#tasty chemistry

[cryptic-loser]

I'm so normal about these puppets

I'm gonna be posting about my AUs again,,, I promise 💔

[sincericida]

ANDREW GARFIELD and FLORENCE PUGH

for "We Live In Time" press in the Toronto International Film Festival (second day)

(X)

[general-cyno]

apparently it's the 15th anniversary of zoro's sacrifice in thriller bark (not sure if manga or anime though) so yknow. time for more zolu of course

one of the many things about zoro and luffy is that despite how their approach to certain situations might differ at times, they're still pretty similar at their core, sometimes to a comical degree (see: their definition of what a hero is back in fish man island arc). and this understanding of how the other works is what leads to moments like jaya,

this little one in water 7/enies lobby,

and follows consistently all the way to wano arc.

and I was thinking the other day about how their childhoods too kinda mirror or parallel each other's in a way that emphasizes (to me, at least) how special zoro's particular protectiveness toward luffy is, and why luffy relying on zoro that way is just as special.

the specifics of their childhood stories are different but both luffy and zoro have a turning point of sorts that's marked with the grief and loss of sabo and kuina, respectively, which leads them to say these:

(I cropped the panels, but luffy's also crying here)

it's important to note zoro and luffy had dreams/aspirations before this, to become the greatest swordsman and luffy's secret thing that we've yet to learn about (that ace, sabo and the crew now know). however, losing kuina and sabo is what prompts them to, on top of that, strive to become stronger for other people's sake. for zoro, it's his way to honor his friend and fulfill their shared dream. for luffy, it's to avoid losing the people he loves.

throughout the story, zoro and luffy end up expressing similar frustration and sentiments due to this. there's zoro innerly chiding himself for being too weak as he trains in the aftermath of arcs like little garden, alabasta and thriller bark, where the crew get stuck in situations in which zoro isn't able to help as he wishes he could (the wax cake, the sea prism stone cell, kuma). there's luffy swearing he won't lose a single member of his crew even if it kills him (the davy back fight) and reproaching himself for not being able to save any of the straw hats in sabaody, with the worst of it right after losing ace in marineford.

(and man do I have thoughts about bon turning into zoro, out of all the straw hats, back in impel down.)

anyway. as to why all of this is meaningful - when zoro agrees to join luffy, he mentions that his goal to become the greatest swordsman is all he has. yet as the straw hats go from journey to journey, and with a certain emphasis in luffy, you can see how zoro's view slowly shifts. he's now driving himself to become strong to protect them as well, to the point he's willing to set aside his ambition and offer his own head in exchange for luffy's, if it means he can ensure luffy's life and safety. that's huge. as mihawk inwardly points out, zoro has something, someone he values even more than his ambitions and pride. and it's through his adventures with luffy and the crew that he becomes closer to achieving that initial dream of his.

whenever people wonder why zoro's as loyal as he is to luffy, aside from all the reasons why luffy as a character has earned that loyalty through his actions, I also remember that one line koushiro said to zoro in a flashback: "the pinnacle of swordsmanship is the power to protect what one wishes to protect and cut what one wishes to cut. a blade that injures all that it touches isn't really a sword." while sure, it works in the context of later power ups like haki, imo it perfectly captures zoro's character growth too and what luffy's given him. the current zoro isn't lost or directionless with only one purpose in mind or to live for, bounty hunting as a means to survive. he has a home to return to, people to cherish, to protect and keep getting stronger for, people who nurture him in turn. kuina's death is something zoro couldn't have prevented, and losing people in accidents like those is something that could happen again, but still within the limits of what's preventable - zoro can protect his friends now.

as for luffy... zoro kinda steals the spotlight when it comes to grand gestures of loyalty/devotion and being the MC of the story means luffy fights for different people (both crew and non crew), carrying their wishes and hopes as if they were his own. he gets help and learns from others as well and all members of the crew are important for luffy to achieve his dream one way or the other, but the way he relies on zoro specifically is so subtly meaningful to me. we don't get as much insight on luffy's inner thoughts, still, we do have context.

for someone like luffy, who is at his innermost genuinely terrified of being alone and losing the people he loves, the fact that he trusts zoro to protect and keep everyone safe (even luffy himself) is so good. as shown above, luffy vowed to become strong in the first place to ensure he'd never go through loss like sabo's again and this vow is all the more renewed after ace's death. luffy has to be strong for everyone but... the fact that he can trust zoro to follow his lead even when others might not understand his reasons to do x or y, that he's so unwavering in his faith that zoro will protect the others when luffy can't, entrusting the people he cares about to zoro, whom luffy also cherishes - it's all pretty special. everyone in the crew has their strengths and zoro may not be the only fighter, but all of them, including sanji, fall under his protection whenever it's needed.

it's not only about raw strength though. zoro's also there to set luffy straight and remind him of what's important when the circumstances arise, like in water 7 or punk hazard. and even when they don't necessarily agree, like wrt vivi's situation after the reverie in marijoa, luffy knows when zoro's right and acquiesces (albeit grumbling a little) because, once again, he's also aware that zoro wouldn't just risk everyone's safety. luffy listens to him. and their reunion in wano too, luffy's sheer happiness at the sight of him again, is a very clear example of how much luffy adores zoro even beyond all that.

although luffy isn't aware of what happened in thriller bark (that we know of), zoro's actions are proof of why luffy trusts, has faith in, and relies on zoro as much as he does and why it's so important for luffy to have him by his side, considering how afraid he is of being unable to keep his loved ones safe. this is more on a speculative note, but I can imagine how comforting that must be for luffy - to not shoulder that on his own.

happy anniversary!

[brofightiscancelled]

feel like it's harder to find yanaichi yaoi vs. atsutodo on pixiv and stuff bc i think by the time yanaichi (a frankly very reasonable and compelling yaoi) came into the scene all the yaoi freaks had either moved on from ososan or was already invested in incest. atsutodo was like, the right level of delulu at the right time

[jollyreginaldrancher]

Why the fuck don't we ship Taissa with Misty? Their shipname would literally be TaSty?

[amanitavirosalt]

The masculine urge to drink the bleach. And the carcinogenic chemicals. And the cesium. Especially the cesium. Why must god be so cruel to that I am unable to engorge myself in the ichor of the alkali metals?

[tiredassmage]

draws swords to improve a friendship score with you vs

draws swords to establish rivalry with you???

don't actually know if i was going anywhere with this, this might just be an excuse to post most of the pictures i have of tyr in stance kandflas;dfsaf.

[dredshirtroberts]

i was going to say i hate when i'm right but actually i enjoy the sensation of being correct even if i don't like the thing i was right about. So I'm very happy to be right so often, actually (especially now that no one in my life is actively trying to gaslight me)

[eebie]

 Hanging the hell outtt

[cryptic-loser]

Robbie stop posting about your OC x Canon ship for the deadest fandom ever challenge [IMPOSSIBLE!!]

Anyways uhmmmm yeah :3

The note got put on the ✨️wifey wall✨️

... Also that soup got fucking devoured-

Headcanon that Riley forgets to eat alot, and Kelly brings her food and then skedaddles before Mortimer notices- 😭

Anyways uh. Redemption AU post soon!! 👍

[sincericida]

ANDREW GARFIELD, FLORENCE PUGH and JOHN CROWLEY

at the screening of "We Live In Time" today, in New York City.

(X)

[arklay]

reappears out of nowhere to say i might make reina & shaundi canon again 🤭

[decidentia]

2023 is nearly over and I still don’t have an ice-skating AU.

[libraryleopard]

Adult F/F contemporary romance

Lillian, a veterinarian, is happy with her job in small-town Seal Cove, Maine, until her med school rival, Ivy, transfers to work at the local clinic after being diagnosed with a chronic illness and the two women must find a way to work together while attraction sizzles under their dislike

Lesbian main character with multiple sclerosis; bi main character

[cantankerouscatfish]

had chai mixed with apple cider at a cafe once and it was really good, but they must've done cafe magic on it bc I tried making my own today and it's just garbage. :(

[bloodblossomtree]

The court finds this man guilty on all charges and sentenced him to a lifetime sentence of being thirsted after as a Dilfy homesteader

Adjourned

sigh...

...he's hot you're honor

Horror belongs to Sour Apple Studios