#piccolo's turban

[kopykunoichi]

Everyone out here saying Piccolo is "black coded," but if he and the other Namekians are coded after any earth culture, wouldn't it be Middle Eastern?

I mean, you could pretty much play "who wore it better?" with Nail and Aladdin (Nail wins because he accessorized with an infinity scarf).

The other Namekians are all wearing some version of traditional Middle Eastern men's clothing.

I mean, c'mon, Piccolo is wearing a freaking turban, people.

Minus the upturned tips, he's also got an almost "Jafar" look to his weighted clothing, though it also could have been inspired by medieval Burmese/Siamese armor.

[the-lonely-human]

Enjoy angry green man

[dbphantom]

biblically accurate sun god

[chaoflaka]

I always find this part interesting and hilarious. Like…this whole time, Piccolo can just vanish his cape and turban without putting any effort into it. He’s fully aware he can do this, but throws them off him during a battle regardless.

Which only leads to one thing.

He just does this to show off! 🤣

[lilyswrittenworks]

IX| Growing Souls

Warning: Cursing, Surprise Fluff!

Synopsis: (Y/n) is overwhelmed by Piccolo’s ruthless training. Giving up wasn’t an option and admitting defeat would be a slap in the face to your pride. (Y/n) was going to prove herself, even though she's going to get wiped again.

“You’re alright? You’re not hurt?”

“No, no, no, I’m fine! Totally fine, no, no, I’m fine.” You wheezed, hands gripping your knees as you struggled to catch your breath. Sweat trickled down your face and neck, dampening the fabric of your clothes.

When, in fact, you were not fine.

Your muscles screamed in protest, your lungs burned, and your vision was beginning to swim at the edges. Fuck. You weren’t expecting him to take your words so literally and actually unleash on you today.

It had been a long time since you first experienced Piccolo’s full strength, but every time you faced him, it was like reliving that moment all over again. It was a brutal reminder of the vast difference in power between you. No matter how much you trained, how fast you moved, how well you anticipated his attacks—you simply weren’t built for raw strength. Evasion, redirection, and endurance were your game, but even that had its limits when facing someone like him.

How in the actual fuck am I supposed to compete with this?

“Really?” Piccolo’s deadpan voice cut through your thoughts. “Because you’re repeating yourself, you’re pale, and you look like you’re about to pass out.”

You blinked up at him, taking in his usual unimpressed stare. Without his weighted turban and cape, he seemed even more intimidating, standing there in his simple gi and moccasins—completely unaffected by the intensity of the sparring session. Meanwhile, you were dying.

“Yeah, you might wanna catch me.”

The second the words left your mouth, your knees buckled. Darkness tinged your vision for a split second before you felt strong arms catch you with ease. Piccolo’s hold was firm, steady, as if your weight was nothing to him. You found yourself slumped against his chest, the fabric of his gi warm against your cheek as you sucked in slow, deliberate breaths, trying to ease the ache in your lungs.

“Fuck— I’m sorry.” Your voice was muffled against him, and you barely had the energy to move.

“Don’t push yourself.” His tone was firm but not harsh. There was something softer in it, an underlying concern. “There’s only so much the human body can handle, and my training isn’t exactly meant for the faint of heart.”

You let out a breathless, exhausted laugh, your head still pressed lightly against him. No kidding. But just as you were about to make a joke, you felt it—

A subtle shift in his posture.

Piccolo tensed. Just for a moment. It was brief, almost imperceptible, but it was there. The way your breath hit his abdomen, the closeness between you—something about it affected him. You didn’t understand why, but if you weren’t so damn exhausted, you might’ve called him out on it.

Instead, you pushed yourself off of him, standing on shaky legs. You avoided his gaze, a sad smile forming on your lips.

“I knew what I was getting into,” you admitted quietly. “It’s my fault for thinking I could stand a chance against you.” You let out a self-deprecating chuckle, shrugging. “Guess that’s just one of the downsides of being human.”

Piccolo frowned. Deeply.

Something about the way you said that bothered him.

Your humanity was not a weakness. He had seen your strength firsthand, witnessed your skill, your intelligence, your resilience. You were far more capable than you gave yourself credit for.

From the moment you first threw Piccolo to the ground with alarming ease, he had convinced himself it was nothing but a fluke. A mistake. An error on his part for underestimating you—a human of all things.

But then the two of you sparred.

And everything he thought he knew about you unraveled in an instant.

At first, Piccolo was frustrated. Rightfully so.

Your combat skills weren’t just impressive; they were on par with his own. Whether you were humiliating him on purpose or not, the fact remained—his pride took a hit. Every counter, every movement, every effortless evasion of his attacks only confirmed what he refused to admit.

And then it happened.

A subtle shift in energy. His body froze.

His eyes locked onto yours, and something clicked.

He could see it now.

Your ki.

It wrapped around you like a barely visible veil, a natural extension of yourself, flowing with an effortless grace he hadn’t noticed before. Every strike, every well-timed counter—it all made sense now. The energy concentrated at your fingertips, acting as an unseen force that bound his limbs in place.

That explained why the moment your fingers had brushed against his arm, it had gone numb—why his body had betrayed him, allowing you to gain the upper hand so easily.

Piccolo’s sharp gaze lingered on you.

Maybe… you weren’t just an ordinary human after all.

“You’re wrong.”

Your brows knitted together at his sudden remark, uncertainty flashing in your eyes.

Piccolo folded his arms. “I have a friend who’s human. And he’s one of the strongest, most skilled fighters I’ve ever met… even if he’s a scaredy-cat when it comes to danger.”

He grumbled out the last part under his breath, but you still caught it.

A surprised laugh bubbled from your lips.

“The point is,” Piccolo continued, ignoring the way his chest warmed at the sound of your laughter, “humans can become strong. But it requires proper training.”

To emphasize his words, he lifted a hand, conjuring a small sphere of glowing energy in his palm. The orb pulsed gently, illuminating the sharp contours of his face with an ethereal glow.

Your breath hitched.

You had never seen anything like it before.

Cautiously, you stepped forward, leaning in just enough to examine it without risking contact. It was beautiful—like a miniature star resting in his hand, radiating warmth and raw power.

Piccolo watched you silently, noting the fascination in your gaze.

For a moment, something in his chest tightened.

He had seen warriors react to ki before. With admiration. With fear. With greed.

But never with wonder.

“This,” he said, voice quieter now, “is just a small taste of what can be achieved.”

You blinked, pulling your gaze away from the orb to meet his eyes. “It can? So, it’s not something only people born with strength can use?”

Piccolo let the energy dissipate with a flick of his wrist. “It works both ways. Some are born with talent but still need to train. Others start weak but can grow stronger through discipline. The key is learning how to control your own ki.” His expression darkened slightly. “It’s not easy. If you aren’t naturally attuned to it, the process can take years.”

He paused.

“But you’re lucky.”

Your head tilted slightly in curiosity. “Lucky?”

Piccolo studied you, his lips quirking into something just short of a smirk. “I saw you use it in our fight.”

Your brows shot up.

“You might not have realized it, but you were manipulating ki the entire time. Whether it was instinct or something buried in your training, you’re already exceptional at it.”

Your mind reeled at the revelation.

You could use ki? Effortlessly? But… you hadn’t felt anything different.

Your gaze drifted past him, unfocused, too lost in thought to respond.

“(Y/n),” Piccolo’s voice grounded you, snapping you back to the present.

You blinked rapidly, heat creeping onto your cheeks. “Sorry! I was just… trying to process all of this.” You rubbed the back of your neck sheepishly. “So, you’re saying I’ve been using ki this whole time? Without realizing it?”

Piccolo gave a single nod.

You exhaled, staring down at your hands. You clenched and unclenched your fists, trying to feel it—the energy he spoke of, the force that had unknowingly guided your movements.

Nothing.

No warmth. No shift. No spark.

Still, something within you stirred—determination.

Lifting your head, you met Piccolo’s sharp gaze, a small smile pulling at your lips.

“Then,” you started, voice filled with newfound resolve, “do you mind if ki training is added to my lessons from now on?”

Piccolo scoffed, arms still folded. But the small grin that tugged at the corner of his mouth was all the answer you needed.

∘₊✧──────✧₊∘

“Again.”  

You exhaled sharply, your breath shaky with exertion. Wiping away the sweat gathering at your brow, you resisted the urge to collapse backward onto the grass. It hadn’t even been a full hour, and yet, your body already ached from the relentless training.  

Piccolo’s ki training was far beyond anything you’d ever experienced. Martial arts required discipline, strength, and technique, but ki control? That demanded patience, precision, and an awareness of yourself so deep it bordered on maddening. You clenched your fists, staring down at your empty palms in frustration. No matter how many times you followed his instructions, no matter how much you tried to reach for that flicker of energy inside you—nothing. No spark, no light, not even a damn wisp of power.  

“How the fuck…” You panted between words, head tilting up to glare at him. “Can you do this without feeling exhausted?”  

Piccolo stood over you, towering as always, arms at his sides. Without his usual weighted cape and turban, his broad frame seemed even more imposing. “A lot of endurance and stamina training,” he said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “It’s hell at first, but over time, it becomes second nature.”  

You shook your head with a tired chuckle, a mix of admiration and disbelief bubbling up despite yourself. “Geez, no wonder you’re so ripped. And insanely fucking fast. You never stop training. Do you even take a break?” You leaned back slightly to get a better look at him, only now realizing just how much your neck had to crane to meet his gaze.  

He huffed. “Hmp. And risk slacking off? No.”  

You rolled your eyes. “Really? Then how come you meditate so often?”  

“It’s another form of training.”  

“Of course it is.” You snorted before raising a brow. “Which is?”  

“Ki focus training.”  

You let out a slow breath, shifting your attention back to your hands. There was something there—a faint tingling at your fingertips, a pulse just beneath your skin. It was your ki. Your energy. It was there. It had always been there. You just couldn’t seem to grasp it the way Piccolo could.  

Sensing the change in your expression, Piccolo knelt down in front of you, lowering himself to eye level. His presence was grounding, his gaze sharp yet unreadable. You were so caught up in your own thoughts that you barely registered how close he was, nor did you notice the way his usual hard stare softened ever so slightly.  

“…You’re overthinking it.” His voice was quieter this time, lacking the usual blunt edge.  

You blinked, caught off guard, before huffing a tired laugh. “Yeah? Tell that to my brain.”  

Piccolo exhaled through his nose, shaking his head slightly. “Tch. That’s the problem.”  

You narrowed your eyes at him, but before you could retort, his large hand reached out. You froze as he gently placed two fingers against your forehead, the contact unexpected. His skin was warmer than you thought it’d be.  

“Stop forcing it. Ki flows naturally,” he said, voice steady. “If you keep trying to control it like a muscle, you’ll keep burning yourself out. Let it come to you.”  

You swallowed, your heart beating a little faster—not from exhaustion, but from something else entirely. Whether it was his proximity, the way his voice dropped slightly, or the sudden realization of just how much trust he was putting in you, you weren’t sure.  

But as you closed your eyes and took a deep breath, you found yourself listening.

Focusing on the steady rhythm of your breathing. You sat straighter, just as Piccolo instructed, allowing the tension in your body to melt away.  

Then, you turned your focus inward.  

At first, there was only silence. A vast, empty space within your mind. But then—just behind your eyes—you felt it. A faint buzz, like static at the edge of your awareness. It started at your fingertips, a tingling sensation, before spreading into the center of your palms.  

The current…

You remembered Piccolo’s words—energy, like water, flowing at the center of your body. You visualized it, a deep reservoir of warmth sitting just beneath your ribcage. It pulsed faintly, like the rhythmic ebb and flow of the tide.  

Slowly, you willed the energy to move.  

It was sluggish at first, like trying to push against an invisible force, but the more you focused, the easier it became. The warmth traveled upward, swirling from your core into your arms, and finally—  

A faint glimmer of light flickered between your hands.  

Your eyes snapped open, breath catching in your throat. A dim, shifting glow hovered in your palm, barely the size of a pebble. It was weak, unstable, flickering as if it might disappear at any moment.  

But it was there.

Excitement surged through you, but you quickly tamped it down, remembering Piccolo’s warning about maintaining control. Taking another breath, you steadied your mind, focusing on keeping the energy contained.  

The tiny sphere of light pulsed in response, solidifying just a bit more.  

“That’s it,” Piccolo’s voice cut through the silence. You looked up to see him observing you with sharp, yet approving eyes. “You can feel it now, can’t you?”  

You nodded, gripping onto the sensation before it slipped away.  

Your lips curled up into a smile. You did it. You actually made a Ki sphere! Small, flickering, and unstable—but real. It wasn’t just some distant concept anymore; it was something you had drawn out from within.  

Laughter bubbled up in your throat, giddy and breathless, as you looked up at Piccolo, eyes bright with excitement. He was saying something—probably giving more instructions or a warning—but the sheer joy coursing through you drowned out his words.  

Without thinking, you moved.  

Throwing your arms around his neck, you pulled him into a spontaneous hug, the action as natural as breathing.  

For a moment, Piccolo didn’t react. His entire body went rigid, eyes widening in surprise. You were close. The warmth of your smaller frame pressed against him sent a jolt through his system. His hand hovered just above your waist, unsure if he should push you away or remain completely still.  

Then, your voice—soft and sincere—reached his ears.  

"Thank you for being patient with me, Piccolo."

His breath hitched.  

Something in his chest fluttered, an unfamiliar warmth unfurling deep within him. The tension in his shoulders melted ever so slightly, and before he could fully process it, his instincts took over.  

His large hand settled on the small of your back, hesitant yet deliberate. He hadn’t intended to pull you closer, but the second he did, something about the embrace felt… grounding.  

Comfortable.  

For someone who had spent most of his life avoiding unnecessary contact, it was strange how right this felt.  

“Hmph,” he finally grunted, the corner of his lips twitching ever so slightly. “Just don’t get ahead of yourself. You still have a long way to go.”  

But even as he said that, he didn’t pull away.

(2,537 words)

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(a/n)

The long awaited chapter has finally come! (after being on hiatus for months on this story ;-;)

After some set backs and other hyperfixations, I finally managed to write this entire chapter after sitting in my pc for hours (it's like… almost 3 a.m over here lol).

I've been juggling between many scenarios on where this story might take off. There's a rough idea in my head that I need to write down on paper before I forget (again). Thank you for those who have waited (too long) for this chapter. For those that stuck around waiting anxiously, I apologize and thank you for your love and engagement. It really motivates me to keep on writing and to have fun with this story.

If you stuck around to read this silly note, thank you for reading!

Until next time, readers. xoxo

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Part VIII

You are currently reading Part IX

Part X

Tag list:

@utakamo

@nerdy-girl-named-pumpkin

[wsjyuyuyuau]

Piccolo (Dragon Ball)

Name: Piccolo

Series: Dragon Ball

Gender: Male

Status: Alive

Family: Katas (Father), The Son Family (Honorary Uncle)

Flower Motif: Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)

Flower Meaning: Enlightenment

Weapon of Choice: Twelve Bladed Shield (Each blade on the shield’s body resembles a petal, with the center being like the center of a lotus flower)

Associated With: Interdimensional Hero Club

Hero Form Appearance: An ethereal combination of a lotus inspired outfit, Piccolo’s main costume, and YuYuYu’s Hero Form outfits. The undersuit of the outfit is a neutral gray, which helps make the purple, light green, and pink help stand out. The main outfit itself is a vibrant purple, but as you reach the bottom half of the pants and the ends of the kimono like sleeves, they fade into a lightish green that doesn’t take away from the full outfit. The shoes are green like the lotus stalk, and the cape with shoulder pads is a creamy white, which turns into a soft lotus pink, which then fades to a deeper pink as you reach the lower half of the cape and the ends of the shoulder pads. Oh, and Piccolo’s turban remains the same, but it’s now pink fading to white and with a lotus pattern. The colors that help balance things out are white, gold, dark purple, and magenta. The sacred lotus’s petal shape can be seen in the sleeves, cape, and shoulder pads.

Full Bloom Gauge Location: Below Chest

Guardian: Wampo (Based on the Wampus Cat (Cherokee and Appalachian Mythologies))

Favorite Food: Anything Vegan

Parallel To: None

Bio: A proud Namekian warrior, Piccolo was once one of Goku's deadliest rivals. The friendship he fostered with the son of his nemesis, Gohan, would help turn him into one of Earth's most powerful allies.

[tobiasdrake]

Also apropos of nothing but I just. I want you to understand that God and Piccolo are the worst secret agents imaginable.

The reincarnated Piccolo attends the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai in secret, plotting to assassinate Goku. He keeps his true identity withheld by wearing a turban.

Which. Works? For some reason?

But the name he enters the tournament under is "Majunior", which kinda gives the game away. It's like he wants to be caught.

Not to be outdone, God enters the tournament under the Chinese name "Shen", or "Shin" in Japanese. Which. Means. God.

Fucking clowns, the both of them.

The worst part is that Chi-Chi's up there making them both look like fucking assholes because did you know you can WITHHOLD your fucking name during registration?

Apparently that's a thing you can do. These two clowns came up with the worst possible aliases while Chi-Chi walked up to the registration desk and just wrote down "Nope".

[ato-catto]

Y’know how piccolos cape and hat are REALLY heavy? How would he react to his seemingly ‘weak’ s/o putting on his hat and cape and jumping around as if they weigh nothing? Female reader or gn!

Pls and ty have a great day!

Ooh! Hehehe!

This one's short but sweet;

"You won't be able to withstand it." He warns, dragging his weighted turban from his head, and holding it to you. "Just don't come crying when you fall on your ass."

You took the cap- admittedly, it was heavy. Heavier than any cap should be..no wonder Piccolos neck was so thick with muscle.

Putting on your head took a moment to get used to, and Piccolo prepared his 'I told you so' speech- but then you stood straight and hopped up and down, like it weighed no more than a feather.

His mouth fell open slightly, and his eyes followed you in disbelief. "Wha.. what- how!?"

You smiled, adding his cape to the mix and fixing the pouldrons to rest comfortably in your shoulders.

"I'm not that weak, Piccolo."

[celticcatgirl2]

“…Is that a HAIR sticking out of your turban Piccolo…”

“…Oh Crap…they’re gonna kick me out of bald club!!!”

[cuttyclowngirl]

DAIMA EP.2 (Spoilers) Review/theories

•Shenron is a troll and basically confirmed he considers the z fighters & co his homies, so no Evil Third Eye (Tertian Oculus) for King Gohma... Yet. Also, at least King Gohma won't stoop to baby k*lling, though kidnapping is still bad. It's extra motivation for our protags though.

•Neva thankfully can't spam kidnapping/reviving D balls. At least not Earth's D balls. Neva also won't just hand over his D balls to anyone no matter what who they are it seems. Tamagami's look like they'll put up a good fight.

•Always wondered what was under Popo's turban. Kinda cute. He kept his cool, probably assuming Goku & crew can help. Chi-Chi & Bulma react exactly as expected. I hope kid Roshi doesn't get too weird about this. Also, proof that Goten & Trunks were born to be best friends.

•Bulma's staff members have great designs. Hope they get fanart. And Bulma taking advantage of Kibito's teleportation is a classic Toriyama bit.

•So Namekians were free spirited demons who migrated out of the demon realm, leaving Neva alone with his responsibilities. (As stated by Piccolo who never had a reason to bring him up till now.) Other demons had done so as well, until it became forbidden without permission. Not even "Kai-Kai" can teleport you into the demon realm. Goku & crew definitely don't have permission, which will lead to trouble.

•Thank goodness being turned into kids is actually affecting the Z-fighters and their not just going "Oh well!" Y'know?

•BLOOD! YIPPEE! NYOIBO! HOORAY! NIMBUS! WOO - oh...

•Thank goodness the pointy ears thing was cleared up so early, cuz some people were immediately becoming annoyingly dismissive out of confusion.

•Shin's (Supreme Kai) ship (beaten up during G & V's fight with K Buu) definitely ties into the collective backstory of him & his siblings. Flashbacks ahead, for sure.

•Confirmation that the 3 demon worlds have their own rulers beneath the Supreme King of the entire realm. (Toriyama was so jrpg story-pilled.) The opening featured who is likely former Supreme King Abura(Dabura's father). We'll probably get a specific flashback showing how the Tertian Oculus was lost. Looks like it appears 43 seconds into the opening. Metal design confirmed.

•While the feathers in the intro and outro are likely tributing Toriyama-sensei, I can't help but wonder if the feathers coincidentally also belong to a new creature that will help Goku in a major way. Perhaps the demon realm equivalent to Toki-Toki? There's also the shots with focus on water in the intro. I suspect they hint at the Namekian's original demon Homeland.

•Theory : Dr Arinsu is clearly manipulative and was mentioned to have already visited Earth, probably collecting all sorts of Intel. My theory is that she's manipulating Glorio, Panzy, and the 3rd world King to get rid of King Gohma, while also tricking Goku & crew into collecting Neva's D balls to obtain the Tertian Oculus/becoming Demon Queen. Explains why Glorio seems to know too much. The whole "the 3rd demon world King told me." Thing doesn't necessarily explain why Glorio already knew about the current situation. Glorio said "I was given the request in secret to come get you." A little convenient, yeah?

•I teared up at the OP & ED.

[2darklymelanatedstories]

Surprise me (ft Piccolo)

Inspired by

You don't know my name

By

Alicia Keys

~

You quickly dashed into the coffeeshop you worked at, all while avoiding people passing by. You were late, as usual but to you it seemed like you were early.

As soon as you opened the door, you immediately regretted it. Your manager was waiting by your post and by the look of it he wasn't happy. This was the third time this week and he tried to be understanding but now it seems like your were taking advantage. Luckily it wasn't that busy. Merely only about eight people that morning.

You quickly went over to apologize before offering to take over some of the orders and fill in for the other co-workers. One of which was one of your closest friends.

"Hey, sorry I'm late. Let me get that.",you said trying to take the dirty plates from their hands.

"It's okay, it's okay. I got this sweety.",they said.

Their attention soon went from you to the door the moment they heard the clinging of the bell.

They turned to you with a smirk. "Your boy just walked in."

In a second, your face lit up as you battle to jump in excitement.

Your head swung towards the door where the man of your dreams stook out like a sore thumb. He's emerald skin instantly put attention to him and the bright clothes didn't help either.

You noticed he wasn't in his usual attire. Usually he had on his purple gi and turban. Rare occasions he'd come in with his cape but today he had on a yellow shirt with the logo Postboy and denim jeans along with a blue cap. Not what you are used to but you found it cute.

You turned your head away from him so he couldn't see you staring but it seemed as if you were too late when he all too suddenly passed a glance towards your direction.

"You okay?",your friend asked. You gave them a nod and took a deep breath. He took a seat in the corner close to the window. His favourite spot. Everyone knew it.

He was avoided by the rest of the staff, mostly because they probably knew that he preferred you taking his orders.

You took your notebook and headed to his table. He seemed off so you thought to be extra cheerful.

"Good morning.",you said giving him a warm smile. Though you thought it'd be a better greeting if you knew his name. "So what will it be today, the usual?"

"Hey, uh yeah. The usual please."

"Sure thing." You needn't give him a menu, he always ordered the same thing.

You went to place the order but as you were about to you thought of something else.

"So the usual?",the cook asked. You thought for a moment before reluctantly shaking your head.

"Nah." You leaned in and whispered something in his ear. He looked over at the Namekian who's gaze was fixated on the outside garden with the gentle breeze blowing in his face from the open window. He then looked back at you, he was skeptical but shrugged and went on with the order.

Once he was done he called you over. "Okay I'm done, just do that thing you always do with his tea first."

You quickly whipped up his tea and placed everything on his tray before delivering it to him.

He looked at it then back at you with a brow raised. He was about to speak but you cut him off.

"I know this isn't usually what you order but you seemed a bit off lately so I thought it'd be a nice surprise."

He stared at you for a moment then gave you a small smile which warmed your heart.

"Thanks." He then got up and opened a chair for to sit. "How bout joining me this time?"

You felt your face heat up. This is the most his talked to you and now he was inviting you over to sit with him. Without saying another word you sat down and could hear the whispers and soft cheering of your co-workers.

"Oooh. Get it sweety.",you heard your friend say. You honestly felt a bit embarrassed and it seemed you weren't the only one.

As the morning passed, you two spoke as if you were just two close friends even though you knew barely anything about each other. Though it seemed like it was mostly just you asking countless questions about him and him just smirking at how amazed you were at his answers.

Though like how good things must end, the time came when you had to hand him the check and he had to leave.

"So I'll see you next week?",you asked as he reached the door.

He smirked. "Sure."

~

Four weeks passed and you haven't seen from him. You couldn't help but feel terrible because he was on your mind since that day. Now he's presence was never felt in the cafe. Sure it was only four weeks but to you it felt like months. You stopped being excited for work and it was just a reminder of how he wasn't coming back.

Your friends and co-workers noticed and tried to cheer you up but they knew your smile was fake.

~

Another week passed and it was around 4 in the afternoon. It was Sunday so you closed earlier. Last of the customers left and you were cleaning up with your friend while the speakers played soft throwback music.

As you were sweeping you heard the bell as the door slowly opened.

You were too deep into the song to notice, that is until your friend tapped you on your shoulder. "Sweety," they whispered. "Your boy just walked in."

You reluctantly turned to him. His gi was ripped and burnt in places and his beautiful skin had bruises all over. You dropped the broom and cupped your hands over your mouth.

Though he seemed very messed up, he couldn't help the smile on his face.

"Hey (y/n)."

You approached him and gently placed your hand on his bruised arm. "Piccolo? Are you okay? What happened?"

"It's nothing, I'll be fine.",he said. You looked up at him and were a bit reassured by the look in his eyes. You seemed to stare into each other's eyes for a while until you realised that your hand moved down to intertwine with his.

Once you noticed this your hand unintentionally tightened it's grip. Seeing him that way made you hesitant to let him go.

"Soo..." Your friend stepped forward. "You need to sit down or..?"

"Yes actually. I'd like to order if you'll let me."

You almost jumped. "Sure, what'd you like?"

"Surprise me."

[kopykunoichi]

Z Warriors as dog breeds...

Goku: Boxer. Playful and ridiculous. He will go all out until there is nothing left in the tank. He's a lovable idiot and a total attention hog. When push comes to shove, though, he's absolutely fearless and won't give up.

Vegeta: Belgian Malinois. The best athlete of the dog world. Strives for perfection. He's smart and adaptable. Completely loyal to his family, and even though he'll never be the biggest or the strongest, he demands respect.

Piccolo: Turkish Kangal. A livestock guardian dog; he's massive, intelligent, independent, and fiercely protective of his flock. When there's no imminent danger, you'll find him relaxing with his charges, cuddling with their babies, and straightening out the shepherd dogs when they get too rowdy around the kids.

Gohan: Vizsla. Intelligent and totally obsessed with his family. He's incredibly sensitive and will pick up on the mood of everyone around him. He does not enjoy being isolated, he absolutely needs his people to be closeby. He's a willing athlete, and will lay it all on the line for the ones he loves.

Trunks: German Shepherd. A natural leader and incredibly loyal, he will do whatever he needs to do to succeed in his job. He's very loving to his family and works well with others. His strength and intelligence are all in service to the ones he's sworn to protect.

Goten: Doberman. He's lovable and eager to make friends, but if you mess with his family, he gets mad real quick. He likes to be in a pack, pairing well other leaders.

Krillin: Boston Terrier. Don't let his small stature fool you, this guy is a superb athlete. He's energetic and super loyal to his family and friends. He gets along great with others and strives to go beyond the limits of strength.

Yamcha: Siberian Husky. Handsome and chatty, he's loves to be the center of attention. He tends to get into trouble when left alone, functioning better in a large pack with a mature, level-headed leader calling the shots. He's an impressive athlete in his own right, even if he's not the biggest or strongest in the group.

Tien: English Mastiff. Docile and unflappable, he's not prone to losing his temper at the drop of a hat. He has several close friends, but he generally gets along with everyone. He may not be the fastest or most skilled fighter, but he is adept at pinning his enemies to the ground and holding them there.

[fandom-trash-xl]

EPISODE 16: DEGESU

We're approaching final boss turf.

I need to know how significant of a chunk of this series runtime is the franchise recap. Nearly grinding my teeth over this one getting the full episode one version- it wasn't until Jaka Jaan started planning that I was sure I had clicked on the right episode.

That gripe aside, the gang is finally making their way into the dragon's den, Gomah's palace. Degesu, sensing the danger, supposes now's the time to move Baby Dende, who is not taking it lightly.

Before our team can storm the palace, it's time to face off against the Gendarmerie Force, full routine and everything, while Goku and Vegeta get a real bad case of deja mustard deja vu. But, the force didn't get the power scaling memo and are completely outclassed by Vegeta, even with their toughest fireballs (which is deja vu of another variety).

They turn the tables and tie up the loose ends and continue on their quest into enemy territory, but not before Goku mooches potato chips off of one of the Gendarmeries.

Degesu's escape with Dende in the multi-perspective hall of stairs ends up having the Saiyans, Shin, and Piccolo right on his tail... and Panzy not far behind because she senses something's not right.

First off, why does Goku need to do his Instant Transmission pose to sense energy? I suppose it makes sense because they thought Dende's energy would be farther away, but why not make the leap while you're already committed to the two fingers?

Second, was I the only one low-key expecting a Scooby-Doo chase?

They catch up, but Degesu is not above shooting a child for an ultimatum. Or an 82-year-old child. Shin and Degesu make up for a lost millennium of time by having a smarm fest.

I shouldn't have laughed as hard as I did at Goku asking what Shin actually does in his job as Supreme Kai given he had an actual answer instead of it being a "he's bad at his job" joke.

Before we can question why Degesu seemed in a real hurry to leave with Dende, Glorio comes in with the rescue by chucking Chekhov's Silly Hat at him, Panzy making the catch. Dende's real happy to see Goku.

This better not be Panzy's 'I want kids now' moment because we are not demoting another strong female character to housewife and, even with the wacky demon world aging making her older than she looks, any potential ship at the moment would look real weird.

Some of King Kadan's men lead off a tied up Degesu, oddly towards a cliff. The way it was so silent I thought they were about to execute him on screen. Did he get executed off screen???

Task two: Head to the Tamagami!

Meanwhile, Gomah is having an awful time trying to extract the Third Eye from the belt and only has success with a plunger- an idea he gets after his brainstorming piss break.

The heroes find the Tamagami with no Dragon Ball, prompting Arinsu to make her grand reveal- along with Kuu and Duu, both very sleepy.

Glorio's starting to sweat. His boss is here.

Gomah finally gets his Third Eye attached and starts morphing into an absurd size, gritty muscles and everything. Got worried for a moment when he got the horn curl because I thought he was going to turn Janemba-style Tumblr Sexyman... thank goodness it's just Large Gomah.

Next episode: A fantastical battle between the heroes and the Majins. Glorio helping is a good sign... Piccolo's finally taking off the weighted turban and cape, so you know it's getting serious.

I can't help but feel the Glorio betrayal's imminent and even though I sense it coming, it's still going to hurt because that is one of my platonic husbandos right there. I cling to villains as my faves for some reason not because I condone them but because I think they're neat. Throw a morally grey conflicted villain there and you've got me emotionally attached. If he dies, I'm going to be a wreck.

EPISODES WITHOUT KNOWING HANVI'S WHEREABOUTS: 16

Committing to the bit at this point

Also, heads up, if anything big happens in next few episodes, please be wary of spoiling me in asks or anything. Due to my current schedule, I can't watch the weekly episodes until at least 3PM EST. Just assume if I haven't posted my spoiler commentary, I haven't seen it yet. Haven't run into any problems so far, but just putting it out there since it's final battle season.

[gokusclit]

Yeat wrote “perfect, rockin a turban” abt piccolo btw

[tobiasdrake]

So, following your issues with Goku using a mere fraction of his power as an election, there is even more to dig into: The power of base Saiyans seems to plateau by Goku's time in the time chamber; that's peak body, and, from there on, what's left is getting the most of their transformations. And, going by Beerus meeting Goku, the base saiyans seem to have yet to surpass Freeza. Which is still insane by mortal standards; even if the humans had surpassed the Ginyu force, they'd still be a few orders of magnitude behind. Still, "not yet surpassing Freeza" is still "behind Shin and insignificant to Dabra". But there is a mortal who had surpassed Freeza quite significantly. He was noticeable beyond the original batch of Super Saiyans, and we were told he had trained quite a bit beyond his last displayed strenght, even if lagging behind the level standard Super Saiyan now reaches. He is green, wears a turban, and is part of the Daima group. Seriously, this franchise and its tendency to forget that the non-Saiyans are still insanely strong, and that Piccolo in particular is pretty much just behind 4 guys and FAR beyond the historical impossible milestone...

Oh, yeah. Piccolo absolutely gets screwed pretty much from Buu onwards. As soon as he merged with God, Piccolo ran into the same thing that ruined Tenshinhan's relevancy after the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai: He ran out of story to tell.

Piccolo had undergone his redemption arc, he'd explored his origin and reconnected with his people, and he'd reunited with his other half. There was nothing left for him to do, story-wise. And so the series became less interested in featuring him as a prominent character.

This is the same thing that happened to Tenshinhan. The last interesting things Ten had that he could do was surpass and renounce Taopaipai, and be overtaken by Goku in a rematch. Once he did that, that was it. He had officially run out of plot. His story was complete.

And that way goes his relevancy in fighting. Like Ten, Piccolo following his merger became a Warm Body. Someone who can occupy a role if a role needs occupying, but for whom there is no longer any compelling reason why this role should be occupied by him specifically. There is no specific narrative purpose that can be served in using him over any other character. He's just. Available for use when he needs to earn his paycheck.

But Dragon Ball doesn't have a lot of use for Warm Bodies. Usually, when they have a story they want to tell, they have specific characters in mind that they want to tell it with. And so Warm Bodies tend to just be left hanging out nearby while the plot is happening.

[luckykatsranch]

Lissa: there you are! Want some orange juice for a little break?

“That’s much appreciated. However, ya came in just as Louise’s trainin’s finished.” Bailey said to Lissa, bringing something metallic. “And as such, I have a gift.” With that, he gave Louise what he had brought out: a pair of gloves.

“These were made from some old spoons an alakazam gave me as he got new ones, so they’re highly compatible with psychic energy and channeling elemental attacks.” He explained. “If ya focus your psychic powers into these, you can form an assortment of physical objects, like blades or shields. And, with enough practice, you should be able to do the same without these on.”

@micheleandlissasblog