#sankaya

What if he thought that he had no chance with the gorgeous girl Kaya is, because he is skinny and his nose is so weird and his hands are rough.

What if he never thought Sanji would notice him, because he isn't a lady, and not a beautiful person if you ask him.

And when you wrote how Nami said Usopp talks about him, ugh literal heart eyes

I have this hc where before Sanji, Usopp and Nami would be the one taking care of the kitchen and food so I can just imagine Usopp yapping about his old best friend to Nami while they're preparing dinner together and she's just nodding along not believing him in the slightest but still happy to listen

Like they'd be chopping vegetables for some simple stew and Usopp would open his mouth, "you know Nami, I actually met one of the best cooks in all of east blue when I was little, dare I say he was the best in all the seas" and he starts to ramble as Nami just goes "oh yeah? Mhmm" to him 😭😭

Love your little fic thing man it's such a treat

It's one of my favorite tropes too!!! I think they totally have the energy to be childhood BFFs. It fits them so damn much!

Nami would not believe a word Usopp says. Not her. Not anybody. Because, okay, saying "I used to have a cook best friend" isn't really that unbelievable. But the way Usopp talks about Sanji is so dramatic and poetic that they genuinely don't believe a word he's saying because it sounds too fantastic and too good to be true. Luffy won't stop mentioning they need a cook, and Usopp acts the same way every time and starts telling all the stories and little adventures they had (by 'little adventures' meaning 'we once sneaked into Kaya's home and baked cookies with her in the middle of the night and one of her caretakers was really angry but instantly gave up when he tasted the cookies because Sanji's food was just too good'. Which sounds like a real thing that happened. Because it happened. But they don't believe a word he's saying anyway because of the way he talks about him it's... Too romantic and imaginary to be true). Zoro and Nami don't believe that he had a friend like that (because he genuinely speaks about Sanji like a fucking God of food) and Luffy won't stop saying things like "If you know a cook you should've said it sooner!! Where is he now???!! Perhaps he joins us!!" but it's a very sensitive topic for Usopp and he refuses to tell them the truth, so he just smiles bitterly and says "We had to go separate ways I- I don't know where he is but!! But he wouldn't join us, anyway! He'd stay loyal to his captain! (referring to himself)". This is kind of why Nami and Zoro don't believe him either, y'know? The way he talks about being someone else's captain like it's a real thing.

Usopp wants to find Sanji again, he really does. But he also doesn't want to because it's embarrassing for him to find Sanji again and tell him he's the sniper of another pirate crew instead of having one of his own. The thought of Sanji joining them is great and he's dying to meet him again, but just thinking about Sanji being somebody else's cook makes his blood boil with envy. Even if it's Luffy. He loves Luffy. He knows he'll be the king of the pirates, and there's no doubt about that. But damn... He can't help but wish, just a little bit inside, behind all the jokes he makes about being a captain, that he was still Sanji's captain.

Then they meet again and none of them can believe that Sanji is actually real. And he actually calls Usopp captain??? And it's- It's just too much, man. Luffy gets a bit defensive over his title and says that no, HE is the captain and not Usopp. And Sanji is a bit confused at first and shame takes over Usopp because: "So- So you are not the captain, then?"

Usopp: Well, It's- It's a vague thing, right, Luffy? It's a shared- Luffy: It's not a shared thing, I am the captain. Zoro's the first mate. Nami is our navigator- Nami: I am not your anything. We're just working together! Luffy: And you are our sniper!!! Sanji: You're the sniper, then? Not the captain? Usopp: .... I really tried to- Sanji: It's fine. Don't worry. I'm sure your gorgeous navigator right here is starving. What do you all want to eat?

It's a bit uncomfortable. Really. Everything's the same as in the original story except that now you need to add a scene of Usopp explaining what really happened to the crew when Sanji goes away, and Luffy going "You might not be the captain but he could still be your cook!! I want him with us!!" and Usopp keeps saying that he doesn't need to do anything for him. Luffy actually says he's not. He just likes Sanji's food. Sanji refuses to go with them, yadda yadda yadda. And Usopp goes to talk to him because, despite being ashamed, he really, really wants Sanji back in his life. It kind of goes like this (I don't do narration today guys I just woke up and I maybe write a fic so y'all will have to wait):

Usopp: So... You're not coming with us? Sanji: .... I have stuff to do here. I can't just leave. Usopp: But you're not happy here- Sanji: How do you know that? Usopp: Because I know you! Sanji: We've been what?! Nine years without seeing each other?? You don't- Usopp: So you're going to find the All Blue trapped in here? That's what you're saying? Sanji: It's not- Usopp: Sanji, you can't just throw away your dream- Sanji: Throw away my dream like you did?! What happened to Captain Usopp, huh?! What's the point of finding the All Blue if you're not my captain?! What's the point of only one of us achieving our dreams?! Usopp: ... I'm sorry. I really tried to, I just- Maybe dreams change? Maybe I'm just meant to be a sniper! An adventurer. Like my father is. That's enough for me. If you accept Luffy's offer then we will be together and- Sanji: And you won't be my captain. I don't think I can- Shit, Usopp, I waited for you. For so long. Usopp: I might not be your captain anymore, but you're still my cook! You will forever be my cook and- If I go away and I don't bring you here with me I will forever regret it. Not going with you was the biggest mistake of my life, please. Sanji: ... I'm kind of glad you didn't. I nearly died the week after I left Syrup Village. Usopp: ??? What???! Sanji: Long story short, bad weather, Zeff's crew attacked us, ship sunk, got stuck in a huge-ass rock without food, Zeff saved me, uh- Yeah. Long story. At least you were safe, so- Usopp: I could've been with you. Sanji: Or you could've died. Hey, just- Let me do my own thing, okay? It was nice seeing you again... Captain.

You know the drill, Sanji has his talk about the All Blue with Luffy. Everything is kind of the same? The soup thing. Zeff fights with Sanji. Zeff tells Luffy to take him with him. Etc, etc, etc. You just need to have in mind the 'Usopp factor' and that Sanji needs to learn to see Luffy as his captain (not hard, because it's Luffy) and learn to see that Usopp's dream wasn't being a captain, but to be more than what people thought he was. And with this crew and Luffy he'll be able to do so. So Sanji happily joins them and he sees Usopp as the best adventurer and bravest pirate already. Like, in his eyes, getting to know Usopp again is the most exciting thing in the world + having a new captain he trusts with his life + getting to achieve his dream.

I don't want to use this post for more because I think I'm getting too carried away, but... You know. Everything is extremely sweet. They have the same canon dynamic but Usopp really, really tries to act braver and show off more in front of Sanji. He wants to live up to his expectations. But then he gets scared easily and Sanji doesn't mind at all because he knows how his best friend is, it's alright. He'll protect him. He'll do what he can't. On the other hand, Sanji is- He's the happiest he's ever been. He's sometimes so done with Usopp's shenanigans, but I think he's extremely clingy with him. They're not dating but they're... It's so obvious. The closet is glass and Sanji's hatred for men and internalized homophobia does not exist when it comes to Usopp. I mean, a bit of internalized homophobia is always there, but at least he doesn't try to be the straightest man alive when he's with Usopp. They feel like kids again when they're together and they have,,, So much fun. They sleep cuddling together because Sanji has missed him so much and likes having Usopp close. Usopp stays with him every time Sanji cooks. Nobody gets the inside jokes they make in front of everybody. Sanji is way more vocal about his feelings for him and keeps referring to Usopp as his best friend to anybody who asks. Usopp tells stories that are definitely not true to Sanji but Sanji nods and accepts them happily anyway. Usopp tells him about how Kaya had a crush on him, and Sanji is extremely confused because he's like "No?? She told me she had a crush on you?" and Nami is behind them like "You two are fucking idiots. She wants both of you. Now deal with it without fighting on deck, please." And they- They don't really know what to do with that information, so they send her a letter asking (and panicking about it) and she responds with another one, saying that Nami is right and if it's not too impertinent and selfish she'd like to wait and see both of them to tell them how she feels face to face. Until then, she'll wait for them. Usopp and Sanji don't really, uh, talk about it. Basically, they're the clingiest thing ever and everyone knows what's going on between them except them.

PJ Recipe: Thai Pumpkin Custard | Sankaya

The PJ Mommy used to make this and to be honest, she didn’t teach me how. A childhood of helping her out in the kitchen gave me memories of the steps involved and an internet search for ingredient ratios followed by experimentation led to this recipe. Ingredients listed are enough for either option 1 OR option 2. Double batch to make both at the same time.

Ingredients

One small (~14″…