I still haven't totally given up on my Jinbe homie
.
Jinbe having been left free to go after gambling away the majority his lifespan on Big Mom's Wheel of Misfortune would still leave plenty of avenues open. Granted, could just be wishful thinking on my part, but it certainly would amp up the drama and cement Jinbe's noble character if it were revealed he'd come to the Strawhats' aid despite being on his last legs in terms of lifespan. All the more so if there's a powerful homie packing what life was taken from him endangering his crew. But then, the case of Charlotte Moscato demonstrated that lifespan could be returned to its original body, so it could present a means of saving his life.
I wanna believe Oda's going for a two-pronged fake-out to swerve readers' expectations, particularly those of us who foresaw him suffering a terrible fate :
ha, fooled you, Jinbe was okay all this time...DOUBLE PSYCHE, Jinbe's totally not okay, he's close to dying. Would also neatly account for a previous hole in the Jinbe Homie theory I didn't previously have an answer for in said scenario: why keep a (near) lifeless Jinbe around after already created a homie using the bulk or entirety of his lifespan? Answer: she simply let him go after getting what she wanted out of him, partly out of spite and mockery.
Mamamama go live out what few pitiful weeks you have remaining however you wish. Go join up with Strawhat if you want, you can all die together. Consider it as a last merciful gift for all your years of service Mamamama.
Could also present a potential power-up opportunity for Jinbe too. Might be a stretch, but given that scene which depicted Jinbe explicitly noting the power inherent in Big Mom's syncing up her soul with her homie weapons, it leads me to believe there's a possibility of Jinbe gaining his own homie weapon -- one powered by some amount of his own lifeforce.
It's a lot of wild and nigh baseless speculation, I know. I just can't help but feel Oda's got a load of plot twists heading our way. I'd also be lying if I said I wasn't secretly hoping for such too; not just for validation of my theories, but out of a desire for Oda to give us something more imaginative than something as formulaic and generic as all of the Strawhats' allies joining up, the Onigashima Raid going off without a significant hitch, Luffy defeating Kaido to become a Yonko, and everyone on Wano living happily ever after. Fuck dat noise.
[automerge]1586259168[/automerge]
The only big question that remains is "What about Pekoms?". He was catched and they gauge his eyes. I hope Germa somehow saved him otherwise he is most likely dead.
Same as Jinbe, I could see Big Mom likewise having subjected him to the Wheel of MIsfortune before letting him go, leading to the creation of some plushy-looking Mock Turtle homie infused with the bulk of his lifespan, complete with cute literal button eyes. Something like that.
Pekoms may've accompanied JInbe to Wano se he can hook up with the Mink contingent there. I dunno, just don't feel Oda would kill Pekoms off entirely. He's had two close calls already, maybe this was his last. Pekoms showing up minus an eye or two would probably give the Minks a further motivational boost, maybe a second wind if necessary.
I feel like Oda's setting up a showdown in endurance and persistence between the Beast Pirates and the Strawhat Alliances in the finale of Wano ( post-Oniganshima Raid failure imho ); nigh-unkillable Kaido and hard-to-putdown Zoans vs. a battered but mentally resilient Luffy and Co. A (half?) blinded Pekoms whose lifeline was cut short would play well into that.
cool idea, I agree both Pudding and Kata could have freed Jinbei when he was held captive by Mama