#fuck this stupid ass fucking anime bro i’m IN DISTRESS

[uc1wa]

NOBODY WAS GONNA TELL ME IT WAS THAT EPISODE OF JJK TODAY??? OHH I HAVE WHIPLASH IM SO SAD :( the anime is moving too fast :’(

[ayoalex]

Why is Team RWBY since the beginning present as a dangerous team?

Ok, before I begin this post I have to warn that:

1- I'm not an expert, this is based on my basic knowledge as someone that used to do martial arts as a kid, play a lot of video games and watch a bunch of anime/cartoon or read manga

2- This is going to be a long post, sorry 😞

3- You are always welcome to discuss in the replies or to correct in whatever I could get wrong, again I'm not an expert so don't be shy to call me out. Btw, English is not my first language so it's possible I could have some grammar mistakes.

4- Do not want to see any type of hate for any character 🤨

5- And last, decided to post this here because I prefer RWBY Tumblr community than Reddit one 💀

Let's begin!

When they present RWBY at the beginning of the project we got a glimpse of what they can do individually in the short films know as Red, White, Black and Yellow as well as some aspects of their character, backstory, etc.

As RWBY continued their journey we could see they seem as a force to be reckoned with when together but seem to be lacking in some aspects when they were alone.

The ones that didn't do better alone was mostly Ruby and Weiss while Blake and Yang seems to be able to hold their own alone (tho Blake seems to be in her flop era in the last volumes 💀).

So, let's talk about them as individual first.

Ruby: we all know her, leader of the team and the youngest of them all.

Ruby do pretty well alone when she's fighting Grimms, specially those that aren't that hard to go against. She's basically a prodigy and for that she got into Beacon earlier (and the fact she has silver eyes 😬).

She's the few people in Remnant that use a scythe as a weapon and she's pretty damn good with it; as told by a lot of character using that weapon is hard af so probs for her to be able to be so fucking smooth and amazing with Crescent Rose.

As told by Ruby herself in V1 while talking with Jaune, she did her weapon and here comes her first problem.

Not practical. Crescent Rose is a bad ass weapon and I absolutely love it but it's heavy and takes a lot to use it. It's a rifle as well so Ruby basically has to be a sniper to be able to go well with it.

It's a weapon that doesn't goes well with a team as can get in the way unless the user becomes a support for the team instead of being at front.

This is basically a metaphor of how Ruby is kinda a lone wolf at the beginning and awkward af with people.

But! She later gives some upgrades to Crescent Rose that helps her change the direction of scythe which give her adaptability! Which is completely important!

Now, if I take Crescent Rose away of Ruby what happens?

She's dead bro

Ruby is useless in close range combat, specifically physically one. We can see that in a lot of moments through the volumes.

She usually use her semblance as an advantage, which with her weapon works perfectly but without it is... Meh. It only helps her to speed up.

In Volume 5 Ozpin calls her out for that and then trains her, we then see Ruby being able to actually block and evade attacks without the use of her semblance... Until Ozpin took control of Oscar 💀

She knows basic stuffs, mostly with her defense but she lacks attack.

We don't actively see an improvement of this part in the future as she's seen to struggle keeping up with Harriet. Tho I'm going to give Ruby the fact that Harriet was being emotional and "aaahhh go crazy go stupid" In there.

Tho, Ruby lacks in this she make up by being a quick thinker and strategic.

She's the one that comes up with the plans and she's fast on her feet as well, she knows how to use her teammates perfectly to the point on coming up with duo attacks for them. She use her creativity to be able to defeat enemies as we can see at the end of V6 against the crazy old lady.

In general Ruby lacks close range fighting skills as well hand to hand combat + she can be really reckless and not actually think stuffs through it at first which can lead to disaster (she's getting better tho!)

Weiss: so... Oh boy, the ice queen comes next.

Her first actual win in a solo combat was Marrow if I remember correctly.

So here's the thing, as a solo fighter Weiss is the weakest link because she relies heavily in her semblance, get her someone that can break her aura fast and that's it, she loses.

But her semblance is really REALLY good.

Like she could stand in one place, do her thing and that's it but there's a thing... Weiss is too logical and sometimes narrow minded, her winning against Marrow was amazing and made me proud because she used EVERYTHING in that damn room to her favor. She was creative!

For her type of semblance that's important!

At the beginning she was too STIFF with her semblance but it got to the point where she has learned to be fast on her feet. Use her semblance in a better, creative way AND be a support in the team.

But now, without her semblance Weiss is a good fighter, being a mix of ballet with fencing/swordplay. Really pretty to see and then take off the damn weapon and she's pretty useless.

See a pattern here? Team Whiterose are completely useless without their weapons and semblance, mmmm

Overall Weiss is a freaking monster thanks to her semblance. She has gotten better to it, to control it and stuff, became more creative and less stiff as well as quick thinker but she needs to get better in hand to hand combat... Please, I'm begging.

Blake: ah yeah, our favorite emo cat girl.

So, Blake is crazy. That's it, that's everything I'm going to say about her.

Ok no, but seriously her fighting style is chef kiss

Blake use of her semblance is amazing, like this girl knows what she's doing when fighting.

Her weapons are great as well, like they are sword, a gun, then that freaking ribbon where she goes all Spiderman with everyone. Amazing!

Tho, she comes with an advantage that no other in her team has.

As explained by different characters in the series, Faunus has physical advantage over humans, not only some of them can see in the dark, but they seem to get some characteristics of the animal they are based off.

A good example is how agile Velvet is thanks to the fact she's a rabbit faunus or the way Sun jumps because of being a monkey faunus.

Blake being a cat faunus gives her ton of advantage, she's stealthy, agile, fast, listen better than the average human, etc

Combine that with her semblance, weapon and fighting style and you have an amazing fighter.

But Blake is reckless and that have cost her in the past. Not only that but while she seems to know only basic stuff in hand to hand combat, relies a lot in her semblance and lately she use her ribbon way too much.

That gives an opportunity to the enemy to take her out easily as we saw in her fight against Vine.

I'm going to say that Blake is generally a good fighter and probably one of the best in Team RWBY in general words but lately she seems to focus a lot in her ribbon which makes her an easy target, idk if this on purpose because Blake have always dislike her semblance or it just they don't know how to make Blake fighting style anymore but it kinda annoys me how she has been reduced to a damsel in distress in some fighting scenes.

Overall Blake is a top notch fighter and her weakness are small details that she slowly overcoming.

Yang: ah yeah, here comes my girl (stupid Tumblr mobile isn't letting me putting her name in yellow 😡)

As you guys know I'm a hoe for this girl so I will try to be objective here.

Yang is the strongest member of the team, not only physically but mentally as well.

So, by far she has my favorite fighting style of all the damn characters, I just love watching Yang fight. I think is because I did martial arts as a kid and then some kick boxing in college so idk.

Listen, this girl is so damn practical, her weapons are absolutely genius.

She's probably the few (maybe only one?) Character that actually took an existing fighting style and did her weapon around it + uses her semblance around it which is practical and smart af

Which comes to one of my favorite things of Yang, how tactical she is. Like Yang is what Ruby could be if it wasn't because of the damn weapon.

Like you guys don't get, Ruby weakness is Yang strength.

Yang since the very beginning showed us how of an amazing fighter she is. You thought Ruby is a prodigy? That Weiss is a monster? Blake is out of this world? Well Yang is fucking God.

I know I KNOW, I said I was going to be objective but it just MISS YANG XIAO LONG IS WHAT CINDER WISH SHE COULD BE, I SWEAR TO GOD, THIS GIRL IS BETTER THAN SOME OF THE ADULTS IN THE SHOW.

Ok ok ok

Yang is emotional tho, which cost her a lot (like A LOT, she lost her arm), in the past she was angry 24/7 (still is but baby got it under control 🥰). People are going to say "well not in v1, 2 and 3!".

I'm sorry but that girl has angry issues and the only moment she gets to be angry is when fighting so yeah, she would angry fight everyone and you know what? She still was an amazing fighter while doing so cuz she would kick everyone ass, being tactical about it, find her opponent weakness and absolutely looking hot while doing so.

Anyway, Yang doesn't have like a huge weakness like Ruby or Weiss, literally are small details. She's pretty much versatile as Ember Celica give her the option of shooting at her opponent. Since the beginning she was pretty much one of the best fighters of all the kids, probably coming second after Phyrra.

Her semblance use is pretty good as well, she seems to have a better grasp of it than some of the other kids and know how to manipulate it without overusing it.

Which btw is what made me have like a huge problem with V4 with the whole Taiyang stuff cuz Yang already knew how to fight like he was telling her, so idk I feel that was an insult to Yang as a character because the reason she lost her arm was because of stress, tired, being in battlefield and hello her partner is in danger.

RWBY

Now that I finished with them individually we can see that RWBY has 2 support fighters, 1 versatile and the other one a basically upfront fighter. Which comes in handy a lot of fights.

But it isn't this what makes them a formidable team but it's their chemistry.

Since the very beginning we see they do the most important thing in any type of relationship, communication.

As Weiss has her problem with Ruby at the beginning she end up talking with an adult about it and then getting call out for her poor behavior, that makes her change her approach to Ruby but before all that she did communicate Ruby what her problem was with her which made Ruby to talk with Ozpin and change her approach to study and her team as well.

We see that Yang and Blake goes well since the beginning as well, and they communicate a lot better than Ruby and Weiss at the beginning. To the point that we can see it in their teamwork.

When it comes to Weiss racism the rest of the team communicate her to stop it and then you have Blake and Weiss discussion about it where we got a glimpse of Weiss life in Atlas as well the revelation of Blake being a faunus and an ex member of the White Fang. This makes Blake run away which later Weiss criticized while telling her that they should talk first and communicate better.

The priority of RWBY as a team is communication. Ruby communicate her plans to the rest of the teams, Weiss her feelings, Blake her knowledge and Yang... Ok maybe Yang needs to work in this department.

This makes their teamwork really strong and their bond just continues getting deeper.

Add to this the fact they learn to use each other in a better way, as having both Weiss and Ruby as support helps a ton, Blake to distract their opponents and Yang to finish them off.

A good example of this is probably the train part in V6, where Yang fights all of the Grimms closely, Blake tends to fight them at some distance while helping out and Ruby with Weiss combination of support make the job hard for the Grimms.

This is exactly why JOYR had such a problem with a new Grimm, Yang needs someone to catch her back while she finds a way to destroy the Grimm which is usually provided by her teammates meanwhile RWB didn't had the boost of strength that Yang gives them in battle to be able to finish off the Hound.

Even in duos RWBY are a hard opponent to go against, probably the duo that would have a hard time is Freezerburn as we see in V3 and still I think if you put them fight together currently they would be a duo you wouldn't want to cross lol

They shouldn't have a problem with trios either but usually Yang is the strength of the group and basically the tank so is understandable that RWB had a hard time adapting without her there.

There's a part in the book Before the Dawn where Coco talks about RWBY and how they are a really strong team and even say that while JNPR aren't bad, they were basically carrying on with Phyrra since Jaune wasn't the fighter he is today. (Plus other problems that Renora have as fighters but this is something for other day).

RWBY in general has a great communication between the members, a great leadership, strong bonds and amazing fighters. They know how to adapt to each other styles and some members even complement each other (Yang and Blake).

Other thing that should be talk about its how basically Ruby and Weiss are too similar and too different at the same time to the point that they should clash a lot (which they used to do) but thanks to the fact they communicate their teamwork is amazing and in their own way they make it work.

It really helps that Ruby with Weiss can have the luxury to go upfront against an enemy while having Weiss to back her up which is something she can't do with Yang or Blake.

That's mostly because their teamwork is a metaphor of their own relationship as well as Yang and Blake teamwork is a metaphor of their own relationship.

Usually Weiss is the main support of her team since she's a large range fighter thanks to her semblance which is basically what she gives to her teammates outside of the battle.

RWBY basically fight is how they are with each other outside of the battle as we can see in multiple instances.

Yang being the tank and strength in their fighting style is exactly what Yang is to RWB, she's basically the heart and soul of the team and without her a lot of their attacks doesn't have the strength necessary for it to work as well as we can in V8 how long it took to RWB to know what to do while Yang already knew what she had to do with JOYR. She's the action.

While Ruby is the leader and sometimes call the shoot, she guide the girls through battle and help both with support and action. She usually starts the fight as a sniper until she sees an opening to fight up close which is a thing she actually do with her team. She takes a step back before talking with any of them and helps them navigate through situation in their lifes like promising Weiss to being on her side at Atlas to sometimes intervening between Weiss and her family.

Blake in the other hand is more of a wild card, she's usually Yang personal support as their styles complement each other but in most situations she does it on her own, unlike Ruby, Blake usually is more of an upfront fighter and only being support when Yang needs her which is a thing outside of battle. She usually does her own way, and while she support both Weiss and Ruby is with Yang where we see a more intimate support.

This is what makes RWBY dangerous, their bond and chemistry is something they worked hard to have as they started with difficulties, is a thing the 4 of them appreciate and love, it really helps they know how to communicate and do so to be able to have a healthy relationship between each other.

Right now we are finally seeing a lack of communication between RWBY, specially between Yang and Ruby.

As we all know RWBY is a direct parallel of STRQ which means this miscommunication between Yang and Ruby is important for their future as a team. Is implied that they still have each other back but it's necessary for Yang to open up to Ruby about what's going since this could create a breach if not treated.

Conclusion: stan RWBY and stan LOONA 😌

[thewebcomicsreview]

Seeing as I don’t have a job right now (one week furlough), I managed to get a lot of writing for Saffron and Sage done today. Now I feel good! Time to ruin that with a Homestuck 2 Liveblog! Last time: Jade kidnapped “Yiffy”, much to Jane’s distress! No time for that, though, as we’re back with the Candyland Kids. 

HARRY: vrissy, i know this is a stressful predicament but i think that's going too far. HARRY: my dad believes in us. HARRY: and if he thinks there's something we can do, then there has to be a way!

Kind of interesting that Harry holds his dad’s opinion in such high esteem, considering that his dad has been AWOL pretty much his whole life.

TAVROS: Uncle john isn't to blame for this,,, HARRY: yeah, no shit tav. HARRY: this whole situation is because of YOUR insane hitlermom.

How the hell does Harry Anderson know who Hitler is? When did that conversation come up? This is a completely different universe! 

TAVROS: Is less sincere,,, than it is,,, an attempt to weaponize something difficult for me, TAVROS: In order that you can win an argument,,, with harry anderson,,,,, VRISKA: GRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! VRISKA: WILL YOU ALL JUST VRISKA: SHUT!!!!!!!! VRISKA: UP!!!!!!!!

A good example of why characters like John, Jade, Vriska, and sometimes Karkat are important in Homestuck or in stories generally. They actually do shit. 

VRISKA: Neither you nor your friends have anything really important going on. VRISKA: Your lives and your planet are a total 8ore! VRISKA: 8ut somehow John loves you anyway. VRISKA: Try and be fucking gr8ful for that every once in a while. VRISKA: Not everyone is so lucky.

Vriska please do not be pining for middle-aged John Egbert. You have literally half a dozen semi-official love interests (John, Terezi, Eridan, Tavros, Meenah and Kanaya), please don’t pick the one old enough to be your dad. It was already weird enough when Adult John got hot and bothered by teen Roxy in the epilogues, to say nothing of you fucking a middle-aged homeless clown in a bush.  

thespiansGlamor [TG] began pestering adamantGriftress [AG]

Oh, fuck you, Homestuck. It’s bad enough that Harry and Dave are both going to be referred to as “TG” in chatlogs, but now Vrissy and Vriska are both AG and have the same font color! 

TG: i've allocated the strife specibus with the scissorkind abstratus? TG: hm. TG: using this weird vocab and stuff feels... well, weird. TG: i'm not sure why, but it seems as though everything that's about to happen is that much more important now. TG: or maybe it already was, but i just didn't understand just how important until this moment.

One issue with wearing your metaphor on your sleeve as much as Homestuck 2 does is that thematically important lines become really obvious. 

I like how the triangle-shaped panel around Vriska escaping the crowd by simply walking into it is reminiscent of a magic 8-ball. That’s clever! 

VRISKA: Your society... no, your whole planet... it deserves to 8urn str8 to MEGAhell, and I'm gonna 8e the one to fly it there! VRISKA: I'm gonna shatter your paradise into pieces with my 8are hands and SHIT IN ITS GRAVE!!!!!!!! VRISKA: HOW'S THAT FOR A FUCKING ST8MENT! VRISKA: YOU GOT ALL THAT, JANE CROCKER? VRISKA: DO YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT'S COMING FOR YOU???????? VRISKA: YOU'VE MESSED WITH VRISKA: ********VRISKA******** VRISKA: ****FUUUUUUUUCKING**** VRISKA: ********SERK8T********

There’s some extreme Dungeons and Dragons energy here, where Vriska’s plan to escape a mob of reporters working for a totalitarian dictatorship run by literal gods is to simply walk outside and publicly declare her intent to destroy the world as punishment for its sins. 

And yeah, this is how that plan usually works in DnD, too.

Man, the next page is a wall of text, whereas in old Homestuck this’d be an animation. I get “fair wages” and “small budget”, but is still feels weird to see a big Strife scene merely get described with boring-ass words.

Fearing gunfire, the few paparazzi who aren't currently getting their asses handed to them by the world's angriest traffic cone start to trip over each other, diving for cover.

The world’s angriest traffic cone.

Far away, in her lair, Jane Crocker grabs the two sides of her computer monitor with enough strength to snap it in two. She can't believe what she's watching. Behind her, from a shadowy corner of the room, there is an agitated growling noise and the rattle of chains.

Is that Yiffy? Is Yiffy an animal? Please tell me Yiffy is not a person that Jade named Yiffy. 

....Actually, please tell me that Yiffy isn’t an animal Jade named Yiffy that is Jade’s child via sex with another animal that might be my breaking point.

Vriska alights on the ground, rakes her throat, quietly spits out a little wad of blue, and wipes her mouth unceremoniously. Tavros pats Harry Anderson tentatively on the arm. Vrissy tries to be badass and cough up something too but she doesn't really make it work.  

Vrissy::Vriska Vriska::Mindfang

It’s weird that John’s sprite is the same even though he’s middle aged now, but I like that his God Tier outfit doesn’t fit any more. Isn’t it magical? Ahh, who cares.

JOHN: this old thing is pretty uncomfortable in a lot of ways. JOHN: hm... JOHN: when we get a moment, maybe the two of us could brainstorm a redesign? JOHN: no pressure though. HARRY: !!!

Oh, that’s why! That’s cute. 

JADE: theres something i need to tell you

don’thavefuckedadogdon’thavefuckedadogdon’thavefuckedadog

JADE: john... i have a daughter JADE: shes almost harry andersons age JOHN: ... JOHN: ... JOHN: you have a daughter.

Named Yiffy?

ROSE: It was at this point that Jade came to me. ROSE: I could understand her pain quite acutely, and so... ROSE: I agreed to carry a child on her behalf. KANAYA: . ROSE: ... Without telling Kanaya.

Without-

Kanaya is your WIFE. You LIVE WITH HER. Even ignoring the question of why you’d keep 9 months of pregnancy from your wife, how? Kanaya would have been living with humans for years at that point and she’s literally in charge of reproduction don’t tell me she thought Rose just got fat for a while and then lost the weight really fast. 

ROSE: I'm... not sure why I made that decision. ROSE: I regret not telling Kanaya, of course. ROSE: But I can't say that I regret going through with it. ROSE: At the time, it didn't feel as though the deception was even all that prolonged. The whole affair was... short. ROSE: Purely physical, and nothing more.

ROSE: John, there isn't a father. ROSE: Jade and I are the sole parents of this child. JOHN: oh. JOHN: ... JOHN: OH. JOHN: oh i'm so sorry, i didn't th- ROSE: That's quite alright John, although you might like to direct that apology more towards your sister. ROSE: All I will say is that if you would like to take up the particulars with us, ROSE: Some *other* time, 

Actually, if John doesn’t know that Jade has a male dog’s genitals due to a fusion accident, I’d love to know what that all-caps OH means. What does he think happened, that Jade and Rose managed to have a baby? 

JOHN: so... how did you hide the pregnancy? ROSE: Oh, that was simple. ROSE: Jade's genes being, as they are, part canine, the gestation period was substantially reduced.

OH NO 

Yiffy is literally a furry, isn’t she? Moreso that Jade, she’s a full-on “Can be naked onscreen and it’s okay because she’s covered in fur” dog girl.

JOHN: i think i understand everything so f VRISSY: WAIT!!!!!!!! VRISSY: YOU MEAN TO TELL ME VRISSY: NOT ONLY DO I H8VE A SISTER VRISSY: 8UT YOU NAMED VRISSY: YOUR ****SECRET CHILD**** VRISSY: ********YIFFY********????????

Vrissy makes an excellent point. 

ROSE: We didn't call her Yiffy. ROSE: That would be a quite ridiculous thing with which to burden a child. ROSE: Her full name is Yiffany Longstocking Lalonde Harley.

Vrissy looks as though she is about to shit the belltower they are standing in, brick by brick.

ROSE: It was, in hindsight, a monumentally terrible decision acting as the final chapter in a long series of novels, each one full of progressively more terrible decisions than the last. ROSE: But that is the name that we decided upon.

Oh, wait a second. Vriska changed Vriska Maryam-Lalonde to Vrissy, and changed Harry Anderson to just Harry. So obviously she’s going to rename Yiffy to literally anything else, then rename Tavros, and then we’ve got a new set of four kids as Vriska leaves to do something else. That’s what going to happen, right? Right? Please? 

ROSE: You have to understand... this whole situation ended up playing out a bit like an ironic game of chicken between the two of us. ROSE: Something that far outstripped anything that the Strider fraternity could have produced in their wildest, most jpegged creative wet dreams. ROSE: But in the end that triumph of irony came back to bite us in the fucking ass, as irony is wont to do. ROSE: There was absolutely no possibility of us casually letting you all know that, by the way, we had had a secret daughter named Yiffany Longstocking. ROSE: At least, not right away. ROSE: But carapacian change-of-name paperwork is so complex and circuitous that, eventually, keeping quiet forever just seemed like the more reasonable option.

This is, even for Homestuck, monumentally stupid. You named your daughter Yiffany Longstocking as a joke and then kept the child secret because you were embarrassed. You two are awful fucking parents. You are the worst parents in the entire series, and that includes Bro Strider and the spider that made Vriska feed it children. 

And we’re literally at the point where the writing is bad and the joke is how bad the writing is. This isn’t enjoyable to read; you can’t make a bad B-movie My Immortal fanfic on purpose.  

Even now, Yiffy is likely being held at spoonpoint

I feel like “Jade and Rose have a secret daughter named Yiffany Longstocking” can be a joke or it can be drama but maybe not both at the same time. 

[nozomijoestar]

Transcribed and formatted for readability the master thesis between me and @wlwclem​ on the nuances to NaraTrish together and as individuals being why we love it and respect it not being CompHet- we spent way too much Big Brain Energy on it to not share 

tw: brief mention of F-Slur when giving an example on toxic masculinity being bullshit, sexuality is briefly discussed in a non sexualizing way and in no graphic detail

*insert IM TRISH KIN BUCCIARATI joke here*

epickinnienaranciaYesterday at 11:45 PM

JDDBSJDBD YES bc ofc she gotta be Reassuring but at the same time his Himboism Knows No Bounds One of the lines in EoH u can give her is “Go get me an Italian Vogue magazine too while you’re at it” and I’m like. Queen

nozomijoestarYesterday at 11:46 PM

JDHDHDF BDE Narancia whipped Narancia stands no chance

epickinnienaranciaYesterday at 11:46 PM

OH FOR REAL one of HIS victory lines is something about getting all the stuff for her lmao And this is like even if she isn’t in the battle, Always Thinking Of His Queen

nozomijoestarYesterday at 11:50 PM

Trish decides to test the limits of this and his ability to recognize them by asking for impossible or nonexistent items/feats and when he continues to try for her without question she realizes she has too much power and must restrain it fjdjjdjfjf Can't turn into Dad

epickinnienaranciaYesterday at 11:51 PM

JDBDBSJS The color palette changes while she has an inner monologue while she watches him try to make her happy

nozomijoestarYesterday at 11:53 PM

"Oh my god Bucciarati was right...he's too loyal for his own good I need to stop even if it's a little fun"   Meanwhile Narancia: growing more and more frustrated with himself for perceived failure to someone he loves

epickinnienaranciaYesterday at 11:55 PM

She stops for the most part but does it every so often bc it’s cute

nozomijoestarYesterday at 11:56 PM

Lucky to have a freak like dat I feel like the only thing that can counter this self defeatism Narancia can get (bc his younger childhood...ofc he's fucked up and anxious and paranoid abt not being enough or abandoned) is Trish having to open her own repressed self up and love the shit out of himLike those reassuring lines she has in EoH and her moments in the anime/manga Bruno fucking does it as his father figure and Narancia admits it gives him strength

December 19, 2019

epickinnienaranciaToday at 12:04 AM

Yes, he feels like he has to prove his worth and like he’s worth having around otherwise he’s useless, i def feel like he would not like talking about the stuff that happened in the past with everyone bc he would feel ashamed and stupid or st, he needs to be told You Are Enough and her to open up too so they can lean on each other

nozomijoestarToday at 12:12 AM

Honestly no jokes for a second I feel like this is also abt breaking toxic masculinity bc it's fucking Italy in the early 00s just out of the 90s...it was RIFE rifer than even now with that shit like in much of the world then too, the idea that a boy becoming a man and men in general need to strictly follow dumbass self harming rules

 especially abt not opening up and only having real priorities for earning money, honoring family, and procreating as much as possible whether it's marriage making a family or "having sexual conquests" in promiscuity, anything outside of this bullshit image can't be tolerated and you might as well be a woman or "a fag" if you don't assert some fictional narrative of trying extremely hard to have power in everything bc that's all that matters is the ridiculous idea of Alpha Males applied to humans 

Narancia being a 80s- 90s kid with the childhood he had did not give him much fighting chance at all in this context and time period  esp just bc he happened to be born with a dick and thus saddled with these harmful expectations society made that could've only further repressed his recognition of not beating himself up and his own emotional needs on top of EVERYONE ever betraying him Where was he supposed to go? He can't go anywhere unless he meets Bruno

epickinnienaranciaToday at 12:18 AM

yes i agree..... like, males being looked down upon for opening up, being societally forced to shoulder the burdens and “man up” and just deal with it and fix everything. And then already having a toxic support system with his “friend” betraying him and his dad Sucking Major Ass, all he’s been taught is deal with it but hasn’t been given the tools to know how, and if Bruno didn’t meet him he honestly would be so stuck, what person (esp in that time period) is going to go out of their way to help an uneducated young male?

nozomijoestarToday at 12:20 AM

Even if it tragically ends with his death in canon I feel like the time he spent with Bruno's bois, Giorno, and Trish was huge in making some of that crack little by littleBc he has moments where you see how sweet he actually is, his "real" personality if you will underneath all the unresolved anger when he's with ppl he sees love him and give him hope When Giorno said No One Is Going To Hurt You Anymore that just made me cry harder

epickinnienaranciaToday at 12:23 AM

Yes! Like, ofc he gets angry, has unrepressed rage and reactions to things, he hasn’t had any type of emotional support in SO long and it’s not like it’s 100% fantastic in that regard with buccigang (which don’t get me wrong they are family but they are still in an aggressive gang and go off and give each other lots of shit)-YEAH AND THE FUCKIGN PLANT GROWING TOO IM

nozomijoestarToday at 12:25 AM

Trish is legit I think the one person aside from Giorno who would treat him without even the gang's aggressiveness Narancia is my fav in VA even if Bruno is the best written VA character bc he's me, this kind of shit in my life is why I developed PTSD undiagnosed since my childhood that only kept getting worse until only this year have I gotten any true help I know exactly how he feels 

Esp when you think your whole life exists to serve others never yourself NaraGio shippers I see y'all argument even if I don't follow it tbh, Gio was again the only one besides Trish to consistently care for Nara in day to day and when he was in danger and esp during the Clash and Talking Heads fight Gio was the one dude present like No Narancia It's Ok Please Tell Me What's Wrong You're Clearly Stressed

epickinnienaranciaToday at 12:31 AM

yeah although i haven’t experienced it i can still empathize and try to understand, i think there’s so many layers of protection and walls that most people never truly look past it to see the root cause or true self YES that fight was so frustrating bc they were all like Narancia stop being an idiot when something was clearly wrong and he was obviously in distress!!

nozomijoestarToday at 12:32 AM

Also Gio was the only one who first asserted that No, Narancia did the right thing in fighting Formaggio

epickinnienaranciaToday at 12:33 AM

Yes and with that whole interaction the gang often uses Narancia as the scapegoat essentially and just give him shit for every little thing without trying to understand his POV

nozomijoestarToday at 12:33 AM

The Clash fight tbh I feel was an ass pull set up to give Narancia his big bad ass loyalty proving moment even if it's a great fight that beginning part is...only the Trish and Gio interactions rly make sense fjdjdjI wish him and Giorno hung out more or I guess more like talked more bc you can't rly hang out when you're getting assassinated every day hfgdg

epickinnienaranciaToday at 12:36 AM

Yeah hdkdb, even with Fugo, even tho he found him and brought him to Bruno, he still calls him a dumbass, stabs him with a fork and shit, and then with Mista even tho I feel like they are Like Bros, he destroys Narancia’s radio for no fucking reason and also has a pattern of taking shit Narancia paid for without paying him backI def agree with that, I feel like Giorno interactions were lacking in that there really weren’t many one on one meaningful things so it’s hard for me to grasp his personal headspace and relationships a lot of the time

nozomijoestarToday at 12:37 AM

However to be a little more fair to the Bucci gang the manga version has Narancia trying a lot lot more to get their attention in logical ways that unfortunately Talking Heads completely ruins, he tried writing to let them know what was happening and TH warped the text into him saying vulgar things bragging abt his dick being a powerful Stand

epickinnienaranciaToday at 12:38 AM

Yeah I was gonna add I wasn’t sure if the manga had other stuff, tbf

nozomijoestarToday at 12:38 AM

I think this is also Shounen Tropes of the 90s at play too the "child" character was often written as the comic relief dumbass Narancia suffers it so it does add a layer of Not Good to his relationships The trope still exists tbh Anime cut out him writing I assume bc it's too sexual It's already pushing it having him whip it out and piss in front of everyone jfhdhd

epickinnienaranciaToday at 12:41 AM

Yeah you right, it’s like the i want it to be that deep meme, like Araki obvi doesn’t have him only as comic relief but if he delved into his character more there would’ve been so much more that could’ve been done and shown YEAH DJDBDJDJF I WAS SURPRISED THT WAS ANIMATED

------------------------[ CUT INTERMISSION ]-----------------------------

nozomijoestarToday at 12:51 AM

Ok but to get back on track with where I was trying to go even opening this all up is how it's critical to NaraTrish in a mutually beneficial way

nozomijoestarToday at 1:01 AM

Nara is no incel he's a King obvs but he is also at heart a confused scared kid uncertain of anything in the world beyond what's closest in his grasp and without someone actively believing in and validating him he can't fully achieve awareness of healthy dynamics and even the problems within the ones he already has with his gang and Bruno- Trish doesn't have to babysit him and be the stereotypical The Woman Only Supports And Gives Up Her Body bc thats never her and couldn't be her and Narancia wouldn't make her that way bc even when he kinda touches on that (giving in a bit to the idea that men are the main protectors of women) when he gets too fixated on wanting what he thinks is for her wellbeing he does snap out and acknowledge he's wrong bc 

Trish by her independent nature and tremendous Will proves those stereotypes are bullshit, not even factoring in their first meeting as already making a huge impression on his beliefs of what girls can do- Trish knowing how to challenge him by staying true to herself yet having the compassion to help someone suffering and with fewer chances from birth than she had would not only win him over but give him something even Bruno can't, self sustaining confidence, bc Trish isn't part of a chain of command, she's just a girl in love with a boy who wants him to be happy and that concept while foreign to him for so long once it kicks in he could actually learn to build himself For himself and For someone who wouldn't use him for some greater schemes or dirty work, 

I love Bruno ok he's one of the best characters in anything ever but his flaw in his ability to help motivate ppl is tied to that fact that he's bringing them into a dangerous strict order of command to Serve not entirely in a place/way that lets them just be themselves and realize organic loving relationships with anyone and themselves SO

epickinnienaranciaToday at 1:05 AM

they’re healing...... being shown love without a position of authority or any obligations is so powerful for his growth

nozomijoestarToday at 1:25 AM

That all being said, Everything Trish does he's paying attention to, she keeps him alive during the Grateful Dead fight not because she needs him to serve for a cause ( a cause might I add even Bruno the near saint he is was ready to let Nara go right then and there for bc death is in the job description) but because she doesn't know him well yet and shit he even swung a knife at her when they first met over who was in the bathroom, but he's a person suffering and in pain and to let him die even if it's Expected Of The Mission is garbage to her even if she respects Bruno down the line as a father compared to fucking evil Diavolo,

 Trish constantly goes out her way to do these things for Nara bc Trish instinctively knows he's the most vulnerable mentally and her sense of compassion and justice (likely something Donatella made sure to instill in her before her death by cherishing Trish and spoiling her even as a single mother) will not stand to not help someone when she could've- and he reciprocates it even if in disbelief bc he can tell This Person Is Safety, This Person Is Like Me Yet Not, A Better Me I Want To Be, by the time he's about to die someone with his fragile mind was actually gaining conviction about taking control for himself on his own terms and he would risk even those chances to defend the person who actually helped him arrive there (along with Gio) in the first place, 

I think by the end of his life he rly did love her or start to, it being romantic or not is up to individual interpretation to which you know I'm in the romance camp, point is he found someone who truly taught him strength without him fully realizing it and did so without belittling him, if anything instead treating him only with love and kindness and patience (not being a door mat for him, but like, not treating him like ass like everyone else has their moments of either), I think anything Trish asks of him, this is all why he's so willing to do it on top of feeling deep  empathy, I've written in my character notes as well that like this goes even further to sex being one of the most intimate things there is, like I kno we jest and jape abt Teens Doing Dumb Shit bc we're clowns 

but the sheer vulnerability you have to have esp in a first love situation to be willing to go through with that for the first time ever takes a lot of trust and courage, aspects I think Trish was able to give him and would solidify in asking something seen as so important for many people from him, the headstrong Trish wants to be vulnerable for him and the slowly confidence boosted Narancia wants to accept that faith and trust and love and exchange it with his own of the same for her, it's not horny teens 100% it's two hurt but hopeful kids on the verge of having to be adults wanting to find another piece of identity in how they are with someone else, obvs it will forever be offscreen bc pedos deserve to be skinned alive 

I just feel that the components that would fuel them to do something teens try to do to feel more adult and bc hormones are a lot more based in growing maturity than pure lust, I think this is what I fully mean by Writing About Teens Exploring Love And Sexuality; Not Fetishizing And Reveling In Showing The Act Itself Especially For Disgusting Titillation, I think this and not explicitly writing the sex are the difference between child porn and creating realistic characters

epickinnienaranciaToday at 1:36 AM

Yeah, it is going to sound like a dumb take but the topic of sex and sexuality itself is not inherently sexual, by which I meant it isn’t the focus — there’s SO much more to it and in this case especially it can be like the ultimate sign of love, trust, intimacy, compassion, trying to make your way as a teen through a harsh world, like I can go on. Nasties Dont Interact but the shying away from the mere mention of it in a non-sexualized context is unrealistic. 

 Yes The Grateful Dead fight i 1000% agree is so important in both his personal growth and the development of their relationship, I think it’s an important parallel that he is dumbfounded about her going to such lengths to keep him alive without the sense of duty/obligation versus Trish’s feelings and outbursts of confusion on why Bucciarati and his gang even cared about her, protecting her to the point of death being on the line.(edited)

epickinnienaranciaToday at 1:44 AM

all these elements of complication and similarities between their characters is why ive gotten so passionate about both them and their relationship (whether romantic or platonic it’s really fucking strong and good), the story of two kids making it through adversity, learning to unshoulder their burdens and lean on others, the Found Family™️, and learning and growing together is just so much more fucking deep and complex than the mainstream bs that exists. 

now im not any type of elitist hipster but esp in male and female relationships portrayed in what feels like basically fucking everything are just like CompHet Bullshit and they’re together bc They Are Just Supposed To Be (not to mention the toxic masculinity culture within that where the women barely have character arcs and are just seen as objects anyways) But what I’m trying to say is that in this the relationship is real and it feels earned in a way that just isn’t there in so much other media out there(edited)

nozomijoestarToday at 1:48 AM

Honestly if we tweak this just a lil more this is basically Guts and Casca One of the greatest and saddest romances ever written

epickinnienaranciaToday at 1:48 AM

i still have berserk bookmarked just haven’t gotten around to reading yet

nozomijoestarToday at 1:48 AM

If VA was a Seinen it's p much Berserk In Italy Also big brain...galaxy brain...everything you said was a fact signed sealed and delivered(edited)

epickinnienaranciaToday at 1:51 AM

Wow we’re actually in sync and using the brain cell to its fullest extent tonight

nozomijoestarToday at 1:51 AM

When I say she's his world and he's hers this is what I mean, not comphet hdhdhfhYEAH HFHDG

epickinnienaranciaToday at 1:52 AM

(also my phone autocorrected “and” to “ANF” bc of twdg..... it also sometimes changes it to “AMD” bc I work in technology. My Phone Knows My Interests Are More Important To Me Than One Of The Main Parts Of Speech. Iconic)YESSSS they’re just SO GOOD there’s so much to articulate!

nozomijoestarToday at 1:55 AM

She was his Queen, and god help anyone who disrespected his Queen

epickinnienaranciaToday at 1:55 AM

JDBDHE SHIT THE FUCK IP DKDBEBDJFBBD

nozomijoestarToday at 1:56 AM

Buy my silence $8000 a month

[fearofaherobrine]

Roleplay Server Log #357

“The Lonely Clown”

[Lie] Is out working in her garden after having tended to her animals-

[Ever] Comes by at a quick lope- Oh hey Lie! You doing okay?

[Lie] - For the most part, my back is getting sore though

[Ever] his little cat ears perk up- oh! That sucks! Here I'll help you. - he hops over the fence- I've got so much energy. This place is amazing. I've been working since dawn and I'm not even tired.  

[Lie] Laughs a little- That's good, and I'm betting Karla's taken advantage of some of that energy too?

[Ever] strokes his tail tip a little and blushes- oh yes. I'm enjoying the new additions too, but it still feels a bit weird to have my tail grabbed.

[Lie] - It may just be a more sensitive part of your body

[Ever] Oh yes! I uh... I came over to get the horses. We should be out of your hair pretty soon- he's harvesting and replanting as they talk-

[Lie] - I don't mind having you guys here at all.  And although he will never admit it, currently it does give CP a little ease of mind having Karla around.  He understands that, not only a man but as a digital entity as well, he has no fucking clue what I'm going through and will go through

[Ever] Just between you me and the garden, Karla is rather fond of Cp. Theres definitely some respect from one professional griefer to another there.

[Lie] - You forgot murderer in there

[Ever] Well.... Yeah. These days i think it's a  more or less a revenge thing rather then a random habit... She gets so frustrated when people treat her poorly right off the bat. Her temper gets the best of her....

[Lie] - For CP it's just a habit

[Ever] She still hasn't been in town, I think she might be af-

[Gk] Hops over the greenhouse with Cp on his back- Husband delivery! Sorry he's still a bit drunk. Hah!

[Ever] Poofy tail-

[CP] - I'm not drunk you idiot!

[Lie] - Thanks GK, I figured he could use a break

[Gk] Just laughs- We had a good time anyway.

[Ever] Is staring at the dragon-

[Lie] - Oh, Ever, I don't think you've been introduced.  This is GK.  GK?  THis is Ever

[Gk] Hey it's a... little cat guy?

[Ever] Gk? That is a big dragon... And so metal! I love the horns.

[Gk] So... hows the bun?

[Lie] - Growing, but my back does start to hurt every once in awhile...

[CP] - Why didn't you tell me?

[Lie] - Because sleeping with my back against you helps it go away

[Gk] Aww, do you just need warm Lie? I could hang around more often. - He minces into the yard and flops down on the cobbles-

[Ever] Sets about finishing Lie's yard work while she's distracted.

[Lie] Laughs a little- Sometimes, but I can't just sit about neglecting my work either

[Gk] Nonsense! I'm here to help. I want to play with the little bundle when they're big enough. - his gaze is slightly abstracted and a thought floats on his mind high enough for Cp and maybe Lie to pick up on. It's a twinge of longing for the little sister he hasn't seen in forever.

[CP] - A sister?

[Gk] Hmm, what?

[Lie] - You have a sister GK?

[Gk] ducks his head - Yeah.... she helped me a lot when I was in my reincarnation cycle...

[Lie] - What was her name?

[Gk] Says it very quietly- Brina...

[CP] - Is she still on your old seed?

[Gk] Scuffs his hooves a little. - No... she had some drug problems... Steffan and Bro actually helped her get clean...

[Lie] - Do you know where she is now?

[Gk] She intervened on my behalf to have me released from the End and then she went to the aethers to live with my stupid asshole of a NOTCH....

[CP] Growls-

[Lie] - Are you sure she's still there?  Maybe she returned to try and look for you?

[Gk] I don't know. But he's basically a god. If she knows where I am, he'll shortly know too. And that could be bad.

[Lie] - Well, I'm sure no matter what, she misses you

[Gk] Puts his chin on the ground - She probably thinks I'm dead.

[CP] - Nah, I think she knows you're still around

[Gk] Why do you say that? Since Jean vanished?

[CP] - Uh, because I have a sibling?  And even before I became glitched I just...  Knew if Stevie was in peril or if he were safe

[Gk] Maybe. I still care about her.

[Lie] - You two are lucky.  My brother was never anything but an ass to me

[Gk] Nobody can fuck you up like family...

[Lie] - I didn't understand for the longest time.  He was jealous...  Jealous that I had a healthy body and he didn't

[Gk] What happened to him Lie?

[Lie] - He was born with very fragile bones, left him confined to a wheelchair.  I never realized how much he hated me until I accidentally broke some of his bones just from trying to hug him

[Ever] Pauses in pulling carrots- Ironic that you're the one who gained a night-indestructible form. Too bad he wasn't nice to you. You could have brought him along.

[Gk] Grumbles, having long ago grudgingly realized the value of being nice to people.

[Lie] - I don't even know if he's still alive

[CP] - Do you even care if he's alive or not?

[Gk] Yeah, he kinda sounds like an ass.

[Ever] Same.

[Lie] - I...  Don't know

[Gk] It's okay to not know.

[Ever] Yeah, I don't care if my asshole dad is alive or dead either. I'm done being told what a dissapointment I am.

[Lie] - I suppose it would just bring back all of the worst memories if I were to find out

[Gk] Then just let it go. You have a family here.

[Lie] - Yeah- She glances down at her belly- And it's just gonna get bigger

[Gk] Yeah. One more Herobrine, and a native with a double dose of genetic derived power. This should be interesting.

[CP] - Jeb probably wakes up terrified of it every night!

[Gk] Eh, she'll likely have her moms nice disposition just to shock everyone.

[Lie] - I wouldn't be so sure, she's already started griefing.  Scared TLOT just by moving

[Gk] Barks out a little gout of fire with a belly laugh- Just didn't want to get my hopes up. That's funny as fuck.

[CP] Grumbles-

[Lie] - Yes, well he was a little more focused on the fact that she currently only has one heart

[Ever] But humans do only have one..?

[Gk] Here humans have ten. But small animals have fewer. The others will likely grow in in time.

[Lie] - Yeah- She winces a little as a twinge goes through her back

[CP] - Lie...

[Gk] Pats the ground with a hoof - Come over here kiddo.

[Lie] Laughs a bit as she gets closer- Technically you could say I'm older than you GK, if we're going by how long the game has been in existance

[Gk] I can call you that if I want. I've lived hundreds of lifetimes. Also. You're small. - He grabs her gently with the tentacles of one wing and sets her down on one of his back legs so she's leaning against his chubby side. He's just as hot as Cp and his scales are small and smooth.

[Lie] Hums happily at the heat-

[Deer] Is enjoying the late afternoon sun out by the koi pond-

[Buff] Comes jogging up looking slightly annoyed- Hey! Are you busy?

[Deer] - Hm?  No, what it?  Is everything alright?

[Buff] Oh good! Here! - He reached behind him and dislodges Lj from the spot where he was clinging to Buff's shirt and plunks him on the ground in front of Deerheart before running away very fast.

[Lj] Gives her a sad look, he's got his box under one arm- I guess he doesn't want to play anymore....

[Deer] - LJ?  What's wrong?  Are you hurt?

[Lj] No just... empty... I didn't want to be by myself. - He's holding the box close like a security blanket- Home is too quiet right now.

[Deer] - Oh LJ, well you know you're always welcome in the castle

[Lj] I was going to ask... Can I do something with you today? Anything is fine.

[Deer] - Well I was planning on making some pies for Yaunfen

[Lj] That would be nice. - He goes quiet and then suddenly gets a rather haunted look- Tell me something. Anything. I need noise!

[Deer] - Uh...  Ummm...  Why?  What's wrong?

[LJ]  I don't want to talk about it. Tell me a story. Please.

[Deer] - What type of story would you like?

[LJ] I don't know! - He looks distressed. - I need to do something.

[Deer] - Alright then, follow me, we can walk and talk- She begins recalling her first memories of being on the server

[LJ] Follows her a bit too closely, listening intently-

[Basil] Is swimming out around the lava fountains and makes a loud bellow-

[Deer] Jumps a little as the noise before shaking her head a little at her own response- Where was I?

[LJ] You were talking about Yaunfen....

[Deer] - Right, when they were born...  I'd never seen Doc so happy- She opens the door to the castle and holds it for LJ

[LJ] Goes inside, his fingers drumming a light tattoo on the box. His question is barely a whisper - how do you stand it...?

[Deer] - How do I stand what?

[LJ] Being alone in your mind?

[Deer] - I wouldn't necessarily say I am.  The first time I truly had my mind to itself, well, it was when Flux had to take over the seed so I wouldn't be reclaimed by it.  My mind is always being filled and churned by everything happening on the seed

[LJ] I'm almost jealous.... This feeling is so... I'd say I was going mad but I've been there done that- he breaks into an uneasy and too- loud laugh that trails off into silence and frightens most of the horses into the back corner of the pen.

[Deer] - It's alright LJ, I've had Aven mention to me that BEN still has panic attacks when he realizes just how quiet his mind has become

[LJ] Extends his arms to give himself a twice over hug- you said something about baking?

[Yaunfen] Comes up from downstairs, worried by the laugh- Um?

[LJ] Can't meet their eyes- Yaunfen...

[Yaunfen] Gives LJ a bit of a hard look. - Mada says you couldn't help yourself. And I got in trouble with Big Fire for not listening. But if you hurt mada again; I'll stomp on you. - They notice Deerheart standing behind him and blink a little before ducking with a guilty look. - Sorry mama...

[LJ] I... I understand...

[Waffles] brushes past Yaunfen and sits next to them on the floor in a regal pose before washing a paw.

[LJ] That's uh... a really unusual cat...

[Yaunfen] Smiles proudly- I did science with mada and we brought them back from a fossil!  

[LJ] Shoots a weirded out look at Deerheart. - A fossil from where? Prehistoric Candyland???

[Deer] - They're been a bit of bleeding between seeds

[Deer] - And Yaunfen, you should know better than to be threatening people

[Yaunfen] But mom... I've seen mada threaten people if they thought they might hurt us.

[LJ] What's wrong with being defensive of your family anyway?

[Deer] - There's a time and a place Yaunfen.  Mada only threatens other when they are currently a threat, note, they never threatened LJ because they knew it was a moment that would pass, because they knew they were talking to a friend who had momentarily lost control

[Yaunfen] Yes mom...

[LJ] there's something to be said for anyone who will defend their kin with all their might. I've seen Slender rescue the other members of our household lots of times. And if it's the SCP... there is no mercy, and generally no survivors.

[Deer] - Exactly, but for now, we have some pies to make

[Yaunfen] What's a SCP?

[Deer] - A very bad group of people who like to capture entities like us and the pasta's

[Yaunfen] Hugs themselves uncertainly- why??? That's terrible!

[Deer] - Because that's how some human's are about things they don't understand.  That's why we have to be careful when we go irl

[LJ] Well... Its not just that... Creepypastas do kill humans... It's a compulsion. The Slenders have no choice. They are apex predators and humans are their prey.

[Yaunfen] But mada goes out all the time! Does that mean they're always in danger of the bad people catching them?

[Deer] - Yes it does, that's one reason why when they're going someplace new they ask Big Fire to go with them

[LJ] Even taking Herobrine it's still risky...

[Deer] - But still safer than if they were alone

[LJ] True. - he takes out a bit of hard candy and instantly has Waffles full attention.

[Waffles] Mow???

[Deer] - Careful, Waffles loves candy

[LJ] heh. Kitty kitty?

[Waffles] Pupils a bit dialted-

[LJ] Waves the candy around as the cats eyes follow it and then flicks it into the horse pen- [Waffles] sails high over the fence and the horses scatter as the huge cat jumps among them, batting the tiny round ball around and then flinging it in the air-

[Deer] - LJ!

[LJ] Snorts and then laughs, just a little, and more genuine and less desperate then before-

[Deer] - That's better sounding

[Yaunfen] Silly cat!

[Waffles] Tosses the candy into their jaws and crunches it up-

[Gir] Stand over the cat and snorts a full snoot of graveyard dust out of its nostrils in annoyance

[Waffles] cat sneeze-

[LJ] Still laughing-

[Deer] - Come on, kitchen is downstairs

[Yaunfen] Whistles for the cat and they follow the others down-

[LJ] snickering quietly -

[Deer] Heads over to the lemon tree and starts harvesting- Yaunfen, why don't you find a record to put in the jukebox

[Yaunfen] Okay. They dig around and puts in one of the ambient C14 tracks- nice and soothing

[LJ] kinda sleepy, you guys really are all about lulling your players into a trance

[Deer] - It helps

[Yaunfen] it's nice, it feels safe. [LJ] meh. I still can't believe this is Herobrines game

[Deer] - If you feel like you need to sleep, then go ahead LJ

[LJ] No! I mean... That's too quiet... I need noise...

[Deer] - We can keep the record playing

[Yaunfen] Oh! I have something noisy! - without thinking they pull out the curly shell and blow into it. There's a moment of pregnant silence and then the room goes entirely black as Basil lays down on the glass above them with a loud aggravated bellow and a baleful eye on them below-

[Deer] - Oh dear...

[Yaunfen] Basil is noisy!

[Basil] Sound like a whale with flatulance.

[LJ] Is just smiling, just a little bit-

[Deer] - He comes whenever Yaunfen blows on the shell

[Yaunfen] Proud smile.

[LJ] Something else prehisoric I presume?

[Deer] - No actually, from the real world

[LJ] How strange.

[pingo1387]

Hidden Admiration

Special gift for @summerotaku​!  One Piece; ZoSan; Pre-timeskip  Words: 7,009 

“Stop following me.”

“We’re supposed to be walking together!”

“I don’t want to!”

“Your lost ass needs a partner!”

Zoro and Sanji glowered in each other’s faces as they walked through the woods, scaring away small animals. The others had been quick to vote Sanji as Zoro’s chaperone when Zoro had wandered away from the ship—neither liked the situation, but Sanji wouldn’t leave him, not when Nami had asked him so sweetly while batting her eyelashes.

“I don’t,” Zoro hissed, “get ‘lost.’ Just because I can find cool new paths through things—”

“It doesn’t count if you didn’t mean to!” Sanji folded his arms, staring ahead as he walked. “You always do this, and then one of us has to go find you, because you’re an idiot and never think of the consequences of not fucking knowing where you’re going. Honestly, if you would just do as you’re told and pay attention to where you are, this wouldn’t happen! It shouldn’t be that difficult to keep one of us in sight, at the very least! Even Luffy has a better sense of direction than you, and that’s saying something! You—”

Here he turned, and saw no one beside him. Zoro had vanished.

“Fucking moron,” he hissed, looking around. He went in a random direction, hoping he’d be able to make out Zoro’s hair among the mossy trees.

“And he tells me not to wander off?” Zoro muttered when he realized Sanji had vanished. What a telling-off he could give him when they were both back at the ship! Of course he knew which way the ship was . . .

Sanji scowled. The only things surrounding him were trees, a small, glimmering boulder, and more trees. It was Zoro’s own fault, he reasoned, the idiot had gotten himself all lost and turned around. He hadn’t seen where he’d gone, how was he supposed to find him, anyway?

He sighed, resting a hand on the boulder and running a hand through his hair.

“Why’d he have to be like this?” he murmured.

He shook his head and straightened up, heading off in another direction. His head began to pound.

Zoro frowned, looking around. He knew the ship was this way, but it must’ve moved—he didn’t see any water, only a bunch of trees and a big glittering rock. Stupid cook! Why had he wandered away like that? And in the middle of a rant, too! He just had to be like that, complaining all the time . . .

He rested a hand on the rock, frowning.

“Not how I thought this would turn out,” he muttered.

He removed his hand and wandered away again. His head pulsed with pain.

“They really should’ve been back by now,” Nami said, annoyed, staring into the wilderness of the island.

“I am back,” Luffy said, bouncing up behind her. “I just got here, didn’t you see me?”

“Not you, stupid, Zoro and Sanji-kun!” Nami turned around. “Usopp! Chopper! Go find them!”

“Why us?” Usopp complained as he and Chopper came to the railing.

“You’re good trackers and I’ll cut your allowances if you don’t.”

“Let’s go!” Chopper exclaimed, jumping from the ship onto the sand below.

“Wait!” Usopp leapt after him, and they hurried into the woods.

They split up at a fork in the path, agreeing to meet back at the ship later. Usopp found himself wandering downhill and came to a rocky beach. As he made his way to shore, he saw a familiar blonde head staring out to sea.

“Hey!” he called, approaching. Sanji whipped around, eyes wide, and stared as Usopp came up to him with a friendly grin. “C’mon, let���s get back, everyone’s hungry! Did you guys wander off from each other?”

“Get back . . . where is this?” Sanji said blankly.

“The island we landed on,” Usopp said patiently. “I dunno if it has a name.” He squinted at Sanji. “Did you shave?”

Sanji rubbed his smooth chin. “Why wouldn’t I? But, more importantly, how did I get here?”

“Didn’t you walk?” Usopp said, confused.

“Walk?” Sanji repeated, utterly baffled. “No, I . . . I woke up in those woods—” He pointed. “And I don’t remember coming here at all.”

“Sanji, what are you talking about?” Usopp exclaimed.

Sanji’s eyes widened and he stepped back. “You know my name?” he said accusingly. “Do you know something?”

“Sanji, I—” Usopp held up his hands, taking a step forward. “You might’ve hit your head. Let’s go back to the ship and Chopper will help you.”

“You . . . have a ship?” Sanji said cautiously.

Usopp nodded slowly.

“Okay.” Sanji swallowed. “Maybe the captain will be nice enough to take me back to the restaurant.”

Usopp opened his mouth, but decided not to bother and shook his head. “Just follow me.”

“Zoro!” Chopper exclaimed in delight. Zoro, who had been studying a tree to see if it looked familiar, turned and jumped when he saw Chopper.

“Did you get lost again?” Chopper asked, grinning. “Let’s go back, it’s getting late!”

“Back where?” Zoro said. “Who are you? What are you?”

Chopper’s smile faded. “Is this a joke?” he asked tentatively.

Zoro placed a hand on his swords. “Where is this? How did I get here?”

Chopper frowned. “Zoro, it’s me, Chopper! You guys were on a walk, and Nami made Usopp and me come find you—are you okay? Let me look at you!”

Zoro narrowed his eyes. “What are you talking about?”

“Zoro,” Chopper said slowly, “if you don’t remember m-me—or how you got here—you might’ve been hurt. Let me check your head. Please?”

Zoro slowly removed his hand and knelt, allowing Chopper to run his hooves on his scalp.

“No injuries,” he said at last.

“I could’ve told you that,” Zoro snapped. He rubbed his temples and sighed. “Look, can you help me? I think someone might’ve kidnapped me. I just need to be dropped off at an island somewhere. I’ll find my way from there.”

Chopper stared at him in worry. “Okay,” he said at last. “Yeah, we’ll help. Come on, hold my hand, it’s this way.”

He turned big, startling Zoro.

“What are you?!” he yelled.

“Reindeer,” Chopper said with no further explanation. He grabbed Zoro’s hand and led him through the trees.

“Emergency!”

“Why did you yell?” Sanji hissed. “And why am I an emergency?”

“What, Usopp?” Luffy asked, bouncing towards them. He grinned. “Hey, Sanji!”

Sanji frowned at him, but when he saw Nami and Robin approaching, he grinned.

“Oh!” he exclaimed. “I didn’t know I would meet such lovely ladies today! Pardon me for intruding, mademoiselles, but are you single?”

“Evening, Sanji,” Robin said. “Usopp, what’s the emergency?”

Sanji’s face fell at their lack of response, and Usopp cleared his throat as the others approached. “Well, uh, Sanji doesn’t . . . know us?”

“Huh?!” Luffy cried in dismay.

“Bro, tell me it ain’t so!” Franky exclaimed. Sanji leaned away from him, staring at his exposed form in alarm. “How could you forget the super Franky?!”

“Is it true, Sanji-san?” Brook asked despondently. Sanji stiffened and scooted away from him, and then looked up at the flag.

“Oh, this is a pirate ship?” he said, frowning. “No wonder you’re all weird—except for you, you lovely ladies—but I’ve never seen this mark before. Which pirates are you?”

Franky began to cry in despair.

“Sanji, we’re the Strawhats,” Luffy exclaimed. “You really don’t remember?”

“What am I supposed to remember?” Sanji snapped.

“Hey! Emergency!”

Everyone looked over the railing to see Chopper returning with Zoro. He carried Zoro in his arms as he leapt over the railing, and then set him down and turned small again. Sanji jumped, and when he spotted Zoro, his eyes widened and his ears turned red.

“Zoro doesn’t remember me,” Chopper announced tearfully.

Zoro looked around, squinted at Franky and Brook, and frowned at the person he couldn’t make out hiding behind Usopp.

“Don’t tell me you forgot us too,” Luffy moaned in horror.

“How can I forget someone I’ve never met?” Zoro said, confused. He bowed. “Uh . . . nice to meet you all. Can I request that you take me to the nearest island?”

“What d’you mean, too?” Chopper asked.

Usopp looked around for Sanji, frowned when he noticed he was hiding, and gestured. “Our chef’s lost his memory too,” he explained.

Chopper whimpered in distress while the others looked around, confused.

“How could they both have . . . ?” Robin murmured. “Come to think of it . . . Zoro, how old are you?”

“Seventeen,” Zoro responded.

“Sanji-kun, how old are you?” Nami asked.

“Seventeen, my lady!” Sanji exclaimed, popping out at her voice. When Zoro saw him, he frantically looked around and ducked behind Robin, who glanced back at him in confusion. Sanji likewise hid behind Usopp again.

“So . . . they didn’t exactly lose their memories,” Brook said thoughtfully. “What they lost was their age?”

“It sounds that way,” Usopp agreed. “Sanji’s chin was all smooth, and Zoro looked a little younger, too . . .”

“I’m gonna check them over properly,” Chopper said. “Zoro! Come out here!”

He turned big and dragged Zoro to his office. Sanji slowly came out again, straightening his shirt (he was a touch smaller, but his clothes fit nearly as well).

“What’s your deal?” Usopp said.

“Nothing,” Sanji snapped, his ears pink. “I just need to go back to the Baratie.”

“We . . . can’t really do that,” Franky said.

“Why?” Sanji said in surprise. “Are you holding me hostage? I’ll have you know I’m a decent fighter.”

“Yeah, so are we,” Luffy said patiently. “But, Sanji, the Baratie’s in the East Blue.”

“And we aren’t?”

They gave him pitying looks. When they finally told him their location, his eyes nearly fell out of his head. He was reeling by the time they explained his role on the ship and why they were on the Grand Line in the first place.

“I need to sit down,” he whispered.

Robin helpfully used her ability to grab a chair from the upper deck and bring it down. Sanji collapsed into it, staring at her in awe.

“You can still cook, right?” Luffy said hopefully. He playfully stretched out his arm and tapped Sanji’s head. “We’re hungry.”

“Of course I can cook,” Sanji snapped, making a face at his ability.

Chopper came back, Zoro close behind, and Sanji jumped. Zoro spotted him and hid behind Robin again. Nami squinted at him.

“Sanji, your turn,” Chopper called. He dragged Sanji up from the chair into his office, and Zoro came out from hiding.

“So why’re you hiding?” Nami asked, suspicious.

“Just because,” Zoro muttered. “Chopper gave me the briefing on this situation. This is the Grand Line, huh?”

“Sure is,” Luffy said, eyes shining.

“I see. I’m sorry I don’t know you all.”

“No worries, Zoro-san, I’m sure we can make fast friends again if this situation isn’t resolved,” Brook said merrily. Zoro eyed him curiously. “Though I do hope it will be resolved. Robin-san, I don’t suppose you have any idea how this could have happened?”

Robin shrugged. “I can only assume something happened to them in the forest.”

“Yeah, Chopper said S—Sanji and I were on a walk,” Zoro interrupted. He rubbed the back of his neck. “Do we do that a lot? Go on walks?”

“In general? If we have downtime on an island, sure,” Nami said.

“I meant me and Sanji.” Zoro ducked his head, looking away.

The others were surprised, but before they could question him, Chopper returned with Sanji.

“No injuries on either of them,” he said as Sanji ducked back into the kitchen with a mumbled promise to start on dinner. “I don’t know how this could’ve happened.”

“You really don’t remember anything?” Franky prodded, leaning forward. “Like, how this could’ve happened?”

“The last thing I remember was looking for a tavern,” Zoro said, still confused.

“You’re skinny,” Luffy said in wonder, poking Zoro’s arm. Zoro frowned and elbowed him away.

“I should go help Sanji-kun,” Nami said suddenly. “He won’t know the combination for the fridge.”

“You can tell me and then I’ll go tell him,” Luffy offered from the ground. Usopp kicked him while Nami went inside.

“Hello, my lady,” Sanji crooned when Nami entered. “Is there something wrong?”

“Code’s 7-3-2-6,” she said, coming around and unlocking the fridge.

“Oh,” he said in relief. “Thank you so much. Why is it locked?”

“Luffy always steals.”

“The captain?”

“Yeah.” She straightened up. “Need anything else?”

Sanji shook his head. “I don’t think so,” he said. “It looks like everything’s where I like it, so . . .”

“Let us know if you need anything.” She was oddly gentle. “This must be a real shock, being torn away from your restaurant.”

“I can guess why I left,” Sanji murmured. He suddenly looked panicked. “That reminds me, Nami-san, if you don’t mind me asking—was I in a relationship with you or Robin-san?”

“No.”

“Oh, thank god,” he said, smiling in relief. Nami stared at him, puzzled, as his ears turned pink and he continued, “Was I—in a relationship with—anyone else?”

Nami rolled her eyes. “Get started on dinner.”

“Okay!” he exclaimed, voice cracking. She left the room.

Sanji called everyone in for dinner within an hour, having found meal preparations already in the fridge. Luffy was the first one in, followed closely by the others. Sanji watched them expectantly as they dug in, and his face fell when he saw their smiles freeze.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, wringing a towel between his hands.

“Well . . . it’s good,” Usopp said. “It’s just not what we’re used to.”

The others nodded.

“Is future me really that good?” Sanji murmured. He looked at the table, and the only ones digging in with real vigor were Luffy and—Zoro.

“You’re both good,” Luffy said through his food. Zoro set down his plate for a moment, and his and Sanji’s eyes met.

“Do you—like it?” Sanji asked tentatively, nearly ripping the towel in two.

“It’s . . .” Zoro looked down. “The best food I’ve ever tasted.”

He dug in again, and Sanji hid a smile behind his hands. The others looked between them, baffled.

“Are you sure neither of you met before you woke up in the woods?” Franky asked.

“Yeah, why?” they said together. Zoro hastily shoved more food in his mouth.

“You’re acting awfully weird.”

Zoro made a point of keeping his mouth full of food to avoid responding, while Sanji snapped, “Weird? Y—You’re one to talk, dressed like that!”

Usopp laughed. “He’s got you there, Franky!”

“I’m weird and proud of it!” Franky took out his ukulele and strummed it. “The wand’ring pervert, shunned by society—”

“—Shows no shame in his lack of propriety,” Brook continued.

Sanji rolled his eyes and started on dishes. He had never met a merrier band of pirates.

Zoro and Sanji slept as far apart from each other as possible, though both stole glances once in awhile. While Sanji had occasionally fallen asleep with the other cooks in the kitchen, it was Zoro’s first time sleeping with so many people in years, and he shied away from the pillow fight Luffy had started.

“Hey, guys!” Franky yelled. “What’s it like being seventeen again?”

“As far as we know, seventeen’s the oldest we’ve ever been,” Zoro pointed out. “Right?”

“R—Right,” Sanji said. It was the closest they’d come to speaking. “So, it’s normal.”

“Boring!” Luffy exclaimed.

“It’s not really fair to call that boring when your only point of reference is being a pirate,” Zoro muttered. “Compared to that, a lot of things must seem boring.”

“Yeah, but you guys are pirates, too,” Usopp said.

“It’s a pirate party!” Chopper exclaimed.

“Yeah! Let’s have a party!” Luffy yelled.

The door flew open, revealing a livid Nami. “If you idiots don’t shut up, I am raising your debts through the roof!” she hissed.

“Whatever you say, my lovely!” Sanji cried. Zoro looked away, and everyone promised to be good. Nami turned off the light and shut the door, leaving behind whispers and muffled giggles.

Sanji woke early out of habit, and found few others stirring. He remembered where he was after a moment and slipped out of bed, creeping out the door and heading to the kitchen.

He’d just started on breakfast when someone said, “Good morning,” and he whipped around, not having heard anyone come in. Robin sat at the table, smiling.

“Could I have some coffee?” she asked, crossing her legs.

“Yeah, of course,” Sanji said quickly. He searched the pantry, found the coffee and filters, and took them out, heating water over the stove. As he poured the steaming pot through the filter into a mug, he said, “That ability of yours, what is it?”

“A Devil Fruit. They’re uncommon outside the Grand Line.”

“Yeah.” Sanji finished pouring and waited for it to steep. “Do you take cream or sugar?”

“No. Chopper didn’t mention our abilities?”

“He didn’t. But I’m guessing he has one, too. Reindeer Fruit?”

“Human. He was a reindeer originally. Brook can live because of a Fruit, too, and of course, Luffy . . .”

Sanji nodded. “Did I have one?”

“No, why?”

“Well . . . it’s not important.”

They sat in silence. Sanji busied himself with breakfast again while waiting for the coffee, and then brought it to Robin when it was ready. She thanked him and held the warm mug.

“Um . . . Robin-san?”

“Yes?”

Sanji was just finishing breakfast, and his ears turned pink as he played with his hair and said, “What . . . what’s my relationship with Zoro like?”

He stopped the eggs from burning and doled them out onto plates, watching Robin expectantly. She stared at him, amused.

“Well,” she said. “How should I put this . . . ? There’s a lot of tension.”

Sanji’s eyes widened. “Oh,” he said, voice cracking again.

Robin stood. “I’ll get everyone in here.”

Sanji stared at the plates, neck beet-red, while Robin left and Luffy entered.

“No good?” Sanji asked, dejected, when the crew’s chewing became reluctant again.

“Again, it’s just not what we’re used to,” Nami said reassuringly. “It doesn’t matter, don’t worry about it.”

“You guys are weird,” Zoro said. “This is—” He saw Sanji and hid his face. “This is the greatest food ever.”

Sanji turned around, smiling and pretending to wash dishes, while the others either bit their lips or stuffed their faces to hide smirks.

“Chopper,” Robin said. “I think you and I should head out to explore after breakfast. We need to look for clues on how this situation happened.”

“Good idea!” Chopper exclaimed.

“I’m coming,” Luffy announced.

“You are not,” Nami snapped.

“Why?”

“Because you’ll run off from them, and knowing you, you’ll probably get hit with whatever made Zoro and Sanji-kun this way and lose a couple years, too! I don’t know about everyone else, but I’m not putting up with a younger Luffy.”

The others nodded. Luffy frowned and slumped in his chair. “I still wanna go.”

“Luffy, we’ll stay here and play or something,” Usopp promised, patting his shoulder. “Once Robin and Chopper figure out what happened, they can tell us, and then you can go explore, because then we’ll know what it was so we can avoid it happening to us.”

“Yeah, okay!” Luffy said, sitting up again.

Zoro stood on the bow, peering out to sea. The Grand Line certainly didn’t look like all the horrible tales he’d heard—rather, the waves were calm, no Sea Kings were attacking, and hardly a cloud was in the sky.

He sighed and sat against the railing, closing his eyes. He opened them again when he sensed movements and squinted at Luffy and Usopp crouching by him.

“Show us your chest,” Usopp said.

“Show us your chest,” Luffy insisted.

“Why?” he asked, scooting back against the railing.

“We wanna see if the scar’s still there,” Usopp explained.

“Scar?” Zoro sat up and pulled off his shirt, studying his chest. “I don’t see anything.”

“It did vanish!” Usopp exclaimed. “I bet the ones on your legs vanished, too!”

Zoro pulled up his pant legs, studying the smooth skin.

“They are gone!” Luffy said. He traced a circle around Zoro’s shins. “You had two here!”

“What from?”

Usopp rolled his eyes. “You tried to cut off your own feet when you got stuck in a giant wax cake.”

Zoro frowned. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“Exactly! I think you traumatized Nami, too, she was practically screaming when—”

“No, cutting off my feet would make perfect sense in that situation,” Zoro interrupted. “I meant the giant wax cake thing. Where did something like that come from?”

Luffy grinned while Usopp groaned. “Just a guy with a weird power.”

“Okay.” Zoro pulled his shirt back on and glanced towards the kitchen. “Hey . . . can I ask you guys something?”

“Shoot,” Usopp said, folding his arms.

Zoro looked down. “What was—what was our relationship like?”

“Who, you and me, or you and Usopp, or both?” Luffy asked.

“No, I meant—Sanji.”

Luffy burst out laughing while Usopp squinted. “You guys have been acting weird towards each other ever since you de-aged . . . why is that?”

“Weird?” Zoro said, attentive. “Weird how? How did we act before?”

He stared at Usopp intensely, and Usopp shifted. “Well, y’know,” he said. “You, uh—you were always, like—”

He gestured with his hands, thinking the meaning was clear, and he didn’t realize Zoro had misinterpreted it when he leaned forward, saying, “Is—is that so? Do you think we should talk?”

“Well, if only to clear up why you guys are all weird now,” Usopp said, exasperated.

“Okay.” Zoro stood. “Thanks!”

He hurried to the kitchen, cheeks pinked. Usopp and Luffy looked at each other and shrugged.

“Robin?”

“Yes?”

“What if we both lose our memories, and ages? What then?”

Robin stared ahead. “I suppose we’d have to find the ship, wouldn’t we?” she said. “We wouldn’t know anyone, but . . .”

She trailed off. “Let’s just hope it doesn’t happen, hm?”

“Right.” Chopper straightened his hat and his posture. The trees surrounded them and small animals ran out of their way.

They paused for a break by a glittering boulder.

“Could this be what made them lose their years?” Robin remarked, smiling teasingly.

“Oh! Maybe!” Chopper exclaimed, taking her seriously and hiding behind her legs.

Robin smiled and knelt by it, reaching her hand out. “I’ll need your help if I forget where we are,” she joked. She placed her hand on the rock for not even half a second before withdrawing.

“Robin!” Chopper cried, grabbing her. “Are you okay? Do you know me?”

“I’m fine,” she said reassuringly. She frowned as a headache began to come on. “I was kidding. Don’t worry . . .”

She pressed a hand to her temple, gritting her teeth before collapsing into the dirt.

“Robin!”

Chopper turned to pull off his pack, but just as he finished rooting through it, Robin stirred.

“What . . . ?” Her eyes flew open and she sat up quickly, looking around. She saw Chopper and relaxed. “Doctor-san? Where is this?”

Chopper stared, dejected. “You did lose your memory!”

“Lose my . . . ? What do you mean?” she asked warily. “Where is this? What happened?”

Chopper put away his equipment. “Let’s go back to the ship. The others should know about this.”

“Hey!”

Sanji jumped and whirled around when Zoro slammed the door open, flying into the kitchen.

“Uh—hi,” he said, swallowing.

Zoro rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m, uh—I just wanted to say, um—I’m a fan.”

Sanji stared, eyes wide and ears red. “What?”

“When I was younger, I heard about someone who’d survived an amazingly long time without food or water,” Zoro explained, stumbling over his words. “I always thought that was incredible, and wanted to meet that person. And, not too long ago, there was an article about your restaurant, and how it was full of amazing fighters—I recognized you, and—your cooking’s even better than I imagined. I just, I could never find the restaurant itself.”

He hid his face as soon as he’d finished. Sanji stared, gaping.

“I’m . . . your fan, too,” he whispered. Zoro looked up, stunned. “You won some competitions. It was in the paper. I never thought your hair was green, but—you, uh—you must be really strong.”

He bit his lip, staring at Zoro.

“I—I see,” Zoro said, adjusting his swords. “There was—something else I wanted to say. I—”

“We’re back!”

Both jumped at the shriek from outside, and they hesitated before reluctantly heading out.

They found the crew gathering at Chopper’s behest. Chopper held Robin’s hand while Robin stared around warily, moving away from Brook and Franky.

“Well, the good news is we found out what happened to Zoro and Sanji,” Chopper said wearily. “The bad news is—”

“Luffy, are you aware that a skeleton and a pervert have boarded this ship?” Robin asked.

“Robin lost her memory, too,” Chopper finished. “But, she only seems to have lost a couple months.”

He explained about the rock.

“Damn, so we’re the only ones you forgot, Nico Robin?” Franky asked, dejected. “I’m hurt!”

“Please put some pants on,” she said.

“Robin-san, I’m sure this is a shock to you,” Brook said gently. “The others will be able to explain it to you thoroughly.”

“Why not you?” Usopp said.

“How am I supposed to explain things I wasn’t here for?”

“Good point.”

Robin studied Zoro and Sanji. “Swordsman-san, Cook-san, why do you look younger?”

“So . . . this is what happened to us?” Zoro said, interested.

“Robin-san, I hope your memory of me will return soon!” Sanji cried. Zoro scowled at the floor.

“We’ll explain things, Robin, don’t worry,” Luffy said reassuringly. He and Nami led Robin away from Brook and Franky, and Usopp and Chopper followed.

“So . . . you were saying?” Sanji said to Zoro, turning to him.

Zoro glanced at Brook and Franky, who had leaned in obviously, putting hands around their ears (or where ears should’ve been). “I was saying it in private,” he said pointedly.

“Right.” Sanji beckoned, and they went back to the kitchen. As soon as the door shut, Franky and Brook went to it and pressed their ears to the wood.

“I, uh . . .”

Zoro stared at the floor. “I . . . I think I have a crush on you.”

Sanji’s eyes widened again.

“I sure hope so, because otherwise I don’t know what this feeling is,” Zoro continued. “You’re—you’re strong, you have amazing willpower—your food—”

“Fuck, fuck, are you serious?” Sanji whispered.

“Yeah. Sorry if you don’t—”

“Fuck, Zoro, I like you too.” Before Zoro could say anything, Sanji ran a hand through his hair, continuing, “You—you look so cool when you’re fighting, that’s what the pictures were of, and you have this—this air about you—it’s just amazing.”

“I thought you liked girls!”

“I do! I love women! I didn’t even know I was capable of liking guys until—!”

He cut himself off, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“Well . . . let’s date.”

“What?” It came out as a squeak.

Zoro shifted. “The others act weird when our relationship that we apparently forgot is brought up. Have you noticed?”

“Yeah.”

“I figure—I figure, we were already—together. Why wouldn’t we be? If we’re both like this, and we’re on the same ship—there’s no reason we wouldn’t be—fuck, you know what I mean.” Zoro rubbed the back of his neck, still staring at the floor. “So, we . . . might as well . . .”

He looked up to see Sanji holding out his arms.

“Come here.”

Zoro nearly jumped into him with a hug. They held each other, basking in each other’s warmth.

It was tapping at the window that got their attention, and they saw Brook and Franky staring at them with thumbs-ups. The two fled when Zoro and Sanji sprinted for the door, swords drawn and scowls on.

“Well . . . this is a change.”

Sanji and Zoro looked at Usopp as the rest of the crew stared at them, Franky and Brook giving thumbs-ups again and everyone else wide-eyed and slack-jawed.

“Oh,” Sanji said, who had just given Zoro a kiss when serving lunch. “Right—we got back together. Or, it’s the first time for us, but . . .”

“Second time for you guys, right?” Zoro added. “No wonder you thought we were weird earlier, if we were together before. We’re together again now. Or, for the first time.”

Sanji nodded.

“Should we say something?” Chopper whispered to Nami, who shrugged helplessly. Robin said nothing, despite being more confused than anyone there.

“Something wrong?” Zoro added, noticing the stares lingering.

“No,” everyone said together, returning to their food in thick silence.

“Robin,” Chopper cried when she sank to her knees and collapsed for the second time that day. Brook, who she had been in the middle of questioning, knelt by her and felt her forehead.

Robin sat up after only a minute, blinking. She rubbed her head and looked at Brook and Chopper.

“I’m back,” she said with a smile. “Sorry for the trouble.”

Chopper hugged her and Brook clutched his ribcage in relief. “Thank goodness, Robin-san. And this means Zoro-san and Sanji-san will eventually revert to normal as well!”

Robin nodded. “Probably this evening at the earliest.”

“Speaking of them—” Chopper pulled back. “What’s gonna happen when they get their memories back? Are they gonna stop being in love?”

“Chopper-san, such questions are meant for fate,” Brook said gravely.

“I wonder how they got together so quickly,” Robin added, standing. “To their knowledge, they only met last night . . .”

She shook her head. “I’ll tell the others.”

She ran into Franky on her way. Franky studied her and lit up. “You’re back!”

“How did you know?”

“Your face is different. You’re gonna apologize for earlier, right?”

“No. Put some pants on.”

“So . . . how’d you two meet?”

Nami watched Zoro and Sanji, waiting. They stared at her and glanced at each other.

“We only met last night,” Sanji said. “But, um . . .”

“We’d heard a lot about each other before this,” Zoro explained, looking away and smiling with embarrassment. Luffy and Usopp crept up behind Nami, listening. “Sanji’s amazing—”

“That’s you,” Sanji interrupted, seizing his hand and resting his head on Zoro’s shoulder. He looked back at Nami with a smile. “Didn’t either of us bring it up when we first got together?”

Nami shook her head. “It never came up.”

“You guys are weird,” Luffy remarked, grinning.

“I’m . . . looking forward to remembering how we first met,” Zoro admitted. “This will probably feel like a redo of the situation.”

Luffy and Usopp looked at each other and laughed, hurrying away.

“Good luck,” Nami said, giving them a pitying look before leaving.

“Everyone’s still acting weird,” Zoro remarked, squeezing Sanji’s hand. “Why is that, d’you think?”

“Maybe we didn’t quite act like this before?” Sanji suggested. “Careful with my hand.”

Zoro brought it up to his mouth and kissed the back.

“Wow, who knew those two were mutual fans?” Franky exclaimed. The crew watched Zoro and Sanji from afar as the two held hands on the island’s shore, gesturing and smiling while the sun started to set.

“It’s so weird to think about it,” Nami agreed.

Brook sighed. “It’s like a look into another universe, at what could’ve been!”

“If they stay like this, maybe they’ll stop destroying the ship,” Robin said.

Luffy draped himself over the railing, not too interested in the conversation.

“Oh, oh, I think they’re gonna kiss,” Usopp whispered, pointing.

“Really?” Chopper squeaked. Everyone leaned in, staring obviously.

On the beach, Zoro studied Sanji’s face, lit by the sun and sea.

“Hey,” he said. Sanji looked at him. “I’m, uh . . . I’m glad you’re here.”

Sanji smiled. Zoro’s visage was perfect in the light. “Me, too.”

They leaned in, tentative . . .

And then they clutched their heads, leaning back as sharp headaches came on. Both sank to their knees and collapsed into the sand.

“They—they’re going back to normal?!” Chopper cried.

“So close!” Franky exclaimed, frustrated. Chopper and Luffy leapt from the ship to get them, and Chopper picked up Zoro while Luffy dragged Sanji across the sand.

They woke up against the railing, rubbing their heads. Before the crew’s eyes, Sanji’s goatee had returned, and Zoro’s muscles had become thicker.

“How do you feel?” Nami asked. The others stared with bated breath.

Sanji’s eyes couldn’t be wider with shock, and when he saw Zoro next to him, he scooted away so quickly he singed the deck with friction. Zoro stood and backed away, stunned.

“Guys?” Usopp said timidly.

“Is everything . . . alright?” Brook asked.

Luffy was the bluntest as he picked his nose and said, “So, are you guys still gonna be kissing each other?”

No one knew how it happened, but he suddenly had a shoe imprint on his face and a bump on his head as he lay still halfway across the deck. Zoro fled to the observatory and Sanji to the kitchen.

“Guys!” Chopper exclaimed, too late. He frowned. “Oh, no . . .”

Usopp went to help Luffy up. Franky took out his handkerchief and blew his nose.

“They were so sweet!” he cried. “And now—now they’re—!”

“Oh, Franky-san, I’m sure they’ll work things out, don’t cry,” Brook said, patting his shoulder.

“I’m not crying!”

Dinner was the quietest it had ever been. Sanji and Zoro looked everywhere but each other, and the eyes of the others darted between them.

“So . . .”

Sanji tapped his fingers against his arm, leaning against the counter and facing away from the table. “The food’s better now, right?”

“Much,” Robin said reassuringly. The others voiced their agreement, but Zoro scowled at his plate and stabbed his fork into a piece.

“You guys have weird taste buds,” he said, tone unusually harsh. “This is shit.”

Sanji froze, staring at the wall.

“What happened to ‘The best food you’ve ever tasted?’” Chopper asked.

“Something must’ve messed up my head when I regressed,” Zoro muttered, eating his portion nonetheless.

“I’m going for some fresh air,” Sanji said abruptly, striding out of the kitchen. Zoro was the only one who didn’t watch him go, and Franky hid a sob in his handkerchief.

Zoro had jumped at the chance to take lookout duty, leaving the others in the men’s quarters. No one dared to speak to Sanji for a long time.

Finally, Brook spoke up. “Sanji-san?”

“What?” he snapped.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No.” Sanji covered his face with his pillow.

“Do be careful or you’ll suffocate,” Brook exclaimed. “Sanji-san—”

“Leave me alone,” Sanji said into his pillow.

“Sanji, don’t hide your emotions, talk them out,” Usopp said, leaning over and poking him.

“Talk them out,” Luffy echoed, stretching his arm to poke Sanji.

“Talk it out, yeah,” Franky sang. “Don’t bottle it up—”

Sanji removed his pillow to silence him with a scary face.

“Thank you,” Robin said in surprise when Sanji set her coffee in front of her as soon as she’d sat down. “You knew I was coming?”

“I had a feeling,” Sanji admitted, turning back around to put the finishing touches on breakfast. Robin was quiet, holding the mug up to her face to breathe in the scent.

“Robin-chan?”

“Yes?”

Sanji faced away from her, gripping the counter, head bowed.

“Do you—” He grimaced. “Do you—think he feels the same way?”

Robin paused, setting down the mug and watching Sanji. His hair was barely combed: a sign he had stayed up late.

“I don’t know,” she said. “Would you be satisfied with staying friends?”

Sanji raised his head. “Yes,” he said hesitantly.

“Then, it shouldn’t matter.”

The door flew open and Sanji whipped around to see Zoro storming in with a determined face. Zoro opened his mouth, but he spotted Robin and promptly backed out again, shutting the door.

“Wait,” Sanji whispered. “Wait!”

He turned off the stove and ran outside. Robin stayed in the kitchen, taking a sip of her coffee.

Sanji caught Zoro on the bow, leaning against the railing and catching his breath.

“Hi,” Sanji said, staring at him.

“Hi,” Zoro said. He bowed his head. “Sorry about last night. That was uncalled for.”

“No, it’s—it’s okay,” Sanji said, shaking his head.

Zoro looked up again. “I’m, uh,” he said. “I’m glad we got to redo our first meeting.”

Sanji’s breath hitched in his throat.

“I think it went a lot better this time, is what I’m saying,” Zoro continued. “I’d almost forgotten . . . how it was to feel that way.”

“You’d better be saying that you still love me,” Sanji said, voice quavering.

“Was that not clear?” Zoro muttered, looking away.

“Because I do, too. Love you, that is.”

“Of course you do.”

“What?”

“You’re the love-cook.”

Sanji kicked his shin and went in for a hug when Zoro winced. Zoro shifted his weight to his uninjured leg and awkwardly embraced him in return, both reveling in the comfort of each other’s presence.

Wolf-whistling interrupted them, and they looked over to see not only Franky and Brook, but the rest of the crew (minus the women) staring at them.

Zoro drew his swords and they both charged, sending the others scattering for safety.

“What’re you reading, Sensei?”

Koshiro looked up from the newspaper. “The newspaper.”

“Oh. Is there anything cool in there?” Zoro bit into a rice roll.

“I was reading an article about a boy your age,” Koshiro said. “He and his guardian survived over two months at sea without food.”

Zoro’s mouth fell open and a few grains of rice fell on his lap. “Two months?” he cried.

Koshiro showed him the article. Zoro studied it and saw the picture of the boy and the old man, who looked like they were returning to health and were starting a restaurant called the Baratie.

Zoro looked at his rice roll and shoved the tray away.

“I’m not eating today,” he declared. “In his honor. I can go a day without food, easy!”

Koshiro smiled and took the tray away. “If you insist.”

The next morning, Zoro ate so quickly he nearly made himself sick, and his admiration for the boy’s strength of mind and body grew.

Several years passed, and Sanji, just turned seventeen, could be found reading a newspaper before opening time.

“Roronoa Zoro?” he murmured. “Won several tournaments in a row . . .” He leaned forward. “Three-sword style?”

His eyes traveled to the picture shown, of a man with a bandana tied around his head, shadowing fierce eyes, and his heart jumped, startling him.

“Whoa,” he whispered.

“What’s up?” Patty asked, passing by and clapping him on the back. “See a pretty girl?”

“None of your business,” Sanji snapped, folding up the paper.

“Touchy,” Patty muttered, strolling away.

Sanji opened up the paper again and stared at the picture, rereading the article. For the first time in his life, he began to question his sexuality.

It was around this time that Zoro was hit in the face with a flyaway newspaper. He removed it, rubbing his cheeks, and a small article caught his eye.

“Baratie?” he murmured. The memory of the boy who had survived at sea came back to him and he squinted at the article. “Fight with pirates . . . small bounty . . . Sanji?”

Though the picture was blurry, he recognized the grown-up version of the boy he had seen all those years ago—who else had that spiral eyebrow?—and his heart skipped a beat.

“A cook . . . he’s got to be amazing,” he whispered, folding up the newspaper and tucking it away. He lost it days later, but kept the name Baratie in mind.

Two years passed, and Zoro was relieved he could keep his cool in front of his new crew. Finally, the Baratie, where he could meet him, Sanji.

He waited at the table with the others, and became distracted by Luffy’s antics, failing to notice Sanji staring at him, wide-eyed, from across the room.

Sanji could hardly believe his eyes. Roronoa Zoro, in his restaurant! What was he to do? Take him somewhere private? Give him a free meal?

He realized his legs were walking on their own to that table, and he stopped right by it. His mouth wouldn’t form the words he wanted to say, and when Zoro finally noticed him, he didn’t linger long enough, instead panicking and turning to the woman sitting next to him.

“Oh, mademoiselle,” he said loudly, refusing to look at Zoro, “your beauty blinds me! I had no idea I would meet a goddess today!”

“Great,” she said. “How much is the food?”

“For you? Free!” His brain was on autopilot.

“Oh, thank you!”

For a moment he was completely distracted when she hugged him, but when he turned his head and saw Zoro and Usopp staring, he said the first thing that came to mind:

“You guys have to pay.”

While Sanji tried to cover up his internal crisis by dragging Luffy back to the kitchen, Zoro sat back in his chair, barely breathing. So, the man he had wanted to meet, the man who had made his heart jump, hadn’t even spared him a second look. He stared at the table as Usopp and Nami argued over paying for the meal.

“Hey.”

“Hey, yourself.” Sanji looked at Zoro as they leaned against the railing, having left the island before Luffy could find the de-aging rock.

Zoro grinned. “You’re pretty okay.”

“Thanks. You’re not bad, yourself.”

Sanji took his chin and turned his face towards himself, and they leaned in, holding each other’s shoulders as they kissed.