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straw-hat — How I ended up with a favorite
Published: 2008-06-21 08:50:52 +0000 UTC; Views: 1239; Favourites: 5; Downloads: 7
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Wow, how do I start? First, let me explain the title. I've never been prejudice against homosexuals, I even have some friends who are gay and bi, and I support gay rights. But I've never been a yaoi or yuri fan and I still wouldn't say I am. (If you don't know, yaoi and yuri refer to gay and lesbian content in anime and manga.) When I read a manga series, if I take a liking to a couple or see a potential romance between two characters, it's based more on personality. I don't hurry to try pairing up the two hot guys or girls. I'm not really a "slashing" type of fan. One could call me very old school in taste or a cannon fan; the main couple that the author writes about and pairs together is the couple that I cheer on. I boo at the competition if they're particularly mean, or find it nice that someone else has these special feelings for one out of the couple but hope they'll find their own guy or girl later on in the story. And once a couple has been established on my list of favorites if I grow to really like them together, you won't see either of the characters paired up with anybody else (only exception being if one of them dies) in my fanart and fanfiction, I'm into monogamy you could say. In most of the series I follow, more of the author intended couples, or couples I find have great potential, happen to be straight. So I'm no squealing rapid yaoi fan. So how did I end up with a favorite couple that's considered "yaoi?"It was thanks to my gut's feelings believe it or not. I'm a big fan of One Piece by Eichiro Oda, yet I only knew some of the newer events thanks to spoilers among fans. Having a terribly slow internet connection and a lack of the large amounts of money, I had only seen the anime up to the very beginning of the Water Seven arc. Finally tired of waiting around to get my hands on the anime, I looked for the manga online and read to catch up. In the middle of the Water Seven/Enies Lobby arc, I stopped to ask my sister and friends for their opinion because something was bothering me. I didn't want it to come across as stereotyping, because in several ways he fits the stereotype, but my gut was bugging me and telling me that the new straw hat crew ally, Franky, was gay.
My sister and friends weren't sure how to answer, but they sure got a laugh at how worried I was that I was stereotyping. I want to be any thing but considered "shallow"; so I proceeded with caution, taking a look again at his information and personality. Now I don't know if you will understand this, but have you ever gotten gut feelings about people even when you've just met them and somehow your gut turns out to be right on track every time? It's happened to me over and over spotting certain types of people, even recognizing fellow anime fans before we ever discuss the topic.
I talked to some other One Piece fans who do believe that's how he is and they pointed out some good support for the argument. To put a long story short, I went with my gut feelings, that Franky is gay. It didn't really change how I looked at him since I had the feeling all along, but when I wondered if he had a lover it obviously had an impact.
While I was online shopping for doujinshi, I saw that Franky, who was becoming one of my new favorite characters, was regularly paired up with his childhood coworker/debate competition/annoyance/best friend, Iceburg. (Yeah, for those of you who don't know the characters, that's seriously his name. But hey, if there are characters named Shampoo and Trunks, why not name someone after a chunk of ice in the sea?) Best friends and rivals are common couples that fans love, so I wasn't too surprised to see that was their first choice. As Franky's fan, I would gladly cheer on whatever coupling he would fit into well, but I wasn't about to jump to conclusion that this was the best answer. If Iceburg was not into other guys, I'd say no to that pairing. I stopped to look at Iceburg like I looked at Franky before, trying understand what might imply that he'd be able to fall in love with Franky on that level instead of being more of a brother.
Well what do you know? I hadn't thought about Iceburg for a long time since I was slowly reading the manga and more wrapped up in figuring out how the CP 9 would be defeated and Robin could be saved. When I went back to look at Iceburg after so long, I realized I was getting something like the sort of feeling I did from Franky. I got the feeling that he was bisexual and could very well fall in love with Franky. I read the flashback story again a couple times and decided I concurred with the opinion of those yaoi fans and doujinshi artists. Franky and Iceburg could be a couple. For that matter, they were already suspiciously close to each other.
From there it took off thanks to more of my typical analyzing, and some silly fanatic enthusiasm. Talking about it with others and asking why they liked the couple, they had some generally nice things to say. Since I really like the characters, I was happy to say I was becoming another fan of the pairing, but I also started liking the pairing more because of their actual story. Now remember, by now I'm convinced such feelings existed- if you, the reader, never has been or ever will be, please don't take my opinions personally! And I also must note that I'm a bit of a romance-story addict at times, though I do get nauseated if things are ridiculously sappy...
If one looked at their story as a romance, it was one of those amusing sort of tales about a couple people who grow to admire each other, but spend so much time arguing that they can't tell that the other one feels the same way. This has to be one of my favorite storylines for pairings since it's so funny and you wonder when or for that matter, how they'll ever realize the truth. (In another favorite anime of mine, Detective Conan, a couple I like, Kazuha and Heiji are always arguing but are obviously in love. Those moments always crack me up. It's the same sort of concept.)
While some fans would jump up and down and say "That's an awesome story! We love it!" I would tell them to "Wait! There's more!" After some wild events and some bad trickery, Franky and Iceburg are torn apart. There's anger that has to settle down and a new challenge: to try forgiving. This other challenge was a big part of what impressed me and made me all the more enthusiastic to cheer them on. There are plenty of great stories about how two people fall in love, and maybe by the end of the story there might be a few hurdles (love rivals, distance, etc.) to jump over, so we get to watch and hope it turns out okay (and if the author was optimistic, things turn out alright and they live happily ever after). For these two though, the bumps in the road even after they're in love are overwhelming, and the idea that any one, whether a man and a woman or two of the same gender, could still find their way out of the maze of such difficulty is incredible. Their endurance is admirable, and that has to be one of the biggest reasons they became one of my favorite couples in all of anime.
So there you have it, an idea of how and why I ended up as a fan of the pairing. They've been added to that list of couples that I'll always be happy to talk to other fans about. I might have grown to like them for a different reason than most, and it's rather awkward talking to fellow fans and finding that practically nobody has the combination in taste (a big fan of this couple, then a fan of many straight vs. just a fan of one type), but I'm sure as fellow anime fans (and artists) you won't mind that I'm not exactly the same as you.
If you have the time, please read which more specific notes apply to you:
-"I don't think they make a good couple."- Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Please don't feel offended by what I've written; the point of this was mostly to explain to those who know me how I ended up a fan and to reach out to any who have had similar experiences. Let's just agree to disagree. (Please don't waste your time commenting just to tell me you don't like it and don't flame me.)
-"I'm your friend, but I don't like yaoi related or homosexual pairing stuff."- Don't worry about it! I'm not going to force you to like the pairing! Let's continue on being friends- it's not like I've changed into a completely different person- it's just one thing different between us. We don't have to ever talk about it unless you want to for some reason.
-"Will you being creating artwork/stories about the pairing?"- Yes. And it will go on deviant if it's good enough. If you don't like the pairing, don't worry, just skip past that stuff- I'll still be doing art with different subjects! And also keep in mind, even if one or both of the characters appear, it doesn't always mean the piece will have a romantic theme. So don't be so worried- you can sort out what you do and don't want to view easily. As for you fellow fans of the pairing, I'm sure you're already happy because there's way too little out there for this pair! Maybe I can help change that.
-"OMG! ANOTHER ICEBURGxFRANKY FAN! Let's be friends! Let's do an art swap for the couple! Do you take requests?! (any thing of that sort)"- Hey fellow FxI fan, I'd be happy to be your new buddy! If you want to do an art swap then talk to me- leave a comment or send a note so I'll see it, and I'll get back to you. I do take art requests when I don't have too many of them. You'll have to bug me and we'll see if I have too big a pile of art I owe other people. (Catch me at the right moment with a clever idea and I just might give in any way. Yes, I'm bad and do requests out of order based on how inspired I am.) Don't be afraid to contact me- I like meeting other fans.
-"Aren't Franky and Iceburg like adopted brothers though?"- My best guess is that most of you who thought of this are not fans of the couple. (I come in peace! So don't flame me for my opinions- I'm not forcing you to agree.) Maybe if they had met when they were younger or had ended up living with Tom at a younger age I would have viewed it more as a sibling love relationship, but by the time they first meet, both of them have had the experience of being raised by different families during most of their key developing childhood years, and it's more like two foster kids meeting. If Franky had started calling Iceburg "Nii-san" ("Brother") then I certainly wouldn't have seen it as a romance, but nothing of the sort happens. If you wonder, I do NOT like incest pairings.
-"Most people are only into the version of the couple when they're in their teens and twenties and not the funny looking older versions. What about you?"- I'm personally not nearly as disturbed as others are by the change to their appearances over the time lapse. In some ways Oda's strange (and awesome) style of art might have even drawn attention to features that became sort of silly looking, and I'll joke about it of course, but I'm just fine with art and stories about their later years. If you look through enough artists' adaptations of the characters in their own style, their changed features actually look much more natural. (Not that Franky will ever look entirely natural.) I find it sad actually, that people don't care for them as much when they're in their 30's.
-"Why don't you consider yourself a yaoi fan? Or for that matter, why do you not always refer to Franky and Iceburg as yaoi or slash when you talk about them?- Apparently there are a lot of strings attached to the title of "yaoi." If you call yourself a fan of it, people start assuming that you hate straight pairings for starters. Also, when you call a pairing slash or yaoi, many times people will assume that your motivations for liking it are purely "kinky" and without other reason. So they might not take it as seriously. As you've just read before, I'm not the type of person who likes putting people together only because "it's hot." If you'll understand, I hesitate to point to Franky and Iceburg and hollar "YAOI!" because the way I like them really isn't different from the way I like the straight couples I like. To me, the fact they're both guys isn't that big a deal.
-"Seme and uke? Who's who?"- My answer to that goes hand in hand with the previous question. I'm not so crazy about the strings attached to these titles. Plus, it's sort of weird seeing people obsess so much over the roles. I usually reply to this question by saying "I think they're equals."
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Comments: 79
Thanks for your comment. Any thing this thoughtful always is a joy to read.
Whether it's a "staggering wall of gay romance" or strictly straight, I'm always a little baffled when people throw characters together blindly. (And also a bit baffled at the extreme two sides that only allow either straight or gay couples to exist instead of a more realistic possibility for both.) I know it will never end, but it's nice to hear that there are others who are a little more picky before they start calling two people a couple. Even when I have different ideas of what couples seem most likely, I can't help but respect people like you for using your mind a little more.
I am not personally a ZoroxLuffy fan (I wouldn't criticize you for it though so no worries 
The Water Seven story is very busy, and that is probably why I didn't catch on until later either. I laugh now when I think about how much I hesitated to believe in my suspicions about Franky. (I saw that in your journal you sort of quoted me on the thoughts on their sexual orientations. 
One Piece is definately one of the most creative stories I have come upon and Oda has yet to disappoint. I am sure that even when it ends, at least it will be a worthy ending.
Perhaps we will get to see Iceburg again when the bounties of the straw hats go up again if Oda decides to show their friends reacting to their wanted posters a second time. If there is any sort of representation of all the crew member's dreams coming true, one would be that the Sunny completes an entire lap around the world, and that means that one day they will return to Water Seven.
I think I'll devwatch you so if you ever produce your own FxI related material, I can see it. 
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The problem is that too many people only see what's on the surface. They pair people together, associate with people, and wish they could be people who are strong and beautiful. If one guy is attractive, then two attractive guys together is even better, is the reasoning. Which is probably another reason that I like FxI, because they're not both young and beautiful. They're kind of funny looking. Which is probably why I like them so much as a pairing, because they have flaws. A lot of them. And that makes them more realistic and likeable, in my opinion. It's a pairing that needs more love and attention, which it probably lacks because of the relatively short appearance of Iceburg and Franky compared to those of the other main characters.
I hope we get another visit to water 7 on the return trip around the grand line, though, the way the manga is going now, who knows what could happen?
And as for artwork that I will post up, I need to get some good ink pens to ink my sketches, and I don't want to scan them until I ink them. That way once they're scanned I can color them using photoshop, which I've been dying to try. :3
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A pairing based strongly on looks stands on very weak ground! 
On a side note, it's amusing, since I personally think that because they look a little different they are more interesting and even though others think they're ugly I think they look very nice (but that's me 
Oh my. Oda can be such a tease! It's so painful waiting for the next chapter whenever he takes a week off. XD
I'll be patient. No worries. 
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It's a little sad how few romantics there are in this day and age. I myself am a hopeless romantic. 
I know! Oda is such a tease! I got so excited yesterday because I had forgotten all about the new one piece chapter(was busy beating Kingdom hearts 2... 2 hour final boss battle = O.o *rabies*) And so, being the fangirl I am, rushed upstairs to read it, only to discover with much plaintive wailing that there was no new chapter this week. it was a very depressing revelation. -o-
And as for my art, I not only draw(badly), but write as well! And i just posted my first Franky oneshot! It's not really FxI, but it's sort of implied on Franky's part.
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I can be a hopeless romantic too. 
You're reminding me of the amusing parts in fanfics and the sort when one or the other is admiring the other's looks. Always amusing. That one scene they put in the anime with Franky staring at Iceburg from the shadows made me laugh so hard it; was easy to imagine he was awestruck with his jaw hanging like that. XDDDD People's faults really do fade with love, and I think they do the opposite with hate.
He keeps taking off weeks in the middle of this huge battle! It's torture!
I read your oneshot and I liked it!
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Popeye arms? Lol. He must really like his spinach. xD And no, I haven't tried drawing kokoro. *shivers* It does look kind of fun though.
There's an anime scene with Franky staring at Iceburg from the shadows? This i want to see! After about halfway through skypea, I stopped watching the anime and started reading the manga, and after that the only anime episodes I've watched are Robin's flashback, Franky's flashback, the Amazon Lily arc, and some random fillers because I was craving One Piece after being up to date.
I made an icon with Iceburg! He's picking his nose and it says "dead sexy" in fancy letters.
What FxI fanfiction have you read? I've searched, but only found a couple... and no doujinshi either, though there is some very lovely fanart for them two of them.
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Cola is his spinach. XDDD Some of Oda's crazier looking characters are a little harder to draw (at least for me) so when you get it down successfully, you feel victorious. lol Kokoro's made up of an interesting combo of basic shapes.
The scene I'm talking about is during Franky's flashback. It's the part where scenes are flipping by of them working on the train, and Iceburg's working over the fire... lol And Franky looks kind of like... 
I want to see that icon.
Let me think... It's been a while since I read any thing... I read "Not Found in Stores" by my buddy Dani , all the ones by G-chan (a friend)... the one by Ai MacLean (yet another friend)... There were three or four by another person on livejournal... And there are some that are non FxI also. If you know exactly which you read, I can help point out some others. If you count it as a doujinshi, there's a short thing for them here on DA. It should be on the first page of search results for "Franky Iceburg"- the one with them throwing snowballs. Otherwise, all the doujinshi I've encountered is in Japanese. However, I've been working on a doujinshi myself. No idea if you knew yet.
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Sweet. Well, I'll have to rewatch his flashback episodes sometime soon anyway, so I'll be sure to find it. xD
And, I've read all the things by those authors, plus more. So i think I've found all the literary FxI works there are to find, sad as it is. I did find a site that has a HUGE selection of artwork for the two of them. Most of it that's not on DeviantArt, I think. I've also found that snowball doujin(it was adorable) and the one (dead) FxI community on LJ.
You're thinking of working on a doujinshi for them? That's awesome! I can't draw that well yet, writing is more my forte at the moment, but I do plan on getting better. I just need to find the time to draw more.
Hmm.... I also just realized that today is saturday, which means that there are new manga chapters to read! >
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Lol, FrankyxKalifa. That's a definite WHAT? It actually very funny to see all the weird pairings people come up with, and that they sometimes manage to make them work. xD Yeah, Frobin bugs me, mostly cuz I don't see the chemistry. But it doesn't bug me as much as zosan. Probably because zosan is the most popular pairing for one piece, or at least the most popular yaoi pairing, and they have no chemistry at all!
Hmm.. well, my mom used to do something involving disecting mouse brains. xD Now she's going back to school to study medicine, though I'm not sure what field she's leaning towards at the moment. My dad was a polymer chemist for a while, now he's a patent agent, and he just graduated Law school, but he still has to pass the Bar to become a lawyer.
Yeah... my skills are so random. My interests too.
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Oh yes, I should join that community. I keep forgetting.
Hahah... what songs do I listen to that don't remind me of one pairing, character, or story? Very few.
You have a playlist? Oh ho... what songs are on it? :3
Also... this is getting to be quite a conversation. xD It won't even show up on the original page anymore.
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So many FxI places are dead. It's sad. 
I guess I should bug G-chan to write more again. XD You found a huge site with artwork for them? Do you know which site it was?
I'll be sure to leave you a message when the doujinshi is up on DA. I've sketched it all, but I need to finish inking and take care of the last steps. It's a multi chapter story! 
You don't have to be shy about drawing! It can't be that horrible compared to my scribbles. lol I think any sort of FxI art, writing or drawing is great! Right now the shipping is kind of at a take any thing you can get stage.
It would be cool if someone wrote a song for them. XD I get hooked on songs that have lyrics that remind me of them.
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I did it again, commented my own comment. -.- *needs new glasses*
Oh yes, I should join that community. I keep forgetting. The artwork page was here ( onepiecelove. forumcommunity. net/?t=27489069 ) I don't know if DA eats links like FFnet does, so i put spaces in. I can't wait till you post the doujinshi. I've never seen card captor sakura, though I know vaguely what it's about. And my drawings are terrible. -.- I need to draw more, but it seems like every time I say I should, I end up... not. I'm trying to draw for at least an hour or so a day, and at the moment i'm trying to draw a portrait of Bill Kaulitz, the lead singer of Tokio Hotel, one of my favorite bands. I should probably scan the pictures I have drawn, but I'm reluctant to tear them out of my drawing notebook to do so. I'll edit through them this week and scan them by this weekend though, I promise. And you're right, the community for FxI is so tiny we'll take anything that pops up. xD But I guess the nice thing about having a little-known fandom is that the only people in it are pretty dedicated and it's tight-knit group, which is always fun. Unlike say, sasunaru, which spans about 98% of all fanfiction for naruto. -.- Another pairing that doesn't really make sense to me. I hate sasuke, so maybe I'm biased, but I say that even if it's possible for them to feel that way about each other, sasuke is still a ***** and Naruto deserves better. Ranting, sorry.
Hahah... what songs do I listen to that don't remind me of one pairing, character, or story? Very few. I never turn my ipod off almost, my headphones are practically drilled into my skull. xD I don't think I've found any that remind me of FxI but I have a song or two for almost every other pairing and character I can think of. Most of them make sense, but some just make me think of those characters for some inexplicable reason. Every time I hear Every Time We Touch, I get images of Kirk and Spock. It's the weirdest thing ever. Probably because I see them as such a sweet couple. *is major trekie*
You have a playlist? Oh ho... what songs are on it? :3
Also... this is getting to be quite a conversation. xD It won't even show up on the original page anymore.
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The browzer did something weird earlier and said it failed to reply. Sorry if you get two of the same sort of message.
There was actually some art on that page I haven't seen before! I just wish that the person posting the art had been nice and added in who the artists were. For credit reasons of course but also because looking up the artists sometimes leads to even more art. (Oh, and just so you know, when you write in any sort of link on DA something like [link] pops up.)
It's okay if you haven't seen Cardcaptor Sakura, you'll still understand the doujinshi no problem. It's great that you're trying to draw an hour a day. I really should be doing something like that myself. Maybe in the future we can bug each other about practicing.
It's never fun when you have to tear pages out of a notebook just to scan them. I broke the binding on one of my big notebooks trying to scan it without ripping out pages. After that, I realized that things will scan okay as long as they're not too close to the binding. So I draw a margin of sorts on each page now so I remember not to draw past a certain point. Then I don't have to rip out pages or smash things to get it to scan. Maybe that would work for you too.
You might be right about the group being tight-knit compared to others. Since there's only oh so much art, people are a little more excited to see a new fanart or fanfic for the couple, so they're more likely to start talking. Since I became a fan I've made many more buddies on DA. lol I'm not into sasunaru either. I don't absolutely hate Sasuke, but I roll my eyes often when I think about his poor choices.
A couple of the songs on the playlist are the two I drew pictures for for the song themed competition at the FxI DA group. ("Radio" and "I Hate You Then I Love You") Most people I've mentioned the playlist too just happen to have different tastes in music so they don't know many if any of the songs or artists.
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I've been meaning to practice an hour a day. I truly have. But I just don't seem to have the time for some reason. I blame Anne Rice and her amazing, beautiful, goreous, magnificent books that I have just recently discovered and fallen instantly, irrevocably in love with. :3 If you haven't read them, her Vampire Chronicles are undoubted THE best books I have ever read. And I read a lot of books. Good books, not junk like Twilight, though I did read those, so I have something to compare to. Her characters, like Lestat, Louis, Armand, and David are complex, deep, and oh so inhumanly human. all I've been doing is reading and thinking about her books. It takes up at least 4 or 5 hours of my day. xD On top of homework and sleeping, I have no time.
But anyway, I don't think that would work for me scanning my pictures. We have a printer/fax machine/photocopier/scanner, so you have to feed the paper into it, it scans it, and then spits it out. Which I why I need to cut the pages of my drawing notebook out to scan them. It's also an annoying process because I have to carry my laptop downstairs into our mudroom, where there are *cold* tiles and then stand around feeding papers in and putting them on my computer.
I do need to practice more though. I'm not too bad at drawing faces now, but bodies give me lots of trouble. Hands, feet, shoulders, torsos, and legs. I tried to draw someone from the front, walking, and I couldn't figure out how to draw their legs. It was terrible. I think I'm going to filch some of my Mom's anatomy books and do my best to copy the human bodies out of them. If I can learn to memorize musculature and the shape of the body, I can probably draw freehand much better. I never realized how difficult it is to capture human gestures and movement before until i started drawing seriously. Just like I never realized how hard it is to write what it is you envision in a way that others understand it and it evokes the feelings you want them to feel. Not until i started writing. Maybe that's why I love the arts, because they're so difficult, so varied, and yet so breathtakingly beautiful when the final piece is complete after days of toil.
How many scientists can call a new plastic compound a piece of beautiful artwork? Can they stare at it for hours, just marveling at ever detail, every nuance and color? I don't think so.
I'm rambling. Just ignore me. I'm in a philosophical mood. I blame Lestat.
I'd like to see the playlist! I'm not sure what kind of music you listen to, but I like rock mostly, and variations of rock. but i also have some alternative, metal, a teensy bit of pop, some trance, some classical music, and some emo.
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You really do have no choice but to rip things out! 
Bodies are hard!
lol I can't get away with saying anything too mean to science. My aunt is a scientist and my sister is going into the feild also.
I looked over the list and I'd say the majority of it is pop. Maybe you won't know or like all that's on there, but think of it as aiming for having lyrics that match their story no matter what the style of music. (So look up the lyrics! Most of the songs work very well but a few have some words off or the genders wrong.
I Hate You Then I Love You -Celine Dion and Luciano Pavarotti
What Can I Do -The Corrs
Hopelessly Addicted -The Corrs
Walk Away -Kelly Clarkson
Konna ni Chikaku De -Crystal Kay (I LOVE THIS ONE!)
How Can I Be Sure -Gloria Estefan
Beautiful Disaster -Kelly Clarkson (or the original version. This screams Iceburg's POV.)
Don't Let This Moment End -Gloria Estefan (kind of the "they're finally together" song)
Even If -The Corrs
Anything But Ordinary -Avril Lavigne
Waiting on the World to Change -John Mayer
I Hate Myself For Losing You -Kelly Clarkson
Sorry For Love -Celine Dion
Radio -The Corrs
In Repair -John Mayer
Only When I Sleep -The Corrs
Say -The Corrs
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) -Journey
I'm Not Giving You Up -Gloria Estefan
Open Arms -Journey
Iris - Goo Goo Dolls (This one might require explaining.)
Summer Sunshine -The Corrs
Always Be My Baby -Mariah Carey lol
Lucky -Jason Mraz and Colbie Caillat
(That actually isn't the entire list but they're the highlights in a way... XD Yes, I grew up listening to the Corrs and Gloria Estefan. XDDD)
This is random but I want to ask since I tend to run into FxI fans who are either all for or all against it... I'm curious which group you're in.
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That's quite the list. :sweating a little...: I'll have to listen to some of them.
Frobin? Eh... not so much.
Oh, I have nothing against science, quite the opposite. I'm the person who goes home and flips on the discovery or the science channel when I've had a stressful day and watches How Its Made or some such.
It feels like I'm mediocre at everything and i'm being tugged in 18 different directions.
I do want to get better at drawing. I took a drawing course at my highschool freshman year, but it wasn't helpful at all. -.- I did manage to do some drawing yesterday and the day before though! and I plan on working a bit more on it tonight before I go to bed. I'm drawing a picture of Marius and Amadeo from Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles. Best books i have EVER read. It's like... raw, romantic, beautiful poetry. But 11 novels of it, following the lives of some of the most amazingly real characters I've ever been introduced to.
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Good thing I didn't give you the entire list. It would be too much to keep track of.
Personally, Frobin bugs me. I'm similar to you about pairing people. I don't put the same person with more than one other unless there's some important condition like death. ("Monogamous Taste in pairings" It's interesting that so few people are like that.) I'm usually pretty good shrugging and passing peacefully by any thing that just isn't too my taste but for some really weird reason, Frobin is the exception.
Your parents are scientists? Cool. Any particular type of science? It sounds like you have a lot of decisions to make when you get to college.
I wish I was particularly good at something too. I guess we're both they types given a funny mix of skills.
lol It's okay to rant a little about something you love. We all do it sometimes.
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I know that this is seriously, like, months since you've posted this, but I really wanted to comment. I've been a fan of Franky x Iceburg for a long time, so I thought this would be a fun little thing to read.
But you really made some excellent points! You brought up reasons why I, too, love FxI, while also pointing out obvious things that should've been my first hunch as to liking the pairing.
It's really nice to see that an admirer of straight couples could also be swayed by a yaoi pairing. Truly, that's awesome. Because you're so open and accepting, it makes it all the better.
And ... well, I just really wanted to tell you that! Franky and Iceburg, I think, don't deserve their due credit as a couple, so this was especially refreshing. I smiled the whole way through it, and nodded in agreement with you through most of it.
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This is a surprise! I actually thought the other day that maybe I'd take down this piece, but maybe I won't!
"Franky and Iceburg, I think, don't deserve their due credit as a couple..."
You mean "don't recieve their due credit" right?
Thanks a lot for stopping to read this and giving such a thoughtful reply!
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You are so welcome! And ... yes, I meant "receive" ...
I feel the same way. Not that Franky x Robin is a particularly bad couple, but Franky and Iceburg just seem to have more chemistry, and I can totally see where the pairing comes from. Franky and Robin developed because Franky helped her in Enies Lobby during the Buster Call ... which is nice, but I can't believe how popular it is.
Still, I'm glad you didn't take this down! It was fun and interesting to read. And thanks for responding back with such a lengthy response. That's always nice.
Also, I saw that you had some cute FxI artwork! I especially liked the FxI: Fight and Love. Just thought you should know!
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Well... What can I say? Franky and Iceburg have gone through so much together you can't beat it. There's a special connection between them. I find it a little odd that having a heart-to-heart moment with a stranger leads to fans thinking it's love. (Doesn't serious love take longer to grow?) I personally see them as great potential friends, but I don't see the romantic chemistry either. (Apparently I've gotten flamed by some grumpy FxR fans before, thus I have a sore spot there... It's complicated! 
Thanks for looking at some of my other silly artwork.
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Ah, yes. I understand completely what you mean about the U.S. I have come to find that people are extremely more intolerant than they'd probably like to admit. It's hard for a lot of people to accept homosexual relationships. Case in point, so many people like Frobin because they saw a slight twinge of what could possibly interpreted as love. I don't see it, though. And to think Franky would actually like Robin's "force?" Absurd. Haha! I guess I just think back to how his face was contorted with pain, and it diminishes any hope for those two ...
I have seen many pairings based solely on looks! It's like, I know you don't want to accept it, but maybe, just maybe, the person with whom your favorite character is in love with might not BE the most attractive person in the world. OR they might be the same gender. Or something like that. It's rather shallow thinking.
Another thing that gets me, though, is how accepting people in the U.S. are of Female x Female relationships and yet so against Male x Male. In that aspect, it really is sad. People should just be tolerant of what is, instead of looking for something that isn't there.
Truly, the greatest moments of FxI come from when they both find out that the other is alive. Like when Franky comes back years later to talk to Iceburg, and, when he goes to visit him after sending him away, he's so happy to see him that he cries, even though he said he'd never forgive him.
Or when CP9 tells Franky that Iceburg is dead, and you see how pained he is about it. It's such a cute love, I can't stand it.
And of course I would look at your art!
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Very true. Even I stopped to look in the mirror and asked how tolarant I truly am despite my gay friens and relatives. I think though, that any problems there have vanished all thanks to Franky and Iceburg.
It's really sad that so many people pair up people by looks. I guess some people do it because they can get away with doing nearly any thing to characters, so they objectify them and it turns into more of a purely sexual thing. Lack of consideration of personality, etc. despite it being out of character for plenty of these characters to do such a thing without committed love. (Shows my "monogamous taste in couples" side.)
I don't know know why exactly people are better about lesbians than gay men. (I said a bit more about this on your journal entry about it.) After the anthropology class I took on this sort of thing though, I think my teacher would point out how much male dominance rules in the U.S. culture. Even if there are rights for equality, people end up looking down on situations where men might supposedly be "weaker or passive, taking women's roles, etc."
Those are definately a couple of the best moments! I like how Franky's eyes bug out when Robin tells him she heard that Iceburg's alive and he looks so relieved.
I hope that the drag art isn't too strange for you. LOL
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Yes, I have noticed that many of my friends are gay, and it doesn't bother me. Not like it bothers my parents, anyway. I don't know why, but they are very critical of homosexuals. Like, for instance, my mom was looking at a picture of a friend and me on the last day of high school and she asked, "Who's the girl?" and I said, "Mom, that's Nathan." (Which is obviously a guy, but he does look slightly feminine) Anyway, immediately, she asked me, "Is he gay?" And you know, yes he is, but what does it matter? She does those kinds of things a lot, actually.
That's a great point! Franky is the type to need all the emotional support he can get, so Robin isn't exactly the greatest choice. Haha! Franky and Iceburg do argue like an old married couple.
Also, I suppose it could be a fact of people looking at those two and not wanting to believe that they could have relationship. Like, Franky is too manly for such things, and ... well, a lot of people don't care about poor Iceburg. D:
True; I think people do look down on men who act more passively then they are "expected" to. And I think that builds some of the fear of homophobia. Men don't like to consider themselves weaker or in need of any help, so, when they do act that way, they start to think, "Maybe I'M gay." Of course, not all the time, but that's a fear that I have come to pick up on.
Haha!! Not at all!
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I'm really lucky that my parents are tolerant. I think it's partly because we have gay relatives on both sides of the family. I feel bad for my aunt though, because my grandparents have been avoiding acknowledging her sexual orientation and regarding her partner as family for a long time.
I was told Oda said that if there is any romance between characters, it's up to the fans to try finding since it isn't the focus of the story... But... Hey, I'm not even one of those fangirl-types who looks for any sign of yaoi, and I saw those two so easily.
The funny thing about people seeing it or not- of course a lot of it ties back to homophobia. I read something on a message board where a fan was having trouble because they were clearly attempting to deny it despite having acknowledged how incredibly likely it is. I think it's funny (sad also) how so few people really get to know the characters. From talking with you so far, I think you're thoughtful enough that you can see what most fans don't ever... Like for example, a lot of people don't stop to consider that Franky's "I'm tough" attitude is a lot like your typical "proove I'm tough" drive many men are pressured into. Also, sadly, I admit that there are a lot of FxI fans who don't seem to like the pairing for very meaningful reasons. It's disappointing.
My class kind of concluded by the end of the semster, that generally girls are allowed to step outside of their gender-idealized norms with less criticism than men. It's sad that from childhood boys are taught that they can't reach out for help without getting made fun of.
Oh good!
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That IS great! Of course, whenever my parents bring something like that up, I usually say something like, "So what if they're gay?" or "Do you think differently of him now?" It usually works, even if they do get kind of defensive. My parents were that way with Obama in the beginning. My sister and I supported him 100%, while my parents were skeptical and kept bringing up that he was "black." Yes, yes, whatever. Well, we finally changed their minds and convinced them to look past all that and see the good about him. (Sorry! Major Obama fan ...
I admit, sometimes I try to make wide connections between pairings, but I always have a good reason.
So ... there are other little reasons, but I just feel they work so well. Not as much so as Franky and Iceburg where the evidence is practically laying in your lap, but I just have a soft spot for that particular couple as well.
Exactly! Men are pressured into acting tough because that's the way society wants them to behave. Thus, Franky acts the way he does, because he's trying to fill that stereotype. But people don't delve into the inner emotions and thoughts of the characters, so they just see the surface behavior rather than the buried kind.
Yes, there are a lot of FxI who just see them as two men having sex. Which is so sad. Those two have such a meaningful relationship! Even if you don't acknowledge them as a couple, it's still appropriate to see the strong bond that they share.
While people realize these handicaps on genders, it's funny how nobody takes that into account in real life and just behave the way they want without having to worry about the petty little, "I hope I don't seem too weak," or other thoughts of the like. Girls do tend to have less criticism, but I think it's because they are still expected to be weaker than men and still "need their help" in a sense.
Ohh! A drag twist, you say?!
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That's cool. I support Obama too.
Those are interesting points about Lucci and Kaku! I've never really thought about CP9 related romance before. (Silly me, I don't pay as much attention to the bad guys you could say.) Who knows, maybe you'll convince me.
It's shocking that even people who have great writing skills don't always know the characters so well! I've read some fanfics and thought all was going well until they fail to delve deeper into the character's inner self or they suddenly lose track and turn into something else... One common mistake sort of related to our conversations about people's sex craze blinding them: even FxI fans don't stop to consider that these guys are the types who need serious love and feelings of trust before any one loses ther clothes. 
Gender ideals and the pressure to follow them are such a big part of society it's scary! It's amazing how far people go with things like categorizing people too. Then if someone doesn't fit into any of the categories, people freak out. (i.e. Intersex people)
LOL Franky in a dress cracks me up. No idea if my pictures of that are any less frightening than your sister's picture... As for the comic, it's a joke on Cardcaptor Sakura. (No idea if you've read/seen any of it.) It's a spoof, but it has it's own story still. I'm hoping people will like reading it even if they don't know OP or CCS. (Oh, and it's an alternative universe story, so it's not in Water Seven.)
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Yay! Go Obama. ^^
Haha! I would love to convince you, if I could.
Because it's weird, when you think about it, the government is supposed to be the "good guys". Thus, making CP9 good and the Mugiwara's bad.
Haha!! But that's just a little perplexing idea that I like to pull out whenever I can. Like Sephiroth (I don't know if you've ever played FFVII) but he's supposedly the bad guy, but I see him as misunderstood. What he's doing isn't necessarily right, and he's being rather selfish, but he's doing it all for his mother.
I know what you mean about fanfictions! It's sad when there is no character development. Or when you can't see the characters grow as the story continues. I don't enjoy reading a story with no emotional element to it. Like, for a FxI example, if the plot is: I'm Franky, I'm horny, I'm gonna have sex with Iceburg! it kind of leaves something to be desired. I don't mind a smutty fic every now and again, but when it's done all the time, with no attention to character development, it's so sad. And it really ruins the story.
Trust is huge for them! I mean, nobody knows what happened to Iceburg's parents, and for Franky to be abandoned! So tragic. I especially like when Iceburg gives Franky his name. It's so cute and uberly special!! I mean, there's already an established bond! And that Franky continues to use it, even though he seemingly "hates" Iceburg is a good indication of something there.
I think people just see the humorous side of Franky. They acknowledge his past, but that's all it is. Since he's grown, what happened then is of no importance now. But his past helped dictate what he has become. Same goes for Iceburg.
Gender ideals are too prevalent! And to classify people has gotten bad too. I remember in high school, there was this class and this class, but they couldn't hang out with THIS class. It's so idiotic. Really, can't people just live their lives without approval and direction from others? What a world that would be. Haha!
Haha!! If only I could show you my sister's picture. ^^ It's so strange and I about chocked on spit when I saw it. Poor Franky! Oh man though, I used to LOVE Cardcaptor Sakura! It trickled off a bit, but it was such a neat little thing! I definitely gotta check this out. It sounds utterly hilarious! And go cross dressing Iceburg!!
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I get what you mean about the characters bad vs. good concept. LOL I should have just said, I haven't paid as much attention to them as the mugiwara's.
I'll admit I like reading adult fanfics and the sort plenty, but even if there isn't some sort of life changing message behind it, at the least I wish more of them would emphasize the emotion behind what's happening. (And a little fluff sounds good to me.
Also a little strange about people failing or succeeding to understand characters: very often they only work with what is very obviously stated by the author. If they ever do mention past problems, they stick to what the author has mentioned before about how they reacted. In a realistic situation, an upsetting event actually calls on many different feelings...
I'm hoping that aside from adding to the general FxI material out there, I can get people to think about what's often overlooked about their lives, individual selves, and their bond.
It's hard to say where it's good to draw the line between the rules for the good of society, and rules holding us back.
You loved CCS?! Then you'll LOVE this (when I miraculously manage to finish the first chapter...)! You might have already found out by looking through my gallery, but Tyrannosaurus is the Kero figure in this story. LOL Iceburg is amazingly cute/pretty...
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Haha! XD I figured that you would understand the concept. But I'm a bit of a CP9 activist, so I like to help them ... or something. Heh, like they need MY help.
Yeah, those CP9 are good dudes. Otherwise, they could've just killed everyone to begin with. I especially think that Kaku is a generally nice guy. He was happy with them and interacted with everyone in a sincerely friendly way.
I agree. I like to find something at the end of a story that I can go, "AWWW!!" about. Those are always so sweet and I tend to remember them for awhile after. I know, right?! Poor Franky! Just because he wears a speedo means nothing! It meant nothing as a child and it means nothing as an adult. I think it was just Oda's way of making him "different" looking as a character. It would be boring if they all looked the same.
Good point! People do like to just use what the author has given them, but it's fun to branch off of the original concept and develop it on one's own. Otherwise, every time it will be the same and serve no point in being read. Yes, there must be more understanding for FxI. I mean, it's all right there, but people just have to look at it clearly and understand it. Then, they're both much easier to develop and work with. And that's really where the fun is.
I just checked out your pictures of the CCS/OP cross over. SO CUTE!!! <3 That Iceburg in a dress was utter love. And I like how happy he is about the whole ordeal.
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CP9 activist? My friend ~IceburgDockOne (who, heads up, I refer to as P-kun or Paulie very often without thinking, so you don't get confused) is a Galley-la activist! She's so annoyed that there's very little for them... like Lulu and Tilestone get no love.
Yes, out of the group, Kaku comes across as the nicest. Finding out they were the CP9 was sort of depressing when I read it. LOL
Without emotional meaning, those stories seem pointless... The speedo is probably humor more than any thing. Making fun also of how some people are so freaked out when someone wears one.
A lot of people focus on nothing but Franky and Iceburg fighting about the battleships or something like it, (and then if it's yaoi, they end up naked by the end. I can only imagine that really happening if the characters were already in a relationship...) and people forget to try other circumstances... Or they forget the basic reason why they argue over that topic in the first place. Iceburg doesn't yell at him for fun. It his way of showing concern because he's really worried about Franky ending up eaten by a sea monster or of course, the ships leading to trouble and him paying for it.
You like it?! Oh good.
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Ah! That's so cool!! I don't believe that Galley-La gets quite enough love either. But I really think CP9 is underappreciated. Thanks for the heads up! I won't be confused now.
Yeah, it was depressing. Because you really do start to like ALL the shipwrights. And when they hurt Paulie, and he was crying because they were threatening to kill Iceburg, it broke my heart.
Haha! True! The speedo, I guess it ccould be known as, is the fear factor. XD But it's such a neat idea because no one else draws their characters in a speedo all the time. Or, really, even at all. But saying that Franky is sex crazed just because he wears one is a little bold. And assuming too much, I think.
Yeah, I don't think people grasp the concept of WHY they both are fighting. They just know that they do fight, so it's an easy story plot. Yet, when Iceburg yells at Franky in these stories, they author never lets the reader know Iceburg's concern. Because either they don't realize it themselves, or they find it a trifling detail to add. Either way, it's an important aspect that makes their relationship stronger and, simulaneously, makes Iceburg NOT seem like he likes screaming at Franky for the fun of it.
How could you not think Iceburg is beautiful?! A truly gorgeous man, that one.
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(We'll see how long it takes for my silly friends to start bothering you with comments... Beware... lol
When I read it I was almost confused, thinking, how in the world could they do all this and not feel bad? All of them just had blank faces most of the time. Chances are they were feeling something!
Maybe it's fun to joke about things every once and a while. But we know Franky isn't that type of person.
It seems there are many fans who think they are incapable of going ten minutes without arguing. I've run into fans who have gotten the wrong impression from their fighting and think that they're not that friendly, when really they're both very nice.
I don't know where you live, but I was thinking at one point of making a funny/pretty picture of him in a wedding dress with Franky, implying of course that they're committed... But after the big upset with Prop 8 in CA, I'm not so sure I should.
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Haha! XD I'd totally be ok with your friends leaving me comments. That wouldn't bother me in the slightest! If they're anything like you, which I'm sure they are because people tend to pick friends who are similar in personality and such, then I would be absolutely estatic to chat with them too!
I know!
Of course not! Above all things, Franky's just a sweet, caring person. Like when he thought no one was coming to save him at Enies Lobby. After he found out that the rest of the Franky House was there for him and he cried happiness, though denying he cried, is so manly, so cute, and so him.
Totally! Speedos don't make look twice and think, "OMG?! Was that guy wearing a speedo?
Yeah, I've run into people like that too. People who think that they actually DO hate each other. Or moreover, that Iceburg hates Franky. It's like, seriously, come on people! How could anyone look so shallowly into that kind of relationship? It's not hard to see what's really there.
You should draw that picture!!!!
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One of my friends came over and she doesn't know much of One Piece. She nearly has no idea who Franky is except that she's seen my artwork... It was the recent movie retelling Chopper's story, so they're at snowy, Drum Island... She kept freaking out, "Get some pants on! It's COLD in the snow!" I couldn't stop laughing. Though what he wears in that movie does come across as ridiculous considering he has no sleeves and the vest is too small for him.
Franky's in denial that he's a softy, but I'm sure most of his friends know the truth any way. In several ways, his personality has actually come across as more feminine, despite his "tough-image."
I'm curious: what do you think when people call Franky Iceburg's "baby brother?" I've always gone "HUH?! They're not related?" but that's just me. lol (I guess another part of it is that I'm not so crazy about incest pairings, so I'm ready to remind them that F and I are not related.)
Draw it? Well... If I do, I'll try to remember to send it to your email at least. I guess it could still go on DA under "idiologically sensitive" perhaps? Meanwhile, I still am sad about the lack of tolerance for gay marriage. (I wonder what they'd think of it in Water 7? 
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Haha!!
But it's kinda like Luffy and his flip flops. I would die! It's been snowing a lot here recently, and the temperature's been extremely cold. So I just keep thinking, "How could anyone wear flip flops in THIS?!" XD
Yes, Franky doesn't want to admit his soft side. I agree! He does come across as more feminine at times. I think maybe the only people who might look at him differently than the rest of ... well, everyone else are the members of the Franky Family. I mean, they understand the way he is, but I think they tend to see past his softness sometimes. I think they just want to think he's tough for his sake.
Ok, so maybe they're in denial.
I think, maybe, they call him "baby brother" just because Iceburg is always looking out for his safety and thus gives the feel of an older brother. Haha! This one doesn't bother me so much, because I think it's a way to get under both their skins because they show a caring for each other. You know, like, they know they aren't brothers, but it's kind of a bonding thing.
Of course, it's also an excuse to not admit that maybe, just maybe, Franky and Iceburg don't have a thing for each other and merely have a brotherly relationship. Of course, we both think that their relationship is much deeper than that, so I know where you're coming from.
Haha. You don't have to draw it if it makes you uncomfortable.
I remember hearing about something that was talking about wedding cakes for dogs. And it's like: It doesn't matter if you marry two completely different species of dog, but when two people of the same gender want to get married, that's terrible? It all just seems rather unfair.
The people of Water 7? Iceburg would just annouce: "I want to make gay marriage legal!" And everyone would be ok with it. XD Ok, so it might not be that easy, but the people really respect Iceburg, so I'm sure if he was all for it, then people could learn to accept it.
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She gasped at Luffy's sandals too. XD
I've gotten the feeling that most people (and fans) are a little uneasy about acknowledging his sweet feminine side more. I'm sure the Franky Family avoids it because he's their leader and the strongest of them. They follow the typical trend of wanting to view their leader as that strong stiff tough guy. They're probably in denial.
That makes sense I guess. It probably really is occasionally a way around acknowledging the romance. In a way, it's just another way of addressing that they're best friends. I'd say they were best friends at first and then fell in love when they got older.
I'm not saying I won't EVER draw that picture... I really like it too, so chances are it will be drawn in the future. I'll make sure you see it at least. I guess since it'd be both a drag and gay marriage picture, it's more worrysome out in the open since it gets into two areas some people are sensitive about.
It wasn't too long ago people of different races couldn't marry. How dumb was that idea? Same sort of dumb.
lol It'd be funny if it was that easy. (I can imagine Iceburg trying that...) I'm sure that if he told people that he's in love with a man, that it could help change some people's views for the better. Wouldn't that be an interesting story?
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Haha! XD Luffy's sandals are the killers.
True! I think Franky's soft side is what actually made Kiwi and Mozu join him in the first place. Because he was, in a way, looking out for them. Thus, the caring side. Something they had never really seen before. But the rest of the Franky House? Ha, definitely in denial.
That's true. It does address them as best friends, therefore leaving out the romantic side. But people fight brutually to either support or deny a pairing, so ... that seems about right.
But I definitely agree with you! Because younger children have a harder time realizing feelings of love, they were absolutely best friends to begin with and it obviously developed into more.
True. That picture could start a riot, I suppose. Sad that merely drawing a picture could insite so much.
It IS the same sort of dumb. The restrictions we as a people demand upon others is sometimes cruel. And, also, it doesn't do much to support our "Land of the Free" and freedom of choice and speech and all that good stuff.
Haha! That would be an awesome story!! I think that since Iceburg is so influencial, that it would be easier for him to have the people accept his choice. But it's just one of those stories that's sure to have a cute ending.
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I can imagine Luffy feeling somthing cold and jumping... "What was that?! OH!"
Considering how Franky acts around just Mozu and Kiwii vs. the rest of the family, you can see that Franky's playing along with it!
It's scary how brutal the fight over pairings can get...
In their story, I've always pictured Franky getting feelings for Iceburg first. Kind of the typical admiration-crush on the nice older person. Have you ever thought about it?
At one point, I thought that maybe I would put that sort of picture at the very very end of Cardcaptor Iceburg, like an epilogue with whatever last author's comments. (Something similar was done with the main couple at the end of another story I like and I thought the idea was sweet.) I figured it would fit nicely there since CCI involves Iceburg in drag a lot already. Still, after all those politics, I hesitate.
The strangest thing I heard was that some people who have gay relatives or friends, who say they accept them and their partners, actually voted against gay marriage! Awfully hypocritical isn't it?
If one of us has the time to think of the details, it should be written. Or for that matter, maybe both of us could contribute and work on it together. I'd hope it'd have a nice ending since I'm sure at parts it would be very serious and tough.
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Hahaha!! That would be so sad, yet so Luffy.
Oh, totally. But I just bet Kiwi and Mozu see through it and think, "Oh, Aniki ... trying to act all tough again." Even though I do believe that they think he is a tough guy. ^^
Oh, I know! The internet is almost scary for that reason.
I have definitely thought of that! I think it's because, besides Tom, Franky has someone to look up to in Iceburg. Thus, he constantly notices him and that becomes respect which leads to admiration to being enamoured with him to developing feelings and finally love. It's a cute cycle. ^^
Politics are such tricky things.
That is hypocritical. It's sad to think that people would do that.
I've never written a collab story before! It would so much fun!
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They certainly see through it! It's pretty funny that his tough act can be so prominant, especially with his "family." Chances are, Kiwii and Mozu can see that he's strong in other ways that aren't as obvious. (I wonder if Franky himself is aware of his real strengths.)
Thanks to the internet I realized just how polite my mother has raised me to be.
Yes, the tricky part in writing is figuring out when Iceburg starts to feel the same. In the long story I'm working on, there isn't exactly a set moment where things start, more like a day when Iceburg realizes he's been totally blind to his own feelings. lol Confused young man!
Thanks for your support!
Yes!
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True! I doubt Franky thinks too highly himself at times. 'Cause, when you think about it, he really held himself at fault for what happened to Tom, even though Tom had forgiven him.
Oh, I know! It really is surprising how demanding and flat out rude people can be. And there's really nothing anyone can do about it. But then it always makes it nice when you meet someone who is polite and respectful.
Haha! Poor Iceburg. ^^ I like to think that he starts off the same way as Franky and continues on until he realized just how much Franky really likes him. Kinda like you mentioned with just waking up one day and being like, "Whoa!"
Well, we could post the story in both places. Like, you can post it here, and I could post it on FF. Also, I have a livejournal that we could post it to as well, so that's not a huge problem. And I always give appropriate warnings and such for all of my stories, so people would definitely know what they were getting into.
For a story like this, we could begin by showing Iceburg's hesitation over making such an announcement. Like, in present day, it shows him in worry, wondering how the people will react, and he starts to doubt himself. But then he thinks back to when he was younger and all the things Franky and him went through and how generally happy he was. That could be a large part of the beginning, much like a flashback.
So then, you know, he finally gets the courage up to announce it, and it could go through Paulie and the other foreman's feelings, as well as Franky's.
... Or something like that.
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lol Do you think Mozu and Kiwii could catch on that Franky's attracted to men? I jot down something for the long fxi story where they speculate who Franky loves.
Franky's too tough on himself.
That does sound like the general idea of what I wrote up before. Kind of like one of those love songs about a person who fell in love without realizing until later.
That sounds pretty good. I guess people tend to be good about choosing which fanfics to read and which not to according to warnings.
A flashback is a pretty good element to develop understanding in the audience. Pretty good idea. Of course, something important: when is "present day?" in the story? I don't know how closely you'd want to follow the events in OP, but some people get picky about what would or wouldn't happen in what order. If he's coming out, we've got to be careful about "present day" since people would wonder then just WHO he might love, and obviously we'd have write it so he does or doesn't hide who because of the hidden connection with Franky. Do I make sense?
If we make it include the element of his attempt to make gay marriage legal in Water 7, naturally I'd hope that in the end they could succeed and then maybe the ending could be... His happy ceremony with Franky.
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Haha! Women have an interesting way of doing that, I think.
He is! He is too tough on himself. *Cries* But I guess that's just his personality. I know I tend to be extremely hard on myself if something goes wrong. But I love that! When Iceburg tells him to go with them and live out his dream. It's such a touching moment. I just recently re-read that chapter, actually, and I just had to smile. Yay for Iceburg!
Yeah. For the most part, as long as you put up a warning, no one will bother you. I did put up a very visible warning for one of my stories. However, someone just had to ignore it and they sent me a very simple review that said, "EW!"
Well, let me tell you, I brought it too them!! In an intelligent, well constructed, but still in-your-face manner. And they sent me an apology saying that they were sorry and that they like the story, just not the pairing.
But still. Saying "ew"? It was extremely uncalled for and they really shouldn't have read it.
True. I've been trying to determine when present day will be as well. The flashback is great, but if we can't figure out a basic time, then it serves no real purpose. We could change the story of OP so that the Mugiwara's never came to Water 7, but I try not to change the universe *too* much. And I totally get you! I think that will be our most difficult assessment.
Yes! Definitely happy ceremony in the end!!! Love it!
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When I get the time (and guts/nerve) to type more up... then I'll send you that part at least.
It's definately a part of who he is. And of course plenty of others are like that. (Hey, I'm like that too!) I like to point that moment out as a good example of how the two definately have a connection. It's touching.
It's strange when people bother to stop and comment or for that matter, read something featuring a pairing they don't like. I don't understand why! Curiousity makes sense, but if someone knows they just don't like it, why do they even spend a moment on it?! More power to you, stopping to point out that it was unnecessary.
Honestly, some things out there make me say "ew" but if ANY of it gets online, it's in my "territory" and not in some review section. Knowing there are some things I really don't like, it gives me mixed feelings about when people stop specifically to argue on message boards (neutral places you could say) about their opinions of pairings or characters.
I would say before they came to Water Seven, but that gets complicated, hiding the relationship and all... Then I'd say after it's revealed, but then they were so busy building the Sunny, I can't say they'd have time to before the crew left. Though who knows, maybe one of the two challenges could be used to an advantage adding charm to the story. I definately want to see that ending though!
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Great! I'm excited for it!
True, very true. It's just such a great part of Franky's overall character. And all the moments Iceburg and Franky share seem to be touching whether they're being personable to each other or not.
It really does bother me. I mean, I can understand it if the person doesn't give and accurate warning, but when there is one, and they still give a negative comment or something, it's kind of frustrating. Like, you knew you weren't going to like it, so what's your problem? At first I thought about not even responding to that person. But it continued to bug me, and I didn't want to go through that crap again. It was well deserved, I thought.
I think there are some people who *love* to argue and will search out a topic just to make people angry. I can understand differences in opinion, but when all you do is constantly bother people, then there's something wrong with that.
I think the most complicated part of the story will be determining the time line. It could always be that they never met up with Luffy and the other Strawhat's, but then it kind of takes away from some of the important conflict and special moments between Franky and Iceburg. The ending will be the best! Definitely looking forward to that.
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Even some arguments bring people together!
People really enjoy looking for trouble don't they? You would think being angry constantly would be stressful but... Some people really love competition I guess. We probably both prefer more peaceful replies to arguments and those sort of comments. Artistic replies can be some of the best! 
Tricky timeline... Don't know if we would dare jumping into the future then, and try to capture when the strawhats return to Water Seven. Would it make sense alright for it to start before they come so we can include the reactions of the cp9 people before they leave?
(BTW, if you've sent any more email replies, I've only gotten that one so far.)
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I know! Isn't that weird? Very true. How do you refute someone who's looking out for your safety, even if they're being overly serious about it.
Haha! XD I know being angry all the time would stress *me* out. But some people thrive on that kind of thing. Or they enjoy annoying and bothering people for some reason. Like, for example, I submitted a picture on Tegaki E and one person replied, "WTF?" which didn't really make any sense. But I decided to browse his profile and see what other kinds of things he said. A lot of it was derogitory or just very unsupportive. And why do people do that? Hm ... well, because they're just evil, I guess.
I did see that message! And I was seriously thinking about replying back to the person. But then I had all these thoughts about starting something that I really shouldn't or something like that. But, really, how rude. I checked out that persons profile and they're all against yaoi and many other couples. So, basically, they just hate it. Which is another thing that bothers me! If you don't like something, you shouldn't go out of your way to try and find things about it. I mean, really.
I was actually thinking that it would be our best bet to start before the Strawhats came, thus not altering the timeline in too distorting of a manner. The only thing is, it would be sad when Franky eventually left with them because the married couple would be broken up.
Hmm. Good point. Well, I suppose we could have some people endorsing Iceburg's proclaimation while others aren't so sure. Then, it seems more true to life. And, like you said, those people who were against it, and didn't understand why Iceburg was that way, could finally realize that just because he makes a life decision that they aren't so sure about, doesn't change the fact that he's still the Iceburg that everyone knows and respects.
And I'm so sorry about the email thing! I accidently pressed "save now" instead of "send" so they've been sitting in my drafts box.
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lol It's a little hard not to crack some jokes about people who go out of their way to bother and argue with others. Oh well. We can't control them.
I can't believe someone would say something like that as if they want to challenge a whole fangroup and convert them to some other opinion. Really, what are the chances they're going to change? If any thing, we should laugh at it, despite how tempting it really is to say something to them. 
It probably would be best to start before the strawhat's arrive.
I'm actually tempted to try finding some stories about what happened during the prop 8 campaign in case there's something inspiring or important to consider about such a decision. Narrowing down the information to well summed up and accurate recordings would be the hardest part. Still, the reactions of the main characters will be a big part of what happens, and also what readers will be very tough about. (Considering they interpret the characters differently from each other, it will be hard to please them.) I really like the idea of conveying the message that Iceburg's decision (and sexuality) don't magically change him into a different person, even if people suddenly treat him differently when things are announced.
Oh! Tricky internet buttons? How funny! Thanks for checking; I wondered since you said something about sending an email but I only got one. I'll have to go check to make sure the new email has arrived.
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We definitely cannot. And, you know, if they're going to act that way, then it's best just to ignore them.
I know, right? Trying to change a whole fangroup is like trying to convert people from one religion to another. Really, it's so idiotic. I knew that if I didn't say anything, Giri eventually would. (OMG! I actually used her name
Definitely starting before the Strawhat's came would be the best way to go. It would be fun to develop Franky and Iceburg from the before the CP9 incident, during it, and afterward. Because, obviously, their feelings would be different from their more secluded caring for each other.
That's true!!
Yeah, we really have to characterize everyone as how they would normally act, or the story kind of fails. But that shouldn't be too big of a problem. I think it's relatively easy to determine would be more surprised by it than others.
Yes, my gmail is a fickle mistress. But I'm glad that I finally looked into that! I hope you got them.
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