#When Luffy was talking about breaking into the marine base my dad was like

[infriga]

I convinced my mom to try the live action One Piece, because she's the type to like this style of show even though she isn't into animation and would never read manga, but I didn't think I'd be able to convince my dad because he's usually a stickler for more grounded and realistic stories (his favourite genre is war movies, his favourite movie is Saving Private Ryan, for reference). But, when I brought up with him how I figured it probably wouldn't be his thing because it was fantasy, he mentioned to me that he does enjoy some fantastical stuff if it has like an internal universe logic, like Star Wars, and the more I thought about it, the more I remembered that he also enjoys campy fun action adventure stuff that doesn't take itself too seriously like Indiana Jones or Pirates of the Carribean.

And One Piece has both that internal logic for why people can perform crazy feats (even if it isn't explained right away) which I mentioned to him (just that there is a reason why people can do crazy things in this world), as well as the campy fun action adventure thing going for it, especially in the Live Action (the fight against Morgan's base even has a major Indiana Jones vibes ngl). So I explained that to him and asked if he wanted to try it, and he agreed to watching the first episode with me to decide if he'd watch it with my mom and me.

AND HE ACTUALLY SAID IT WAS INTERESTING SO FAR!! Like, he is NOT the kinda guy to enjoy anime or manga or even western cartoons, always refuses to watch anything anime and doesn't show any interest when I talk about it (I've managed to convince him to watch a few movies like Sword of the Stranger but it's obvious that even when he's not bored or doesn't hate it, it still doesn't catch or keep his interest), and he's really picky about anything fantasy or SciFi, if it like sets off his bullshit meter too much he starts nitpicking the logic behind certain abilities, or decisions, or explanations, etc. I once tried to get him to try Gravity Falls and he wanted to stop after the first episode. He's THAT picky.

So the fact that he actually laughed several times while watching the first episode of OPLA with me, commented about Luffy's character positively several times (he seems to think Luffy is really funny which surprised me cause I thought he'd be the most entertained by Zoro but I mean I can't blame him it is Luffy after all), never cringed or criticised or said anything about how ridiculous it was, means a lot coming from him cause he's always really blunt and honest about his opinion on this sort of stuff (which is fine I don't want him to pretend to enjoy stuff when he doesn't). He actually watched the whole first episode without it losing his attention, and seemed to have fun! And he agreed to watch the rest with my mom and me!

This sort of thing is one of the reasons why I dislike when people just dismiss the idea of live action adaptations entirely. I get that people are jaded with past failures, and don't like when live action is treated like a replacement for or improvement from animation when it isn't. But it is a valid medium just as much as animation or comics or writing are, and can be used to produce some amazing things. And the fact is, there are people who have a hard time connecting with other mediums who will otherwise never engage with this media in its original forms. Live Action, when done well and done right, can reach new audiences and welcome them into the fold in ways the original formats never can.

One Piece didn't need the live action to be popular, obviously, and the live action cannot and will not replace the original, nor should it. But I love that we get to have it alongside the manga and anime. It's just more of what we love, it's the cherry on top of an already stellar multi-layered cake. It complements the original rather than taking anything away from it. And for the first time in over a decade I might be able to share One Piece with my parents, who would only ever have a chance of experiencing it and enjoying it in live action. There's just something so awesome about that for me personally. I just wish more live action adaptations would understand what the One Piece live action understood about the adaptation process, and that's how to keep the heart of the story in-tact, so more people from more fandoms could have a chance to share something they love with more people who it would otherwise not reach.

Anyway, thank you Oda and the OPLA cast and crew for doing live action right for once!

[cyb-by-lang]

OSF AU - “All the Little Children” (11/?)

Part 11: In which a really bizarre custody battle ensues.

Content Warnings: Garp.

Gramps looked worse than Ace could remember. He had a big ol’ knot on his head, bigger than the ones Ace and Sabo and Luffy usually ended up with whenever he came calling, and his knuckles were busted up like he’d been hitting stuff way harder than rock. And being hit back, too. On the other hand, while Kei’s clothes had some blood on her and dirt and two missing sleeves and stuff, she didn’t really look hurt. Not like anyone else would after fighting Gramps.

“I heal really fast,” Kei said, when Sabo asked about that.

Ace was pretty sure she was brushing them off, but he’d seen Naruto break a finger once and be fine after an hour. And Gaara’s nose didn’t look like it’d ever been busted. Maybe it wasn’t just an adult thing.

“You’d make a decent Marine, if you weren’t a no-good pirate,” Gramps told her grudgingly, while everyone cooked up a bear the Tailed Beasts had caught. There wasn’t much of a head left, so Ace hadn’t asked how.

“I’m not a pirate,” Kei said, poking at the fire with a stick.

“Well, then you should become one!”

“A pirate?”

“NO, A STRONG MARINE!”

Kei wiped spittle off her cheek and glared back. “Not interested. I’ve had nothing but trouble from Marines since I got here, and yes, you count.”

Ace had never heard anyone tell Gramps “no” before and not get punched. His and Luffy’s jaws both dropped, while Sabo looked confused as hell.

He’d learn.

“Then you shouldn’t be wearing Whitebeard’s emblem on your back,” Garp argued.

“Who’s Whitestache?” Luffy asked, while picking his nose.

“Luffy, stop that,” said Fū, snagging his hand and trying to get him to stop.

“Whitebeard’s an old pirate, out on the Grand Line,” Kei explained, while Ace and Sabo leaned in to listen. Her voice changed a little as she spoke, sounding like she was talking less to them and more just because she was remembering. “He’s considered the Strongest Man in the World, I think, but mostly I hung around since he was one of the first people I met. And his crew decided I was their new best friend.” She picked at the sleeves of her now-battered coat. “So I’ve got the jacket, and weaklings got scared off while I traveled. The end.”

“You didn’t want to join them either?” Naruto asked, from Ace’s left.

“I didn’t spend twenty years defending Konoha and fighting as its kunoichi to join up with the first recruiter who asked. Pirate or Marine,” Kei said flatly. “Not while I have a job to do.”

“And you…what? Fought your way off the Grand Line?” Fū asked skeptically. Ace didn’t think she knew much more about the Grand Line than he did, but it still sounded really cool. Also really impossible. “That’s like…”

“I have,” Kei repeated with terrible patience, “a job. Which is to protect Naruto, even if I have to get into a fight with Vice Admirals or Sea Kings or whatever other things this place throws at me.”

Gramps crossed his arms, making a thoughtful noise. “Then you’re staying here?”

“I might have to find some people,” Kei said, casting a glance at Naruto, whose eyes widened. “Other than that, my job hasn’t changed.”

“Kei-sensei,” Naruto said, drawing the adults’ attention to him, “you’re not gonna run off, are you? You’re really sticking around Dawn Island.”

Kei sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Yes, Naruto. I built a house and everything.”

“YAY!!” Luffy and Naruto cheered together.

Ace and Sabo exchanged glances. Going by Sabo’s hesitant smile, he probably thought it was a good idea that the only adult who could get in a fight with Gramps and walk away was probably on their side. And while Ace wasn’t quite sure of that, yet, at least Gramps seemed to be a bit less likely to hit them in the head while she was around. If only because Kei was a bigger target.

Ace crossed his arms and said grudgingly, “I guess you’re not a shitty old hag.”

“What a ringing endorsement,” rasped Gaara.

Kei, though, gave Ace a look that made him wonder if she was seeing right through him. Just for a second, he wondered if she knew. So he squared his jaw and did his best to stare right back, just in case.

Then she said, “Thanks?” in a sorta hesitant voice and the spell was broken.

What a dork, Ace thought. This is the same person who killed Bluejam?

“Even if Ace is Roger’s son?” Gramps asked, and Ace’s blood ran cold.

Ace was already on his feet, backing away. No, no—Gramps, how could you—

“Ace?” Luffy asked, before looping his arms around Ace’s waist to keep him from moving. Instead, it meant Luffy got dragged along with him. “Ace, come back!”

Luffy already knew. Luffy was safe. Sabo was safe because Ace had told him, because the two of them were brothers and so was Luffy and they’d never leave each other over something like who Ace’s father was. But Naruto and Gaara and Fū? The woman who could fight Gramps to a fucking tie and god damn it—

He had to leave. He had to get away—

“Who the hell is Roger?” Naruto asked, even as he darted to Ace’s left side, matched by Sabo on his right.

“Get away from me!” Ace snarled, making the older blond kid hesitate. Unlike Sabo, Naruto didn’t latch onto him, preferring to keep his distance.

Good. He knew Naruto was still stronger, and Ace didn’t want him too close. He’d need every advantage he could scrape together if he was gonna get away.

Fū reached for him. “Ace—”

“Ace, it’s not—” Sabo began.

“It is a problem!” Ace snapped, though he couldn’t shake Sabo loose. Some small part of him didn’t want to, but he had to leave before Gramps’s stupid fat mouth made things worse. And Sabo wasn’t letting go. “Sabo, you remember—”

“What would you say if the Pirate King had a son?”

Ace choked on the knot in his throat. Gramps was here and he knew and he made Dadan promise to look after Ace, but Gramps had just told—

"A son? That devil of a man?!"

"It'd only be right to kill him, of course!"

"Would serve him right for carrying that demon's blood in his veins!"

“WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM?!” Kei roared, silencing everyone else.

Ace looked up, trapped between his brothers and his maybe-friends and the forest and the fire. Unable to run, he sat stock-still as another one of those rogue waves—of cold, deadly anger, ripping through the fire-warmed air like it was nothing—swept past all of them. Ace felt its fingers anyway, and from the way Sabo gripped his arm harder, so did he.

“I don’t care,” Kei began, ignoring everyone else in favor of bearing down on Gramps like a landslide, “if you’re that kid’s uncle, grandpa, guidance counselor, or his pet jackass. Just going by his reaction, you weren’t supposed to tell anyone who his old man was. And why the hell did you think it was a good idea to do it anyway?”

Ace blinked, tears threatening to run down his face. What?

She didn’t—

“If you’re going to protect my grandsons,” Gramps said, getting to his feet and looming way more, “you’d better know what you’re getting into. I won’t allow a dirty no-good pirate anywhere near them unless they’re safe.”

“They’re never safe with you!” Kei snarled back, “When you’re around, all you do is chase them all over the island! Which is once in a fucking blue moon, since this is the first time we’ve met!”

“Gaara,” Naruto whispered. “Now.”

Sand sprang up all around them, cutting them off from the outside world. In the dark, Ace couldn’t see anyone, but he could still feel Sabo and Luffy. Gaara had to be there, since there was so much sand, but it took until Fū said, “Let’s go home,” before Ace realized she was in the dome, too.

The ground shook, and Ace clung tighter to his brothers as the sand globe moved.

And the sand spat them out in the FNG base, all in a pile, and it took everyone a second to untangle themselves. Ace was free for maybe half a second before Fū grabbed him and, for once, didn’t squeeze that hard.

“I’m so sorry your grandpa’s a jerk,” Fū said, when she pulled back and Luffy inflated back to his normal shape. Fat tears welled up in her eyes. “If-If you want, I can forget he said anything! That’s a promise.”

“Garp was a jerk before this,” Naruto said, and he patted Ace’s shoulder before adding, “I dunno what they were talking about, but you’re our friend first. Whoever your dad was… Well, you’ve heard us talk about our parents before. It doesn’t matter to us.”

Fū had said once that normal people didn’t get armies to run from ‘em. But Naruto’s dad had. What did that make him?

Gaara just nodded, and Ace wondered if he hated Rasa as much as Ace hated Roger. Gaara didn’t talk about a lot, ever, but it wasn’t hard to tell he and his dad weren’t close. And he never talked about his mom.

Sabo hated his dad, too, and Ace knew he never wanted to see him again. Ace still didn’t know exactly what the old noble bastard had done to Sabo, but whenever the question came up he wanted to break the guy’s knees.

Fū didn’t know her parents, and neither did Luffy. He just had Gramps, and the villagers he couldn’t see anymore if Gramps was around.

“It’s different,” Ace muttered, though his heartbeat was slowing back down.

“Why?” Naruto asked. When Ace glared at him, he held up his hands defensively and said, “No, seriously. I don’t know who ‘Roger’ is. Gaara? Fū?”

Both of them shook their heads. Fū scrubbed at her eyes with her armwarmers, pressing her lips together.

“If you don’t wanna tell us, that’s fine,” Naruto said belatedly. “But I’m trying to make a point. None of us are gonna treat you differently. Okay?”

“How do you know?” Ace bit out. “Everyone always thinks stuff like that, but once they learn they’ll…” Ace’s heart was in his throat. “You’re wrong.”

“I didn’t!” Luffy said, poking Ace in the chest with his chin. “And neither did Sabo! We’re your brothers forever. Just because your dad’s the Pirate King doesn’t make us any less brothers. You’re ours first!”

Sabo smacked himself in the face. “Luffy…”

All three of the FNG squad looked at each other.

“...Yeah, I still don’t get it. Sounds kinda cool?” Naruto shrugged.

Ace saw red. “It’s not ‘cool!’ You think it’s somehow okay for that bastard to—that if people find out, they’d kill me just for being his son?!”

“That’s stupid,” said Gaara, sitting down next to Shukaku as the little monster showed up. “They’re stupid.”

Eh?

Naruto nodded seriously. “Gaara’s right. That part sounds like the same kind of shit that made Kei-sensei so mad.”

“Besides, they’ll have to go through us.” Fū’s fists clenched. Her eyes almost glowed orange as she looked up, though they were still a bit puffy. “We might not be your brothers, but we are your friends. Right? And friends look after each other.”

“We won’t let anyone get even close to hurting Ace!” Luffy swore, squeezing Ace’s waist harder. “So don’t look so sad, Ace. We love you.”

“Come on,” Sabo said, tugging Ace and Luffy back to their feet. Or Ace’s feet. Luffy seemed to want to be carried instead. “We’re gonna all stick by you tonight.”

“I’ll keep watch,” Gaara volunteered, with Shukaku at his knee. He was blocking most of the kid-sized entrance with his body and the gourd thing on his back. “You’re safe here.”

Ace wasn’t sure he believed that. But with his brothers both glued to him like limpets, and his friends doing their apparent best to help? Maybe he could try.