So, I've been wondering, when did Shanks and Buggy join the Roger pirates? they're already there at like 9-10 years old (30-29 years before present time, during oden's first 2 years with whitebeard) and Shanks even had the strawhat already!
But I get this feeling that they joined the crew as little babies! a couple things stand out to me. First of all, this panel is constantly on my mind:
Considering Ace won't be born til after Roger's death, and no other Roger pirate has kids (or is a kid) as far as we know, them mentioning it's been a long time since they've held a baby and that it feels nostalgic feels super intentional on Oda's part.
Like they had babies on board (wonder if they had a bumper sticker for that lmao) some years ago but not recently, and tiny Shanks and tiny Buggy are about 13 at this point, so, while being kids, they haven't been babies for years obviously. I know parents with older kids get all nostalgic when they get to hold a baby, I think it's cute.
Speaking of their age though:
This meeting between Roger, Whitebeard and Oden happens 4 years into Oden's travels, 26 years ago, when Buggy and Shanks were about 13. And 13 years prior is when Roger apparently had already reached the end of the grand line, just not to Laugh Tale, which is an interesting detail to me.
Now this proves the Roger pirates were already around, to pick up a couple babies with no family to care for them or something. But it also makes me wonder where they were found. I'm certain Shanks has mentioned he's from the West Blue, so I'm not saying he is from Lodestar Island but I do feel like we're missing info here. hmmm. Where'd you get these kiddos, Roger?? did he find them as lil babies?
Funny that aaaaaaall the way back in ch. 1 Shanks kept insisting on not bringing Luffy along because he was too young, encouraging him to wait til he was older to leave the island. Wonder if that was intentional as well, huh?
Anyways, please do let me know if I've missed something important (there's a lot of info out there after all) and idk, add your thoughts if you feel like it.
I'm hoping if we ever get a Shanks flashback we might see when and how he joined Roger's ship and got the hat, among a million other things of course. Scar caused by Teach I am looking at you...
EDIT: I had also forgotten to mention that the God Valley incident happened 38 years before present time, and Shanks and Buggy are currently 39. Could they have been already on Roger's ship? were they taken in after this? these numbers fit too well omg
it's interesting to note that Roger and Garp protected Celestial Dragons and their slaves... I am thinking
Something that confuses me is that Shanks is from West Blue but Buggy is listed as being from the Grand Line... I guess they could've simply been taken in at different points as well, or one was moved to a different place before joining Roger. Hmmmm
EDIT 2.0: FILM RED EDITION because I added this to a rb I think, but not here. The movie confirms that Shanks was probably adopted into the crew as a lil baby, since finding Uta reminds him of that. My heart 💜 who are these people leaving babies in treasure chests anyways?
He mentions that Luffy is a bit too rowdy to join him, since Uta just waits in the ship and he could never sit still while adventure happens elsewhere which. Valid lmao. I do think him leaving Uta behind shows he was concerned for their safety too. Oda pls I want mooooore. And more Uta too BRING HER BACK
