reblogging this again because i think luffy should start bashing heads together
But on that note now that the death pact’s been animated I’m left scratching my head wondering how he’d actually feel about it. Because while I think he’d be genuinely appalled, I’m trying to speculate on the full extent of his reaction and coming up a bit empty. full disclaimer, I have a killer headache but I’m gonna try to write what’s come to mind.
Luffy is very in-tune with his crewmates so, I don’t think the revelation that Zoro and Sanji have become loyal to the point of death would come as shock, exactly. We’ve seen his reaction to Zoro declaring that he intends to follow Luffy to the grave, essentially telling Kaido that if he kills Luffy he has GOT to kill him next. He was, all things considered, pretty chill about that. He got up and with a laugh told Zoro that sorry, but he’s got no intention of dying anytime soon. So he’s not unaware of the fact that he’s got lives in his hands. He’s just accepted the responsibility, backed by self-believe and self-confidence. Zoro’s allowed to make those dramatic vows because Luffy won’t let anything happen to either of them, and they are therefore of no consequence.
I think, then, that what might get to him would not be Zoro and Sanji having a death-related failsafe in case of disaster per se. What he wouldn’t like is that failsafe placing the full responsibility of their lives on each other. He is their Captain, so if they have an obstacle they don’t think they can overcome without extreme measures, they should to come to Luffy first. If they’re gonna make a death pact to make themselves feel better, they should do it with him, because then he can move heaven and earth to ensure it never actually comes to fruition. But as it stands, I don’t think he’d see death pact as something born from loyalty. Or chalk it up just another instance of Sanji and Zoro proving how far they’re willing to go to protect the crew. I can see him drawing the line at them vowing to hurt each other in secret, and even seeing the entire promise as a display of a lack of faith in their Captain, and in Luffy’s ability to do right by them when the time comes. Sanji’s worst fears may be coming to fruition, but that doesn’t give him and Zoro the right to decide when and who gets to die for the Strawhats.
