#puri gets deep

[puricodraws]

Here's a long post no one asked for, but I gotta get off my chest. Lots of infodumping about Kingdom Hearts and in particular the casting of it's voice talent, so strap in y'all. So something I find very interesting is the way Square/Disney has treated the character of Kairi throughout the years. She started out as a damsel character, and was hated by very vocal group in the fanbase. I myself didn't really care about Kairi any which way, I didn't find her particularly interesting and I could understand the hate for the character like... a little bit? But what's funny to me is how that perception has changed over the years. Maybe there is still a very vocal group of people hating on Kairi on some forum I'm not aware of but I feel like the general consensus on her these days is: That's our girl. We can recognize that she is a victim of bad writing and the damsel trope. She's become a bit of un underdog in my mind. Like, treat her better Square! Come on!

The issue with Kairi is that she's just a... nothing sandwich. Kairi is a sweet girl, she likes Sora, she likes to write and makes good luck charms. She's also secretly a princess and therefore has a pure heart and can do nothing wrong. She is a little bit sassy sometimes, but not too much, she cares about her friends and will jump into danger to protect them, but most of the times she is the one who needs to be protected. She's strong, but not too strong, she's sweet and easygoing, and she's boring as hell. In the games at least... She rules in the manga.

In the game she softly lowers a bottled letter to Sora in the ocean, while in the manga she tosses it in there with all her might.

In the game she sort of runs away when Axel tries to kidnap her but in the manga she THROWS HANDS at one of the nobodies who tries to capture her.

Also later in the story when she is kidnapped by Organization XIII, she actually manages to escape for a bit by wiggling through the bars of her prison cell, and then throws hands at Demyx, who is actually trying to help her out. (the manga takes some liberties with the story, it's great you should really read it if you get the chance)

Shiro Amano actually lets her put up a fight and let her actually try to escape by herself when she's captured. Watching this girl be strong and throw hands without hesitation is so so great. Shiro Amano said: Girls should be allowed to go feral once in a while, as a treat. Also I would be amiss if I didn't mention this moment with Olette:

(In the game, Olette awkwardly and weakly puts up a hand to protect Kairi when Axel shows up in Twilight Town to kidnap her, but is just ignored in the most disrespectful way.)

Anyways, back to Kairi. It's sad to say, but her original characterization is just boring. She doesn't really want anything for herself and she doesn't really have a function in the story except to wait around for the boys to pay attention to her or get kidnapped and need to be rescued. And while in recent years the writers are finally exploring her being a keyblade weilder and having her actively participate in the story, they still just can't resist damseling the poor girl, fridging her, and putting her on the sidelines while Sora and Riku take center stage. It's great to see how the fandom's perception of her has changed over the years, people are seeing how Square has been dropping the ball and are actively rooting for Kairi to get more stuff to do. Fans are creating mods of the games to make Kairi playable, are writing fanfiction exploring role reversals where Kairi is the hero and there are several notible fan comics comics that explore her character in a really interesting way.

Anyways, now to get to the actual thing I wanted to talk about: How she's casted in the English version of the games, and how the inconsistent approach to the casting feels... a little disrespectful. Having a consistent voice for a character is something I, and many others really appreciate. It shows a level of care from the creators to bring a consistent group of actors together to bring life to the world. Now, VA's being replaced in the Kingdom Hearts series is not uncommon. The series is known for casting well known actors, and actor availability and budget are problems for which recasting is the solution. For example: Billy Zane got recast as Ansem by Richard Epcar, Brittany Snow by Meaghan Martin as Namine. And then of course there are Christopher Lee, Wayne Allwine, Leonard Nimoy and Rutger Hauer, who had to be recast because they sadly passed away. (RIP, Kings)

Like, all of that makes sense. So here's the confusing situation with Kairi:

Xion and Kairi share a VA in the JP version. This is an intentional creative decision that ties into the lore of Kingdom Hearts. Risa Uchida has consistently voiced these characters in Japanese for years and does a fabulous job.

Sadly this was not the case in the English version. Hayden Panettiere originated the role of Kairi in English, but they got Alyson Stoner to voice Xion when the character debuted in 358/2 days in 2009, which was originally a DS title. Before this they also got Alyson to voice Kairi in the re:Chain of Memories dub in 2008.

These titles were likely smaller budget, which becomes pretty obvious when you look at the overall quality and presentation of the cutscenes. In Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 the dialogue was recorded in English and the japanese lipsynch animation were redone to match the English dialogue. This was not the case in 358/2 days. The dialogue was recorded to match the japanese lip flaps, and the animation was not altered at all to marry the two together. So availability and budget could have been an issue in getting Hayden Panettiere to record for these games. At the time I also considered the possibility that Hayden simply didn't want to do it anymore. It wouldn't have suprised me, because these things happen. Take Brittany Snow for example, after KH2 she got her big break in the Pitch Perfect films, and probably became too busy to come back as Namine. From 2006-2010 Hayden starred in the popular TV series Heroes, which could have impacted her availability and desire to do KH. And with the lower budget for these projects, and where Hayden was at in her carreer at the time, it could stand to reason that she was simply not interested. I should also mention that in this time period Kairi barely got anything to do. When she did show up it would be for a couple of lines of dialogue. As for Xion, 358/2 days on the DS had around 10 or so voiced cutscenes. So the amount of voice work needed for the character was notably smaller compared to one of the numbered games. So the amount of voice work needed, budget, and availability could all have been factors to why Alyson took over for Hayden during this time.

Now don't get me wrong: Alyson is amazing and is, as far as I'm concerned, the definitive voice for Xion. She originated the role and brought so much to the table. She has a wonderful voice, is a talented actress and we have no choice but to stan.

Before long it became apparent that Alyson replacing Hayden permanently was not on the table. In 2010 Hayden reprised her role as Kairi and took over the role of Xion in the secret ending of Birth By Sleep!

So at this point it seemed that the original creative intention for these characters would be honored. Kairi and Xion should have the same voice actress, for lore reasons, and that actress should be Hayden Panetiere, who originated the role.

And wouldn't you know it, in 2012 Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance comes out for the 3DS. It's another hand held title, but the budget is lit. There is lipsynch animation for voiced cutscenes, and the amount of voiced cutscenes is comparable to KH1, KH2 and BBS. Kairi has a few appearances, but has only one line of dialogue. Same goes for Xion, while she does get a line of dialogue near the end of the game. Hayden came in to record for Kairi and Xion and it really seemed like she would be taking over the roles from Alyson.

So obviously, at this point in time it's all but confirmed that Hayden wants to work on KH, and the creative team were making an effort to consistently bring her back as Kairi and Xion. That would be a tough deal for Alyson though, was she gonna get replaced permanently as Xion? Well wait a second and I'll tell you!

So in 2013 Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix was released. It was the first in a series of HD remasters of the Kingdom Hearts series, and the collection included KH1, KH re:Chain of Memories and around 3 hours of newly made cutscenes retelling the story of the DS game 358/2 days. Days originally featured mostly textbox cutscenes. These scenes were remade from scratch and would feature newly recorded voice acting in Japanese and English. Now I don't need to get into it but... The 358/2 days cutscene "movie" is.. not very good. It's boring to watch through, which I think is to blame entirely for the way they approached it. They remade all the cutscenes true to their original appearance, but forgot that there's no action gameplay to break up hours of dialogue scenes. The pacing is bad, the action is non existent, and what's worse is that it doesn't have adjusted lipsynch animation at all. This means the English voice acting was done to match the japanese lip flaps, resulting in awkward pauses and weird deliveries of lines.

The saving grace was that Alyson Stoner was reprising her role as Xion, recording new dialogue for the cutscenes. They also reused her previously recorded dialogue for the DS cutscenes as well. So... I guess Hayden isn't taking over Xion after all? Or perhaps it was easier to get Alyson to come back, so that they could reuse some of the original voice lines from the DS version? I can't imagine that THAT would've been the deciding factor though, because there weren't that many cutscenes from the DS version that would have to be redubbed should they get Hayden back on board. It's hard to say what the reason for this was.

But I was happy to hear Alyson as Xion in the "definitive" version of the 358/2 days story. She has a pleasant voice, and she portrays Xion beautifully in my opinion.

So then KH HD 2.5 Remix comes out in 2014 and features no new Kairi/Xion content. It does feature the Final Mix version of KH2, originally released exclusively in Japan in 2007. This version had new cutscenes, which were now finally dubbed in English for the HD remaster. What's more is they they also reanimated the lip animation to match the new English voice acting! An interesting thing to mention is that at this time, Meaghan Martin had completely taken over the role of Namine, fully replacing Brittany Snow. They luckily didn't choose to redub Brittany's original lines with Meaghan. But it does result in this funny moment where following Roxas' prologue Namine's voice is suddenly different for a single scene.

Anyways, flash forward to 2017, and the release of Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Remix, which included a brand new title by the name of, and hold on to your wigs for this one....

Kingdom Hearts 0.2 Birth By Sleep -A Fragmentary Passage-

This was the first look at what a next gen Kingdom Hearts title would be like. You got to play as Aqua and it was wonderful and heartbreaking and cool as hell. At the end of this game a cutscene plays where after a decade Kairi finally gets to be involved in the plot again. She is summoned by Master Yen Sid to begin her training as a keyblade weilder. And she is voiced by.... Alyson Stoner??

A few years later KH3 came out, and Alyson Stoner voices both Kairi and Xion in it. She does a great job. But it's all so confusing.

It seemed so clear that the studio's intent was to get Hayden back as Kairi, and potentially Xion as well. And KH3 was the next big budget numbered title in the franchise. The casting for this game was insane, they got the full cast of Frozen to reprise their roles. Idina Mcfreaking Menzel showed up for Kingdom Hearts! What happened to getting Hayden back? I don't get it at all. This is not to shit on Alyson at all, her Kairi is adorable, and I honestly can't imagine anybody but Alyson Stoner playing Xion. Whenever Hayden picked up the role of Xion I was excited to hear her, but it never felt quite right.

But yeah, this whole situation unfolded in the weirdest of ways. For years it seemed they were absulutely set on getting Hayden to voice these characters. Was she not available to come in for KH3? Well, to answer that question:

Apparently, Hayden wasn't even ASKED to reprise Kairi.

This could of course be a situation of her representatives getting the offer from Square/Disney and choosing not to give it to her. Which happens in Hollywood, and sucks. But there's also a very real chance that Square/Disney didn't even bother reaching out and offering it to her.

Seeing how they decided to recast Hayner, Pence and Olette in KH3, even though their actors are still working as VA's and would have likely loved reprise the roles, I'm leaning to the possibility that they simply didn't bother to reach out to Hayden.

Hell, that's what she said herself.

All in all it's an interesting series of events. It's confusing, and a bit saddening as well. I can speculate why it all happened, but who can really be sure what their reason for replacing Hayden were. Perhaps they decided to do it because they found Alyson to be a better fit for the character? I may be reading into things but there's this interview Hayden did for the release of KH2 were she talks about the recording process and how the voice directors would keep telling her to "raise her voice an octave higher and make it sound more princess like." I gotta say the way she said that irks me..... I love the way Kairi's voice sounds in KH2! Hayden has a beautiful voice, it's a bit lower and more mature sounding than your average cutie girl voice. I would have loved to hear that quality in the character moving forward. Alyson ended up doing a lighter, cuter version of Kairi in KH3. And I do enjoy how Kairi sounds in KH3. Like, it's fine, she sounds very adorable, and it's fine.

But idk man... it feels... weird. I can't help but feel as though they replaced her voice with a younger sounding one, taking away the strength and maturity of the voice that I loved so much. Effectively infantelizing her. And then of course they proceed to damsel her, fridge her, bring her back to life and put her on the sidelines for the foreseeable future.

I feel like it all ties together with how the writers see her. She's not really a main character after all, she's not a priority. After years of showing a dedication to keep her voice consistent, it was all just thrown out of the window in the end. It makes me feel like they just didn't care in the end, people would be more upset if Sora or Riku got recast, but they just assumed no one would really care about Kairi. I can't help but care though.

I just wish for a future where Kairi can become a main player in the story, and where she is allowed to grow and mature. Where she isn't used as a carrot to dangle in front of the male lead. Where she isn't kidnapped or killed off as motivation for someone else. Where she can be a girl who is not just pretty and adorable and easy going and sweet, but a girl who is strong, silly, determined and is willing to fight like hell for the things she cares about.

Where she is allowed to interact with the world around her, and discover what her place in it is. Where she can discover what she wants for herself, instead of constantly having to be something for someone else!

IDK, maybe that's too much to ask from a Kingdom Hearts game though, haha.

#long post #puri gets deep #kingdom hearts infodump #kingdom hearts #kairi #if there are any typo's in this please forgive me #tumblr is held together with scotch tape and is not loving me making such a huge post lolol #also don't take any of my feelings and speculation as facts it's just how i feel #in the grand scheme of things it doesn't matter at all #and i'm sure hayden is not losing any sleep over this #but i just had to get it off my chest

[harrystylesfan2686]

Alone Part 2 (Alternative Ending)

Pairing: Eris x Reader

Summary: Reader finally finds someone who cares for her but at what cost...

Warnings: Minor Mention of self harm

A/N: Surprise😏

Masterlist Part 1

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It has been three days since your last mission, the very mission that got you hurt and made you realize just how fucked your head is. Three days since you left the fight that left you with a big tear at your waist which will most definitely leave a scar.

It's half healed already, so is the cut you gave yourself but you didn't realize how deep you hurt yourself because it's left a thin white line that's fully healed but can be easily recognized.

You shift on your feet from where you're standing beside the rest of inner circle. You are at the high lords meeting, accompanying your High Lord and High Lady.

You keep moving your weight from one foot to another because the pressure keeps causing pain in your waist. You can't wait for this to be over.

When you get a chance to leave you take it, running of the the nearest restroom you can find. You take off your fight leathers to find out you bled through your bandaid. You rub your hands over your head trying to think of a way you can hide your injury from everyone.

"Well, what do we have here." A voice fills the room, one that you know oh so well. He always does this, annoy you or talk to you every chance he gets. You don't know why but you put up with him everytime too. You practically hear the smirk in his words as you complaint to the Mother for putting you in this situation right now.

"Go away, Eris." You hope for him to take the hint and leave you alone but you, too, know that it's too late considering you can clearly smell you blood in the room, and so can he.

He crosses the room in just a few strides and puts a hand on your shoulder, turning you around with surprising gentleness. He sees the blood on you shirt that's seeped out of your bandaid and intakes a sharp breath.

"Left up your shirt." You are taken a back at his order. Mouth opened agaped as you see anger swirling in his amber eyes.

"Excuse me?"

"Y/N, If you don't lift your shirt up in the next minute, I'm going to rip it off of you." He practically growls. Your eyes widen and he raises his eyebrows, daring you to question him.

After a minute of silence, he raises his hands to your shirt and you take a step back,"Alright! I'll do it!" His eyes narrow and you sigh, lifting you shirt for his to see the scarlet bandage.

"Who did this to you?" His hands clench into fists.

"No one. It's nothing." You sigh.

"Was it an enemy?" You shake your head. "Who was it?" You shut your mouth and look away. Eris' eyes widen in realisation. "Was it them?" He spits in anger. You look back at him and your lack of answer in enough for him.

"I'm going to kill them." His body radiates pury fury as he steps away from you and starts walking towards the bathroom door.

"Eris!" You run to step in front of him, blocking the door and putting your hands against his chest, gasping because of the movement causing sudden pain to your waist. Eris immediately wraps an arm around you waist and searches you for any other cause of pain.

"Are you crazy?" You exclaimed.

"No. I'm fucking angry that the people who are your apparent family, who are supposed to protect you, hurt you. And I intent on hurting them just as much."

"Eris, you're going to start a war! And that's not even the point. They didn't hurt me alright, at least not physically. I went on a mission a few days ago and got hurt, they had nothing to do with it. They don't even know I'm hurt, for gods' sake." But that doesn't seem to calm him.

"What do you mean they didn't hurt you physically? And how the hell do they not know you've been hurt since days?" It seems like his rage just amplifies.

"I just didn't tell them alright?"

"They should've checked you for injuries the second you came back from the mission and they didnt care enough to do that. And what kind mission leaves your entire waist fucking open?!" He puts a hand behind your neck.

"Why are you acting like this? Why do you care if they care?" You don't notice you close proximity because you are so shocked from the way he's reacting.

"Because I care about you!" You intake a sharp breath. "What?"

"I care. I care for you. I always have." He looks into your eyes with so much honesty that it leaves you speechless.

"I care for you so deeply. I always have, and I thought you would figure that out yourself because of the way I talk to you. Why do you think I only talk to you. Why take every chance I can have to hear to speak to me, to hear your voice, doesn't matter if you're bitter.

I take every chance I can get to have your attention because I care for you. I do not know why, but I do and im not ashamed of it. I know you don't care for me the same way but I don't care, I'll take every second of your time that you'll give me."

What are you hearing? Someone truly cares for you? This isn't true. It must be a joke. It has to be. This is no way that Eris Vanserra cares for you. He cares for no one. Everybody know that.

So then why are you believing him, believing his words, clinging to them for dear life. If this truly is a prank, if what he is saying wasnt true, you don't think you'll survive. You won't survive another Heartbreak. But something tells you that he isn't lying, that he is telling the truth, that he truly, genuinely cares for you. Something deep in your heart tells you that he might truly love you.

You gasp when you feel it. Feel everything click into place. Feel the second everything in you life finally makes sense.

"You feel it now, don't you?" His voice soft as a tug feels on your heart. Your breath heavy as you look at him in the eyes, feeling the thin golden string connecting your souls to one another.

"So leave them." He pleads.

"Why are you doing this, my love? Who are you doing this for? They don't care about you." His hand on your cheek, swiping back and forth softly while the other hugs your waist, pushing you flush against him. "I do. I care about you so much and I refuse to see you hurt yourself for people who don't value your existence." He puts his forehead to yours.

"Leave them, come with me to Autum Court and I will treat you like the queen you are. And even if you don't want to come with me it's alright, just leave them. Please." His voice cracks with your heart, taking a piece of it with him daring not to return. You don't want him to.

"Okay. I'll come with you." Tears fall down your face as his breaks into a smile. "Really?" His voice unsure.

"Yeah, I'll leave Valaris, leave them. I'll come with you." You smile genuinely after a long time and he sighs in relief.

His lips slam to yours and you both lose yourselves in the kiss. You smile into his lips, finally happy to have found someone who cares for you enough to threaten to go into war for you.

You finally found your person and you will never let him go.

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#acotar #acotar fanfiction #acotar fandom #acotar fluff #acotar angst #eris vanserra #eris x reader #eris acotar #eris x you #eris fanfic #eris angst #eris fluff

[felinecryptid]

A Local Delicacy

or the fic where hobie stares at pav and misses all the vital information

(please pay attention to the tags ✨✨ no cw's for this one)

"Wha's this thing called again?" Hobie frowned at the small, inflated crisp looking thing.

'It's called a Pani Puri, stop being so difficult," Pav reached up to hit him on the head, failing not so miserably. Hobie wanted to laugh at his disgruntled face. It had been a hot minute since they had hung out. Plus, Miles could probably use a break after the entire 'destabilising the multiverse' debacle. Pav had immediately dragged them to a nearby stall stacked to the top of the colourful umbrella with these Pani Puris, while blabbering non stop about foot traffic.

Hobie supposed some things transcend universes. Like crowds. Stray animals in narrow alleyways. Rude people. Rude cops. His crush on Pav. Capitalism. You get it. Hobie was broken out of his thoughts by the stall keeper handing him a tiny leaf cup. It was 5 centimetres at most.

"What are these for?" Gwen asked.

Pav smiled. Hobie's heart skipped a beat. "For eating. You'll see." He answered cryptically.

"Thoda time lagega beta, abhi kate pyaaz khatam hogaye," The stall keeper started chopping onions at the speed of light, his knife clacking against the ratty wooden board.

"Koi nahi kaka, aap aaram se karo," Pav bounced on the balls of his feet, replying to whatever the stall keeper said, in his sweet voice. Hobie loved when Pav spoke Hindi, there was something so flowy about it.

"What did he say?" Miles asked. Hobie was curious too. He only caught the heavily accented 'time'.

"He said it's gonna take a few mins, he just ran out of onions."

"That cutting board does not look hygienic," Gwen said, as Pav manoeuvered everyone to stand in a loose circle around the vendor.

"Arey bahut saaf hai beta! Very hygienic!" The stall keeper nodded at her, now chopping coriander. Gwen went red. Miles burst out laughing.

Pav looked embarrassed as well, and Hobie wanted to just. Hold him. He'd settle for standing close to him as he tried to sputter out something.

"Bura mat manna kaka, aapko pata hai yeh videshi log kaise hote hain." Pav scratched his neck, flashing a winning smile at the vendor and Hobie felt something stab in his heart.

"Chalega chalega, badi hi gori dikh rahi hai, pata chal gaya yahan se nahi hai." The stall keeper said while arranging the dishes around. "Uske liye kam tikha dun?"

"Gwen, do you like spicy food? Miles?" Pav asked.

"Nope." said Gwen as Miles nodded.

"What about you, Hobie?" Pav turned to him, his deep brown eyes glinting something pretty in the late afternoon light.

"Sure, why no'." Hobie shrugged, a grin inexplicably tugging at his lips. Pav turned back to the man, saying stuff in lilting tones Hobie didn't understand.

The stall keeper nodded, and cracked open one of the crisps, scooping peas and potatoes inside it and adding the green liquid and onions inside it. He swiftly placed it in Hobie's cup.

"Tha's it?" Hobie was unimpressed. This little thing?

"No, bro, you gotta eat it to get more. Put it in your mouth all at once. Don't nibble at it, or it'll get soggy and get all over your clothes." Pav said, entirely shoving his own Pani Puri into his mouth like a visual example of what to do. Hobie looked at the Pani Puri in his cup for half a second more before deciding to fuck it and copied Pav, mouth closing over the stuffed crisp.

Flavours exploded on his tongue. The sweet tanginess, the crunchy onions and the spicy peas; it was nothing Hobie had expected it to taste like and nothing like anything he had eaten in his life. He chewed, feeling the bits of the crisp puri poking all around his mouth, but that was the experience. It felt otherworldly yet somehow fulfilling. Hobie automatically extended his hand for another one.

Gwen got hers, stuffing it in her mouth, with no small amount of trepidation visible on her face. It was valid, considering she started coughing the moment she chewed it, going 'hoff, hoff, hoff!' which Hobie took to mean 'hot, hot, hot!'.

"Goddamnit Gwen, how are you gonna eat dinner with us?" Miles said easily eating the puri without breaking a sweat, his Puerto Rican taste buds used to the level of spice.

Gwen glared at him, face red and sweat dripping. "Can't you cook unspicy food for me?"

"Mami will never let you in again if you eat like a white person,"

"I am white."

"Yeah, and?"

"Hooo- kaay! Calm down children! Gwen, we can go get a kulfi for you later. Miles, stop antagonising Gwen," Pav made a 'chop' gesture at them, shaking his head frantically.

The vendor had plopped another one in his cup and was holding another one in his hand waiting for them to finish bickering. Hobie ate it, only a few drops of the green liquid spilling on his fingers. And the next one as well. And the next one. This street vendor was so fast, the fuck? With only Pav and him at the stall, because Miles was busy with Gwen, the vendor seemed to make three for each one Hobie ate. Pav didn't look bothered at all, scarfing down every one as it came.

"'oly shit, Pavi, ask 'im to slow down, 'M strugglin' 'ere, mate," Hobie managed to speak in between the positive barrage of puris.

"No way, it's part of the vibe, dude, keep up," Pav was way more graceful, easily talking between the Puris, time seeming to favour him and him only.

"Seriously?" Hobie muttered on the tailend of a particularly large Pani Puri. Pav grinned again, his right canine getting caught on his own lip. Hobie was well aware that he had a staring problem, and if he didn't get himself together, Pav will be too.

"Okay, okay," Sometimes Pav looked at Hobie in a way that had him swearing his feelings were requited, and this was one of those looks that made Hobie wonder how he's still standing up straight and not a puddle on the floor like he felt on the inside. "Kaka, thoda ahistha dena, Hobie bhi yahan naya hai."

"Theek, theek, beta," The vendor laughed. "Apke aashiq ko impress toh karna padega."

Pavi choked on his Pani Puri. Hobie turned to him concerned, as he said something in 3 octaves higher than his normal voice.

"Kaka- aashiq nahi hai woh- hum bas dost hain," Pav said, wiping tears from his eyes with his sleeve.

"Meri beti bhi apne bf ko dost bolti hai. Woh dono bhi ek dusre ko aise hi dekhten hain. Usko lagta hai mujhe nahi pata lekin ham bhi toh aapke umar ke the," The vendor winked, and Hobie was sure this conversation was not about anything he could imagine. Why on earth would this random man be winking at Pav? "Aur hum yeh bajrang dal jaise vishwas nahi rakhte, pyaar toh pyaar hota hai na?"

"Ji kaka." Hobie could see Pav's blush that seemed to radiate because why else Hobie would feel flustered too? "Ahem," Pav looked at his wrist like he was looking at the time, except he did not have a wrist watch on. "Kaka abhi hame jana padega- chemistry coaching hai- kitna hua?"

"Itni jaldi? Theek hai, sukhi puri lelo," He said, handing over two flatter crisps. Without the liquid. Hobie felt it was easier to fit this in his mouth after all the other Pani Puris. "Sath rupay hue,"

"Kya kaka, angrez dekhte bhau badha dete ho? Main akele khata toh chalis ka hota," Pav said, his voice taking a complaining tone and Hobie was surprised to find him even more endearing.

"Beta, jab aap dhanda karoge tab samajh mein ayega, abhi apko coaching nahi jana?"

"Han, kaka, din dahade loot lo," Pav said, and Hobie got a sense of defeat from his slouch, as he forked over what Hobie assumed was the price of the Pani Puris. "Let's go, before uncle embarrasses me in front of someone."

"You paid money to your uncle?" Hobie thought it'd be easier to get around in Earth-50101 as time went on, but here he was, getting more questions and no answers as he hung around.

"He's not actually my uncle, I'm calling him that out of respect. It's a cultural thing, don't worry about it," Pav answered, grabbing Hobie's hand as he wove between the forming crowd. Hobie sighed, letting Pav drag him around, his hand warm in Pav's soft palms.

___

i have nothing to say.

translation (not literal translation bc then id have to explain a shit-ton of grammar, slang and indian pop culture to yall):

Thoda time lagega beta, abhi kate pyaaz khatam hogaye - it's gonna take some time, [I] just ran out of the chopped onions

Koi nahi kaka, aap aaram se karo - no problem uncle, take your time

Arey bahut saaf hai beta! - oh its very clean, kid

Bura mat manna kaka, aapko pata hai yeh videshi log kaise hote hain. - please don't be offended uncle, you know how foreigners can be like.

Chalega chalega, badi hi gori dikh rahi hai, pata chal gaya yahan se nahi hai. - It's okay, she looks very light skinned, [I] assumed she wasn't from around here.

Uske liye kam tikha dun? - should [I] make it less spicy for her?

Kaka, thoda ahistha dena, Hobie bhi yahan naya hai. - Uncle, please slow down [the pace], Hobie is new to this too.

Theek, theek, beta - Alright, kid

Apke aashiq ko impress toh karna padega. - [I know] you have to impress your boyfriend.

Kaka- aashiq nahi hai woh- hum bas dost hain, - Uncle- he's not [my] boyfriend- we're just friends,

Meri beti bhi apne bf ko dost bolti hai. Woh dono bhi ek dusre ko aise hi dekhten hain. Usko lagta hai mujhe nahi pata lekin ham bhi toh aapke umar ke the. - My daughter also claims her boyfriend is just a friend. They look at each other the same [way you do]. She thinks I don't know [about them], but we [adults] used to be your age.

Aur hum yeh Bajrang Dal jaise vishwas nahi rakhte, pyaar toh pyaar hota hai na? - I don't believe stuff like Bajrang Dal. Love is love, isn't it?

Ji kaka. - Yes, uncle. (in this case)

Kaka abhi hame jana padega- chemistry coaching hai- kitna hua? - Uncle, we need to go- It's time for my chemistry tutorial classes- how much [were the Pani Puris]?

Itni jaldi? Theek hai, sukhi puri lelo, - So fast? Okay here's your [aftersnack snack (that's that least complicated way to explain what a sukhi puri is)]

Sath rupay hue, - it's 60 rupees.

Kya kaka, angrez dekhte bhau badha dete ho? Main akele khata toh chalis ka hota - C'mon, uncle, y'all see a foreigner and increase the price? If I was here alone, this would have cost 40 rupees.

Beta, jab aap dhanda karoge tab samajh mein ayega, abhi apko coaching nahi jana? - Kid, when you grow up and have a job, you'll understand, now, don't you have classes to attend?

Han, kaka, din dahade loot lo - yeah, okay, why don't you just rob me,

Some context (you dont need to read this)

kulfi is an ice cream equivalent, usually flavoured with almonds, pistachios and saffron

beta literally means 'son' but its used to refer to any kid who's very young relative to the speaker's age; and also for jokes b/w buddies but that's a different thing

kaka literally means 'father's younger brother ie uncle', but can used to referred to any man who isnt related to you and is about the age of the speaker's parents; there are also other terms depending on by who and how you were introduced to the person

Bajrang Dal - an anti-societal group against religious and sexual minorities(as defined in the indian constitution, do not come at me with politics). Famous in pop culture for being vehemently against valentine's days and premarital eye contact (you think im joking)

The Chemistry Coaching thing is a big deal. Kids have great pride about which institute they go to. The institutes teach accelerated courses for specific competitive examinations, usually in an unethical way. It's considered kinda shameful if you don't go to one. (very dystopian, ik)

#this is self indulgent as fuck #no gwen was harmed in the making of this #unrealistically supportive pani puri uncle #gratuitous descriptions of pani puri #this is my love letter to pani puri and pav #i know hobie would have hated the pani puri uncle if he knew what the convo was #alas he doesnt understand the language and is busy staring at Pav #a lot of hindi #like a LOT #im not kidding #i have written the translations too so dw #non english is in italics btw #chaipunk #punk chai #pavitr x hobie #hobie x pavitr #pavitr prabhakar #hobie brown #chaipunk fic #hobie brown atsv #pavitr prabhakar atsv #not tagging miles or gwen bc they're not at the focus #bg ghostflower #no beta we die like uncle ben

[jester-lover]

Hobie with a Desi! S/O

cw/ fem! Reader, horrible attempt at writing British people, including multiple desi cultures bc my girlies need all the representation we can get (it’s slim pickings out here) all fluff, some cultural struggles, but everything is resolved, mentions of insecurities

(LONG POST- headcanons and a drabble)

I'm goth and I had a literary awakening when Hobie showed up

There are literally only two ways I see the two of you meeting

The first involves you being a friend/relative of Pavitir’s, who is exceptionally happy his two homies are getting along

In this situation, Hobie would know a little more about you from the get go, and you most likely would know about him (Pav thinks he’s so cool, he’ll talk about his friends to anyone who’ll listen)

Another; in my opinion, funnier, way for the two of you to meet is him accidentally crashing a desi wedding when he’s on Spidey business

You would be mildly peeved with him for disturbing the wedding, but his spunk and generally opinionated personality make you fall for him

Either way, congratulations! You have the world’s loveliest punk boyfriend

As a boyfriend, Hobie loves helping out in any activity you need help with

He’s the type of boy who tries his absolute hardest to be there for any event that is important to you

No matter if its a massive grad party or a late night pizza run, Hobie is there and having the time of his life

Now, moving onto the cultural aspect, Hobie adores learning about other cultures

Your family is weary of him at first, because of the way he dresses primarily

He manages to find a place in their hearts after they see the way he treats you (with respect and dignity!!!!)

Also the fact that he eats whatever your mom makes, entire plate, man will lick it clean

(I mean, have you seen how much British people love takeaway?)

“Is your mum home yet?” “She’s making something good I bet, she always is.”

He can HANDLE spice, and he’s good with kids (his interaction with Mayday proved that to me)

Your parents may end up, in a shocking event, liking him!

Hobie is your biggest hype man whenever you wear cultural clothes, especially if they’re a little on the edgy side, dark colors and all that

Lehengas, shalwar kameez, sarees, etc, he loves them all

“You're dressed up, aren’t you?”

He’ll explain it to you in this mysticised ‘stepping on eurocentric beauty standards’ type of way, but you know deep down he just thinks you're super pretty

He’s obsessed with your features, no matter what you look like, he thinks you have the most perfect face in the world

If you ever make Hobie Desi food, he’ll be in love with you forever

He loves pani puri, especially if the pani is a lil spicier

His love language is acts of service, and you making him something to eat is like, you are nourishing him?? With bomb Desi food?? he’s is seeing heaven rn

He most DEF asks Pav (who then asks Gayatri) for advice on how to impress you

This leads to him, hanging onto your windowsill, with a Mendhi tube in his hand, and a calm smile on his face

As Hobie slid off his mask, his gorgeous hair fell to the sides of his sharp face. Placing the spiky mask on your side table, he sauntered towards your bed, abruptly sitting down and motioning for you to follow him. 

You sighed, and smiled as you took your spot in front of him. He was alway so considerate, taking your interests into mind whenever he swung by.

“You know, I’m not a pro at this or anything.”

He grinned, almost wolfishly, and placed the small sharp tipped tube into your lap.

“I could care less, do anything on my hands.”

You gently took one of his hands into both of yours, spreading it out to see the flesh of his palm, his nails were painted red this week, courtesy of you, of course.

His long bony hand flexed as you gently took off each of his silverish rings, one by one. 

You were completely focused on this simple act, treating him with a gentleness only you could offer him, a complete contrast from his usual existence. 

“I don’t have a lot of time today, my cousin’s getting married, we have to go to some pre wedding events.”

Hobie perked up in interest, sliding his free hand to smooth out your gingham sheets.

“And what do you plan to wear?”

His mind flashed through all the traditional clothes he’s seen you in, each more ornate and beautiful than the last.

“The lehenga most likely, the peach-ish one, with the sparkles.”

You undid the little plastic pin at the top of the Mehendi tube, applying a slight pressure and making a small line on his palm to start out with.

Hobie looked at you closely, remembering the last time he saw that specific lehenga.

“That one’s cute.”

You laughed a little, looking down at your messy drawing.

“I was going for a flower but it sorta looks like a palm tree.”

He looked down at his hand, a messy smudgy, and less than finished flower was on his palm.

“Maybe, a couple more petals on the top, yeah?”

You squeezed the Mendhi tube again, carefully drawing three extra petals on the top.

“There! I think that's good.”

Hobie looked down at his palm and kept a laugh back, poorly albeit.

The flower wasn’t necessarily bad, just a little wonky.

“It's absolutely beautiful.”

You smiled.

“Hold your hand still until it dries, then peel off the crumbly bits, okay?”

Hobie mockingly saluted with his other hand, matching your smile.

“Anything you say.”

You giggled, taking his face in your hands gently, careful to avoid snagging one of his piercings.

“What am I ever gonna do without you?”

His expression turned a little soft, keeping his smile steady.

“Let's hope it never has to come to that.”

#reader insert #fanfic #fanfiction #female reader #fem!reader #spider man: across the spider verse #spiderverse spoilers #spider punk #hobart brown #hobie brown x reader #hobie x reader #hobie brown #spider punk x you #spiderpunk x reader #spider punk x reader #desi!reader #desi reader #spiderverse x reader #self indulgence time #spiderman #spiderman x reader #hobie my beloved #british people #spiderpunk x y/n #spiderpunk x you #headcanons #drabble #fluff #fluff drabble #fluff headcanons

[stormflower8]

south asian!ballister part three!

it's times like these where I can't help but feel a little bad for people who have little to no interest in these headcanons, because this is my third day in a row posting these and I feel as though they may be clogging up the tags a little bit

oH WELL

speaking of, part one is here, and part two is here!

also, I saw someone asking if people can use these in their own headcanons or fics or art and YES, absolutely yes!! but if you do, please tag me (or whatever the equivalent of that is, I'm still very new to tumblr, this is like my fourth post) because I would love to see it!!

okay I ripped up tumblr to find this but this stream of headcanons is inspired by this post!

specifically this part "I find the idea of Nimona not being able to handle spicy food but loving it at the same time hilarious Especially considering the fact that they’re living with two Asian men and Asians don’t play about spice (I swear to this day my Mama burned both her and my tastebuds off) They try really hard to look tough and eat all the food they’re given But snot is running down their face and there are tears in their eyes and they need to take constant breaks Poor baby coughs when you add sriracha to their food Whereas Bal and Ambrosius are out here guzzling hot sauce like it’s water Nimona prays on their downfall while also begging the boys to teach them their ways"

credit to @a-dumb-sarcastic-bisexual for the above segment

so, naturally, ballister and ambrosius have an incredibly high spice tolerance

back in their institute days, they would have little contests on who could intake the most spice without faltering

neither of them could consistently best the other, it was inconsistent results and basically was just a 50/50 situation

ambrosius is the kind of person to eat a ghost pepper straight and be like "oh that's kind of spicy" in the most casual but mildly interested voice ever. as if he's pleasantly surprised

pre-canon, ambrosius would have bal test the spice level of dishes, but post-canon, he realized that wasn't the best idea, so he gave the job to nimona instead

there's this south asian condiment called "achaar", and it's basically... okay I have no idea how to explain it but the wikipedia definition is South Asian pickles, also known as Avalehikā, Uppinakaayi, Pachadi, Loncha or Noncha, Achaar, Athāṇu or Athāṇo or Athāna, Khaṭāī or Khaṭāin, Sandhan or Sendhan or Sāṇdhāṇo, Kasundi, or oorugaai is a pickled food made from a variety of vegetables and fruits preserved in brine, vinegar, edible oils, and various South Asian spices.

it basically adds a sort of tangy spicy flavor to your food

and while that sounds kind of strange I swear it's good

actually I don't like achaar very much but I've heard from family members that it's good LMAO

anyways, ballister uses it religiously. he LOVES that shit

there is a jar of achaar on the table at all times

ambrosius doesn't like it and it's too spicy for nimona, but they get it anyways because of how much ballister likes it

speaking of food,

there are certain south asian foods that ballister really holds close to his heart

like, he got them at the orphanage, but never at the institute

so like, street foods

specifically pani puri (also called golgappa and probably more names) because it's my favorite

for those of you who don't know what that is, it literally translates to "water (pani) deep fried bread (puri)" but that is the worst explanation ever so just google it

ballister, obviously, can't cook anything except rice and chai (I mean, seriously, just look at him. he's banned from the kitchen), so he never learned to make any of those traditional south asian recipes he loves

one day, post-canon, ambrosius finds a place that specializes in pani puri and remembers ballister describing them to him pre-canon and decides to grab some

he brings them home and when he shows ballister, Ballister was silent for a moment, a tantalizing, tense moment that had Ambrosius all but holding his breath. His anxiety began rising as his gaze flickered from Ballister to his setup on the table and back again. Maybe I misread his reminiscence all those years ago, Ambrosius panicked internally. Oh god, maybe I completely misremembered it and he has no connection to this at all. Or, worse, I crossed a line I shouldn't have even approached. "Uh," Ambrosius managed an awkward chuckle. "I saw a place, and it reminded me of something you once said, and I thought it might be a good idea but I guess it wasn't and I probably shouldn't have led with 'I have a surprise you'll like' because that just sets up expectations and-" His rapid-fire speech was completely silenced when Ballister crossed the room in a few long strides, cupped Ambrosius's face in his hands, whispered "I love you so much." in a voice that sounded almost choked up, and kissed him.

anyways, south asian food, especially street food, holds an incredibly special place in his heart

this last one I'm kind of torn on my approach to it, but it still felt worth throwing in the pot

horrible pakistani dramas

god I hate them

so, there are two options here

option A, ballister hates them too

he can't stand them, he complains about them whenever they come up, if for whatever reason he has to watch one he'll rip apart the plot so much so that the writers would never recover if they heard him

or option B, ballister has a love/hate relationship with them

because let's be real, no one other than my thrice divorced aunt ACTUALLY likes them

now option B can go a number of different ways

maybe bal really hates the idea of them and hates the plot, but goddamnit it, they STILL get him stupidly invested in the plot to the point where he's yelling at all the characters in urdu and on the verge of ugly crying and going on an angry rant and just bundling himself up in a miserable blanket blob

or maybe he hates them in theory, but they're a guilty pleasure that he only really indulges in for the kind of entertainment where it's so bad it's entertaining

I honestly have no clue if ANY of those are in character, but I'm sure if I shoot either one of them or some combination of multiple, it'll be at least slightly accurate, right?

finally, two super short ones!

ballister has a rule against no shoes in the house

"oh, but he's seen wearing shoes in the house in the movie!" uh, yeah, in a dusty ass abandoned tower. only AFTER he had it all cleaned out and actually furnished (post-canon) did he (and ambrosius!) start taking off their shoes indoors

and

he sits down to eat or drink

even just a glass of water, he'll sit down for it

even if 'sitting down' entails sitting on a table

it's just a force of habit at this point

looking at my notes, that is actually everything I have written down! this means that these headcanons will probably cease now, as it might take me a while to come up with more.

we'll see though!

-Storm

#nimona 2023 #nimona #ballister boldheart #riz ahmed #ambrosius goldenloin #ballister x ambrosius #south asian #desi #supposedly drinking water sitting down is good for you #but I'm not sure if that's right #don't quote me on that

[okkalo]

i am requesting chigiri teaching you football hcs RNNNNN💔 (im jk pleaseignore if you don't want to!! love you 🫂)

omg hi puri i see ur back at it again with the camera looking emoji anyways i hope u enjoy and ily <3

character: chigiri

- he’s actually so honored that you want to learn football from him

- that doesn’t mean he won’t tease you.

- lucky for you though chigiri’s a light teaser

- i can imagine you just trying to play a little bit and he immediately says “not without stretching you aren’t.”

- yes, he makes you stretch a little before starting

- but that’s just because he cares about you

- if you complain about it he’ll mumble a “you should be doing it everyday anyways”

- hate to break it to you but he’s not teaching you if you don’t agree to stretch at least a little bit

- he’s a super patient teacher once he starts teaching though

- he can be dramatic from time-to-time but he’s not upset in the slightest

- how could he be when he felt pride in his stomach at you wanting to learn about one of his favorite things?

- he will tease though, as mentioned before

- it’s his way of trying to be less serious so that you felt more comfortable with his teaching

- he doesn’t go that deep into football unless you really really want to learn bigger moves

- if he sees you getting frustrated he’ll force you to stop, trying his best to calm you down with words

- if you make it to the end of the teaching session he will challenge you to a small duel

- at first you were like ??? no?

- but he promises to go easy on you and even bribes you with your favorite restaurant if you win

- he stays true to his word and goes pretty easy on you, won’t let you win so easily though

- i can imagine him stealing the ball from you with a smirk on his lips as he mumbles a “too slow”

- he ends up just letting you have the point though, slowing down so it was easy to catch him with his messy movements

- he didn’t want to hear your whining afterwards is really why. he also felt a tinge of guilt whenever he stole the ball

- pats you on the head afterwards with a “good job”

- rewards you afterwards

- absolutely would teach you more if you wanted to learn more on another day

- he’s so happy that you wanted to learn, he just doesn’t let it show

unedited thanks for reading!

#blue lock #bllk #blue lock x reader #bllk x reader #bllk imagines #blue lock imagines #bllk fluff #blue lock fluff #blue lock drabbles #blue lock chigiri hyoma #blue lock chigiri #bllk chigiri hyoma #bllk chigiri #chigiri x reader

[x-fantasy-is-my-reality-x]

Mayhem

"Genos..."

"Yes Sen-" A piece of soap came soaring in a wide arc to smack the young cyborg full on the face, stunning him into silence for a second. It fell into his hand, now imprinted with the vague definition of his features as a scream ran out from inside the locker room.

He frowned upon closer inspection; was that a bite mark embedded deep on the surface of the disfigured soap?

"Genos. Look," Saitama pointed calmly behind him in the doorway, his oval face boasting the same unreadable expression as always, a complete contrast to the chaos unfolding before them.

God was dead, and so were any of their remaining brain cells.

They, as in Metal Bat and Garou, were in the process of bashing each other's brains out in front of the hot tub with nothing but small towels wrapped around their waists, while a scantily clad Mumen Rider tried unsuccessfully to hold them apart. Bang and Atomic Samurai sat impassively in the tub behind them, occasionally commenting on their moves and acting as if nothing was wrong with two extremely buff and hot-headed boys trying their damn hardest to throttle each other. And was a baseball bat even allowed inside a locker room?

"Sensei, should we do something?" Genos asked with a glance at the bald hero.

"Nah, let's just find a place to sit before they burn down the building."

And part of him almost wished they did when Puri Puri Prisoner suddenly strutted in front of them buck-ass nude, heading with questionable intentions straight for Zombieman who was just trying to wash his hair on the bench.

"Hey! Cut it out you idiots! No one wants to deal with you two so just get out!" Another familiar voice rang out above all the noise as Amai Mask stomped over to the teenage brawlers, who were now completely naked and bloody. Neither pair seemed to realize that their towels had long been discarded, and Metal Bat was bleeding heavily from the face while Garou sported a few dark-colored bruises. Metal Bat swung once Amai Mask was within range, spitting out a few colorful curses that would put any sailor to shame as he missed by a hair.

The battle escalated, now a three-way fight as Mumen Rider lay passed out a few feet away, caught in the earlier crossfire. The poor guy would need new glasses once again.

"Here should be a good spot," Saitama said, pointing at a few unoccupied benches further away. It wasn't until a solid ten minutes that he sensed something was off, as if someone was watching him. Turning to the left, he was met with the blank gaze of a man in a furry white suit perched on top of the tiled wall, Watchdog Man.

How long has this guy been watching me?

He gazed back but Watchdog Man refused to look away. Maybe he was in an odd coma or something.

Okay...

"Sensei what's wrong?" Genos asked, as if sensing his discomfort.

"It's nothing I-" He was interrupted by a war cry as a ninja star suddenly lodged itself in the wall in front of him.

"Saitama! I've tracked you all the way here, now come fight me!" Sonic howled, not even waiting for a reply as he leapt towards him fully clothed from the entrance.

At least this one has clothes on, Saitama sighed.

"I'll take care of this Sensei!" Genos zoomed past him, incinerator glowing orange.

"No wait Genos! Don't use your cannons-"

BOOM!

The outer layer of the wall on the opposite side crumbled, leaving charred concrete behind as Sonic bounced around the open area.

"Ah, too late. Well, hopefully he has enough to pay for the repairs."

"Ah shit! You'll pay for that!" Flashy Flash roared as Sonic and Genos barreled into him and knocked him into a bucket of soapy water.

"Wait Flashy Flash!" Child Emperor pleaded, immediately chasing after them with the help of mechanical spider legs that sprouted from his backpack. The bathhouse really needed to upgrade their security. The three of them were now a dizzy blur dancing around the locker room.

Zombieman was sent flying into the wall as they rammed into him blindly, the back of his head hitting the wall with a sickening crack.

"Sorry!"

"Oh my God you killed him!" Puri Puri Prisoner sobbed in anguish, sprinting after him in all his naked glory.

Truth be told, to Zombieman the brief respite that death offered was far better than the awkward conversation he had been having with the ex-convict after the shittiest pick-up line he had ever heard in his entire immortal life.

"Have you ever been arrested?" Puri Puri Prisoner purred, fluttering his eyelashes at the pale man.

Zombieman furrowed his brows, replying with a very confused and hesitant "No?"

"Why do you ask?" He continued, nearly shuddering at the way the tall hero was eyeing his exposed chest.

"Because it must be illegal to look that good," Puri Puri Prisoner finished, and Zombieman could swear that the world was out to get him.

"Uh thanks," he muttered awkwardly. Never in his life would he have thought he would have be hit on by a criminal hero in the middle of a locker room full of out-of-control men acting like it was the goddamn apocalypse.

Yeah, death sounded good right about now. He would take every precious second enjoying the darkness before he healed and was dragged back into that living nightmare. Perhaps it was time to invest in some therapy.

"Garou, my boy, did you forget every technique I taught you? You're holding your hand wrong. You need to strike with your palm at an angle," Bang corrected as Metal Bat dodged his attack.

"Shut up old man! I wasn't trying to use your stupid technique anyways!" Garou snarled, springing forward again.

"Hey whose side are ya on anyways?"

"Sorry Metal Bat, old men like myself just can't help it," Bang grinned sheepishly.

"You dare turn your back on me?" Amai Mask punched him in the ribs with his momentary distraction, only enraging the seventeen-year-old more.

"I'll rip yer fucking head off you prick!"

"I don't think I ever want to come here again," Saitama said calmly as he watched a fire break out in the wet bathhouse.

A ninja star exploded behind him as Puri Puri Prisoner strutted past his vision. 

#one punch man #saitama #genos one punch man #crack #humor #garou #zombieman #opm #opm fanfiction #flashy flash #bang opm #puri puri prisoner #child emperor #mumen rider #metal bat opm #watchdog man #atomic samurai

[deesi-academia]

Ms Marvel's EVERY EPISODE IS BETTER THAN THE OTHERS and I sjdkdkdksj.

4th episode SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!

1. Them using 'Pasoori', a song I've been obsessed with since it released!!!!!

2. Them using 'Disco Deewane' and me dancing the hooksteps BECAUSE I CAN AAAAAAH

3. Kamala can't even have pani puri because it's sPiCy while here I am begging for it???? She's a classic too-american person awed by everything desi and thinking of all foods as spicy.

4. And not her going to spend hours with someone she just met. Bestie has no deep trust issues and I respect.

5. In the Red Daggers we trust yes. Daaaayum their research and hideout >>>>>

6. Kamala's Nani going all "you go be young, I'll handle your mother" MA'AM???? BEST NANI AWARD RIGHT THERE.

7. Not them getting THE Farhan Akhtar and killing him within that episode itself 💀💀

8. And lastly, the AMAZING portrayal of the partition era - I was almost in tears. Nani talking about it with such an ache in her heart, the ending train scene showcasing all the trauma desi people have suffered 💔

LOVE LOVE LOVE the subtle "britishers ruined it all" nod in this series and I agree.

🔪British India🔪

#i love this show with all my heart #ms marvel #ms marvel spoilers #spoilers #pasoori #shae gill #disco deewane #bollywood songs #bollywood #punjabi songs #punjabi #karachi #desi aesthetic #desiblr #desi academia #pani puri #trust issues #strangers #red dagger #farhan akhtar #partition #british india #trauma #kamala khan #nani #muneeba khan #kareem #djinn #clandestine #tourist

[themculibrary]

Thor Has An Obsession With Pop-Tarts Masterlist

a friendly competition (ao3) - maidenofearth T, 2k

Summary: The scientist took a deep, slow breath, shutting his eyes. He opened them, and pursed his lips.

“When I was in India, the locals showed me how to make this dish they call pani puri. I miss eating it, plus I'd like you all to try it too,” Bruce finally said softly.

Thor grinned, “I would definitely like to taste this wonderful dish you speak of, my friend!”

The team shared smiles.

It's a gray evening in Avengers Tower, and the team are arguing about what to eat. Bruce suggests some pani puri, and thus ensues chaos.

Apple Juice and Poptarts (ao3) - Orpheus_I_Dont_Feel_So_Good G, 1k

Summary: Nobody knows where Clint's apple juice keeps going. Nobody knows where Thor's poptarts keep going.

Nobody knows about Peter Parker.

Appropriation (fanfiction.net) - The Third Marauder T, 5k

Summary: The one in which a territorial Loki becomes an instructor at the SHIELD Academy. It takes everyone some time to... adapt... to the new situation.

Behold The Magic Food Machine (It's A Toaster, Thor) (ao3) - Loki Is Not Low Key (RichardGraysonPercyJackson) G, 821

Summary: Thor loves pop-tarts. His brother has never seen a pop-tart, nor the magical machine which creates them.

So of course, he takes one back to Asgard.

It goes about as well as expected.

Early Breakfast (fanfiction.net) - Chocolate X My Mouth clint/natasha K+, 1k

Summary: Okay... this shouldn't have been too hard. All Clint wanted to do was sneak through the vents, make his way into the kitchen, and have an early breakfast. Not too hard, right? You'd think so - until you remember who you live with. An early breakfast essentially means a team meeting - at least they're all having a good time.

Lend Me A Hand (ao3) - Not_a_Hobbit (Byelial) T, 1k

Summary: A meeting at Avengers Tower quickly turns to chaos, and Steve asks Bucky to help him re-establish order. Bucky, however, responds in his own, less-than-humorous way.

Louder Than Words (ao3) - ARGHHHHHH steve/tony G, 858

Summary: Domestic Avengers movie night, post 2012 Avengers.

Masquerade (ao3) - HelenaAzure loki/svadilfari G, 20k

Summary: Masquerade (verb): to assume the appearance of something one is not

After a mission goes horribly wrong, the masqueraded past comes back to haunt Loki and Thor. Are the bonds of friendship, family and brotherhood strong enough to withstand the horrors of the past, or will the house of Odin crumble once more under the weight of its secrets and deception?

Pantry Raid (fanfiction.net) - PathBeater pepper/tony K, 1k

Summary: Hawkeye and Thor's midnight snack run is foiled by the Tower's resident mom. Nice, fluffy one shot with a little Pepperony at the end.

PopTarts (fanfiction.net) - YankeeGirl28 T, 2k

Summary: Loki wasn't the only god Barton told everything to. Rated because Tony Stark really has a way with words.

Pop-Tarts (ao3) - Shadowstar T, 1k

Summary: What it comes down to is the need to know the most important question in the universe: Which flavor of Pop-Tart is the best?

The Food of the Gods (ao3) - imkerfuffled G, 986

Summary: 1. Tony is not allowed to replace the entire contents of the cafeteria with pop-tarts just because Thor has declared them the ‘food of the gods.’

Thor and the Midgard Objects (fanfiction.net) - AnuhdahPerson K, 14k

Summary: Thor has been banished and sent to Earth to learn humiliation. So how's he managing with Earth's surprises?

Walmart? I've Come To Bargain (ao3) - Brentinator G, 2k

Summary: "I have a monthly bet with Wong. We go to different stores in the same chain and see who can find the better savings. The winner gets to choose where the products we don't use get donated."

#themculibrary #marvel #mcu #thor #thor+poptarts #thor+poptarts masterlist #masterlists

[gofancyninjaworld]

I've read your post abt what makes one a monster in opm, and I'm a lil shaken bc in a lot of ways, Saitama is eerily similar. Indeed, a lot of strong people abandoned their humanity and monsterized in pusuit of greater power — Haragiri, Gouketsu, Bakuzan, and so on.

I think the reason why he isn't considered a monster despite all that is because he really clung unto his humanity while in the pursuit of strength. Still does. Really, every mundane thing Saitama does isn't really necessary for him to do — like he doesn't need to eat, sleep, seek entertainment, or even breathe. This guy can't even get poisoned. He's so powerful and busted he's not human at this point. But I think he does them bc it makes him feel human and keeps him sane.

It really makes me think — what makes a human, human in opm? Seeing Saitama as an example, is choosing to be human and subjecting oneself to human aspects is what makes one human?

Monsters are really interesting in OPM, aren't they? This ask we're not talking about the natural monsters, which, cruel as they can be to human beings, literally saved the Earth from human depredations... talk about a complex ecological relationship!

Anyway, onto ex-human monsters. In OPM, it's the case that just because your egg and sperm donors were members of Homo sapiens, you can't take your humanity for granted. To a certain extent, your humanity has to be earned. The scary thing is that humans turning into monsters turns out to be a recent thing. *What* has changed, I wonder.

Also, it's not as simple as being good. The horrible criminals in the Stink Slammer never turned into monsters (at least not until some of them grabbed monster cells from Nyan in the hopes of finally being able to make Puri Puri see how much he'd made them suffer) despite being really nasty pieces of work. And of course, the straight-living Amai Mask started turning into a monster despite his best efforts to resist it.

There are risk factors that Dr. Genus outlines, such as a strong desire to transform into something else, a deep dissatisfaction with themselves, inferiority complexes, obsessive habits, and similar issues. Those are true enough, but we know characters with several of those problems who haven't gone monster. I think that Bug God puts a claw tip on the most fundamental requirement to turn monster: separating oneself from humanity. When you stop being able to see your fellow person as a human being, that's when you start to transform. You don't need to grow horns or fangs to be a total monster.

The scariest part? It doesn't necessarily take a long time. Everyone has some darkness within them, darkness that if they lean fully into and let consume them will change them in no time. How close Phoenixman got to converting Child Emperor still gives me chills (oi, future animators, don't you dare elide over this!).

Conversely, we've seen that it is impossible to turn a person into a monster against their will. Even monster cells only work if the person knowingly and willingly consumes them with the intention of becoming a monster.

Now I know that a lot of fans like to act snobbish towards Viz translations (no, they're not perfect but people take it too far), but they have a very interesting nuance in chapter 167 on how Saitama sees Genos and Garou Tareo:

Save. That's what Saitama thinks Genos did for him. Saved him. If you go all the way back to chapter 5, you realise that the separation from humanity process had begun for Saitama.

Just as Garou would have turned into a complete monster, fit only for punching out of this world, were it not for Tareo speaking so powerfully to his humanity, Saitama found Genos, that weird young man who'd given up his human body and nurtured his humanity like it was a precious jewel, to be the anchor to humanity he needed.

I think you have a point about the importance of daily rituals grounding one. Still, with Saitama, one can never quite tell... Maybe he can do without every human need, but what will remain won't be human.

Not in the slightest.

It's good this story is great at making us laugh and groan; otherwise, we'd be quivering in horror.

#OPM #meta #asks #monsters #humanity #Saitama #it's both scary-easy and really difficult to turn into a monster here #I know this isn't the final word on what the relationship between man and monster is #the story continues to flesh it out #but if there's one thing that the story comes back to: it's not enough to be biologically human. You have to also choose humanity #both for yourself and those around you

[adventuresinclientservice]

Built to Last

Not knowing an ad’s genesis, I make it a rule to refrain from commenting on it, but there are times when exceptions to the rule are necessary:

Appalled by commercial after commercial appearing on a recent Super Bowl, I didn’t hold back, dismissing the dozens that were dismissible, praising the one  that wasn’t.   

Impressed by the long overdue recognition of my former agency, Ammirati & Puris, I didn’t hold back there either, acknowledging what was great about a shop most everyone considered stellar.  Like other once-great-now-gone firms victimized then extinguished by holding company avarice, Ammirati’s rightly celebrated work endures.

Australia not only has earned a reputation for inventiveness when it comes to films and scripted television drama, they are marvelously iconoclastic when it comes to advertising, best reflected in the spot, “Dumb Ways to Die.” Suspend judgement on the wickedly direct, very unsettling title and watch; you’ll see why Australia is home to some of the best creative work ever.

Given the deep respect I have for Yvon Chouinard and the company he founded, Patagonia, years ago I cited one of the print ads I hold in high regard, recognizing that to this day remains true to the company’s core values.

That makes four examples in nearly 750 posts written over more than 13 years, so I often don’t give in to the need to play the critic, but am reminded of this because Chouinard was in the news recently, this time with a New York Times guest editorial, where he observes: 

“The company I founded turns 50 this year. People ask me how it has managed to stick around so long when the average life span of a corporation is less than 20 years. I tell them it’s been our unrelenting focus on quality, which includes making things that last and that cause the least amount of harm to our planet.”

He observes that critics,

“thought we were crazy for repairing our own gear and urging our customers to buy less. They said our focus on quality would drive up prices and put our products out of reach. “But the naysayers were wrong.”

Then goes on to say,

“Quality is smart business. Even during economic downturns, people don’t stop spending. In our experience, instead of wanting more, they value better.”

Patagonia makes stuff – climbing gear, all-weather apparel, a variety of outdoor equipment – but step back from the items they produce and you see not things, you see values – durability, sustainability, longevity that borders on timeless, unimpeachable, and eternal.

I work in a business that doesn’t make stuff; at its best, it makes ideas; ideas that find their voice in all forms of advertising and marketing, in colleague support when its needed most, in client service at its best, when it solves problems, pursues opportunities, and builds enduring relationships.

It’s a business to which my former advertising agency, Ammirati & Puris, dedicated itself, explaining, in part, the post I wrote about it, in an industry where fewer such shops exist, seemingly losing their sense of mission, vision, and purpose. 

It’s a business to which The Art of Client Service dedicates itself, explaining, in part, why I’ve written three editions over the last 20-plus years, and always am thinking how I can help people get better at what they do.

And it’s the business to which Yvon Chouinard and Patagonia dedicates itself, explaining in part, why it could succeed when predictions said couldn’t.

As Chouinard points out, “the poor can’t afford cheap goods.”  Clients can’t afford cheap advertising either, or short-changed client service, or work that is perishable, disposable, and forgettable, something all of us should keep in mind the next time we search for something cheap, which often means, something not worth whatever you paid for it.

A concluding thought:  “Built to last” is a fitting way to end the year; the next time we connect, it will be 2024.  To repeat what I said in my last post, if you’re traveling to see family or friends, by all means travel safe.

Thursday also is Roberta’s and my 26th wedding anniversary, another thing that’s built to last.  Happy anniversary Honey!  Xoxo mbb

#advertising #marketing

[bohemian-suho]

Saigenos from a brief feminist POV: homoerotism as a result of perceived inferiority of women in male dominated media.

I don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, and this is obviously not objective, as it pertains rather to a whole supposition of mine that has been brewing for quite a while since I started reading japenese sourced material. Much more specifically, shonen manga. I’m not an expert by any means, it’s just something of a thought that spurs time and time again with certain character tropes in shonen and seinen, much more specifcally: the partnership between to males protagonists in a series. 

I first thought about it when I watched Naruto, but it was was much easier to pinpoint the kind of thought process behind the depth of NaruSasu in relation to the title of this little rant exactly because of Kishimoto’s development of his female characters, which is flaky and clunky at best, downright misogynistic at worst-

It’s not so obvious in OPM, after all Tatsumaki is class-S número 2, getting a whole arc to show exactly what she is capable of, with a characterization much different to the WC, which from much more knowledgable people tham me claim is much well rounded and nuanced. There are plenty of female characters that have gotten their fair share of spotlight, good spotlight at that, to show they are a multifaceted, strong characters that stand on their own. They are their own characters with their own pains and troubles, of which most are not even related to romance or to another man. We even have characters that derail from the homogenic hourglass bodies that Murata likes to draw, which I won’t get into as he pretty much does that same with the male characters, so it doesn’t feel as disingenous and malicious. 

I often found that, in shonen/seinen manga, homoerotism doesn’t posit an outright homosexual subtext in the relationship of two males, as we would like to think, it rather stands implicitly but very directly on the idea that depth within a relationship, true depth and love, can only be shared between two equals: men. 

We much like to attribute queer coding in these kind of relationships. And... aside from the fact that that says a lot on how we build fraternal relationships and how we still place them on secondary levels against *romantic love*, the truth is, many times these kind of relationships never surpass and go beyond what the magakas show us not because “they didn’t want to be censored” or “they legit wanted it to be this way but were too afraid to go all out”, but simply because... it’s just not gay my dudes. It’s just japenese men thinking these kind of deep, deep relationships cannot happen with women because.... they are women you know? Inferior. It’s a given, and it’s not an entirely conscious decision. Sysmetic oppression goes beyong even microagressions, it seats very comfortably in the way people, men specifically, build relationships with women and with oher men.

Aside from the fact that ONE has barely even dipped a milimeter of his big toe nail on romance (very very briefly if you squint with your head dipped sideways) and that he does let women stand on their own, deliberate (emphasis on deliberate) actual queer coding in OPM pretty much starts and stops at Puri Puri, and I won’t get too much into that but I think we all know how problematic that is in itself.

Even with that... I would rather go, gadly, on the Gibli path, and two people can have a deep emotional relationship without there being romance, ever. And that’s okay too.

#opm #saigenos #rant #tatsumaki #saitama #genos #is just not gei you know #i would like that but alas #i mean saigenos have it all man #sometimes i do think maybe one has soemthing his sleeve #but then i think im hoping for too much #i just want the gay too but...

[dvarapala]

a soft gasp escapes udyati's lips when she sees him. well, she doesn't really see him, because of the mask, and the get-up. but it's familiar enough that she knows who he is instantly. it's like he carries the sun with him. within his very skin. within his very smile. even if she can't see it right now. she can feel it. and it causes her to smile, too. it makes her bounce on her feet, excitedly. there's some kind of recognition there that goes beyond the superficial: it's bone deep in a way she can't explain. you're like me - you're not exactly like me, but you're like me in the ways that count. you speak the same languages. you drink chai. you smell like spices. you use coconut oil in your hair. you have been tasked with protecting a world - protecting worlds - that should have protected you instead. "you know, when i was growing up," udyati's eyes soften, "i didn't have anyone like you. i'm glad that the kids and teens and twenty-somethings of today can have what i never had." never mind the fact that she, too, is about twenty. but that's neither here nor there. everything she's been through aged her, even if she doesn't really show signs of it on the outside. "anywhoozies, if you want to get chai here, you should hit up the indoor market downtown, head inside and look for 55 mumbay street. but yeah. uh. welcome to earth 108, i guess."

okay but there's actually an indoor market downtown where i live and it has a Bunch Of Different Indoor Places to get Food TM including a place called 55 bombay street. i went there once. the pani puri was a lot. it was good. but it was a lot so ofc i had to reference this while sending a Whole Book TM to @dhakaarhai.

i would have referenced the punjabi place across from it - which i frequent a little bit more often - but i forgot the name and i couldn't find it on the indoor market website.

#//she loves everyone but she especially loves pav bc !!! representation !!! #//i feel like she would also love hobie but in a you're absolutely brilliant and gorgeous and i cannot talk to beautiful people way lmfao #outofdoors

[s1ndr0m3]

It's actually fucking scary to like someone without you actually knowing if they fucking like you or not. Look, I want to get drunk, probably get pulled over buy the cops for speeding at night cause we were too busy jamming with our songs and the adrenaline rush kicked in and have paani puri competitions with you. Get fucking responsible for someone whose you, even get a job and some bullshit I guess...teach you how to play the video games I like so we can grind on that shit together and cook together even though most of the time you'll just be there poking and laughing at me. Celebrate festivals with you, see you in that saari or mekhela and keep staring at you mesmerized...wake up everyday next to you and look at you to fall in love again, deeper and harder, everyday. And in the end, become your better half. This is the shit I want.

Listen there's no problem in not knowing if the other person likes you or not, maybe you'll save yourself from some hurting. But still there's this passion inside me, this *junoon* to make you mine and not be just a "Phir bhi tumko chahunga" kinda lover.

At this point it feels like I'm in deep shit man. Sometimes it feels so obvious that you like me back but then I'm like...maybe not-?

I'm stuck with you, yaar, and I wanna be stuck with you but not like this, maybe thoda jyada than this, just thoda sa...

[lifeworksstudios]

Destination Wedding Photography & Wedding Films in 2023

Best wedding photographers in Gurgaon Being able to share incredible, organic memories with our clients is a dream job. I believe we’d still do it even if we retired. We’re lucky. We’re grateful.

Maybe you’ve spent your entire life envisioning a small, intimate wedding in an actual castle in Italy. (If that’s you, skip the rest and just call us already.) Or maybe you started planning a fabulous 200-guest soiree in New Delhi / Gurugram Area and got a little overwhelmed. One of you closed the 17 tabs and said “Let’s just have a big fat wedding” and now you’re looking for the best (read: most fun) photographer to take with you.

Or maybe you came to our site looking for a New Delhi Wedding Photographer and happened upon this page. Because you maybe deep down want a destination wedding? Maybe?

Based in both New Delhi & Jaipur, we have the privilege of bouncing back & forth & anywhere else we can! — (IF its not clear) We LOVE to Travel!

Jaipur? Udaipur? Jodhpur? Jaisalmer? Neemrana? Goa? Puri? Mahabaleshwar? Mahabalipuram?

However you got here, you’re in the right place. Because magical destination weddings are kind of our thing. 

We’ve spent years developing relationships with planners and venues all over the country so we can better serve clients like you who are looking for something different (read personalised). We see love as both – Friday nights cuddled up on the couch watching Netflix – and – strolling down cobblestone streets of the city trying to decide where to stop for just one more glass of wine.

Love is your most ordinary moments and your biggest adventure. So why not start this whole marriage thing with your best trip yet?

OUR BAGS ARE PACKED AND READY TO GO. Our bucket list of locations: Italy (always!), Toronto, Switzerland, Middle East, Spain, France, Maldives, New Zealand, Australia.

If you are looking for something not cheesy and already done, please go for them! They have amazing unique ideas, and understand at first go what you want. They are the best in their field! Thank you once again from the bottom of our hearts!!” – Tanya & Aarohi, Dharamshala, Himachal

THIS IS THE PART WHERE WE GET TO

START A NEW ADVENTURE

SO LET’S GET TO IT!

It’s our honour to retell these timeless tales and we cannot wait to begin yours!

We are the best destination wedding photographers and wedding filmers in Jaipur, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Puri, Musoorie, Goa, foof! overall in India. We have been in the business of destination wedding photography and wedding films for over 10 years! and have an experienced team to do it all! We understand the importance of capturing the perfect moments of your destination wedding and work day & nights to provide you with the best possible service. We use the latest equipment and techniques to ensure that your wedding photos and videos are of the highest quality. We understand that your destination wedding is a once in a lifetime celebrations and we work hard to capture all the special moments so that you can relive them for years to come. Contact us today to learn more about our services and to book your wedding photography and videography requirements.

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