#faith without doubt

[general-cyno]

apparently it's the 15th anniversary of zoro's sacrifice in thriller bark (not sure if manga or anime though) so yknow. time for more zolu of course

one of the many things about zoro and luffy is that despite how their approach to certain situations might differ at times, they're still pretty similar at their core, sometimes to a comical degree (see: their definition of what a hero is back in fish man island arc). and this understanding of how the other works is what leads to moments like jaya,

this little one in water 7/enies lobby,

and follows consistently all the way to wano arc.

and I was thinking the other day about how their childhoods too kinda mirror or parallel each other's in a way that emphasizes (to me, at least) how special zoro's particular protectiveness toward luffy is, and why luffy relying on zoro that way is just as special.

the specifics of their childhood stories are different but both luffy and zoro have a turning point of sorts that's marked with the grief and loss of sabo and kuina, respectively, which leads them to say these:

(I cropped the panels, but luffy's also crying here)

it's important to note zoro and luffy had dreams/aspirations before this, to become the greatest swordsman and luffy's secret thing that we've yet to learn about (that ace, sabo and the crew now know). however, losing kuina and sabo is what prompts them to, on top of that, strive to become stronger for other people's sake. for zoro, it's his way to honor his friend and fulfill their shared dream. for luffy, it's to avoid losing the people he loves.

throughout the story, zoro and luffy end up expressing similar frustration and sentiments due to this. there's zoro innerly chiding himself for being too weak as he trains in the aftermath of arcs like little garden, alabasta and thriller bark, where the crew get stuck in situations in which zoro isn't able to help as he wishes he could (the wax cake, the sea prism stone cell, kuma). there's luffy swearing he won't lose a single member of his crew even if it kills him (the davy back fight) and reproaching himself for not being able to save any of the straw hats in sabaody, with the worst of it right after losing ace in marineford.

(and man do I have thoughts about bon turning into zoro, out of all the straw hats, back in impel down.)

anyway. as to why all of this is meaningful - when zoro agrees to join luffy, he mentions that his goal to become the greatest swordsman is all he has. yet as the straw hats go from journey to journey, and with a certain emphasis in luffy, you can see how zoro's view slowly shifts. he's now driving himself to become strong to protect them as well, to the point he's willing to set aside his ambition and offer his own head in exchange for luffy's, if it means he can ensure luffy's life and safety. that's huge. as mihawk inwardly points out, zoro has something, someone he values even more than his ambitions and pride. and it's through his adventures with luffy and the crew that he becomes closer to achieving that initial dream of his.

whenever people wonder why zoro's as loyal as he is to luffy, aside from all the reasons why luffy as a character has earned that loyalty through his actions, I also remember that one line koushiro said to zoro in a flashback: "the pinnacle of swordsmanship is the power to protect what one wishes to protect and cut what one wishes to cut. a blade that injures all that it touches isn't really a sword." while sure, it works in the context of later power ups like haki, imo it perfectly captures zoro's character growth too and what luffy's given him. the current zoro isn't lost or directionless with only one purpose in mind or to live for, bounty hunting as a means to survive. he has a home to return to, people to cherish, to protect and keep getting stronger for, people who nurture him in turn. kuina's death is something zoro couldn't have prevented, and losing people in accidents like those is something that could happen again, but still within the limits of what's preventable - zoro can protect his friends now.

as for luffy... zoro kinda steals the spotlight when it comes to grand gestures of loyalty/devotion and being the MC of the story means luffy fights for different people (both crew and non crew), carrying their wishes and hopes as if they were his own. he gets help and learns from others as well and all members of the crew are important for luffy to achieve his dream one way or the other, but the way he relies on zoro specifically is so subtly meaningful to me. we don't get as much insight on luffy's inner thoughts, still, we do have context.

for someone like luffy, who is at his innermost genuinely terrified of being alone and losing the people he loves, the fact that he trusts zoro to protect and keep everyone safe (even luffy himself) is so good. as shown above, luffy vowed to become strong in the first place to ensure he'd never go through loss like sabo's again and this vow is all the more renewed after ace's death. luffy has to be strong for everyone but... the fact that he can trust zoro to follow his lead even when others might not understand his reasons to do x or y, that he's so unwavering in his faith that zoro will protect the others when luffy can't, entrusting the people he cares about to zoro, whom luffy also cherishes - it's all pretty special. everyone in the crew has their strengths and zoro may not be the only fighter, but all of them, including sanji, fall under his protection whenever it's needed.

it's not only about raw strength though. zoro's also there to set luffy straight and remind him of what's important when the circumstances arise, like in water 7 or punk hazard. and even when they don't necessarily agree, like wrt vivi's situation after the reverie in marijoa, luffy knows when zoro's right and acquiesces (albeit grumbling a little) because, once again, he's also aware that zoro wouldn't just risk everyone's safety. luffy listens to him. and their reunion in wano too, luffy's sheer happiness at the sight of him again, is a very clear example of how much luffy adores zoro even beyond all that.

although luffy isn't aware of what happened in thriller bark (that we know of), zoro's actions are proof of why luffy trusts, has faith in, and relies on zoro as much as he does and why it's so important for luffy to have him by his side, considering how afraid he is of being unable to keep his loved ones safe. this is more on a speculative note, but I can imagine how comforting that must be for luffy - to not shoulder that on his own.

happy anniversary!

#zolu #tp #long post #yeah it's me. again #happy anniversary to zoro reinventing love and devotion for luffy y'all #I meant to add but I would've gone on a longer tangent if I had AJSJ #that yeah you could count whiskey peak as the one time luffy didn't trust zoro but eh it's like #1) I'm not sure how much of it was meant to be serious 2) their chemistry is so ridiculous they can't even fight properly #without falling into sync with one another and 3) luffy doesn't doubt zoro's intentions after that again #aaand you could argue this whole unwavering faith in zoro may have its drawbacks (sabaody) but #within the story it's not really something he holds against luffy but it is something that at least motivates him #to tell luffy to get his shit together. which is tasty imo #jay reads op

[symbologic]

Do you ever wonder if deep down, in Luffy's heart, he doesn't let himself worry about Zoro because he genuinely can't? Because the alternative is simply too horrifying to contemplate for even a second?

Think about how awful it was for Luffy when he lost someone very dear to him at Marineford. This person had even promised — promised! — Luffy that he would never die. That he would never leave him alone. Yet this person who was supposed to be Luffy's constant was ripped away from him, and Luffy was powerless to stop it.

"Devastated" doesn't even come close to describing the abject despair Luffy felt at that moment. He completely shut down and went catatonic.

#We talk about Zoro's devotion toward Luffy #but we don't really talk about Luffy's borderline irrational faith in Zoro #Especially pre-timeskip #when it seems like Zoro was horribly injured more often than not #and there are times where Luffy comes across as insensitive at best and uncaring at worst *COUGH* thriller bark *COUGH* #Not saying Luffy doesn't care. He obviously does; and he shows it in his own way! #But I've also seen criticism of Luffy's apparent obliviousness after Thriller Bark #and imo it's not entirely unwarranted. #There's unwavering faith yes; and I don't doubt Luffy's faith in Zoro is heartfelt and genuine #AT THE SAME TIME #there's whatever tf was going on when Luffy was genuinely shocked that Zoro was running on fumes by Sabaody #as if it never even occurred to him for a second that Zoro might not get back up after getting hit by that pacifista #and maybe it genuinely didn't occur to him...because he refuses to conceive of a world without Zoro in it #because he promised Luffy — promised him! — he would would never die #text post #my meta #one piece #monkey d. luffy #roronoa zoro #zolu #luzo #meta

[isthatacalzone]

something that's been sitting with me a lot is how the argument to let Predathos out - the one Liliana keeps repeating - is how *right* it feels to be in his presence. how *right* it feels to be here, on the moon, working towards his release, and how this must mean that he doesn't have ill will towards the people of the planet above. this must be good, she seems to say, because why else would I feel so complete? but all I can think is anything that makes you that sure, that's not something that can be trusted. that feeling is a drug, and it is dangerous. of course Predathos wants to make you feel like you're a part of something good and correct and right, because he needs your loyalty. he needs you willing to give yourselves over to him.

that's not freedom, that's another form of subjugation.

#critical role #i find it wild that none of them have fucking said this yet!!! #how could you trust that feeling when its so obviously a manipulation tactic?????? #its like!!! faith without doubt is SO DANGEROUS #you HAVE to be able to question what it is you're doing #ANYONE WHO IS THAT SURE THEY'RE IN THE RIGHT IS BLIND TO THE HARM THEY WILL CAUSE #cr spoilers #liliana temult #predathos

[insignificant457]

Darrow going after sevro despite the fact that he knows it’s most likely a suicide mission…sevro staying in the vents despite the fact that he could steal a ship and save himself because he knows Darrow will come for him and he can’t let him walk into that trap…

#red rising #light bringer #light bringer spoilers #darrow of lykos #sevro au barca #what if we were best friends and I would go to the ends of the earth for you because I know you would do the same for me #what if the love we had for one another would allow me to put aside my own personal safety without second thought #what if the faith we had in each other was so complete that no disagreement would lead me to doubt you for a single second #what then

[pianokantzart]

Concept for The Sibling Dynamic in The Super Mario Brothers Sequel

Mario teaches Luigi everything he can about powerups and oversees his training with Princess Peach, but given their new lifestyle as The Mushroom Kingdom’s heroes he doubts his own ability to keep his brother safe, and struggles with the fear that stems from that. 

Meanwhile Luigi, who is undertrained and inexperienced compared to Mario, is trying his best to catch up. He desperately wants to stay by Mario’s side, but worries he’s dragging him down.

But, despite this, they remain a team, because while they have their doubts and worries they have experienced enough to know being apart longer than an hour fucking sucks. Luigi eventually proves to both Mario and himself that he’s capable of holding his own, and Mario grows comfortable enough fighting alongside his brother that he doesn’t get bogged down in worry. But he will still throw hands with anyone who so much as looks at Luigi funny, that will never change.

#Mario #Luigi #SMB 2 is about Luigi learning to have faith in himself as his brother's partner #then Luigi's Mansion will be him learning he has the ability to be strong even without his brother by his side #All I want for the Mario Movie sequel is for the brothers to be together throughout the entire film #DO NOT SEPARATE #THEY'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THAT #I don't want Citizen Kane I just want them wholesomely working through each others doubts and fears #while fighting through a checklist of Nintendo properties #mario movie #super mario brothers

[attorneys-against-court-violence]

I think Athena deserved to punch Apollo. Just once.

#order in the court! #what's faith without doubt? #i know she didn't know trucy was there but on the outset it's still a dick move of him to do #props to him for asking for it

[oldmanyaoi-jpeg]

i think the concept of saw trap logic has done wonders for both my mental health and how i deal with some of the godawful posts on this website. it kind of reframes them in the same light as scams for me

it kinda goes something like "is this a genuine argument, or is this post an elaborate setup (making up a guy, worst faith interpretation, etc) to convince me i'm a terrible person without making me think to question it"

#morrisounds #im pretty sure i got it from a post about ocd #something about some of the posts on this site are just saw traps for people with ocd #the quick way to ID scams ime is ''is this a warning or is this trying to get me to pay/click a link without thinking as fast as possible'' #when in doubt go to the source (ask the supposed sender/visit the site from a link NOT provided in the email etc) #anyways examples of saw trap logic are the ''you need to support ai because it 'allows' disabled people to make art'' post (make up a guy) #and pretty much any reply section on any post on this godforsaken site (worst faith interpretation)

[ratguy-nico]

people I need you to apreciate this scene as much as I do, if they dont end up fucking after this I dont now what would make the trick.

LOOK AT BOB'S FACE AFTER JIMMY COMPLIMENT HIM the fuck even the music. unbelievable

#bob's burgers #bobs burgers #bob is a faithful husband #but linda would be the first one to throw him to the arms of a man without a doubt #though I still think Bob have better chemistry with other characters #I mean Teddy is his actual husband #and Calvin Fischoeder is literally there #but there's something in his relationship with Jimmy that it just get me #enemies to lovers #did you say? #naaaah #couldn't be that #haha #👀

[chocmarss]

Once you read as much Star Wars books as I do (nothing compared to the hardcore fans who read all of legends and disney canon tho), Legends or Disney canon, you get to weed out all the authors you don’t like and you realise hey, they’re anti-Jedi! Or just don’t like Jedi because of [checks list] things they obviously don’t want to agree with. They either villainise the characters or make them downright ‘bad’ for the readers because, get this, they think these characters are a bunch of jackasses when in reality, that’s not what it is. Or they’d outright say, hey these Jedi mfs are a bunch of fucking baby snatchers! And murderers! Yes, I’m pointing at you Karen Traviss, the bane of all Star Wars books.

#brotherhood was. insane because someone clearly doenst understand mace windu #karen traviss wrote republic commando without even wanting to #understand what sw is #justina ireland writes the non force sensitive all hating the jedi but is more than happy to use them #like okay this could be just the character but if it crops up with almost every non force sensitive and that it inself is a reaccuring theme #and then the jedi themselves are always doubtful of their faith in the force? #oprahyousee.gif #very telling innit #star wars #star wars legends #star wars wank #star wars discourse #fandom discourse #rant #vent

[loveoaths]

i am very weak for a specific kind of din-centric romance that i’ve yet to see anywhere (probably because it would be tedious to write). i want din to have an Arthurian romance where his Creed and his besk’ad are not obstacles for his partner to vault over into his arms, but part of him, more of him to love. i want din to have a romance where they will love him whether or not they ever get to see his face, or touch his skin, because when din said the helmet is my true face he meant it, and when his paramour said they loved all of him, they meant that, too. the Creed is his blood and the besk’ad his skin and his heart the steady tattoo blasterfire and his soul is the manda and to love a true mandalorian is to love them because of the old ways, not in spite of them. din may walk the galaxy’s gray meridian but his faith in the Creed is absolute. to love him you have to love him for that faith, too.

#this is my joker. i am going to wind up writing some absolute longfic for this man because I DON’T WANT HIM TO IMMEDIATELY DROP THE ARMOR! #romance and desire are built on longing and denial and someone wanting him #initially wanting what’s under the beskar until they realize he is the beskar too; that the reason he’s so emotive through the armor is #because he wears it like skin; maybe some pseudo magical bullshit about inhabiting beskar long enough infuses it with your soul yadda yadda #idk what i’m saying here but. for a series where hope plays a huge role i just think it’s a shame that din’s hope/faith are bypassed so #quickly in fic sometiems when that’s where so much of his character and love potential lies! #imagine the ways of showing love and care for the LI! #shining his armor! adjusting it for him when he’s hurt? finding ways to care for wounds without bypassing armor? #the chivalry and trust of turning your back on a deadly warrior so he can take care of himself? #THE CHASTITY? ITS SOOOO ARTHURIAN ITS SOOOO LITERARY ROMANCE #i’m frothing at the mouth. watch me write the gayest most romantic longfic that is about faith and desire and longing and lust and doubt #that no one but i will read because i’m crazy about this shit #idk what i’m saying. but. religion. interesting. faith. sexy. doubt. delicious. #din djarin #the Mandalorian #walkie talkie. #fic tag.

[maddy-ferguson]

the way i was devastated after vol2 aired lol, and i couldn't sleep for hours bc the vol was so shitty. but now, if s5 turns out to be shit af, i would just laugh. gotta respect the character development here bc i dont give a fuck anymore.

i walked around with a stomachache for a good 48 hours like it was really bad for me...if s5 turns out to be shit af i will walk around with a stomachache for 96 hours🙏

#ask #this said less than 96 for 21 seconds i was like that doesn't seem right #no but like #i get why some twt bylers who are wil stans first act like will getting a happy ending at all/will getting a boyfriend/will's romance arc #being good is all that matters and like that #can be done without byler being endgame because that shit fucking hurt like 48 hours isn't that long but it was SO BAD #obviously i'm team might as well have fun for two (lol) years instead of being like omg what if it doesn't happen. but it's also because i #literally haven't doubted byler since like...july 10th maybe #and when you're a twt byler whose faith in byler depends on like whether or not they like will enough to not do this to him and to give him #a nice boyfriend or whatever and you barely consider mike's side of things i see why you'd try to convince yourself that another outcome #CAN be great. when like..it cant be great they already had will fix mlvn's relationship were past will getting a random bf and mlvn endgame #and yk it's one thing to move on with your life and not be a hardcore byler anymore or to be like i don't like it that much anymore but #some of them really started being like you're sooo dumb for thinking that byler ever stood a chance😂😂😂😂 (ithoughtthattoofiveweeksago) #they're gonna give will a nice boyfriend and it's gonna be great😂😂😂👍 yeah keep telling yourself that... #but yeah i kind of get it because i wouldn't want to have to go through volume 2 all over again either lmao #but also i don't because well #they're wrong #and i'm a byler who's a will stan who also happens to use twitter frequently #as for the rest of the show well if it's bad i'll be disappointed #but my stomach probably won't hurt because of how sad it's making me #or maybe it will it's not unheard of

[enslaughts]

@huntalie. . . liked for a starter.

life had stopped making sense to laura lee the moment their plane plummeted from the sky. glimpses, maybe, here and there, shapes in her periphery, but by the second plane raining fire and brimstone upon them, she'd only kept on falling. head over heels far after she'd already hit the water. o thou of little faith. wherefore didst thou doubt ? maybe it was the moment you let us fucking sink. and yet, there is no other word for it but faith, this hellfire reflection in her eye. it devours the cabin, their home, like a lion, leaving nothing but skin and bone to pick through, blacker than black. at least it's warm. it'll be warmer in hell, something certain in her whispers, a root taking hold. a certainty of the un - seen, made seen before their very eyes. faith. the only thing that's made sense to her since the moment their plane plummeted from the sky ; this is judgment. righteous, holy fire for the blasphemers.

but the innocent were always damned with the guilty. firstborns swallowed in the plague. travis didn't deserve to lose his only home now that his brother was dead. lottie didn't deserve it either, akilah, gen, melissa, natalie. they were already suffering, half frozen, half starved, half dead. what more could it want from them, what more could it take ? what more could they give ? a home. their only home, for their only meal. maybe it was a fair trade after all. but no. no, it's only fair the taste of javi is forever turned to ash in their mouths, but not for all of them. travis, natalie— natalie tried. she was going to feed them all, despite lottie's offering, despite their heresy against it, she was going to feed them. heed the altar call and lie down upon it, and now look at her. ram in the thicket made archangel, forged in fire to light their path forward, chosen by the cards, the wilderness, lottie. who was laura lee to question it ?

so she doesn't. she has faith in lottie, and lottie put her faith in natalie. and god saw the light, that it was good : and god divided the light from the darkness. laura lee knows this, if nothing else : natalie is good. and because she's good, she will doubt herself, just as lottie did, and this is why they're good, why they're chosen. their home is in each other. “   you're not alone in this,   ” she whispers, fierce, forcing the glow in her gaze to shine on natalie's. what a way to start a reign. but light will always shine brighter in the dark. “   have faith in lottie. in yourself. we've made it this far.   ” what more could they lose ? where could they go now but up, after they'd already walked through the gates of hell ? doesn't that depend on which way you're going : out, or further in ? “   you got us this far.   ” not only your skill, but your kindness, “   you've been a faithful servant, natalie. now it's our turn. we just have to give it. . . more of the same.   ” here, cold hands find another's, slow, wary as an animal, but holding tight. “   more faith in it. trust, in each other.   ”

#huntalie #interaction. . .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙴𝙰𝙳⠀:⠀laura lee #verse. . .⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀𝙽𝙴𝙸𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁 𝙳𝙴𝙰𝚃𝙷 𝙽𝙾𝚁 𝙻𝙸𝙵𝙴⠀:⠀laura lee #yj spoilers // #NEED you to know she is absolutely pulling this out of her ass #processing not processing trying to make sense of hell literally as the words come out of her mouth #but can you truly have faith without doubt? #she's telling nat what She needs to hear #what she's trying to believe #but she is also very aware that the faithful light in the dark could have have been her. that she was it for lottie until she wasn't #and then it was just lottie and now it's been passed to nat #it's not easy being a prophet. too many of them become martyrs #and she just wants natalie to know she has disciples if nothing else. she has people who will raise her up #people who's faith can be that light even if it's also heavy #BUT. this can be anywhere from literally right outside as their home burns or after the fact as they try to pick up the pieces #make some sort of camp or find some kind of cave to recouperate in #pls don't be afraid to lemme know if i need to change anything <3

[seal-berry]

procreate dreams not just bad but unuseably bad :/ like this is embarrassing

#procreate dreams #no lasso tool no clipping masks no layer modes #and the worst: your brush resolution changes with zoom so you cant zoom the canvas at all if you want your line quality to stay consistent #i have no faith in the dev team if they thought it was acceptable to ship without lasso tool #do not be a fool like me and spend 20 bucks on this #unless they can somehow patch it into something decent which i doubt #because again if u dont think lasso is a boilerplate base needed feature you know nothing about animation #the UI is also total dogshit

[soldier-poet-king]

sCREAMS i must be petty and mean for one (1) second or else it’s gonna bother me so much i wont be able to sleep and i desperately DO need to do that

#franposting #thou shalt not vagueblog thou chalt not vaguelbog etc etc etc #actually i'd be ok i dont think this person is following me #i just hAVE SEEN a post (tm) #and like GEEZE LOUISE #sometimes i forget. that ppl are really still on that shitty ex gay narrative train #like no thank u i am TIRED of pleasing the straights #my only identity is in christ they scream. okay then. if we're gonna take paul 1000% literally #gender is also now abolished. live with it bitches #it's such a TIRED and also BAD argument #why is talking queerness with straight and ex gay christians literally the worst thing in the world without a doubt #this is why im out here being absolutely insane about god but also ALONE and in PRIVATE (on tumblr)\ #i forgot how exhausting and terrible like. the majority of real world christians are #or like. at least all the ones i regularly encounter #im just. like. holy SHIT yall are the fuckin pits #and im infinitely happier and more faithful and in love with the sublime and uncanny and divine and god and eveyrthing #when i simply. do not acknowledge these ppl exist. i Do Not See It #i am in my queer little world where we don't argue about literally the DUMBEST OLDEST SHIT #LIKE??? ARE WE REALLY STILL ON THIS??? #not to b like it's the protestants. bc i know catholics are like this too. but usAmerican protestant culture has DEF made it WORSE #in all aspects except physical i am a weird af medival mystic just vibing out here with my strong emotions and insane thoughts #and completely ignoring 99% of my co-religionists and their terrible opinions #like truly just the worst and i hate everything you say and you ruin everything for everyone and ofc yes forgiveness and radical mercy #but i am also full of murderous rage and you are TESTING ME #can you go be good and holy in complete isolation away from everyone else and the itnernet so i dont have to listen to ur shit ever again #PLEASE #ok. i have to stop myself from being even more mean. just know that i am full of so much meanness. i am the meanest person in the worldt #trapped inside the most scrupulous conscience in the world with a desperate need to be Good and Virtuous

[attorneys-against-court-violence]

Not enough people realise how scary Apollo and Athena are as a duo.

You have two people who wear their emotions on their sleeves (trauma and dead best friends not withstanding) with violent streaks (punching Wright/throwing a cop) and have built-in lie detection systems in their eyes and ears. One's perpetually done with your shit and the other would punch Ares if he called her a loser. They're both gen Z.

Oh, and don't expect one to be the bigger person and reel the other in. They are 100% on-board with their bloodlust. Convince one to fight and the other will join on principle.

They are mutual hype-machines who would tear you to pieces if it was legal, and possibly even though it isn't.

#what's faith without doubt?

[theprodigals]

how do I explain this feeling, that even though I call myself a Christian, doubt has always been there in my life right along with faith, and every day I wake up feeling like such an impostor?

#there’s got to be a quote talking about how you can’t have true faith without experiencing true doubt #faith #deconstruction #belle.txt