:: Pirates in Petticoats ::

:: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 ::

Look, I'm shopping for doujinshi in Hawaii! Why? Because I got a go man en bonus before I left, baby!

This one screams to be purchased, ne? And I wish I knew the plot of this one... I have a sinking suspicion it is not gag, but dang it! Tashigi looks so cool on the back cover!


:: 9:23 PM [+] ::

Look at this! I am the saddest person I know! I'm in Hawaii and what am I doing? BLOGGING? Geez...I really need to ween my ass off the computer.

No, I have an excuse. It's raining. I got to Hawaii and it rained. So I hit the used book store (BOOKS IN ENGLISH!) and ducked into this homey little Internet cafe. And blogged. Because I'm sad. But not as sad as her. Joke, joke! I knew introducing you to Celga was a bad idea. Now Stacey has to go iron her hands.

Yeah, I spent the flight writing Watermark. Because what else is there to do on a plane? NADA. At least I had an aisle seat this time - I hate being in the middle of the four seaters.
:: 9:07 PM [+] ::

Byebye, baby.

That's right. Sayanora, Nihon. I'm off from Dec. 18 - Jan. 10. That means radio silence. You will not hear from me for almost a month.

HA! Yeah right. LIke I would ever be able to stay away from a computer for that long. But there will be precious little blogging and zero updating for a while. I will lurk in your comment sections and whatnot, but don't expect much more than that...unless I get a serious sunburn or something and have to stay indoors. Chotto jalousie? (smirk) Oh wait, you don't know where I'm going... well, that's because if I told you I'd have to kill you.

Nami: (off screen) Oi! You coming or what?

Almost finished! (pshaw, I wish I was cruising on the GMG...)

But before I go, I am leaving you an update. A badly needed updating of the links, a new section for the masses where I can write down all the stupid OP otaku facts I know and more smut. You may blame her for Interlude Part 4. It's similar to the 'magic gyoza' situation...ask and ye shall receive. In spades and spam and [Sanji's...] Oops. Almost gave away the joke! Oh, and fumbum? I mentioned 'concealing shadows.' Hope you don't mind. You know, between the group of us, jokes just get repeated over and over and over again...

Actually, it isn't Sylph's fault. Let's blame it on the lateness...or the coffee...or something that doesn't involve me and my sanity or lack thereof. And seriously, Sylph, never worry about being thought of as weird. There's me and this one to be fangrrls.

I also wrote a really serious essay on tattoos. Tattoos are a subject close to my...skin, I guess. Not my heart. That would hurt - getting tattooed on your heart.

Anyway, it's based on a seminar on the 'body politic' that I took my senior year. I took an eclectic liberal college course load to say the least. Check it out - it's got a lot of sociology behind it but it's an interesting theme that Oda-sensee uses in the manga. (shrugs) What can I say? I like picking things to pieces.

Oh and reins I uploaded another chapter of Watermark, but not on the website - up on ff.net. I don't know which site you use, but I just wanted you to know. I'll get the new chapters of WAM, OAG, and TRTRW up on ST after break. (I love acronyms, don't you?)

I too have yet to pack, so I will be leaving you all. I hope you think the smut is as funny as I did while writing it. I had a giggle fit in the middle of it and scared everyone. I really should not work on smut in the office during lunch. It brings up questions I can't and don't want to answer...
:: 6:59 AM [+] ::

I love you all. I love everyone. I think my love encompasses the universe.

Yes, i am in a wonderful mood because I have fulfilled the reason for the season - I have consumed. But what have I consumed? DAN MADOKA`S SNOW SLIP! (x`s and x`s and x`s - muwahahahahaha) I`ve wanted it forever because it`s a het book. I like my boys in compromising positions - but I do like to see them with girls sometimes as well. This one is san x na, zo x vi, and ta x smo. I love Dan`s work, when he isn`t pushing the limits of freakiness. Nami and Chopper, Dan? Ugh. Concentrate on other stuff, onegai shimasu! I can`t find any Kohza doujinshi, so I guess I have to take his clone.

Zoro: HE`S THE CLONE!

Lordy, the het or gag only books are hard to find. Out of 27 pages of One Piece doujinshi on Yahoo!Japan, I would say that maybe five percent is non hentai het or gag. A bundle of them are Hachi Maru too and the price on those - sheesh! People must be selling their kidneys to get Hachi! I understand though. Not only is the artwork almost an exact replica of Oda-sensee's, but the stories are too. Most of the time - a few Zo x San scenes get thrown in there, but nothing outrageous and trust me...there is nothing like a Hachi Maru shonen ai scene. I'm not a big fan of the san/zo myself, but darn, I was almost converted with the one I saw. Plus I saw the CUTEST Zoro - he had such a cheesy grin, but it was like Oda drew Zoro with a cheesy grin! Ugh. Too much talent! I am so jealous! If I can scan that picture of Zoro in, I will because you all have got to see it...

And of the het couples I find, Nami and Zoro are by far the greatest. I wonder why that is. Maybe doujinshika think it's too easy to do a Sanji and Nami one? Nami and Luffy even top the list there. Poor Sanji...always stuck with Zoro.

Sanji: Kuso doujinshika! Don't they even read the manga?
Stacey (perusing site): Looks like you lucked out in Alabasta here.
Sanji (peering over shoulder): With Nami-san? Vivi-chan?
Stacey: Ace.
Sanji: KUSO! Ace and his kuso extended appearance in the anime!
Stacey (shruggin): More fodder for the doujinshika...

Am I being too candid? I hope no one`s uncomfortable or feels that they need to flame me (scorpio_kaur@yahoo.com). I would hate for anyone to flame me. (hint, hint, fire, burning, hint, hint!)

Um, yeah, yesterday's ep - goats. I'm sorry, there's more, but I haven't had enough to drink yet, so I can't do the review. But as for the manga... I think I am really shaping up to like this arc. I know I was PC wary about the Native American likeness but it's moving away from that. The guerillas have more of a Mad Max/Rollerball edge now. It's very cool how they use the technology to make rollerblades to surf the cloud sea. Anywho, all hell's breaking lose near in Eneru's domain. The priests are out to kill the guerillas and Luffy-tachi are in the middle since they aren't looked kindly on by either side. After the group who was looking for the gold got split up, they all went in whatever direction they felt was right - Nico was the only one on target. Poor Chopper is frightened out of his mind and running like mad, Luffy just met up with the head of the guerillas and is shaping up to have a rumble, Nico took care of the random priest obstacle in her way, and Zoro is going to have a fight with one of the priests. Zoro got knocked around a bit and the chapter ended with him challenging the priest...and licking the blood away from his upper lip. (swoon) I do so love boys and blood. ;9

With that fangrrlish thought, I will leave you.


:: 2:43 AM [+] ::

You know those chara cans that I was bemoaning about the other day? I found out the two 'secret' cans. The first is Bon Clay as Luffy. (facefaults) People want that? I must be in a minority then. The second is SANJI IN HIS APRON! (cue bad porn music) Oh wait. He's wearing his suit too. (Somewhere else, Sylph swears loudly.)

But where is Kohza? WHERE IS MY KOHZA? DAMN YOU BANDAI!

(takes deep calming breaths) I'm okay, I'm okay. Really.
:: 7:38 AM [+] ::

Phew. What a really, really intense post last time! Well, no worries everyone - my personal Going Merry Go is three sheets into the wind. There ain't nothing like an enkai/karaoke part with a bunch of Japanese women. I just got back from "taking" requests, ie being ordered by my sempais (they are ALL my sempais or so I was told. By them.) to sing Madonna's 'Like a Virgin.' Or what-his-name. Dude that sings 'Country Road.' Or the Carpenters. My gawd I hate the Carpenters so much.

On that note - now that we all know I am absolutely pissed - it's time for me to RECAP LAST WEEK'S EP OF OP!

Fun with Goats!

Once upon a time there was a highly successful manga about pirates. The mangaka couldn't draw fast enough for the animators of this series that was based on the manga, so they were forced to make stuff up. One of these highly motivated animators had this brilliant idea...

(scene: the local karaoke box. The animators just had their year-end enkai party and are absolutely GONE. This is not unusual though as the animators make up reasons to have parties all the time and they have enkais for things like 'Koizumi reshuffles the Cabinet. Again.')

Sloshed Animator: There aren't enough goats in this anime!
Other Animators: HELL YEAH!
Sloshed Animator: And who doesn't like goats?
Other Animators: ...
Sloshed Animator: Not like that you, you ero animators!
Another Not-So-Sloshed Animator: You know what the doujinshi-ka are gonna do with it.
Also Another Not-So-Sloshed Animator: With Chopper. You know it's gonna be with Chopper.
Another Not-So-Sloshed Animator: Or Usopp. (shudders) I never got over that one with Carue...
Sloshed Animator: But goats! (gives a rousing influential speech about goats that convinces his fellow artists to do this) So what do you say guys?
Other Animators: GOATS! GOATS! GOATS!

===============

End backstory.

Luffy-tachi get spotted by some Marines. The Marines give chase. A convenient deus ex machina fog comes in and conceals the GMG and even more convenient deus ex machina dangerous rocks stop the Marines. The fog lifts just a big, the pirates see an island, and they land there. Guess what? There are goats on the island. The pirates give chase (the hungry ones do in any case.) Nami stops the guys and says they can't eat a poor defenseless baby goat. Zoro mentions that he doesn't think this goat is so defenseless. Yes, the cunning goats have surrounded the pirates and are about to attack! It is a fearsome battle that could swing either way - there's suspense and courage and bravery. Friends are made and lost. Just as the pirates are about to be overwhelmed by the goat forces, a convenient deus ex machina Yoda shows up with a clone army. The day is saved.

Okay, here's what happens. Chopper negotiates a truce of sorts with the goats and an old guy falls out of a tree.

The old guy is sick (he lives on an island, alone, with goats. How could he not be?) as in ill. Chopper takes care of the old guy (Chopper, is this going to be a life theme? Ugh.) while the rest of the pirates help around the house i.e., Nami tells them what to do.

Blah, blah, blah, stuff happens. The pirates figure out that the old guy was a pirate too. Nami smells treasure. And probably just a bit of a whiff of goat poo.

Back on the dangerous rocks, the evil Marine leader makes a decision.

Evil Marine: We go to the island of the goats! Where all our dreams will come true! (cackles maniacally)
Marine: You think there'll be treasure, sir?
Evil Marine: ... er...yes. Treasure.

The End.




:: 6:08 PM [+] ::

I will get stronger.
I am going to be the greatest swordsman in the world.
I will become the pirate king...

Sometimes it seems like 'dream' is a dirty word and when you talk of dreams, people get a glazed look in their eyes or smile politely and try to change the topic or, worst of all, think you are joking.

I wonder if it is because they're weak. It takes will and strength of spirit and a backbone of steel to have a dream. Or is it that no one believes anymore?

I don't have dreams. I have yet unrealized future facts. I have points in the future that shall be willed into being by my actions now. It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.

No matter what.

Do others have those ambitions as well - ambitions that burn so hotly that to ignore them would set off a chain reaction of the soul whose meltdown would take out the surrounding populace, ambitions that if ignored would mean that you have become something less than what you are? Ambitions that you would gladly lay down everything for - home, recogniton by friends and family, all worldly possessions, love, your life?

MLK said, "You aren't truly living if you haven't found something you would die for."

I'm not saying that a dream has to have those components to considered a 'dream,' because that would be counter-productive and dreams are ultimately creations and creative forces in the world. But still; do people have those types of ambitions and dreams? The kind where you would give it all up - if you had to?

I ask these rhetorical questions because I don't know others' minds. What is it that people aspire to these days? Personal happiness? The fulfillment of basic needs and wants? A wife, 2.4 kids, a dog and a house with a white picket fence? None of this appeals to me in the least - in the sense that once achieving any of those in the list above that I would be content with my life. Something would be missing - a greater purpose.

I get the impression that to have a purpose is 'wrong'. Not morally wrong, just that others look at you in that way I described above. I get a sense of: Why make the effort? Are you naive enough to think you can accomplish that? What's the point?

What is their problem? Is it ennui? Is it boredom? Is it all a mask to hide the fear of failure, that perhaps they may not measure up to their dreams? Is this the 21st century Earth version of Krieg and Arlong escaping the Grandline because they couldn't take the pressure anymore?

And my thoughts loop around and around. Dreams are will - will be, will power. Am power. Are power. And all the shoulda, coulda, wouldas melt away.

I look to the future and I see concrete. This is right. Will others understand this passion? I don’t know many who feel like this and if they do, I can’t understand why they would ever feel this way about something else.

This is Bhakti, love without reason. This is St. Michael’s passion, smiting the devil.

This is a boy with a straw hat sitting on the prow of his ship as he sails the Grandline.

I will become.

Her hair is up right now,
but has been in braids
and down, brushing her shoulders,

which are almost bare
except for the cloth
from her sleeveless shirt.

Her jeans are torn and dirty,
ripped at the knees, and
her jacket has seen better days.

So has her soul.
It is raw and chapped
like her lips.

But given all choices
and all lives
and every point on a spiral

she'd choose this one-day
in this one life
every single time.
:: 8:36 AM [+] ::

Fumbum rocks out.

I came *thisclose* to getting fired today because one should not be looking at a friend's website and cackling uncontrollably in the teacher's room during lunch. Or so I found out. Luckily no one quite got the joke...or recognized what Y x Z is all about. Thank god my fellow co-workers are unhip. Now if a student had been in there...

The Arlong one got me all natsukashii! Believe it or not, that was one of the first pairings I ever read. And quick, tell me which Neighbours chara Ace is supposed to be - another person to throw in the OP Live Action Movie! I hope you enjoy the sick twistedness I sent along via the inbox. What can I say? You inspire me.

But that's not all? A banner, too?! (snuggles the banner, realizes that's OOC for a fangrrl, so she puts slave bracelets on the banner and pushes it into a cage) I LUV my banner and will be indebted to you always.

Reins, where do you find this stuff? Ain't nothing like clone humor to brighten my day! And I think non-bishie dreams are the curse of all fangrrls. It's really not fair, is it?

Afuji is having fun in Tokyo. (pouts) I wish I was in Tokyo.

Finally, everyone, a round of applause to Sylph, Mistress of Beta, for perusing my first drafts. It is a long, time consuming task, so please give her much thanks and praise because without her you wouldn't have the vunderbar grammar mistake free copy that you see when I post on ff.net.

I GOT MY OPTV! And that's not fair leaving us hanging like that. I thought we were supposed to find out who followed Sanko home in this chapter. I have to wait? That isn't right! You're mean.

Okay - assuming I recover from the Onnadaiko bonenkai we're having tomorrow - I'll try and get a summary of the OP ep up. Yeah, it's a week late. Leave me alone.

And just so you are all aware - Dec. 18, I leave. No computer. This might be tough. So I'll be lurking on your comments pages and whatnot, but don't expect a lot of blogging. And there will be no SaDIstiC updates. (waits for reaction. Cicadas buzz. Crickets chirp.) You'll all cope, I'm sure.
:: 6:33 AM [+] ::

I love enkais. I need more of them. Why are they all crammed together at the end of the year so the recovery time is shorter? Ah well -so is life. I`ll get over it.

Mumsy told me I got Kiki! I am SO excited. POING! Ferret SHOCK!

But not OP. Back to the topic at hand. Pairings? Oh what fun! We can put names in a bag and pull them out at random - just like the doujinshi-ka!

Here are some yaoi ones, because those are the most fun to mock. Kuro and Jango of course (ew. I have yet to see that work in any convincing way. I suffer through it because of Kuro.) I saw Mihawk and Croc once. It made me laugh because I like to see Croc in pain - even if it`s angsty emotional OOC kind of pain. Also I saw Jango and Fullbody, which makes no sense because they are mooning after Hina, right? Right. Once again, fun to make fun of.

Oh ho! Smoker kun and Tashigi could be an item - as I `proved` to myself when I did the OP timeline to figure out his age. He`s probably no older than 33. And Tashigi`s 21 so it could happen. Especially here in Japan. (shakes head at what she`s seen) I would rather see some adversial Smoker and Hina action though.

YEAH - Vivi with oodles of people! But really I think Nico could handle everybody - seriously. All at the same time even. Look, I`m not being sick, just truthful!

I don`t really want Zoro and Kohza together... because my circuits would fry. And I don`t like to share.

OP Dreams - It`s good to know I am not the only one with OP dreams out there. Yours was hilarious and I don`t think you`re crazy. Dreams that make sense are few and far between. (PS I have the same lucid dreaming thing - such a bonus when I usually can`t sleep as it is.) And yours are nice. I envy the peaceful quality of your sleep. You have yet to post your dreams at this point - I am wary of what the fangrrl might have concocted in her twisted little mind. Jodan. Jodan yo! Which reminds me. What`s pausa? (I think I spelled it wrong.) You mentioned in a few entries back that you were fasting and someone said you didn`t look Chinese enough? Enlighten me - I like learning new things.
:: 7:38 PM [+] ::

The deadly Kohza whooping virus has yet to permeate my tissue and take over my brain like a body snatcher, but I will remember your advice and make certain to get myself to the hospital if my condition continues to deteriorate.

When I eventually fell asleep I had my first ever OP dream, so I guess insomnia isn`t all bad. No Ace or Kohza, but it was pleasantly distracting. What about you all? Ever had an OP dream before?


:: 7:40 PM [+] ::

Why aren`t you working on fic, writing up synopses, or talking about OP? says the voice in my head.

Because I spent all my insomnia filled night signing up for cliques is why.

Ahem, says the voice in my head. Why in the world do you think you`re cool enough to be Tashigi?

Er. Kendo? And we both wear glasses and have a tendency to fall over electrons lying on the sidewalk. And isn`t it true that to an extent all young women have a bit of Tashigi in them? (certainly) I think so.

Or maybe you`re trying to justify your over-inflated ego. (glances over the other cliques) Everything else seems to be in order. You`ve sucessfully convinced everyone that you are an OP weirdo. Seriously, Nico and Ace? Like that will ever happen.

OP is all about dreaming the impossible dream.

You need to sleep.

Tell me about it.



:: 7:17 PM [+] ::

Reads Sylph's post. Re-reads last post. Blinks. Blinks again.

Ahem. Ignore what I said. I have a cold and my coughs are weird like this...cough, cough, kohza, cough. It just happens.

You believe me right?

YAY! She's back! And with a Kuina inspired layout! Yes, let the Kuina worship begin!

And other than stating totally obvious things that can be read in other places, I will bid everyone adieu and get my things sorted for work tomorrow.
:: 5:15 AM [+] ::

Okay - time to spread the word. This is the place. Your mission: if you have a site, is to sign yourself up (cough, cough SYLPH cough, cough). Or if you know of someone's awesome site that is not currently listed on the page, please submit it or ask the creator to submit it. Then vote. That's you all's OP mission for the month.
:: 6:01 AM [+] ::

Updated this about a week ago, actually, but forgot to tell anyone. Check me out (adopts fake accent) - I'm being wrassled into a kimoner!

Why am I all non-posty this weekend? Where are the promised fanfics? Oh the drama! I had kendo all morning and then was kidnapped by my kendo partner and we HAD to go to Matsue and check out the castle just for the hell out it and wouldn't you know that we were stopped in our tracks on the way by the ugliest building ever created and being that we are foreigners, we knew that even if it was a maximum security penitentary for the criminally insane we would get a free guided tour. And we did. But it was a culture center so not that interesting that all really. Then we went to Mosburger.

In any case, this is boring and has nothing to do with OP or Kohza, who is going to STAR in the next chapter of OPTV!

Sylphiel (looks up from keyboard): Excuse me?

(pouts) Well he should. In any case, I have been lax in my fangrrliness and had to make it up with the latest chapters of the Smut Garden which I hoped would have pushed the boundaries of good taste but have appeared only to have amused the public at large.

Sanji (who's still dumping Evian on his pointer finger): ...

Why won't anyone flame me? I have this wonderful idea for a section for SaDIstiC TaNUki which would be called Ace's Dance Dance Fiesta Del Flames where Ace would answer flames and make fun of them. (pouts) But no one flames me.

So I just have to get MORE offensive. ;9 Oh yeah.


:: 8:20 AM [+] ::

I updated SaDIstiC TaNUki. Smut and movie stars and drinking games - oh my!

You can look forward to...well, perhaps look forward to - I make no promises...Smoker torture (another chapter). Maybe tomorrow. Just something to think about and anticipate and whatnot.

Sylph - OPTV; where is it? MUST HAVE NEW CHAPTER! (cracks out whip - wapow!) Er... i mean, onegai shimasu~~~~~~~~~~!

Afuji - hope your blog stops giving you problems! That sucks; it's happened to me - I feel your pain.



:: 8:51 AM [+] ::

Skippy Mitchell made a quiz.

Skippy: It`s a subject I hold dear to my heart, since the Proprietor WON`T SHUT UP ABOUT ACE!
The Proprietor: I can`t help it. He`s too sexy.
Ace: I am. I am too sexy.
The Proprietor: Much too sexy.
Ace: Much, much too sexy.
Skippy: SHUT UP! (to everyone else) So take the quiz. Print out the results. Give them to your friends and family. Warn your loved ones in other words. They`ll appreciate it.
The Proprietor: Appreciation is sexy.
Ace: No! It`s too sexy!
Skippy: SHUT UP! By the way, Ace, my sister scored `fangrrl` on the quiz.
(Ace looks at the Proprietor.)
The Proprietor (licks lips): Oh yeah.
(Ace slowly backs away...)
:: 8:22 PM [+] ::

If you are an OP fan and you are not reading OPTV then you are WRONG!

Argh this is YOUR fault. I should be working! I have a presentation to do! But NO! You HAD to post another chapter. And I have no will-power so I HAD to read it.

Evil, evil Sylph. The Obsession video... god, that cracked me up. Smoker blushing - is disturbing. Ben and his...? The Salmon King! Oh my lawd! That was hilarious! Make it stop...mustn`t giggle in front of my co-workers. Mustn`t...too late!

Everyone, what would YOU do for a Klondike bar?
:: 8:57 PM [+] ::

Hah! I probably got lost right around your house. I had to drag a friend there who was deathly obsessed with the movie. Being a fangirl is okay, but not when I have to be the tour guide for it. (grumbles about being stared at while the locals watched her friend take a whole roll of film of the neighborhood...)

Ah - the mention of the bricks makes me all natsukashii. The bricks, the scallies, the random fires in the post office boxes, the gangs, the stabbings, the all-night parties in the compound, the watered down beer, the clubs - (sniffles) oh the CLUBS! How I miss them! (looks out the window to the rice paddies and mountains) Yeah, no clubs here. No scallies either, so I can`t complain. Hmm, I think tonight I`ll watch East is East to get this natsukashii feeling out of my head. (hums) moving, just keep moving...

Speaking of picking up bits of language and culture and whatnot, I agree with everything you have to say. Except (you knew there would be one) that there are times when it`s best that a person stick to what culture they`re from. I sound like an idiot when I say `bloody` and my Ozzie friends just make me giggle insanely when they try and break out a Jerry Springer `Whatever.` Yes, sometimes slang should be kept in the country where it belongs...

Paul (in his Ozzie accent): Whatever. Major loser alert!
Me: bwahahahahaha!

Whoops! Forgot to gush about the doujin! Hilarious! I think Zoro got the best lines - "So that`s a no then..." "We`d have to ant-elope". And poor Usopp. Well, we all know what they say about noses (wink, wink)

Usopp: Damn straight.

Oh - you asked. I`m off to Hawaii. Must unfreeze.

Sylph makes a good point. Remember, everyone, write what YOU want to write. The world is a better place for variety. And there is a difference between fan Japanese used by a person who has absolutely no idea how to use the language in proper context and appears to be just throwing in random phrases they know versus the purposeful use of Japanese in order to enlighten a reader on one of the more difficult points of Japanese culture and language. So far, all OP fanfics I`ve read are of the later category, probably because OP hasn`t been snapped up and dubbed and shown on WB. I share your pain on CCS, Sylph.

(addendum on "write what YOU want to write" rule: Stories full of spelling and grammar mistakes are just laziness. Take pride in your work and get a beta-reader!)

Yes, Afuji, I am one of them. Your sister must have loved it if she stayed three years! Does this mean you may considering becoming one of us? But remember, it`s only the second easiest money in Japan! PS I love this guy`s stuff and it`s dead on...(supervisor stands over Stacey`s desk with a whip) er totally inaccurate. Yes. This is not at all what the JET Programme is like! It is full of upstanding individuals! Yes. Like me!

(waits for laughter to subside)
:: 8:21 PM [+] ::

Every Monday we start class off with - What did you do this weekend?

There's the usual hemming and hawing and "I don't remember" "I didn't do anything" blah blah blah. I got to Mayumi Shoji, homestay particpant and general excellent English student. Today, she too said, "I didn't do anything."

"Nothing?" I asked. "You didn't sleep or eat or watch tv - "

"TV! I watched ZORO! Zoro is soooooo cool," she cried as stars appeared in her eyes. Mayumi is a rabid Zoro fan.

And that's my segue into the OP episode that should be entitled "Zoro has a long extended flashback dream."

Once upon a time Johnny and Yosaku had no fashion sense...well, worse fashion sense than they did when we met them during the Baraties Arc. Johnny was a little punk wanna-be. Yup, Johnny sported a di-colored mohawk and had no face tattoo. Yosaku had chin-length wavy blond hair.

Ahem. Moving on. This ep was devoted to Johnny and Yosaku's first meeting with Zoro. It happened so - Zoro stalks into the same tavern that J and Y happen to be eating in. Zoro doesn't have any money to pay for his food, but he just announces that he's a bounty hunter and lo and behold, pisses off enough guys to have plenty to eat - once he defeats them that is. J and Y ask what Zoro's doing on 'their' turf and he tells them that he's hunting for Mihawk, is going to become the greatest swordsman, etc. Zoro tells them to take the villains to the Marines, collect the bounty, pay for his food and they can keep the rest. He leaves. (Oh and a kind of big point, throughout this exchange, Zoro has only one sword and it's not the Wadou. He also isn't wearing his trademark haramaki either.)

J and Y get their money. Johnny has a flashback of when he was a kid and saw this awesome bounty hunter who saved his village; that's why Johnny is a bounty hunter. But then there's trouble in the village! The townspeople watch as bandits raid the town. J and Y watch too, unsure if they can take this new threat. A plucky little kid tries to stop the bandits, but gets beat up, like little kids are wont to do when taking on bandits. (ahem, luffy)

Outside of town, Zoro visits a swordsmith. Now I'm a little fuzzy on this part - but I think the swordsmith was trying to make two companion swords that were comparable to the Wadou so Zoro would have a complete set. The swordsmith failed miserably, so Zoro takes the Wadou back. Cue Kuina flashback - could it be that Kuina's spirit is the unattainable element of the sword that could not be replicated? Perhaps. The swordsmith takes the loaner sword back and finds that it's broken. He wants payment and Zoro has none, but large explosions indicate that there's money to be had back in the village.

Johnny and Yosaku watch the little kid take a beating and then Johnny jumps in because he wants to live up to the memory of that bounty hunter of old. Plus this new menace is none other than the same guy his hero was fighting years ago. The bandit gets pissed when he finds out J and Y were the ones who turned his brother in (the guy Zoro defeated.) They get royally thrashed, but continue to fight. Just when they are about to be killed - Zoro to the rescue! And everyone recognizes that it is Zoro because he picks up J and Y's swords, breaks out the bandana, and yeah - bandits are scared shiteless. Short fight - little kid redeems himself by saving Zoro from being blown up - and tada! One bad guy down. J and Y manage to stand up and invite Zoro to join them. He agrees and the dream ends with the cry of ANIKI!

Back to the future and the Going Merry Go - Luffy and Usopp are playing with the cannon again. Nico comes up to the fore of the boat and as she approaches the sleeping Zoro, he reaches out for the Wadou. Come on, Zoro, where's the love? Nico looks a little hurt. She tries to make small talk and asks him where he got the name Pirate Hunter Zoro. He says he doesn't know and doesn't care. With that little conversation killer, Nico goes to the other side of the deck where her chair is set up. The ep ends with a happy smile from Nico. Not even Zoro can put her in a bad mood.

Zoro: Someone's not partial.
Me: Play nice with Nico, Zoro! She's vulnerable and whatnot.
Zoro: (laughs so hard he snorts) Yeah right.

I'll try and be chatty tomorrow! Got work to do.
:: 7:19 AM [+] ::

I'm bad. I've had Jump in my room for a week and haven't written about the newest chapter - my life interfered. Maybe next week's; right now I am just too busy to sit down and translate it. And translate it I would have to; the Sky Knight gets into the history and motivations and whatnot of himself and all the bad guys. Can't just skim over the important stuff. What I did manage to pick up was that Nico, Luffy, Chopper and Zoro set out for the treasure, got attacked by a giant snake and are now separated and lost. Well, Chopper, Zoro, and Luffy are lost. Luffy ends the chapter by saying - I'll head south; that's the direction that's the warmest. (remember when he was hunting for north in Usopp's village?)

I'm breaking my rule and talking about non OP stuff, but it's still fangirly so it counts. I saw the Chamber of Secrets yesterday - wow! There wasn't enough time devoted to Oliver - I mean quidditch. There should be about three quidditch games per movie so that I can see Oliver - I mean quidditch.

Ahem. Anyway. I love how the movie takes what my imagination has made up and then totally blows it out of the water. Like the Weasley's house. It was so cool and homey and gave off the perfect "Weasley-ness" and yet it was a billion and one times better than the picture in my mind. Snape was Snape and not in the movie long enough. Neither was nancy-boy Gil. Hehe. Kenneth did an excellent job at that part. His smile was pure smarm. The only bad thing was that there was a lot of Harry and Hermione stuff. I mean, if you are going to be completely faithful to the book - be faithful. Don't be putting Hermione making doe-eyes at Harry. On another note, I spent a lot of the movie wanting to put Lucius Malfoy's hair into braids. I don't know why. I just did.

Me (braiding): lalalalala
Lucius: Get off of me!
(Stacey jgives his hair a good jerk - because he is one.)
Lucius: Ow!
Me (braiding): lalalalala

My big shopping spree into Hiroshima yielded many things but it did not yield a replacement for my lost Luffy pin. (sniffles) I consoled myself by buying a Love Rocks watch because I am a boutique whore. Also stopped by the toy store to see if the OP can characters were in - they were but ALAS! It's a trick, a horrible trick. You can buy the cans, but the characters inside are secret until you open it! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Yes. So I tried my luck and got Chopper and Shanks. Good. Now I only have three more characters to collect (out of 24). My chances suck. I might as well buy the frickin' crate and then sell off the ones I don't want. Oh - but there are two 'himitsu' characters. My fingers are crossed that one of them is Kohza! PUH-LEASE Bandai, let one be Kohza!

Website, fanfic, yes, all were passed up this weekend in order to go to Hiroshima and watch HP and to clean the house today. I know I'll be forgiven because you all are great people.

Hey you - you live in London, but where? My aunt used to live in Richmond, Surrey and a few years ago, I called Salford home. (pause) Don't laugh. It's not funny.

I hope all you American types had a lovely time during the holidays. I hope the rest of you had a wonderful weekend.
:: 4:10 AM [+] ::