#Bollywood Faces Lost

[hotvintagepoll]

Propaganda

Madhubala (Mughal-e-Azam, Barsaat Ki Raat, Mr. & Mrs. '55)—The Venus of India; heart-throb of all who saw her; responsible for the sexual awakening of every single desi lesbian I know (including me!) And my god, she is breathtakingly beautiful. Look at the subtle grace with which she moves, and that smile - the kind of radiant smile that can make you laugh with sheer delight, or cry because of its hidden pain. Those wild curls! That Cupid's bow! The way she tilts back her head and smiles at you with mischief dancing in her eyes! She has a way of looking at the camera that makes you feel she's sharing a private joke just with you; it's something about that quizzical twist of the lips and eyebrows. As an actress, she is inimitable; she seems to effortlessly inhabit roles ranging from a heart-broken courtesan to a laughter-loving socialite. Fun fact : she's had quite the fan following in Greece! Stelios Kazantidis even wrote a song as a tribute to her.

Ingrid Bergman (Gaslight, Casablanca, Notorious)—Where do I even begin with Ingrid Bergman? I fell in love with her with her astounding performance in the 1956 version of Anastasia -- the best Anastasia movie in large part due to her wonderful and touching performance. She's got this amazing, fascinating intensity to her in whatever role she's in. She commits 100%, and she's got this light in whatever she's in that's stunning. She's utterly convincing no matter what she plays, from an amnesiac possible lost princess, from a nun, from a woman taking her revenge on the town that wronged her, to light romantic comedy. She's never missed in any role I've seen her in! Also she became quite the MILF.

This is round 5 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Madhubala:

An icon of Bollywood, who was well known for her beauty and has continued to inspire performances and songs into the 21st century. She was at times described as "the number one beauty of the Indian screen" and "the biggest star in the world".

SHE IS EVERYTHING AHHH. JUST LOOK AT HER SMILE-

She's been nicknamed the Marilyn Monroe of India and was one of the highest paid actresses in the Hindi film industry (the term Bollywood did not exist yet) during the 1950s. Also an extremely talented dancer and singer

SHE'S JUST SO STUNNING, like seeing her eyes IMMEDIATELY CAPTIVATES YOU, THE DANCING, THE BEAUTY!!!!!!!!! She worked in Bollywood for over 20 years and passed away at a sad early age of 36, BUT THE IMPACT SHE HAD WAS UNMATCHED!!!!!

That sassy sideways glance she does always has me WEAK AT THE KNEES. And when she's making silly faces at the camera to mimic someone ahhhh my gay little heart <3

Ingrid Bergman:

God, she's fantastic. She's both beautiful and a compelling actor who's more than capable of putting the whole movie on her shoulders if necessary. It's worth noting that while her beauty is conventional, she was seen as refreshingly "natural" with more eyebrows and less makeup than many other leading ladies of the time. She's well known for her role in Casablanca, but in Notorious, Spellbound, (both available on archive.org ) and Gaslight (1944) she shows how immensely capable she is.

I mean...she's Ingrid Bergman. I feel like that should be enough, you know? She's physically beautiful (her eyes!) but watching her is like a transcendent experience. Her voice, her expressions... beautiful woman, beautiful actor.

I'm a gay man but even I understand her appeal. I'll watch any movie she shows up in. Gorgeous woman.

Just try and watch her movies without sighing wistfully, then get back to me!

Choosing 1-3 movies where Bergman was at her hottest was agony because, of course, she was always at her hottest. Not just because she was beautiful but because she was absolutely willing to go up against the bs women in Hollywood were constantly dealing with. When exiled from Hollywood for having an affair with Roberto Rossellini, not only did she refuse to apologize at any point, but she went on to say that Hollywood's films had grown stagnant and boring to her. Though she said she appreciated her time working there, she wanted to try new, different techniques (hence starring in Italian neorealist films, working on stage, and acting under directors like Ingmar Bergman). She was not afraid to chase after her artistic ideals and go outside the box regardless of what society had to say about it. From her first movie to her last she killed it. There's so much more to say about Bergman's career and life, but I've already written five million words so I'll stop at that.

ion words so I'll stop at that.

One of the most incredible actors I've ever seen on film. Her facial expressions are so intricate and poignant that I cannot look away. I'm either ace or straight, but damn she made me question that.

SEVEN TIME OSCAR NOMINEE QUEEN. Girl also PULLED, having affairs with famously hot men Gary Cooper and Gregory Peck IN ADDITION to her three marriages...sexy

She has a very natural beauty to her, and she's from Sweden!

She left Hollywood and only became more beautiful. You could drown in her eyes. She can look innocent AND like she's seen it all. She is effortlessly elegant. She's played Joan of Arc (automatically hot) AND was in the movie that coined gaslight as a term. And where would we be without that!

She was known for being a breath of fresh air on the movie scene at the time with her windswept hair, dreamy smile and soulful eyes. I have loved her in every movie I have seen her in - she was just magnetic!

Where do I even start. There's a neighborly quality to this beautiful, talented actress that makes her hotness one of a kind and her looks impossible to forget

With a career spanning five decades, Bergman is often regarded as one of the most influential screen figures in cinematic history. Known for her naturally luminous beauty, Bergman spoke five languages – Swedish, English, German, Italian and French – and acted in each.

She's hot, don't get me wrong, but I've always found her very approachable, like she could easily be a member of my friend group

A lot of the time hotness in a movie is just about words and framing. "You're the most beautiful person here" [vaseline lens] well I sure hope so because that's who you cast. But when, in Casablanca, they call Ingrid Bergman the most beautiful woman in the world... they were not fucking lying. And such a dynamite actor too!! I'd only seen Casablanca up until last year, and there she's confined to love interest. But in Gaslight she was maybe one of the most incredible actors I've ever seen!!!! Goddddd shes so fucking hot and cool.

[sumsumstrashbin]

𝟏-𝟖𝟎𝟎-𝐡𝐨𝐭-𝐧-𝐟𝐮𝐧 ✧

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬: 𝟏.𝟕𝐤

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: (𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝) 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐭, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐝.

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐬𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠(?)

𝐚/𝐧: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐝. 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐧, 𝐧𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐮!

─────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────

Neon lights casted a vibrant pink and blue glow onto the cracked pavement outside of Platform Nine, a quaint concert venue and club all in one, that pulsed with life. Inside, the air was thick–humid with sweat, perfume, and the blaring music bouncing off the walls. Music thrummed through the floors, bass sending waves of vibration up the stilettos of women on the dancefloor. Laughter, flirtatious murmurs, and sounds of shakers behind the bar hummed lowly underneath the beats of the music–proving Platform Nine to be the most live venue on the street. 

You were settled outside, perched on the back steps of the building with a cigarette between your fingers. Even outside you could feel the beats of the music thumping in your chest, but you were unphased–it came with your lifestyle.

As the lead guitarist of Divination, most of your nights began like this.

“We should head in, Y/n. We’re on in ten.” Your bandmate, Lily, spoke, fanning away the smoke from your cigarette and scrunching her nose. 

“Yeah, you go on. I’ll be there in a minute.” You replied, giving her a reassuring smile.

“I’ll take that.” She plucked the cigarette from your fingers, tossing it to the pavement and crushing it with the bottom of her shoe. Before you could retort, she gave you a cheeky grin, running inside through the backdoor.

You rolled your eyes, smiling–she had been your best friend since highschool, and god knows she’s been telling you to quit smoking since the day you met.

Since the day the band was formed, you’ve had one particular rule–you would never start a show without scoping out the crowd first. Whether big or small, you’d go on–you just wanted to know what you were getting into. 

With the muscle memory of your rule, you headed down the side alley of the venue, turning a corner to be faced with the neon sign reading Platform Nine shining on your face. It had always been your favourite venue, particularly for the vibe, and the crowd that it attracted. It was guaranteed that if you were performing at Platform Nine, you’d be gaining some new fans, and that was important for your band.

Despite the inside of the venue being very much alive with party goers, the outside was quiet, minus the sound of music. No long line of people–just cars whooshing by and a few people with “normal” plans walking down the sidewalk. The coolness of the night air sent goosebumps up your legs, barely covered by the fabric of your fishnet stockings.

For the most part, you were all alone–or so you thought. As you approached the front door, a voice broke the “silence”.

“Are you lost?”

You turn on the heel of your boot, finding yourself face to face with a tall, sleek (and extremely hot) figure, long black hair blowing over his sharp cheekbones in the breeze of the night. He almost looked too good to be true–and with the way his hair was flowing in the wind, you felt like you were in a very cheesy (bollywood) movie. 

“Sorry?” You ask, raising a brow at his question.

“I said, are you lost. Don’t think I’ve seen you at Platform before.” He spoke, shoving his slender hands into his pockets to shield them from the night air. 

“Well then you must be blind.” You retort, crossing your arms. You certainly did not have the time for useless flirtation tactics, especially when you were supposed to be on stage in five minutes. You were used to this kind of thing, however, it was undeniable that there was something particularly alluring about him. 

His brows furrowed at your response, though a smirk quickly curled the corner of his lips. “Tenacious, aren’t you?”

“Quite.” You responded flatly, uncrossing your arms and turning back towards the doors.

“I’ll see you inside, then, yeah? Where can I find you?”

“On stage.” You countered, and though your back was facing him, he could feel you smirking as you made your way inside.

─────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────

You made it onstage just in time, your bandmates unphased–they were used to your lack of urgency. The crowd hushed to a low hum at the presence of your band on stage, providing Lily with a moment to introduce the band. As you slung your guitar around your neck, you noticed a certain individual in the crowd–the same man from outside. You leaned over to Lily, speaking lowly in her ear. “I’ll take this one, Lils.” 

Lily nodded, stepping aside to let you take your place in front of the microphone.

You wrapped a hand over the mic on its stand, the dim glow of the stage lights glimmering in the glossy maroon lacquer painted on your nails. You brought your mouth a few inches away from the microphone, beginning to speak.

“How’s everyone doing tonight?” You spoke casually, beaming at the crowd's roaring response in cheers and whistles. 

“That’s what I like to hear. Listen, we’ve got some good music coming your way in just a minute, but first, let's get you acquainted. We’ve got Mary on drums, Marly on bass, Lily on vocals, and of course, me on your lead guitar.” The crowd cheered as Mary played a quick drum roll, Marly strummed a quick riff, and Lily bowed.

“Now, who’s ready to rock?” You questioned, Mary counting the four of you in before the crowd even had a moment to respond. 

Your performance nearly rocked the roof off of the venue, the crowd quickly erupting into a frenzy of dancing and cheering. You tapped the heel of your boot to the beat of the drums, strumming your fingers up and down your guitar, feeling every chord echo through your body, dancing through your chest along with the notes of Lily’s powerful voice.

Normally you wouldn’t pay such meticulous attention to the people in the crowd, but your eyes continuously found one man in the sea of people.

He weaved his way through the crowd, making his way right to the front–just in time for your solo.

As part of your usual routine, you got down on your knees, your fingers dancing wildly across the strings of your guitar, nearly drawing blood as you crushed your solo. You locked eyes with him, a curtain of wild hair obstructing your view, and he grinned, clearly enjoying your performance. 

─────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────

After the show, you made your way backstage, the roar of the crowd fading away in the music that resumed its blaring through the speakers. Divination had certainly livened up the place even more than before, the crowd more rowdy than ever, almost everyone on the dancefloor.

There was only one thing on your mind–the mysterious man in the crowd. He had disappeared some time during your final song, and although your mind was telling you it was a bad idea to go looking for him, you found it hard to battle the impulse. 

Regardless, you made your way out the back door for another smoke–you’d need it before you headed back inside to interact with your recent audience.

As you hopped down the steps, you heard the crunch of a footstep on gravel, just around the corner in the alleyway. Although any normal person would probably take this as a sign to head back inside, you peered around the corner, only to be met with the very sight you were hoping for.

There he was again, leaning against the brick wall, one arm folded across his chest and the other holding a cigarette up to his lips. 

He blew smoke from his mouth, turning his head towards you.

“I was hoping I’d catch you out here. I was almost 100% sure you were a smoker, I smelled it on you when we met outside.” He spoke, his voice velvet-smooth, low, and dangerous. Each syllable that rolled off his tongue clouded your senses more and more, commanding your attention.

 You knew he would be trouble, but so were you. 

“I’m not sure if I should be offended that you’re saying I smell like a smoker, or flattered that you paid such close attention.” You responded, your calloused fingers reaching into your pocket for your pack of cigarettes, removing one from the box  with your mouth before stashing it back in your pocket. You reached for your lighter, but he put a hand out, reaching into his own pocket with the other hand.

“Allow me.” He flipped open the lighter, flicking it to life and holding it up to the cigarette in your mouth. “And I’m sure I wouldn’t have to pay close attention to smell it, you reek. No offense, of course.” He teased, that stupid smirk quickly plastering itself on his face again. “But anyway, I was paying attention.” 

“Do I really?” You question, burying your nose into your leather jacket to investigate for yourself.

“Nah, not really. I’m just teasing.” 

“Mm. Okay.” You roll your eyes. You couldn’t help but smile. “Did you enjoy the show, mystery man?”

“Mystery man? Is that my name, now?”

“You never told me your name.” You argued.

“Yet I know yours. Y/n, is it? Lovely name. And yes, to answer your question, I did enjoy the show.”

“I’m sure you did. You slithered your way to the front, didn’t you?”

“So you were watching me, then?” He teased.

“Observant, aren’t you?” You quipped, rolling your eyes yet again. “You still haven’t told me your name.”

“Forgive me, miss Y/n. Sirius. Sirius Black. Now tell me, when can I see you again?”

“Two quick interactions and you’re already wanting more?”

“How could I not? Beautiful, feisty, and good with her hands. What more could I want?” He joked, chuckling at his own words.

“Oh, you’re dirty.” You said wryly, provoking another chuckle from Sirius.

“So are you, judging by your lack of disgust.” He remarked wittily, flicking away his cigarette, the dim embers fading away on the pavement. “Give me your number.”

“Not much of a romantic, are you?” You commented sarcastically. 

“I suppose you’ll have to find that out for yourself, yeah?”

─────── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───────

[sitp-recs]

Hey! Hope you're doing good!! :) I'm wondering if you know any Drarry fics that have mythological elements / stories as part of the plot. For example, a fic based on Greek myths like Hades/Persephone?

Hi anon! I’m doing great, what about you? :) oh that’s a really cool ask, I hope you enjoy these! I strongly recommend checking khalulu’s stuff as they always explore different mythologies and cultures across their works. I’d love to get more recs on this theme, too!

Nordic:

Veðr by @shealwaysreads (M, 3k)

Norsemen have ranged far enough inland to find Harry, alone and abandoned by his kith and kin. But they bring far more than danger with them, they bring adventure, they bring magic.

Swedish:

Sweden | A Midsummer Night’s Dream by @drarrelie (M, 5.5k)

With the war finally over, you’d think Harry would finally be granted that “normal life” he’s always dreamt about. Finally free from the Dursleys, from that nose-less megalomaniac, from Horcruxes, Hollows, Death Eaters, Dementors, Prophecies… you’d think that he, for the first time in his life, would be allowed to be just a normal teenager. You’d think he’d deserve that much, right?

Russian:

S’Mitten by khalulu (G, 6k)

Harry and Draco aren’t enemies any more, but it seems their history will always stand between them – so let’s try some other histories on for size! The fickle finger of fate is muffled in one of Mrs Weasley’s mittens. Did I mention kisses?

Norwegian:

East of the Sun and West of the Moon by khalulu (T, 6k)

One stormy Thursday evening, a big white bear named Draco turns up to carry Harry away from the dreadful Dursleys. They get along fairly happily together until one night Harry’s curiosity gets the better of him, and Draco is whisked away to his wicked aunt’s castle, East of the Sun and West of the Moon. It will take a strong wind to bring Harry that far…..

Albanian:

What Country, Friends, Is This? by khalulu (M, 8k)

When Harry and Draco are paired up for a nebulous “capstone project” in 8th year, Draco suggests they use it as an opportunity to take a free Grand Tour of Europe. Harry isn’t interested in being grand, and they soon veer off the beaten path. The journey to find what (and who) you really want can lead to unexpected places. (As well as Bertha Jorkins’ aunt, Illyrian Serpent cults, heroic baby Draco tales, and Slytherins singing Motown.)

Hindu:

Birds of Dreams / Remover of Obstacles / Guardian of Waters by khalulu (G, 12k)

Harry is exploring his Desi heritage, and Draco runs into him in colourful circumstances. Luna has a penchant for puns and the Patils watch Bollywood. Paper is folded, a flying carpet takes an Indian road trip, and a phoenix is found. Love blooms along the way, a flower that’s free.

Finnish:

Sparks from the Fox’s Tail by khalulu (T, 17k)

Draco is frustrated with his career as a travel writer, when a mini-tirade from Mrs Weasley and an encounter with the portrait of an intrepid great-great-great-aunt lead him to Finland to study wandless magic. Harry is – just being contrary and following his sweet-tooth, or taking the subtle route to saving the world?

Multiple:

The Hardest Hue To Hold by @cavendishbutterfly (M, 17k)

Harry needs to get the hell out of England. So he sets up a teaching assistantship in America, hops on a plane, and heads off to a fresh start. Except there’s a familiar face among the university faculty, and it’s really not the familiar face that Harry wanted. Or at least, it’s not who Harry wanted at first.

Irish:

Offer Up Our Hearts by @tackytigerfic (M, 23k)

Harry Potter has a very nice life, thank you very much. He's a top Curse-Breaker with a lucrative Ministry contract, and exciting prospects ahead. Sometimes he does wish that he had time to pursue something official with Draco Malfoy - they're half in love with each other, after all, and a great team (in and out of bed), though Draco is still one of the most infuriating people he knows.

Egyptian:

Memory Lost | You Found by @maraudersaffair (E, 30k)

After his Auror training, Harry's assigned to guard the Department of Mysteries - specifically the room where Malfoy is being held in comfortable captivity. Yet no one will tell him why, and what's more concerning? Malfoy doesn't remember Harry at all. To uncover the mystery, Harry must travel all the way to Egypt where he discovers a magical community living in the great pyramids and a long held secret that is dangerous to anyone who knows it.

Arthurian:

The Compact by astolat (E, 64k)

Hermione frowned. “The real question is why the magic of Britain would be failing now, in fact.” “That is not the real question!” Ron said loudly; he’d woken up fully by now, and Harry had too; it was starting to sink in that they’d found the problem. “The real question is, how do we fix it?”

Brazilian:

A Sense of Scale by @fantalfart and dragontamerdrarry (M, 70k)

In which Draco spends an obscene amount of time thinking of new nicknames for The Living Git, lying to himself and using his charms to seduce an extremely uncooperative sentient school.

Celtic:

The Stars Have Courage by @fantalfart (M, 85k)

Draco waited five long years to watch his husband wake up from a coma. He's not ready to meet a Harry with no memory of anything that happened after he died at The Battle of Hogwarts, twelve years ago.

Greek:

Close Behind by @oflights (M, 134k)

To rescue Draco from the Underworld, Harry has to look forward. Unfortunately, Draco has to look back.

Bonus: dark fae AU 🧚‍♂️

Mushrooms of Wiltshire by @shiftylinguini (T, 5k)

There's no point unpacking―Harry's not staying long, and besides, there's just bundled rags in his valise. The illusion of belongings, of a man heading to a new position at a prestigious manor―one beset with rumours of old magic and of impish forest dwellers causing chaos and mayhem amid the phosphorescent toadstool glow. Bugger the job. Harry's here for the rumours. He's been chasing them for years.

[just-finished-watching]

Business Proposal

Finished Watching: 4/27/2024

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 (4/5)

Expectations: I usually don't like KDramas, but I really wanted to watch one for some reason. I thought I would drop it by the 3rd or 4th episode like I do for most dramas, and I especially didn't expect myself to grow attached to the storyline or characters in any way.

Favorite

Summary: Shin Ha-Ri, a normal researcher at a food company, disguises as her friend to help scare her blind date away. But everything goes awry when it turns out that date is with the CEO of her company... and he proposes on the first date.

Thoughts (*SPOILERS*):

Ok, I really didn't expect to like this one at all. I usually find K-Dramas to be super cringey like Bollywood movies. And don't get me wrong, this one did have its moments. But otherwise, I freaking loved this one so much!

This drama was one of the funniest things I've seen in a while. When she called him an Archaeopteryx, I think I about lost my mind T.T I couldn't stop laughing! Though he seems like a cool character, I enjoyed seeing Tae-Moo lose his cool every once in a while. Omg, Ha-Ri is just a jackpot of comedy, this girl could not keep her cool and it killed me! I could not stop laughing for the majority of it, it brings a smile to my face just thinking about it.

The characters of the show were so lovable! It was hard not to love Ha-Ri, in my opinion. She was just so sweet and had a good head on her shoulders, you can't hate her. Her mistakes were funny asl, and I can't really be mad at her (I, too, would do anything for a check). Kang Tae-Moo was too sweet, and honestly so lost for the most part, I couldn't help but love him. The side characters??? DON'T GET ME STARTED I LOVE THEM T.T. Jin Young-Seo and Cha Sung-Hoon were honestly the biggest ride or dies, yet they were also able to have personalities outside of being friends. Their storyline got me so hyped up! And the coworkers?!! (I forgot their names, but they provided so much comedy to this show, I would not mind a spin-off about them)

I usually hate it when characters just start getting paired off, it just pisses me off. But not for this drama. I could tell when the characters were going to get together, and I appreciated it. The coworkers (seriously, what were their names?!) just had this chemistry that I knew they were going to be dating by the second episode they were in. The main couple was nothing short of amazing (if I had one complaint, Tae-Soo stopped being as stubborn, which kind of upset me a bit, because his whole personality was being a hardass, and I usually hate the trope of love completely changing a person, idk why). And the friends side couple made me crave a relationship (I know it's not happening anytime soon, but damn, I can dream), with the constant push and pull.

I was able to finish this show in 2 days, and I am currently running off 2 hours of sleep because I stayed up watching this show instead of getting sleep like I was supposed to. It might be due to tiredness, but I wasn't able to focus on the last couple of episodes of the show, which did upset me. Hopefully, in a couple years time I can watch the show's ending again with a clearer head, but until then, I kind of lost interest during the last 2 episodes.

[firefly--bright]

laal ishq.

[English - red love. ]

a blooming hearts extra!

jean kirstein x gender neutral!reader

inspired by this song and the new episode. scroll to the end for the symbolisms ;)

warnings : heavy angst, grief, violence and gunshots/wounds. (should be expected at this point) new episode/manga spoilers!!!! i haven't watched the new ep yet (I'm not ready) so it's more based on the manga chapter 132 so read at your own risk!

a/n: i love this song so much it's a Hindi/Bollywood song (back when Bollywood made actually good songs) and i listened to this so much and there's so much symbolism in it that i had to write something angsty :) anyway! i also have exams coming up in like a week so this might be the last fic i post for a while. enjoy!

taglist : @mrsnobodynobody , @a10vely-yutazen .

✿ main masterlist is in pinned navigation! ✿ enter my taglist ✿ fic playlist ✿ fic pinterest board ✿ comments/reblogs/likes are deeply appreciated!! ✿

--

you heard the gunshot far before you felt it; the final bell. you wondered if all the authors of the books you'd read as a cadet - the ones where the main character gets tragically shot or stabbed only to be healed again inexplicably - had ever been here before. had ever felt death like this, face to face.

death, shockingly, didn't grin menacingly at you like you thought it would. it didn't look over you (not any less than it already had been since the moment you'd joined the scouts), making you feel small and guilty and regretful.

this death; the one you faced with your eyes blown wide and a diminishing heartbeat, felt more like an embrace. in a flash, you caught dark brown eyes and a freckled face looking at you with the same look you've seen a hundred times before. in a flash, a picture of a brown haired girl with her mouth opened wide as if she were about to say something came before you.

it went away before you could grasp it.

but the pain, the blinding hot sensation aimed right at your heart, felt like it would last for eternity. the shape the bullet had cut out might have been a small fracture but it felt like the widest puncture, straight through the organs you had memorized the names of during your cadet days. the inside of your body lined itself up with flames even if you weren't on fire.

is this how sasha felt? her forever smiling face and warm touches did not deserve this pain, you thought. then again, none of your friends did.

in a foolish way, you were glad it was you and none of the others that were left. they were far too important for that. they would have much more of an impact than you would.

the blood dyed your shirt and in a moment of desperation, your hands clambered up to your chest to stop the wound from bleeding out. it was stupid to think that your feeble hands could help this, but you had to try.

(for him.)

you shuddered out a breath, your vision was getting cloudy. you didn't know how you were still standing up-right. you couldn't feel your legs or the way your knees stumbled or the way your hands shook fervently. spots appeared in the corner of your eyes as you looked around, trying to say something.

what would you say? what could you say?

when you've been running away from death for so long, who were you to stop fate with simple words or even desperate pleadings?

your ears were ringing but you could still hear the shouts; your friends scattered across the port as the workers busied themselves trying to weld the fuel tank shut. floch was in a worse condition than you and you wondered if he was still speaking, even after all of this. you wondered if anyone was looking, if anyone noticed your state. even if they did, the sounds of the terrifying footsteps and the tremble of the ground kept them busy.

you whispered out "jean" the best you could without your soul giving out completely, your staggering voice getting lost with the shaking of the earth. barely feeling your knees buckle, you decided this was it.

you would give victory to the death that had chased you for a long time. the death that you pushed aside that day the walls fell, the death that you swung past the day you saved jean and armin from their own fate. countless times, you had fought the cold touch without even realising it's icy breath.

maybe the worst part was that you were still hoping. you had already strapped in your ODM gear like you had done so many times before, hoping this one would be the last time you'd have to resort to violence. you could almost laugh at that thought if it hadn't hurt so much to breathe. you were so fully prepared to fight, to resolve, to hope for better days ahead after all of this. maybe that was your flaw - no matter how much jean convinced you otherwise. it always had been, your head had always been elsewhere, dreaming of a better place while your body carried out its own fight.

you let out a sigh. there was no light that sasha told you about - one of the many tales her grandmother had narrated to her. there was nothing to follow, nowhere to go. you eyes fluttered shut when even the dimness became to bright for you to handle.

flochs incoherent babbling was almost inaudible and jean had to resort to reading his lips rather than try to hear anything. he felt like he was running out of time. hange said something about not being able to give up, and in all honesty, jean wanted to clog up his ears again and close his eyes to hope the same way you did. hope that eren would atleast listen and stop this, hope that after this you'd spend your days together, hope that one day, his friends would share a meal without thinking about war.

his hand wandered to it's left without even thinking, hoping to find yours to link itself with.

jeans brows furrowed when he felt nothing but cold air greet him.

you were right there, weren't you? on his left like you always had been?

he knew you couldn't be lost. you'd be too adamant to help out all the workers instead of view the rumbling from afar, away from all the shouting. you were never one for being lost in violent thoughts, always pushing yourself headfirst with any and all work you could get your hands on as a way of distracting yourself.

jean looked around infront of him, scanning the place. hange followed his confusion.

"where's poppy?" he asked, only to be met with a half-hearted shrugged from the leader.

"sir!" he heard someone shout, a terrified shriek following the sound.

jean stood before he could even think, head whipping around to find the sight.

a pool of blood surrounding a previously white shirt, and gear that could only belong to one of the nine wearing them. the hand his fingers were desperately searching for was now drenched in red.

jeans head whirred with questions. his heart felt like it was burning, a sensation that was new to him. his leg moved him before he could make sense of anything happening.

your struggled breaths met his ears with an ache, and something in his chest shook with so much force, he felt like he would collapse if it weren't for the heavy machinery clinging to his body.

it was only when the soles of his feet touched the blood that jean felt like he couldn't breathe.

a string of curses left his mouth before he could even stop it, and the years spent trying to be a good leader went into the drain as the strong, honest and passionate section commander collapsed next to his lover's body with a clambering breath and shaking hands.

he felt his knees as they hit the ground, the blood - your blood - staining through his pants.

he didn't care about the stains or the status or the stares of everyone around him. you were on the ground in the way that he only had nightmares about; nightmares that you woke him up from, comforting him until his fear subsided.

your eyes are almost closed, he notes, and he wants to slap himself when his brain thinks of how long you laid like this waiting for him.

he didn't waste another second scooping you gently into his arms. you groan weakly as his forearms flex, and he tried not to let the string of curses fall from his mouth. he was pretty sure he was uttering them anyway. he had a bad habit of cursing, a habit you laughed at whenever he did. he cursed incoherently after you first kissed him. he'd remember that laugh forever.

your head nestles in the crook of his arm as he holds on to you and the bitter hope he refuses to let go of. your eyelashes flutter, and he brings his hand up to your wound, cursing his palms as they shake with force.

"no, no, no, no, no, no. please. please." are all the words that can come out of his mouth as he touches his warm forehead against your cooling one.

"it's okay." they croaked out. "we'll meet again."

jean could hear their hope. their usual honeyed tones had lost their light but they still held on to that one last string of bright dreams.

and despite himself, jean smiles. he breathes out shakily onto their paling skin.

jean didn't know if their friends knew about this. jean didn't know if hange was alright, if their promise of protecting them was fulfilled till their last breath. all the loss that occurred in the matter of seconds made jean feel trapped inside a small box, one that only you could pull him out of.

your noses were touching. jean left a kiss to your mouth, fleeting but with all the love he had stored through the years. he adjusted your head so your lips could graze his chest one last time.

a promise, he hoped. his heart would find yours again and love it just the same if not more.

the last time he saw your face was one he refused to remember. he refused to remember your closed eyes and shuddered final breath and pale skin. your body was left on the ground with no real grave to mark it, no-one to remember your body except the years he spent memorizing it.

he was aware of Connie's crumbling presence as both of them boarded the flying boat. the actions jean made in order to get that machine flying were only half registered by his brain. the boat rattled as they sat in silence.

"where... where's (y/n)?" Armin asked. jean flinched for the first time in years.

his face was not tear stricken yet. as much as he wanted to, he could not collapse. no matter how hard his bones begged him to rest, his mind ran rampant and his heart refused to slow down.

the question, however, finally broke him.

his vision blurred as silent tears flowed down his cheeks. his chest felt like it was giving up, collapsing onto itself, and the rattling of the flying boat felt like mere background noise when he clamped his ears with his palms. the underside of his nails was caked in your blood and the thought itself make him shut his eyes tighter than before.

if his friends spoke, he didn't hear it. Mikasa and Connie's presence next to him felt overshadowed by his all consuming guilt.

he wasn't there. he didn't notice your fall before you touched the ground, hell, he wasn't even looking at you when floch shot everything in his blurring vision. jean should've been there, in your place. jean should have been there to spend atleast a few more moments with you.

were you with them now? marco, sasha, and all the other cadets you had befriended while jean stayed stuck in his ways as a teenager? did marco greet you with open arms and sasha greet you with a kiss on the cheek?

he tried to convince himself you were resting now, finally. he tried to tell himself that you were fine, that your friends and fallen comrades would embrace you into the afterlife. but he couldn't.

you were happiest with him, and selfishly, he wanted you here.

that's how it was supposed to be. you promised a large house uphill with two cats and your warm laughter, while he would read the sunday paper and drink his cooled down tea and eat his sugared toast. his mother would visit you on the longer weekends and you promised you'd learn all his favourite dishes - ones he knew you'd like too.

he had a plan. his future was built around you and for you.

what was he supposed to build his future around now? an empty apartment with the lack of a floral perfume in the air with no decor whatsoever? with no-one to make it a home?

Connie's hand rested on his back as jean clutched his head, resting his elbows on his knees.

he knew this was far from over but he craved so badly for it to be done with.

he heard something being spoken to him. Mikasas voice wavered when she spoke, something she had never done before. Armin lost hope before even knowing the answer to his previous question, and Connie's hand had never felt so distant. jean's own guilt outweighed even reiners, and Levi sat in his own silence as he witnessed the fall of two of the people that meant the most to him.

jean felt everything slip away from his grasp. he wished his mother had prepared him for this, but he knew all the training and learning in the world wouldn't stop him from feeling the way he was right now. he knew that even if he did know the outcome of your life, the way it ended right before his eyes, he'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.

he'd love you with all his unshakable might as he's loved you once before and maybe even lifetimes before this. maybe even universes beyond this cruel one.

his eyes opened with a start. his nightmares had been few and far in between, a rare occurence that his body no longer knew how to deal with.

his heart hammered in his chest as he clasped a hand over it, no longer bloodied, no longer as calloused or scarred. the soft weight on his shoulder made him look down in the dim of the night lamp in your shared room.

you laid there, eyes closed prettily, a little drool slipping past your lips. his breathing was still erratic, but you didn't seem to mind it much as you cuddled up to him. your arms wound around his chest, determined to engulf his frame with futile and sleepy efforts.

and despite himself, jean smiled.

you were alive. breathing and warm and clad in his shirt, alive. you didn't need to know about his nightmare, not until a couple days atleast, when it would slip out in conversation. you'd grow incredibly concerned, asking him to wake you up if it ever happened again so you could help him through it. he would shake his head, rolling his eyes and tell you not to baby him to which you'd respond with a slap to his arm.

for now, though, he pushed the thought of his nightmare aside. pressing a kiss to your forehead, he ducked down to kiss the tip of your nose as well.

your lips twitched in your sleep and jean smiled wider.

he finally gave in to the rest his bones so dearly craved.

he woke up the next day fully awake, to the scent of warm tea and sweet toast.

--

extra a/n! : okay so this song literally translates to what hues love is. it calls love anguished and flawed and i thought it would be very fitting for jean and poppy because after poppy's death, that's how jean felt about love. he thought it was futile, that even after all his efforts in the next life, it would result to the same outcome. the colour of love (laal - red) to me meant the colour of poppies and the blood staining them, and also the love that takes place in Jean's heart in the next universe - the one that he has stored only for you. there's a verse in the song where it basically states that the singer is contemplating whether to grab the moon and change the darkness of the night to the brightness of the day and he made his lover his enemy because he couldn't handle the love that he felt for them. (i haven't seen the movie from which the song is from but this is solely my interpretation) so i wanted to end it with a nightmare-ish sequence where jean wakes up and even if he used to hate nights after poppy died because the bed would be too empty, he loved the nights he spends with you now. the love runs too deep for him to ignore and be your enemy instead, so he (unlike the song) chooses to embrace it with you.

and then there's also a repetition where the singer just says "my name is love, your name is love" over and over again and i just think its what jean feels about you that you are love itself etc etc :)

hope you guys enjoyed this!!!!

[jules-has-notes]

Mission: Jingle Bells — VoicePlay music video

After the events of "Panic! in 4 Minutes" (and its prequel "Trapped" that they hadn't filmed yet), you might think the VoicePlay guys would be more vigilant against being abducted. But no, they've gotten kidnapped and tied to a circle of chairs again. At least this time their captor isn't actively trying to kill them. He just wants a private performance… or else.

Details:

title: Mission: Jingle Bells

original songs / performers: theme from Mission: Impossible; traditional American carol "Jingle Bells"; rap verse inspired by "Dopeness" by the Black Eyed Peas

written by: Mission: Impossible theme by Lalo Schifrin; "Jingle Bells" by James Lord Pierpont

arranged by: Layne Stein

release date: 21 December 2018

My favorite bits:

the group being awakened by Earl, Eli, and J.None singing in three part harmony

Geoff busting out that iconic bass line

the extra bindings securing Earl's beefy legs (and the gift bow on the end of his beard)

J.None singing those happy lyrics to the M:I minor key melody

the lovely bell chord for ♫ "laughing all the wa-a-ay" ♫

the increasing concern on Geoff's face as their captor puts him through his bassy paces

J figuring out a loophole by speaking to the beat

Layne's percussion under the rap switching from resonant wood block sounds to quick high hats to ramp up the tension

the cautious ♫ "Time… to… get… out" ♫ from Eli inspiring everyone to pull against their bonds

Earl hitting that sky-high ♫ "jingle BEEELLS" ♫

the syncopated harmonies from Eli and J

that crisp diction in the final chorus

"Someone's coming to untie us, right?" 😟

Trivia:

○ Like most of the spoken dialogue in VoicePlay's music videos, the kidnapper is voiced by Eli. The mystery person at the computer equipment is Kathy.

○ The guys have never released a conventional version of "Jingle Bells", but they have done serveral creative things with it:

They performed a fun remix as a commercial bumper during the Sing-Off season 4 finale.

They did a Bollywood-inspired version on their 2012 holiday album, "Peppermint Winter".

And, of course, they included an excerpt in their "Most of the Songs" holiday medley that they performed at seasonal shows, including their three annual residencies at Disney World for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

○ VoicePlay later included the Mission: Impossible theme in their "Aca Top 10 – Movie Themes" countdown with guest Rob Lundquist from Home Free.

○ The fellas made some festive hostage-note-style promo posters that they posted to their individual social media accounts. (Though I can't find J.None's anywhere.)

○ This video was commissioned by Paramount Studios as part of the advertising campaign for the home media release of Mission: Impossible – Fallout, the sixth movie in the series.

○ Instead of a note in the YouTube description, they posted a comment reading: "MERRY CHRISTMAS! This video was sponsored by Mission: Impossible – Fallout — If you're looking for something INCREDIBLE to watch this holiday season with all of your fav secret agents, 😎 👉 http://paramnt.us/Get.Fallout. Today (This comment will self destruct in 5 seconds)."

○ The video won a 2019 Clio award, the industry awards for advertising. The coordinating agency, Think Jam Inc., took home a bronze in the Home Entertainment: Original Content category.

○ Earl got a little lost in the sauce when he picked up breakfast for the guys and their crew on the way to the filming location.

[lol-jackles]

Hey, Aamir Khan fan. I was wondering if you enjoyed the movies I recommended. If you liked them and Aamir's acting I have more movies for you to see!

Watched Dhoom3 and holy gamole guilty pleasure galore! Aamir Khan is a movie star of the bygone Hollywood golden era but still well and alive in Bollywood. That Dhoom3 took place in "exotic locale" Chicago was not lost on me.

Aamir Khan is a force of nature as the antagonist, and the movie only pretends to try to resist Aamir's gravitational pull as he's on an obsessive revenge mission to destroy a bank whom he blames for the death of his father. By day he's a brazen bank robber, by night he's the star cirque du solei performer.

I'm unfamiliar with the Dhoom franchise but I get the sense that #3 essentially turned the antagonist into the protagonist and side lined the heroic Mumbai cop Jai Dixit and his goofy sidekick Ali Akbar. It's only in the 3rd act that Jai finally has an arc that involves cat-and-mouse chase of switch-a-roo magicians and why cops and thieves could never be friends not just because they are on opposite side of the law (in the U.S it's not unheard of for felons to marry police wo/men).

There's high-octane actions and crazy stunts with motorcycles that makes me wish there is a crossover with Fast & Furious just to see motorcycles vs cars war. Dhoom 3 fully embraces the insane, the zany, the complete disregard for logic, and slo-mo action scenes that extends the movie's running from 2 1/2 to nearly 3 hours. But what makes this movie stand out among action movies is the highly emotional storyline of Aamir’s character, which requires spoilers ahead.

[spoilers]

While I saw the twist coming during the glitzy cirque du solei scene, the reveal that Aamir's Sahir has a twin name Samar was very satisfying, helped by the soundtrack that is unapologetically bombastic throughout the movie, providing vital emotional hook for scenes that otherwise would have fallen flat.

I feel that Aamir borrowed from Dustin Hoffman's Rainman to portray the autistic math savant Samar who is hidden from the world and only brought out to take over second half of Sahir's role in bank heists and circus performances. Nobody outside their late father knew that there are two men instead of one.

Due to isolation and his mental disorder, Aamir plays Samar as a slouching wide-eyed innocent with complete trust in the perfectly postured Sahir, whose scowl reflects his relentless ambition and revenge mission that has prevented him from romantic pursuits in the lovely Aaliya, the cirque du solei lead female performer. Even though Sahir is the public face of the circus and has many interactions with his cast and the police men on the case to catch him, he is just as isolated and insular as Samar.

Before the twin reveal, Aamir tries to drop hints to the audience when he is playing Samar, mainly by showing his puppy love for Aaliya during the cirque du solei performance from their switch-a-roo act, contrasted with Sahir's indifference towards her when the curtain drops and the show ends. It is this reason why Aaliya was able to avoid the Lois Lane trap and figured out she has been singing and dancing with two different men.

Then the movie throws another twist when Jai meets with Samar to convince him to help turn in Sahir, only to turn out to be Sahir in another satisfying reveal that I didn't see coming. One of my favorite acting scenes is the flashback of Sahir taking Samar's place by switching clothes and when he starts walking, he morphs into Samar's physicality on his way to meet Jai, who is sympathetic toward the brothers but the law is the law. Jai wants to help the brothers by having turn themselves in and plea for mercy. Sahir eventually agrees after failing to kill Jai by rollarcoaster (trust me, just go along with it) and makes a deal by taking the full blame and leaving Samar free and to be with Aaliya.

But in the final twist, the faithful Samar refuses to follow Sahir's plan and instead choose to follow Sahir to his death. I admit I wasn't sure if they would go this route because it would be too heartbreaking, and yet I was still surprised that the dual deaths happened even when it makes narrative sense. The brothers lived as one person all their lives would die together in the end, clutching hands. It's also a genius call back to the movie's first scene of Sahir running down the side of the bank he just robbed.

Score: 8.5 out of 10. Very entertaining high-octane movie with very strong emotional heart. I think if the story didn't take place in Chicago, a city I'm very familiar with, I might have rated the movie higher.

[leffee]

Day 1: Strawberries

I'm doing it, yeah. We'll see if I'll be doing all prompts but I sure am doing this one

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Red, juicy, and scrumptious, in other words a perfect job well done meal. As such, Vinnie reached for more. However, apparently his eating was sloppy, because as Minka appeared back in the room entry with her hands behind her back, her wide smile fell a bit.

“Jeez, it's a mess in here! You're a mess too!” She pointed wildly, mostly at Vinnie's face, but the red substance was in even more places on her friend.

“I know, I know… but hey, you're not spotless either,” Vinnie observed continuing his meal after a gooey sound could be heard. Minka was red in quite a few places too, though he had to admit that her face was clean. For now at least, he had a feeling it would change soon.

“Nothing new,” She sang sung. “We'll clean it later.”

“Yeah,” Vinnie mumbled as he swallowed. “So, whatcha got there?” He leaned to the side putting more of his weight on his hands while stretching his neck.

“A surprise.” Minka entered the room while still meticulously hiding whatever she was holding behind her back and sat down before finally revealing the items. “Tada!”

“Strawberries?” Vinnie raised his brow. “Not bad, but I already have my food.” 

“No, silly, look!” Minka took one of the little red fruits and dipped it in the gash before them. After circling it a few times she carefully pulled it out, the strawberry now fully coated in blood. 

“Ohhh, so it's like dipping!” Vinnie beamed. “And you're saying it's better than just blood?”

“Eeexactly.” Minka threw the strawberry in the air, it skilfully landing in her mouth no more than a second later. “It's really good, you should try it,” She encouraged.

“Don't mind if I do.” Vinnie reached for the fruit and repeated his friend's actions with it. “Dang it’” He cursed once it landed on the floor instead of in his mouth.

“Careful with that, don't waste my previous paint.”

“Yeeeah, I know, no more throwing,” He promised before putting the strawberry in his mouth manually and biting on it.

“So, how is it?” Minka asked expectantly, leaning a bit towards him.

“Hmm.” Vinnie carefully measured each bite and let his palate decide. The taste sure was new, but the combination of the metallic and sweet was surprisingly… good! “I like it.” Minka nodded approvingly as they both continued. 

Reach, grab, dip, bite, chew, they went until the plate was empty.

“Satisfied?” Minka asked after a moment filled with contented sighs.

“Yup. You can do your thing now.”

“Awesome.” Minka stood up and bent down, putting her hands inside the wounds. They came out red after a while and she quickly skipped towards the canvas, the blood soon landing on the white material. “This will be my best painting yet!” 

Vinnie nodded energetically at her declaration; he was sure if would be. 

He got his food, Minka got her paint, everything was good in the world.

Vinnie stole a glance at Shahrukh.

Well, alright, Bollywood might have lost one of its more popular actors and some fans might be left disappointed. 

If only he was better to their friends, if only he was nicer to Sunil.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alternative title: Vinnie and Minka have no chill 😭

I'm so sorry to all Shahkruk's fan, I am one of them, don't worry :]

Here is your warning that if I'm in the mood again those prompts might potentially have stuff like: gore, blood, killing etc etc, you know what I mean.

My goofy ahh looking up if it's whatcha or what'cha

[gerec]

hii this is really angsty, but do you have any recs for fics where Charles dies in Erik’s arms, or vice versa?

There are a lot of amazing angsty fics with MCD in this fandom; these are my favorites with either Charles or Erik dying in the other's arms. :0

Not Alone by TurtleTotem

What if that deflected bullet had hit Charles in the chest instead of the spine?

Robbers by dsrobertson

1933. Bank robber AU. The Bureau of Investigation are after Public Enemy Number Two, bank robber Erik Lehnsherr. Charles Xavier is fiancé to Special Agent Moira MacTaggart. A closet homosexual, Charles visits the Manhattan pansy club scene and meets Max Eisenhardt. Only as time goes on, Max Eisenhardt turns out to be Erik Lehnsherr. Public Enemy Number Two. Charles learns exactly what happens when you accidentally fall in love with a male bank robber in 1930s America.

where all the poets went to die by faerie_ground

In a world where Erik leaves the submarine without his helmet, things turn very, very wrong.

sitting with destiny by faerie_ground

Charles starts getting visions of the future after the battle with Apocalypse. It doesn't exactly go well, and only worsens when he receives a vision about Erik's death.

who fear are lost by Katbelle

She just sees the two of them, facing each other from two different sides of the same table. Maybe they miss each other, maybe they can't live without each other. Lots of maybes. And then someone screams.

Legion by lavvyan

For the prompt "No divorce on the beach - Charles goes with Erik": Charles may be dead, but that doesn't mean he's gone.

If I could walk back to yesterday, I would by sareyen

Charles had braced himself for the pain. He knew that when Erik would push the coin through Shaw's head that he would inadvertently push it into his. He knew that he would feel the slow, torturous drag of metal through his skin, his brain tissue, his mind. He had even prepared for the heartbreak and the betrayal, because once Erik had put on Shaw's helmet, Charles's heart had already shattered to pieces.

But when Charles's mind was fractured by the coin, he hadn't been prepared to lose a part of himself he could not bear to live without.

Because without a mind he had no telepathy, and without telepathy, Charles was...

Human.

Or: Charles loses his telepathy after Cuba, and all the pain that follows.

These Violent Delights Have Violent Ends by cgf_kat

Erik returns, weeks after Cuba, to find Charles on his deathbed. Charles asks him to stay. Erik refuses to believe that all is lost...especially considering that Charles's condition is his fault.

Minifill: Yesterday by Anon (kinkmeme)

Prompt: Charles gets pregnant before the Divorce and finds out months later that no, this isn't some tumor growing in his gut, it's a baby. Because there's no precedent for this, there's no way to know if aborting could kill him so he carries the kid to term.

He goes into labor, but doesn't tell anyone until he's been pushing for hours and he's exhausted. When help finally arrives, he's lost blood and energy and he reaches out for Erik, only Charles can only show Erik images of what's happening because he's just too drained for anything else.

By the time Erik realizes what's happening and gets to the Mansion, Charles is weak and barely alive. He dies in Erik's arms.

Tumblr snippet by @bollywood-and-phoenix-feather

[carnalapples]

hi bestie i have QUESTIONS!! congrats on a great year for writing ❤️ and also a great year because i got to meet you ❤️

1. favorite fic you wrote this year

3. favorite line/scene you wrote this year

23. fics you wanted to write but didn’t

Howdy Rowan and thank you!! I'm so happy we met 🫂 You’re def a big reason I kept creating this year!

1. favorite fic you wrote this year This is tough but I think… and it’s peaceful in the deep. I’m proud of it because I planned it more than most fics I write lol, and I am really happy with the end result. I think a lot of times i kind of miss the mark with what I originally intended… I do like that because I like seeing what results and what people take away from it. But with this fic, I told the story I originally intended to tell, and I was really proud of that focus.

23. fics you wanted to write but didn’t I went trawling in the trenches for this lol, I forget a lot of ideas when I move on from them. I had a Mass Effect longfic I started that went through all the games, and I ended up doing the same thing as I did for DA, using it as a springboard… I think I also had some Bollywood fics I never finished, and two separate DA modern AU/romcom-type things that lost steam. (One was supposed to be an exchange fic inspired by Four Weddings and a Funeral, but I couldn't get it to work in time) I also had a western AU for DA that fizzled out, so that’s fun.

3. favorite line/scene you wrote this year From the care and feeding of lovebirds… I think I’ve posted this before, but I really like the vibes lol:

Simran puts a disc into the player—Madonna, The Cranberries, The Goo Goo Dolls, she’s squirreling them away with a little part of each paycheck.

Maybe once a week, she’ll put on one of her old tapes, something swing, or one of her father’s songs—she listens to them for only half a minute or so before she has to switch them off, and only when she’s alone, only when she can put the hurt away for later. She can never seem to hide these things from Raj. She only has one tape from her father, and it's been in the box long enough it's beginning to gather the lightest layer of dust.

Raj comes through the door just as the soft chords of “Linger” filter into the air, dripping water into the entryway. She can imagine him standing on the mat, beads of water on his coat catching the hallway light as he slips out of his shoes, and it’s all a poem: the rolling thunder underscoring the music, the fat drops rolling down the leaves and pouring from their waxy surfaces—

—right onto her face, and she opens her eyes to find Raj grinning down at her, his dimples on full display as a trickle of water disappears down her blouse.

“Chi—“ she scolds him as she pushes his head away, “I’ll have to clean all that up—“

“I’ll mop it,” he promises, folding one hand over hers where it still rests on his face. He presses his cheek to hers and she can smell his cologne, shivers at the cold dampness of his chest pressing into her back as she lets her eyes fall shut again.

“Come here,” she gently urges, tugging at his hand until he circles the sofa and sits next to her, and then until he lies down with her, both of them hopelessly wet now and bringing the upholstery down with them.

“How was it?”

“It was good,” she whispers, enjoying the soft puffs of his breath on her skin. “I liked the passage they picked.” She came home straight after the exam, the rain discouraging her from any larks to a cafe or the library.

“I was going to stop by the bakery on the way home, but this is an even sweeter surprise,” he says in a syrupy voice. She scoffs even while her chest flushes with warmth.

“Do you want me here waiting for you every day?” she teases.

“As nice as it would be to be greeted by the moon herself every night,” and he brushes a kiss across her cheek as she laughs, “Never. I’d never want to take you from school like that. From your life.”

“You’re my life, too.”

“Not like that,” he says, his voice so fond that she feels she could do anything right now and he’d not have a word against her. “Do you want to order in for dinner?” And he’s off to the latest banal concern, and she’ll never quite get used to how he sees the world, flipping through matters of such gravity and the smallest things like flicking on a switch.

“It’s not Friday.” Can we afford it, will we be good enough to cook Friday instead—

“We can swing it,” he says. “You like Indian?”

She tosses her pillow at his head.

[hotvintagepoll]

Propaganda

Suraiya or Suraiya Jamal Sheikh (Vidya)— Suraiya has it all as a blistering hot leading lady - moving from child actress to being acclaimed as a master of her craft as both an actress and a singer. Her eyes are soulful, sultry, with a depth of wisdom to her face that is unmatched. She entranced the leading men of Bollywood as well as Hollywood and deserves a space among the hottest vintage ladies.

Theda Bara (Cleopatra)—One of cinema's first female sex symbols. Nicknamed "The Vamp" due to her looks. The OG Goth Girl. She would be HUGE on Tumblr if she were around today!

This is round 3 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.

[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]

Suraiya:

Theda Bara:

She was simply nicknamed "The Vamp". Her sex appeal and typecasting was so intense that people actually thought that she lounged around half-naked and seduced men left and right in her free time.

She is one of the most famous and enduring faces in silent film and yet only 6 of her 43 films survived the 1937 Fox Vault Fire! 6! Think about what we could have had!

*Theeee* celluloid blueprint for both goth chicks and sexually-manipulative women--her persona was that of a "vampire", in the sense that would eventually be shortened into "vamp", although in truth she blended both definitions beautifully. Alas, the prints of most of her back-catalogue were lost to a studio fire in 1937, but enough survives to clearly demonstrate the fantasy of enticing danger that she was so kind as to serve us.

my favorite goth icon i want her gender

She's the original Vamp and first film sex symbol! She said: “The vampire that I play is the vengeance of my sex upon its exploiters. You see, I have the face of a vampire, but the heart of a feministe.” Many of her films were banned or severely cut by state and city censorship boards due to her revealing costumes and suggestive acting. She even sued the Chicago Funkhouser censorship board to let her film Cleopatra be shown in theaters. Riots broke out in theaters during showings of her film Kathleen Mavourneen. In contrast to her film persona, her private life was pretty quiet. She grew up in Cincinnati as Theodosia "Theda" Goodman, the Jewish daughter of immigrants, and had one happy marriage that lasted 30+ years until she died at age 69.

[srkshaju]

Swades (2004): A Journey Back to Roots, Finding Purpose, and Building Community

In the bustling world of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan has donned many hats: romantic hero, action star, comedic genius.

But amidst the glitz and glamour, one film stands out as a testament to his depth and versatility: Swades (2004).

More than just a movie, Swades is an experience. It's a poignant journey of Mohan Bhargava, a successful Indian scientist working at NASA, who returns to his village in India after years of chasing the American dream.

What awaits him isn't just nostalgia, but a stark reality of poverty, neglect, and a sense of lost identity.

Driven by a deep sense of responsibility, Mohan embarks on a mission to revitalize his village. He tackles basic issues like electricity and sanitation, and encourages the community to embrace self-reliance and education.

His journey isn't easy; he faces resistance, skepticism, and even mockery.

But Mohan's unwavering determination and genuine love for his people inspire them to rise above their circumstances.

Swades is not just about Mohan's personal transformation; it's a celebration of the human spirit. The film showcases the power of community, the resilience of the underprivileged, and the simple joy of human connection.

It reminds us that true success lies not in material wealth or professional achievements, but in making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Beyond its heartwarming narrative, Swades stands out for its technical brilliance. Ashutosh Gowariker's masterful direction captures the essence of rural India with breathtaking cinematography and evocative music by A.R. Rahman.

The film's soundtrack, a blend of traditional folk melodies and contemporary beats, perfectly complements the emotional journey.

Swades is a film that stays with you long after the credits roll. It challenges our definitions of success, rekindles our hope in humanity, and compels us to question our own priorities.

It's a reminder that even the smallest act of kindness can create ripples of change, and that true happiness lies in connecting with our roots and making a positive impact on the world around us.

If you're looking for a film that will touch your heart, inspire your soul, and leave you pondering the true meaning of life, Swades is a must-watch. It's a cinematic gem that transcends cultural barriers and speaks to the universal human experience.

So, grab your tissues, settle in, and prepare to be transported to a village in India where one man's journey becomes a testament to the power of love, hope, and the unwavering human spirit.

Here's why Swades is a must-watch:

A unique story: It's not a typical Bollywood film, offering a deeper exploration of social issues and personal growth.

Stellar performances: Khan delivers a career-defining performance, supported by a strong ensemble cast.

Heartfelt storytelling: The film beautifully captures the human experience of connection, purpose, and community.

Visually stunning: The cinematography showcases the beauty of rural India, adding depth to the story.

Timeless themes: Swades tackles universal themes that resonate with audiences across generations and cultures.

Share your thoughts on Swades in the comments below!

Have you seen the film?

What resonated with you most about the story?

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[carnivorousyandeere]

How the Two First Werecat Couples Met

Mehri and Tai

When Mehri and Tai met they were in college, it was pretty much love at first sight. But both of them were so bashful and unsure about whether the other felt the same; especially with Mehri being such a shy hopeless romantic, and Tai being a brash womanizer, they weren’t sure the other would like their personality.

All of their mutual friends were SO annoyed with them lmao. Like they would definitely get lost in each others’ eyes at parties and someone would yell at them to “Just kiss already!!!”

And both of them turn around all shocked and flustered, Mehri hiding her face and Tai being like “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUUUUT STOOOOOP 😭”

Once they (eventually 💀) realized the feeling was mutual it was a whirlwind romance and they got married pretty quickly. Tai in a mostly-white tux, and Mehri in a beautiful mermaid or trumpet gown, white at the top through the knees but then fading through the colors of the sunset from yellow, orange, pink, to deep purple at the very bottom 🥰

They have been unceasingly and disgustingly cute together ever since 😭💕

Varsha and Tasha

Varsha and Tasha were childhood friends since they were little; playing pretend together, watching musicals and Bollywood movies, sleepovers, the whole deal. Around the beginning of high school, Tasha developed a huge crush on Varsha but Varsha didn’t notice until one eventful prom season:

“Why are you turning everyone down? Thought you were excited about that fancy shit?” -Varsha, who’s been a little bit jealous of everyone trying to get close to Tasha but hasn’t yet realized it’s romantic jealousy rather than platonic jealousy.

“Because I want to go with you, dumbass!” -Tasha, tearing up, down to her final straw. Varsha was usually more perceptive than this; could she not see that Tasha was trying to make her jealous?!

Varsha had some huge epiphanies that day. The two of them have been going steady for years since then, through graduation, Tasha’s stint in an architecture program, and the birth of Varsha’s business, growing together and getting on each others nerves a little (affectionately) ever since 💕

[thereader-radhika]

Nostalgia

Dance Master Hiralal: Dance used to be 'dance' in those times - not as they do now... In the name of dance, they wear little tight clothes and ten-twenty boys perform P. T... and they call this dance.

-Zubeidaa (2001)

The dance master is talking about the difference between pre-independence era cinema and later Bollywood.

When you are old enough to remember the criticism faced by current favourites at the time they were introduced, it feels really weird. Many of these critisisms are actually valid if you examine them with an impartial mind but nostalgia can be really blinding. I am not talking about actual 'before its time' progressive content. Actors and performances which were considered mid at best are lauded as groundbreaking, films and books no one liked are hailed as 'underrated' masterpieces . . . the list goes on. Maybe there is no impartial mind and we are influenced by our own nostalgia and biases 🤣

For example when the then new Don was released in 2006, many people criticised the bad acting in some parts, especially SRK's performance as the street performer Vijay.

Kareena Kapoor was fat-shamed and she went on her own fat shaming spree against other actresses like Vidya Balan after she lost weight.

🤯

[thedimlaltain]

An Unsent Letter AND A Romance that Never Will Be

Dearest Caps,

Do you know I've sung love songs about you? You make me giggle like a stupid mess. Every couple of days, I develop a crush on you, that feels very new, but isn't.

This is a joyful letter. Do you know you're so fucking cute! Cats aren't supposed to be cute; how the fuck did you manage that. A close second to my favourite nephew. I feel so jumpy when you pull my legs. I don't even want to retaliate at that.

[This is a para in Hindi, basically lines in praise of her beauty, smile and laughter.] Arre, yeh toh badi jaldi khatam ho gaya. Mujhe toh laga tha lamba chalega. Meh, kya karein, itni hi acchayiyyan hai tujhmein. Teri smile kitni bekar hai pata hai? Aur teri hansi toh aur bhi ghatiya hai, tujhe hansta dekhkar saara mood kharab ho jata hai. Airport the jab tu mujhe lene aayi thi, pink plazzos, black kurti aur woh jhumke. Main toh shock mein chali gayi thi kuch seconds ke liye, bhoot dikh gaya ho jaise. I was so stunned -- activated the "what's the procedure" meme inside me.

I told you no, that I now officially identify as a liquid, well that's coz I melt when you're around. I melt looking at your pictures. I joke that I hope I don't evaporate coz that'd make me gender gaseous(this one is a stolen joke)!

You make me laugh and I like making you laugh, And I don't know whether our sense of humour matches or what but it's fun with you. Laughter is really essential to my being, as essential as finding or recognising or seeing beauty is. And I think having things light heared, to be able to have these moments, share these moments is nice. I think I'll get fed up of a friendship or a romance and get claustrophobic where there's little space and scope for sharing laughs.

When you pick up your phone to click my photo, I sink my face in my hand, "arre!” you say! Ab I wish I could explain to you, I feel nervous and shy and the butterflies start to kick in. Because when you pick up your phone, I KNOW that you are seeing me, AND I feel scared that you’ll see through me. That you’ll see in my eyes, the words that I try so hard to bury. So I hide my face, and in that I hide “Oh my god, I love you so much Capsey.”

Dil toh yahi chahta ahi ki table doosre chor par baith kar tumhari aankhon mein kho jaun [the heart just wants to sit across the table and get lost in your eyes.] I want to look in your eyes and see what they entail, what they have to tell. I want us to look into each other's eyes if that's what you want too. If and only if. I don't think friends do this, if this is what romance is, then be it. OR perhaps I;m romanticising eyes and weirdly staring into eyes too much, in which case, well! We have another thing to laigh about. And you can make fun of my cheese and bollywood. I wish I could ask you out on a date, I wish I could say, "I love you" to you sometimes. I LOVE YOU, you know. I want to flirt with you, and I want to let myself enjoy it. I want us to flirt with each other.

I feel bad, guilty for wriitng things I want from you. It feels selfish. But I want to be honest. It is what it is. Don't wanna hide it. Not from myself at the very least. From you, I probably will. I often find myself second guessing what to say to you. Consciously trying to decide whether what I say lies on this OR that side of the boundary. Whether I'll end up saying something overtly sexual or whether what I'll say is too "loving", as in the langauge makes you uncomfy or whether what I'll say will occupy too much space. I want to not second guess a lot of these times. I want some of these boundaries to disappear.

I am not exactly sure what romance is. You read a lot, nothing I'd say will be as poetic or as romantic as some of the things you've read. I'm not a poet, I'm a lover. I wish for us to find or make our own romance together. One that may or may not be in the books but it won't matter because it's ours. I so dearly want to find out with you what our romance could be.

I want to see the sparkle in your eyes when you come across something interesting, and when you find beauty and meaning and music and depth. And I want to bring hot water bags when your hands hurt from drawing. And cook halwa when you're cranky. You can be as cranky as you want. You don't have to hold it in.

For saying all of these wants, I know my hope isn't hope, but delusion rather.

And so, I just want to say, You take away cynicism from my life, and you know how cynical I am. You opened your arms and took me in and embraced me. I am so very grateful for that. I can't stop admiring how actively you live your life, how you take initiatives. I see that whatever you seek, you try to create and be part of processes that help you experience it. You don't yearn for what you seek, you live it. Everyday. You're so so kind. And authentic. And you create spaces so that people can be their authentic selves. How unafraid and unapologetic you are. I will forever be in gratitude for coming across you, and definitely in awe of you.

I love you.

[moviespopcorn]

Love aaj kal Film 2020 Review

Kartik Aaryan and Sara Ali Khan in Love aaj Kal 2020 Film Plot: The story of a boy and a girl who meet by chance in a club is the plot of this film. The boy disagrees with their attempts to be physical. The boy then follows the girl until they arrive at the café where she works. At the same time, the café owner's story continues. What takes place in the two stories? Will there be a happy ending to both stories? Will it be possible for the two couples to meet? Would they not cross paths at the end of either story? You must see the film in order to understand all of this. The film's tone and theme are romantic comedy and love and relationships, respectively. This movie was made to demonstrate how to find love and how today's youth think, including what they desire from a partner. Can they make sacrifices for one another and compromise in various ways to keep the relationship going? This movie depicts how today's youth view love, one-night stands, relationships, serious relationships, hookups, and marriage. Do they want to be solely focused on their careers, or do they want to pursue both? Characters and Acting: Kartik Aaryan has played two parts, Veer & Raghu. He has done both roles skilfully, and his acting reflects whatever was needed to play these parts. Whether it's a comedy scenes, a dance scenes, the pain of loneliness, or a love scenes, he has captured every emotions on screen. Additionally, noteworthy is Sara Ali Khan's performance as Zoe. Her facial expressions are superb, whether they are of anger, love, comedy, or the delivery of dialogues. She has a very important role to play, and she has performed it flawlessly. Additionally, Randeep Hooda's performance as Raj is distinct. He does a good job in the supporting role as well. He did a great job of expressing every emotion on his face, whether it was the joy of winning or the anguish of losing. Since she began her acting career with the film's director, Aarushi Sharma's performance in the role of Leena can be considered respectable. Her first Hindi film was Tamasha(2015). Additionally outstanding is Simone Singh's performance as Mrs. Chauhan. Written and Directed: Imtiaz Ali, a well-known figure in Bollywood for helming hit films like Jab We Met(2007), Love Aaj Kal(2009), Rockstar(2010), Highway(2014), Tamasha(2015) and Jab Harry met Sejal(2017) is the director of this movie. Although his directing in this movie is excellent as well, it appears that he has lost some of his control and the plot has veered off course. After seeing the film, it appears that he is dragging it along. The story-screenplay is weak as well, and although the dialogue is exceptional, the storyline is uninteresting and has been forced along. Cinematography: Amit Roy's is good; he did a great job filming the Himachal Pradesh and Udaipur scenes, and Delhi was also shown beautiful. Editing: Aarti Bajaj's is a little loose and slow, and it bores in some spots. It also moves slowly, and it could have shortened by making some cuts. Ishaan Chhabra's background score balanced. The choreography by Vijay Ganguly is passable. Costume Design: In keeping with his part in the movie, Aki Narula's are excellent. Production Design: The house and café designed by Suman Roy Mahapatra splendid. Sound Design: Excellent work by Dhiman Karmakar. Music: Shayad, Meharma, Parmeshwar, and Tanha are Pritam's three to four magnificent songs. Lyrics: Irshad Kamil wrote some good songs. Climax: Excellent work. Viewpoint: Only watch once! Those who enjoy romantic comedies should see this movie at least once. Message: When starting their lives, what should today's youth watch first? Love? Connections? Career? Getting married? Relationships and love, or both? One? Love or Career? Career or Relationship? They're also perplexed! There are explicit scenes in the film, such as kissing and undressing. Consequently, children shouldn't permitted to watch the film with their parents. CBFC Cuts & Modifications: Intimate scenes: The CBFC shortened another scene and cut a kissing scene between Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan, the main actors. Additionally, the CBFC omitted some private scenes and substituted a blow-up shot for a scene in which the actors undressing. Audio: The words “fk” and “f***g” were among those muted by the CBFC. They substituted “saale besharmo” for “haramzaadon” as well. Cleavage: After a scene of lovemaking, the CBFC requested that the makers blur the cleavage. CBFC-U/A Movietime-2h.21mins Genre-Romantic Drama Backdrop-HP, Delhi & Udaipur Release Year-14 February, 2020 Filmcast: Karthik Aaryan, Sara Ali Khan, Randeep Hooda, Aarushi Sharma, Simone Singh Produced: Dinesh Vijan, Imtiaz Ali, Script and Director: Imtiaz Ali Art Director: Trupti Chavan, Choreography: Vijay Ganguly Original Background Score: Ishaan Chhabra Costume Design: Aki Narula, Casting: Mukesh Chhabra, Lyrics: Irshad Kamil Sound Design: Dhiman Karmakar, Production Design: Suman Roy Mahapatra, Editor: Aarti Bajaj Music: Pritam, Cinematography: Amit Roy A Window Seat Films and Maddock Films Production Maddock Films, Jio Studios, Dinesh Vijan, Reliance Entertainment Presents Read the full article