Ichiji learns fast from Nami what happened to the money she had struggled to earn to buy her village back from Arlong.

now, it's already established that Ichiji hates marines, due to they always turn to the Baratie being entitled bastards and this doesn't help. he calmly walks to Nami's side when she beats up Nezumi (the corrupt marine captain) and asks for her permission to handle this. and Ichiji just gives Nezumi a real slasher smile and says "i've never liked Marines, they always come to the Baratie and acts like entitled bastards who owns the world. but i hate corrupt marines even more. how about...there is one less corrupt marine in the world?"

he doesn't really plan to kill Nezumi, btw. but he wanted to scare him shitless...which works. Usopp later remarks that he was a little scared too and it felt like Ichiji could set the whole world on fire and destroy kingdoms with just his glare.

leaving Cocoyashi and Luffy's first bounty

the straw hats spends three days on the island, which allows Zoro to get healed up and the whole island parties to celebrate their newfound freedom. Ichiji takes in all the joy around himself and he feels at ease, seeing so many people so happy.

he thinks about Germa and silently wonders that if Judge had been a half-decent person, could've Germa Kingdom become something like this? a small kingdom, but with good monarchs and happy people. he sits down and looks up in the night skies, wondering if his mother are seeing him and Sanji and if she would be happy to see them happy and free.

onboard the Merry, the straw hats are sailing towards their last stop before the Grand Line...Loguetown, which is famous for being the birthplace and deathplace of Gold Roger, the infamous Pirate King

Luffy's first wanted poster has arrived and the crew is shocked to see his head is worth 30 million berry. Usopp is especially happy to see himself in the background of the wanted poster (just the back of his head, tho) which irks at Sanji's annoyance. Luffy, Usopp and Sanji acts silly while Nami is frustrated over their lack of taking this seriously.

Ichiji is more concerned since he figured that with Luffy having a 30 million bounty on his head, stronger opponent might come after them. he goes to consult Zoro about this and Zoro reveals that he had the same mindset, having one solution; they need to become stronger and more prepared.

Ichiji says it's only a matter of time until all of them gets a bounty on their heads. Zoro smirks at this and bets that he'll get his first wanted poster before Sanji.

entering Loguetown and cursed swords

as they docks at Loguetown, Ichiji decides to accompany Zoro when he aims to find two new swords to replace his destroyed ones (by Mihawk). Ichiji, who was trained in swordmanship at Germa when he was a child, advises him to inquire a shopkeeper about the quality about the words they're potentially selling.

Zoro jokes that he didn't know he had a hidden rival regarding swordmanship on the crew. Ichiji only shakes his head and says he doesn't aim to become a swordsman, just because he knows how to fight with swords, and his dream is to chronicle their adventures. Zoro asks him if he would write a book about him becoming the world's greatest swordsman and Ichiji answers "what made you believe that I wasn't already?"

this ends up in their first meeting with Tashigi, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Zoro's deceased friend Kuina, and Ichiji senses that Zoro is agitated, trying to calm him down. he also witnesses Zoro's "test of luck" and has a panic-induced anxiety...until he sees that Zoro's luck won against Sandai Kitetsu's "curse". Zoro also obtains Yubashiri, an heirloom blade and the finest one in shop. Ichiji feels very honored of witnessing this moment and declares to Zoro that he's certain that Zoro's adventures as a swordman will become a very good book.

Ichiji doesn't have a too high opinion of Tashigi, considering his distaste for marines in general, and he's quick to counter her argument regarding pirates or bountyhunters using legacy katana swords.

"And I suppose you are the one who decides who gets to bear a sword then? A sword is a responsibility and you bear it with honor and respect. To bear a blade like Wado Ichimonji, Sandai Kitetsu or Yubashiri...it's a big honor and their owner treats his swords like companions, not as tools. A word of advice, my lady. Don't assume things when you don't have the full story. It'll save you the embarrassment of being wrong." - Ichiji, during his call-out to Tashigi

Luffy's "execution" and Ichiji's "rage"

Ichiji is horrified when he sees Luffy being nearly executed and he's furious at the responsible pirates behind it. he shouts at Buggy, asking who he think he is to lead someone in a trap to execute them and where is his proper honor, that he should fight like a pirate, face to face

(Buggy is visibly annoyed by Ichiji's outburst and it doesn't help that he doesn't see a new pirate face. all of sudden...he sees a replica of Shanks)

the events that unfolds is pretty quick. Luffy is rescued by a cloaked "stranger", Smoker is unnerved by Luffy being similar to Gold Roger and Buggy, Alvida and their goons are defeated

Zoro and Ichiji, along with Sanji, re-encounter Tashigi who reveals being a marine and it irks at Ichiji's temper. she accuses Zoro for "tricking" her and Zoro is more unnerved by her uncanny resemblance to Kuina.

Ichiji's temper is finally pushed when Tashigi badmouths pirates. being raised by a pirate who sacrificed his leg for him and his brother, being raised among ex-pirate turned cooks and being a pirate himself, Ichiji has nothing but respect for them. marines, however, are the scum of earth for him. he, more or less, explodes.

"Marines...more like tyrants with too much power at hand and playing demi-god! I've lived my whole life on a restaurant that doesn't discriminate pirates, marines or civilians and YET, only marines has the gall to act like spoiled, entitled and ungrateful bastards! I have heard about Axe-Hand Morgan and how he treated people like insects under his boot! And it has only strengthened my decision to never trust a marine, even if I lay dying on the ground. If you believe that you're better than anyone, just because you happened to be a marine, then lay off! Marines doesn't save pr protect people! They want to control them like puppets!"

Zoro and Sanji ends up dragging Ichiji off his feet as he's going off. Zoro subdues Ichiji by pressing on "pressure point on Ichiji's back, forcing him to become relaxed and half-conscious. Sanji whispers to Zoro that marines is pretty much a berserk button for Ichiji and vaguely mentions there was an incident at the Baratie when they were fifteen, but he have no details except Zeff told him to never mention it if he wants to keep his ass from looking like a jolly roger.

the straw hats ends up successful in their escape and realizing that they can no longer linger in the East Blue, they set course straight to the Grand Line. but not before they have a cast off ceremony and make a pledge for their dreams.

Ichiji pledges to write and chronicle the adventures of the greatest Pirate King, Monkey D. Luffy.

(end. part 4)

(read part 1, part 2 and part 3 here)

[akwolfgrl]

Promise day 4

Zoro watched as they drew near to the Braite, the moon dipping below the horizon; the sun just started to peek out. He hadn't seen Sanji in a few months. He was busy trying to save enough money to buy new earrings. They were gold and dangle like his own, but they had a heart made from a blue gem. They caught the light just right and sparkled in a way that reminded Zoro of the shining across the sea. When he first saw them, he had to have them. They looked just like his mate's eyes. 

Johnny came to sit beside him yawning, it was still early. They sailed through the night. The Baratie would be getting ready for the day soon, Zoro was going to find Zeff and ask for Sanji's hand in marriage, he thought it was old fashioned but Curly loved romantic shit. Besides, the old geezer would kill him if he didn't. 

“Wow, is that what I think it is?” Johnny asked him, pointing at the weird fish shaped restaurant, and Sanji had told him about Zeffs chicken figurehead from back when he was a pirate. The old geezer had questionable taste when it came to the shapes of boats. “Man, I've heard of this place! The food is supposed to be to die for! There's always a good fight to see, and rumor has it there is a pretty blond omega who works there,” He felt Yosaku join them. “People saw he looks like an angel,”

“All ture, the pretty blonde's my mate,” Zoro proudly bragged. He wasn't jealous of other men looking. They had no chance. Women on the hand were a different story. 

“Wait, you have a mate?” Yosaku asked, shocked for some reason. 

“No fucking duh, the marks right thire,” Zoro pointed to the back of his neck, right where Sanji could always protect him. 

“Wow would ya look at that!”

“Way to go bro!”

Zoro spotted a blonde head out on the deck, most likely smoking a cigarette and having black tea watching the sun rise. Zoro couldn't wait anymore. He patted his haramaki, making sure the jewelry box was tucked away safely. Zoro stood up and jumped out of their small boat.

“Zoro!” 

“What are you doing?”

“I'm swimming to Sanji!” Their boat was going too slow, and he couldn't wait any longer, Zoro swam towards his omega, his Sanji. His heart was pounding in his chest at the thought of holding the blond in his arms once again. 

When he got to the deck, Sanji was waiting for him, his hair aglow in the early morning light. Zoro understood why people would compare Sanji to an angel…if they never met him. 

“Marmio? It's about damn time you made your way back here,” Sanji smirked. “Maybe you should stay in the water a little longer, I'll bring you some soap, and you can wash your smelly ass,” Sanji's smoke hearts betrayed how happy he was to see him. 

“See if I ever come for a visit again if you're gonna be like that,” Zoro huffed before climbing out of the water. 

“The old geezer would be happy,” 

“Well that's too damn bad for him,” Zoro grinned and scooped Sanji into his arms and spun him around. 

The blonde laughed and took his face in between his hands, his long fingers caressing his cheeks before their lips met. Zoro could taste the omegas tea and cigarettes. Something that shouldn't be so addictive but yet it was. When they finally came up for air, Zoro put Sanji back down 

"Marry me." The words tumbled out of his mouth as he returned Sanji to the floor.

The omega looked at him with amusement in his blue eyes, "Aren't you forgetting something,”

"What? Oh." Zoro dropped to one knee and took out the jewelry box. The earrings glittered in the sunlight. "Marry me, I don't wish to be apart from you for a second longer,”

“Yes!” Sanji launched himself at Zoro, knocking them both to the deck, kissing the life out of him. 

“Hey! You two no fucking on the deck!” Patty yelled at them. 

Zoro didn't need to look to know that Sanji was flipping the other alpha off.

[skinner17]

Head cannon : After strawhat pirate found One Piece, each of them went on seperate journey to visit their loved ones.

Luffy went on a journey with sabo and kobi visiting foosha village, Zoro went home to shimotsuki village, nami to cocoyashi village, Usopp went to kaya's house, sanji visiting baratie accompanied by his sister, chopper to Dr. kureha, Frankie to water 7, Robin visiting what was left in O'Hara and pay respect to her mother's grave, Brook went on world tour, jimbei to fish island.

Later Zoro visited cocoyashi village coz Johnny and yosaku settle there and become fisherman. Nami taking Zoro around the village and finding him a nice place to sleep.

At night, They'd drink with Johnny and Yosaku reciting tales and adventure they had in grand line.

When the bar died down, the two fishermen drunk dead asleep, Zoro and Nami hooking up.

[chromatic-lamina]

Episodes 5 & 6 of OPLA! I think that anyone who comes to the manga or anime after watching OPLA might be disappointed. I mean, it's kinda genius for Arlong to have Buggy's head, and then for Luffy to steal Buggy's head when the Arlong Pirates attack the Baratie, but, like, none of it happened in canon. The one piece wiki is gonna need a separate wiki for OPLA, I guess.

I liked, nay loved, that they kept the fact that Zeff ate his leg in OPLA, to save Sanji. Love that Sanji is foul-mouthed from the beginning and that the love-hate relationship is there from the beginning. The oregano thing is fun, but, really, Sanji? I doubt a chef or cook anywhere would hold that opinion, so I want Sanji's backstory on it. Maybe it was Judge's favourite spice!

The Sanji and Zeff story packed a lot more weight than Kuina and Zoro, although it shouldn't have. Maybe it's just that adult actors have a much better handle on their craft than child actors (although child Sanji, and child Kuina were pretty good,

but child Zoro was a bit lacking). Or they should have maybe started Zoro's story a little bit earlier, with him being a child and coming across Koushiro Shimotsuki's dojo.

When the fishmen appeared at the Baratie, and when Nami didn't secure passage with the guy she'd organised to go away with, I thought they were going to water down her story somewhat. But the way they did it still smacked of betrayal for those who don't know her story, and it was a nice touch to have her read the North Blue stories to Zoro. Nice way to plant future arcs and chances to expand. Also good to also seed viewer sympathy when she kinda explains her actions to the supposedly unconscious Zoro.

Luffy seems a little too self-aware, maybe, but it was the first season without guarantee of season two, so I guess the Zoro and Luffy bond needs to be laid on a bit thick at this point. I kinda remember from the manga that Zoro was badly hurt, of course, but I can't remember the angst. I'm sure parts of it are there. It'll be interesting to see how that kinda thing contrasts with Ace's death in the future (if the series gets that far), cos' that's when Luffy canonically and importantly really goes deep.

Mihawk was camp and wonderful as fuck. Those golden eyes pretty freaky, but definitely hawk-like. Really leaning into that whole thing. Our boy's pretty pasty, but that's fine. I also would've liked to have seen Zeff fight a bit more. He did a good job of that in the manga, as I recall, and I understand missing out on the Luffy and Zeff conversation about Sanji, but I liked that in canon too.

Also, I'm glad that Gin appeared, considering Mihawk took out Don Krieg off screen-ish. Series shoring up against possible future inclusion, although we're still waiting. Very cool to have Zeff help Zoro too, and the way it was done with the fish skin (and that Sanji cooked that yellowtail soon after, I think!).

I think Zoro was shown plastered in bandages, right, and that was the extent of his recovery process in the manga? Again, could be wrong. He was in pain, and took on more, up to Thriller Bark and Sabaody.

Also, practically, I understand why Sanji needs to strip in a live action to save Luffy in the water, and I'm not complaining, but just a difference. I did like Taz Skylar! (I love all of the actors). Love Usopp's stories, that he has his slingshot with him, but is also cowardly (at the start) as in keeping with his canon character. It's funny that Luffy seems to understand that they're stories, but it's true, I think he only believes some of Usopp's stories in canon (like Sogeking)

I'm wondering if Jinbei will sound like Arlong if we get that far. It was probably very pointed, but the Arlong exchange with the fishman waiter carried a punch.

RIP Johnny and Yosaku! The live action is doing a good job of condensing the arc. They really would've had to have done their homework.

[dantakeyoman]

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐎𝐑 | 𝐫. 𝐳𝐨𝐫𝐨

♡ 𝐫𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐚 𝐳𝐨𝐫𝐨 𝐱 𝐟𝐞𝐦! 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

♡ * "𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒂 𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒔𝒔, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕? 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏. 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏, 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒅, 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒉𝒖𝒓𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍, 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒕, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒕. …𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒊 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕." *

♡ 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟, 𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬, 𝐬𝐦𝐮𝐭, 𝐠𝐨𝐫𝐞, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐬𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐰𝐰𝐰𝐰 𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐧, 𝐞𝐭𝐜.

♡ * 𝒔𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒚 - 𝒑𝒐𝒗: 𝒖𝒓 𝒛𝒐𝒓𝒐'𝒔 𝒈𝒇 *

𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓

You were taking a nap on the railing of the Merry when you heard someone.

"Get out here, ya damn pirates!" The man shouted as he broke a barrel.

You snapped your eyes open and sat up, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes to see a guy with sunglasses, a blue jacket, a cutlass, and a face tattoo.

"Who the hell are you?" you spat, glaring at the man as you ghosted your hand over the handle of your mace.

"Shut up! Who I am means nothin', ya stinkin' pirate!" He exclaimed, smashing another barrel.

You unfurled your wings and zipped over to him, socking him in the jaw and then grabbing him by the shirt, hoisting him up

"You're starting to piss me off," you glared daggers, your voice dangerously low.

"Johnny. Tell me that isn't you," Zoro sighed.

"Huh?! Who's sayin' my name like they think they know me or somethin'?!" The guy spat.

He gasped when he caught sigh of the swordsman.

"Big Bro Zoro!" He exclaimed.

"Johnny? It is you," Zoro confirmed.

"What're you doing here, big bro?" Johnny asked. 

"It's clear you two know each other but is this guy friend or foe? Cause my arm is getting tired," you asked.

"Friend," Zoro answered.

You disappointingly sighed and dropped Johnny, making your way back to your spot on the rail.

"Where's Yosaku? Isn't he with you?" 

Johnny's expression quickly turned sour as he ran over to the side of the boat, waving over Zoro to follow.

"Well, while you guys are doing that, I'm gonna go for a fly. I'll see you in a bit," you yawned as you stretched your wings before taking off.

"See ya later, (y/n)," Luffy smiled.

海賊狩

You smiled as you flew over the open sea, the salty, ocean air giving the breeze a slight bite.

"Now these are the moments I live for," you smiled as you did a couple of flips. 

Once you finished, you looked straight ahead to see this fish-looking boat.

"Huh? Baratie? Isn't that that famous sea restaurant?" you asked yourself, and just as you did, you felt your stomach rumble.

"I could use some grub. And I got enough money to get me a lil' something. Let's do it."

You went straight for the boat and landed right outside the front door. 

The second you stepped through the threshold, this man with blonde hair, curly eyebrows, and a cigarette in the corner of his mouth bowed before you, taking your hand and giving it a kiss.

"Why hello, my angel. Has anyone told you look ravishing today?" he smiled as he stood up straight, handing your a rose.

"Thank you," you smiled, holding it up to your nose.

It smelled amazing.

"Come. Let me show you to your table," he smirked, taking your hand and leading you to this table.

He pulled out your chair for me and you sat down, him quickly pouring you a glass of wine. 

"Well, since we're getting acquainted, do you mind telling me what your name is?" you slyly asked, as you took a sip of the drink.

You were really trying to ham it up.

'Maybe I can get a free meal from this guy.'

"Sanji the Sous Chef, my dear. And may I ask the name of an angel like yourself?" he answered, cocking a brow.

"(y/n)," you smirked, resting your cheek in your palm.

"Perfect. A gorgeous name for a gorgeous woman. Would you please excuse me for a moment while I take care of something?" Sanji sweet-talked. 

"Of course, go right ahead," you nodded.

He took the bottle and sauntered over to a table near the window that had a blonde woman and a man with pink hair.

He poured them some wine and they talked for a moment before toasting and taking a sip.

'Huh. That guy kinda looks like Fullbody. That Marine bigshot.'

"This flavor.....and yes, the aroma. It is the unmistakable scent from the soil of Micquo of the North Land. Bitter with plenty of body, and just a tad sour. This wine must be the famous Itrutz Burger Stein," Fullbody sniffed the drink, clearly projecting his voice so everyone can hear.

Sanji slammed the bottle down on the table.

"Tell me waiter, am I right?"

Sanji removed the cloth he had around the bottle to show the label.

"Uh-uh. Not even close, sir. Eat up. This dish is best when hot." he stated, tucking a spoon in Fullbody's hand.

Sanji started walking away when he paused.

"And sir, my name is Sanji. I'm the Sous Chef. All the waiters ran out a of yesterday."

You couldn't help but snicker.

And soon, the whole restaurant was whispering about the Marine officer's vast miscalculation.

"Idiot," you chuckled as you took a sip of wine.

海賊狩

A minute or so after the Fullbody incident, Sanji got you this amazing soup and went off to go do a few of his responsibilities before he'd sit down with me. 

'This soup is heavenly!'

Just as you were about to put another spoonful to your lips when Fullbody started shouting.

"Waiter! Hey! Get over here!"

Sanji stopped in his tracks and slowly turned around, walking over to the table. 

"I believe I've already told you, I'm not a waiter," Sanji stated.

"Is bug soup on the menu or did you make it just for me?" Fullbody sneered, pointing to his bowl.

"Bug soup?" Sanji stated quizzically.

"That's right. What's this bug doing there, waiter?" Fullbody asked, smirking.

"Sorry, sir. Don't know, really. Looks like he's floating. Then again. It kinda looks like he's drowning. But it's hard to say for sure," Sanji joked, the restaurant erupting in quiet snickers, including you.

"Don't you mess with me, waiter!" Fullbody shouted, slamming his fist down on the table and breaking it.

You narrowed your eyes and gripped the handle of your mace.

"You could have eaten it if you had just taken the bug out. It would've been wonderful. It took three full days of hard cooking to prepare that soup for you and you wasted it," Sanji said in a dangerously low voice, crouching down to examine the soup that was now on the floor.

"Can't you see that you're biting off more than you can chew?" Fullbody spat as he stepped on Sanji's hand.

"I'm the customer here! Do you understand me?! I'm paying you!"

"Stop it! Fullbody!" The woman that was with him pleaded, grabbing his arm.

"Shut up!" He shouted, throwing the woman off.

You quickly stood up, getting ready to draw your mace.

"Can your money truly satisfy your hunger?" Sanji asked.

Suddenly, he stood up on his hands and did this spin kick move, ending it by going back on his two legs and hoisting Fullbody in the air.

"Damn," you exhaled, shocked by his fighting skill.

"Don't ever waste food around me again," Sanji spat, glaring daggers at the marine, the cigarette surprisingly still in his mouth.

"At sea, if you ever provoke your cook, your signing your own death warrant. Remember that."

"Oh no! Damn it, Sanji! What do you think you're doing to our customer?!" A man with blue, shaven hair and a chin tattoo shouted as he walked over.

"Can't you see he's a marine lieutenant?!"

"You're a terrible cook. What makes you think that you can talk to me like that?" Sanji glared.

"A crappy cook like you is calling me bad? Restaurants can't exist without their customers. They're our lifeblood, so we don't want to hurt them the way you seem to keep doing," Chin Tattoo fired back.

"But he deserved it. He didn't treat the food or me with respect, and he insulted all the cooks," Sanji stated, letting go of Fullbody.

"So I simply taught him a lesson."

"You're gonna regret this. All of you! No restaurant should treat it's customers like this. I'll shut you down, do you understand me?! I will shut you down! This entire place! This whole restaurant is finished! Do you hear me?!" Fullbody shouted.

You flew over and smacked him in the head with the butt of your mace, knocking him out.

Sanji and the other chefs looked shocked.

"You guys can't get in trouble of another customer knocks him out. So consider this a token of my appreciation. The soup is to die for, so I'm gonna go back to eating," you nodded, sheathing your weapon.

Just then, Luffy and this old man fell through the ceiling and landed right on top of you.

"I can breath again!" Luffy gasped.

"GET YOUR ASSES OFF OF ME!" you wheezed, using your wings to throw them off.

"Boss Zeff, what's happening here? You didn't hurt yourself, did you?" One of the chefs asked. 

"Dammit! My ceiling! Another thing that's gonna have to get fixed because of you! This is all your fault, ya brat!" The old man shouted at Luffy.

"Another thing? What did you do?!" you exclaimed, turning to Luffy.

"How is it my fault?! You attacked me!" Luffy shouted back.

"Boss! Can you stop messing around a give us a hand! Sanji's gone crazy again!" Another one of the chefs shouted.

"Sanji! Don't tell me you went on another rampage in here, you idiot!" Zeff shouted, getting up.

"Put a cork in it, old man!" Sanji growled.

"Oh, now you're ordering me around! Just who do you think you're talking to?! Do you wanna sink my restaurant to the bottom of the sea?! You punk!" Zeff shouted again, using his peg leg to kick Sanji in the face.

Fullbody snickered.

"You too! Get your ass out of my restaurant!" Zeff kicked Fullybody.

"How can you deny our motto that the customer is king?!" Chin Tattoo shouted as well.

"The only kingly customers are the ones who stomach the slop you call food," Sanji growled.

"That's it. If you two wanna fight, you'll keep it in the kitchen, you understand me?!" Zeff ordered.

"Lieutenant! Lieutenant Fullbody! We've got trouble!" A marine soldier exclaimed as he ran into the restaurant.

"He's escaped! Pirate Krieg's henchman attacked us and vanished!"

"Impossible! When we picked him up three days ago he was right on the verge of starving to death. And we haven't fed him anything. Where'd he get the strength?!" Fullbody asked.

"I'm sorry, I-." The soldier was cut off my a gunshot and dropped to the floor, the man with the gray and blue headband walking past the body and taking a seat at a now empty table.

"I don't care what it is, just bring me something to eat. Come on, this is a restaurant," he smirked.

"And might I ask how will you be paying?" Chin Tattoo asked in a fake sweet voice.

"Will a bullet be enough?" Headband spat, pointing his gun right between Chin Tattoo's eyes.

"So you don't have any  money then," Chin Tattoo growled, bringing down his interlocked fists on Headband's head. 

"Damn it, Patty. Broke another chair," Zeff grumbled.

"Sorry, pirate, but our policy is to only serve paying customers."

"Get me something to eat now," Headband weakly ordered.

"We're not getting you anything, so beat it!" Patty shouted, continuously kicking Headband in the stomach. 

After a minute or so, Patty picked him up and threw him outside on the back deck. 

'Whatever. This isn't my problem anymore.'

You walked back over to your seat and sat down, about to finish off your soup when you heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, (y/n)!" Usopp smiled as he, Nami, and Zoro walked over to your table, pulling up chairs.

"Hey, guys," you smiled back.

"So this is where you've been all this time," Zoro nodded, surveying the place as he took a seat.

"Yup. So what did I miss?" you asked, taking another sip of your wine.

"Johnny is Zoro's old friend and needed or help in treating his bounty-hunting partner who had scurvy. We gave 'im some limes and he's okay now. They're watching the Merry," Nami recapped, leaning back in her chair.

"We came here to grab something to eat but it seems like this place has it's own drama," Usopp chimed, his statement followed by the sound of shattering glass coming from the kitchen.

"Yeah. The Sous Chef of this place is a crazy fighter. Beat up this marine officer that disrespected him. And apparently Luffy has to work here for a year to repair some damage to the roof he caused," you stated.

All of a sudden, these chefs brought out a bunch of food and placed it at your table.

"Regards from Sous Chef Sanji. Free of charge," They quickly stated before running back into the kitchen.

"Sweet! I'm starving!" Usopp smiled, beginning to stuff his face with lobster.

As you all started chowing down, you saw Luffy coming down the steps from the kitchen.

"Chore boy!" Nami taunted, turning around in her chair.

"Huh?! What are you doing?!" Luffy exclaimed, shocked.

"We heard you had to work here for a whole year," Usopp laughed.

"Is it okay if we draw the flag for our ship?" you smirked.

"You're eating all this delicious food without me?! What kinda crew are you?! How could you do this to me?!" Luffy exclaimed again, distraught.

"Hold on...I think that's our business, isn't that right?" Zoro laughed, not noticing Luffy flick a booger into his water.

"You're disgusting," you grimaced as Zoro grabbed his glass.

"You know I have to say, the food here is quite delicious. Good stuff. Yes it is. I'd feel bad for you but-." Zoro stopped midway of putting it to his lips.

"You should be drinking this yourself!"

Zoro forced the drink down Luffy's throat as he choked and you, Nami, and Usopp roared with laughter.

"I can't believe you did that!" Luffy shouted, flopping on the ground and grabbing his throat.

"Yeah, well I can't believe you did that!" Zoro shouted back.

As you all continued laughing, the whole boat stared like you all were a circus

"Will you idiots...shuddup! We're...causing a scene!" you shushed in between laughs, trying to hush everyone.

Suddenly, Sanji came up to you and Nami, getting on one knee as he held up two roses.

"Oh, dear ocean, thank you for blessing me with two angels today," He said dreamily.

"Huh?" Nami asked, confused.

"Ah, yes, my loves. I can't bear this hardship of loving you two from afar. It is too difficult. I am now prepared to sail to the ends of the earth as a pirate if it means ladies of your rare beauty will be by my side!" He continued, giving you and Nami this lovesick look.

you glanced over at Zoro and saw him practically burning holes in the back of Sanji's head with his glare, Luffy sporting a very uncomfortable smile.

"To be together sailing the seas! But how tragic a great obstacle blocks our way."

"And that great obstacle would be me, right? Sanji," Zeff chimed, a disapproving look on his face.

"Ugh! Stupid geezer," Sanji sighed, rolling his eyes

"This is an opportunity you don't want to pass up. Why not join them and become a pirate? I have no need to keep you here at my restaurant," Zeff stated.

"Hey, listen, pal. I'm the Sous Chef in this place. What do you mean you don't need me anymore?" Sanji asked, annoyed at the old man's interruption.

"You fight with customers all the time, you flirt with every woman under 80 who walks through here, you can't even cook a decent meal. You're worth less to me than the chum after brunch. That's what I mean," Zeff clarified, crossing his arms and leaning against an empty table. 

A few chefs snickered from the staircase and Sanji glared at them.

"Oh, and let's not forget how the other cooks avoid you like you were poison. So just run off and be a pirate or whatever, but get out of this restaurant."

"That's how it is. You shoot off at the mouth and expect that I', just going to take it, old man? I could blow off everything you said, but I won't listen to anyone trash my cooking! I'm staying here as a Sous Chef, and that's final! You hear me?!" Sanji exclaimed, grabbing Zeff by the shirt. 

"What do you think you're doing, grabbing your boss by the collar?! You ingrate!" Zeff shouted, throwing Sanji into our table and making it collapse.

All of you quickly grabbed the plates of food before they could be destroyed.

"Dumb geezer," Sanji spat as he sat up.

"Enough with the games. You can try to kick me out, but I'm here to stay. I'm not going anywhere, old man. Not 'til you're dead and gone."

"Dead? Hah. I got another hundred years of kickin' your ass left in me!" Zeff scoffed as he walked away.

"See! He said it's cool. Now you can become a pirate!"Luffy smiled, patting Sanji on the shoulder. 

"Shut up!" Sanji barked.

"My apologies. I hope I can make it up to you with these delightful fruit macedonias, my princesses," His tone quickly changing to sweet as he poured you and Nami some more wine and placed these fruit salads in front of you both.

"Thank you," you nodded, grabbing your fork and starting to eat.

"Wow! You're too kind! It looks wonderful," Nami smirked.

"Hey! Don't forget about us, Mister Casanova! We better get some kind of apology, too!" Usopp exclaimed. 

"This tea should be more than adequate for you. In fact, you should be thanking me," Sanji stated, getting in Usopp's face.

"What?! You wanna fight? You're gonna regret this! Take him out, Zoro!" Usopp ordered.

"You take 'im out," Zoro grumbled, looking away from the situation as he took a sip of his drink.

"Stop it! Please don't fight because of us," Nami sweet-talked.

"Of course, my dear," Sanji smiled.

"I wanted to tell you that all of the food here is just delicious," Nami started, giving me a knowing look.

You got the message.

"But it's a little too expensive for us," You finished, rubbing his cheek and giving him the look.

You heard Zoro grumble something again but you didn't have time to address it before Sanji answered.

"Relax, it's free," he sighed.

"Oh! Thank you!" Nami smiled, giving him a hug.

"You guys still have to pay though," Sanji stopped his stammering for a moment, glaring at Usopp, Zoro, and Luffy.

"What?!" Usopp shouted. 

Luffy began to laugh but Sanji kicked him in the neck, causing it to wobble like rubber

"What are you sitting around for?! You're not here to lounge around," Sanji barked, grabbing him and walking away.

"Right," Luffy groaned.

海賊狩

[humanoidtyphoons]

jimbei gets namedropped in ch 69, by johnny and yosaku, with the tidbit that he apparently released a holy terror in east blue??? what holy terror????

my god, it's like hundreds of chapters later when jimbei even appears in one piece. he appears in impel down!!!! that's so faraway from arlong park!!!

"arlong's a fish-man. he used to be jimbei's equal." -- i wonder if the implication was that arlong used to be part of jimbei's crew, but then again, it's vague enough that even tho fisher tiger backstory hasn't happened for hundreds of chapters, and i don't remember the details too well. it doesn't immediately feel like a buggy&shanks situation, tho granted, the reveal that buggy&shanks worked under gol d. roger hasn't be revealed either, just that they were pirate mates for some time.

i genuinely just thought the jimbei namedrop by arlong in the live action was in reference to the fisher tiger backstory, but actually???? no, it was in the manga all along. even if oda doesn't have all the details worked out, that's some solid planting seeds for it to sprout up later. hundreds and hundreds chapters later.

[olivereactsaboutgarbage]

One Piece Chapters 67-75

75, huh? That’s a nice number.

Chapter 67 - The Soup

...A soup chapter, huh...?

Oh okay good the fact that the formerly-hungry demon man is acting kooky is in fact immediately getting addressed. He’s not changing his mind or anything, but that’s fine.

LMAO?! Goodbye to the big scary fleet I guess. Although “until we meet again” has certainly been implied. I wonder what will happen.

In order to convince Sanji to get over his moody Zoroness and become a main character already, all his friends start relentlessly bullying him. That’s cute, and more or less how I thought things would go.

Although: Their ruse failed. Sanji discovered their hidden secret that they like him. That’s cute too.

Chapter 68 - The Fourth Person

Oh, Lufpy is now revealing that he DOES allow people to not be on his crew after all. Just not Nami. Maybe he’s heterosexual? Regardless, a... uh... um... a shark attacks???

Yosaku has revealed that Nami’s destination is a really crazy place where all sorts of plot points might happen. But that’s all he has to say about it. ...Wait, are Johnny and Yosaku going to like, be... along for the ride... for a long time? Should I start getting invested in them?

That aside, Sanji has been convinced after all. Sanji will become a main character. The tsundere dialect of this restaurant is simply the cutest, but that’s about to become a thing of the past, so whatever.

Chapter 69 - Arlong Park

Hehe... this chapter reminds me of sex... it has “long” in it...

Affluence malpractice skimpy the Grand Line where everyone wants to go has 7 terrifying pirates who work for the government. One of them is Hawkeye though, so there’s really only six new characters introduced by this information. Maybe even less if a plot twist happens.

Also, there are fish people? And one of them is Arlong, of Park fame. And another one used to be Arlong’s equal but is superior to Arlong to the point where he’s one of the 7 guys. And that one did something scary. But Arlong is also scary. And this is Nami’s destination.

My hunch from earlier was correct... Danganronpa really DID steal all its ideas from Lufpy.

Ah, and now we’re getting our first look at Arlong. He’s a shady business-shark, which means that Omori stole Danganronpa’s idea of stealing ideas from One Piece.

Now we’re learning that Nami actually hates people with revenge plotlines, and loves beating them up. Huh, that’s surprising. Here I thought Nami was going to have a revenge plotline. What Nami’s deal actually is is that she’s one of Arlong’s employees.

I know how this one goes. Usopp and Zoro are gonna get hired by Arlong too, but then Usopp is gonna immediately gonna get kicked out of Arlong’s crew. Sanji will float up through a window while saying goodbye to Lufpy, but then reappear acting like nothing happened. So Lufpy and Usopp will venture through Arlong’s resort assisted by Sanji, eventually finding Zoro, who will lead them to Arlong’s location. Once they’re there, Arlong will agree to let them leave unharmed, until they ask for Nami to come too. Arlong will refuse and they’ll have to fight a huge rock. Since Arlong’s first mate is an octopus, maybe the octopus will be the rock. If there’s anything I know about The Legend of Zelda (and there isn’t), it’s the word Octorok. I think the word “Octorok” is probably similar to whatever’s going on in One Piece.

Chapter 70 - The Great Adventure of Usopp the Man

Oh... okay?! That’s the chapter title, huh?

Zoro gets tied up so he can’t participate in what happens next. That’s a classic Zoro moment if I’ve ever seen one.

Usopp and Johnny are too racist against whatever the fish equivalent of furries is to accomplish anything at all. They end up leaving and swimming to a place where all the houses are upside-down. Usopp ends up running around in a racist panic. He is then accosted by Nami’s least-favorite child: A racist who doesn’t see race. A woman is there too. Usopp’s racist terror turns to racist heroism, but it turns out the woman is an anti-racist, so things don’t go well for him.

More precisely, she wants everyone to leave the fish people alone because they’re like the equivalent of high-level enemies who’ll kill new players to the MMO. She doesn’t like people who have deathwishes, so I guess she wouldn’t be a Zoro fan. Also, she’s Nami’s “stepsister”.

Chapter 71 - Lords of All Creation

I like how we’re getting a chapter called “Lords of All Creation” right after a chapter called “The Great Adventure of Usopp the Man”.

Anyway, this woman is less like Nami’s “stepsister” and more like her “adopted sister”, but whatever.

Now that Usopp knows Nami works for Arlong, he doesn’t want her to rejoin Lufpy’s crew anymore. But just you wait, Usopp! Eventually, you will also work for Arlong. And then immediately go back to not working for him anymore.

Oh... the manga is giving us a location map, huh? Is this arc going to be super complex?

Usopp suddenly remembers Zoro exists, foiling his plan to simply ignore this arc because he doesn’t like Nami. Yes... all the pieces are falling into place... Usopp getting hired by Arlong is imminent...

Meanwhile, at Zoro, Arlong reveals that fish people are the next stage of human evolution, and therefore better than regular people. Nami says that’s wrong. And soon, Arlong will hire Zoro.

Nami says mean things to Zoro and makes him mad, expressing the idea that she never wanted to see him again. However, we in the audience know this is untrue, since Nami was getting emotional by herself and saying she wanted to sail with everyone again or something like that. The important part is that what she really wanted was for Arlong to hire Zoro and Usopp, and soon that’s what will happen.

Zoro uses an empty suicide threat to, uh... um... well, he did that because... I guess he wanted to trick Nami into admitting she cared about him? That seems kinda short-sighted. People don’t lie without good reason, and Nami is a person. I think Zoro should probably have just let it be.

Anyway, Arlong is after Usopp. In fact, he’s headed to Usopp’s location. To hire him.

Also, Arlong is running a protection racket. And Nami is busy allowing Zoro to get away from Arlong. Ah, but I’m afraid it’s not going to be that simple, Nami... after all, Arlong will hire Zoro.

Chapter 72 - Proper Living

Arlong is going to kill some guy named Genzo. Jeez, why would Usopp work for someone like that? I thought better of you, Usopp.

Usopp is now trying to save Genzo’s life. Going against your own employer, Usopp? I thought better of you, Usopp.

Arlong decides to destroy the village just because Usopp is in it, even though even his own employees think he shouldn’t destroy villages. And soon... Arlong will hire Usopp. Also, speaking of racists (such as Usopp), Arlong is a racist. Although I guess that was already obvious, from back when he said his race was superior.

I guess Usopp’s special moves in this series are using his slingshot to fire off stuff like bombs and food instead of regular slingshot pellets? Meanwhile, Lufpy’s special moves are fetishes, Zoro’s special moves are jokes, Sanji is probably gonna end up being capable of swapping out his shoes, and Nami... um, does Nami have special moves? Maybe she doesn’t. That’s chill. She doesn’t need special moves to be great.

Opulence malefaction slim Nami wants to buy a village. Meanwhile, I guess Zoro fought a bunch of people and then sat down on a throne.

Chapter 73 - Monsters of the Grand Line

Zoro makes friends with the octopus who works for Arlong. Watch out, Zoro! Soon that octopus will turn into a rock, and then you’ll have to fight him to get Nami back.

Meanwhile, Lufpy and Sanji meet a giant cow creature. Watch out, Sanji! There could be a window behind it. And if there is... you’re gonna end up floating through that window. Lufpy seems worried about this, punching the creature. Sanji doesn’t seem worried about this, feeding then kicking the creature.

Wait, maybe Sanji’s special moves aren’t swapping out his shoes, maybe they’re just for him to yell about food while doing normal moves. Well, it seems pretty effective, because now the cow creature is thoroughly unconscious.

Meanwhile, Arlong discovers the scene Zoro left in his wake. He considers killing Usopp, who turns out to be nearby, but he doesn’t really seem into it. And soon, he will hire Usopp... AND Zoro.

Arlong considers the possibility that Nami was being mean by allowing Zoro to be within his general vicinity, but Nami assures him she’s not like that. Arlong, now assured, decides he really IS into killing Usopp after all. Little does he know... he will soon decide to HIRE Usopp instead.

Anyway, the cow creature wasn’t unconscious after all. It was... enslaved? Huh. Interesting.

Chapter 74 - Business

Usopp tells three divergent stories about why killing him is a bad idea. And his FOURTH story... will be that it would be a good idea to hire him.

Next, the octopus arrives and realizes he shouldn’t have befriended Zoro. And SOON... this octopus will turn into a ROCK.

Okay, this arc is kinda funny. In the past, everyone has been more-or-less on the same page. But here, we have Zoro, who wants to bring Nami back to Lufpy, Usopp, who wants to ignore this arc, but can’t do so in good conscience until Zoro is safe, Nami, who wants to pursue her own ends in peace rather than constantly having to deal with Zoro and Usopp’s shenanigans, Sanji, who wants to float through a window, and Lufpy, the protagonist, who is the only person whose desires are correct.

Nami decides to fight Usopp. Usopp implies that he gets women confused with children easily, which explains why he acted like Kaya was a child. Then he uses a special move. Nami says “Predictable! You WOULD use a special move!” as if she’d ever seen one of Usopp’s special moves before. Then she stabs Usopp and puts him underwater.

Arlong commends Nami for her kindness to Arlong, since Arlong wanted Usopp dead, but Nami corrects him: Actually, she doesn’t like him. And little do either of them know... Arlong will soon hire Usopp.

Some rando claims that the reason Nami wants to buy a village is because villages contain lots and lots of money. Arlong, to his credit, tells everyone to stop bothering Nami. I love it when racists have redeeming qualities! That’s why I love Usopp so much. That’s why I’m mad at Nami for stabbing Usopp!!! I can’t believe Usopp would work for someone who would employ someone who would stab Usopp. I thought better of you, Usopp.

Now that Usopp is a little too... indisposed... (but obviously not dead, Arlong hasn’t hired him yet) to maintain his niche within this arc of being the anti-Nami guy, Johnny’s goal is to convert Zoro to that role. Y’know, Johnny? Important One Piece Character Johnny?

Chapter 75 - Of Maps and Fish-Men

Lufpy and Sanji’s boat is soaring through the air after a slavery disaster. And soon, this will result in Sanji going through a window. Also, Yosaku is there.

...What? What is this...? Not only did Sanji not go through a window... but they’ve met up with Zoro without Zoro even getting hired by Arlong? But... how is this possible? My predictions are never wrong... that’s another one of the things Danganronpa ripped off from One Piece. Y’know, the Danganronpa character Yasuhiro Hagakure? That Danganronpa character is specifically a rip-off of how everything I say about One Piece is true and accurate. But... so much for that, I guess.

Johnny meets up with everyone else and proclaims that Nami has killed Usopp. And now that everyone is on the same page, they can ALL, COLLECTIVELY, fill the “anti-Nami guy” role Usopp was previously filling.

Meanwhile, the navy arrives to help the villagers. But they decide to fight Arlong instead. Cops love committing violence instead of being helpful!

The navy tries to kill Arlong, but he eats it. Sanji would be proud. Of the navy, I mean. Anyway, it’s too bad for Sanji, because the navy gets wiped out.

Meanwhile, Lufpy really, REALLY, doesn’t want to fill Usopp’s role as the “anti-Nami guy”. So Nami shows up to fill that role instead.

[ask-the-marimozoro]

@ask-trafalgardwaterlamy

[ponreviews]

One Piece: Post Alabasta - Pure Shenanigans

Category: Shounen, Adventure

Overall Rating: 7/10

Synopsis:

After parting with Vivi in Alabasta, the crew take off to traverse more of the vast Grand Line!! They stop over at a few different islands and this filler arc follows each of the Straw Hats as they go on little mini adventures before their next big stop.

[SPOILERS AHEAD THRU EP. 135]

Review:

This arc is a nice little break after defeating Crocodile in Alabasta. They got a little stowaway/new member Nico Robin. Of course, not everyone is fond of the idea of having Crocodile's right-hand woman on board the Going Merry, let alone be part of the crew. Chopper was especially hesitant since Crocodile's control over Alabasta had some similarity to Wapol's reign over Drum Kingdom.

The first episode follows Chopper since he stayed behind to watch the Going Merry while the rest of the crew look for some food. Little did he know that Robin also stayed behind to read a book. This allowed the two characters some alone time and Chopper to start opening up to her about Kureha. It's a nice bit since after this episode, you see that Robin and Chopper become really close.

The following episode has a particular focus on Nami. A suspicious salesman shows up on the Going Merry after Luffy fishes him from the sea with wares he tries to sell to the Straw Hats. None of them seemed to be interested in what he wants to sell, but Nami notices something in his pile of junk, quality paper. The Straw Hats are confused as to why she was so keen on the paper. She wouldn't say what she was working on and still kept her boundaries up with the crew. When Luffy ruins her map, she explodes and threatens to fine anyone who tries to disturb her as she remakes the map. This threat pretty much scares the crew so much that they don't try getting her until a waterspout heading their way gets really close. This part of the story may not have a huge impact considering its a filler but it does give us a little more insight on what goes on in Nami's mind. This may have been the true start of her knocking down the walls she built up. Of course, that actually started in Arlong Park, but it just goes to show that it takes a while for her to open up.

Then, we got Sanji. The Straw Hats get surrounded by the Marines in some fog, where they run into trainee Marine chef, Tajio. We get to see Sanji in a teacher role in this episode. Tajio struggles to remember how to make curry like the Chef wanted. Sanji decided to help him with the recipe all while being chased by Marine soldiers. It's not much, but we do see a bit of Zeff's influence on Sanji here. The style of teaching is similar when it comes to cooking. They both want their student to get it on their own, so they let their pupil take the reigns and only give the subtlest of hints. Considering it's filler (and this applies to all the Straw Hats as well), it's a nice way to show his interests and quirks.

After that, we get more insight on Usopp. The Straw Hats dock on an island right on time for a local fireworks festival. Usopp is fascinated by the fireworks made by one family that the townspeople were talking about. He meets Kodama who is a young fireworks maker on the island. She's determined to create an improved version of a massive fireworks display her parents made. Unfortunately, the original display went awry and resulted in the pair's death. I thought it was a nice way to show Usopp as someone who wants to improve his craft much like Kodama wants to improve hers.

From there we get a little more background on Zoro. We go back into his bounty hunting days and how he met Johnny and Yosaku. Even back then his dream is to beat Mihawk and become the greatest swordsman in the world. For the most part, this episode just provides more context in Zoro's relationship with Johnny and Yosaku. Besides that, we pretty much know everything there is to know about Zoro so far. I love Zoro, but out of the episodes in this arc, I think I was falling asleep the most here. "But Pon! Chopper's episode was him just him talking about Kureha with Robin! At least Zoro had a battle here!" Yeah, well, I am biased towards Chopper. Chopper's filler episode arguably had the most relevance to the plot because of his developing friendship with Robin. This episode with Zoro is just yes we know you want to be the best swordsman because of your dead friend. Call me insensitive, but every bit of information about Zoro was already established in the East Blue Saga. As a result, his episode was not as insightful or entertaining as the others. Additionally, it's a flashback rather than present day. We get flashbacks within flashbacks.

Of course, we wouldn't need to focus on Luffy or Robin in this arc. Luffy's story has to be explored in canon. Robin, on the otherhand, is too new to have any kind of background other than being Crocodile's right hand woman and now the Straw Hats' stowaway. At this point, only Luffy trusts Robin. Sanji is an exception because he's a simp. Everyone else is wary of her presence, and understandably so.

While we don't get much from this filler arc, we at least get some focus on the Straw Hats individually. And although we don't get focus on Robin, we see a more gradual acceptance of her being in the crew. On its own, this filler arc is just a bunch of one-shots following Luffy's pirate crew. It's not a bad way to describe the stories here. It's not the most exciting, but that's kind of the point. It's a cool down period after defeating a WARLORD in Alabasta. At least here, unlike Boruto's odd timeline, there's a clean transition between canon and filler. I'm still not expecting much when it comes to these fillers, but this one at least gives me hope for cohesiveness.

[ouchpiece]

And here we go with the Merry damage already. That cut to the deck can be lacquered and buffed, or the plank replaced fairly easily, but the railing damage is pretty nasty.

I really really like Johnny and Yosaku’s swords. They kinda look like the kind of knives chefs use to lop off fish heads, which fits with both of the arcs these boys are in.

[whirlybirdwhat]

East Sea of Monsters - Chapter 16

Zoro has always been different than the rest - with a beast inside his chest that is howling to get out and a connection to other worlds that no one else quite has - but he doesn’t care. (He’s the Demon of the Demon Sea after all)

-

Read the entire series on Ao3 for better quality and authors notes! Gen, creepy, featuring all of the Straw Hats, multi-chapter story. (Tag “Ficart” on my blog should also show some fan art for this fic!)

“The East Blue has a different nickname to those in the Grand Line, and those who hail it as home have a few… unique traits.”

-

Paths - Zoro

In a town such as his, small, mountain bound, and old, there are traditions and rules to be followed. Be polite to your elders, be kind, do not stay out past dark, celebrate Hallowtide, give offerings of blood at the village entrance but only ever your own – and do not fight for the sake of fighting.

Zoro, of course, ignores all of this.

(They say there are many ways to walk about the world, some more dangerous than others. They say that those born on this tiny island have the vision to see them, all of them, the way the world shifts at every touch and the glowing paths of mist that show the way between worlds.)

He walks into to the town, ignoring the cupped stone hands and dagger at the entrance, and searches for the nearest dojo. His clothes are patched and dirty, a wheat straw hangs from his mouth, and eyes dot his limbs, blinking and merging back to skin within an instant. Blood drips from his lips from his latest scuffle, when an uppercut cause the fangs protruding from mouth to pierce upwards. Of course, he hit them back twice as hard.

(They would be known for it – but they are a secluded village, a secluded island, hidden deep within the East. They have walked so many paths between so many worlds, it is hard to know where home is – so they choose to remain stationary. Letting the roots of their souls sink down into the ground, cementing themselves in the earth. Their skin grows stiff and their hair fern like, waving in the wind as they watch the multitude of paths – of strings connecting each plane of reality intersecting into thousands of possibilities. A hand waves through them, and all at once a reality is destroyed)

His feet are barefoot as he walks into the dojo, not out of respect but because he has no shoes to wear. There are bleeding marks along his skin, rocks that dug beneath hardened scales as he tackled his enemy to the ground in his latest scuffle. His pointed ear is pierced – the first of three he hopes – and his sole possession besides his clothes, a single golden earring, lies in his pocket. He can’t find a mirror to put it in his ear. He shakes with every step – his last meal was three days ago, and it was only a bite of bread – but he is determined.

(Zoro, despite being from this particular island, has no vision of these paths between worlds)

He marches up to the dojo, disguises his hunger and hollow face with a snarling grin, and makes the same deal he has made at the rest.

Let me fight your students – If I win, I get a meal and a place to rest my head. If your students win, you can choose what you desire from me.

He has never lost before.

(Zoro has only ever seen one path – golden, gleaming, and right under his feet. It twists and loops and he doesn’t always follow it (where does it start and where does it end?) but it leads him to where he must be.)

He loses.

To her.

(This one path will lead him down the path of greatness, of blood, of death. It is the only path he wants in life.)

He joins the dojo.

(It is the path the planes take him to)

-

Zoro’s different than the other children, everyone can tell. For one – he’s never stationary, unless he’s napping, and his skin does not crawl with bark and roots like the rest of them (though his hair is by far the deepest green.)

He’s different, because there’s a fire in his chest and violence along his claws. Every action has a purpose, and every motion has direction. He’s different, because in the place of roots that grow with the environment is a beast that adapts with the world.

(That conquers the world)

There are shadows along every movement, shadow limbs that follow him (becoming more physical every day), and glinting green scales along every limb that like to merge with the shadows.

Zoro has a hard time figuring out what’s real sometimes (it’s what makes him different, even Kuina can see it.)

-

Kuina’s as strong as an oak, but her father likes to treat her as if she’s a flower. Zoro doesn’t get it as he spits blood from his mouth. She’s strong, stronger than him, so why? Why?

Kuina wins against him for the 2001st time, and Zoro finds a new purpose. He’s not so different, not anymore, and now he has someone to beat.

-

Kuina falls down the stairs, and suddenly Zoro knows why she was a flower to her father.

(But he won’t let that stop him, not now, not ever.)

-

The next years are a blur of training, and a final, final act that separates him from the grown people of this island.

Zoro steps forward, and does not enter the dojo.

Instead, he enters a glade of mist and blood, with golden streams all along. Instead, he steps where one with the vision of kings can only dare see, where red shores tremble underneath soft steps. Instead, Zoro steps forward and becomes lost.

(so very lost)

Its only for a second, but a second is enough before he’s back in the dojo, Koushirou looking at the spot where his pupil, dragon skinned and shadow limbed, just appeared.

“I think,” the man says slowly, like a strong willow tree waving in the wind, “That your place is not here.”

It never was, Zoro thinks, and bows anyway. He has a mission, a promise to keep, and this island, rooted in tradition and katas and sword swings with no innovation or reaching upward, will no longer help him.

But Zoro has never been rooted and the animal (demon) inside him roars with anticipation (bloodlust) as he sets sail into the mist. Zoro does not care, and the sword at his side does not either.

Behind him, the village fades, as if it was never there to begin with.

(Or perhaps, never on the normal plane of existence.)

-

Rumors are fickle things and Zoro has no protest. If people say he is the greatest swordsman in the East Blue, so be it, it just means more challengers.

(He’s only seventeen, how pathetic must these people be by the sword?)

(He doesn’t question the people’s other strengths, like the woman with withering grins and the men who make islands out of footsteps.

He could never fight against them (not yet at least))

The rumors are a way to get to the top.

(Wado Ichimonji is not of this sea, and it does not sing for the dark waters as Zoro does. Still, even a blade as pure as this can become corrupt, and as blood spills over and over and over its gleaming blade, Zoro hears its voice grow darker, stronger, and purer in its darkness. Like a moonless night rather than murky waters.

It is a good contrast – it helps Zoro sleep at night sometimes, when the beast inside his chest will not stop howling)

Occasionally it leads to companions – or once it did at least.

He meets Johnny and Yosaku on bright day on a nameless island. He doesn’t know where he is, and he sure they don’t know either.

“You’re the demon,” They say, and Zoro barks out a laugh. They’re in the East Blue – only cowards aren’t.

All the same, he replies. “Yeah. You?”

It’s Yosaku who answers then, dust falling off his shoulders as he moves and sand pouring out of the holes in his back. “Half – dead. Can you help us?”

“Maybe, if you pay for dinner and booze.”

Johnny smiles, revealing a glint of teeth to sharp and too jagged to be of anything but the depths of the sea and seals the promise.

“Deal.”

-

The year and a half he spends with Johnny and Yosaku is the best he’s lived in all the years he roamed this earth.

They roam the east for what feels like centuries, each day something new. Johnny and Yosaku have the self-preservation that Zoro (hungry for something greater, for a place at the top, a beast inside unsatisfied) could never have and he is stronger than both of them combined - they make a good team, and Zoro hasn’t gone this far without injuries in a long time.  

That isn’t to say Johnny and Yosaku aren’t strong, however, or to say they make the best decisions.

(Yosaku’s of the desert and Johnny is of the sea. They oppose each other in every way but there’s something in the way they move that belies the power that everyone in the East has buried in their bones and blood and what soul they have left.

There’s a time when they stray into the dark waters off the coast of an Island and the soul of it starts boiling and spinning the water into a whirlpool of tremendous might that capsizes their little fishing boat unfit for journeys such as theirs despite the iron imbedded in its hull.

Johnny, agile in the water, is the one to kill the sea snake with a thousand limbs, saving his companions when the water boils with the blood of demons.

(The water remains the same dark hue, despite the blood pouring forth like a fountain from the split in the serpent’s neck. Zoro pours his sake in the water and does not think of the voices in the distance and the shapes in the fog.)

And there is a time that they wander onto land and become trapped in the swirling maze while hunting for a bounty. It is not the first time Zoro has starved nor will it be the last, but it is the only time that it is a purposeless hunger without solution.

(The only time his companions have become faceless and strangers to him – blood and a meal but not friends, not anymore.)

Zoro does not see it, unconscious as he is at the time, but it is Yosaku who chooses to fall into the earth not knowing anyway out (anyway to survive) in order to have a chance to save them all.

He’s the only reason Zoro’s alive today)

But they do make the burning in his chest just that much easier to bear, make the whispers quieter and the blade stronger, don’t they?

-

He leaves them eventually.

He’s always been different –

(a loner, some say, others monster among monsters, alone, forsaken, unwanted-) but this time it isn’t because of his scales and horns and glowing, shadow limbs and disappearing habits.

It’s because he heard Mihawk was two towns over visiting some pirate ship or other, and Johnny and Yosaku never planned to leave the East (few do – they have all heard of the Veil and how it crushes those without Will-).

It’s because Zoro has been trying to get to the Grand Line, to the Greatest Swordsman, for two years now, and he’s so close to the first step to the top.

So he leaves, and doesn’t look back beyond a casual three hand wave.

-

Mihawk isn’t there.

Asura, the name he gave the voice inside his chest, his head, his limbs and blood, (powerful and mighty) rages.

-

Zoro is alone.

(Again.  Why does it hurt this time?)

(At least he has Asura)

-

He misses Johnny and Yosaku.

(But he doesn’t look back – the past is past.)

He cuts down more foes.

-

Zoro find that the limbs that have followed him since birth (shadowy, never quite present, Asura?) are now solid enough to hold a sword. And so are the faces attached to his head.

A step to the left and the world goes blue and black – suddenly he is in a forge of something other, and there are swords in the remaining limbs.

A step to right and backwards, and he’s on a dinghy in the middle of nowhere with plenty of sake in the raft.

He sends a bottle of it to the sea, and drinks the rest before shining his blades.

(He doesn’t believe in gods but he has seen what lies in the depths of the sea.)

-

It takes concentration to will the limbs into being, so it’s a move he reserves for fellow swordsmen of renown.

Not that there are many in the East – instead, most do what Zoro is doing now, and train their natural attributes.

The fangs in his mouth are sharp enough to pierce through dragon hide now (he’s tested) and his scales are like armor (he’s tested again).

He’s alone save for the beast in his chest, but he’s stronger than ever (he thinks.)

-

The gold path that he’s been ignoring since it killed Kuina is sparking at Shells Town. H

He doesn’t care, but somehow, he manages to get stuck there for a month.

Dumb kelpie.

-

A week passes.

Nothing changes.

-

Another week passes.

Nothing changes.

(Asura’s gone quiet.

He’s thankful – Wado isn’t here to balance him out.)

-

On the third week, a boy appears, dressed in red with blood lining his sharp teeth. He’s nothing quite like Zoro’s ever seen, but the blinding gold isn’t there anymore.

Then he’s being pestered by this boy, this wannabe pirate captain, and he doesn’t care anymore.

-

“My name’s Monkey D. Luffy,” he’s says to Zoro after bullets bounced off of him. “And I’m going to be King of the Pirates.”

Zoro smirks and laughs and challenges him back. “My name is Roronoa Zoro and I’m going to be the World’s Greatest Swordsman.”

“Fitting for the Pirate King’s first mate.”

“Son of the Devil.”

“Isn’t everyone?”

-

Zoro’s in a dinghy again, fading into the fog. Next to him is his captain, who promised to let Zoro run him through if he stands in the way of Zoro’s dream.

Somehow, watching Luffy take in the world with glowing eyes, Zoro thinks that won’t happen.

He’s doesn’t feel so different anymore, not before this man with a soul darker than his, and he doesn’t feel so alone either.

-

On the other side of the red line, a pirate shares the news of Axe-hand Morgan’s sudden death at the hands of an upstart pirate with a straw hat – there’s no bounty yet, but Mihawk's curious about the rumors of the Demon of the Demon Sea who follows him.

It doesn’t take long to find out the truth.

[lostheartcard]

When we were first introduced to Penguin and Shachi did anyone one else immediately think about these two:

Johnny and Yosaku from East Blue. These lovable, dorky duos are BROS FOR LIFE. Both duos admire badass swordsmen of the sea (Johnny and Yosaku look up to Zoro and Penguin and Shachi look up to Law) and both clearly have a soft spot for pretty girls. They also have the most solid BROTP relationships I have ever seen in One Piece. Like...EVER. Seriously these two are going to die in each other arms and it’s going to be so fucking beautiful maaaaaaan.

Please please please! I would love if these dorks were to meet up in the future and nerd out together about Straw Hats, Heart Pirates, fishing, and of course cute girls lol.

[akwolfgrl]

Chapter 21 LFT

Sanji finally let Zoro's strong calloused hand go. He had enjoyed holding it. He began to look through the drink menu. There was a pale blue cocktail that looked delicious called North concoction, it was a mix of alcohol from both the north and east.

“Let me guess, you're getting sake?” Sanji looked up from the menu to tease the man in front of him.

“Yup, let me take guess your getting some snobby wine,”

“Nope, I'm getting a cocktail,” Sanji put his menu down and pointed to it. “Looks good.”

“Hello, I will be your waiter today. Our specials for the day are Catch of the Day, which is a grilled Ahi with watercress cream sauce with a choice of white or brown rice, house vegetables, and manilla clam. A Seafood Duo: Deep fried Opelu with lomi tomato with Furi panko Ahi ribs. And a Miso black cod with Kabayaki with a choice of white or brown rice and bok choy, what can I get you to drink? ”

“Sake,” Zoro rudely grunted at the man.

“I'll have the north connection please, also can we get Angry Ahi Dip and the Fish Bites to start,” Sanji ordered, glancing at the appetizers. He was more excited for the first one, he loves spicy and seafood, which reminded him that he needed to pick up stuff for kimchi tomorrow morning.

“All right, I'll be right back with those drinks,” Thire waiter left.

“Here order me cook,” Zoro huffed putting his menu down. “Your the one who knows food,”

“Lazy ass,” Sanji grumbled, happy to pick out something for the sentient moss sitting across from him. “Hmm, I think you'd like the Miso black cod. It is on your list,”

“Sure, it won't be as good as yours, but it will be fine,” Zoro shrugged.

“All right,” Sanji could help but to preen under the praise.

“Here is your drinks. Your apitzers should be out shortly. Are you ready to order?”

“Yes, we will take the Grilled Peppercorn Swordfish and the Miso black cod,” Sanji held out the menus.

“I'm so sorry the miso was just cut from the menu,”

“Its fine if it was Eighty sixed these things happen,” Sanji glanced at the menu once again. “How about the Furikake Pan-Seared Ahi,”

“All right, I'll get your apitzers,” They took the menus and left.

Sanji took a sip of hid cocktail humming in apirsion licking his lips before take a larger sip. He watched as Zoro drank from the bottle of sake, ignoring the glass.

“Dam that's good shit, my master back home liked this, one time me and some of the other boys stole some of his sake and drank it under one of the large trees. We got caught of course but I developed a taste for the stuff,”

“Ahh an alcoholic from an early age how'd your parents feel about that?” Sanji teased him take a drink from his cocktail.

“Nah, I don't have any. My dad died when I was eight so I was raised in the dojo with a bunch of other boys and the dojo masters daughter,”

“Sorry to hear that, how did you get into bounty hunting?” Sanji asked him taking another sip.

“Here are your apitzers,” The waiter returned, placing plates in front of them. “Can I get you a refill?” He asked, looking at Sanji, who looked down at their almost empty glass.

“Sure,” He didn't realize how fast how drank that cocktail it was

“I left the village when I was sixteen after hearing of Mihawk, and one night I was camping out and someone thought it was a good idea to rob me,” Zoro grabbed a fish bite dipping it into the aioli before popping it into his mouth. “Mm you should make these, anyway I stopped him, tied him up and dropped him off at the Marines, turns out he was wanted so I got some money and headed straight for a bar. Drank most of the money and went back the next morning to look at the bontys and six months later I met Johnny and Yosaku,”

Sanji laughed and finished his cocktail before taking a wonton chip and dipped it into the dip. It was spicy, a little sour and salty, absolutely delicious. He tried the fish bite as well, Zoro was right he would need to recreate both of these dishes later.

[the-bejeesus]

       Yosaku’s best friend and Zoro’s former bounty hunting partner, Johnny is a swordsman who will never lose. And if he does, then only by a hair. He almost became an enemy of the Straw Hats, because they shot him with a cannon ball, but then they saved Yosaku’s life and he was grateful. After the timeskip, he and Yosaku have started a fishing career in Cocoyashi Village.

Happy Birthday, Johnny!!!

[creative-type]

Building up to Arlong Part II

 In my previous post I started my analysis of the East Blue Saga, looking at the arcs leading up to Arlong Park to see how Eiichiro Oda grew as both an author and an artist in those early chapters as he built the series slowly towards the first “epic” moments of One Piece. 

I ended that post with Orange Town and how Buggy managed to do something no villain before him had done (be memorable and interesting). It’s interesting to see how Oda follows up on this breakthrough with...well, this guy

I don’t really have much to say about Gaimon’s arc...chapter...whatever the heck it is. It’s completely random and doesn’t fit well with the rest of the East Blue chapters.To be fair to Oda, he does  cut loose and show off some of his wacky creativity, and there is some world building as the Red Line gets its first inauspicious mention.

There’s also something to be said about Luffy and Nami getting to know one another better and further insight into Luffy as a character, but it’s not anything that isn’t accomplished better in other places

I will admit this made me laugh, though

Syrup Village

Moving on, we jump to Usopp’s recruitment arc. This one is one of the more intriguing of the East Blue arcs (intriguing not equaling good) in that I liked a lot of the individual pieces but found the overall product to be a little lackluster. 

I think part of this is the setting. One Piece is at its best when it’s exploring wild and crazy new places, but Oda hasn’t gotten to that point in the series yet. This arc’s supporting cast is also pretty generic. Usopp’s Pirate Gang aren’t the most annoying little kids I’ve ever seen, but they are annoying little kids. Kaya is...okay. She shows some real gumption after Kuro shows his true colors, but I’m not sure that makes up for all the time she spent being boring early on.

Usopp himself can be hard to like, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Usopp is the everyman of One Piece. He’s not a power fantasy like Luffy or Zoro nor supernaturally talented like Nami. He has the greatest personal flaws of any of the Straw Hats, and his dream is the only one in the crew to be internal rather than external. With that in mind, firmly establishing Usopp’s foibles and his weaknesses makes his victories - both in this arc and later in the series - all the sweeter, even if it makes these chapters a bit of a slog to get through.

This arc does manage two things that would later become staples of the series, and once again we have our villains to thank

There are some very specific trends in One Piece’s villainous organizations. Most are headed by the main antagonist of the arc and are fought by Luffy. Below the leader there’s usually an annoying, but decently strong character taken out relatively early on (think Pearl, Mr.5/Miss Valentine, Satori, etc). This character acts as both hype and a teaser for bigger fights to come, but also carry some narrative weight by giving insight into the plans/mindset/priorities of the enemy organization as a whole. 

Lastly, Oda usually adds a lovable, quirky villain who, if not the second in command, is one of the strongest fighters in the arc. These characters humanize the Straw Hat’s enemies, add levity, and are generally really fun - so much so that more often then not they return later in the series as a recurring character.

The Nyaban brothers fit into the annoying but decently strong category, but Jango steals the show as the first lovable, quirky minion of the series (I think Oda tried with Buggy’s crew, but they lack the necessary charm to pull it off). Heck, the first thing we see him do is accidentally hypnotize himself after moonwalking down the path to Usopp’s village. Later on it’s hard not to feel at least a little bit sorry for the guy when we see the hopeless position Kuro has put him in. Jango may be an antagonist, but he’s fun and likable and honestly having him join the marines through the power of dance is amazing.

Gin, Hatchan, Betham, and Kaku all fit to one degree of another into this mold, and it wouldn’t have been possible without Jango.

Secondly, Kuro is the first cerebral villain of the series. Alvida and Morgan relied on brute strength, and while Buggy exhibited a certain amount of cunning he, too, was focused on overwhelming firepower and his Devil Fruit to win the day. 

Kuro of a Thousand Plans. His epithet says it all. Kuro is conniving, sneaky, underhanded, and without a shred of honor to hold him back as he meticulously plans to murder a sickly girl for nothing more than his own peace and comfort. 

All of Oda’s most memorable villains have this Machiavellian mindset. Crocodile, Doflamingo, and most of all Blackbeard are all chess masters to one degree or another. Though their end goals are completely different, you can see a lot of Crocodile especially in how Kuro built up an unshakable reputation while biding his time to strike. They even share a penchant for breaking speeches

It’s such a little thing, but the words “I suffered” elevate Kuro to one of my favorite East Blue villains, well above even Buggy. It’s so needlessly cruel, twisting the knife right where he knows it will hurt most, just because he can, and I freaking love it.

As a side note before moving on, Oda’s attention to detail is also to be commended during this arc. The way Kuro adjusts his glasses makes for an excellent and chilling re-read bonus, and connecting Morgan’s past to Kuro’s gives the former a little more depth than before.

The Baratie

It’s interesting to compare the Baratie to Syrup village because in many ways these arcs have opposite strengths and weaknesses. Where Syrup village had strong antagonists and a weak setting/side characters, the Baratie is the most memorable locale of the East Blue Saga and has an extremely strong secondary cast.

The Baratie as a concept brilliantly fits into the world of One Piece. The idea of a floating restaurant in a world that’s 90% ocean makes perfect sense, and it’s one of the times that Oda integrates the setting with his characterization. It’s not creativity for creativity’s sake, and unlike Gaimon’s sub-arc...chapter...whatever that was there’s a method behind the madness. 

This excellent setup is the backdrop to some superb character writing. Sanji is by no means my favorite Straw Hat, but his strained relationship between Zeff and the rest of the Baratie is done extremely well. It’s one of those situations where no one is 100% right or wrong and you just wish they’d all enter counseling or something so they could figure out how to talk to one another without resorting to violence.

It doesn’t hurt that this is when Oda figures out how to properly use the power of Tragic Backstory (tm) to its most devastating effect. While no (named) characters die, Sanji’s backstory is raw, painful, and emotional in all the right places. It’s in expressing these extreme emotions where Oda’s cartoony style is at its most effective. Oda’s characters don’t just cry, they cry ugly, and that’s so important when setting the tone of these heavy moments.

I don’t have much to say on Kreig or his crew because he’s boring and I despise Pearl with every fiber of my being, but once again we get some fun fight choreography. I especially like the sequence when Sanji spits his cigarette into Gin’s face before kicking him halfway across the deck, only to get a tonfa to the ribs for his effort. 

Also this happens, and it’s soooo satisfying to see Kreig get punched in the face. 10/10, would watch again

But the one thing that the Baratie does best of all the East Blue arcs - better than even Arlong Park - is world building. The entire series people have been telling Luffy and co. that the Grand Line is super dangerous and that he shouldn’t go, but it’s only here that we see that we see that played out in real time with Mihawk’s introduction to the plot. The Straw Hats have thus far been presented as invincible badasses when they’re nothing more than a big fish in a little pond.

All the stuff with Mihawk is big-picture storytelling and one of Zoro’s best moments. I don’t think that anyone who follows One Piece needs to be told how well Oda does at developing his world. More important to the build up to Arlong Park is Oda’s use of immediate foreshadowing. Right about the time Mihawk shows up Johnny and Yosaku catch Nami checking out bounties, specifically Arlong’s though he’s never named and we don’t see his picture. Immediately after Nami steals the Going Merry so she can run away, and we see her facade start to crack a little under pressure. Note especially how utterly exhausted she looks in this panel here

This all happens in the same chapter Zoro challenges Mihawk, and the action cuts between the swordsman’s pre-fight banter and the story of how Johnny and Yosaku lost the Merry. Zoro’s fight is the more immediate concern, but when constructing the chapter, instead of going out on that high note Oda cuts back to Nami a second time, this time sailing alone on the open ocean

If it weren’t already obvious by the whole rest of the series, this scene proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that there’s more to Nami than meets the eye. This is the first time we see her truly vulnerable, almost to the point of being broken, and it puts a completely different meaning to all her actions previous and what we’ll see coming up in later chapters.

I do think there is some significance to putting the Nami scene last over Zoro’s, because as the last thing the audience reads it’s what tends to stick in their mind longest week to week. We don’t see Nami again for a long time, and when we do all her defensive walls are firmly back in place. This is the Nami Oda wants us to remember when she’s going around Cocoyashi village telling Luffy to leave her the hell alone.

The Conclusion

What really stands out to me when going over these early chapters leading up to Arlong Park is Oda’s vision for the series from the word go, even when his execution isn’t as consistent as later on in the series. The whole East Blue saga exists to do two things 1) build the core of the Straw Hat Pirates 2) answer the question Who is Luffy.

Each antagonist from the lowly Alvida to Arlong himself has a weakness in their leadership ability that directly foils Luffy. These chapters show us what kind of pirate, what kind of captain, and most of all what kind of man Monkey D Luffy is, and what values he will and will not stand for. 

Arlong Park is the emotional peak of the East Blue saga, and it works because Oda has taken the time to build up to that peak. The impact would not have been the same if it had been placed earlier in the series because it would not feel earned without seeing Nami interact with the rest of the crew for as long as she did. Nor would it have worked if Oda hadn’t placed the breadcrumbs of her story for the audience to pick up along the way. 

It’s impossible for every arc to hit all the high points that Arlong Park does, because not all arcs are designed to do so, nor should they. That being said, there’s a steady increase in quality seen even in these early chapters as Oda gets his sea legs and figures out exactly what story he’s trying to tell.