#beta something or other

[destinationtoast]

#fanfic #beta reading #polls #yes i am using polls to procrastinate on my wip #which is nearing completion and could use a beta reader and/or britpicker #but i'd like to post it before the start of my work trip on Monday #(and also before it gets jossed) #so I'm likely to skip it #but anyway i think i hold myself to higher standards here than others #whether or not something is beta read doesn't affect whether i read #generally #lest you worry btw #i don't take tumblr polls as strong evidence of anything #but they're entertaining and sometimes interesting #op

[kiaxet]

Sooooo y’all see the latest @somerandomdudelmao comic update? Because once again it is living in my head, which means once again my brain has generated fic. This one’s ~1200 words and slightly less tragic, depending on whether or not you take dramatic irony into account.

~~~~~~~

It starts fairly innocuously.

One of the surviving technicians monitors a computer as it finally, finally boots up successfully, whooping when the Genius Tech loading screen pops up. He grins and pats the power cable. "Thanks, Raph!"

It catches on.

A water purifier, disconnected to save a struggling power supply, gets plugged back in. It chugs back to life, and the kids responsible for its upkeep cheer and high five. One of them waves at the ceiling, where a power conduit runs overhead. "Thanks, Mister Raph!"

And it spreads like wildfire.

Every time something works the way it's supposed to - every time a much-needed device pops back to life, or the emergency doors close correctly, or a dying lightbulb flickers on one more time - they thank Raph. In gleeful shouts and careful whispers, they show gratitude for the person who gave up his life - and his second chance at life, at that - to keep them safe. It makes the emergency base, ramshackle and barely held together as it is, feel a little more like a home. A little more alive.

It doesn't take long for a few unspoken rules to develop.

They never say it in front of the metal shell. It's one thing to say it to the walls, the cables, the electricity; it's something else to say it to a figure with a face, seated against the wall like a sentinel that will awaken and protect them when danger arises.

(Nevermind that they've been in danger, constant and unending, for decades, and that this sentinel is already protecting them in smaller, everyday ways.)

They learn very quickly never to say it in front of Raph's surviving family, either. Master Leonardo gets angry when he hears it. It's an anger born of grief and loss, painful but not dangerous to allies, but given how terrifying Master Leonardo can be on the battlefield or a bad day, nobody really wants that anger directed at them. Master Michaelangelo just stops when he hears it, lips curling up in an expression too devoid of life to truly be called a smile. It's almost worse to witness than Master Leonardo's anger. No, they learn to watch themselves in front of the family, carefully taking their gratitude towards a dead man elsewhere.

Until the day someone forgets and says it in front of Casey Junior.

The kid looks up at Roger with wide, almost hopeful eyes. "Why did you- is he here? Can you feel him?"

Roger stares back at him with equally wide eyes. He'd just been grateful the computer had booted correctly for his monitor shift, and he hadn't been looking, and now he has to try to explain this to a kid who's never known a life outside the apocalypse. Oh boy. "No, uh- I mean- I don't have magic like your dads do, Casey, I couldn't-" He sighs. "It's just...a thing people do, when things work. Before the Krang, we had all sorts of machines that made life easier, and...we'd talk to 'em. Thank 'em when they worked, yell or beg when they didn't...I remember threatening a fax machine once, not that that made any difference. I think that just...kinda carried over here." Wait. "Not that your uncle was a machine or anything-"

"His body was a machine," Casey says simply, with a pragmatism that Roger hadn't been expecting. Apocalypse-raised kid. Right. "That wasn't what made him Uncle Raph. He was- it's-" Casey falters, expression starting to crumble. Pragmatism be damned, the kid is still grieving-

Rem, just coming off her shift, steps in smoothly. It's not the first time she's saved Roger's ass, both on and off the battlefield, and it won't be the last. "We know," she says gently, putting an arm around Casey's shoulders. "What Roger means is that we're grateful he's keeping us going, and that people like to bond with machines even when they're too simple to bond back. We all used to name our cars - can you believe it?"

"I named mine Red Rider," Roger says wistfully. He still misses that car.

"And I used to sneak out of the Hidden City with my cloaking brooch and go joyriding outside of human cities," Rem says, a grin splitting her feline muzzle. "I named every car I stole Phantom, like I thought I was cool."

Casey smiles - small and watery, but there nonetheless - and Roger breathes a sigh of relief. "What else did you name?"

"I mean, it was mostly cars, but some people named their computers."

"I had a friend who named her phone and just kept adding numbers when she had to replace it. It was Duchess O'Brien the eighth last I'd heard."

"I know some Yokai named their weapons, but I never really kept track of those. It was more of a Battle Nexus fandom thing."

Another Yokai leans in - a four eyed lizard whose name Roger could never remember no matter how hard he tried - and Roger shuts up. She's in charge of security now, and honestly she intimidates him. She looks around - at him, at Rem, at Casey - and then intones seriously, "I once named a kitchen appliance Toasty McToastFace."

There's a beat of silence. Casey has a lopsided grin growing on his face, like he doesn't get the joke but he knows it is one, and that's enough to lift his mood.

And then Rem doubles over, cracking up, and Bob smiles carefully. "Really loved that toaster, huh?"

"It was my closest friend," the lizard Yokai replies, deadpan as hell, before leaving the conversation.

Casey turns that confused grin on Roger. "Was she serious?"

"Kid, I have no idea. Some people are just really into this kinda thing."

Rem finally straightens up, wiping a tear from her eye with a paw. "Ohhhh boy. Oh, I needed that." She turns her smile back on Casey. "Point being, naming something makes it a little more real, and makes you a little more likely to take care of it. The system here...already has a name. We're just saying thank you, you know?"

The grin on Casey's face settles down into consideration. "Yeah, I think I do. I- Thanks. I'm gonna-" He waves at the door to finish his sentence.

"Go for it, kid." Roger waves him off as he departs, then sighs once he's gone. "God, that kid is just hemmhorraging family, isn't he."

"We all are, Roger, it's the fucking apocalypse." Rem flicks an ear.

"Yeah, but still. It's rough." There's a second or two of silence. "Also, if he says it in front of Master Leonardo, I'm denying all knowledge of this conversation."

"Spirits, same."

Roger learns a few days later - from Rem, of course - that Casey has named his chainsaw hockey stick Killer, because it's what his mom used to call him. Well damn, if kids like him are gonna be the future, then maybe they have some hope after all. He raps on a wall lightly, just below where the power conduit is mounted. "I know you didn't have a lot of time with the kid, but you did a good job." He can't help but smile. "Thanks, Raph."

#rottmnt #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rottmnt casey jr #rottmnt raphael #if you squint #cass apocalyptic series #somerandomdudelmao #writing #fic #no gods no betas we die like RAPH APPARENTLY GOOD GODDAMN #I've been in IT for a decade #and there's something to be said for the human propensity to name machines #and other objects of personal value and use #and talk to them like they're capable of listening and responding #no way that died in the apocalypse #I have never named my phone #all of my computers have been named after musical terms #and my cars have been Chupathingy and Puma respectively #because some fandoms never fucking die #there's another story here I didn't write #about how some places seem to develop a personality and a presence all on their own #and how this makeshift base is literally powered by someone else's life #and in a world of magic and monsters #how does that affect things if it does at all? #is it a haunting or a mystic residue or simply something that has power in the minds and hearts of its occupants? #I love this shit #by the way #Duchess O'Brien is not a reference #Red Rider definitely is though it's not referencing what you think #Toasty McToastFace is the obvious one

[little-pondhead]

Bruce was being watched. Again.

He didn’t know where it was coming from, and that was a problem at the moment. He was hosting another gala, intent on putting on the “Bruice Wayne” mask for the public. None of his children were attending, unfortunately, but everything was going okay so far.

Then he kept feeling a cool breeze on the back of his neck. His hairs stood on end, and he shivered randomly. Someone mentioned that he looked cold. But Bruce wasn’t cold. He was Batman! Batman is never bothered by something stupid like the temperature. It just felt like there were multiple pairs of eyes staring at him from all directions.

Bruce tried to catch whoever it was, but when he looked, there was no one there. He even made extra laps around the room, easily slipping between socialites and chatting his way through the crowd. He scanned the tables, checked the stairs, peeked outside, and even snuck at glance at the chandeliers for fuck’s sake! There was nothing. No cameras, no lingering eyes, nothing.

Bruce could feel his heartbeat quicken. There was something in the room. Something dangerous.

Eventually, the source of his anxiety came to him. The gala was small, being in the middle of the off-season for social events. It was a relatively quiet gathering. Still, Bruce flinched when someone tapped his shoulder from behind when he was making another waltz around the room. He turned, and was faced with a boy no older than 16, but no younger than 14. It was hard to tell his age. He wore an ill-fitted navy suit and scuffed dress shoes. His tie was no where to be seen, and the boy had a platter of finger foods balanced in one hand. He hadn’t heard anyone approach at all.

What made Bruce freeze, however, was the fact that the boy looked exactly like the portraits of the young Thomas Wayne that were hanging innocently in the Wayne family home. His crystal blue eyes seemed to glow in the overhead lights as they bore into Bruce. It felt like the boy could see his soul. The air was more chilled than it had been all night, and everything in Bruce’s mind was screaming DANGER!

“Y’know…” Bruce’s breath caught in his throat as the boy spoke. His midwestern accent was heavy, and the boy took a slow moment to polish off a baked feta bite before continuing. “You look like the kinda guy to have a secret basement. The bloody kind. Nice party, though!” With that, the boy disappeared back into the crowd, taking the cold air with him.

Bruce never got out a word.

———

Danny sees all the wandering souls and shades attached to Bruce Wayne, and comes to the obvious conclusion that the billionaire is a serial killer.

#pondhead blurbs #no beta we die like danny #danny phantom #dp x dc #danny fenton #Bruce Wayne #bruce is very unsettled by this literal child #who looks like a carbon copy of his father when he was a kid #Bruce is stuck between fight or flight whenever danny is around #which makes him freeze up cause he doesn’t know what to do #he’s afraid of this child #danny thinks bruce wayne is a serial killer #and then he sees the other Waynes and is like #‘oh it’s all of them’ #‘well I should probably do something about this’ #so he accidentally becomes the newest villain because he’s trying to stop both the Batfam and the Waynes from Situations #he is not aware that Bruce is Batman #they’re both funky and the whole city is messing with his Vibes #he cant catch a break #but also he is an idiot #with no self preservation #like #what’s the etiquette for confronting a serial killer? #compliment his party #obviously #dpxdc

[littlestormofmess]

hello ! i know it's been more than a week since wad but i wanted to do a little something for: @danrifics (who started all this !!), @dnphobe @manchesterau @phan-tasia @less-amazing @phulge @hmfakeaccount and @oriharakaoru who bought tickets for 150 people (!!!!) to watch the show + the afterparty !!

as it was probably the case for everyone else that entered the giveaway, it wouldve been hard to buy a ticket myself, living on the other side of the world where the economy is very much fucked up kdhdk so thank you guys so much for this opportunity !! its also the first time i get to see one of these guys' live shows, well, live; and it was very exciting to get to experience it alongside so many people, i had lots of fun !!

anyways, all of you guys are more than welcome to request doodles in my asks/dms, if you so wish😌 could be dnp, could be anything ! (mostly) if not, *pushes this little guy toward you* there ya go. have a lovely day !! 🧡

#theres probably a bunch of typos but im tired kdhdk hope all that made sense #first time writing an ID for my art hhh #got the bestie to beta read for me but any additional tips/corrections are welcome !! #dan howell #dan howell fanart #we're all doomed #omg i guess its #phanart #ph-inally ahaaa (gets slapped) #dnp #dan and phil #ppl usually tag the other even in solo fanarts right.. #id in alt text #i was gonna say preshow too cause i was there lmao but then i read something about an actual live pre show w dan and now im confused kdhkdj #nevertheless thanks guys ;;;; #fran-art !! ☆

[crocchompers]

I was feeling a bit sad today and I drew Draft and now I'm happier

Ngl, my day was much better after drawing Draft (He's such a fun guy to draw <3)

#the darling brothers #Beta wally #Draft wally #Og wally #Draft and Beta are my therapy <3 #I might name the other og (the irl og puppet) mini wally #maybe he'll be a new addition or something or I could just make og and puppet puppet og the same #idk #I love making og menace #bc if he's not then he is nothing and there really is no use for him #Draft is scared of him but takes care of him none the less <3

[incorrect-fnaf-quotes]

For the Reluctant Follower Jeremy & Animatronic Vanny AU, I just have more that I finally want to get to share, so:

I mentioned it originally in the first post, but while she was made, and nearly completed, everyone just quickly stopped her progress as quick as it had started.

While there were some complications with her during the process, it wasn’t really the reason for why everyone stopped. Whoever originally wanted Vanny to be built simply made the decision to not have her any longer—simple.

But rather than destroy what they already had, Vanny was simply stored away somewhere else in the Pizza Plex, deactivated. Everything else planned for her was scrapped (her greenroom, etc).

Because of all of that, Vanny never got to meet the rest of the Glamrocks, and vise versa—they were never even told about her. Though, they undoubtedly would’ve met her if she was finished.

Reluctant Follower Jeremy discovered her not too long after he and Glitchtrap arrived at the Pizza Plex, and that was when Glitchtrap made the decision to use her, too. He didn’t want just Jeremy.

Due to her not being entirely finished or anything, malfunctions are rather... frequent, for her.

Similar to Roxy, Vanny is capable of seeing Reluctant Follower Jeremy (whenever he happens to be wearing his rabbit suit, at least).

She may also potentially still have that... glitchy affect, but I’m not too certain. While the animatronics can see her here, and not see Jeremy at all (- Roxy), she still at least messes with their vision a little.

While still wanting to get Gregory, she leaves most of the other parts (such as chasing) to Jeremy. Here, Vanny does something else.

I imagine that Glamrock Freddy and Gregory would run into her somewhere in the Plex, and she’s just like: “I’m not acting like the others :) I don’t know what’s going on, I just activated :)”

And while Glam. Fred is surprised by this new bunny, Vanny ends up accompanying him and Gregory, while trying to ‘help’ him out the entire time.

While her goal is to just, first, gain the two’s trust, and then bring Gregory to Jeremy and Glitchtrap—at least once there’s the perfect opportunity (ex: Glam. Fred is off charging, Vanny is the only one with Gregory).

Sooo.... yeah.

#FNaF AU #Save tag #Not a quote #Reluctant Follower Jeremy would just take Vanessa’s role fully here #Did the VR game/dealing with Glitchtrap/makes a suit/looks for Gregory both in and out of suit/etc #He and Glitchtrap are still important to the AU—but it’s still more focused on Vanny here #I just said whatever came to mind first—there’s still some other stuff around #I have ideas for her design in this AU and I have such a strong urge to draw it #But all everyone would end up getting is just a stick figure or something #You... You know that trope of ‘Character A goes to Character B & others as a spy/pretends to join them/etc but then gradually likes it #‘/Likes being with them’? You know that trope?- I’m sure it has an actual name #I. That may be a little bit of a thing that may happen. I love the trope- but I’m not too certain yet #But. Y’know- there’s just a lot of things that could happen #Vanny #Glitchtrap #Jeremy {Beta-Tester} #Also I have no clue what I should even call him when he’s wearing his own suit

[transformativeworks]

How to be beta reader

Hey anonamantha!

As far as I am aware (in my personal non-OTW!Vol experience), becoming a beta reader is mostly about finding the right author and the right story at the right time. Someone, somewhere, is writing a story and wishing they had a beta reader.

THEREFORE

Dear followers -

How do you become a beta reader? Are any of you looking for beta readers? Do you have insights on how best to find authors who would love a beta reader?

Lets fill up the notes/replies on this post with tips and tricks and maybe even calls for beta readers.

#mod remi #beta reader #fanfiction #fandom #fanfic #beta reading is def something i fell into #and i have no idea how to induce serendipity for other people #so c'mon y'all lets make a big post full of helping

[nvoc]

#skyrim #skyrim screenshots #tesv #.skyrim #.c #.sc #idk why the lighting in the bannered mare is so washed & cooked #(the 3rd pic is bannered mare) in-game in the main hall it's so washed & foggy/misty #n in other building's interiors theyre very Sharp & normal #prolly something is overriding the lux patch #i'll troubleshoot later im alrdy drained asf from my ongoing tree patching madness 💀 #(it's been... 6 months?? i think?? on-and-off) #speaking of tree patches someone released on nexus a patch for ulvenwald and nature of the wild lands to work with each other #it's by ShadowPandah #its veryy good but ima stick with my own patches bc I spent too much time making those patches & it's alr personalized to my own load order #plusss i did so many stupid minuscule personalised tweaks in certain areas & it's how i envisioned things to look🥲 #not me using both the -ized and -ised spelling of personalized #also i kinda wanna buy a new disk drive bc My God. 1tb for modded skyrim isnt enough fam. (with what im doing at least) #plus i wanna beta test an upcoming skyrim modpack (if my internet even allows me to with the doo doo ass download speed i have 💀💀💀💀) #gnna put my 3060 to the test despite the probable minimum specs is most likely gonna require something like a 4070 .... #but that's with reshade & hardcore shaders like raytracing but we'll see ! #im yapping #we love yapping #im going to bed now gn fam

[sarioh]

grian etho evo au where when the server enters different versions of minecraft it sometimes fucks up and connects their world with other worlds and other lps from that specific version. grian is out thousands of blocks looking for clay and he stumbles across a weird little guy living in an ugly oak building with a creeper face on it talking to himself and when he tries to harvest The Clay outside his house the guy starts freaking out and threatening to kill him. its ethoslab at chocolate island who has until this point been convinced that he was in a singleplayer world. etho thinks grian was sent by spaz and grian thinks etho is a trick from the watchers. they both think the other is insane .etc

#sry on some kinda grian etho kick right now or something. dont know if this has been done before or if its a cool idea #also i watched evo smp recently.i am really nostalgic for beta minecraft for some reason #unclear whether they will recognize each other . i havent thought that far ahead #someone make something cool out of this.not me tho

[majorproblems77]

For your consideration;

Consider.

Sky is only sleepy, because he loves cuddles.

And he always had a cuddle buddy to sleep with.

So he goes to bed early and sleep in late.

I am considering...

And I love it

In fact....

I slipped... Whoops

"Is he sleeping again?" Warriors asked as he sat beside Time, fire crackling beside them. Night had fallen and the camp had long since quietened down as the group were preparing to rest for the night.

"I think so." The old man smiled as he remained as still as possible. The skyloftian had settled on his shoulder and was soundly sleeping.. The small wood carving in his hand limply hanging from his hand.

Warriors smiled gently while shaking his head. As he reached over to take the carving and the small carving knife from the Skyloftian's hands.

"You know. This is probably the latest I've seen him here. He's normally gone to bed by now."

"Well. He's been asleep on my shoulder for..." Time paused looking up at the Sky. "Two hours and twenty-seven minutes."

"Considering you're still in plate armour, thats pretty impressive. Let me get him off you and into his bedroll so you can get some rest."

"No.... No... Don... go..." Sky's voice sounded sleepy in protest. as his hands attempted to grab at Time. Finding The captain's scarf instead. "Dont... leave me." The man in question looked down at the man in his arms eyebrows raised and worry stitched into his forehead.

Time let out a groan as he stood tall. stretching his legs. Looking towards the skyloftian as he swung his arm around. Trying to regain feeling. "That. Sounds like a dream."

"It does." The captain paused. Looking down as the Skyloftian shifted below him. Sky wrapped his arms around the Captain's neck. As he nuzzled his head into the Scarf. "uhh... this is new?"

"Not new." A new voice as the Two men turned around. A flash of blue and black as Wild approached them. "Sky's a hugger." The champion smiled as he approached from the woods. The champion looked at Warriors. Then down to the side. "Let's just say that I'll take your watch tonight Captain." He looked back at the two men. "Sky won't let you go. So you might as well rest while he's giving you the opportunity."

"I've..."

"Nope." The champion pointed to the Skyloftian's bedroll. "You go there. If you try to leave him down now He'll wake up and won't sleep for the rest of the night."

"How do you know?"

"Experience. And its too far to ordonan from here to make it in a day if we leave at our normal time."

"Wild It's my watch I really should..."

"You can take partial watch from besides him, but he need's someone close by." Wild smiled, "And anyway, I'd hate to have to set the sailor on you for upsetting him. Or Twilight for making us late to his home which I might add he's been waiting to get to for weeks now."

The captain looked down at the skyloftian, and sighed. Walking over to the skyloftians Bedroll and placing him down on it, being mindful to not jostle him too much.

Time chuckled. As he also went over. Helping the captain settle the Skyloftian down. "I can stay with him if it makes you uncomfortable. I know you dont like being... Confined."

"If I can do it in the war, I can do it with Sky now." The captain leant his arm down, allowing the Skyloftian to curl around it.

Time chuckled again. "Alright. But let me know." The older man patted his shoulder and stood up. Walking away.

Warriors ended up remaining by Sky's side all night. Sleeping sat upright his arm grabbed by the younger man.

When the sun filtered through the trees the following morning. The captain awoke with a groan as he rolled his neck. He sat up and after hearing the rustling of fabric saw a blanket had been placed over him.

"Hey captain..." A soft voice from behind him made him turn around. The Skyloftian stood a few feet away from him. A mug in his hands.

Sky was fully dressed, he looked like He'd been up for a while. The sailcloth draped over his shoulders. finished his approach to the captain and handed him the mug.

Coffee?

Sky knew he drank coffee?

Silence fell between the pair as The captain took a few cautious sips. It was perfect.

"Thank you for last night... You didn't have to do that."

right...

"It's no bother." The captain said gently as he stood. Rolling his shoulders and stretching his arms one at a time. So he could keep a hand on the mug.

"No really. I know you dont like being forced to remain still. You didn't have to do that." The skyloftian shifted nervously as he looked down.

"It's alright."

"It's just I've always got Mia or Zelda at home I'm never alone and since We've been on this quest it takes me so long to get to sleep when I'm alone cause it reminds me of my journey and how it...." Sky began to move his hands rapidly as he spoke rapidly.

"Sky."

"...reminds me of how I lost my best friend saving another i didn't feel alone cause Fi was always by my side and it made me feel safe and I do feel safe around you guys and all but I just..."

"Sky." He tried again.

Sky continued to ramble. His hands twitched nervously as he bunched the sailcloth between his fingers.

"SKY."

The skyloftian stopped, freezing in place.

"It's alright. We are brothers. You need to just ask."

"I..."

"If you say you're sorry, I'll set Wind on you."

"I'm sorry..." Sky spoke so softly as he ripped his hands together. Thinking the Captain hadn't heard him.

The captain raised his eyebrows before raising a hand to his mouth. Sky's eyes widened as he shook his head. and waved his hands in front of him frantically. "You dont need to do that."

"WIND!"

#major writes #writing corner with major #linked universe #lu sky #linkeduniverse #writing #corner answers with major #lu warriors #lu time #lu wild #did i write this in ten minutes before leaving for work? #Yes. #no beta we die like wild #hope this makes sense #:) #and is what you were thinking off #give me more Warriors being soft with the others #is this warriors propoganda? #not my best work but its kinda sweet its been ages since i wrote something this long #quick ending? yes #but i might flesh this out more at one point #10/10 would consider again #rastro beloved #sleepy sky propaganda

[rainysoshi]

A young man stands in his bedroom. It just so happens that today, the 13th of April, 2009, is this young man's birthday.

#i love the beta kids sm!!!! im also lowkey proud of myself for drawing something other than davesprite in a flower crown again lmao #homestuck #john egbert #jade harley #dave strider #rose lalonde #doodle #happy 413

[obstinaterixatrix]

Usopp asks sanji to write out the recipe of a favorite dish of his and let him borrow the kitchen to make it but sanji keeps Observing and Hovering

set vaguely after arlong park I guess??

—

Despite what anyone on the crew might think, Sanji isn’t actually against having other people in the kitchen. Working in a restaurant means working with a bunch of assholes who know how to sauté shit without setting themselves on fire. But while the bastards on the Baratie could barely be considered chefs, they were still—technically speaking—chefs.

He doesn’t miss the cacophony of steel and iron, of stupid banter, of order after order after order. He doesn’t miss elbowing past Patty on the way to the fridge, or heckling some dipshit’s new recipe until it’s actually worth serving, or cleaning with the geezer at the end of the day.

What he does miss is working with someone who knows how to hold a knife.

“That’s not how you fillet a fish,” Sanji says. Once he’s sure Usopp’s not in danger of accidentally cutting himself, Sanji reaches over to reposition Usopp’s hand, finger off the spine of the blade.

Usopp makes a face, probably torn between deferring to Sanji or spinning some story to brush him off. They’re still feeling each other out—it’s been a weird leap from ‘reluctant waiter and picky customer’ to ‘crewmates bound by the whims of their idiot captain.’ In the end, Usopp nods, carefully cutting into the pike while holding the knife in his new and improved posture (smart choice, less chance of losing his grip and a finger).

“You’re not cutting close enough to the—“

“Do you not want me here?” Usopp blurts out. “In the kitchen, I mean,” he clarifies, and for a second it looks like he’s going to continue, but he. Doesn’t. No backpedaling, no deflection, no convoluted over-explanation, which—isn’t Usopp supposed to lie? That’s his whole thing. Sanji knows that much, at least (but not much else).

“I’m trying to be nice,” Sanji says, eventually. To his own surprise, he means it. “If I didn’t want you here, I would’ve kicked you out.”

“…Oh.”

Usopp continues filleting the pike, and Sanji doesn’t point out the bones that are stuck in the pieces.

Alright, so, the thing is. Spending nine whole years surrounded by thugs will apparently have an impact on someone’s social skills. Which doesn’t matter with Luffy—he doesn’t really care about what Sanji says (unless it’s about food). It doesn’t matter with Zoro—Sanji doesn’t give a shit about that mosshead. And with Nami-chan, Sanji doesn’t have to think—a single glimpse of her radiant beauty is so soul-stirring that Sanji’s simply helpless against the flood of praise that springs forth ❤️

So how the hell is he supposed to talk to someone like Usopp?

Thankfully, it’s not a question Sanji has to consider for too long—Usopp clears his throat, taking the lead.

“I actually did this a lot before joining the crew,” he says, which—knife technique aside—sounds plausible.

“Yeah?”

“I must’ve grilled a thousand—no, ten thousand fish,” he continues, which sounds like bullshit. “By the time I was eight, the whole island was lining up for a taste of the great Captain Usopp’s legendary fire-grilled fish! Using spices foraged from the forest and fish caught by spear, not even the most refined palate could resist the food I poured my heart and soul into! But you see—” and here, he smiles, bright but somehow bittersweet, “I’d only cook it for my loyal crew and the princess we’d all sworn to protect.

“Now, as astounding as my own recipe was, I’m man enough to admit when I’m beat. And yours beats mine, no contest. So someday, I’d… like to cook it. For my old crew.”

It’s impressive, the way Usopp manages to be blindingly honest while lying his ass off. Sanji’s not quite sure what to make of it. If anyone else was feeding him this crap, he would’ve told them to eat shit, but…

…

“Hey,” Sanji says. “Tell me about your old crew.”

And, with a wide grin, Usopp does.

(The fish comes out fine. A little over-seasoned, but edible. They’ll work on it.)

#sanuso #sanji #usopp #my writing #one piece #ask #anonymous #I had a line like ‘Fire-grilled? How else would fish be grilled?’ #but realized. I’m not confident enough to stake my life on that line as something a chef would say. #technically there’s charcoal grilling right…? hm… #anyway I wrote this in 3 hours with slapdash research into How To Perfectly Fillet A Pike #and am posting without a beta read by one piece scholars. also I never wrote these characters. also I haven’t reread one piece in years. #thanks anon that was fun #also thanks ketolic for the other prompt I’m gonna start it when it’s not 3am lol #oplb #orlbs

[red-in-every-sense-of-the-word]

I'm genuinely so mad about MK1 (2023) removing Johnny Cage's Green Aura but I don't think yall know how fucking insane that is.

Since the original MK1 he's had these powers. They're a base part of his game abilities. He's got the iconic power ball in MK1, the kick, everything! It's literally a massive part of who he is as a playable character and they've decided to just. Take it out. For no reason. To be quirky. 30 years of shadow kicks and force balls just gone because they wanted to be unique. They weren't even this ballsey when they rebooted into MK9. He's got the same stuff in MK9-11.

I genuinely don't know what the fuck Netherrealm are thinking with this game, the more I find out about it the more I greatly regret my preorder. Another massive gripe I have is not having Sonya Blade confirmed for main roster yet. She was the first ever female Mortal Kombat character. She's been main roster in pretty much almost every single Mortal Kombat thing that exists. Every movie (minus Snow Blind), almost or even every game, even the comics she's in, and the animated series!! Only keeping her as a Kameo Fighter would be extremely disrespectful to her legacy and history within the series.

And honestly I'm barely even going to touch the Scorpion is Lin Kuei shit, I'm not even qualified in trying to explain why lumping in a Japanese character in with a Chinese clan feels a little icky, let alone retconning that heritage completely if God forbid that's the direction they're going in. It just feels like a rushed mess where they've taken multiple shots in the dark to try and be different and unique.

Truth is they've just pissed off a good portion of the fanbase, given us a new system which is just a ripoff of Tag Team Assist in MK11 but worse and somehow bastardised beloved characters worse than Sindel in Aftermath. And considering how bad Sindel is? It's absolutely INSANE.

#Milady's Rants #Mortal Kombat 1 #MK1 #Mortal Kombat 1 (2023) #MK1 (2023) #Johnny Cage #Johnny Cage (MK1) #I'm genuinely so fucking upset about this #Johnny/Cassie/Sonya are the reason why I am into MK in the first place. They are my favourite characters #I get that some people are tired of them being centre stage and I understand. I have no issue with them taking the sidelines in this game #And other characters should be spotlighted. But it shouldnt come at the cost of their characterisation or their skillset #I hope theres some twist or something in the game that stops all this madness and gives up what we want with the old MK9/10/11 timeline bac #Because otherwise this game is going to be fucking awful #Everyday I am reminded that I can cancel my preorder. I think ill play the preorder bonus closed beta first and then decide.

[p5x-theories]

Three new teammates were revealed in the new trailer! The top left doesn't look like anyone we've seen, and neither does the top right, but the middle one is almost without a doubt Tomoko, Motoha's friend that we met in the first beta!

Same haircut, same glasses, same eyes, and they're both wearing pink... they're similar enough that I'd really be surprised if it wasn't her, honestly.

#we don't have codenames for them yet though #so I'll still be tagging tomoko as Tomoko Noge until further notice #the other two will be grey thief and red thief just to have something simple I can retag later #persona #p5x #persona 5x #persona 5 the phantom x #second beta #theories #game content #moko #key #rin #character info

[cookinguptales]

well, how about this, while I wait for the roofers to come fix the mess they made of my ceiling. just so I can feel like I'm doing something productive.

since my savings are now significantly smaller than they were a week and a half ago, I guess now's a good enough time as any to start talking about some half-decided plans I have for this upcoming story I've been writing, and perhaps other original stories as well if this goes well.

while I'm still going to be posting the bulk of my work on AO3 like I usually do, I think I'm also going to be launching a patreon!

here's the soft plan, though I'm still working out details:

serialize this story at a chapter each week, which will probably take a few months overall.

chapters will be posted to AO3 the same day every week, and a week early on patreon.

extra material will also be on patreon, from author commentary to essays on historical/mythological background that's going into the story to extra fics that will be a few thousand words each. (or... so.)

the main story will fully stand alone. extra scenes will be like... stuff happening from other POVs offscreen, flashbacks, a sappy post-story fic, etc.

after the story is fully done being posted, an ebook version of the story will be made available to patrons with thanks, etc. to everyone who supported the project.

??? repeat?? m/m minotaur story this time, f/f witch who owns a familiar animal shelter story next time. lmao

part of me is still like "no, no one will pay money to support your writing" but like. I've seen worse writers than me make money, I guess, so why not try? it's not like it can hurt, and it can be fun to experiment with new methods of distribution sometimes.

I'll probably post a survey once I've finished the rough draft of the fic so I can plan out the finer details, but that's my basic plan. I want to write the whole fic and edit it before I start posting anything, and at the rate I'm going... I'm aiming for the beginning of May? it's at about 70k rn, and I'm thinking it probably has about 10-20k to go.

so I guess we'll see!!!

in the meantime, if you are a person who is interested in any of this and you have feedback about the project, feel free to lmk! anon or logged in, either is fine. lemme know if there are any patreon perks you'd like to see or if you have ideas about pricing/tiers/etc.

I'm very new to this so I'm open to ideas and opinions!

fingers crossed. lmao

#I originally considered making the ebook available for purchase on patreon from the beginning #for people who didn't want to wait #but the more I thought about it the more I think serializing is the way to go #for my own enrichment lmao #I'm trying to get over my own mental block about selling my original writing #I have enough money saved up to replace my roof and for this upcoming medical procedure I'm gonna need #but that's only because I've been saving since before covid to renovate my bathroom to make it safe and accessible for me #and uhhh let's just say that that fund has been remarkably depleted 🙃 #so I'm trying to get over my very intense imposter syndrome ig #go out on a limb and try something new #I want to write the stories anyway so I guess this is just me experimenting with new distribution methods #can't hurt #worst that can happen is no one reads it #but my betas are enjoying it at least so I'm hoping other people will too

[mushroom-for-art]

Gonna give this another go, preferably one of mine and somebody else's but like I'll do two from others as well

#Crackship meme #Requests open #You can either reblog this with who you want (please provide refs) #Or send me an ask with who you want (please provide refs of the other character that isn't mine or both if they're not mine) #Cause I'm not going running looking for references XD #If the reference is out of date and they look a little different in modern time let me know plz #If you want me to be real spicy about it you could provide refs of other characters in the chosen characters family #So I can like compare and try to find common traits/genes like oh a lot of these characters have x what not #Or you can just tell me like they have gene for x but it's just not shown on them ect so I can use that genetic dna info for the fusion #I did something similar with the Rue May kids as Rue has a tail stripe gene and while dormant in May she has the same so Beta has stripes #Pokemon crack ship meme #Also like only offer your own characters but that's a given I think #I'm gonna try to do these using a different art program and like different drawing medium entirely #So responses to these may be slow and may look a bit wack it's practice baby you'll be helping me