#Muse: Makino

[pudgy-planets]

Makino’s prized, futuristic motorcycle.

A high performance, racing motorcycle powered by her own radiance and exuberance. A two-seated machine straight from a cyberpunk, dystopian fantasy.

It can reach speeds of 250 mph plus and is a turbine-electric hybrid. It’s a two seated motorcycle typically driven by Makino and ridden by Rukia who despite having the wind blowing in her face can be seen calmly reading a book or listening to music.

Is it illegal? Very much so. Is Makino a talented driver? Absolutely.

[historias-multorum]

Pokemon Personality Quiz!

Tagged by: Yoinked from @silver-strings-of-fate

Tagging: Buy 1 get 1 free!

[basedkikuenjoyer]

The Red Thread of Fate

This one’s been a long time coming. It was honestly a pretty early thing I noticed, before starting this little journey at least. The first part of Wano leans on bits of Romance Dawn to stir the association. Incidentally I love the anime slipping the alternate pilot special in the perfect spot of Bakura for an AU. One of those big core threads I was waiting to see a little more before pondering; Luffy was so impressed because Kiku sorta reminded him of Makino and Shanks. Don’t even get me started on Uta if you want to go into that grey area not to mention some of the little ways Tama parallels Luffy’s childhood role.

Remember, this first chapter came out in 1997. Eiichiro Oda is coming fresh off of his time on Rurouni Kenshin, which is still a juggernaut for WSJ in serialization. There’s not a huge gap here. One Piece is rolling out right as Honjo’s story is woven into the contemporary RK volume releases. It’d be smack dab around the time Oda and Watsuki both were learning that ended up being a very well-received side story. But first, the iconic protagonist. Shanks here in Chapter 1 is one of many nice homages, I coulda told you that when I first saw it almost 20 years ago. The iconic red-haired samurai, one of the main motifs was the humility for one of his rank to “debase” themselves with domestic chores. Who else does this concept remind you of? 

It’s not just “Teehee there’s a little window of time these two could have met and I have a headcanon about how it could be cute.” Kiku’s a cutie supremo and funny as hell and happens to be really well done trans rep...but this is the kind of stuff that makes me obsessed with her. The thing is, Kiku never quite stops being a step ahead of the Shanks Luffy knew. Worth noting too, don’t forget this big Future Sight element. Luffy doesn’t just have to be impressed by what we see Kiku do or guess at say, a crewmate saying something offensive. He could be responding to what she would have done otherwise.

Shanks doesn’t mind cleaning up, Kiku was Okobore’s Makino. Shanks takes and brushes off ridicule, Kiku threads the needle of a way to put her foot down without escalating. Shanks doesn’t balk at a gang laughing at him when his crew’s there, Kiku the same standing alone with a jeering town at her back. Shanks stands up for a friend, Kiku the town & common folk who were insulting her. All tied up in getting one over on the dude without hurting anything but his reputation and still doing her part to save the child. Remember that’s Shanks at 27 and Kiku at 22, and then think about how Kiku ends up paralleling with 28yo Yamato in a very similar fashion. My whole point for over a year has been Wano constantly but subtly nudging you with the idea this girl’s a prodigy stifled by cultural baggage. “How high can your ceiling go?” 

Now that context is in the hopper, let’s talk plot. This isn’t just happenstance. We know Raizo & Kin know Roger’s crew well enough to recognize the cabin boy. We know Kiku and Kawamatsu are there for the scene. We know Oden follows that up immediately by saying he was only in Wano for mere hours. Hours is a big enough window for a significant interaction. Landing on Wano through fighting Urashima was hours. The main story of Dressrosa or Thriller Bark weren’t much longer. We know now it’d be the travel time for someone to get to the Flower Capital and back plus the palace excursion. 

So Shanks was a teen here. What might catch his rambunctious eye? He was real buddy-buddy with Neko & Inu, we know at some point Neko told Kiku about Izo’s decision. Why not right away when Redtaro could presumably still be there? Don’t forget Buggyjiro as well. Stands to reason the Minks might have considered the need the few days before arrival, fretted about it even. Maybe Shanks did something like make a reckless promise to reunite them and it’s always eaten at him he could never fulfill it. It doesn’t have to be complex, even a simple faux pas could be very on brand for how this plays with the ongoing story. Be a really bad time for some tactless clod to stroll in and blurt out “Hey...I thought you said Izo had a little brother” or Buggy/Shanks having a classic argument about her gender a little too loudly.

Always thought it was cool how the one proper YamaKiku panel is the former declining an invite the latter picks up. Remember how they trade places through the mask in 984-985? Oh hey...Luffy did reunite the siblings! Almost like that could be the first time he surpassed Shanks or something if we wanna do that. Kiku recognized the Nidai Kitetsu, Sukiyaki, & Big Mom without saying anything. What about the hat? Think both using -taro for their Wanoified nickname helped? Not like she’d be the only one. And it can be anything. Maybe Kiku was Shanks’s Kuina, a silly spat saw Redtaro get knocked tf out. Or she was just some girl he liked. Maybe had her in mind for when he broke off and started his own crew. The cool thing about something like that is how it could give Luffy the perfect leg up against a guy like Shanks...something like Mother Caramel’s portrait. A bit of unresolved personal baggage.

Time to talk later, it’s best not to get emotional before battle...you have all this sitting on a girl who we set up the perfect gap for the perfect timing. Egghead’s already doing the Rashomon thing of filling in the gaps. Law teases about looking at who’s missing right when you’d wonder about Kin/Kiku, by the end of it all we get our answer for Yamato and leave only one pair unaccounted for in that final turning point of the “play.” Marco & Kiku, who easily could have finally found that promised time to talk later. Luffy & Kiku crossing paths after everything including Yama is resolved. Luffy’s got Shanks and Fuushia on the brain and Kiku’s just had a nice long chance to let Marco tell her about Izo, Marineford, Ace, or whatever.

That’s what’s cool to me. You have this girl who unquestionably caught Luffy’s eye arguably because of traits she shares with Shanks and Makino. That girl has the right timing to have been a similar influence on Shanks himself...which means you gotta ask what attracted him to Fuushia and Party’s Bar in the first place. He used it as his base for a year, after all. Even if it’s nothing more than a fun story the two share one day, you gotta admit it’s a cool connection sitting on the table.

[ravarui]

Personalized shanty for Eustass Kidd, @ferromagnetiic In response to this post

"Magnetic Odyssey: Captain Kid's Ascent"

(Verse 1) From South Blue's heart, a pirate would emerge, With fiery red hair, his spirit would surge. At just twenty-four, a quest set to sail, Captain Kid's journey, the pirate's bold tale.

(Verse 2) Copper eyes gleaming, in mechanics he thrived, Master of destruction, where the weak couldn't survive. With power so deadly, his devil fruit's grace, Magnetism his ally, foes couldn't escape the chase.

(Verse 3) In physics, geometry, chemistry's dance, His understanding ran deep, in every advance. The Victoria Punk, his ship, sturdy and bold, Crafted by his hand, a story yet untold.

(Verse 4) In pursuit of the Pirate King's esteemed throne, Challenging Emperors, he'd stand on his own. With a bounty as sinister as his wicked way, Leaving his mark, where the seas met the day.

(Verse 5) A rebel's heart, alternative path as his creed, In an ever-changing world, he'd succeed. The grand adventure, his life's vibrant drum, In the pirate's world, where he'd dominate and overcome

(Verse 6) Punk, metal, and rock, his passion did blaze, A soundtrack to battles, as storms he'd amaze. Gaudy gold treasures, the loot that he'd claim, In this pirate's realm, he'd rise to his name.

(Outro) So here's to Kid, the fiery sea's son, Through tumultuous tides, he'd boldly run. With each rising sun, new tales would be spun, In the pirate's world, he'd be second to none.

[theladyofmanyfandomsfanfiction]

Imagine telling Luffy about why you don’t like Shanks…

“Why are you always so upset with Shanks?” Luffy wondered.

You brushed the young boys damp curls and twirled a finger around each strand to define the shape.

“He and I used to travel the seas, you know? We fought sea beasts and all kinds of pirates together.”

Luffy leaned forward. “Really? Was it cool?”

“Very cool and dangerous.” You reminded him with a small hair ruffle to set him back on the chair properly. “We were caught in an ambush and I was injured. Shanks brought me home, promising that we’d set off again after I was healed.”

Luffy grew excited. Maybe if Shanks came for you, he could also be taken along for the journey.

“Are you healed? Do you know when he’ll take you?” He asked.

You frowned and replied rather bitterly. “I was healed up over four years ago.”

Shanks had the audacity to pay a visit these last few months and spend time with Luffy while pretending like nothing had happened. It infuriated you and Luffy clearly caught wind of it.

There was a knock at the door. Your eyes darted up to see Makino standing there with a smile for Luffy.

“The ship has made port.” She told the boy.

Luffy jumped off the seat and ran for the exit. “Sorry Y/n, I have to go!”

You sighed at his speed hoping that he’d be careful on his way to the docks.

Makino looked at you while you put the chair away. “Are you coming as well?” She asked and when you didn’t reply she continued. “He’s been asking for you.”

You glanced over your shoulder. “Tell him I-”

“I’m not telling him you drowned again. You’ll have to face him one way or another.” Makino said and then left to resume her duties at the bar.

Honestly, you’d rather not seek out the pirate who abandoned you. Let him have his fun. Yes, you couldn’t avoid him forever but you could reduce the hours in his presence.

And so that’s what you set out to do, you walked wherever the straw hat wasn’t. If he was at Party’s Bar, you were at home. If he was at the docks, you were by the furthest windmill.

You last saw the red-haired pirate downing a bottle of booze at the bar with his little curly haired shadow on the chair beside him. While they were busy, you decided to rearrange the furniture in your home finally able to tend to things that had been long neglected thanks to Luffy always running in and out of trouble.

Fixated on stacking books by the corner of the front room, you missed the soft padding of footsteps coming to a halt by the open door.

“I heard you ‘drowned’.” A voice said, sending chills down your spine. “Imagine my surprise when Luffy told me that you did his hair this morning.”

Shanks mused at you as he stood by the threshold of your door.

Damn, when did he leave the bar? You rolled your eyes and then turned around to place a blanket into a wooden drawer near to where he stood.

“Odd.” You hummed. “I thought you would have welcomed a lie? Aren’t you filled with them or is that only when they’re directed at me?”

Shanks stepped into the room and took your hand to stop you from walking to the next task. He knew exactly what you were referring to. For months you both had avoided the topic by the way you dodged him but this was finally the opening he needed to clear the air.

“I never lied. I fully intended to come back here in three months. But each danger I faced, every terror that sailed into our path and all I could see was the risk of losing you.”

You scoffed at him. Captain Shanks of the Red-haired Pirates was scared? You were surprised his nose hadn’t grown.

Not wanting to talk further, you attempted to leave the house entirely when the man who stole your heart caught you once more.

“Hey,” Shanks took the reins and guided you to the wall, gently bracing you against it. He was tired of the anger of the anger in your eyes, only wanting you to see him like you once did. His hands settled in their rightful place on your waist.

“There are very few things that I am afraid of - but from that list, the fear of losing you is at the very top.”

As you stared in his warm eyes, you were reminded of a saying he often said aboard calmer seas and private moments.

Shanks gazed back at your face, the one he was deprived of seeing each day. He brought one hand to rest against your chest and raised your own to sit above his own. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against yours in a delicate kiss before pulling away gently.

“I’m not a selfish man by nature.” He whispered. “But for your life and your love, I can be.”

~ More imagines here ~

[missmungoe]

“Fuschia, huh?” one of the buyers mused, hefting a bass between his hands. “I visited once, but it’s a long time ago now. Not much to write home about, but I remember the woman who ran the bar.” He chortled, although it wasn’t unkind, “A battle-axe if I ever saw one!”

“Must have been a different lass than the one who runs it now,” the fisherman said, this time with a wistful note. “Bonny as a sea-nymph, she was. Eyes that could make a man forget where he’s going.”

Shanks paused.

The buyers laughed. “What the hell are you doing back here then?”

He waved them off, and their good-natured heckling. “She had a babe on the way. Didn’t see a husband anywhere, but that’s often the case for tavern girls. Rakes will be rakes, I suppose. Shame for a lass that lovely, though. She―”

He saw them look up where he’d appeared on the docks above, and might have wondered what his face looked like, seeing their exchanged glances, but didn’t care what they thought, or that he had truly gone mad now, as, “The barmaid,” Shanks rasped.

“Describe her.”

[sophiethatchersource]

Who do you trust most with the aux? Myself… or my twin sister Ellie. What’s a song that reminds you of your hometown? “Scatterbrain” by Radiohead I would listen to this on my iPod on repeat. Who is Pivot & Scrape for? Anyone who would like to listen. I don’t like the idea of having a target audience.  What led to your pivot to music? I’ve been making music since I was 14 just by myself. My mom was a piano teacher and I grew up taking voice lessons since I was 9. I started off writing melodies with my omnichord then started using Ableton and experimenting with different sounds and textures.  What makes an iconic bang? A nostalgic melody.  Who are your style icons? Zoe Lund, Beatrice Dalle, Nina Hagen, Lizzy Mercier Decloux, Nastassja Kinski, Anais Nin, the list goes on and on. So many iconic, stylish, and outlandish women out there.  Who is your muse? Stina Nordenstam and Kazu Makino.  Name your favorite artist no one knows about: Grim. Jun Konagaya is a legend and I try to show everyone I know his music. It’s truly magical and from another time. You can find him on YouTube. His solo ambient/experimental work is amazing too. What does your notes app look like? Lyrics that don’t make any sense, me constructing texts to bail on people (I’m very good at that), breakup texts, if you really scroll far back. Basically, any social interaction that gives me anxiety is in there.   Hot Girl Summer or Sad Girl Fall? Funky Monkey Fall. What was your coming-of-age soundtrack? Anything Elliott Smith. I grew up on his music and listened to him every day for about ten years when I was in school. He got me through a lot of times when I felt like a total loner in school.  What was on the moodboard for the “Black and Blue” music video? The canoe scenes from Celine and Julie Go Boating were my biggest influence. I’m a huge fan of Rivette and Berto and anything they do together. The stop motion Wolf House was another huge inspiration on Ellie’s behalf.  What album is playing in heaven? Dark Island by Pram. Best movie-needle drop: “Spoon by Can” in Morvern Caller. Hands down best movie soundtrack.  Favorite song to listen to while lying on the floor? “Trains Across the Sea” by Silver Jews What’s your go-to karaoke song? Anything Carpenters or Pulp. If I’m feeling risqué, I’ll sing something from Cabaret.

Actress-Turned-Musician Sophie Thatcher Endorses Funky Monkey Fall | Sound Advice | Interview

spotify playlist made by sophie

[sirensofthefiveseas]

Home // Ask //Cardd // Memes // Interest Tracker // Muse Vote // Starter Symbols // Verse Page // Muse wheel for memes/starters

Independent multimuse One Piece blog focusing on the Ladies of the Sea. Mutuals only

Warning: This blog portrays violence, slavery and murder. This is your warning, if you are not ready for this part of the source material then this is not the blog for you.

Mobile muse list:

    ALVIDA

    BELL-MÉRE

    BELO BETTY

    BLACK MARIA

    BOA HANCOCK

    CAMIE

    CARROT

    CIRRUS

    CURLY DADAN

    GINNY

    GION

    KALIFA

    KIKUNOJO

    KOALA

    KUJAKU

    KUREHA

    MAKINO

    MARIANNE

    MILKY

    MODA

    MONET

    NAMI

    NEFERTARI VIVI

    NICO OLVIA

    NICO ROBIN

    NOJIKO

    O-TAMA

    OTOHIME

    PERONA

    PORTGAS D ROUGE

    ROCKS D CARAVEL

    ROSE

    PLOTTED!SHIMOTSUKI KUINA

    SHIRAHOSHI

    SHYARLY

    TASHIGI

    TOKI

    TRISTAN

    ULTI

    VEGAPUNK ALPHA

    VINSMOKE REIJU

    VINSMOKE SORA

    WANDA

[p5x-theories]

What We Know About Chord

(last updated 9/16/24!)

Ayaka Sakai, codename Chord, is an aspiring musician. She joins the team as a “Phantom Idol”, or cognitive teammate.

Her Japanese voice actress is Yui Makino.

Ayaka is a Confidant of Wonder’s, though exactly what the earliest point it becomes available at is unclear, as she was added in a later update. Her Confidant focuses on her attempts to get better at performing in front of an audience, and her general interest in music. Ayaka also had a special animated promo video focused on her.

Later information about her Confidant has been translated as:

"Ayaka Sakai is a college student who has just turned 18 years old. She is a typical social phobia. She has loved music since she was a child. In high school, she was invited by her friends to form a band and served as the guitarist and song writer. After entering high school, the band members went their separate ways, and the band’s performance activities also came to a standstill.

The design concept of Ayaka Sakai’s phantom thief costume is based on “babymetal” cute metal rock, which reflects the contrast between her socially fearful personality and her confidence when focusing on music."

Additionally, her Confidant was described as:

"In Ayaka’s collaborative story, the protagonist will give Ayaka the courage to perform in front of others step by step through practical actions. “Seize the Light” was the only song Ayaka played as the lead singer during her time in the band. It was also the song she chose when she opened her heart to the protagonist and completed her first solo performance.

After meeting the protagonist, Ayaka gradually found her own courage. She composed the second song “Wonder Light” inspired by her encounter with the protagonist. This song will also appear in Ayaka’s collaborator story, but it can only be unlocked after reaching a close relationship with her."

She's also been present since Version 1.0, standing outside Shibuya station playing guitar. The player can briefly talk to her and listen to part of her show, but there's very little interaction otherwise.

Ayaka is a romance option. You can listen to her songs "Seize the Light" and "Wonder Light" here.

Chord's Persona Calliope (based on the Greek muse of eloquence and epic poetry) is categorized as an Electric type, and resists Electric while being weak to Ice.

Calliope is a Superior type, meaning she’s good at buffing teammates and improving their effectiveness. Her trait gives her second support skill a cooldown, which starts at one round, but then increases by one round every time it is used (for a maximum of three rounds); her attack is also buffed every time she uses this skill. Her electric attack skill hits all enemies, and if Chord has a "Loyal Listener", one enemy will take additional electric damage; her first support skill lets the player choose a teammate to be her Loyal Listener, which buffs their attack for three rounds; and her second support skill lets the player select a teammate to immediately use their Highlight, also buffing their Highlight's damage (if it does any), without affecting the team's normal Highlight charge in any way. Her passive skills buff a teammate's attack after they use their Highlight (moreso if they're her Loyal Listener), and allow Chord to immediately heal the teammate with the lowest health after any teammate uses a Highlight.

In combat, her melee weapon is a guitar, while her ranged weapon is a wrist-mounted guitar pick shooter. Her Highlight is shown from 2:30 - 2:40 in this video, and it buffs the whole team's damage for the next four turns (only teammates' turns are counted), and the team gains Highlight charge faster during those turns as well.

Her recommended card sets are 1) 4 of Coins (Power) + Queen of Cups (Trust), 2) 3 of Cups (Abundance) + Queen of Cups (Trust).

The game has no particular recommended teams for her at the moment.

[a11sunday]

🎰

send me 🎰 and i’ll randomise our muse lists and give the first five as possible connections ! // @cursefire

makino : hmm.... in her modern verse, makino grew up working at a pub before becoming a teacher. her pub is still owned by her family, so i can see her still spending time there and maybe kenji is a regular? they could strike up a friendship! she's a great listener and wouldn't judge him < 33

zephyr : another new muse so no other verses for him yet uvu maybe a connection for the future! i can see him being in the jjk verse so perhaps once i watch more, we can revisit this !

luffy : lmao, hmmm... this one feels like it would be tough but if there's one thing that luffy can offer right now is be the annoying little brother that kenji might not really want lmao

chopper : dude... chopper as a cursed spirit? lowkey can see it.

zhi hua : in her modern verse, she works in a crime family. maybe while kenji is traveling, he needs work so gets involved with them? she immediately wants him to be her chore boy just to push him around :// that can't go well lmao.

[mused-like-roses]

⭐

Send a " ⭐ " and I will list muses I would be interested in throwing at yours, or potential muse combinations if you are also a multi. ~ @historias-multorum

// Under read more because it miiiight be a long one:

Ace Attorney ~ All muses (Top 3; Mia Fey, Phoenix Wright, Dick Gumshoe) (All muses/Top 3 for Miles Edgeworth & L Lawliet, Phoenix Wright for Ulala)

Azumanga Daioh ~ All muses (For Minami Iwasaki & Haku Yowane)

Bleach ~ Orihime Inoue (For Byakuya Kuchiki), Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez (For any of your muses)

BNHA ~ Izuku "Deku" Midoriya (For Momo Yaoyorozu), Shoto Todoroki (For Tsuyu Asui), Rumi Usagiyama (For Shota Aizawa)

Castlevania ~ Trevor Belmont & Sypha Belnades (For Abel Nightroad and Alucard Tepes) // Also Trinity Blood was AMAZING

Chainsaw Man ~ All muses (For Aki Hayakawa)

Final Fantasy ~ Cloud Strife, Aerith Gainsborough, Tifa Lockhart, Cid Highwind, Yuffie Kisaragi (For Axel)

Jujutsu Kaisen ~ All muses (For your JJK muses. There's too many good combinations we could make with them lmao) / Kento Nanami (For Hinata Hyuuga), Toji Fushiguro (For Ino Yamanaka)

Kingdom Hearts ~ Kairi & Literally anyone in Organization XIII (For Axel)

Lucky Star ~ Lemme just set my sideblog here for a sec; @konckona (For Minami Iwasaki & Haku Yowane)

Naruto ~ Sasuke Uchiha (For Tenten & the Uchihas), Madara Uchiha (For Hana Inuzuka & the Uchihas) Kiba Inuzuka (For Ino Yamanaka), Kakashi Hatake (For any of your muses. Too many good choices, can't decide), Literally anyone in the Akatsuki (For Itachi Uchiha)

One Piece ~ Portgas D Ace (For Jewelry Bonney), Crocodile (For Vinsmoke Reiju), Shanks (For Makino), Literally any of the Straw Hats (For any of your muses)

Resident Evil ~ All muses (For your Resident Evil Village muses)

Sonic ~ All muses (Top 3; Sonic, Shadow, Knuckles) (For your Sonic & Crash Bandicoot muses, and Ulala)

Street Fighter ~ Chun-Li (For Jonathon Joestar. He better not think I forgot about him eyeing Chun >:3)

Super Mario ~ All muses (Top 3; Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach) (For your Sonic muses)

[pudgy-planets]

“Rukia! Makino! I’ve got that sandwich you ordered!”

“Snnrrrk… Thanks, big bro… PFFTT HAHAHAHA!! I can’t believe you actually bought it! Bwahahaha!!”

“…What exactly did you make him purchase? I know you claimed it was enough for us to share, but you never specified…”

“It’s the 2.5km Party Sandwich from Great Ape Sandwiches!! HahahahaHAHAA!!”

“Hahaha… Ehehehe..”

“AH-HA-HA-HA…”

“Uh-oh…”

“This sandwich is half a ton and cost me TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS.”

“But you said we could get anything we wanted!”

“Don’t drag me into your foolish choices, Makino.”

“You’re right, Makino. I did say that… Now both of you listen to what I have to say… If you two don’t eat this ENITRE damned sandwich by the end of the day…

“I’LL MAKE THE FRISBEE INCIDENT LOOK LIKE A BACHELOR’S PARTY!!”

Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp.

“…S-so- Do you wanna start on one end and I’ll start on the other?”

“If I can’t fit into my suits after this escapade of yours, YOU are covering my re-tailoring expenses.”

[historias-multorum]

What is your most beautiful feature?

"That's pretty weird... not to mention very specific, but uh, thank you I guess."

Tagged by: Yoinked from @kiigan

Tagging: Commit theft!

[basedkikuenjoyer]

Keep it in Your Heart

If we're doing another leg of this flashback, it's time to dust off a old concept that proved right with the last time we stepped away. We...might not be coming back to how this situation with Saturn gets resolved. We may come in directly on the resolution. There are a lot of ways that can go. But for the moment I just wanted to focus on a few things that are relevant. Starting with the chapter I borrowed a title from here, 603. Viz slightly changes it, but the noteworthy "heart" theme is part of the whole package, one you probably remember with this scene.

Of course it's relevant that Kuma asked for this final mission. This direction for the flashback has a high chance of us seeing an alternate view of the story we all know and love. Really, really would like to see this cover Kuma's POV on Thriller Bark. What I forgot until looking at this chapter again was how much the Straw Hats, particularly Franky, know about the cyborg project. Franky offering a dire warning that is quite pertinent; that Kuma is someone they're indebted to...but if they ever cross paths again he will be an emotionless weapon.

There is no such thing as coincidence, only fate. That was how Van Augur put it. Remember, that was when the story was taking an odd moment between Luffy and Blackbeard and spelling out the thread that had been running since Drum. How a quirk of fate tied the brothers' story together. It's interesting to see it on display here leading into explaining just how Kuma protected the ship. Had a hand in setting the Straw Hats up to learn what they'd need to take on the New World.

I used that quote from Augur in one of our earliest Post-Wano Musings, titled Holding Pattern which covered Chapters 1062 & 1063. Looking back, man it's cool we're still looking at Bonney the same way and Drake has the same potential. I really dug up the coincidence thing because Law having boobies was so on point. 1063 was the first time I really started wondering if there might be a real reason to keep the hopium around because it was so weird then to cut away to Law like that. Egghead has gotten a lot longer than we imagined then but really leaned into those early threads we were looking at.

Those who have been following along would recall a while ago I stopped fully caring about this from the perspective of Kiku actually being #10 or not and more that using her as a guide was clearly paying off enough I'mma keep doing it until we get our answer. So then it's worth noting it may be no coincidence, but fate that made Kuma's decision to split the Straw Hats land them at the right time to stumble into the Akazaya's revenge plot. Though the length of their time apart is out of Kuma's paws even if he knew about it. That was just one thought looking back on 603 here.

You even had Caribou stumble in at the end. Don't forget him. My hunch right now is if the Blackbeard ship is actually Moria & Perona then Caribou fits their aesthetic to a T. That's not a bad vehicle to show some of what happened during the skipped night in the lab. Reading that old review was a great reminder; some of the little oddities we noticed early did and continue to snowball.

As for Kuma? Who knows where the flashback goes from here. I'd love some deep Makino lore but they could just be ships passing in the night. Where Bonney's story runs parallel will also be telling. I'll dust off one classic though. The longer this flashback goes the better the odds we come back to the present in a weird fashion. I don't think this 1100 turn can be ended in just one followup chapter either. Gut says wait til the first one of a new year, those are always big too.

Hell...worth mentioning too. If this is our second segment like this in the arc, what does it mean if/when we break down into a third? Just saying, we already had the idea Egghead was the 4th more accurate part of Wano doing a Rashomon type thing. What if that story itself is a nested Rashomon narrative? I will make and send Oda an award for literary brilliance if he does that and it's really, really starting to feel like we might.

[ravarui]

😨

[ For Shanks! ]

send me 😨 to see how your muse appears in my muse’s NIGHTMARES Accepting @ferromagnetiic

Underestimating an enemy was always the biggest mistake one could make, a mistake Shanks was regretting now. His fleet had sunken first, no match for the power of the young rookie and the screams of the dying crews were still ringing in Shanks' ears. It had been his fault, being a split second to slow to interfere on time. The brutality of the attack had been midly surprising, yet it also confirmed what he had read about Eustass Kid, he was indeed a man without mercy.

Shanks was lying on his back, breathing ragged and bleeding from several wounds while the Red Force was burning, his own crew either dead or still dying around him. His right arm was broken several times and useless. Grey eyes glared upwards at the victorious young man, giving him a bloody grin. "C'mon then. Finish it!" He wasn't afraid of dying, he had always known that his death wouldn't be a peaceful one, only very few pirates were granted this small mercy. But he did have regrets. Regret for not being able to protect his crew, failing at his task as an emperor, as a captain. And regret for not being able to see Luffy again, seeing the kid achieve his dream, because he had no doubt that he would.

"Ain't finished with you yet Red-hair." Fear gripped his heart when he saw Kid bending down to rip off the thin chain that hold his wedding ring. "Got a pretty thing waiting for you somewhere?" The expression on his face must have been telling, because Kids smile only widened. "Might pay her a visit myself then." No, not Makino. Not her! Everything but her! "You fucking bastard!" The last thing he heard was the loud laughter of the younger captain.

He woke up with a small cry on his lips, his heart beating wildly in his chest and the sound of Eustass Kids' laughter still in his ears. His hand went instinctively towards the ring around his neck, holding onto it as he took deep breaths to calm himself down. It had been a dream, just a stupid dream. He shook his head, slipping out of his bed and walking barefoot onto the deck. He needed some air to clear his head and maybe afterwards maybe a stiff drink to forget about all this. His wife and son were safe. Safe in East blue without the dangers of the New World surrounding them. As long as he kept their connection secret that was.

[ikkaku-of-heart]

Anonymous asked: who is your favorite couple on your dash (that doesn't include your own?) Unprompted

I mean, I was already a LawNa shipper before I even came to the RPC, but seeing it on my dash, like with @medicus-mortem and @chatcambrioleur, makes me very happy. I've been a heavy shipper of this rarepair for years (basically since I had gotten back into One Piece) so it's so damn good to see.

I'm always a sucker for some good Shanks x Mihawk, though I have a special bias towards @akagamiko and @goshiikkuburcdo's dynamic. Poor Mihawk lol.

Speaking of Shanks, you can pry Shanks x Makino from my cold, dead hands so it's so wonderful to see @partysbarmaid and @akagamiko grace my dash with that good stuff.

And of course it does my heart good any time I'm blessed with Lamy x Sabo from @mediicusvitae and @regensia. They both deserve only the best (both muns and muses lol).

I wasn't a Sanji x Usopp shipper until @concasse and @sogekyng showed me the light with their loving and wholesome dynamic. They just support each other so much and it's wonderful and what they both deserve!

Last but not least, @taiixuan and @killedarlings occasionally bless my eyes with Killer x Kid and my heart is just ready to burst some days whenever I see it.