chibi_trillian

In retrospect, maybe watching four hours of Thai horror movies about witchcraft and then following it up with finishing Wyrd Sisters right before going to bed was not such a hot idea. Granny Weatherwax + Art of the Devil = NOES.

Also: changed my LJ layout to something with more robots. ROBOTS!


While I haven't read 488 yet (thank you, OPHQ, and your persistent failure to notice you've got an empty zip file where 488 should be), I've been following recent chapters with a lot of interest thanks to several things.

For one, BROOKE. Christ on a cracker. The sad part is that, out of all the main characters (Strawhats and honorary Strawhats like Vivi), Brooke actually comes the closest from what I've seen to having a "happy" past--he made it to adulthood before horrible things started happening to him. But holy crap, I can't imagine being stuck on a ship in the middle of a sea of endless fog surrounded by the bones of your beloved crewmates and memories of what you once had for fifty freaking years. It's a wonder he's not insane. Maybe being dead himself gives him some extra perspective, I don't know. But the Rumba Pirates make my heart sad and happy at the same time, and I kind of hope Brooke decides to join the crew just so he'll have nakama to love again. Then again, his earlier loss may make him wary of joining another pirate crew--he may decide to set out to go see Laboon by himself. I can't see Luffy letting him escape take his leave that easily, though.

For two, ZORO. Why you gotta be so hot all the time, marimohead? But srsly, this arc has highlighted a part of Zoro we've only seen the edges of beforehand, in places like Whiskey Peak and when he's with Johnny and Yosaku: Zoro the Protector. Usually, Zoro lets people fight their own fights. But with Luffy incapacitated and Bartholomew Kuma being all like "I'M IN UR FIGHT, THREATENIN UR CAPTIN," and Zoro being all "NO WAI!" and self-sacrificing, it kind of makes you think a little bit. His speech about "If I can't protect my captain, what good am I?" kind of hammered it home that Zoro's madly in love with Luffy priorities have changed since he first stepped onto Luffy's dinghy way back in Volume 1.

Luffy got his little "It's not enough that I be strong enough to be the Pirate King, I must be strong enough to let all of my nakama realize their dreams as well" moment back in Enies Lobby, and now it's Zoro's turn. It's not enough that he be strong enough to beat Mihawk, now he's got to be strong enough to be partner and protector to the Pirate King. Strong enough to watch Sanji's back when he needs it and let him fight his own damn way out when he doesn't. Strong enough to cover the strategic advance to the rear of a brave warrior of the sea, strong enough to keep the hands of the woman who will map the whole world safe and to live long enough to eventually pay that debt. Strong enough to never surpass the abilities of the greatest doctor in the world NO DYING, ZORO, NOT EVEN CHOPPER CAN FIX THAT. Strong enough to keep Franky's dream ship in one piece, strong enough to make Robin believe that she doesn't need to worry about losing her nakama ever again. And THEN he has to beat Mihawk while his crewmates look on and cheer, because you know that's how it's going down.

Oh Zoro, you great daft noble bastard, I love you. ♥

For three, asjakjd SHICHIBUKKAKED. Kuma provided an excellent indication of the power level the Strawhats are going up against in the New World. It's terrifying. Devil Fruit + cyborgy bits = CHECK PLZ. And I kind of want to know where he put Perona. Bitch better get her own cover arc. Plus Blackbeard is the newest Shichibukai, which means we've officially got a D. on every side of this fight: Dragon for the rebels, Garp for the Marines, Blackbeard for the Shichibukai, and Luffy for the pirates and Ace for the prison riot OH GOD ;_;. The Will of D is strong, but at this point I think they're going to start cancelling each other out. All we need now is for Luffy's cousin Monkey D. Jim-Bob to be one of the Four Emperors and the entire planet is officially boned.