#soaring penguin

[browsethestacks]

If Pixar Made The Penguin TV Series

Art by Gabriel Soares

[sundove88]

Countdown to Christmas- Day 14- Peso @ham-sandwich-lol and @snowflakepenguin14

Day 14 has Peso Penguin of the Octonauts, who has been given a jet pack for Christmas!

Who said that penguins can’t fly? No one!

After all, when you have a dream in your heart, chase it all the way and don’t stop.

It’s been such a great time with this series, and I can’t believe we’re almost halfway to Christmas!

[theomenmedia]

The Penguin Episode 5 Posts Record Opening Night Numbers For The Series

"The Penguin" Episode 5 flies high with a record-breaking 1.8M viewers! Dive into the dark heart of Gotham with Oz.

Read the full article here: https://www.theomenmedia.com/post/the-penguin-soars-to-new-heights-episode-5-hits-record-viewership

[roscolate]

YEAHHHH THE GOATED COMIC IS BACK

THIS WHOLE PART WAS JUST SO COOL AND EPIC?? LIKE OH MY GOD??

ACT 1

ACT 2

ACT 3 - 1 <<< 24 / ⚡️ / ???

I AM SO SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG!

At first I meant to take a tiny break to play Brothership. But then I had to start my save all over again due to it accidentally getting overwritten, and then I got a whole lotta comms at once, and then the holidays hit, and now I’m out of a job and

🤯

I just wanna draw 🥺

Besides the troubles-

Hehehehehe KP and Luigi finally see each other again. Huehuehuehue….

Tick tock, my friends. Tick tock….

Also, I DID have music in mind for this moment, but the track I like is not really available, so take the scene that has the soundtrack I wanted to link (funnily enough this scene also inspired this part of the comic)

[downthetubes]

In Memoriam: Comic Creator Tobias Taitt

We're sorry to report the death of storyteller Tobias Taitt, writer of BLACK, the powerful autobiographical serial first published in Aces Weekly over many volumes, illustrated by Anthony Smith

We’re sorry to report the death of storyteller Umar Abdullah, formerly known as Tobias Taitt, writer of BLACK, the powerful autobiographical serial first published in Aces Weekly over many volumes, illustrated by Anthony Smith, later published by Soaring Penguin Press as a graphic novel. He was 57. As a black youth growing up, Tobias Taitt, a second-generation Windrush, brought to the UK by a…

[graphicpolicy]

Soaring Penguin Press Inks an Exclusive Distribution Deal with Diamond Book Distributors

Soaring Penguin Press Inks an Exclusive Distribution Deal with Diamond Book Distributors #comics

Diamond Book Distributors has announced that it has signed a worldwide distribution agreement, excluding the United Kingdom, with Soaring Penguin Press. This agreement will see Soaring Penguin Press products exclusively distributed to North American and international book markets, as well as to the comic book specialty market through Diamond Comic Distributors. Soaring Penguin Press, a UK-based…

[balu8]

Peter Pan by Regis Loisel

Soaring Penguin Press

[montereybayaquarium]

Penguin 101: Flying

We’re diving into the weekend like a penguin on a mission 🫡 Penguins may not fly in the air, but they soar through the water like underwater aviators at swimming speeds up to 12 miles per hour! Learn more about penguin flying style with senior aviculturist Kim 🐧 🌊 ✈️

[yuuhta]

pairing: gojou satoru/reader

words: 408

notes: this is sfw, soulmate au ish! really short, just had to get the feels out! y/n and gojou r immortal beings AND their kind of species mate 4 life! (like geese, wolves, penguins, etc.)

for beings like you and satoru, eternity stretches vast and endless for the rest of ur lives, a horizon that will never ever fade. at the same time, your kind is unique, bound by an ancient instinct--once you choose a mate, it is forever. like geese soaring together through the skies, migrating across vast landscapes, always returning to one another no matter the distance, or like penguins braving icy winters side by side, huddling together for warmth and enduring the harshest of conditions to protect each other, your kind knows no second loves. there is no wavering, no room for doubt. the bond is absolute, eternal, unbreakable.

but eternity isn’t as romantic as mortals imagine. centuries passed before you met satoru, centuries of watching humans live and love. they seemed so fleeting, their lives fragile as frost on grass at dawn. yet that fragility gave their connections a beauty you couldn’t simply ignore.

they loved as if their lives depended on it.... perhaps because maybe it did.

when you met satoru, it wasn’t the grand moment you had imagined over countless years. there was no dreamy thought of like oh my gosh, finally, the stars aligned, no thunderous proclamation of destiny. it was, instead, a bit mundane.

he bumped into you on a crowded street, spilling his drink on your coat.

“oh, crap,” he said, staring at you with wide, guilty eyes before hastily taking out a handkerchief.

you only blinked at him, unimpressed that he was touching you.

you were annoyed at the act, even though his handkerchief and your clothing were in between your skin and his. an apology would have been enough.

“what are you doing?”

“trying to fix this,” he said, dabbing at your coat with the enthusiasm of a toddler cleaning a crayon disaster. “don’t worry, it’s just coffee--"

"stop." you quietly said with a frown.

it just suddenly came to you: the bond snapping into place like threads of silk pulled taut. there was no denying it, no second-guessing. the connection between you was older than time itself, written into your very existence.

“oh,” he said, realization also hitting him. then, with a smirk, “finally.”

“you’re my mate?” you blurted, incredulous

“what, disappointed?”

“maybe a little.”

he burst into laughter, the sound filling the air like sunlight, and despite yourself, you smiled.

and yet, beneath that warmth, a question lingered.

because while the bond was absolute, its success wasn’t guaranteed.

--

note: i got inspired by a rlly cute and romantic video between two geese like . my heart fucken hurts !! this is v short tho, i just had to get this out of my head, maybe i'll add more when i have the time bcs i LOVE LOVE soulmate au skfbhhghsksk ALSO, i am actually v torn on which is better, the ephemeral love between humans or the kind of love between immortals that mate 4 life...... lmk which u think is better so maybe it can help me make up my mind lol i alr have an idea for a part 2 and 3 ..... frothing in the mouth

[poke-me-with-a-stick]

Penguin Danny would gladly travel to the highest peaks to slide down in a speed of 80 Miles per hour down to take fight

Being a penguin is great for many reasons, Danny thinks. The insulated feathers allow for better comfort in the snow, not that his ice core didn't help with that already. Adult penguins were ten times more attentive than his own parents, which was an awesome plus.

But most of all, being a penguin meant that his body was incredibly aerodynamic. Sledding down steep slopes on his stomach was way more fun that any sled he had ever used! And the higher he went, the faster he got!

The only issue being, the teen really needed to pay closer attention to the bottom of the slope. He cursed himself as he neared the bottom, having found the highest snowy peak yet and managed to make his way to the top before any of those puffy coated people could herd him back towards the colony.

He fully blames his baby mind, completely disregarding the fact that he was fully cognate at the moment. The teen braced himself as he felt the ground slope upwards slightly, sending his extremely fast moving body soaring.

Distantly, he could hear the alarmed cries of the puffy coats, as well as the distress from the costumed children that had been chasing the GIW off. It didn't really matter, though. All he could focus on was the weightless feeling of flight. It had been a while since he had flown, not wanting to risk hurting himself if his ghost powers fizzled out or something, so he thinks he can be excused for the fact when gravity took hold again, he barely noticed.

He only noticed when his flipper clipped the side of a GIW agent's head. The action sent the man to the ground, and completely threw off Danny's trajectory, sending the teen beak-first into a decently deep snow drift.

Crunching snow alerted him to someone's presence before the warm grip of gloved hands around his midsection, but he still wiggled in surprise as he was gently tugged grew of the snow. Shaking his head, Danny looked over to the traffic light child beside him, who was looking him over for any injuries.

The teen couldn't resist patting the cloaked figure's head with his flipper, before he turned back towards the slope he had just come down. Not that the initial shock was wearing off, the only thing that Danny wanted to do was get back up there and try again. Maybe he could stay in the air a little longer this time, without the moron in white in his way!

As he waddled off as fast as he could, Robin shook himself out of his own shock and hurried after the large baby penguin. Like Hell was he letting that happen again!

[fanaticsnail]

Donquixote Rosinante's Journey with Modern Slang

Masterlist here.

Mild background context: Law's skills as a doctor saved a person with the devil-fruit with the ability grant a single wish. Law used that wish to bring back Donquixote "Corazon" Rosinante as he was: lying in the snow and unresponsive. He wanted the chance to use what he's learnt to save him, and save him he does. Both now in their 20s, Rosi is adjusting and attempting to learn the current slang to relate to his grown son. Enjoy crack dialogue.

Notes: Coming from a conversation had with @feral-artistry in a resurrection au.

Tag List: @sordidmusings @since-im-already-here @writingmysanity @gingernut1314 @carrotsunshine @cinnbar-bun @vespidphoenix

(Image link)

Rosi: "So, I went on a date last night and no cap: was lit, my guy."

Law: 😑

Rosi: "So we were being extra and had some bevs, which high key slapped. Then we ubered to the gig because she had mad FOMO, but then she ghosted me for flexing?"

Law: 😑😑

Rosi: "But then we found each other again, and I asked her out and she was like 'aight, bet,' which I'll take a 'W' when I'm offered one."

Law: 😑😑😑

Rosi: "Gee, kid. No need to throw shade when I'm spilling the tea! You're acting sus. Salty 'coz I got clout. So, anyway. It was a lit night-."

Law: "Dad, C'mon!!!"

The rest of the heart pirates barely holding in their laughter throughout the entire interaction, Shachi throwing Rosi thumbs ups every time he uses slang in the appropriate way, while Penguin keeps gesturing for Rosi to start 'mewing' to piss off Law more.

Although Law pretends he hates it, each time he hears Rosinante speak: his heart soars at the knowledge that his dad is back with him - no matter how embarrassing it is.

[iamnot-crazy]

A Pirates Choice Part 2

Part 1

a/n: I wanted to say I do have plans for this part two to have two options maybe 3. But I really wanted to get this part out now that the recent One Piece episode was released so yes this chapter does contain spoilers for that episode. Anyway please enjoy I did cry while writing this which means that this chapter has to be one of my good ones.

This chapter is not all sad though there are a few sweet moments.

Trafalgar Law x f!reader

TW: This story contains mentions of sexual assault, unwanted pregnancy, and loss.

****

Your thoughts swarm as you ponder Law's words while he hovers above you awaiting your response.

“What I want?” your voice cracks as you tear up looking up at your captain.

Law nodded, “I promise we can work out whatever you choose.” He encourages you wiping away the stray tear off your cheek.

You nodded and in that moment Law knew your answer and pulled your head into his chest gripping you tightly.

Law kept his promise and when you finally calmed down the two of you went over options. You decided that you were going to find your new home in Dressrosa. You both figured that it would be far enough removed from the government without the dangers of a lawless island and you could help the country regrow itself.

Law informed Hakugan that they would be temporarily changing course. It would take a bit longer than expected but Law assured to see your safe landing on Dressrosa was worth pausing his expedition to the one piece.

However, your trip was cut short.

The Polar Tang bucked and groaned beneath you as cannonballs slammed into its hull. Chaos reigned on the bridge. Crew members scrambled, faces etched with fear, while Law's voice, sharp and commanding, cut through the din. "Make for the nearest island!"

You stumbled your way onto the bridge, “What is going on?” You shouted over the ruckus.

Law’s eyes darted up to meet yours, a storm of worry and determination reflected in their depths. “Blackbeard,” He gritted out, bracing himself against the lurching vessel.

Adrenaline surged through you as the sub tilted dangerously. Water began seeping in through cracks in the hull. You joined the frantic struggle to cover the cracks. The sub swiftly steered towards the nearest island and the water pouring in slowed as the sub surface.

Everyone dashed to the door to ready their fight on the island. You followed suit, but a strong hand clamped down on your shoulder, halting you in your tracks. Law’s stern gaze met yours. "You're staying here," he growled.

Shock and defiance warred within you. "What?!" you exclaimed, wrenching your shoulder free. "It's Blackbeard!” You paused quickly hiding your fear behind a reassuring smile, “I'm not missing out on the fun." A forced laugh escaped your lips as you tried to mask the fear creeping up your spine. But as you turned your back toward your captain your fear quickly resurfaced and etched itself on your face.

The blinding sunlight forced you to shield your eyes as you stumbled onto the beach, Law's figure a blur behind you. Blackbeard, a monstrous silhouette, soared above on a grotesque, winged beast. Before he could land, Law met him with a barrage of room-based attacks.

Your attention snapped to Jesus, the user of the Strong Strong Fruit. Mountains were yanked from the ground and hurtling towards your allies. With a fierce cry, you coated your sword in Haki and leaped into the air, cleaving the oncoming disaster in half. A triumphant grin spread across your face as you landed, meeting Law's approving gaze. Pregnancy hadn't dulled your edge, it seemed.

Law's orders echoed through the chaos as he dispatched Penguin and Shachi to the sea, and Hakugan to the Polar Tang. Then, the earth convulsed beneath you. Blackbeard's Tremor Tremor Fruit was unleashing its fury. You were pinned to the ground, the world a jarring, chaotic blur. Fear gnawed at you as you struggled to breathe, the full extent of Blackbeard's power a terrifying reality.

Desperation fueled your attempt to rise, your instincts to protect your stomach and child from damage distracted you from the monstrous boulder hurtled towards you. Law's anguished cry was a distant echo as your world shattered. The impact was a cataclysmic force, ripping you from the earth. Your body was a helpless puppet, tossed and turned by an unseen hand. The ground itself seemed to revolt, rising in jagged walls that met you with unforgiving brutality.

Your body finally came to a jarring halt, and the extent of your injuries became painfully clear. The worst was concentrated on your abdomen. The fabric of your shirt was shredded, revealing a gaping wound that stretched across your slightly risen belly. Law’s face contorted in horror as he took in the sight. He knew, with a cold dread, that your child’s fate was grim. You weren't wearing the protective gear the crew usually donned, but one of Law's oversized hoodies. Now, the once comfortable fabric was tattered and useless, fluttering in the wind.

Law’s mind drifted back to the day you’d claimed the hoodie. Exhausted from a day at the helm, he’d retreated to his quarters, only to find you rummaging through his closet. A smirk tugged at his lips as he approached, amused by the sight. “What are you doing?” he asked, his voice laced with playful curiosity.

You jumped, startled by his presence. Your face flushed as you stammered out an explanation, a nervous smile playing on your lips. “Ah! Uh, Captain... I thought you’d be out a little longer.”

“That doesn’t answer my question,” Law replied, a playful smirk gracing his lips as he perched on the edge of his bed.

You groaned, turning back to his closet and rummaging through the clothes. "My suits are getting harder to hide this bump, and Shachi's starting to catch on to my suit-borrowing habit," you explained, pulling out a hoodie. You slipped it over your undershirt and turned to your captain for approval.

Law chuckled, “You know if you go out wearing my hoodie, everyone is just going to think that we are in a relationship.” he teased, raising an eyebrow.

You roll your eyes and scrunch your nose at the comment slipping the hoodie off and throwing it into a pile on his bed before turning back to the closet, “As awful as that sounds, it's better than them finding out I’m pregnant.”

Law sighed, grabbed the hoodie, and began folding it neatly. “Why are you so concerned about them finding out?” he asks with a gentle tone.

You paused your search, a thoughtful expression crossing your face “Because then they will see me as weak.” you replied, your voice soft. Resuming your search, you pulled out one of his long coats. A playful smirk spread across your lips as you turned to face him. The coat nearly touched the floor, engulfing you.

Law shook his head in amusement, but his expression turned disapproving. You removed the coat and playfully tossed it at him, covering his face. He pulled the coat off his face, “You are one of the strongest fighters of the crew no one is going to think you are weak even for a second.”

“They will when they find out how it happened.” You spoke coldly gripping the next item tightly.

Law noticed the action and stood up to grab your arm. “Y/n what happened does not make you weak,” he spoke softly in your ear as your back pressed against his chest.

You frowned gently releasing the fabric and placing your hand over his. A sigh escaped your lips as you relaxed into his touch. “The only two people who know about the… event. is you and Ikkaku. And both of you already look at me differently. I don’t think I can handle it when the rest of the crew starts looking at me like that.” You admitted, avoiding his gaze.

Law looks down at you in surprise, “I don’t look at you differently.” he defended. You shook your head, and his frown deepened. He grabbed your shoulders, gently spinning you to face you, “Okay, maybe I do look at you differently, but it’s not because I think you're weak.”

Your gaze met his, and you absorbed his words. “I know that what happened was awful, but it showed that you are much braver than I could ever imagine. You saved those other women, and you protected Ikkaku. I’m worried you’re bottling things up is unhealthy, but I think it shows how much you care about everyone around you.” Law pauses as he looks into your eyes, “If I am looking at you differently it's because you've been amazing me.” a blush crept on his face as he watched your eyes search his face.

Law’s eyes widened in horror as he watched your body convulse on the ground. A low groan escaped your lips as your hand instinctively moved towards your stomach, a look of pure terror etched on your face. His heart pounded in his chest as he lunged towards you, the desperate need to protect both you and your child consuming him.

His path was disrupted when Blackbeard landed on the island, his arrival a jarring interruption. Law's attention was torn between your desperate state and the looming threat. A growl erupted from his throat as he glared at the pirate, his mind racing with a thousand different plans. Blackbeard, sensing an opportunity, swung his fist, forcing Law to defend himself. The pirate’s blow sent him crashing across the beach, his body slamming into the unforgiving sand.

A blood-curdling scream tore from your throat, your focus solely on your injured abdomen. Then, with a feral snarl, your head snapped up, and your eyes locked on the monstrous pirate. Adrenaline coursed through your veins as you launched yourself at Blackbeard, your Haki-coated sword a blur. You connected with his chest, the impact sending a thrill of satisfaction through you.

Blackbeard vain throbbed in his forehead as he looked down at you with surprise and irritation as you seemingly disappeared into the next attack. He swung his arm toward you but you easily dodged his attack and appeared beside him slashing at his open side. He hissed as his hand instinctively reached for his injured side, granting you a guttural growl from the pirate.

You took no moment to relish in his anger but allowed another feral scream to roar out of your chest as you dive into another attack. This time the pirate captain stopped you in your tracks by grabbing your throat and lifting you to his eye level. You dropped your sword as you clawed at his massive arm terror and desperation warred within you as you gasped for air.

A twisted smile crept across Blackbeard’s face as he looked down at you, your face soaked in tears and contorted in fear. “Wow, you are a spiteful one!” He sneered but his mockery was cut short by the blue-coated end of Law’s sword pierced through his chest. A look of shock and disbelief flashed across his face as he dropped you to the ground.

Law’s voice echoed through the air as he unleashed his attack, his blade now crackling with yellow electricity. Blackbeard faltered to the ground, his gaze now fixed on the enraged bloodied doctor. With a swift motion, Law pulled up the ground beneath him, transforming it into a deadly threat that spun around him as he launched himself at his opponent.

You groaned in agony, clutching your injured abdomen. You tried to look up towards the fight but were only met with the pitch darkness of Blackbeard's Black vortex. When the darkness that enveloped the battlefield dissipated your eyes quickly searched for your captain.

Law was on the ground covered in blood. His usual snarky demeanor was replaced with one of raw fear as Blackbeard hovered above him tauntingly. Ignoring the pain you pushed yourself off the ground. Your vision blurred, and your legs trembled, but you refused to give in. You raised your sword and shouted for the pirate gaining his attention. He turned to look over at you but laughed seeing your state. “Do you really want to keep fighting me? When you look like that!”

You straightened yourself as you held your sword up confidently, “For my captain. I will do anything. Even die.” You declare, your voice filled with a fierce resolve.

Blackbeard's expression shifted, a flicker of surprise and perhaps even respect crossing his face as his eyes drifted down toward your slightly raised belly. "Y/n... don't," Law coughed, his voice weak but filled with a desperate plea for you to stay out of the fight. Blackbeard smirked, relishing in Law's vulnerability.

But before either of you could react, a shockwave erupted from the Heart Pirates' side. The ground trembled as a monstrous figure emerged - Bepo transformed into a colossal, enraged beast. Twice his normal size, his fur was pure white, and his eyes glowed an ominous red. With a thunderous roar, he charged towards Blackbeard's crew, his voice echoing across the island. "Don't touch my captain!”

"Y/n," Law coughed, his voice barely a whisper. You fell to your knees beside him, taking his hand in yours. "Save yourself," he begged, his eyes filled with a desperation you'd never seen before.

You shook your head, bringing his hand to your lips and pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles. "Thank you, Law," you whispered, tears streaming down your face. "For everything." A bitter smile tugged at your lips. "I'm sorry," you managed to say before pushing yourself to your feet. Bepo was already returning to his normal size, his exhausted breaths a stark contrast to his previous ferocity.

Bepo collapsed to the ground, his knees buckling beneath him. Tears streamed down his face as he looked at his Brother. You rushed to his side, helping him to his feet. "You need to get him away from here," you urged, your voice trembling. Bepo nodded, his determination unwavering.

You turned to face Blackbeard as he pushed himself up from the ground Bepo pounded him into, your heart pounding in your chest as you swallowed a painful lump in your throat "And don't let him see what happens next," you whispered, a single tear escaping your eye as you come to terms with your fate.

Bepo's breath hitched in his chest as he realized the gravity of your words. Fear gripped him, but he couldn't find his voice. "GO NOW!" you screamed, your voice filled with desperation. Bepo nodded, tears streaming down his face. Scooping Law into his arms, he turned and ran towards the sea. You took one last look at the two before shifting your attention back to the pirate crew and jumping into your attack.

"Bepo, please!" Law cried out, his voice filled with anguish as they fled. "I can't leave them! I can't let y/n!" His sobs echoed in the air. Blackbeard's cruel laughter filled the silence as he held your lifeless body aloft. Bepo's heart shattered as he dived into the water, blocking the horrifying sight from Law's view.

Law finally was consumed by the darkness allowing Bepo to take him far away from the island and out of Blackbeard's clutches.

[alphynix]

Spectember 2023 #04: Some Aukward Birds

An anonymous submitter asked for a "penguin/auk-like relative of Pelagornis":

Odontopinguinus vomitus represents an unusal early branch of the pelagornithids that didn't take up long-distance soaring, instead specializing for a pursuit diving lifestyle convergently similar to that of the contemporaneous early penguins, and the later auks and plotopterids.

About 1.2m tall (~4'), it has a more slender spear-like beak than its relatives, with forward-pointing pseudotooth serrations. Like other pelagornithids these "teeth" are fairly fragile, so it feeds primarily on soft-bodied fish and squid, pursuing them underwater with wing-propelled underwater "flight".

Much like procellariiformes they're also rather stinky birds, producing musky preen oil and projectile vomiting foul-smelling stomach contents at threats and rivals.

———

And another anon wanted to see a "big flightless marine duck":

Thalassonetta anambulatus is descended from the already mostly-flightless steamer ducks. At around 2m long (6'6") it's massive for a waterfowl, with vestigial wings and large webbed feet used to propel itself while diving.

With its rather elongated and heavy body and loon-like leg configuration it's no longer able to walk on land – and it's actually almost fully aquatic, only awkwardly hauling out into isolated island beaches to molt and breed.

It feeds mainly on molluscs, crustaceans, and other marine invertebrates, using the large lamellae in its bill to strain them out of soft seafloor sediments.

[cozage]

Hi. How are you? Can I put in a request for Law x Corazon’s daughter? Corazon asks Law to take care of his wife and daughter (she is his age) if anything were to happen to him. After Corazon dies, Law finds them and stays with them before becoming a pirate and promises to visit. As the years go by, he falls for her and vice versa. Then after Dressrosa (which she helps them with), he asks her to join the crew.

A/N: Im great! anyway…Uhhhh yeah this got way long. I’m not mad about it. I hope it was worth the wait for you :) (you can also read it on AO3 if you dont like the tumblr format for long posts)

Characters: female reader x Law

Cw: sadness, abandonment, parent death

Total word count: 5.2k

A Lifetime Promise

You pout at the boy standing in front of you. “Who are you?” 

Your mom squeezed your hand to silence you. “You must be Trafalgar Law,” She said, smiling at the boy. She seemed tense, like she’s scared of something.

“You have a funny hat,” you remark, looking at the spots. They matched his skin, which was patch-worked like the cows you had at home. 

“You have a funny face,” he spits back, scowling at you. 

You stick your tongue out at him, and your mother picks you up and holds you on her hip. 

“Well, Law. Let’s get you settled into your new home.”

“What?!” you shriek, looking at your mother. “I don’t want him to live with us! He’s mean! And scary looking!”

“Quiet, Y/N!” Your mother hissed at you, squeezing you tighter to her. You could tell she was upset, but you weren’t entirely sure what you had done to make her so sad. So you kept quiet and let your mother lead the strange boy back to your house.

He stayed with you for a few years, and in that time you learned to coexist. You helped him study, and you were there when he got the last drop of lead poisoning out of his system. Both of you cried for the things you had lost and the things you had gained, and you learned to actually enjoy being around him and his friends. 

You spent the summers roaming the forests with Law, Shachi, Penguin, and Bepo, and you spent the winter huddled together in front of a lowly lit fireplace, your mother serving you all hot chocolate. It was heaven in the North Blue Sea, and you never wanted it to end. You all would be together forever, you were certain.

“One week from now, we’re setting out.” He had acquired a small boat, big enough for four people. “We’re going to take on the Grand Line and I’m going to be King of the Pirates.”

“It’ll be a tight fit, but we can all fit I think,” you said, examining the boat. One more person wouldn’t be that much weight.

Law shot you a look, and the other members exchanged looks nervously. They had been anticipating an argument, but they weren’t expecting it to be in front of them. 

“You’re not coming, Y/N-ya.”

You looked at him, trying to understand. Your goals have always been aligned. Go to the Grand Line and take down the Donquixote family. To take revenge for your father and for Law. 

“A pirate's life is a man’s life. You wouldn’t fit in. We all talked about it, and you’re better off staying here. Where you’re safe.” 

“I don’t want to be safe, Law,” you cried, your eyes filling with tears. “I want to be with you! We had plans!”

“Plans change.”

“You’re really going to leave me behind?” Your broken voice and bleary eyes were almost enough to change his mind. 

“I never promised to take you with me,” he snapped. He tried to ignore the pain in his chest when you ran away crying, but the dull ache didn’t go away.

The coldness between the two of you was worse than any winter storm you had ever encountered. He said goodbye when he thought you were asleep, and you laid there silently without responding. It was easier for you both that way. 

--

He didn’t return for another year, and when you saw the pirate flag the four of you had created now painted on a submarine, your heart soared. 

“Law!” You screamed, jumping onto the deck as if it were second nature. 

You leaped into his arms for a hug and he caught you, spinning you around with the momentum you both had gathered. 

“I missed you,” he whispered, clutching you close to him. 

Your heart skipped a beat. “Let me come with you this time!” 

His hands gripped tighter against your back, grabbing fists of fabric from your cloth dress. 

“Just kidding!” You say quickly, not wanting to pick up a year old fight. You scrunch your nose at him and your other three friends. “I bet you guys smell. So. Bad.”

Everyone laughs at that, and you pull away from Law nervously, hugging your other friends who you’ve missed just as much. 

Their visit was short, but you made the most out of the two days they stayed in port. You showed them new restaurants, and revisited some of your old adventures, and explored the marketplace with Law to make dinner for your mom one night. 

And when they left, you stood at the cliffside and waved until they were out of sight, praying their telescope wasn’t good enough to see the tears in your eyes.

--

It was three and a half years until Trafalgar Law came back to you, but it felt like a lifetime. You had learned to live with the pain of his absence, and tried your best to move on. But every time the light glimmered on the ocean, you could feel your heart calling out to him. 

Law came quietly that time. He was surprised when he looked for you at your usual spots and you weren’t anywhere to be found. He wandered the streets with his crew - now 7 strong - searching for you. 

“She’s down in the Trademark Hotel. She works the front desk now, dear,” an elderly woman at a stall said. 

He tried not to quicken his pace, but everyone could feel his speed increase, and worked to match it. His new crew was desperate to see the girl he returned home to, and his old crew members missed your face. 

He rushed in to see you standing at the desk, talking to a man who was dressed in a fancy suit. You laughed, and Law could feel his heart clench with joy at the sound of your voice. He couldn’t help but see a piece of Corazon in your smile now.

Your eyes slid over to the door to greet the new customers, and you screamed out upon realization of his identity, startling the man beside you. 

“Law!” You jumped over the desk and he opened his arms for an embrace as you ran to him. He held you in his arms for just a moment before you pulled away, and he reluctantly let you go. 

“Oh my god, this is perfect timing!” you squealed, running back to grab the man’s hand. “Jami, this is Law. You remember me talking about him, right?”

“Yeah…” the man eyed Law and his crew. “The pirate crew?”

You laughed. “And my best friend!”

“He’s more like your brother, isn’t he?” He smirked. “Since you were raised together.”

“We’re not siblings,” both you and Law said at the same time, and you laughed at your synchronicity, but Law’s eyes stayed fixed on the man.

Law frowned, looking between you and this stranger. He had his arm wrapped around your waist, and he was standing extremely close to you. It was clear you all were close, but Law had never seen him before. He was glaring at Law, as if he expected some sort of challenge from the pirate.  

You took a deep breath, and then broke the news. “Law, this is my boyfriend, Jamison.”

Law’s eyes widened at the news. You were too preoccupied waving to Shachi and the others, but it was enough for Jamison to see his visible reaction. 

“The three of us should have dinner tonight,” Jamison said, looking at Law with a smirk. “If you can leave your crew for that long.”

“No way! Everyone needs to come.” You pressed your hand against Jamison’s chest playfully, and Law felt something twist inside of him. “You have new people in your life too, Law. Introduce us!”

Law finally breaks his gaze from Jamison and looks at you, his jealousy melting away when he sees your smile. Things felt more normal when he looked at you and heard your voice.

“I’ll set up a reservation at the hotel restaurant for ten. Oh, and mom. So eleven. Does five o’clock sound okay?”

“Perfect.” He smiled back at you, and for a moment you were alone together in a crowded room. 

Jamison cleared his throat, bringing you both back to the group. He looked at Law and his crew. “The dress code is a bit more…” he paused to scan the pirates. “...Formal. I hope you have nicer clothes available than those.”

Law frowns, and he sees you mimic his own facial expression in response to Jamison’s words. “I think the Trademark can make exceptions for distinguished guests.” you said sweetly. 

“Darling,” the man hissed, squeezing your side causing you to flinch. “The Trademark has a reputation to uphold, don’t you think?”

Law resisted the urge to punch the man right then and there. If he stepped in now, you would only be angry about his interference. He knew he had to grit his teeth and let you handle it. He fully expected you to give some snarky remark back to Jamison and stand up for yourself and his crew. But the spunk he remembered you having seemed to have dissipated over the years, and your rebelling heart was more soft spoken than he remembered. 

You offered a compromise instead of a fight. “Then we’ll go to Cordelia’s.” 

“I don’t think Cordelia’s is the proper place for this occasion,” Jamison retaliated.

“Then don’t come.” Your voice was short and to the point, and Law could see the fire of defiance begin to relight in your eyes. 

“Cordelia’s sounds lovely,” Law interjected quickly before the fight escalated too much. “Still five?”

You gave him a tight smile and a quick nod, and then broke from Jamiston’s hold to run and wrap your arms around Law’s neck again. 

“It really is so good to see you again, Law.”

He held you tight for a moment, trying to remember the feeling of your body against his before he let go. “You too. See you at five,” he said, walking out the door. 

When Law arrived at Cordelia’s, he noticed the table was only set for ten, but nobody in his crew commented on it. Law kept the seat next to him open, in hopes that you would take it rather than your snotty boyfriend. But as it turned out, he didn’t need to worry about it. Only you and your mother showed. 

“Sorry I’m late!” you say, taking the seat beside Law without a second thought. 

“You’re always late,” Law teased. 

You waved him off, rolling your eyes at him. You leaned over so you could see his three new crew members. “I’m Y/N,” you said. “I’m so sorry I didn’t officially introduce myself earlier! I was just so overwhelmed with seeing Law and Shachi and Penguin and Bepo!”

“She didn’t even acknowledge us earlier,” Penguin said under his breath, causing Law to shoot him a glare. 

The rest of Law’s crew introduced themselves, and you spent a lot of time asking about them and their lives. Law could feel your nervous energy, like you were interviewing celebrities or famous royalty. You wanted to know everything about their lives and how they became a pirate, and by the time dessert rolled around, there was no time left to talk about yourself. 

“Can I walk you back to your place?” Law asked as you got up from the table after the meal. 

“Such a gentleman!” you gasped, feigning surprise. “Heart Pirate crew, it was lovely to meet you. Please come back anytime! You’re always welcome here.”

Law held out his arm and you grinned as you took it, overly dramatic in your actions. You walked down the cobblestoned streets in the moonlight, quiet for a while until Law broke the silence. 

“No Jamison for dinner?” he questioned innocently. 

You scowled. “I don’t want to talk about him,” you replied. “Jami always says Cordelia’s is our spot. He doesn’t like to share with other people.”

“He doesn’t seem like-”

“Law,” you warn, irritation creeping into your voice. “I really don’t want to talk about him right now.”

“Okay, fine.” He eyed you, but your face was completely unreadable. He wasn’t sure when he had lost the ability to read your emotions, but it saddened him now. 

“Can we go to the harbor before you take me home?”

“Of course, Milady,” he said, ushering you towards the sea wall at the bottom of the hill. 

You all sat on the wall, staring at the moon and its reflection against the ocean. 

“Tell me a story, Law.” It was something you used to say when you were kids. On the nights one of you had such terrible nightmares that you woke up crying, and the other would crawl into bed with the other. You always begged him to make up some kind of story to get your mind off of things. He was a good storyteller. 

He chuckled. “We’re a bit old for that, don’t you think?” He looked over at you, but your eyes were on the sea, deep in thought. 

“Tell me a real story, then.”

He obliged, of course. He’d do anything for you. Keep her happy and keep her safe. That’s what Corazon had asked of Law when he was a child. A lifelong promise for the man who gave him a life worth living. 

He told you the story of giant bees who hated humans, but loved Bepo’s fur. The crew had to make trades of honey for Bepos fur, and how it saved them from starvation and left Bepo half bald. 

“That can’t be true!” you giggled, pushing him away from you. “Tell me a true story!”

“It’s true! I swear!” He said, smirking at you. 

“Promise?” you looked up at him with wide eyes, desperately wanting to believe him.

He was about to respond, but your gaze distracted him. You all stared at each other for a few moments, hovering close to each other. Not touching, just out of reach.

“Take me to sail with you, Trafalgar Law,” you begged. “I won’t ask for anything ever again. Just take me with you.”

He desperately wanted to take you away from this island, from the man who claimed to love you and the mediocre job you worked. But he made a promise. 

“I can’t,” he whispers, and you can hear the pain he's causing himself in rejecting you. 

You pull away, breaking your eye contact with him to stare out into the sea. You want to cry, but no tears would come. You were expecting this response from him. You were expecting rejection from him. It still stung, but not as much as you were anticipating. 

“Okay,” you say with a nod, pushing down your sadness. “I won’t ask you again.”

You rise to your feet, and turn your back to the ocean and your best friend, and walk into your house on the dock. Law didn’t even have time to beg you to stay before you had vanished into the night. 

Law found your house the next morning with the help of a friend of yours. Of course, Jamison answered the door with that signature cocky sneer on his face. 

“She’s not feeling well,” he said, glancing at the back room. “How about you try again tomorrow?”

“We’re leaving tomorrow,” Law says, trying to push past the man. “I need to see her before we go.”

“I’ll send her your way if she’s feeling up to it, okay?” He starts to shut the door, but Law jams his foot into the opening to prevent it from closing completely. 

“I need to see her.”

“No, you don’t,” Jamison said, kicking Law’s foot out of the doorway. “I don’t need my future wife being influenced by a bunch of pirates. Your presence is bad for her. You make her rude and disobedient.” He pauses to look out to the harbor, and his smirk returns. “You might want to hurry, it looks like some Navy ships got a tip about a notorious pirate crew on this island. Wouldn’t want you to get caught.”

Law looks to the harbor and finds 10 marine ships on the horizon, and he takes off towards his crew, cursing the coward you’re with. 

“I’ll be back,” Law whispers into the air as he runs for his ship. “I promise.”

--

Law finally made it back to you two years later, praying that you wouldn’t be giving him another major life update when he found you again. He was terrified that he’d come back to you and you’d be engaged to that pompous ass - or even worse, married. He wanted you to be happy, but he knew you weren’t happy with that man.

The crew could sense his tenseness in the days leading up to the arrival on their home island. But nobody talked about it, until Shachi finally went into his office as they docked.

“Are you going to ask her this time?” He demanded. “You know she’ll say yes.”

“I don’t want her on the ship,” Law said. He didn’t even bother to look up from his book. 

“Bullshit,” Shachi replied. “You have Ikkaku here now too. You can’t even use that stupid “No Girls Allowed” rule.”

Law didn’t respond. It had been what he told you years ago, and he had to admit he was a little nervous to see how you’d respond to seeing a woman on his crew. 

“Captain,” Shachi said, walking over to his desk. “Ask her.”

Law finally looked up from his book. “I’ll consider it.”

When they docked, Law was the first off the ship. The others didn’t bother to follow him, they knew they’d see you soon enough. 

He made a beeline for the Trademark, and was surprised to find that there had been a name change in the past year and a half. 

It was now the Heart Hotel.

He walked into the lobby, but your smiling face wasn’t the one to greet him, and his heart sunk. A young woman sat at the front desk, but it wasn’t you.

“Hello, how can I help you today sir?” Her voice was high pitched and overenthusiastic, but Law couldn’t tell if she was genuine or not. 

“I’m looking for Y/N.” Law said, looking around. “Does she still work here?”

The girl at the front desk laughed at his question, but Law didn’t understand why. 

“Let me go get her. Please wait right here. What business do you have with her today?”

Law frowned, unsure how to answer the question. “Personal, I guess?”

The girl nodded and receded into a back room. A moment later he heard your voice cry out, and he relaxed a little bit. 

“WHAT?!” He could hear quickened footsteps, and the door to the back rooms opened, revealing your frame. 

He smiled when he saw you, but it was quickly erased when he saw your downward knitted brows and angry look on your face. 

“Trafalgar Law!” you screeched, storming out to where he was standing. You pulled your hand back and swung it around, your palm hitting his cheek full force. Before Law had time to react, you grabbed his shirt and pulled him close to you, so your face was only centimeters away. You were shorter than him, but with this amount of rage, he couldn’t help but feel intimidated by you.

“Don’t you ever leave me without saying goodbye again!” You said, and he could see tears in your eyes. Your glare breaks, and you crumple into his chest and let out a sob. 

“Why did you do that?” you cried. He wrapped his arms around you, and held you tight against him. 

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, holding you tight. He didn’t make excuses or try to explain. It didn’t matter now. “I’m here now. It won’t happen again, I promise.”

You nod into his chest and pull away from him, viciously wiping the tears away with your hands. 

“God look at me, I’m such a mess.” Your voice is still thick from crying. “Amanda, I’m going on break. If anyone needs me-”

“They won’t,” Amanda finishes, and you laugh at her response. Then she corrects herself with, “I know, I’ll call you on the transponder snail.”

“Looks like you’ve moved up a bit in the hotel,” Law states as you take his arm and lead him out the door. 

Your laugh rings out, and Law feels his heart flutter in his chest. “I’m the owner now, thank you very much!”

“The owner?” he gasped, looking at you. Your chest is puffed out proudly and you’re carrying yourself with more confidence than the last time he saw you. 

“Yep! You like the name?”

“I was wondering about that,” he mumbled, looking up at the top of the hotel, where name was proudly displayed. 

You giggled again and bumped into him as you walked. “I missed you, Law.”

“I missed you too,” he said, bumping back into you. “You seem to be doing good for yourself.”

“Oh, I love running the hotel!” He can feel your excitement. “It’s something I didn’t even know I was good at, but it’s so fun! And the restaurant is interesting to work in too! It keeps me busy, but me and mom run it together and we work with local farmers and suppliers for everything in the restaurant and for the hotel.”

He listens to you ramble on about the intricacies of the business, and he feels his heart sink. He was going to ask you to come with him, to join him in his adventure. But he can’t pull you away from this life. He can’t pull you away from this happiness. He’s not so selfish that he would do that to you or your mother. He made a promise, and he would be breaking it by asking you to leave now. 

When you finish talking about your new business, you both find yourselves at the door of your house on the dock. 

“Would you like to come in?” You ask, pulling out your key. “I can make dinner for-your crew! How many are there now? I can make a reservation at the restaurant if you want!”

“There’s thirteen of us in total, but we still don’t have any fancy outfits, I’m afraid.”

You roll your eyes and open the door, trying to usher Law into the house. “The Heart Hotel isn’t as snobby under my new management. Table for 15, got it. Come on in.”

But Law kept standing outside. “Are you sure it’s okay with Jamison that I come in?”

You scowl, and you realize that he’s waiting for some kind of update on more than your professional life. He glances down at your hands, but there’s no sign of commitment around your fingers. 

“That kind of crashed and burned.” Your tone indicates that you won’t be going into any further detail, but Law isn’t quite done with his questions. 

“It looks like you came out on top, at least.” He walks into the house, looking around. It’s decorated similarly to the house you all grew up in, evident that only you and your mother were living in the space. “The hotel, the house…”

“Law.” Your voice told him he was getting into dangerous territory. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Okay, okay,” he said, flopping on the couch. He didn’t want to drop the conversation, but he could tell that he wouldn’t be getting any more information out of you at the moment. 

You put out a snack tray, and called Amanda on the snail transponder. “Hey dear, could you put in a reservation for 15 please? 6 pm should be good, but we might be a little late.”

Amanda and you chatted briefly, and then you came back to the living room to sit across from Law. 

“So, how’s the sea life treating you?” 

He talked about his adventures, telling you about his three new members on the crew. He saw you tense at the mention of a female joining the crew, but you didn’t say anything. You just snacked on the cheese and crackers and listened to his stories quietly. 

You desperately wanted to ask him to take you with him again, but you refrained. After the last time, where you begged him to go and then he left without saying goodbye, you promised not to ask anymore. And you would hold true to your promise, no matter how much it hurt to let him leave again. 

Law left you to round up his crew, and you all met up again outside of the Heart Hotel. You could tell his crew adored their captain, and it was good to see your old friends and meet your new ones. 

Dinner was delightful, and you could tell the chefs had put their entire soul into creating the meal for you all. 

“It looks like you’ve got the best of the best working for you,” the crew complimented. 

“Oh, they are! I love the creative liberty they take in each meal.” The more you talked, the more apparent it was that you loved the life you had built. 

Shachi and Law exchanged a look, a sense of understanding passing through them. 

“How long are you here for?” You finally asked after dessert was served. 

“We’re actually pulling out tomorrow morning,” Law said, ignoring the look of shock from his crew. They had anticipated being in port for at least a few days. 

“What?” Your spoon dropped out of your hand from the surprise. “So soon? I can put you up in-”

“That’s not necessary,” Law said, cutting you off. “I just wanted to stop by and say hello as we passed through.”

“I see,” you said carefully, trying to beat around the bush of the question you wanted to ask. “Are you heading to the Grand Line?”

“Not yet,” Law admitted. “We should be ready soon.”

“You’ll visit before you go for good, right?”

“Promise.”

--

He came back to find you a year and a half later. He had his mind set for the Grand Line, and he was finally going to ask you to come with him. You had to be by his side if he was going to succeed in being the King of the Pirates. 

When he walked into the Heart Hotel, he saw Amanda, who didn’t seem surprised to see him at all.

“Trafalgar Law,” Amanda said with a sad smile on her face. “She said you’d come back.”

Her words raised the hair on his neck. They were ominous and foreboding, and she spoke as if she knew something he didn’t. She walked to the back and came out with a envelope, which she handed off to him. 

“This was what she left you.”

“Where is she?” he demanded. His name was on the front of the envelope, the handwriting in your style. He felt sick to his stomach.

“I’m not sure,” Amanda said. “Off on some great adventure. There’s more in the note. You should read it.”

He walked down to the sea wall and sat, opening the letter to find out what happened to you. The date was marked 10 months after he had last visited.

Law, 

Mom died this morning. She got sick a few weeks ago, and it all happened pretty fast. The doctors said she didn’t suffer much, and she passed peacefully in her sleep. So I guess there’s some comfort in that. I wish I could’ve told you another way. Maybe I’ll find you and we can talk about it face to face before you’re reading this. 

I can’t stay here. Everywhere I look reminds me of you or her. This place I loved just feels dead now. Maybe I’ve outgrown it. Maybe I need something more. 

The last time you were here, I was hoping you would ask me to join you. But I see now that you don’t want me to be a part of your crew for whatever reason. Don’t worry, I’m not angry about it. I understand that you want to live your own life, and I don’t hold that against you. 

But I can’t wait around for you to brighten up my life every few years. I have to make my own adventure. So I’m heading off to be my own captain, going straight for the Grand Line. I’m going to do what we promised we’d do all those years ago. I’m going to go find my uncle and take revenge on my father. Some way or another. 

I hope I’ll see you on the Grand Line. We’ll meet as Pirate Captains, but don’t take too long, or I’ll beat you to the One Piece. 

See you soon.

Law shoved your note into his pocket and took off towards his crew. He wasn’t even sure if you had made it to the Grand Line, or how you would survive it long enough to get to Dressrosa. 

“We need to go,” he yelled at the crew. “The Grand Line! Now!”

Shachi looked behind the captain, waiting to see you tagging along. But you didn’t appear. “Captain, where-”

“She left!” He yelled. “She went to the Grand Line already!” 

“What?!” The crew yelled in unison. 

--

He heard rumors of a one-woman ship in Alabasta, but there wasn’t much information besides that. And then, on Kite Rose Island, he heard that you had disappeared. People speculated if you had been killed by an enemy ship, or sold into slavery, or sunk into the ocean. Law got sick to his stomach whenever he thought about it. 

But he still had a promise to fulfill. To take down Doflamingo. For you and for Corazon. 

--

And he did. With the help of the Strawhat Pirates and some luck, he finally succeeded. And as he sat with Sengoku, he couldn’t help but bring up your name. 

“Did you know he had a daughter?”

Sengoku raised his brow and smiled. “I kept tabs on her,” he said. “She came to Dressrosa about two years ago, and has been operating under the Donquixote family. I’m surprised you didn’t know.”

“She made it?” Law breathed out, unable to believe you had been here the whole time. 

Sengoku laughed. “How do you think your friends were able to navigate the colosseum so easily to escape? Or that the Tontattas made it to Dressrosa so quickly? How do you think Princess Viola avoided detection of her betrayal for so long? She may not have been an inner family of Doflamingo, but she was high on his rank and extremely trusted. Any time you thought luck was on your side, I assure you it was her.”

Law struggled to stand, looking around for you over the cliffside. 

“If I remember correctly, she was heading for the castle the last I saw her.”

He ran as fast as his feet would carry him. Even in his weakened state, he willed his body to stay upright to find you. His eyes desperately searched every face he saw, looking for your eyes, your smile. He had tried to abandon the hope that you were alive over the past three years since he found your letter, but it had never truly died. 

Finally, he found you laughing with the purple-haired princess of Dressrosa. He called your name, and he saw you turn to him, scanning the faces until you met his eyes.

“Law!” You screamed. You abandoned Viola and took off towards him at full speed, tears streaming down your face. 

He tried to brace himself for the impact he knew was coming, but it wasn’t enough, and the two of you tumbled onto the floor. He pulled you into his chest and refused to let you go, and you laid against him, sobbing. 

“You did it,” you cried, getting tears and snot all over his coat. 

“We did it,” he corrected. “We couldn’t have done it without you.”

You cried harder into his chest at his praise, and he stroked your hair gently. He didn’t care that the two of you were causing a giant scene in front of everyone. He blinked back tears of his own, relieved to know you were finally back in his arms and you were safe. 

“Sail with me. Join my crew.” It wasn’t a question, but you nodded in response. 

“I’ll follow you anywhere captain,” you sobbed. “I promise.”

He pulled you closer to him, never wanting to let you go. “And I’ll never leave you alone. I promise.”

[graphicpolicy]

Crowdfunding Corner: Soaring Penguin Press gets into Family and Relationships Therapy

Crowdfunding Corner: Soaring Penguin Press gets into Family and Relationships Therapy #comics #comicbooks #graphicnovel

Backer Beware: Crowdfunding projects are not guaranteed to be delivered and/or delivered when promised. We always recommend to do your research before backing. Why doesn’t marriage come with a manual? Now it does – in graphic detail! I Do I Don’t: How To Build A Better Marriage by licensed therapist Chandrama Anderson (MA, LMFT) and talented cartoonist Nur Jaffar G. Latip tells the story of a…

[smallgodseries]

[image description: We look slightly up at a penguin standing atop an ice-cliff in a snowstorm. He wears huge dark goggles and a leather aviator’s helmet on his head. Two complex gold metal and brown leather mechanical wings are strapped to his back and shoulders. Text reads, “193, The Great Waldo Pfeffernüsse, the Small God of Prosthetics”]

• • • • •

The Great Waldo is not a huge fan of cyberpunk.

Oh, the aesthetic, he can get behind.  The idea of rebuilding your body to escape its limitations, to expand its usefulness, he can absolutely support.  The thought that no one should ever feel as if they’re missing anything in a world where joints and hinges and WD40 exist, he’s good with that.  But the idea that replacing a part of yourself that isn’t working the way you want it to with something that suits you better could somehow make you less yourself…he can’t really accept that.

You are exactly as much yourself as you desire to be.  Your body is your own, to modify and upgrade and repair as you will.  If glasses don’t make you less of who you are, why should a pacemaker, or a carbon fiber leg, or a set of titanium teeth?  Or wings, that actually work, that a brave explorer can use to soar above the land he loves, to see things from the height he’s always yearned for and dreamed of?

Nothing you can choose to do to your own body can lessen you as a person, in his eyes, or in reality, and those are the two things that most matter to this equation.  Everything else can get stuffed.

The Great Waldo believes in self-improvement, in building new scaffolds when needed, in replacing what’s broken and improving what has room for improvement.  He wants everyone to feel content inside their skins, to breathe easy and content.  Whether that means modification or acceptance, addition or subtraction, it doesn’t matter to him.

It’s not his body that’s under discussion here, after all.