Oof it was a wild ride! I knew some of it from spoilers but reading it was definitely worth it! From now on I'll be sharing my opinions while catching up and tagging spoilers in case anyone hasn't gotten to this point and want to block some stuff
NGL I'm feeling some feelings... You might be looking at the post that makes me revive this side blog AND catch up on the story, I'm only like 200 manga chapters behind but I might do it, as a little 2026 goal
zoro can be so unexpectedly sweet sometimes -- obviously the whole crew is welcoming to jinbe but a small compliment like that reassuring him of his place w them is still kind
(Platonic) Monkey D. Luffy is a very physical person. If this man likes you at all you will be full koala-d at any given time.
During very serious meetings/discussions about plans and what to do about the marines, Luffy is just on Zoro. He’s practically perched on his shoulder like a parrot. When everyone’s sat for dinner, he’s rotating between leaning on his neighbors and keeping his focus on the delicious food in front of him.
I can see him relaxing on the lawn deck with Robin and he just naps with his head in her lap, and she messes with his hair as he sleeps or he’s yapping relentlessly from the same position. He has a rough night, so he just crawls into one of the crew’s beds, usually Zoro or Sanji-this is a normal occurrence, so they don’t even question it, just shifting to make room. Luffy gets sleepy and just grabs Chopper and sits with him in his lap, cuddled up like a teddy bear. He’ll just stroke Chopper’s fur without thinking.
Zoro is absolutely the one who gets subjected to extreme contact the most. Luffy will just climb him, physically hanging from his arms and clinging to his back for a ride. Luffy will just without even thinking just grab part of Zoro’s hand while he’s thinking. Zoro will be sitting around and drinking, and Luffy will sit side to side or back-to-back with him, yapping relentlessly. If Zoro naps on the deck, he will wake up to Luffy using him as a pillow. Zoro was annoyed by all the contact at first, but after he was taken out of commission briefly by Mihawk, he became more and more okay with it, now finding it comforting himself. Now, if Zoro thinks Luffy is upset, he’ll just extend an arm as an invitation to climb.
Robin is another person who offers help when she can. If she can’t offer help or contact, she’ll summon a hand for Luffy to hold.
Sanji gets poked a lot. A lot. Sanji usually is subjected to Luffy’s affection while he’s cooking. As such, he needs his hands, and Luffy can’t exactly grab his legs, or he can’t move and make yummy food. Instead, he hovers. He follows closely like a cat under Sanji’s feet, poking him to get his attention and ask questions. Poke. Can I try some, Sanji? No. Poke. Why didn’t you add the meat yet? It comes later, Luffy. Poke. When will it- Luffy I SWEAR TO GOD.
Jinbe is a perch, 100%. Luffy will sit on his shoulder and fish or sit and chill out. He’s a perfect place for a nap too.
Franky is another great perch. Nice and high up. Luffy will be sitting on his shoulders while he works. Otherwise, he’s pressing Franky’s buttons. No like…Literally. He’s pressing the buttons on Franky’s Cyborg parts. He almost set the ship on fire.
Nami and Usopp are pretty similar. They get frequent hugs and a sleeping Luffy on their shoulder. They’ll be working and Luffy will come up and just hug them from behind/hand on them, almost inevitably messing them up a bit and receiving a swift smack from Nami or a shriek from Usopp.
Brook will get a Luffy sitting on his piano as he plays or sitting on the bench with him.
When Luffy was a kid, it was very much the same, constant piggyback rides from Garp, then shenanigans and hugs with Dadan. He was constantly holding onto his brothers, riding Ace’s shoulders, or laying on Sabo’s shoulder as he reads Luffy a story.
When Sabo “died” Luffy refused to be alone. He held onto Ace all day until he’d be physically handed to Dadan. He slept in Ace’s bed with him for weeks. Once, Ace had to get some water in the night and got up. Unfortunately, Luffy woke up and panicked-Ace is gone, he’s not coming back, where’d he go-and broke down into tears, sobbing loudly and hyperventilating. Ace heard and sprinted back to his room, dropping his glass in the process, and practically launched himself back into his bed, holding Luffy close-I’m still here, Luffy, you’re not alone, I’m here.
#gonna put an essay in the tags again if anyone cares:#I’ve been saying that the image of Sanji in Luffy’s and Zoro’s eyes are vastly different#of course they both know Sanji’s self sacrificial tendencies and kindness#but Zoro knows Sanji as a defender first and foremost#someone who will protect his loved ones till the very end and stick to his principles even at the cost of himself#so he was entrusted to kill Sanji if he ever lost his core#Luffy on the other hand knows Sanji as a provider/lover#he witnessed Sanji’s empathy and selflessness throughout wci#and of course Luffy is the primary recipient of Sanji’s love language aka food#funnily enough whenever Sanji goes through a big character moment it’s either Zoro or Luffy being the sole ones witnessing#instead of both being present#e.g. Baratie-> Luffy; Thriller Bark-> Zoro; WCI-> Luffy; Wano-> Zoro#I think Sanji is a mirror character to some extent for Luffy and Zoro#in a way that allows Luffy/Zoro to see parts of themselves in him#might write a full meta on this at some point complete with monster trio dynamic analysis
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