is there a timeline for the op universe? like, if i wanted something to happen on my oc’s island 150 years before the present canon, what would that year be called? and when did the world government/the marines start and what year would that be? (thank you for all the work you do on this blog btw!!)
Oh boy...
First of all, thanks for your question!
Yes, there is a One Piece timeline. It's run by a website called The Library of Ohara and currently updated until Chapter 1103 - so very spoiler-riddled. If you don't mind that, you can find the full version here. I've been thinking about maybe making a spoiler-free version (for OPLA) of the simplified timeline, but I just don't have the time and capacity for that amount of work right now.
So, I'll just stick to answering your questions from this ask for now.
First of all, the One Piece world most commonly uses the Sea Circle Calendar. In terms of months, weeks, days etc, it works just like our Gregorian Calendar, so birthdays can be translated between one and the other 1:1.
The World Government was created roughly in the year 700, or at the very least in the early 700s. I can't find any information on whether the Marines were also founded at that time, but another "police force" of the World Government that's somewhat related to the Marines was founded alongside the WG, so I'd just assume the Marines were too. It would also make sense for their creation to be at the same time as the World Government, considering the surrounding political events.
The events of OPLA (and thus the early arcs of One Piece) take place in the year 1522. Thus, Roger was executed in the year 1500, which was 22 years ago, and this started what's known as the Great Pirate Era.
If you wanted something to have happened 150 roughly years ago, that would be in the 1370s.
Thanks for your question! I hope this helped somewhat. Have a lovely day!
Do you know what I'm thinking about today? I'm thinking about Sam babysitting the twins, and her being 13 when she finds the diary. I'm thinking about how Sam couldn't possibly have been babysitting before the age of 13, how even 13 is too young.
Was it official, or was Christina supposed to be babysitting? Was it simply the twins and Wes coming for a playdate at Tara's, Christina smiling at the door and welcoming them all in, and leaving them to their own devices once the parents had left? Is that what Sam meant by babysitting? Was it left to her to be the adult supervision, as a child, taking care of her sister, and her sister's friends alongside her? But while this would match with fanon Christina interpretation, it doesn't match what sprinkles have been laid out in canon - that is, they were a fairly normal family.
I'm wondering about how Chad in 5 says "Sam? Oh Sam is so cool." He says it with a big grin on his face. Neither him or Mindy are upset with Sam or say anything bad about her - other than when Mindy accuses Sam of being Ghostface, but that's less to do with who she knows Sam is as a person and entirely because it fits the story narrative that's playing out.
But. When Sam is confessing to Tara, she says "And that's why I changed, and I got distant and weird with you. And I- And I went out and I started doing every drug I could get my hands on until I couldn't take it anymore and left town."
It's said like Tara knows about Sam's vices, about the things she was doing. But from my above point, I wager the twins do not. Or, didn't. Who knows what they learn between 5 and 6. I would also wager that Sam keeps it 'together' for a couple of years after learning the truth, a very slow descent, and that the drugs and alcohol only come in the last couple of years before she leaves, with the distance starting immediately?. But that at that point the twins do not see this descent.
(Perhaps Sam starts babysitting, inviting the twins and Wes over to distract Tara, for an excuse not to have to be alone with he).
(I'm thinking about the twins thinking Sam is so cool because she's hands off and doesn't care if they're too loud or too rowdy and she never lays down the law (except when it comes to Tara), because she' high or buzzed).
Make it make sense. How long do you have to babysit someone to be able to refer to them as your old babysitter/vice versa?
@wabitham For you I will try and think about Amber and Tara. I started writing this and then you posted this, and I gotta say I agree with what you've written.
I decided to put a read more for a ramble, and add a summary of Amber and her relationship with Tara up here.
Amber is protective and possessive: once she determines she wants something or that something is hers, it's hers. Tara is one of those somethings.
Amber hates Sam because Tara still loves her despite hurting her, when Amber is the one who has been there for her.
Amber becomes Tara's person once Sam leaves. She pretty much relies on Amber for her entire emotional fulfilment, and Amber loves the feeling of power it gives her.
Amber has never been a people person, but she knows the world is easier with connections, and that it makes Tara happy, so hence the friendship group she associates with.
The year after her dad leaves is super hard on Tara, she ends up getting held back a year, much to her frustration. She was already older than her classmates, and now she's even older. Not to mention the embarrassment of being held back, of everyone whispering about you and staring at you all the time. It's like everyone knew what was going on in her life except her.
Amber has always been studious & mature for her age; she's at the top of her classes. When Tara is put into her grade, Amber is asked to help her assimilate back into the school environment and help her with her classwork. Everyone knows that they're already familiar with one another, and it's expected that that's what Tara needs in these trying times, a familiar face.
Amber doesn't think much of Tara at first, she doesn't really think much of anyone. People are just annoyances she has to deal with. She likes that Tara does what she says, even though she's older and people let her get away with things they wouldn't let others get away with. She's used that to her advantage sometimes, Tara would do anything for a smile and a compliment, Amber realises. She stops demanding her parents get her dog a month after being saddled with Tara.
It's just after Christmas, 4 months after receiving the role of Tara's tutor and buddy when The Incident happens and Amber begins to see Tara in a whole new light. She realises there's an anger inside of her, just like Amber, and it feels important to the girl somehow. She decides that Tara is no longer an obligation, she's hers.
So Amber becomes protective, possessive some (their friendship group) might say. Tara doesn't mind, so the others only grumble about it jokingly.
Amber hates Sam. Sam doesn't deserve the love and adoration her Tara heaps on her. Amber is the one who's always there, who sees her sadness and her tears. Amber is the one to hold her hand and cheer her up and help her with her school work and scare away the bullies. Sam is too busy getting drunk and fucking her way through every teenage boy in Woodsboro.
And Tara? She's needy. She's emotional and weak and she didn't realise how much she needed her sister until she wasn't really there any more. Then the world sends her Amber. Amber who couldn't stand her at first; carrying a dismissiveness that reminds her of her own mother. But it didn't matter, because she let Tara tag along and come home with her after school and she helped her with her homework even though it had to be frustrating for her sometimes. Tara just didn't want to be alone.
Skipping forward.
Sam leaves and Amber is all Tara has. She has her other friends sure, but they don't know her like Amber... or Sam. They don't fill her with comfort and radiate safety, they don't protect her like them. They don't love her like them. But Sam left and so she clings to Amber, and Amber doesn't push her away. She revels in it. Tara adores her and she takes advantage of it, curious; Tara's not unwilling, embarrassed, to curious to learn, to practise. She doesn't date though, Amber won't have that, she scares anyone who might try away. Amber doesn't share.
Years pass. She moves into the old Macher house. She develops a new obsession. She remembers the little secret Tara's mother once revealed to her. It consumes her. She speaks to people online about it, to others just like her who share her passion and her thoughts. She can't speak about things like this with Tara, Tara's too sensitive, Tara likes characters and stories and happy endings. They don't share this love.
She meets Richie. She let's it slip that she knows Billy Loomis' daughter. He makes a suggestion, she makes a suggestion. Before they know it they've got a plan and they've committed to carrying it out.
Amber pries when Tara's half asleep: have you talked to Sam lately? Do you ever wonder where she ended up, what she's been doing? Does she ever plan to come home? Tara reveals she knows where Sam is, she's been stalking her social media ever since she left, she never reaches out (if Sam wanted her in her life she would contact her, she would come home, Tara thinks). That's a surprise to Amber. Tara's never kept a secret from her. Of course it would be Sam's fault.
She tells Richie, and he begins his part of the plan. It takes him 2 months before Sam will even give him the time of day, another 2 before she ever opens up to him. They bond over shitty families and legacies left behind by their fathers and being disappointments, both of them skirting around the details. Until one day he catches Sam on Instagram, looking at a specific account. She reveals she has a little sister. He waits until she's drunk next, to bring up her little sister. He pries, and she talks about the little sister she loves so much who she abandoned. How much Tara must hate her. He asks if she would ever go back - not a chance - not even for your little sister? I would do anything for her. Even go back? Even go back.
It hurt Amber, doing what she did to Tara. But it had to be done. It irritates her and fills her with pride in equal measure when she fights back. Unfortunately, it means she gets a little more hurt than she intended. She shouldn't have fought back if she didn't want her leg broken. This was about Sam.
"This will all be over soon," she says as closes the cupboard door. She could convince Tara to keep her mouth shut, to say it was the robed and masked figure who tied her up and locked her away, that she didn't know who the Ghostfaces were. After all, once Sam is gone, Amber really will be the only one she has. But first Tara has to see. She wants her to see, to know she's all she has left. Tara's a good girl, she'll do as she's told.
It wasn't supposed to go down like this. Sam wasn't supposed to untie her.
Do you think Sam has some sort of custody of Tara?
No. Tara's technically 19 in 5 and 20 in 6. Even if she was the age she should have been, which is 17 in 5 and 18 in 6, she was only 3 months away from her birthday - assuming the attacks in 5 happened in late September, and I believe it's implied that they finished off the school year and graduated before moving to New York. So she would have been legally an adult anyway by the time they left, regardless of what age you want to make her.
I’m unaware if you have covered this yet but I thought I might still ask as I enjoy your take on these situations.
In VI while Sam is in therapy she states “when it got out that I’m Billy’s daughter this whole crazy rumor started online…”
When do you think the info became public? One month? Maybe two?
How long after that do you think the rumors started?
Lastly how do you think Sam and Tara found out about the rumors and info leak?
I found it interesting how fast Sam was able to access the Reddit page. As if it was already up on her phone. Maybe she reads it frequently? Secretly checking it. Tara of course told her many a times to stop but it’s Sam and she can’t stop reading it.
Anyway food for thought.
I think it's implied that it all went to shit when Gale released her book. I'm thinking... oh, I was going to say before New York. But what if it's just after? What if they just get to New York, and things are going great, and they're rebuilding their relationships and they're healed and they're ready to start anew. Then Gale releases her book, and the new life they've built for themselves comes crashing down.
Or maybe it is just before. Maybe things are going well in Woodsboro, Sam is comfortable. Then Gale releases her book and all these rumours start online and Christina gets so upset about the book, she confronts Sam - "What if Tara reads it, what if she finds out?" "She already knows mom, jesus, you think I didn't tell her when she got fucking stabbed over it?" - and that's when she cuts her off. Get out of my house, how dare you, you promised never to tell her. Maybe that's why they go to New York early, why they go for the summer semester instead of the start of the school year.
They've been in New York for 6 months, so I think that's probably around the time the book and the rumours happen - after all, Gale has to write the book and get it published and shit.
Quinn says "Do you know how easy it was? To turn Sam from the hero of Woodsboro into the villain?" which means that there was a period where Sam was praised and appreciated and loved for what she did. Imagine what it's like to get that for once in your life and then have it ripped away.
Sam definitely is always on Reddit, she's always reading through the rumours. Wondering why it's so easy for people to believe this of her, if there's any truth to it. And Tara gets so mad when she catches her. She'll yank the phone out of her hand and tell her to cut it out, and Sam worries because this is just another way she's irritating Tara these days. Tara always seems to be frustrated these days, and Sam hates that she's bringing more trouble into her life. They can't even go out without being harassed on the streets.
That's almost certainly how they first learned about the rumours. They're walking home and someone confronts them, asks how she's still walking around, that she should be in jail for what she's done.
I've come around to it: Tara being 20 and in high school is fucking hilarious.
Do you think she was babied by the town? Do you think people knew who she was? Quiet little Tara Carpenter. Older than her peers but treated like a child. Not the healthiest of children, it's why she was held back you know, they made an exception. A lovely girl despite her... family. The father left, her mother... well we all know about Christina Carpenter, rarely here and drunk as a skunk when she is. The other daughter, Samantha, a real troublemaker, just like her mother. She ran off a few years back, the best thing she ever did for that poor girl.
And then she gets attacked and all anyone can talk about is poor little Tara Carpenter. Who would want to harm her, she's such a sweet little thing? It's to do with the family, I tell you, nothing but trouble. Then her sister returns, and she's seen sharing harsh words with Hicks just the day before her death and that's when the rumours began. Samantha Carpenter, back to drag more trouble into her little sister's life.
When everything is over, all anyone call talk about is Samantha's boyfriend, the man who attacked that darling girl and all the others. I told you, they say, it was the sister's fault. They don't talk about the best friend. And when they see Tara out on the streets, they'll watch and whisper and give their condolences while throwing her sister nasty looks and snide comments. And when Tara decides she doesn't want to go out anymore, they'll whisper about the sister keeping her locked inside, talks of welfare checks and abuse, because what else could be going on. After all, it is the Carpenter's, we all know they're trouble.
Yes, in the American school system you can graduate early. Personally, my last year in high school was super easy because I had enough credits and passed the requirements to graduate after my junior year. The only reason I didn’t was for financial reasons. It’s also possible to drop out of school and still get a high school “diploma” through a GED, a General Educational Development Test.
@flyby1827 Thank you!! That is super helpful and good to know. It also makes the Tara age situation even funnier. I've always considered Tara to be smart - and she still is - but she's now a terrible student. I'm giving her dyslexia (makes Sam figure out how many stops they have left). Who else wants to chime in on this, what else has this baby got wrong with her?
