#viola op

1) I'm not fully convinced this is Imu's REAL, ORIGINAL body.

With Imu seemingly very sick, Mariejois doing experiments on people, the introduction of genetic modification in WCI, and the fact that this body seems to possess various aspect of extremely "powerful" races...I think there's a good chance this is merely another host. Perhaps even one artificially grown in a lab. One made to make Imu as strong as possible. Or at least to overcompensate for his weakened state.

2) The emphasis of Nefertari D. Lili as a central figure to the puzzle with no actual ill intent/hatred obvious from Imu's side

Imu very clearly wants Vivi for some reason. He keeps looking at Lili's portrait in a longing manner. Interestingly enough, while Imu does get upset when mentioning Lili's "mistake"

He also seems to want to believe she didn't betray him??? Questioning whether her betrayal was intentional or not. 🤨

She also doesn't get a knife in her picture the way the other important characters in this puzzle do. Nor does she get as much thinly veiled hatred thrown her way when discussed.

So I do still think there is a big possibility that Lili's importance to Imu is less about her actual betrayal and more about his personal feelings for her driving this obsession with Vivi.

Even the manner of Vivi's attempted kidnapping more closely resembles that of Ginny & Shakky. Kalifia says she'll end up as someone's PET. A pet is not something you would make an enemy out of. A pet is something a stalker would want to make you be lol.

3) The Doflamingo/Imu connection

I believe Doflamingo is supposed to emulate Imu to some extent (I even buy into the theory that he learned of Imu's existence & views Imu as his goal/models his take over of Dressrosa on Imu's takeover of the world) and what did Doflamingo do?

He had a very violent fallout with his BROTHER which ended in him murdering said brother

And was also implied to have a sexual attraction with a female character he forced under his control

Who later BETRAYED him/was never actually loyal to him

So because of these connections I question whether Imu & Joyboy are going to be the homoerotic subtext Yaoi forefathers of One Piece vs actually being an example of the doomed siblings trope!