#opzineproject

[ollieartie]

We briefly interrupt Sanuso posting for some blondes!

Here's my first @opblondebombshells piece!! No need to keep this a secret anymore 😉

[greenwitchtaimanslayer]

Snowball Effect

Kid Pirates are up to no good on a winter island. What are y'all gonna do bout it?

This is the second piece I wrote for the @opzineproject! I hope y'all enjoy it as much as I had fun writing it! Be sure to check out the after-sale!

[Ao3]

Killer’s eyes flicked across the dull, monochromatic landscape, then back to Kidd. He knelt in the snow and adjusted his hold on his hand-made sled –a sheet of metal with the front curved to mimic the local’s sleds– and pressed his feet against a rock behind him.

“A’m gonna beat that bastard’s record, ‘n then a’m gonna beat his skull in,” Kidd growled. “READY?”

At the base of the snowy hill, Wire gave a thumbs up and Heat held aloft a stopwatch. Gathered behind them was a small crowd of local hotshots and their fans, all ready to see whether or not the pirate could beat their champion’s best run time.

“FIVE!”

Killer frowned, comparing a locals’ sled to Kidd’s.

“FOUR!”

“Kidd, shouldn’t you have reins?”

“THREE!”

“I control damn metal! I don’t need bloody reins!”

“TWO!”

“That doesn’t mean–”

“ONE!”

The rock broke from the force of Kidd’s launch. The crowd screamed and scattered as he rocketed down the hill, a stark red blur across the white expanse. Honestly, what were they expecting from Eustass “Captain” Kidd?

The captain blew past the finish line and Heat clocked the time. Kidd’s momentum carried him far beyond the finish. At this rate, he would probably make it to– the lake! It was currently iced over, but was the ice thick enough to hold against Kidd’s weight?!

Shit!

Killer tore down the hill at breakneck speed. He only had a few seconds! Kidd’s sled skidded onto the ice; Killer jumped, ready to dive into the frigid water.

Kidd rolled off the sled.

The ice held.

Killer plummeted downward.

Shi–

Killer broke through the ice next to Kidd, both plunging into the icy lake. He gasped against the icy shock, freezing water filled his throat. It took everything in him to grab Kidd and drag his limp form through the water. Hands pulled Kidd from his grasp and dragged them both onto the ice when they broke the surface, gasping and coughing. The wind chilled his already frozen skin, racking his body with shivers.

Kidd and Killer stood up carefully, arms and legs trembling as if they were foals taking their first steps. Heat and Wire stood to the side, waiting for their captain’s word. Kidd sidled up to the man previously known as the champion. He and the rest of the crowd were laughing hysterically at the pirate’s misfortune.

“Nice splash,” an onlooker jeered. “Should’a told us ya wanted to do a polar plunge! We could have arranged it for yer whole crew.”

“You southies and yer warm-blooded asses, ya can’t even handle a dustin’ of snow!” another howled.

“Heat,” Kidd growled in a low voice, “W-what was my time?”

“Twelve seconds, boss.” Killer would have allowed himself a small smile if his teeth would stop chattering; Kidd had beat the previous record by two seconds.

Kidd smiled viciously, grabbed the challenger by his coat, and launched him screaming headfirst into the lake. A few ran to pull him out, the rest scattering like sheep in the wake of Kidd’s victorious rage.

“Who’s l-laug-ghing now, bastard?!” Kidd bellowed. “Let’s g-go. Heat! And build us a d-damn fire before we turn into s-shitty popsicles.”

[ask-flame-emperor]

Coming back for shameless plug? Couldn't be me. But do you miss seeing my Sabo around? Well! CRY NO MORE! here is a small sneak peek of him from my contribution for @opzineproject! If you want to see the other 9 characters I drew for this piece and so many more incredible ones with merch included. Go check them out!

[greenwitchtaimanslayer]

Sweet Memory

Nami honors Bellmere's memory with a family tradition.

Hello! This is a piece I wrote for the @opzineproject and I'm so excited to finally share the whole piece! After-sales are happening right now, so go check out our shop. Everything is absolutely adorable!

[Ao3]

“I’m claiming the kitchen now, Sanji,” Nami set her basket of tangerines on the counter.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to make them for you, Nami-san?”

“These are my tangerines. Go watch my trees while I’m cooking.”

Nami pushed the cook out of his own kitchen then slammed and bolted the door shut. This was a special recipe she was about to make, not that it was secret. Just, that she had only ever made it with Bellemere and Nojiko. It was a special tradition, one just for them. Even if they weren’t here right now.

First, she donned the old yellow apron she kept in the cabinet, riddled with stains and burn holes. If she pressed her nose into it, she could just barely make out the smell of Bellemere’s favorite cigarettes still lingering on the fabric.

Next, tangerines were carefully washed and sorted by size. Nojiko’s voice filled her ears and she hummed along, a simple song once composed by excited children.

Wash and slice! Wash and slice! Not too thick, make them nice!

Bellemere’s hands ghosted over hers as she cut them into thin, even slices. “Make a claw,” she would say. “We don’t need you losing a map-making finger!” Juice soaked her fingers and ran down the cutting board, dripping onto the counter.

Boil and ice, boil and ice! Sugar! Water! Boil and dry!

The slices were dropped into a pot of boiling water to be blanched, Nami carefully leaned close to the steam, just like Bellemere did for her ‘Tangerine Facial Steam’. A simple syrup was also set to boil as she transferred the slices into an ice bath. She carefully placed the slices into the syrup; she had long since learned the dangers of hot sugar.

Now to wait. How long had it been since she last made candied tangerines? There was no time while saving up one-hundred million beri, nor when she first became a Strawhat. She had attempted once on Weatheria, but it just wasn’t the same without Bellemere’s tangerines.

Nami peeled a tangerine, sat in a patch of sun coming through the window, and closed her eyes. Between the lingering smell of Sanji’s cigarettes and the citrus on her tongue, she could almost picture being back in Cocoyashi. She didn’t often reminisce, but right now, she was paying homage to Bellemere.

After a long boil, the tangerines were nearly translucent and ready to finish. She almost sang the last lines of their song out loud as she filled a bowl with sugar.

Dip it, flip it! Dip it, flip it! Set them in the bowl! Eat it! Eat it! We can’t leave it! Empty out the bowl!

Of course, Bellemere would scold them for not savoring the treat as they guzzled up the candies but she’d laugh and smile just the same. It made her happy to see a smile on her girls’ faces. And if Bellemere was smiling, then so were they.

The finished product was beautiful: light orange slices sparkling with sugar as if they were covered in glittering frost.

Nami dropped a candied tangerine into her mouth and licked the sugar from her fingers. She couldn’t help the soft smile that settled on her face. They were perfectly tangy and sweet, just as she remembered.

[greenwitchtaimanslayer]

So... wondering what side projects I've been working on? Well here's my answer for you. I've been writing for the @opzineproject!

Here's my first preview, watch for another soon! I'll also be sharing a little more information when it comes. I had so much fun working with everyone on this zine! The finished product is going to be fantastic y'all!