#coelacanth pattern | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

zzthekaiju · 4 months ago

Text

THE GREAT MONSTER HUNTER RANKING! Part 5

For this part, we're going to be getting our feet more than a little wet. We're looking at the monsters best suited for the water! And it turns out there are more than a few of them across separate categories. We'll start with the very first monsters with a more aquatic affinity.

The Piscine Wyverns:

"Everything seems a little flat to you, doesn't it?"

The Cephadrome (and its smaller version, the Cephalos) are a neat way to introduce our water-dwellers. Though it's more accurate to say that this one would rather be in the deserts. Yes, our swimmers don't have to be in the water exclusively. You can swim through sand in this world, too! It's a starter monster, so it's not that powerful, but I like how, of all things, they looked to the prehistoric amphibian known as Diplocaulus for inspiration. You can tell by that funny head shape it has. Just a super-charming look for a monster that sadly keeps getting tossed to the side. 7/10.

"Get hip or die!"

The face of the Piscine Wyverns is the Plesioth. And I must say, it's one of neater-looking ones! With a body full of iridescent scales and a head like a shark, it's just so striking! Plus, it can swim with a good amount of grace. However, most people remember the Plesioth for its infamously broken hit box due to its unusual size, especially regarding its hip check move. In fact, the franchise seems perfectly aware that this monster came out a bit on the glitched side of things, and has embraced that to some extent. But honestly, I think if people talk more about how broken your monster is, that should be more of a cause for alarm. Questionable gameplay issues aside, I like where they went with this monster design-wise. 8/10.

"Yip yip yip!"

The Delex are rather small Piscine Wyverns, but they've got their charm. They're big fish with the faces of gharials that swim through the sand. Heck, they kind of remind me of Ichthyosaurs as they were designed when paleontology first became a thing. Gotta love some good retrosaur action! 6/10.

"It's like a hot sauna in here!"

The last Frontier immigrant (for now, at least) is the Lavasioth, which can best be summed up as a big coelacanth on legs. And it can swim through the lava. That's really neat! Coelacanths don't get nearly the amount of love they deserve in paleo-circles, which is weird considering how they got their reputation from being literal living fossils. Now, there's a big beast shaped like one that swims through lava and FIRES lava as well! Just an awesome monster, all around. 7.5/10.

"Everyone feels filthy, and so should you."

...Jyuratodus is a waste of everyone's time and effort. It's LITERALLY the Lavasioth except it traded lava for mud and dirt. They're so alike, I dare call this a variant that didn't want to be called a variant. Or, simply put, a reskin. Plus, it's not fun to fight. It's only saved from a lower ranking because it DOES allow people to fight a giant coelacanth monster outside of volcanic areas, but they could have at least TRIED to not make it near-identical. Alas...3/10.

"Frozen fish sticks!"

AH! You see that, Jyuratodus?! THAT'S how you make a new Piscine Wyvern without copying someone's homework! Anyway, while Beotodus isn't winning any power-scaling competitions anytime soon, it wins points for standing out. It's got some surprisingly vibrant color patterns for a creature that lives in the tundra, and that huge honking horn on its head brings to mind the design philosophy for certain Japanese Kaiju. I like it! 7.5/10.

And that's that for the Piscines! Yeah, not a whole lot, but I encourage Capcom to experiment in the future. However, there's a category that's somehow even smaller, though it's steadily gaining traction with each new game. And that's good, because there's a lot of potential to be found in the reptiles' biological opposites.

The Amphibians:

"Hop Pop's gone mad!"

Tetsucabra is our first ever Amphibian, and you know what, it being just a giant frog is fair. But it's not totally "just a giant frog". It's got a club-like tail, and those monstrous tusks can be used to shovel the earth into boulders all the better to crush you with. And it fights like a sumo occasionally. But what really catapults this guy a rank up is how in Rise, though it's not fought, there's a character that rides atop a baby about the size of a large dog, and it's so adorable! Imagine raising such a cute thing into the beast you see before you! Hope that pair appears again. 6/10.

"Jaws 9: Ribbit."

Zamtrios (and its smaller brood of Zamites) could not have possibly been conceived under normal circumstances. SOMEONE was thinking on an ascended mind when the phrase "giant frog that is a shark that uses ice powers for armor" crossed their mind. Even without the armor, Zam here is intimidating. It's a big blue frog with the face of a great white. You really think you'd want to cross that? Well, then it goes from threatening to dangerously hilarious when it unveils its secret weapon...the ability to suck in air and immediately cater to inflation fans everywhere. Sure, you're going to giggle at least once seeing this thing bounce around, but then it squashes you and you're one cart less. But should it not be feeling so silly, the Zamtrios will use its deadly ice breath to cover itself in a ridiculously awesome coat of frozen armor (pictured above). What's there not to love about this amazingly creative land shark? 8.5/10.

"A frog-platypus? TERRY THE FROG-PLATYPUS?!"

One of the first new monsters unveiled for Rise was the Tetranodon, and for me, this was one of the more striking newcomers! It's a frog that fights like a sumo, has the shell of a turtle, and has the head of an armored platypus! Can you get more creative than that?! Well turns out, you can. It's primary inspiration is not just some out-there animals, but the mythological Kappa. This Yokai looks almost the same, right down to them both having a bowl-like top on their heads. But thankfully this monster doesn't lurk in bodies of water to remove a fictional organ from childrens'...um, lower ends...it just waits in the water to eat pretty much whatever it can get its gob around. And it's pretty fun to fight, too! Let's give this big beast some love, 'kay? 8.5/10.

And now, we are at the meat of our fifth chapter. The monsters that dominate the water almost more than they do the land. Most of them have the same body type, but why fix what isn't broken, eh?

The Leviathans:

"It Came from Beneath the Sink"

The Royal Ludroth has a bit of a neat concept, but it's just not my thing in execution. it's a big lizard built for the water, with a harem of smaller females at its beck and call, and there's also a huge sponge-like growth on its neck that gives it the ability to use water powers. It's weird, yes, but I don't know. Once again, this mostly boils down to a "yellow and gold aren't my color" gripe. Fine for what it is, but not necessarily a monster I look forward to hunting. 5/10.

"Good feeling's gone."

On the flipside, there's a Leviathan quite unlike any in its class. The Gobul is a neat take on a giant terrestrial deep-sea angler fish. It's got the classic lure, as well as big whiskers it can use as pretend plants as it waits below the sand for an easy meal. Also, it's got retractable spikes. But unless those spikes are out, it's as flat as a pancake. I'm not exactly clear as to why they haven't brought this intriguing monster back, but it might be because a lot of its fight back then depended on underwater combat, and it lacks the more amphibious qualities its relatives have. Sorry Gobul, you may be neat, but until Capcom figures out how to make you more viable on land, you might want to stick to waiting in the sand. 6.5/10.

"A shockingly serpentine swim."

Just as the Rathalos dominates the air and land, the Lagiacrus rules the sea. This huge Leviathan has been touted as the toughest and coolest swimmer around. And to be honest, I can see where they're coming from. Its design incorporates elements of crocodiles, cobras, and the sea serpents of old, as well as an appealing color scheme. But Lagi's greatest asset is the spikes on its back being able to help it conduct electricity. And while I have to wonder how this thing doesn't end up killing everything for a wide radius in the water with that power (its a literal living electrical device being dropped into the water, do the math), it's cool in practice. It's a pity then that, for some reason, Capcom is really hesitant when it comes to bringing it into the recent games. All of these new Leviathans and not once does their OG get invited. It's tough to be Lagiacrus. 8/10.

"Snap, snap, that's a wrap!"

Agnaktor is like the Lagiacrus, except it's right at home in volcanic biomes. Design-wise, while I don't like it nearly as much as I thought I would, it's still cool with its Spinosaurid-like head and big fins. It's kind of like if Titanosaurus from the Godzilla franchise was a Leviathan, albeit it replaced that shrill roar with some neat snap-snapping sounds it makes with its jaws. Unfortunately, despite its young, the Uroktors, getting to be in Rise, it instead got replaced by a subspecies of Almudron NOBODY ASKED FOR! It must suck for Agnaktor to have a niche clearly built for it be taken by some unwanted upstart. But here we are. I want to see it come back if only so I can form a better opinion on it. For now, 6.5/10.

"No! I'm the biggest loser on the beach! They buried me in the sand and forgot about me."

Just from the name, you can tell that no one was taking the Nibelsnarf seriously during production. And I can't do so, either. It's unique, don't get me wrong. Its armored hide conceals a rather vibrant color scheme, and I like how its eyes are directly on top of its head like a flat fish. But fighting this thing is SUCH A CHORE. At the point where most hunters are at, almost every weapon bounces off of its armor, and it absolutely refuses to let you hit it most of the time before ducking into the sand to bite at you with that big mouth. Sure, you can bait it into eating bombs, but you don't get to carry that many, and you're sometimes expected to try and fish it out of the sand instead of hunting it like a normal fight entails.

Nibelsnarf is a bad joke with a far too gimmicky fight for my comfort due to the jank of previous games. 4.5/10.

"Shall we dance?"

I may not always like when mammals get used as a design basis, but I believe they really cooked with the Mizitsune, otherwise known as the bubble fox. Yes, this monster fights prominently with bubbles. And even more surprisingly, while these bubbles are made to slow you down most of the time, some can actually give you special bonuses. And that's not even getting into how graceful this thing moves as it tries to hit you. Be warned, the Mizitsune may look beautiful with its flower-like fins and pretty colors, but it can hit hard with its burly tail and wipe you out with a beam of pressurized water. Also, its theme music is as bouncy and cool as its fight is. But more importantly, BUBBLES! 8/10.

"...I'm so lonely."

YES, I AM AWARE THAT THIS MONSTER IS IN A SEPARATE CLASS. The Snake Wyverns, more specifically. But...c'mon, that category hasn't been updated in forever, and most Leviathans have the exact same body type. And with that, I declare Najarala a honorary Leviathan. I will say, I dig the obvious inspirations this thing gets from the legendary Aztec God, Quetzalcoatl. It too is a huge serpent that almost looks like it has wings with those huge scales on its back. And speaking of scales, it can fire them from its neat paddle-like tail. Those scales hit with enough force to rattle so loudly they stun prey. And then the scales blow up on the Najarala's volition. Sounds an awful lot like a more advanced version of what the Bazelgeuse would implement. Still, I admire this monster no matter what category it goes into. Maybe someday we'll see more Snake Wyverns. But as it stands, it's sort of obvious that they're Leviathans that got lost. 7/10.

"You're getting sleepy...very sleepy."

You might think I'd be put off by the uncannily humanish face of the Somnacanth, but you'd be wrong. It's SUPPOSED to be spooky, and the rest of the body looks great! Those long claws and the flowing purple fins make for a striking design. Also, the human-like face makes sense when you consider that this monster is based on the Ningyo, a Japanese mermaid that isn't exactly easy on the eyes either. As the name of this Leviathan would imply, the Somnacanth's main strategy is to utilize a special gas that dulls the senses and make prey sleep. But should any hunter know to avoid that (I for one don't ever remember falling for it), it will switch to a tactic that I find exceptionally charming. Not only is this beast a fish-reptile, it's also got the habits of sea otters. More specifically, it'll whip out a clam from the water, and start beating on it while doing the backstrokes until it either blows up or causes some other special effect (including unintentionally healing its foe). They must have had a lot of fun making this monster! 8.5/10.

"Allow me to introduce myself, my name is MUD."

It took them a bit, but it was only a matter of time before we got a Leviathan that looks almost exactly like a traditional eastern dragon. We just couldn't ever predict how. Thus, the Almudron makes the scene. And I do like how it embraces those draconic features, ON TOP OF having a tail based on that of a lobster. That's cool! But then there's its deceptive intellect. Almudron, as you might have guessed from its name, fights mostly with mud. But not just by chucking it. It can make whole structures of mud with the intent of boxing you in and perhaps even crushing you with its signature move of making a massive mud ball with its tail. And if there's no natural mud around, it can secrete a yellow acid that makes dirt into mud. That's why people say it's based off the Dorotabo, a Yokai made of mud. But in terms of appearance and even its intro cutscene, it has the energy of a grumpy old man telling you to get off its turf. Love it! 8.5/10.

And that's that again! Next, we look at some dino-might in the form of the Brute Wyverns!

Index:

Herbivores

Neopterons, Carapaceans, Temnocerans

Bird Wyverns

Flying Wyverns

Piscine Wyverns, Amphibians, Leviathans

Brute Wyverns

Fanged Beasts, Fanged Wyverns

Elder Dragons

#monster hunter #monhun #monster hunter world #monster hunter rise #monster hunter wilds #ramblings

47 notes · View notes

saniaeart · 2 years ago

Text

Inked on my back

#SoulmateAU Zosan fanfiction (available on AO3 here)

In a world where almost half the population had a soulmate tattoo, Sanji shouldn't have been surprised to see a mark on every one of his nakamas. The black heart on the back of Luffy's right hand was one of the most discreet tattoos he'd ever seen. He much preferred, however, the delicate blue feather on his beloved Nami's forearm. He had noticed all of this without really broaching the subject. Events with Krieg had not allowed them to dwell on such details... But when he had finally embarked with the little crew of the strawhat... He knew that the marks of their destinies would be evoked. The subject always came up when it was obvious that everyone around the table had a soulmate, somewhere in this world. When the fateful question fell, he'd answered what he'd always believed, despite the phantom sensation between his shoulder blades... "I don't have a soul mate." It was a poor lie, one he'd adopted from an early age... If his mother, such a gentle mother, had taught him with tenderness that the mark that adorned his back was a blessing... His father's words had had far more impact. "No one will ever want you. You're worthless."

"You don't deserve this." No, he probably didn't deserve to live next to his other half. Even if he had to admit bitterly that fate had decided otherwise through no fault of his own. At first, he hadn't really paid attention. He hadn't made the connection... In fact, part of him had sunk into a latent denial that prevented him from realizing what was right under his nose. But one evening, he had to face the facts... The sword had been placed delicately against a wall while its owner sipped a glass of sake. Out of the corner of his eye, Sanji had watched the blade and inhaled with a certain lack of confidence. Unwittingly, he felt his hand reach for the hilt of the sword. His fingers brushed the familiar black patterns on a white background... Heart pounding, he felt a strange wave run through him as his back suddenly itched. The white sword at the center of his shoulder blades was nauseatingly similar. He decided with a wave of his hand that it could only be a coincidence. But that hadn't counted his luck...

A few snacks on a tray after perfect service to his beloved Nami, Sanji had instinctively made his way to the idiot swordsman. Just because he was stupidly insufferable didn't mean he couldn't be fed. What he hadn't counted on, however, was a sight far too upsetting for his taste. Working out in the warm sunshine, Zoro had shamelessly removed his top and lifted his weights, leaving his half-naked body for all to see. While he'd been spared his first thoughts of the all-too-imposing bulging muscles, he couldn't help but notice that terrible spot of color... A saturated, dark blue... A coelacanth sat at the base of Zoro's loins. As rare and unique as the sea... As intriguing as it was frightening. Forgetting to breathe, Sanji seemed to pale for a moment as the marimo's attention turned to him.

"Cook."

His gaze met his rival's, who was breathing softly after an effort. He saw only curiosity mixed with the slightest hint of annoyance until he seemed to notice what Sanji was wearing. The bold man grinned, putting down his weights. He had recognized the particular shape of the onigiris waiting patiently on their tray. Coming to his senses, the chef simply set down the snacks next to the swordsman and left without a word. The doubts he'd managed to bury suddenly rose to the surface and nearly suffocated him. He was no fool... He was carrying Wado on his back... And Zoro was carrying one of the rarest creatures in the oceans...

"All Blue."

Barely whispered, he hadn't recognized his trembling voice as he locked himself in his kitchen to regain control over his train of thought. A scar on the back is a swordsman's shame. How ironic. It had taken the representation of his entire being to betray the swordsman's trust before they'd even met. This mark, this location was proof that he didn't deserve Zoro. That he didn't deserve to exist... He was a mere plague, a stain on the immaculate back of a courageous swordsman, far from a coward. He was neither his equal, nor what that idiot marimo deserved.

Of course, the subject had not failed to come up again for the umpteenth evening over a good meal he'd worked hard to make for all his nakamas.

"That's a funny fish on your back, Zoro," Luffy had said, leaning towards the swarthy swordsman's skin.

"It's true I've never seen such a specimen. It's... peculiar."

Nami's words had caused Zoro to roll his eyes as he sipped his glass of sake. Sanji squinted and smacked his skull to avoid showing disrespect to his princess. Words were exchanged, the tone rising under the general exasperation and laughter of their captain. This had helped change the subject, but Sanji was always short of luck when it came to this sort of thing... And that idiot marimo hadn't missed a beat.

"I don't give a damn about the fish. It's just a silly tattoo."

Sanji's heart had clenched in spite of himself as he inhaled a puff of his cigarette. The rest of the evening had been quiet, and it was back in his kitchen to clean up that he felt himself getting heavier. Zoro was a man of action, a man of proof and determination. He wasn't one to let the world decide for him... So it was obvious that he attached no importance to evidences that a destiny was in reserve for him. He had decided long ago that he would be the best swordsman in the world... Just as Luffy would be king of the pirates. And as surprising as it was, Sanji believed in them. He knew they would become the best... As much as he believed that one day he'd find All Blue. Whether this was naivety or stubbornness, it didn't matter. It was a certainty, that's all. A far more beautiful certainty than the universal offer of a soulmate... At least, he was trying to convince himself.

Hiding his mark wasn't all that complicated for the cook. He wore suits all the time and bathed alone at the end of the day after his kitchen was perfectly tidy. What's more, his nakama didn't seem to question what he'd told them about his lack of a soul mate. No one made the connection for lack of knowledge... Until Robin joined the crew. The woman was beautiful, intelligent. And it was this that failed him for the umpteenth day.

"What a beautiful coelacanth you have there, Zoro-san."

"A beautiful what?"

Sanji had pursed his lips when he heard the young woman's words. In the end, this was hardly surprising, Robin was a great reader and an inexhaustible source of knowledge in her own.

"A coelacanth, a rare fish."

A true living fossil that lived in very few places. Who was the very representation of All blue... That Sanji was the only one to understand... Until now. Robin's intense, unspoken gaze landed on him. A shiver of anxiety ran through his body, but he had, by some miracle, managed not to panic. He trusted the young woman... She would keep silent, no matter what she thought she knew or didn't know. He knew it... He believed it. He hoped so.

It was during yet another quiet, warm evening that Sanji's gaze fell once more on Wado. He had learned her name some time ago, but had never mentioned it or questioned the swordsman. Not for lack of trying. But he'd never had the chance... Or at least, taken it. Tonight was nothing special, but he couldn't help asking in a low, uncertain voice.

"Where did she come from...?"

If Zoro had been surprised by the question, he hadn't let on, simply resting his gaze on the cook. The swordsman remained silent for some time, until Sanji thought he hadn't said the words out loud after all. Zoro was not a talkative man. Least of all about his past... Least of all with himself. Just as he was about to turn away, his stomach twisted with disappointment, the marimo answered softly.

"It was my first soulmate's weapon."

The revelation hit Sanji in the stomach. Zoro had used a term that was far from harmless. He who had been clear up to now, proclaiming that he didn't believe in universal destiny but in his own decisions...

"First...?"

He couldn't help asking, his voice surprisingly calm even though he felt his whole body shaking discreetly.

"Yeah. I know what the tattoo on my back means and the fact that you all believe it, but... Kuina was my soul mate no matter what the world has to say."

"Where is she today ?"

"She's dead."

A new burden weighed down his gut. How could he compete with the memory of a dead woman...? How could he compete with yet another swordswoman who, to be sure, had all the esteem in the world Zoro could muster for anyone...? His face must have betrayed some thought, Zoro sighing as he rolled his eyes.

"I don't need your condolences, I mourned long ago."

But the cook couldn't manage to mourn his ironic fate... And cruel. It was too hard. Beyond the things he, a poor cook, didn't deserve, Zoro deserved so much. He deserved the love and rivalry of a young woman equal to him. He deserved the strength of an adversary as strong and courageous as him... Not a failure like himself. Not a coward who, from their first evidence of curiosity to get to know him better, had lied to his crew... To his nakamas, whom he now loved so dearly.

Thriller bark had been a pure nightmare. He would never forget that vision of horror. Zoro, standing in the middle of that pile of blood...

"Nothing happened", he had said.

Sanji hadn't believed it, but it hadn't mattered. What had terrified him wasn't the marimo's stupid sacrifice per se... No. What he hadn't been able to digest was his own cowardice, which could, after one last heartbeat, have become eternal. If Zoro had died... He would never have been able to rid himself of this latent guilt. Of the morbid silence he always kept about that white blade in his back. If this event had terrified him to the depths of his being, time had relegated it to the rank of a belated nightmare... An unforgettable memory. Everything had been bearable again. Until Kuma. The loss of every nakama had been unbearable. The sudden disappearance. The silence after the impact. Nothing could have prepared him for what fate had reserved for them. A destiny he had never questioned, despite his doubts and fears. A fate he had finally accepted after many long months. If he couldn't let go of his cowardice... He couldn't let go of this all too powerful feeling either. This love for his crew. For Zoro. For their dreams. That he considered himself weak was no longer truly important. What mattered was what the people around him on this particular island could give him. Strength. Technique. And perhaps, a little courage...

"You're not a cowardly man, Sanji. Don't let your demons convince you otherwise."

Ivankov had been a listening ear after he'd abandoned silence. Never had he imposed. Never yet had he reproached him for his actions. But his words, always straightforward, as sharp as the blades of his soul mate, struck him without fail.

"Perhaps there's a world out there where those patches of color embedded in our skin are just images for children. False promises made by a fate-maker with a sick sense of humor. But it's not ours, and you know it."

Yes, he knew. Today even more than yesterday. And tomorrow, probably even more than now. His silence had been a real burden from the start. More than he cared to admit. It had been a personal battle into which he had thrown himself body and soul. Investing his energy in lies, fear and cowardice. Luffy, his Nakamas... let alone his other half, Zoro, didn't deserve his behavior. He knew he was weak, despite Ivankov's indispensable help. Despite Zeff and his benevolence hidden beneath his leg kicks. And if he didn't deserve the love of his crew. From that idiot marimo... They deserved more than his dishonesty. They deserved his dedication, his cooking, his love... They deserved the truth.

"I have a soul mate."

From the corner of his now one and only eye, Zoro gazed at the cook with perplexity. He wasn't going to question his words, understanding the latent lie that had persisted over time. He simply accepted the confession under the starry sky of a calm night and mistakenly thought that would be all. Yet his silence seemed progressively inappropriate. He knew Sanji was romantic. Perhaps he was stupidly insufferable towards women, but he knew how to read beyond that. He wasn't stupid. He knew the cook. He'd learned with time, with virulent exchanges and kicks. He hadn't ignored the insistent glances when he didn't think he was being seen. He'd simply chalked them up to a particular eccentricity. He'd accepted the silences, the strange unspoken words he sometimes couldn't shake off. Zoro wasn't stupid, no. So he understood from Sanji's slumped shoulders and pale gaze that his silence would only hurt.

"Have you met them ?"

"Yes."

The answer came as no surprise, but the tone was far more so. Sanji sounded devastated. Confused. Resigned. It was a mixture of ridiculous feelings that might have annoyed him if he hadn't had so much patience after two years away from his nakamas.

"What's the problem ?"

"I don't think he likes me."

"He ?"

He caught the laughing sigh Sanji let out. There was nothing funny about it though. But he couldn't help it. Sanji was a lady's man. So he had every right to be surprised to discover that the second half the world had decided to give Sanji was a man. Ironic. Even a little cruel. This was why he couldn't stand the idea of destiny itself... He felt trapped and hated having his free will taken away from him. Not to mention the terrible mistake the world had made in giving him a so-called soulmate who wasn't Kuina. He had chosen and preferred to live with the death of one of his halves on his conscience. It was simpler, truer.

"And you, do you love him?"

The obvious question seemed to surprise the cook, who smiled ruefully.

"Yes."

"That's not bad."

For a moment, he thought his answer would make Sanji explode, who suddenly stared at him with annoyance and confusion.

"Not bad ?"

"Yeah. Who can say they don't know how to love, eh ? You love him, that's good. Destiny or not, you feel something and that's all that matters."

This time, the cook seemed bewildered by his words. Perhaps he had been too frank, but if he knew Sanji to be sensitive, he also knew him to be strong and mature enough to bear his answers. This was what he had always appreciated in him. Beyond the nauseating but tender words towards women, beyond the cries against his person, Sanji was a powerful man who could be counted on. In battle and at sea. As cook and rival. He was his equal, his nakama. He loved him, in his own way. All the more reason why he didn't mince his words.

Sanji didn't reply and seemed content to leave the swordsman's living space, shaken. Zoro didn't know if the conversation had ended positively, but he trusted his words. The cook deserved to love far more than he deserved to be loved. The ability to love others was not something trivial. It was something powerful and important. Zoro didn't usually let on, but he considered love a pillar in his life. He had loved Kuina and still did. It was this bond, this deep love, that guided him on his path to excellence. Love was a source of motivation above all sources of worry. Protecting his nakamas didn't require so much effort, because it was now inscribed in him. It was an obviousness that glided over him and enabled him to slice through the air with his blades.

It was what had enabled him to survive Mihawk's training. The distance. While he knew that most of his crew hadn't endured the seperation, he wasn't outdone. Silent nights gazing up at the starry sky, the last thing he shared with his nakamas, had sometimes been hard to bear. He'd been the first to come back to life when he felt Luffy's familiar arms wrap around him in loyal enthusiasm for his captain. He'd been the first to smile defiantly when he saw the cook's indescribable gaze land on him, on his newly scarred body, on his now missing eye. He had seen the pain... Relief in that azure-blue gaze. He'd been proud of it without really paying attention.

But Sanji didn't seem to share his vision of things. His gazes were vague, barely curious, full of desperate melancholy. He'd stopped counting them after a few weeks, but couldn't resign himself to ignoring them. With each passing day, the cook seemed to become an increasingly complex enigma. He found it hard to grasp some of his gestures, which were too disinterested to be real. Some of his looks, some of his words. He didn't know what had prompted Sanji to make this confession about his soulmate. He wouldn't complain, content in the knowledge that the cook had enough confidence in him to confess something that didn't really concern him... But which, somewhere, must have been important to this idiot romantic.

"I have a soul mate and i don't want to talk about it."

Everyone around the table had had a particular reaction to the sudden confession. Luffy had simply stopped eating, with a curious look on his face. Nami raised her eyebrows. Usopp, discreet as ever, found himself with his mouth wide open. Chopper had swallowed his glass of water noisily, then made himself very small. Brook hadn't had a chance to show his emotions through his skeleton, but his head turned entirely towards the cook meant enough. Franky, too, had opened his mouth in surprise, his eyes full of emotion, probably happy and confused for Sanji. Robin had been the only one who hadn't seemed surprised, and this had annoyed him to no end. Had Sanji confided in the woman before him ? Beyond that, why had he, perhaps the only one, been taken into his confidence long before the rest of the crew ? He would have thought that if anyone should have been told, it would have been their captain.

If a multitude of questions hung in the air, Luffy was the one who decided to spare his cook by begging for more food. The rest of the meal was dynamic as usual, thanks to the enthusiasm of their idiot but loyal captain. This left Zoro deep in thought. He hadn't pushed his vague curiosity, but had to admit the absurdity of the situation. Sanji, probably the most ecoeurously romantic man he knew, didn't want to talk about the second half the world had reserved for him. He knew that the cook was in love, and if he knew nothing about the poor chosen one in question, he wondered why Sanji was still lonely. Insufferable as he was, he was still a strong, capable, multi-talented man with, he had to admit, the face of an angel. Even his eyebrows had a certain charm. So, once again, he asked himself... What was the problem ?

That evening, as he gazed out over the calm sea, his hand on Wado's pommel, Zoro felt a strange wave of emotion wash over him... As his back radiated warmth.

Despite all the injuries he'd sustained over time and despite Chopper's intrusive and obligatory good care, Sanji had managed to keep his back a secret until now. No one knew, no one had any real proof beyond improbable suspicions. Obviously, since their return to their boat, since the separation, the bonds between each member of the crew had grown stronger. The slightest injury was painstakingly taken seriously, and the slightest health doubt drove their poor doctor mad. The latter had become intransigent... He exuded a childlike strength that was beyond question. So it came as no surprise that he was the first to discover the white blade embellishing the pallor of his back. The little reindeer had breathed in his surprise and only had to observe the tattoo for a brief moment before raising his emotion-filled gaze to the cook. Sanji had sighed, his gaze tender and sorry. No words had been exchanged, Chopper respecting his wish to remain silent. He had been very grateful... And thought again of his devotion as he grasped that dangerous blade out of the corner of his eye.

Chopper was in danger. He had seen the assailant slice through the air towards his nakama. The latter had no room to maneuver, no instincts to awaken, clueless of the situation. He didn't see the ennemy. He didn't see the look of panic on Sanji's face as he realized the vision of death he was about to witness. Chopper's name escaped his tense lips, his voice breaking in a terrifying echo. He was afraid of not being fast enough. He was afraid of death. Not his own, but that of one of his nakamas. Nakamas he loved. Whom he had a duty to protect. Phantom tears formed at the corners of his eyes as he lunged forward in an uncontrollable rush. He wouldn't make it.

"Sanji!"

The familiar voice rolling around his rarely uttered first name made him shudder with apprehension and satisfaction. A quick glance in the direction of the swordman told him what was about to happen. His body moved instinctively as he caught the glint of Wado reflecting the sky. His hands, immaculate, scarless, rose until he felt an electric shiver run down his fingers. Wado's handle took its place between his hands as his muscles tensed in action. Instinctively, without a thought, Sanji blocked the attacking blade and sent it waltzing back with a distorted metallic sound. A wave of what he thought was adrenalin coursed through his body as his back burned. Wado radiated between his fingers, imposing an invisible pressure that made him take a step back, taking his place... Back to back with his soulmate who had joined him.

His body trembling and his breath short, he felt all the energy of the sword in his hand. Of the heavy significance of this loan... Of the abrupt, indisputable trust that Zoro had shared with him by throwing him the last testimonial of his first soulmate. Of Kuina. Of his dreams.

"You knew..." he said in a trembling voice.

"I hoped."

He hoped..? How could he hope for such a thing? Who was he to deserve such hope? Zoro didn't deserve a failure like him. He didn't deserve to settle for a poor cook like him...! It was ridiculous.

"Show me" he'd told him in a confident voice once the fight was over.

Zoro's gaze, intense and far too calm, pierced him as his body lost all composure. He felt his outstretched arms gradually fall, Wado still in hand. In a slow, timeless gesture, he gradually turned around... Giving his back to Zoro. The swordman accepted the offer without a word, the sound of a blade slicing through the air reaching his ears. With a simple, masterful gesture, he had cut away the shirt that obstructed his view. Soon, the white reflection of his sword of life was offered to him. Wado Ichimonji, enthroned between Sanji's shoulder blades. He wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't felt the call of his best blade. If he hadn't understood the ease with which the cook had held it in his hands. Let her not consider him her only master... She hadn't been mistaken. She'd recognized his other half... His soul mate.

"You didn't say anything."

It wasn't a question, a simple remark without animosity or reproach. Yet Zoro had every reason to be angry with him. He wished he'd yelled at him, that he'd tried to cut off every last strand of his hair... But the swordman was awfully calm, his arms resting on the boat's railing. The day, tiring and too hot for his liking, was gradually cooling off as the sun set. The last rays were reaching them, reflecting nicely on Zoro's golden earrings. They had instinctively found themselves side by side, unable to say a word for many minutes. Sanji was afraid. He didn't dare say anything... Didn't dare imagine anything. After all, he deserved nothing. None of what Zoro's intense gaze forced upon him when it landed on him.

"You already had a soulmate." he murmured.

"You deserved better." he added.

"I couldn't replace her," he admitted.

"Bullshit."

His voice was sharp, his eyes crinkled with displeasure.

"Who are you to decide what I deserve ? Who are you to denigrate my second half soul hm ? Are you an idiot ?"

Sanji was about to retort, confused, but Zoro wouldn't let him.

"I don't know where you're getting all this merit bullshit from, but damn it, cook. Sanji. Of course I deserve you. Of course I hoped. I'm not an idiot and you know it! That fish there. On my back."

"On your back, Zoro. An indelible mark spoiling the immaculateness of your swordman's back. A scar in the back is a swordman sh-"

"This fish is not a scar ! This fucking fish is you !"

"And I'm ruining your back !"

"Of course not! You own it ! You protect it ! With this fish, you're always with me. You have my back, literally ! You're my shadow, you complete me, cook. And not just for this soul-mate thing ! You've been doing it since we met. You've been doing it since the beginning. Without knowing. I can count on you. Everyone can count on you, okay, but me ? Yeah right. It's like you didn't see us fight against our enemies."

Sanji didn't know what to say. Zoro seemed to accept everything with ridiculous lightness. He felt miserable... Far from deserving of this trust, these deliciously painful compliments. Pulling himself up from the railing, the swordman turned to face Sanji, planting his gaze in his own.

"You love me, I know it. You can't fight it. And you won't because if you do, i swear to gods i don't believe in...! I will slice you in half to recover what's mine. You."

Tears rolled silently down his faces as Zoro raised his hands to his cheeks, a serious look on his face.

"I love you, you stupid cook. I will take you as you will take me. Because that's what it is. Destiny or not."

Deserved or not. He will take him. Because if he didn't believe in his luck, in this suddenly radiant destiny... He believed in Zoro. It was far enough. For now.

#one piece #zosan #zoro roronoa #sanji vinsmoke #black leg sanji #zoro x sanji #soulmate au #soulmate #fanfiction #archive on our own #saniaeart #my art #illustration

418 notes · View notes

normal-with-adhd-is-a-joke · 1 year ago

Text

I have an idea:

Coelacanths as a symbol for contested illnesses.

According to MEpedia, a contested illness is one where "different 'experts' have different views as to the causes, and they are often considered medically unexplained". Contested illnesses are often (incorrectly) believed to have psychological roots and to not be "real" physical illnesses, many of us are waiting on physical evidence in order to be seen as "real". Sightings of coelacanths were dismissed as people seeing other fish until actual physical evidence was provided. In the same way that contested illnesses have always been real, coelacanths were never really extinct, people just didn't believe it until they had physical proof. Coelacanths have a distinct spotting pattern that could be used for awareness ribbons in the same way the rare disease ribbon uses zebra print.

#cripplepunk #physically disabled #actually disabled

69 notes · View notes

exitwound · 2 years ago

Text

Amazon search crossbody bag shaped like a fish. Amazon search crossbody bag but it has to be shaped like a fish. A codfish with its many lovely fins a rainbow trout with all its color options. A herring quality for a good price with pockets meant for collecting shells and sea glass. A prickleback waterproof breathable fabric A pufferfish a school of sea needles a guppy an embroidered coelacanth Please why are you showing me another polygon zippered multi compartment single color nylon usb port rfid tap to pay apple pay portable cash register for traveling merchant traders of the future theft proof pocket with bluetooth encrypted lock Please stop Amazon please Amazon Im searching for a bag shaped like a fish Amazon you are supposed to have everything but you only have the same product a thousand times Amazon you are named after a rainforest I thought you would have the creatures of the earth Amazon you you do not even have bags shaped like the fish of the sea Amazon I want something you can not give me Amazon I am scared of your false utilitarian gods Amazon usefulness to a fish is only as good as aliveness Amazon millions of years have formed the swimming bodies of the fish who could think better forms would be found in computer modeling design programs by designers who job it is to play dead and browse for something copied to copy and add a pattern from the package of default patterns and Target will just love it Target is salivating Target can smell In Color: Dusty Rose like a sharks goosebumps at a drop of fresh blood of course it is a beautiful color of course I found myself alone and hungry for In Color: Dusty Rose (2 Left) Amazon’s Choice which brand will you Choose Tommy Republic Banana Bahamas Old Navy Teen Marines and Amazon You’re My Baby Blue Amazon please swim home Amazon I will never love you Amazon I’m still here because I want to own something from you I want to own a crossbody bag shaped like a codfish with its many fins I want to put my phone wallet water bottle inside it I want to carry it around all the cities of the world Amazon my manager gave me a $10 Amazon gift card to keep me from quitting I quit anyway Amazon now I have $10 to give to you only you I only have $10 for you it’s not romantic but isn’t it? Makes me want to say Hey Amazon what’s your number I think we could be twin primes because Amazon you amaze me you really do and Amazon I want to own a fish shaped like a crossbody bag or maybe it was the other way around was it the other way around I cantAmazon I just want you make it all easier Amazon if you won’t take the weight from me can you distribute it more ergonomically around my shoulders Amazon Amazon I have forgotten a world that was Amazon I can’t remember what a fish is Amazon can you describe it to me Amazon Amazon Amazon 10 Best Known Fish Species of the Amazon River of the Amazon fish described so far by science 40% are catfish and caracines including the neon tetra (Hyphessobrycon innesi), pearl headstander ... Amazon Fishing Species Guide · Peacock Bass · Payara �� Arapaima · Piraiba Catfish · Redtail Catfish · Wolfish · Jau · Flat Whiskered Catfish. The Amazon has some 1,100 tributaries, 17 of which are over 1000 miles long. The Piramutaba catfish, a giant Amazononian catfish, is thought to migrate a ... The Piraíba is the biggest leather of fish in the Amazon Basin, reaching 3.2 yards (3 m) in length and 330 pouns (150 kg) weight. It has plump body, ... Category:Fish of the Amazon basin P · Panaque armbrusteri · Panaque bathyphilus · Panaque nigrolineatus · Panaque schaeferi · Paracanthopoma parva · Pareio... Amazon is home to several river monsters including the arapaima which needs to surface to breathe. The arapaima is unique in that its scales ... When it comes to eating the fish of the Amazon River, gamitana (Colossoma macropomum) is one of the most sought after due to its tasty flesh. CARAUARI, Brazil (AP) — Even in the most biodiverse rainforest of the world, the pirarucu, also known as arapaima, stands out. Top 8 most intriguing fish species that live in the A

#z #zoo eyes

340 notes · View notes

b-blushes · 6 months ago

Note

As a quasi "goal" this year I want to let people know about the things that make me happy/joyful. So I think your blog is neat and I am especially obsessed with the bird and fish suncatchers you posted. Big inspo vibes there; and I'd love to know how you started making them :D Hope you have a good day~

ah that's so lovely, thank you! i think i've posted all of the suncatchers i've made now, but i have 2 more specific ones planned to make in the next couple of months >:3 they came about when i was thinking about christmas gifts to make for friends last year. in 2023 my friend @/hierophant-mean made me a digital drawing (and stickers from the drawing!) of a coelacanth (my beloved) for my birthday, and then in 2024 i made them a embroidered hoop based on the drawing for their birthday~ (their drawing has a coeacanth swimming through clouds, i called mine 'star eater)

i can't honestly remember how i jumped from this to the suncatchers! 2024 was really 'year of me adoring looking at fish' and atm i'm not really feeling drawing/adjacent techniques either traditionally or digitally, so i wanted to make something about them (fish) in a different medium for my friends. i have a couple of rainbow-maker window stickers, and several suncatcher crystals hung up in my kitchen, and i loooooooove when it's rainbow time!!!!! so i think i just connected the dots between components. also i was trying to make gifts out of things that i already had, and i had sooo many sequins left over from making the above hoop :P and lots of felt leftover from various felt projects in years previously (last year i made felt 'gingerbread house' style ornaments for christmas gifts), although I did end up buying some more of certain colours! first fish project i made/ first double fish project/ first 'fish-adjacent' project:

can't share the 'actual' first ornament fish project as it's yet to arrive at another friend's house, but second ornament fish-adjacent project:

it was really fun iterating on these, and on the process of making them! i digitally drew all the patterns myself from references, and it was tricky but fun to problem solve how many of each pattern piece i would need. it was also fun but challenging picking subjects - my criteria were things like - striking colours but with minimal patterning due to the limitations of adding small pieces in felt - challenging medium as it kind of. fluffs apart if you do too much to it? (also darker colours show more rainbow contrast with the iridescent sequins, but on lighter colours they have more of a 'scale' type effect, fish style) - distinctive outlines that make them pleasant overall shapes to look at - not too fiddly shaped due to aforementioned felt challenges - something that had a personal link to either me or the recipient, or symbolised something i wanted to say to that person (like, i wanted it to be something that felt like it came from me, so it was a bit more personal, even though either way i was making them from scratch! bonus if it was a thing that we both shared a memory of)

construction wise, i made the first (my pink trout-style fish who hangs in my kitchen window) by sewing the four base colours of felt onto a fabric backing in an embroidery hoop, then cutting them off the fabric, but this was not the ideal way of doing it. after completing it i noticed some things i wanted to improve on, such as no visible stitching on the back, fewer gaps between felt pieces, and an overall 'easier' process. that one took me a month to make, between - digitally drawing out the pattern - picking colours - figuring out how to cut and layer the felt pieces to create something that was a 'nice' thickness - figuring out the order that all the pieces needed to be assembled in - actually making the stripes fit together (drawing around pattern pieces on different pieces of felt inevitably meant they ended up slightly different shapes than a flat digital drawing) - working out how to attach the fins (and sew details through a single layer of felt without disintegrating it) - how to do a nice eye - how to construct the thread of star sequins that they hang on etc Once i'd completed that one though, i actually had something to work with and edit, both process wise and materials wise. I ended up discovering the existence of 'double sided interfacing' and learned how to use that as i went, making it much easier to add backs to everything to hide visible stitching, to cut out pattern pieces (you iron it to one thing, then iron that thing to another thing, so then the felt is a bit less susceptible to fraying when you cut it out) and to add small details (although i did add tiny stitches in colour-matched thread to most added parts to reinforce them, and also strategically placed the iridescent sequins so i could sew through multiple colour points to 'connect' them more where applicable)! At times it was veryyyy frustrating because i imagined them so the only person i could ask about the instructions was ME! and i had no clue what to do :P but it was also extremely satisfying solving the problems! in the end they were taking me a few days to make instead of a few weeks.

this was probably waaaay more detail than you wanted hahaha i know you said 'how you started making them' instead of 'how you make them' i'm just jazzed to talk about FISH PROJECT! :P thank you again for such a lovely message!

#fish project process #long post #okay to reblog

9 notes · View notes