That Button Holding On For Dear Life

Stephanie: Fuck it, we ball *activates final boss*

*shit hits the fan*

Tim: But those were the rules of ‘fuck it, we ball’!?!?

Jason: You have to know how to ball though!!

You guys ever think about how Zane's whole tyrannical genocide arc might have been a good thing for him?

No no no, wait, where are you going-? AT LEAST HEAR ME OUT-

Zane is one of the most complex characters of the entire show, and it's largely because he's literally the reverse of "you don't have to be a mythical beast to be a monster". No, Zane proves that you don't need to be human to have humanity, which is a subtle, overarching theme throughout the later seasons of the show that I'm choosing to believe is entirely intentional and not a side effect of Garmadon being Lloyd's endless migrane.

Anyway, where I'm going with this is that a very crucial part of who Zane is obviously connects to the fact he was built instead of born, and specifically created to protect those who can't protect themselves, an objective he's never failed to complete to the best of his ability. It's heavily implied and even indirectly stated that the reason he's so firmly attached to this directive is because it's the very essence of his code and function, and by extension, his sense of self. It's seen, even if largely just in offhand jokes, that his code has a very powerful influence over his choices and courses of action throughout the entire show. Sooo, how does this lead to me suggesting that the genocide he committed that is never talked about again except for in throwaway gags was actually good for him? Well, it wasn't, obviously, good for his mental health, but it was an important development of his character, and it didn't go to as much waste as I once believed. Think back with me, if you would be so kind, to the infamous mirror episode, when Nya, Zane and Lloyd were breaking and entering and bullying a hospitalized man.

We all know that Zane commented on how his worst fear was having his humanity stripped from him, to become nothing but cool, calculating code. We also know that it was subtle-not-so-subtle foreshadowing for the Never Realm bullshit. Here's the thing- Zane's code specifically dictates that he won't harm others unless it's to protect. So, if wiping his memories had stripped him down to his code, then... what would have changed? It's here where I would like to introduce the idea that over the course of the show, Zane's original code was overridden by him developing his own core values and following them with just as much vigor. Sure, his objective remains the same, protect who cannot protect themselves, but instead of being a core part of who he is because that's how he was designed, it remains a core part of who he is because it's who he chooses to be. Dr. Julian's code was replaced by his own little by little- so when his memory was wiped, there was simply nothing there. The only evidence left of his original instructions was what he remembered, and chose to follow of his own free will.

To summarize and organize my thoughts, the Never Realm was a lot of new and unexplored levels of fucked up and caused a lot of questions begging for answers- but weirdly, it also wrapped up a character arc that's been slowly building since season 1.

From now on, Zane is who he is purely because that's who he chooses to be, and even though it puts him at a huge disadvantage, he chooses to be human.

Sengoku: Garp, your gene pool is fucking everything up. Again.

Garp: I don’t know what you're talking about. My grandson is delightful.

Sengoku: oh my gosh, THE PINK ONE IS NOT YOURS. THOSE-

*points to Dragon attacking a marine base and Luffy overthrowing a corrupt government*

ARE YOURS.

Garp: Never seen them in my life.

Zoro is definitely gonna end up one of the shortest members of the crew

Zoro is 5’11 at 21

Jinbe, Brook, Franky and Robin are already taller.

Luffy has those tall ass Monkey D genetics.

Similarly Sanji’s and Ussop’s sperm donors are tall af.

Chopper’s short rn but he’s young and a reindeer, based on his points I think he’s has a few ft to grow.

I don’t think Nami will get any taller (but it would be cool).

There’s not much on Zoro’s family but great grandfather ryuma is only 6’0.

Incorrect Fox quote based on my current mood:

Fox: I’m here for a long time not a good time.

Thire: Isn’t it-

Fox: I know what I said.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/35220874

https://archiveofourown.org/works/35393926/chapters/88221958

https://archiveofourown.org/series/2361712

https://archiveofourown.org/series/2484175

https://archiveofourown.org/works/36344674/chapters/90610465

people who love Fox and the corrie guard, can you point me towards any reading/comics/etc to learn more? All I know is the minimal bit of him we got in The Clone Wars

+

New gender just dropped

there’s no worse feeling than reaching for your coffee cup and realising it’s EMPTY

Suo: It’s pride month Sakura, you know what that means :)

Sakura: What- do you want me to like? Punch gay people?

Nirei: No-

Fox: You say “please” and “thank you” in front of the shinies all the time and they never repeat it.

Fox: But when you say “fuck” or “I want to murder the Chancellor” ONCE—