I Baked A Cake To Celebrate Law's Birthday Earlier Today,

Small disclaimer before you head in: this whole post will be referencing the TCB translation. I know VIZ handled the exchange I'm discussing differently, but I couldn't find anyone who talked about the original version and as a result I don't really know who is closer to the original meaning. In any case, the "analysis" should still stand. Whether Dragon was commenting Sabo's firmness or admiring his resolution, Sabo's still putting on a mask, and that's the point I'm trying to break down. Enjoy!

This very specific interaction between Dragon and Sabo in chapter 1083 has always stuck out to me.

"My, you really are unshakeable."

which is an appropriate response to what Sabo said, of course. What kind of sensitive person reacts that way to the death of an innocent, right?

Even so, I can't help but compare the thing Sabo said to his actual, genuine reaction to King Kobra's death.

He's devastated.

Sabo brokenly screams Kobra's name, and his expression is one of full despair; he never thought about killing Kobra, let alone letting him die. On the contrary, he actively tried to save him.

Kobra told him to just let him go, that he was dead weight and he shouldn't be concerned about him, but Sabo straight up refused. In fact, Kobra's actions read way more as a sacrifice than an inevitable death; the king let himself die, knowing that this way Sabo could flee and reach Vivi and Luffy safely.

On the Lulusian ship, we see Sabo think about Kobra's last words to him and actively trying not to cry (and failing).

That's not an unshakable man. He's suffering, he's grieving. He realizes he failed his very own mission of saving the king and lets the meaning behind Kobra's actions and words sink in.

It really puts his former reaction into perspective.

Sabo's firmness, seriousness and coldness in front of Dragon and Ivankov are nothing but a façade. He acknowledges that what he's about to say might come off as harsh, and that, even if he does feel sorry for Kobra, the tragedy doesn't weigh him down thanks to the results it brought, but it all sounds like he's reassuring himself more than actually showing his indifference.

Hell, he even drinks his glass of wine right after having said that "he doesn't really care". How can anyone take his words seriously?

And we've been knowing Sabo is inclined to do this sort of thing since Dressrosa; he acted all cool and composed in front of Luffy but the second Koala called him on the Den Den Mushi he was weeping, having a hard time believing that his little brother didn't punch him or hate him for being alive all along. He even denied he was crying!

All because Sabo hates being seen as vulnerable, especially in front of the people he thinks he has to be strong for (Luffy, Dragon, etc). It's something I think goes back to how his parents treated him, since they scolded him for, y'know, having emotions and being a normal kid in need of love, but i digress.

I once saw someone describing Sabo as a very cold person in comparison to his brothers, even going as far as to say that Sabo doesn't care if people die if it means achieving the Revolutionary Army's goals (using this very interaction as proof), which couldn't be further away from the truth.

Bonney even says outright that it's weird seeing a "radical revolutionary" act so friendly when Sabo helps her out. Why would he do this if all he ever did was for "The Cause"?

Yes, Sabo is ruthless, rude, violent at times, and his friendly demeanor could be seen as a little more volatile than that of his brothers', but he's not heartless. He's not a "meanings to an end" guy, he proves it time and time and time again, and it's disheartening seeing people label him as such.

Sabo is kind. He may not be as warm as Ace and Luffy, but he is fundamentally a good person. A generous, kind, caring, sensitive person.

No matter how hard he tries to hide it.

thinking about little luffy being so interested in the beetles and butterflies he saw around in the woods but always frustrated bc he couldn't learn more about them. so one morning ace and sabo secretly go to a library while luffy is still sleeping to steal take some books about entomology and luffy is so so happy he hugs them so hard they can't breathe (ace complains loudly right after that but sabo can see him smiling against his shoulder when he thinks no one is watching him)

this moment is Extremely tiny and easy to miss but it's so dear to me. the fact shachi got scared because of something stupid like jinbe going on deck is so funny and also somehow endearing? and the way penguin doesn't react to shachi hiding behind him means this must be a regular occurrence...

🐕

tashigi x baby 5!

this is definitely one of the rarest ships i have, since me and my boyfriend made them up for a modern au roleplay... they are very dear to me for this very reason <3

i know what you're thinking: i don't have anything against sai and baby 5 as a couple, i think they're very cute! however, i do find them a bit uninteresting when it comes to their dynamic. i think baby 5 deserves a partner that isn't embarrassed to show affection; to actually heal, she needs someone that's just as obsessed with her as she is with them, someone that's very devoted to her, in a "would shout my love for her from the rooftops" kind of way. from what we saw, sai is just too reserved and bashful to reciprocate baby 5's attention to the fullest. also, i can't lie, i just prefer wlw relationships over straight ones. not sorry!

tashigi might seem shy too at first, but she's also willing to go to war for the things she loves. she would be perfectly able to withstand baby 5's intense way of loving. in fact, she would build her entire lifestyle around it. she'd be obsessed with her girlfriend to insane degrees... always thinking about her and buying her gifts and doing whatever is in her power to go visit her as often as she could. she would do anything to see baby 5's smile. and baby 5 would do the same for tashigi because she's so, so in love with her. she would spend hours talking about her strong and beautiful girlfriend. i like to think about them going shopping together, baby 5 just going on and on about how strong tashigi is and how chivalrous it is for her to carry all of baby 5's shopping bags for her, while tashigi just blushes and tells her it's nothing compared to everything baby 5 does for her. just... insane and never before seen levels of mutual devotion.

every time i reread/rewatch punk hazard i find myself getting angry at the fact they could have met there but didn't. i Need to see them together. they would be such a powerful duo in fights too... the swordswoman and her weapon. i need to lie down

OUGJGHHH SABO LOOKED SO CUTE IN THIS EPISODE </3 (trying not to think about the heartbreak of witnessing shuggy flashback)

This screenshot is sending me

Law tried to do one of his classic smirks but was actually too excited and wound up looking a bit like a frog

may 15th - baby 5

debut chapter: 682

recent chapter: 881 (cover story)

current age: 24

affiliation: happo navy

bounty: unknown

Sabo Week Day 2 - Alternative Universe

i love sabo, i love splatoon, i love mixing my hyperfixations together, so - sploon sabo it is <3

Sabo Week Day 4 - Memories

given my inability to draw anything thats even remotely sad (or emotional in any way), i went with teen sabo and teen koala for today :3

based on my headcanon that sabo isn't that good at fishman karate- well, he is, but he got rusty after focusing on other types of combat with dragon- so koala would always spar with him only to kick his butt everytime, resulting in sabo growing frustrated. definitely a cherished memory for him

some weeks old sabolaw drawing i didn't wanna let marinate on my pc

my nephew watched me draw this and asked me if they could "please be at a wedding". so they're officially guests at franky and robin's wedding <3

this is also my official "law is shorter" headcanon post 🥳🥳 cheers to the short king

bonus wips i didn't have the energy to fix/clean of them actually dancing together (or attempting to) under the cut!

they're insufferable

(reference for the first wip here, reference for the second one here)

references for their outfits (and sabo's hairstyle) from none other source than one piece grand collection; here's the link for sabo's outfit, and the link for law's. enjoy!