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wesleysniperking · 17 days

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Usopp and Conqueror’s Haki | part 1 (TL;DR)

Read this if have you any doubts. True Usopp fans only.

This is probably one of my MOST favorite topics to just think about and mull over. For the past couple of days, I’ve just been spouting streams of consciousness it seems, but I’m really wanting to showcase what there is to like and truly appreciate about Usopp.

So, this whole discussion on him having Conqueror’s haki just gets my neurons goin’ baby. Meaning it makes me really happy and theoretical and the like.

As long as I’ve been in this fandom I’ve come across all these theories and speculations surrounding Usopp. And guess what? They never stop. And they don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. The Final Saga is here and OP fans are getting anxious and bold. Behind all the scrutiny and petty hate, the real question everyone is asking is, “What will Usopp do next?”

Anywho, every time the convo gets to Conqueror’s haki Usopp gets name-dropped. I never entertained what people would consider bullsh*t. But every time I’d look into Usopp theories and speculation, Conqueror’s Haki was at the forefront. But then when I started frequenting websites such as Worstgen, Reddit, YouTube, etc. Conqueror’s haki kept being brought up and Usopp was in that same sentence. Even the haters with all their doubts think Usopp shows the most potential when compared to other characters people speculate on (no shade to them at all, whatsoever). So, after that sh*t started being shoved in my face, I decided to look into all these theories and speculation arising when it came to Usopp and Conqueror’s Haki, AND despite being skeptical and straddling the fence, I mean, the guy has potential.

First, I’m just gonna say this, when people start talking about how he’s gonna use it and when he’s gonna use it, they come up with all these scenarios that got me thinking they are cooking up something quite tasty.

Like, a multitude of a multi-page thesis.

One scenario that stands out to me is that there will be a moment where Usopp finds himself amid battle and unfortunately he once (again) gets the overpowered baddie whom the monster trio can’t defeat. So per usual, Usopp runs, hides, lies, makes a few seemingly tactless shots with Kabuto, and grovels (maybe), and then he starts getting beaten to a pulp. Like he starts getting the sh*t beat out of him. Then the baddie leaves him or more clearly the baddie starts walking off while giving a diatribe about Usopp being a worthless piece of sh*t and deadweight, throwing Usopp’s insecurities back into his face. So, Usopp gets back up and tries again (bleeding and tired), and some way and somehow (due to desperation and sheer will) he unleashes conqueror’s haki and it’s game over for the big baddie. But it depends if the true fight gets started then (Usopp’s Kabuto raised and ready) or the baddie just ends up on the ground, stomped. The end. This also clarifies that when people imagine Usopp with Conqueror's Haki, this isn't something he's trained for; so it's very sloppy and new to him. He won't know he's used it. It's a one-time, big moment thing, and then whatever else happens from there we run with.

But let’s get back to the ground. That’s daydream-ville. I gotta come back to earth. Needless to say, there are some supposed and still growing/adding conqueror’s haki traits that are/include:

The ability to force their will onto others/a strong will

This one is very complex, somewhat, when it comes to Usopp. But it’s also where it’s the most interesting. From the jump, the Going Merry crosses my mind. Ship developed a Klabautermann because of Usopp’s wholehearted care. That was one of the MAJOR (if not only) reasons why she came to save the Straw Hats during the buster call. So, he was basically the captain of the GOING MERRY (not the SHs, he lets Luffy have that with no qualms—and never did have any).

Then let’s not forget Usopp’s iconic speech when Luffy needed to get his a** up and finish Lucci off. Many people claim that—when discussing how far the crew could’ve gone without Usopp—this is where the deal-breaker comes in. If Usopp hadn’t been there to give Luffy that speech, Luffy would’ve been cat food.

Then there’s Usopp lies coming true. Call it a coincidence or irrelevant, there is indeed proof. If you’re an Usopp fan, you know you know.

Heck, he’s even lied about having conqueror’s two times (was it two or three?), and everyone knows that his lies come true. Even haters (to a point) or non-fans actually can consider this. Like, bro lies about having conqueror’s haki two times and it’s bound to come true.

continue here

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fluffyartbl0g · 1 year

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HERE IS MY INCREDIBLY SELF INDULGENT CRACK TIMETRAVEL AU!!!!! This is heavily inspired by geokat’s fic Take The World By Storm.

For reasons,,, the gang has to get to raftel AS FAST AS POSSIBLE

LET THE SPEEDRUN COMMENCE!!!!

Speedrun/Time Travel AU masterlist

#speedrun au #one piece #monkey d. luffy #op makino #op fanart #time travel au #this is sooooo self indulgent it’s crazy #you see luffy is rlly optimizin this run by employing the ‘sea king’ hack #my hc is that haki is a training of the soul! so even if one were to hypothetically travel back in time #they would still retain the haki prowess they had previously :]#gonna have to work hard 2 get those muscles back tho #i just want my guys to be stupidly op :(((#is that so much 2 ask for

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beaulesbian · 14 days

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ah yes, thank you One Piece-summary/flashbacks-corner for including this specific Marco scene, where Zoro once again has to remind everyone that he would always follow Luffy's orders. It's just a thing that naturally comes out of his mouth ever so often. Love to see it!

#one piece #roronoa zoro #i know this is about marco and how he can trust luffy and zoro to deal with kaido. its a rlly cool thing #(and again- that both luffy and zoro are part of the worst generation out of the all strawhats)#but it made me already nostalgic for wano zolu #they had so many great scenes there! so many parallels and symbolism and being insane about each other aurhgh #luffy blushing and jumping into zoro's arms when they first reunited bc he was missing him!#both being so protective over tama #luffy cheering on zoro while he was in uden and saw zoro fight on that projector #'im going up to beat kaido' 'i will go with you'#luffy saying 'but they spilled the bean soup'. zoro immediately: 'they gotta gets sliced'#'hey kaido that's my captain' and unlocking his conquerors haki to protect luffy #'might as well become the king of hell' - you know. for luffy #ughh so many #zolu #luzo #one piece spoilers #wano zolu #mine #gif:op zolu #gif:op anime

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mugeesworld · 11 months

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Shanks with a chubby partner head cannons!

Female y/n

!!NSFW!! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Masters list-

ahhhh shanks...... Shanks shanks shanks..... This mf...... How do I put this.... Sigh

He is one horny ass bastard.

I said it! And it's true! Look at him?!?? He always has that sly ass look on his face that makes you want to both punch and sit on. (I want to at least..)

And I have to say I don't think he would settle down with someone. He looks like a pimp. Hoping island to island. Unlimited hoes you feel me.

BUT

That was before he met you of course;)

Cause when his eyes landed on you. He didn't just want you oh no no no! He needed you... He desired you. He would not have it any other way.

Cause when he sets his eye on something. Especially a glorious treasure like you? Oh then he has to have it! Never in his life had he ever seen such a treasure like you!

No amount of jewels, gold, silver, or berries could ever be more desirable then you. Cause you we're the true treasure to him. Just the thing he has been searching for.

THE ONE PIECE! (sorry sorry. I'm joking!)

But you are certainly close to it! Just kidding you're better then it;)

Shanks is the type of guy to think he has the most rizziest of rizz then hit you with a yo mama joke. It would work on me but obviously it's not everyones type of flirting!

Ok so I started this like 3 days ago. Did a story and didn't like it. So I'm restarting a whole new small story. Cause I like adding a small little story on my head cannons! I do it on every single one! So yeah.....

It's no secret shanks and his crew love to drink! And like every other island he comes across he has to check out the bar at the one you just so happen to live and work at with your friend! So as usual him and his crew go to bar.

Beep beep.... Beep beep..... You rub your eyes and turn over to turn off your alarm. Seeing the time you jump to your feet. "Holy shit! I'm late for work!" you quickly throw on some clean clothes and start dragging yourself to the bar. Meanwhile your friend Ren is taking care of shanks crew by herself.

"Where the hell are you y/n??!" she grumbles carrying yet another barrel of booze for the thirsty pirates! She puts down the barrel when suddenly another group of pirates walk in.

"Oh fuck this! I can't do two crews by myself!" she says throwing her hands up in the air and sitting down on one of the stools at the bar. The captain from the other crew looks around the bar. His eyes landing on shanks. "Oh don't worry miss. We'll be quick... We're not here for a drink anyways." he mumbles.

Ren quickly stands up from her chair at hearing that. "If your not gonna buy anything then you can't stay buddy! This is a bar not a hotel!" she explains, walking towards the man while pointing at the door. The man scoffs and pushes past her. Ignoring her protests.

He makes his way over to shanks table slamming his hands down to get his attention. "So you're shanks huh? You don't look threatening at all! How the hell is your bounty so high?" he chuckles.

"Well I didn't come here to chit chat. So let's get on with it. Let's fight!" he yells throwing the table shanks was using. Shanks ignores the man. People like this are new to him. He sighs taking another sip of his sake. "Can't you see me and my crew are just trying to have a good time? Take a chill pill!" he groans.

Ren backs up against the bar. Usually you we're here to help settle bar fights like this but she was all alone left to panic. The man clenches his teeth. "How dare you disrespect me like that! Fight me! Or I'll tear this place apart till you do!" he yells, once again throwing another table.

The man continues to throw tables and chairs. Shanks hated that the guy was doing this to the bar. But it seemed a guy like this would pop up every time him and his crew go for a drink. He was tired of it. After a few minutes of him having a tantrum shanks finally stands up having had enough of his bull shit.

When suddenly you barge in out of breath nearly falling over at the sudden stop. "I'm so sorry I'm late ren- HOLY SHIT!"

You gather yourself, standing up straight to look around st the mess he made. "Who the hell do you think you are messing up my bar like this?!" you scream walking over towards the man.

The captain turns around to look at you. "Just stay out of this Missy. You don't want to get hurt do ya?" he sneers crossing his arms. You roll your eyes looking around for ren. Spotting her behind the bar. "Ren what the hell happened?!" you ask throwing your hand in the air

She pops her head out from behind the bar. "This guy wants to fight that guy over there but he refused so- Hey wait! I should be the one asking you that! Why the hell are you late y/n?! I could of died!" she yells.

You awkwardly smile at her and look at the ground. "I may have slept in.... But we will talk about that later! As I was saying! Ahem* WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!" you yell pushing your finger into the man's chest.

"You can't just come in here and act like you own the place! You're gonna pay every penny of damage whether it's with berries or your life! I don't have time for your bullshit!" you scream grabbing the man by his shirt.

The pirate clenches his teeth and pushes your hands off him before turning back to shanks. Not paying you any mind. "Well I don't have time to deal with some foolish lady. I came here for one thing and one thing only." he says glaring at shanks.

You clench your fist, you've had enough. With everything that's happened today leading up to this you wanted to snap. You've dealed with pirates before. Either throwing them out or beating them if they refuse to pay. He wasn't gonna disrespect you like that. You're not the strongest but you can tell when you can win a fight against someone. He wasn't the biggest and certainly not the smartest.

You charge at the man, lifting up your fist and swinging. Nailing him right in the head. The man falls on his knee grabbing his head. "Don't you ignore me you bastard! I work to hard for this bar for it to be made a fool of by some damn pirate. If you wanna be a pirate so bad then maybe you at least have a bounty. Why don't I turn your ass in and fix up my bar huh?" you exclaim, pushing his head into the ground with one hand and holding his hands behind his back with the other.

Shanks and his crew watch with interest as you handle the pirate. Screwing his head harder and harder into the ground. "But seeing as you can't even take a punch from a foolish lady, your bounty won't even cover the costs of a single glass. You're not worth the walk to the police station.....You have balls coming in here like you own the place when you are weaker then a mere bar tender. Ton down your damn ego and get the hell out of my bar jackass!" you yell while bragging him to the door and throwing him out.

Breathing heavily you turn around to face the man's crew. "Get the hell out of my bar before I knock you all on your asses." you grumble, not in the mood to deal with them.

The crew rush out of the bar not saying a word. You stand still for a second trying to catch your breath before signing. "The audacity some people have is insane...." you whisper just loud enough to be heard. Walking towards the bar you see ren poke her head out from behind the bar.

"It's just my luck a snot nosed pirate trys to cause a ruckus on the exact day you sleep in..." she sighs rubbing her hand over her face. "I'm sorry ren it won't happen again! I'll clean up the mess he made since I was late." you say walking towards the table he flipped.

You flip the tables and chairs back over. Only a few being damaged. Fixing shanks table you see that the chair he was using is broke. "Damn! Sorry about that I'll get you a new chair." you say picking it up. Shanks shakes his head. "That's alright I can sit at the bar. You don't need any more work then you're already doing anyways!" he smiles.

"No it's alright I don't mind!" you say quickly walking away to grab him a new chair before he can protest. He sighs, still feeling bad about the mess he somewhat caused. You put down two chairs in front of him. "Their we are! I only seen one by the table so I brought another in case someone else was sitting here with ya!" you explain.

Shanks nods with a small smile. "Thank you! I was sitting alone actually! Sorry for the mess that guy caused. That stuff seems to happen in every bar I go to. It's a real party pooper. Would you maybe like to join me for a drink?" he asks sitting down in one of the chairs and patting the other.

You think for a moment "hell! Why not!" You sit down and he pours you both some sake. "I have to admit. I didn't think you would be so friendly after seeing you take down that guy. It was pretty scary!" he chuckles.

You laugh and shake your head. "I could of probably handled that differently but I wasn't in the mood to deal with someone like that today." he passes you your drink. "Their isn't many ways to deal with people like that. I think you handled it pretty well!"

You and shanks talk and laugh till you have to get back to work. For the remaining time he was on the island he was at your bar or sleeping. On the last day he asked you to join his crew. How could you say no?

I don't know how I feel about the little story but I don't have the energy to start over. Plus it ended up being way longer then anticipated!

Shanks is a childish person. It's his personality! He is just like luffy. Childish and bold. He might not be as bad as luffy since he is older but for the most part he is!

Let me give you a few examples! Shanks is very easy to please and distract. You never realized how easy it really was until you were naked in front of him for the first time

He was beyond excited! Cause if you are scared to show your body to him. He would praise and just beg you till you did. He didn't understand why you didn't want to!

Imagine shanks coming back from dinner on the ship, heading to yalls room. You and him still haven't had sex yet. And you decided fuck it! You strip naked and sit on the bed waiting for him. As a surprise!

And boy. It was certainly a surprise for him! Right when he walked in he was speechless. He stood there at the door way for a solid minute. Eyes wide and mouth open until you yelled at him to close the door.

He quickly turns around to close the door. Before turning back around he does a little dance cause he is so excited. He turns around towards you with a huge smile and just jumps on top of you.

As you lay flat on your back shanks straddles your legs, staring down at you. You start to get embarrassed with his piercing gave never leaving your body and try and cover up with your hands.

Shanks quickly pushes them away. "Oh No you don't! You covered up this treasure from me long enough! You're never covering it again! Such beauty shouldn't be kept from the eye." he says.

You feel your face heat up. You can't help but feel flustered every time he speaks like that. Shanks cups your face. Running his hand down to your neck. Then your chest. Then your breasts.

Small boobs or big boobs? He don't care. He finds them funny. Like a stress ball.

He squeezes and pokes your boobs. Even though it feels good you can't help but laugh at his reaction. The way he is looking at them is like a kid spaced out after getting a new toy.

He wasn't even trying to pleasure you at that moment. He was to busy playing with your tits to care. Shanks quickly stops hearing you laugh at him. "What are you laughing at huh? Can't a man appreciate his woman's body properly!" he says a little embarrassed.

He is very touchy. Like I mean he can't keep his hands off you. It's not always in a sexual way either. He just needs to have his hands on you in some way. It's comforting. When y'all are sitting down he will have his arm around you or his hand on your leg. Pulling you in closer by you waist. Their will be no space for air.

When standing he doesn't hold hands no. He holds your love handles. If he's walking beside you his arms wrapped around you and squeezing them or if he's standing behind you he's wrapping his arms around you and swaying with his head on your shoulder. You get no personal space.

Sometimes he just needs to hold you for a second. No reason at all. He just wants to. He will stop mid convo. Find you and get your attention even if you're talking to someone. He doesn't care. And wrap his arms around you and sway a bit. That's all. No words exchanged. Then he just walks away.

You will never truly understand that man.

If you don't want to he will just groan or whine till you let him. He has no shame. He's a actual baby😐💀.

Doesn't matter how you're standing or what's around you. He will find a way to satisfy his need to touch you. Doesn't care how embarrassing it is or who's around. His crew has seen everything by now.

He just can't get enough of your body and will take every chance he gets to savor it. Bro would walk up and just put his face on your chest and groan in relief. While you stand their embarrassed. He's actually a leach.

Who wouldn't want this man's large hands on them tho? Exactly.

Since he's so grabby he will grab your stomach too if you're comfortable with that. He will grab e v e r y t h i n g.

Their are no limits for him unless they are past your limits.

He loves laying on your stomach after a long day of God knows what. Listening to your heart beat. And feeling your warmth. Moments like that heals him. It suddenly makes everything better. He loves nothing more then just holding you against him. Knowing your safe and can't go anywhere.

You are truly the one treause he will never sell or loose. He cherishes you. He is actually obsessed with you. Like genuinely. His crew was shocked when seeing him settle down so suddenly with you after seeing him go woman to woman for year's. He was the last person they would expect to do something like that.

He would let you wear his cape. Or buy you one so y'all can match. He would put some shit on it tho like "Ms shanks/ Ms. Red /red haired shanks wife" even if y'all ain't married💀 and sure enough when the government sees that on the back that' your name on the bounty poster 😭

Shanks laughs his ass off about that. Finds it absolutely hilarious. The crew will start calling you Ms. Red. It's got a nice ring to it tho! Can't say I don't like it!

You may be thinking. "His love language can't only be touch!" oh he tries his best to do other stuff! He will buy you anything if you ask! He might try to say something romantic but end up saying the most random thing ever. "You're so beautiful y/n! Your eyes are as brown as a swaying tree branch...." he tries his best...he really does. You gotta give him some credit.

He does give you small praises though. Like "You're so soft/warm. I can't believe I'm dating you. I'm one lucky son of a bitch" random ass things.

Oh but when he's drinking...... You better not get embarrassed easily cause he will spout the most dirty stuff. He doesn't care when he's drunk. The bit of dignity he has before drinking vanishes with the first sip. He his groping and rubbing up on you. Saying all this stuff in front of his crew. You usually end up taking him to yalls room cause you can't handle the embarrassment. He can handle his booze we'll but when it comes to his words he's out of it. He can do everything else fine!

Bro is always horny. He would probably say that out loud too. The little amount of care he has is insane. It's actually scary.

That being said he will tease you until you are red as a damn tomato. He loves riling you up. Especially if you're the shy type. He loves seeing your reaction. In public or in private.

He doesn't play hard to get with you but after teasing you he will act like he didn't do anything. Like nothing happened. He loves seeing you squirm in your seat.

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tatarianasters · 11 months

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im tired of people from the twitter side of the fandom bully sanji for not having conqueror’s haki. honestly, i would be very surprised if he gets it. and i wish he wouldn’t. because sanji doesn’t want to conquer the world. he doesn’t want to be the pirate king like luffy or the greatest swordsman like zoro. sanji’s dream isn’t to be the world’s best chef. he wants to find the all blue. and if you can’t understand that, then idk what to tell you.

#one piece #sanji #vinsmoke sanji #i dont get why people dont understand how characters get conquerors haki #its something someone with grand ambitions is born with #what do the 4 emperors have in common?? they want to be king of the pirates #what does kid want?? become king of the pirates #plus nobody in sanjis family was born with conquerors haki

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howdoipost · 5 months

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Lion King "Can you feel the love tonight" but Lawzo and Usopp as Timon and Franky as Pumba

Takes place on Zou, even tho pre Dressrosa fits the lyrics more

#roronoa zoro #lawzo #trafalgar law #lion king #law has king haki and he is a feline #so match

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alexoreality · 3 months

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@q-ueen-potato

No one will understand me and Luffy's simple-action rizz.

#one piece #one piece headcanon #monkey d. luffy #luffy #straw hat crew #so we all agree Luffy's pretty right #like he'd be a disney princess if not a damn king #literally op's version of sleeping beauty right here #an absolute beauty of a smile #so what if when he grows up and is all mature (or mature as Luffy can get)#he unknowingly masters his rizz along with his haki and is now considered to be flirtatious by the public

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justyourcasualidiot · 8 months

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Why did Shanks lose his arm when saving Luffy instead of using haki?

Alright, now that's a question I'm sure most One Piece fans are wondering.

Most people seem to assume it's because Oda simply didn't plan for haki at that point in the story, so as the story got longer, it became some kind of unfortunate plot hole. Others might say it was a "bet on the new generation" because of what he said to Whitebeard.

Both are good guesses. But both are WRONG.

Shanks obviously lost his arm on purpose. He clearly purposefully didn't use haki and lost his arm as a conscious choice. But why would he do that, you might ask.

Obviously for the DRAMATICS, duh. The man LOVES to make un entrance. Using haki to assert dominance when visiting Whitebeard on his ship? That magnificent entrance in Marineford? Please the bastard loves his entrances.

What better way to make an entrance to save a kid than to purposefully and dramatically scarify one of your own limbs?? Nothing. AND Luffy is now much more impacted by the moment than he would be if Shanks didn't lose an arm trying to save him.

I'm telling y'all. Shanks is a dramatic king and we don't talk about it enough.

#one piece #shanks #red haired shanks #akagami no shanks #monkey d. luffy #luffy #shanks saving luffy #why shanks lost his arm instead of using haki #dramatic #dramatic entry #dramatic king #drama king #shanks is a dramatic king #and we don't talk about it enough

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franeridan · 7 months

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I really wish yamato had gone with luffy and I love that he asked to be considered a crewmate anyway and that luffy told him he'd always have a place on the sunny so I a hundred percent consider him a mugiwara but in my ideal one piece where the war ended differently and ace is still alive yamato is his. like obviously ace is dead and he hadn't been a captain for a while before then anyway, but in my ideal one piece yamato belongs to him. he's a spades. he's ace's crewmate first and foremost.

#the way yamato talks about ace is so wonderful to me so beautiful #the certainty he had in ace being the one who'd spearhead the new age rivals the trust the mugiwaras have in luffy #the only reason he wants to be on luffy's crew is cause ace told him so much about luffy he decided if it wasn't ace it had to be luffy the #i have this thing in my brain that if the asl brothers had all actually become captains and stayed so #there's a whole bunch of luffy's allies that would have actually been split between them #like i mean the only reason why they're with luffy is that cause he's the closest thing but #had ace and sabo gotten there first some of them would have aligned more with them than with luffy #like take vivi for example she's DEFINITELY nakama and no one will take that from her #but are you seriously telling me had sabo had his own crew he wouldn't have managed to actually steal her away #some of the royals and nobles luffy befriended are so sabo coded they'd have joined his crew in a heartbeat had he had one #same with ace there's a bunch of mugiwara allies that are so ace coded he'd have swept them away so easily.....#no but that's not even it with yamato #like that's just me letting my brain go but with yamato it's like #on paper #dude saw the new king in ace he'd have followed him to the end of every sea had he been able to #had ace gotten there when he knew haki already......#no yamatos definitely aces ace just lent him to luffy thats the hill I'll die on #on a side note i just read that one part where marco remembers ace whining that he wanted to go back to yamato #and i had forgotten that he smiles and cries at the memory #one hit ko a million hp lost i want to die what the hell marco my love marco my sweetheart 😭😭😭😭😭#oh i love marco so much......#i always loved him unreasonably even before the war when he'd barely done anything but the more oda writes about him #the more my love grows no one gets it he makes me so sad he deserves so much more my man my sweet 😭😭#izo too........he gets there like “are you ready to die” “I've survived enough already” IZO MY LOVE 😭😭😭😭#the wb pirates make me so sad man..... but marco and izo a million times more than anyone else sob sob they deserve better #sorry but i just had someone very angry abt what i said re vivi in my inbox so let me explain that #it was an exaggeration i wasn't being literal with it #no i do think understand specific circumstances it might have been true but i was exaggerating nontheless #very sorry the truth is i forget people actually read what i write m(._.)m #but also why be angry in my inbox I'm not even tagging these posts just unfollow me man

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ilragazzoinfiamme · 1 year

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"Suppongo di dover diventare il re degli inferi!" -Zoro

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scraping-the-depths · 8 months

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SPOILERS FOR SOMEWHAT FAR INTO ONE PIECE

Was watching One Piece Live Action with a friend who's pretty new to the whole One Piece thing.

And there's this moment where Zoro goes "How do you know she's not one of Arlong's crew?"

And Luffy responds "Same way I knew you weren't gonna kill me when I cut you down from that cross."

And let me tell you, the urge I felt in that moment to pause the video and say "It's called conqueror's haki, Zoro, you should try it sometimes"...

Look, all I'm saying is that I deserve a fucking medal for not saying anything.

#opla #one piece live action #one piece spoilers #op spoilers #one piece #monkey d. luffy #roronoa zoro #conqueror's haki #color of the supreme king haki #haoshoku haki #why does it have that many names

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wesleysniperking · 17 days

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Usopp and Conqueror’s Haki | part 2 (TL;DR)

previously;continuing on...

Sad backstory

Usopp’s mother died when he was very young. His dad left him and his mother prior, leaving Usopp alone to fend for himself. That’s how he developed his knack for lying.

The ability and gift to lead others

Despite how small, Usopp did create his own pirate crew and lead three little boys who wholeheartedly admired and respected Usopp. But let’s not forget to mention Enies Lobby and Dressrosa. Kashii and Oimo followed Usopp after he told them their former superiors were free, alive, and still kicking. The Tontatta kingdom were more than willing to follow him when planning their attack on Trebol and Sugar. Which lead to his ‘God Usopp’ moment.

Out of everyone in the crew besides one or two (Luffy and maybe Zoro), people have at many points in the story wanted to follow Usopp and be led by him. No matter the situation and pretense.

Take that as you will and must.

People gravitate to them naturally and want to follow them (Charisma)

Same as above. But to be more precise in this instance, Usopp is a great storyteller and through this skill alone, he really does attract others. Heck, he got the Romance Dawn trio involved in saving Syrup Village when they necessarily didn’t have a reason to.

And there are the giants. They always gravitate towards Usopp, and converse with him. He always keeps them going.

Had a moment where they hit rock bottom

Water 7, baby. That was probably one of the worst moments in his life. Like, he deserved a hug during that period. Usopp was isolated, reeling, and filled with so much grief. He was walking around in bandages (from being jumped and punched right in the gut), he and his best friend weren’t talking, and he was under the impression that he was inadequate. It was a true “Young, Dumb, and Broke” moment for him.

Kingly ambition

This is probably one of the most disputed things when it comes to Usopp and Conqueror’s Haki speculation. But it’s easy to squash the doubt when you realize that Usopp does indeed have that “kingly ambition” baby.

First of all, when Usopp read about Ace’s death in the newspaper and started crying over the fact that he couldn’t be there for Luffy, bro promised himself (and Luffy, in spirit) that he’d become the king of shooters for his captain. That’s what he said. Heck some argue that the Sniper King alter ego supports this bit as well.

Secondly, Usopp does have something he needs to “conquer”. And what that is, is his fear. His natural cowardice continuously puts him at odds with his dream to become a brave warrior of the sea, yet his low confidence and anxiety work against it.

Knock people out to the point where form is coming out their mouth (seen in the manga)

Perona and Sugar. He left both women passed out with foam coming out of their mouths.

He knocked both girls out.

Courage

Despite Usopp’s ongoing bouts with cowardice and pushing for bravery. He’s shown it in spurts, bravery that is. But you know what? I sound like a hypocrite. I truly do. Because what is courage? Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. And he continues to do this, gag or not (in terms of the corwardice).

It took courage to want to defend Syrup Village and declare to do so despite having to do it alone.

It took courage staying to fight when facing off Chew in the Arlong Park arc, and Miss Merry Christmas and Mr 4 in Alabasta.

It took courage to fight Luffy and be willing to go at it alone when leaving the crew (not expecting anyone to follow him), it took courage to put on a mask and fight alongside friends you left after a nasty dispute, it took courage apologizing to the crew (when there was also some reasons not to) and asking to re-join, it took courage to fight ghosts, it took courage having to rely on faith and determination alone when making a snipe shot with very little to go on.

Empathy

Usopp showcases this well given where he’s come from and how he helps others. If there’s one thing people really don’t highlight about Usopp, and do actively look over, is the fact that he lies to make people feel better and find hope. He never does it to cause bodily harm to anyone. Usopp is a very misunderstood individual but naturally possesses the ability to encourage people in his own way. Like when Luffy was down and out when Lucci had him in the first half and he encouraged Luffy to get up and fight, or making Nami the climatact because she felt inadequate when fighting alongside the crew, or when he gave the giants (Oimo and Kashii) the push and courage to stop working for the World Government, or when he took care of the Going Merry, or when he told Robin to trust in Luffy, or when he helped the little girl perfect (or was it make?) that firecracker that her late parents failed to finish, or when he indirectly gave Chopper the courage to keep going when fighting Miss Merry Christmas and Mr. 4, or when he always ran around the village and woke the villagers up by running around early in the morning shouting the PIRATES ARE COMING! to make their lives worthwhile…you see where I’m going with all of this?

Note: Usopp tells his stories to make people feel better.

As a sniper he offers that backup, that backing and support during battle to make sure the crew is safe (like with Robin on the Tower of Justice, or in Stampede when Luffy is fighting the Big Bad)…and how he fought Perona? How could he have fought her without being in tune with his emotions and self-perception?

Then how devastated he was when he found out Ace died and could understand how affected Luffy was by that, declaring he’d become The King of Shooters for him.

continue here

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medicus-mortem · 10 days

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[💀] - Just a reminder that Trafalgar Law is a King in every sense of that word except for actually being of royal blood.

#puppet master // ooc #[just thinking about how Law holds himself and #... he may not have Conquerors haki but he is a king damn it!!!]

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beaulesbian · 2 months

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I was only today years old when I realized that Trafalgar Law's names are probably references to two battles that led in our real life history to a certain emperor (Napoleon)'s defeat.

*arrives 10 years late with a meta post because of a realization*

uhh Dressrosa spoilers, I guess.

Trafalgar and Waterloo... Water Law.

In One Piece world that emperor being Doflamingo, who suffered two major loses thanks to Law's existence:

First being cca 13 years ago from the main storyline - at the Minion Island where Corazon managed to get the Op-op devil fruit for Law and saving his life from Doflamingo. On that island, Doflamingo lost both Corazon and the devil fruit he wanted to much to get his hands on, as well as Law, someone who he wanted to use as the sacrifice to get the immortality via the devil fruit's powers.

Tbh I haven't really heard about the Trafalgar battle before today. When I first heard about Trafalgar Law as character while I started to read One Piece only cca 5 months ago, I only thought "huh, isn't that a square in England, I was there on a trip once" but didn't look more into it now.

So I just skimmed throught the wiki pages of those battles, I don't know all the details, I don't want to compare it too much, but some maybe similarities/parallels that piqued my interest:

The Battle of Trafalgar were the spanish-france forces against english navy, and Donquixote/Dressrosa arc including all those spanish themes, as well as Law being from the North Blue (where Sanji and Mont Blanc Noland are/were also from) being a bit influenced by France, plays interesting role when this happened in North Blue as a prelude to what would 13 years later happen in Dressrosa (the birdcage, Doflamingo's rule, the puppets, etc).

This part of the Trafalgar battle describing the british was at first outnumbered, that the spanish had more ships along with one of their biggest one:

reminded me of how Corazon himself faced with the whole Donquixote family, including Doflamingo:

and some more interesting similarities how the "hero" of the battle died even before it ended:

but thanks to his informations, the Navy later arrived, and Law got away.

(even on the wiki of the Trafalgar battle there were mentions of some false informations, previous pursuits of the ships and admirals etc, so that vibe kind of fits.)

I haven't read much about the Waterloo battle, except how known it is for being the final defeat of Napoleon, by Coalition armies - which would nicely parallel to Law and Luffy starting their own Alliance during Dressrosa, and thanks to that it caused for Luffy to be there to beat Doflamingo once and for all.

Some other small details I noticed:

The Don Quixote book was apparently first published in two parts, one in 1605 and the other in 1615.

The battle of Trafalgar happened in 1805, and the battle of Waterloo in 1815.

I found one person even connecting the date when was published the chapter of Doflamingo's deafeat in Dressrosa - 18th of June, 2015, which is the same date only 200 years later after Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo.

I love that in some sense both battles have in common water, and for the One Piece world that is connected with pirates and ships - with the historical aspects the battle of Trafalgar being a naval battle, and Waterloo for the Water in Trafalgar D. Water Law - he concealed his full name from Doflamingo for all those years, his secret name as well as the will of the Ds. - for our world a possible reference if one looks more that he really was meant to be Doflamingo's downfall.

There's just something beautiful about Law's whole existence to be a sort of a foretelling of the fall of one of the emperors of the sea, just by having these names. And it's not just the names of his, but the parallels to the situations and results of the incidents taking place at those locations.

It's literally a middle finger to Doflamingo:

#anyway.. i had some law feels bc of this #trafalgar law #trafalgar d water law #one piece #donquixote rosinante #donquixote doflamingo #donquixote corazon #one piece meta #gif:op meta #mine #long post #there could be so much more said about this connection to how law saved luffy and luffy in turned saved him.#how law carries Corazon in his heart as someone that needs to be remembered #how small doflamingo was told that because of his lineage and haki he's meant to be the king of all seas #this was all bc of a book i wanted to start rereading that has nothing to do with one piece. but the first sentence was a setting opening #'93 years after trafalgar' and just that made me remembered oh! naval battle on the seas with the same name as a beloved character!#now i can hopefully go back to start rereading that book lol

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hauntingblue · 2 months

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In between arc (kinda) episodes

Pt. 3

#so MOMOS GRANDPA IS ALIVE??? AND PLUTON IS HERE SO ROBIN LIED TO CROCODILE IN ARABASTA! QUEEN #THE NEW ADMIRAL JUST KILLED QUEEN AND MAYBE KING (PLEASE DONT!!) AND IS CALLING FOR A WARSHIP TO KILL LUFFY #oh luffy grabbing kid akdhaksj reluctant friend maker they call him... wdym youre going to kill me... come here lets smush cheeks #luffy is such a humble king.... also why am i crying here thinking how everything is so brautiful (and otsuru is alive) and i have to find #out buggy is a yonkou. what the hell did he do against the marines akdbaisbsks ????? HOW????#ofc luffy is obvious.... also the admiral could roam arund wano a little and grow some plants all over... it is needed after all...#take a breath.... meditate what you're going to do...#talking tag #watching one piece #episode 1080 #also why is jinbe in there alone??? also i thought pluton was nika but pluton is in wano??? metaphorically yes.... my theory is in shambles #SHANKS???? 'momo and hiyori must have grown' well... recent update actually...#yamato got him!!!! fuck yes!!!#yasopp isnt ready to see usopp???? well boohoo... also why does this guy care about kid... nvm shanks got his arm i forgor xd #so shanks new about the fruit.... bc not even whos who knows...#barto burning shanks flag omg akdhsks #SABO KILLED COBRA???? that has to be a setup.... kuma escaped!!!! sabo is more popular than dragon somehow??? its bc he actually does stuff #MOMO CAN MAKE FIRE?? well kinda... shanks goes for the one piece.... what's in the air??? like you didn't have time before???#once again i <3 in between arc episodes.... i love getting fed new info....#nami new sharpshooter usopp step aside... and with one hand only... oh nvm.... it is rigged then #episode 1082 #law and robin ponebesties.... jack gyojin???? also that is such a way to construct a city... wth RED PONEGLYPH!!! 3/4!!!#opening the frontiers frees the weapon.... inch resting also did luffy talk to him??? yamato could hear him because of the king's haki???#what is up with shank's haki.... jesus christ.... they were just watching lmao luffy can feel shanks omg.....#did he just leave or does he need the poneglyph still???#episode 1083

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sabraeal · 2 months

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The Sword Between, Chapter 5

[Read on AO3]

Blue silk settles over her like an estranged acquaintance; two years ago it had fit like a second skin, but now it squeezes at the bust and requires far fewer petticoats to pad out her hips. The hem, however, settles perfectly— a finger’s breadth above the the floor, just as it always had. A terrible way to learn she hasn’t grown a single, vertical inch since seventeen. Makiri will be practically unlivable.

“Such a pretty color, my lady.” Ami’s hands smooth over the skirt, coaxing out the creases that linger at her waist. Haki is half-tempted to tell her not to bother; it’s a fabric that begs to be rumpled, the furrowing above her hips only serving as a reminder of how hands might sit there, silk wrinkled in their grip. Of how easily it might crumple beneath the slightest pressure, like petals plucked from a flower's stem.

The last time she had worn this dress, she'd been more concerned about whether her prince might find her singing voice pretty, or hear rumors of her fair face and be tempted to sneak north simply for a glimpse of it than what an enterprising young man and a willing young lady might get up to in Wilant's dark corners. But Lowen had been her age now-- older, if she does not mistake her figures, though not by much-- and more than ready to contemplate such arrangements. Had he thought of it even as he knelt before her, head bowed in deference, swearing to protect her body with his own? Had he gazed up at her with that that placid mask of his, still as a lake's surface, and felt the first ripples of--?

“His Highness will surely think it suits.”

Haki's secretive smile sours to a pout. “I look young.”

Feels young is more like it, fingering the fall of lace at her décolletage. She’d been little more than a child the last time she donned this particular frock, and it’d been a season out style even then, the seamstresses of the city unable to keep up with the rush to raise bust lines and drop hemlines and overhaul sleeves altogether. But she had been proud of this one, so unlike the other gowns father had gotten for her— practically modern and made with silk bought off Tanbarunian traders instead of salvaged from one of Mother’s old gowns. A fairy tale of a dress, a dream, and...

And she’d put it away with all the others when the first prince had made clear he was in no rush to settle down with a lady wife. Yet here she was now, trotting it out to spin another story for a child even younger than she. There was poetry in that, perhaps, even if it was only the sad kind.

“Boys like His Highness do prefer a youthful lady,” Ami muses, gaze meeting hers in the mirror. “At least, if he’s naught but sixteen, as your father’s man says.”

Haki hardly misses the stress on that— your father’s man. As if she could not lay the same word's at Ami's feet-- her father's maid, paid to make sure all of her most embarrassing escapades ended up in the duke's ear.

“A pity there’s no time to have me done up in ringlets.” Fine hairs flyaway from the loose braids behind her ears; she smooths them down. “It would have made for a much more convincing ingénue.”

Ami is not the sort to smirk or sneer, but there is a twitch at the corner of her lips, a wryness that not even her scrupulous good manners can smother. “You are hardly old enough to need tricks for that, my lady. Sir Lowen is right” —as much as she is loath to admit it now, her sigh says— “it would be little hardship to fall in love with you in this dress.”

She doubts that this prince will be moved to devotion by a frock near three years out of date or by the older woman wearing it, but she must admit-- there is some charm left to it. The blue brings out the palest shades of her eyes and complements the most honeyed tones in her hair; a far cry from the humble damsel awaiting her rescue, but a fairy tale princess nonetheless.

“One can hope,” she breathes, hand splayed over the fabric at her belly. “Or at least fair enough to inspire some foolishness.”

Ami hums; a melody that swings between agreement and agitation with every note. “Certainly more reasonable men have made themselves fools for you.”

It’s a pointed remark, for all that she can’t think of a single one. The men who frequent Wilant are friends of her father, old enough to have children her own age. Few of them spare her a glance, save if they have a son her age, though those have been few and far between since her betrothal. There are soldiers of course— guardsmen who care more about Makiri’s skill than her conversation— and servants, but none that—

“Is there anything else I’ll be needing to take care of, my lady?” Ami asks, solicitously smoothing out the lace at her shoulder. And yet her gaze fixes elsewhere in the mirror, somewhere over Haki’s shoulder. The door to the sitting room, as if she’s waiting for someone to walk through. A ridiculous worry with Lowen guarding the door. “Anything that needs an extra cleaning?”

Her gaze cuts towards where the dressing screen sits, toile covered in scenes of young ladies picnicking and small dogs running over picturesque stone ruins. There’s not a stain on it, as cream-and-teal as it was the day she’d had it brought it, hoping that it might help keep the heat in around her—

Her bed. A pertinent question for a maid to ask after she had been sent away for the night, assured that there would be another set of hands to help her charge undress. Who had only seen a rumpled mess of sheets when she arrived in the morning, fire lit by an expert’s hands. And now with whatever she had seen in the hall…

Well, if she had thought her reflection young before, her flush makes it positively childish now. “N-no. There’s no need to—”

It’s mortifying to try to put the night into words. How close she had trod to impropriety, only to be rebuffed. How sure she was of his interest even so, only for yet another prince to put himself between them. Oh, if that Bergatt boy put himself before her right now and asked if she would like to see the end of the Wisteria reign, she could hardly be responsible for the answer she might give.

A practiced breath draws her upright, shoulders square as her father had taught her— you are my daughter, he would grunt, holding them straight in his hands, there are few to whom you must bow, and none to whom you must bend. It is not a sweet young princess that looks back at her in the mirror, but a lady of the North, ready to defend her walls.

“There is nothing with which you must concern yourself with,” she says with all the ice her blood can summon. “I think you will find your hands full already, trying to find more dresses that will please His Highness during his stay.”

“As you say, my lady.” Ami bows her head, as a servant ought, but it does little to conceal her smile— or her relief. “Though I’m sure there will be quite a few, if I look among some of your older wardrobe.”

It takes a concerted effort not to grimace. She too had been a more whimsical girl once, as taken with fairy stories as she was with the old lays, dreaming of knights and their ladies. Of princes disguised and true love’s kiss. “They will need to be retrimmed.”

“Of course.” There’s a fondness as Ami lays her hand on a trunk, a wistfulness Haki cannot quite understand. “I’ll see to it.”

“Good.” She steps down from the mirror with a sigh, her dress rustling after her like leaves in the underbrush. “I’ll need all the help I can get.”

Lowen is on his feet when she sweeps into the parlor. Odd; for all his much vaunted skill in the ring— a beast with a blade in his hand, Makiri had always told her, like he’s fighting for his life— her guardsman always seemed more apt to lounge than lunge outside it. And yet as he stands there, attention drawn to the angle of her entrance, his weight shifts in a way that implies movement rather than repose.

“Come.” It would be simple to brush too close as she passes him, to let their eyes meet in a gaze so heavy it might well be a caress, but she bustles past instead, careful to keep even the barest hint of ruffle from slipping over his boots. “My father calls.”

It is not until her toes cross the carpet’s edge that she realizes their are no footfalls behind her, that Lowen has not fallen into step, using that rangy stride of his to eat up the distance between them. No, when she glances over her shoulder, he is still where she last left him, hands curled to fists at his side.

“Sir.” There is a layer of reproach as she speaks, covering the concern beneath it. “He is waiting.”

His fingers twitch, the barest flinch. “Are you certain?”

Haki does not turn to him— that would be a concession too far, a confession with a dearer cost than she can afford— but her shoulder does lower. “That Father waits?”

“No.” Lowen hardly allows a thought to stray across his face, let alone wears his heart on his sleeve, but there is something that lurk beneath the gaze he fixes on her, a castigation and a plea all in one. “That it is wise to bring me.”

A princess does not allow her mouth to thin, does not let her eyebrows angle to imply impatience; a good thing, then, that Haki is not one yet.

“Sir, if there is anything that I am certain of, it is that.” She shifts— not a ceding of ground, but a firming of resolve. A planting of her feet, gaining better leverage to yank on his leash. “Come. You would not have your lady go to battle without her knight.”

Still, he remains unmoved. Not even the barest sway to show he’s heard her.

“Is that what this is?” he says after a long moment. “A battle?”

Her mouth works for a moment, uncertain. “What else can it be? If my father were to bend any more…”

Then the North would be broken. On one side would be the ones who still clung to Father’s prudence, who would see profit in playing Wistal’s games, and on the other—

Well, it had been said once that the stones between Wilant and Oriold would never wash clean. That even now, when the snows melt, the side of the roads run red. The lords of the North may play at civility now, nodding at the southern court’s fashion of love and courtly graces, but that only hides the histories written with bloodied hands.

Lowen breathes, eyes fluttering shut as he takes it in, but when they open—

There is steel there. A resolve that does not waver. “Then let us go to battle, my lady.”

She is too aware of Lowen as they make their way through Wilant’s halls; aware of how his gaze lingers on her, tracing the fall of lace along her collar and dragging down the silken curve of her waist. Aware of the space between them, just enough for an arm to reach across and grab, for the inches to disappear between them and to finally finish the conversation Ami had so unfortunately interrupted.

It’s tempting to turn, to catch his eyes and invite the sort of resolution it would bring. But even though his stare burns hot enough to catch her alight, he does not speak. Not a single word to draw her attention, not a single brush of skin against skin to call her to him. Although her legs tremble effort with the effort to keep putting one slipper in front of the other and her neck aches from keeping it angled straight ahead, he does not stop her, not once.

It is too important, she realizes. For all that she wants to clutch at Lowen’s shoulders and ask just what thought churn behind that stare of his, it is a distraction she can ill afford. Her father’s plans are balanced on a blade’s edge, and it is her who decides which way their fortunes tip.

She will not disappoint him.

It is still Arleon guards on the door to the great hall, and they move aside before she even utters, “My father is expecting me.”

A single step inside is enough to know why: the prince’s party has already arrived. Still covered in the dust from the road by the looks of it, harried and eager to be shown to the privacy of their chambers. By the wary angle of the royal guards’ shoulders, Father and Makiri have resorted to thin excuses to keep them here. Waiting for her.

With a steeling breath, she nods to the footman at the door. “Lady Haki,” he announces, the slightest tremble in his voice. He’s not used to such esteemed visitors, it seems. “First daughter of his lordship, the Duke Arleon.”

If she thought she might have trouble picking out the prince from among all this white and blue and broad shoulders, she is saved the trouble; his party drops to show the deference due to a duke’s daughter, leaving only a single one of them on his feet.

The queen consort had sent her a gift once, during the months in which her father and the king dickered over the finer points of her betrothal of the first prince— a miniature, done fully in oils, of Izana himself. Long engagements may be prudent, she had written in her elegant hand, letters looping across the page, but they often are lonely. Let this satisfy both your company and your curiosity.

He could not have been more than fifteen, maybe sixteen when he had sat for the portrait, but even so, there was a gravity to that narrow face, a piercing quality to the deepness in his eyes. A regal tilt to his pointed chin, a knowing that lingered in this corners of his mouth; strangely serious for a prince who would become more known for parties than policy. Not yet a man, but she could see the one he would make once the last of childhood was stripped from his cheeks.

What they have sent her now is hardly more than a child.

His brother’s portrait might have hinted at manhood, but this boy— his face is still round, baby fat still clinging stubbornly to his bones. Perhaps there is a threat of a heavy jaw lingering there, a promise of something masculine and square opposed to Izana’s more feminine angles, but it is impossible to tell beneath those full cheeks, flushed and flawless as a doll’s. His hair is cut the same way of his brother’s, but instead of falling with a stately sort of grace across his forehead, it is a dandelion’s tuft, baby-fine and untamed.

“Ah, Your Highness.” Father’s gaze holds hers for a long moment before it drops to the would-be heir, meeting his wide eyes with no hint of his displeasure. “You have yet to meet the reason for all our celebration, I assume. Haki” — his hand sweeps out, beckoning— “come. Greet our honored guest.”

She doesn’t not so much walk as float down the runner of the Great Hall, skirts swaying as if it is only clouds that ruffle their hem, not carpet. It takes hours of practice to turn that which is earthly to the ethereal, but Haki had long shouldered every ache and tumble in the name of causing her prodigal husband to swallow his tongue at the altar.

There is something far less satisfying about inspiring the same reaction in his brother. “It is an honor that you have come for so humble an occasion, Your Highness.”

“Of course.” His voice is reedy, not quite finished changing even if she can hear the man in it. It breaks at her flawless curtsy, flustered. “I mean, the honor is mine. It is hardly every day that we can celebrate such a fine young lady becoming a woman.”

It’s the sort of thing a fond uncle might say, not a boy four years her junior, but Haki smiles nonetheless, hoping it does not sit as stiff as it feels. “You are too kind, sir.”

“Not at all,” he insists with a graciousness that would seem more natural on a man three times his age. “It is its own sort of accomplishment. To be, er…”

“Twenty.” When Makiri smiles it is all teeth, a wolf scenting blood on the snow. “That’s how old my sister is. Old enough to get married now, according to your southerners, isn’t it?”

The prince is too earnest— and his skin far too pale— to cover the flush that blooms up his neck, painting him pink from collar to brow. “T-that is true. But, erm…” His gaze casts about, trying to find a safe place to perch. “Ah, b-but I haven’t yet introduced my party. Sirs…?”

One of the men rises— dark hair shorn short enough that she can see a neck as brown as a laborer’s, far from the lily white of the noble son knelt beside him. He unfurls to a startling height with the same lassitude as the castle’s cats, as if he was only ever on his knees because it pleased him to do so. There’s a cant to his mouth that only supports the implication, but when she raises her eyes to meet his eyes—

She flinches. There’s a scar there— a gouge, badly healed, that stretches from cheek to cheek.

“Sir Zakura Shidnote, my lords— and lady.” He nods at her, mouth tilting toward a smirk. “Lately of the Royal Knight’s Circle. And this is Sir Michel” — his hand cuts toward the noble son getting to his feet, a boy just about Makiri’s age, though he carries it better— “one of the more promising squires from our last bout of new blood.”

“I’m a knight, really,” the young man insists, pushing back the hair that’s flopped over his eyes. “Though I am, ah…new, my lord.”

“Just earned your accolades, is it?” Father may not be a man of smiles, but his eyes crinkle at the corners, warm. “My son—”

“Earned them two year ago,” Makiri interjects acidly, brows bent in his most surly scowl. As if that would help him look any older than his scant years.

Practically a veteran, she almost says, but there is not enough wide-eyed sincerity in her to cover the bite. As much as she might like to tease, she hardly needs to be reminded: they are not among friends.

“Just so.” Father squints the way he does at their accounts, tallying up the men before him. “Did you not have another man in your party?”

“Ah, yes, Sir Mitsuhide.” The prince's mouth pulls thin before he recollects himself, grimace turning to boyish grin. “My apologies, I had hoped for all of us to be here to greet you, but time was short, and there was an issue with our…baggage. We left him to sort it out with your staff.”

Father’s mouth turns stern. “Then should it not be I who apologies to you, Your Highness? If there was some issue, then surely—”

“Ah, no no! This was, er…our fault,” His Highness insists, oddly guilty. “I’m afraid my mother insisted on one last gift, even after all the carriages had been packed tight! It changed…quite a lot of our travel plans.”

“I see,” Father murmurs, though it’s quite clear he does not. He is not a man of last-minute anythings, let alone travel plans.

“But he will be here for the formal reception, of course!” The prince smiles, bright. “He wouldn’t miss it— he’s a northerner, trained at your very own Sereg.”

“Sereg.” Now her brother straightens in his seat, an excited sheen in his eyes. “So he’s skilled, then?”

“Some,” Sir Zakura drawls, a corner of his mouth creeping up his cheek. “Enough that the king requested him by name.”

“By name…?” Now it is her father who leans in, brow furrowed. “You cannot mean— Mitsuhide Lowen?”

The prince nods, pleased. “The very same.”

“I’ll be damned.” Father settles back in his seat. “I nearly asked him here, before His Majesty snapped him up. He was one of Sereg’s finest swords. ”

Sir Zakura smirks. “And now he is one of Wistal’s.”

“Lowen?” Haki keeps her voice low, pitched for only her and her shadow to hear. It's a curious coincidence, considering how closely her knight has always played his card to the chest. “Is there any relation to…?”

Her chin tilts, hoping to catch his eye-- or at least the angle of his mouth, but--

But when she slants her eyes to his usual place at her shoulder, there is nothing behind her but empty air.

#hakizana #akagami no shirayukihime #snow white with the red hair #1000 followers #my fic #canon divergence #lionheart au #mad king kain #ans #i wish we got to have more zen in this chapter #he's got some interesting scenes coming up that i can't wait for #but he's got to be on his best behavior right now #debating if i should have an izana interlude next chapter #or keep forging ahead solely in haki's POV #i think i will have to eventually dip into his POV #since there's clearly....STUFF that's happening for him #the question is WHEN

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