#choices south Asian mc

[oceanatydes]

we could’ve had it all </3

[cadybear420]

Happy AAPI Month to the AAPI Characters of HSS! The canon characters, plus my Prime MC Jordan and OG MC Evie!

[rcgame-thoughts]

My reactions to Advent No. 3

(Warning: spoilers)

I actually lived in Japan during Attack on Titan’s peak popularity. It was everywhere. They even had a live action movie that a bunch of my coworkers rushed to see. Ironically, I never saw or read any of it. At that point, I had already passed my anime/manga phase — especially living in Japan. It’s so much darker when you experience it in Japan.

Anyway, fast forward a decade. Now I’m playing AN3 and everyone’s saying it’s a knock off of AOT. Well, since I haven’t actually read or seen any AOT, I can’t compare the two.

I will say, the AI prologue right off the bat was disappointing. It wasn’t visually appealing at all. It just looked lazy to me and didn’t set the right mood for me.

As someone not knowledgeable about AOT, the set up of the city and civilization was extremely detailed and confusing. There were so many divisions, sectors, subsectors, socioeconomic classes. Their military also had multiple factions. It was hard to keep track of everything and I honestly don’t remember any of it now.

I do like the MC sprites. I thought they were all very pretty. The first one kinda looks like Emma Watson when she smiles. Her name… Raina Rayne? 😬 Ick. It sounds awful. What bothers me the most about it is the lack of creativity. (Am I sensing a pattern here?) I always keep the default name, so now I’m stuck with it.

I thought the paid outfits in the first episode were really ugly. I chose the free option because I thought it was the least ugly choice. Little did I know I would be criticized for it by every single character for the remainder of the episode. 🙄 Even now knowing that, I still wouldn’t spend my 💎💎 on outfits that ugly.

The first LI introduced, Xander, is physically beautiful. His personality… 😒 He’s definitely a red flag. Slamming MC’s face into a door isn’t a great first impression. I’ll probably end up romancing him anyway because he’s hot.

The second LI is a woman named Maria Shu. Based on her surname, I was expecting her to be Chinese. No, she’s South Asian. I don’t know if that’s an actual South Asian name…? I’m really distracted by it. Thankfully, we only see her first name most of the time. Btw, she’s beautiful and has a cute personality. I romance male characters, so I didn’t choose her romance options. It still seemed to disappoint her even though I selected “men only” as my preference. Again, that was a little disappointing.

We meet the third LI in the same scene. I can’t remember his last name, but his first name is Zane. Xander and Zane sound really similar to me. It’s almost as bad as Raina Rayne. 😝 Also, we already had a Zain in The Desert Rose. Another creativity issue… Anyway, Zane is a polished military officer. It seems he will be the male sweetheart option.

The last LI is a famed reporter named Adriana Keyword. 😬 Idk what’s up with these names! 😂Her personality reminds me of Effie White from Hunger Games. She’s privileged and people’s suffering is just background noise to her. At least, that’s the impression I got so far.

There are multiple monsters. So far we’ve seen a giant ape monster, flying creatures that look like abominations from HSR, and a giant worm monster like the ones in Dune.

The MC does a lot of running and attempts to save a little girl. But you have to pay 77 💎💎 for it. (Everything costs 77 💎💎!) She ends up in a shelter and is ultimately selected by Keyword to be her puppet. For what? We don’t know yet.

I was really excited going into this book. I love dystopian stories. I love kaiju movies. But I’m not too excited anymore. I’m not digging the outfits. None of the LIs interest me. Again, I’ll probably go for Xander purely based on his looks. I don’t like that we’re manipulated into spending our diamonds. We need 💎💎 for the ugly outfits, to start a conversation with an LI, to save innocent children, to enter the shelter… It’s very very expensive.

I really really hope things get better in the next episodes. So far this is disappointing. There better be some really good action — both against the monsters and with the LIs.

[oblivious-melodies]

I can’t believe I’m only just finding your IF now! Especially since there are 5 chapters out, which I’ve just binged in one go. This is completely up my alley with the historical-inspired fantasy genre & a genderlocked female MC. Your writing flows beautifully and is perfectly suited for the time period, it made me feel immersed in the setting.

I think my fave aspect is having two MCs with alternating POVs, which not many IFs do. I wasn’t sure I’d like it since I usually only play IFs as a female MC, but Ambrose is likeable and I really feel for him due to everything he’s been through (the flashback with Felix :( ). Although maybe I’m biased because I still like Artemisia a bit more. Her perspective as someone starting out on the “wrong side of history” and a bit more entrenched in the societal conditioning she was brought up with is interesting and I’m excited to see her character arc develop.

I really like the sibling dynamic, especially how differently they think of each other, their family, home, and their persectives on the same topics/situations. You can feel how their life experiences affect this, with Art being more sheltered due to gender roles, whilst Ambrose got to go off to university, meet different types of people, and travel to multiple countries - something i’m sure Art was jealous of, especially one that focuses on learning. It’s just funny that Ambrose thoughts allude to casual premartial sex, but Art takes a hit to her reputation just for going to a childhood friend’s house without a chaperone.

Also I’m not sure if i’m reading this correctly, but it felt like Art thought of Ambrose and their childhood more fondly than vice versa. I’m guessing it’s because she’s younger and her world is still relatively small, it seems like she never met a kindred spirit like Ambrose had in Felix, so comparatively he was a bigger part of her world than she was of his. Seeing the siblings reunite is what I’m most looking forward to, although I’m sure it will be a while off yet.

I really liked the other characters too, Ambrose/Jacob was unexpected but sweet, and Hyder is growing on me 👀 (although I’m worried about how fervent he is about the cause 😭). I’m not sure what the real world equivalent would be for Hyder’s background, but as someone who’s British (South) Asian I thought his character was well done and makes sense (although I may be reading stuff into his characterisation that isn’t there lol). I’m interested how the themes of class, gender, race, colonialism, etc. will continue to be tackled because it’s been done well here in a way that interests me more than most IFs.

I saw you wanted feedback as well, so the main thing I’d say is that it’d be nice to have more choices at times. Even though the MCs are set characters sometimes I wished to have a bit more input. Also is there any way to add saves within each chapter? Anyway sorry this ask is ridiculously long, I can’t wait to see how ch6 goes! <3

Hello!! thank you so much for your lovely thoughtful message - I read it last night and wanted time to properly address all of your comments, it was such a joy to find it in my inbox!

I'm really glad you're enjoying the dual characters - the scope of the game is very wide, and it's more a portrait of a society and a country than it is a single person. But then, it would also be impossible to show that in all of its variety through the eyes of just one individual, due to the trappings of gender, class, and race. Though they are still family, and share an ethnic background and social class, Ambrose and Artemisia's experiences and opinions are profoundly shaped by their gendered upbringings - I'm really happy that that fact shines through in the narration. Though Artemisia is frustrated by her misogynistic society, she's also not immune to contributing to those forces, too. Likewise, Ambrose is also designed to somewhat express how damaging the binarism of gender in this society is to its citizens. They definitely also perceive their family and childhood very differently - you might wonder how trustworthy those recollections are...

I'm particularly happy to know how well Hyder has been received - he's probably my favourite character in the game. And you're right - Hyder does draw inspiration from real-life histories of Anglo-Indian encounters. There's a painting, specifically one from I think 1807, of a biracial family in India with a child, which I think specifically sparked the idea for his character (though he isn't designed to be from one singular real-world nation)! In writing about empire and race, I'm aware I'm necessarily dealing with a large white hegemony - but I also wanted to show that Regency society was not without its diverse aspects, and that should be more of a feature as the narrative progresses. I'm not a person of colour myself, so to hear that you've found something meaningful and resonant about his character is really good to hear - I want to make sure my depiction is respectful, but also nuanced and memorable at the same time!

I'm a researcher of this period, and so overall it's really nice to hear that my writing has that sense of authenticity! I think I was really frustrated at how much Regency romance has been depoliticised and idealised, especially when in academia there's so much focus currently on addressing how even the most innocuous aspects of the period were connected to larger systems of empire, class, and industry - even romance itself, because marital and romantic choices were themselves fraught with huge social and economic repercussions.

It's really helpful to hear constructive critiques as well! A few of my friends helping me with playtesting have talked about the possibility of including more choices and I think that's a very fair criticism. It's particularly an issue with Ambrose's chapters so far, he's a lot more railroaded than his sister (mainly as he's having to exist in seclusion rather than having access to her same social and physical mobility). That will change soon, however... and yes, I'd really like to be able to implement a save function! Apologies for limitations like these - I am relatively very new to Twine and my knowledge does have its boundaries. I'll look into it as a possibility - I'm aware it would make playthroughs that much easier for readers! Thank you so much again, this message really made my day! :)

[milaswriting]

I know it was a really small thing but it was cool to see that a sari was an option for The Grand Royalton! Like I was in shock over it as a South Asian so thank you for that!!

I’m glad you liked that choice! I love adding representation when I can, and because my coding knowledge is a little better I can do that. I know every mc who wore a sari at the Grand Royalton looked spectacular <3

[blissentertainment0]

The Premier Choice for Indian Wedding DJ and Asian Wedding DJ Services in Birmingham

When it comes to creating unforgettable wedding celebrations, music plays a central role in setting the mood and energizing the crowd. For couples planning their big day, Bliss Entertainment is the go-to name for professional and high-energy DJ services in Birmingham. Specializing as an Indian wedding DJ Birmingham and a top-tier Asian wedding DJ, Bliss Entertainment brings a unique blend of tradition, modernity, and expert showmanship that transforms every event into a vibrant celebration.

Bliss Entertainment understands that Indian and Asian weddings are not just ceremonies—they are grand festivals filled with emotion, color, and rich cultural traditions. From the sangeet and mehndi to the wedding reception, each event has its own rhythm, and the music must match the mood perfectly. This is where Bliss Entertainment excels. With a deep understanding of Bollywood, Bhangra, Gujarati Garba, Tamil hits, and a wide variety of Asian fusion music, their DJs curate custom playlists that reflect the couple’s taste and keep the dance floor alive.

As an experienced Indian wedding DJ in Birmingham, Bliss Entertainment offers more than just great music. They bring a full-service experience that includes high-quality sound systems, dazzling lighting setups, LED dance floors, and even dhol players and MCs to hype up the crowd. Their attention to detail and professionalism ensures everything runs smoothly, allowing the couple and guests to enjoy the celebration without any stress.

For those seeking an Asian wedding DJ with a versatile style, Bliss Entertainment is known for blending traditional music with Western hits, creating a seamless flow that appeals to guests of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you want a romantic vibe during dinner or a high-energy dance party during the reception, the Bliss team knows how to read the room and deliver exactly what’s needed.

One of the biggest advantages of choosing Bliss Entertainment is their personalized service. The team works closely with each couple to understand their vision, preferred genres, cultural elements, and special requests. This customized approach ensures that the event feels truly personal and memorable for everyone involved.

In conclusion, for couples seeking a professional, energetic, and culturally experienced Indian wedding DJ in Birmingham or a top-rated Asian wedding DJ, Bliss Entertainment is the perfect choice. With a commitment to quality, passion for music, and a deep understanding of South Asian celebrations, Bliss Entertainment guarantees a wedding experience that guests will talk about long after the last dance.

[cadybear420]

when it seems like most books nowadays are single LI ones on an app called Choices… I think that’s where we’re starting to run into problems

This is exactly my problem too. The first few single LI books I played, I could shrug off as "they want it to be a story about the relationship with this particular character". But then in late 2021, pretty much every story is either single customizable LI or double customizable LI and IDK how that isn't anything other than laziness.

With the exception of BOLAS 2 which is a sequel to a 2020 book, in these past two years there have been only 2 stories that had non-customizable LIs: WTD and MAH. And even MAH had Tyler be customizable, though it's not as glaring in this case.

I don't think every LI always has to have their race/ethnicity/sexuality/gender/etc. inherently matter in the story. DLS for example- the book is campy shameless fun smut, it's not exactly necessary for f!Charlie to talk about her different experience as a female carpenter.

But a lot of the time, it can make the character feel so much more authentic. Whether it's the big explicit stuff like Andy being targeted on the team for being Asian and trans (and short), some of the more subtextual/subtle stuff like Aiden's parents' unfair treatment of him, or even down to the little things like Ajay calling MC "janu" ("my dear" in many South Asian languages) when they're dating.

But when EVERY LI in your recent stories is customizable, you pretty much nerf any chances of having that form of authenticity for your LIs. It's understandable that Charlie's race and gender wouldn't matter all that much in a book like DLS. But what about in a book like SOD where there's tons of historical context that would significantly change the experiences for a female and/or POC Theo? If Theo was canonically set as a POC woman the story would be more likely to address her specific experiences, but since they're GOC... not so much.

Tbh I don’t miss multiple LI options in choices books because they rarely ever balanced having many li at once with the amount of scenes and dialogue given to them.

A prime example of this is TE. They focused heavily for MANY chapters IN A ROW on Beckett in both books and gave dust to the other LI until it was their time. They have proven they cannot balance many li at once when they have a clear (white male) favorite each time.

[evmonteri]

Male MC In fairy form in fanmade book idea.

I thought that mc could have two choice of being fairy: Moon Fairy or Sun Fairy. Also, in my idea also choosable MC Albino, Native American, Black and South Asian.

[actualbird]

character analysis: nxx investigation team, biological family, found family

wc: 1.1k

disclaimer: spoilers for character backstories within and i can no longer remember if it's in future cn server or global server, also these are all just my OWN interpretations and opinions, also it's 7:30AM here and i wrote this very quickly

so the biogical families (aka families related by blood) of everybody in the nxx investigation team are hugely fascinating to me. this is because each of their biological families creates a character that would LOVE to have the found family (aka people who are not biologically related coming to form very close bonds with each other) trope

lemme go thru everybody one by one

marius is the most obvious. the von hagen family isnt just a huge presence in society but a huge presence in his life. hes never just been marius hes always been marius von hagen. his family has a history and thanks to circumstances (cough, giann just blooping off of the face of the earth, cant wait to see u, giann!!!) a huge responsibility has been put on marius' shoulders to continue what the family does whether he likes it or not. in some card stories, it is implied that marius is seen by others as the weakest link in the von hagen family. hes a brat hes a kid he doesnt know what hes doing. marius is bombarded with responsibility and people doubting if he can follow through.

artem is a bit more lowkey than marius but his biological family also has a history. both his parents are also renowned lawyers and if im not mistaken, it was mentioned somewhere that those parents had Huge Expectations for him in terms of success and shit. his responsibility to carry on the family history is more muted than marius' but also more consistent, if that makes sense? marius had to be a von hagen only after giann disappeared while artem had to be a wing since he was a kid. the responsibility on artem's shoulders is both something that was placed onto him and something he perpetuates himself.

the above two are examples of biological families with a legacy, so to speak. it's clear that marius and artem, despite their family, worked hard independently to be the competent people they are today. their success is because of them. but one of the reasons why they had to go to do that is partly because they know that they dont exist in a vaccuum. they arent just their own person. they are a member of their last name's legacy.

(which, sidenote: marius and artem's family shit is, among the boys, the most glaringly culturally asian to me, HAHA. ofc i cant speak for all asians, but personally as a south east asian, the attitude of "carrying on the family legacy" and "you are not just you, you are your biological family" is just. ive seen those types of families, ive met them. hell, im IN ONE. moving on.)

vyn is a bit trickier. SPOILERS AHEAD, but vyn is the son of a duke, lol. hes a fuckin royal blood. absolute hilarity to me but he obviously hated it and made a choice to actively leave it. he did not erase his biological family history, he just skedaddled from it. noped himself out of there and then established himself as an individual independent from his royal bloodline. the background of his family is hugely still apparent in him but he doesnt rely on them and doesnt do anything for them as well. this is his life now, he seems to be saying. fuck off, he says as well, elegantly.

luke is depressing, but whats new. his biological family was ripped away from him the moment his parents died and he became an orphan. in a literal sense, he has no more blood history. theres no legacy, theres no responsibility, theres no past Pearce to call on. of course, he did get taken in by mc's family and that did come with its own set of history and legacy, but it's a bit different because he was adopted (and bc mc's fam history is...well, thats in the next paragraph). but yeah, luke doesnt have a biological history.

and lastly, mc. mc's family (aside from growing up with luke) is largely left up to interpretation. her parents were there during childhood and at some point disappeared for a "secret government research" which lord, i hope that gets addressed at some point jKBJSKF. but mc has some kind of biological history. we just dont get to see it.

vyn, luke, and mc have biological family situations that are more focused on the Lack Of It. vyn left, luke lost, and mc just has [REDACTED] over hers. they all, like marius and artem, establish themselves independently and work hard to be who they are now but theres less of a looming shadow of family legacy over them.

so whats this about found family?

i love nxx investigation team found family. ever since i started playing this game, i wanted all five of these idiots to come and love each other one way or another. but looking at all of their biological families, it makes me even happier because now i realize that these five idiots would very much enjoy a found family.

heres the thing (among many things) about found family that sets itself out from biological family: it's a blank slate that can only be written on by the members of the unit.

biological family, well, thats been there before you were even born. you can write the future, but the past is set in stone. you can make choices on how to deal with it but you cant change what has already happened. found family is a collaborative effort of a new history. a new chapter. one where everybody present has not only the choice but the power to make whatever this is mean whatever they want it to mean.

to metaphorize: biological family does not dictate who you are but their fingerprints, so to speak, will always be on you. found family also does not dictate who you are, but for once, theres no fingerprints of the past. it's new and youve got a say somehow in how the love of it can play out.

i feel like all of them need this. a blank page that can be built from the bottom up. no legacies or histories or lacks or whatever. just like

a bunch of people stumbling into the nxx hq and eventually, one by one, saying to themselves "yeah, im gonna ride or die for these idiots."

and then setting forth to write their story together.

[choicesfanaf]

A Cure For Homesickness

For Choices July Challenge 2022, Day 28- Recipe

Pairing: Ethan Ramsey x f!MC (Arundhati Kulkarni)

Characters: Ethan Ramsey, Arundhati Kulkarni

Word Count: 612 words

Rating: General

Category: Fluff

Summary: Ethan makes a delicious meal for Arundhati.

A/N: Rajma Chawal is a South Asian dish which consists of a kidney bean curry, served with rice.

Tagging: @openheartfanfics, @choicesficwriterscreations, @choicesjuly2022challenge, @jamespotterthefirst, @rookiemartin

It had been a tiring day for Arundhati. She had to look after many patients and had to deal with two PITAs in the day. It was a stressful day and she wanted to do nothing but melt on the couch and relax with Ethan, watching something he liked.

Meanwhile, Ethan was busy in the kitchen, making Aru's favourite food for her. It was one of the rare times when he was home before her. Ethan wanted to take full advantage of that and do something thoughtful for her. So, he had asked for the recipe of Rajma Chawal, her favourite homemade food from her mother. He knew Aru had been feeling a little homesick and thus decided to surprise her. 

He silently hoped that his efforts wouldn't go to waste, and that Aru would like and enjoy eating it.

That's when the doorbell rang, pulling him out of his thoughts. 

When he opened the door, he saw a fatigued Arundhati looking back at him. That's when he realised how much her routine was taking a toll on her. Thus, he planned to take her on a vacation as soon as he could.

Meanwhile, Aru felt relaxed the moment she saw Ethan's frame standing in front of her. He had a magical way of making her feel better just by being near her. 

Her nostrils noticed a wonderful smell in the air the moment she entered the apartment. 

"Honey, what did you make for dinner today? It smells awesome."

"Love, you'll only find out once you get freshened up."

"E, please let me see what you have made. Then I'll happily freshen up," she said, pouting in such a way that Ethan would find it difficult to resist.

"No way, darling. I know what you are trying to do. You shall only find it out after you freshen up."

"You are no fun, Ethan! Why must you torture me so?"

"Come on, love. The longer you take, the later you will get to taste the food."

"Okay, Dr Grumpypants. I'm going."

When Aru returned, she saw that Ethan had plated the dish wonderfully and had set the table with a bouquet of sunflowers, her favourite flowers. 

"Ethan, this looks so delicious! And it smells so aromatic, yum!"

"Honey, I can see that. Your mouth is watering like crazy."

"Hey! You know how much I love food, especially homemade stuff. And that I have been craving this for ages. So don't blame me, Ramsey."

"I won't, Kulkarni. I won't. Now can we please dig in? I'm hungry, babe."

"Mmm, Ethan, this tastes just like my mom makes it. How did you do it? Did you order it from a restaurant? Or did you ask her for the recipe?"

"Yes, darling. I did. I noticed how homesick you were feeling, so I called up your mom just to have a chat and get this recipe."

"So, you sweet talked her into giving the recipe, and she obliged? Wow. She's never even told me the recipe, but now, she readily gave it to you? She definitely prefers you over me, babe."

"I guess I'm her favourite now, Aru."

"Yes, you are. Also, you are the best boyfriend in the world, darling. Seriously, thanks a lot for this. You have no idea how much I needed this."

"That's why we are going to visit your family in a month, babe. So, start packing your bags soon."

"Wait.. when did you even plan the trip?"

"Just a few minutes ago."

"And how will we get the days off?"

"Aru, you are forgetting that you are dating the chief of Edenbrook."

"You are truly the best boyfriend ever!"

[oceanatydes]

finally I can be brown and nonbinary in the blades universe <3

[cadybear420]

Getting to know people better

Thanks to @peonierose, @tveitertotwrites, and @aces-and-angels for the tags!

Last song: I don't remember... I think the intro theme song to "From Russia With Love". That shit slaps.

Favorite color(s): Either purple, green, or black.

Currently watching: Nothing new. Mainly just YouTube video essays. Also rewatching some episodes of Garfield and Friends.

Last movie: In theaters: I think Oppenheimer? It was alright but I could not deal with that fucking theater seat for a 3 hour movie lol. At home: Everything Everywhere All At Once. It uh... quite surprised me. A bit of a fever dream, but it was mostly a fun one.

Currently reading: Books-wise: It's been a while since I read an actual book. I'm hoping to get back into it but I'm not sure what to start with. Choices-wise: I'm on my SEVENTH fucking replay of OG HSS, for the purpose of making a record of all the choices I make in the game so I can better construct my MC Evie's personality. And also so I can see Aiden again. I'm also diamond-mining The Billionaire's Baby, and I have a bunch of other books on hiatus.

Sweet/spicy/savory: Sweet and savory. I never liked spicy foods much despite being South Asian lol.

Last thing I Googled: "this is how terfs think skeletons work"

Current obsessions: OG HSS. I hate that even though I'm on my 7th playthrough, I've never made an actually different MC from Evie. I have tried Evie in a few different routes– I had her romance Michael in two playthroughs, do band in one playthrough, and I did a sort of a semi-"you suck" playthrough prior to the current one. But I've never actually played as a different MC, and there are so many different routes and route combos to try and SO LITTLE TIME ARRRGGGHH AND I ALSO PLAN TO DO MY SECOND PLAYTHROUGH OF HSS:CA SO I CAN GIVE IT A SECOND CHANCE AND MAKE HEADCANONS ABOUT WHAT THE OG GANG WAS UP TO DURING THAT TIME AND I ALSO HAVE PERSONAL SHIT IRL AGH- [cady.exe has stopped working] Sorry bout that, shit gets overwhelming

Currently working on: A timeline documentation of all the in-game choices for my HSS MCs Evie (OG) and Cher (CA). So I can better construct who they are as characters and other headcanons like what happens off-screen. I'm in the middle of writing a fanfic about that roller rink trip MC and Aiden go to with Aiden's parents in Book 2, it's going great so far but I'm stuck on how to end it.

i'll tag: Anyone who wants to participate

[rcgame-thoughts]

Albinism in RC?

I can’t help but notice the multiple albino characters in RC. Vanora, Somnus, Amen… Now there is an MC sprite in Advent No. 3 that appears to have albinism as well — though she has some noticeable pigment in her skin.

I wonder what it is that RC continues to depict characters this way? Of course, albino people need representation too… But is it a true depiction? Or is the albinism used merely for the aesthetic? To appear somehow exotic or unique? Or is it an extreme form of whitewashing?

In Vanora’s case, I think this was a conscious choice by the author. Vanora was isolated her entire life due to her appearance. She had a similar upbringing as Ellaire, but also suffered poor treatment from her family. It gives her a stronger sense of compassion and awareness of how cruel her family can be. Her albinism was part of her identity and impacted her life.

In Amen’s case, there’s almost no mention of his condition. He doesn’t suffer from any eye problems or light sensitivity. He barely covers up in the sun. It hasn’t hurt his career. There are no social consequences. Sometimes I wonder if it was just an excuse to make him look more Caucasian — as if the albinism would hide his obviously white features.

Maybe I’m making a big deal out of nothing. Maybe I’m just thinking these things because the whitewashing of POC characters is really really obvious... (This is a subject for another post. 🧐)

If RC wants to add another MC sprite, why not another ethnicity? Asia’s a huge continent. South, Southeast, East all look different. Or a demographic that hasn’t been used yet. Pacific Islander? Native American? Arab? OR an albino sprite that is not white — black or Asian albino? Is this just wishful thinking here?

[the-paris-of-people]

Hi. This is really not a question but more of a rant. A really really long one. I apologize in advance. I honestly care waaaaayyyy too much about this show than I should. Clearly too bored🙈.

After reading people's comments on this show and the ships, there are so many things that irk me and I thought I'd share even if I might get crap for it. So here goes:

1. "Ben only wants Devi when she is with Paxton." I.e. it's about Paxton. Lol people are funny. As though Ben thinks he can compete with Paxton on a social level. He's not stupid, he knows full well he can't. It's about Devi and in part her obsession with Paxton. People don't like thinking about things from Ben's perspective because they just don't like him. He's the one that finds out Devi is cheating, she runs after Paxton at the party ( now granted before she runs out, she's intensely staring at Ben and then realises Paxton is leaving but Ben's not gonna remember that) and she was busy chumming it up with Paxton in episode 3 in front of Ben with absolute disregard for him. So his natural defence is to guard himself and have his walls go up. It is a valid response. He burries his pain (exactly what Samberg said). And does not let his guard down around her romantically until episode 10 when Paxton literally rejects her at school. At the school dance, sparks are flying between those 2. Is Paxton around at the time...Uhm no (I'll get into the whole Aneesa thing). In his mind Paxton is out of the picture and it's like he can almost trust her again. And then when Paxton shows up with Devi, he basically feels like a fool for ever thinking that he was ever something more than 2nd best or sometimes anything at all ( especially considering Devi still wants Paxton after Devi and Paxton's last public interaction that Ben witnessed- I mean he does not get to see the shit behind closed doors). But then when Eleanor spills the tea, that look on his face is disbelief, yes a little bit of jealousy but overwhelmingly heartbreak. He is essentially watching the chance he never knew he had go away. Now you could argue that he should have known that she wanted him back but she broke his trust and does not explicitly say, " I want you back". Ben's not trying to get burnt again based on some assumption/hunch. He has been wrong before.

2. "How dare Ben be upset that Devi is with Paxton when he is with Aneesa". Fair point. Just like how dare Devi be upset and lose her shit over Ben and Aneesa. But yet it still happend. Devi gets 5 episodes allowing her to be upset and Ben can't even have one moment when a firkken bomb gets dropped on him.

Aneesa and Ben should have never date. Everyone knows that. He was never over Devi. He just pushed those feelings down to make him believe he was over her. I obviously don't agree with this. Aneesa doesn't deserve that. Ben needs to go to therapy. He needs an outlet. He is similar to Devi in that he doesn't want to process what happened and would rather move on and react. However, his reactions are far less impulsive/severe as Devi's. Him dating Aneesa is unfortunately a reaction. He didn't give himself time to really process how he feels. People say he dated Aneesa solely to spite Devi which is not true. Is there an element of " you never wanted me but someone else does"... absolutely but Aneesa is also very kind to Ben, they get along really well and she puts him first. Technically what's not to like. I mean if it was just to spite Devi, could he have not tried to hustle his way back in with Shira?? Problem is that dumb dumb didn't work through his Devi feelings and let's just be honest, the same spark and chemistry he has with Devi, is missing with Aneesa. It often feels forced, especially in regards to the pace of the relationship. I so wished Aneesa remained friends with Ben. That's what he needed...not another relationship.

3. "Aneesa is so amazing, she doesn't deserve to get hurt." I agree. She absolutely doesn't deserve to get hurt just like Ben and Paxton didn't deserve that crap Devi pulled. I think Aneesa is a great addition and I like that Devi has someone within her community to connect to. I'm South Asian myself and I genuinely value this aspect of my own life. I mean she is pretty great, kind and the anorexia rumour Devi unintentionally started was pretty heartbreaking. That scene where she talks to Devi at the relay about it, is so sad (especially coz we as viewers know Devi messed up). Now that being said is Aneesa also low key shady? YES. And it's not because she dated her friend's ex. It's because she started dating him knowing that Devi started the rumour about her because she was jealous about Ben and her. How does she think Devi would go from being so jealous that she starts a rumour, to the next week becoming their biggest "Stan". Come on girl. But there was no way Devi could say no after the crap she pulled with Aneesa. Ben did ask her out so if there is blame, he absolutely gets it too but he didn't know why Devi started that rumour (based on his surprised AF face when Eleanor spills the tea). Which leads me to my next question. Why didn't Aneesa tell him? Aneesa said Ben was supporting her through the rumour. She probably told him Devi started the rumour but didn't tell him why? That is odd? Clearly if Ben had known, he may changed his perspective on Devi actually wanting him instead of ignoring his feelings.

Lastly Aneesa knows there are unresolved feelings between Devi and Ben. This is evident from that dance scene. She literally runs to cut in their pretty intense conversation. Like why you running girl? I didn't think much of it at first but coupled with another moment, it makes a lot of sense. When Ben agrees to dance with Aneesa, he looks back at Devi and lingers and Aneesa picks up on this and pulls him away. It's a blink and you will miss it moment but it is there.

Now all of this doesn't mean she needs to get hurt but they probably need to break up. Ben needs to be single for a while and work through how he feels about Devi, Aneesa and most importantly himself. Whilst I don't particularly enjoy their relationship, you never get to see it from either of their perspectives. Maybe that could change things but honestly I just prefer Ben and Devi.

Also can everyone stop acting like Ben is dating Devi's best friend. Being brown doesn't make you automatically best friends and Ben and Devi met Aneesa the same week. People are acting like he is dating Eleanor.

4. "Devi chose Paxton". Please! The only thought through decision that girl made in regards to these 2 boys is when she chose herself and decided not to be Paxton's little secret. I mean in episode 1 and 2 she can't decide so she dates both. In episode 3, she interacts with Paxton because of the whole tutoring thing. He says they don't makes sense. While she seems a bit sad she doesn't seem too upset like she is season 1 and she isn't looking for any opportunity to spend time with him (unlike season 1). Episode 4,5,6,7 and 8 she is losing her mind over Ben. Half way through 8 she knows she has no choice but to let him go. But even after that she doesn't pursue Paxton. He does that at the end of episode 9 when in all honesty she hasn't really thought about him in a while. Then of course Paxton does what he does and she finally choose herself, issuing an ultimatum essentially. Paxton does eventually show up...but it's a choice by default. She just yo-yo's between them. She also needs to be single, deal with her loss, love herself and think about what she wants.

5. "Devi loves Paxton". Sure bud. Does have Devi have feeling for Paxton? Duh! But is it love. Nope. People like to confuse infatuation for love. She has been infatuated with this boy this the 3rd (she knew squat about him). When her dad died, she turns that infatuation into an obsession. It like becomes a full time hobby in season 1. She ruins relationships over it. In season 2 you can argue there is more depth to it and Paxton does grow in Season 2. But somehow she is still fixated on the fact that it's Paxton Hall-Yoshida. I mean she smells him (totally normal), Mc Enroe's comment at the relay was, "did this hunk of beef just say he likes spending time with her", when she breaks up him she says , "you are very good at kissing" not possibly any of his other good qualities. And at the end she says , "I guess I'm Paxton Hall Yoshida's girlfriend now". This boy is so far up a pedestal that if he fell of it, he'd break something. Now granted if he fell of it in Season 1, he'd be dead. So progress I guess...

Maybe the relationship will change in Season 3 and she genuinely falls in love with him. I mean Id be sad but obviously a real possibility. But also that relationship needs to move on from being just the "Paxton project" which it was basically all of season 2. Maybe actually talk about her every once in a while.

Also people who find the ending so amazing because he shows up...bare minimum bro. I understand his perspective, how does it look to go back with someone who cheated on you. Fair point 💯. However she didn't start this shit up again. He did. He liked her so much that he had to make out with her In the middle of the night out of the blue but not enough to respect her publically. That's some BS right there. If he started it, he should have thought it through instead of guilt tripping her. But he is a teenager and ALL of them make incredibly stupid decisions (we all have). Devi messed up big time too and she apologized. The same compassion must extend to him but in no way is it a grand gesture, it's the bare minimum...like her apologies

6. "Paxton forgave Devi forgave Devi so quickly whilst Ben didn't and was so mean". He did forgive her pretty quickly. Good for him. However let's not act like circumstance didn't carve the way for that. They were pushed together because of the whole tutoring thing and he knows that they have to see each other all the time. So logically just makes sense to keep the peace. But still mature oh his part. Also he wasn't as emotionally invested as Ben. Did he have feelings? Yes. However, based on his inner monologue (Gigi Hadid) his ego took more of a hit because how could Devi, the "weirdest girl" he ever liked two time him with Ben Gross. Did his feelings deepen by the end? Yes. But at the start...it isn't that deep.

Also it's great and all that he "forgave" her so quickly but he sure did like bringing it up a lot. Like at the relay guilting her, upset at the end of 6 because he failed...I mean wtf girl you owe me- I don't really care what else is going on in your life, again in episode 8 in the car and finally we all know the mess that is episode 10.

In regards to Ben. His anger is justified for reasons stated in point 1. In fact his reaction seems more real because he is deeply hurt by Devi. Do I like some of his reaction (i.e. nose piercing-will discuss this further) ...nope but she only sincerely apologises to him in episode 8 vs 3 for Paxton. He accepts it. People acting like they would be so calm and chill about being cheated on. And yes he did cheat on Shira. He tries to kiss Devi at party twice but apologises that day and the following week. He doesn't try anything with Devi the whole of episode 10 until she kisses him. He acknowledges that it was wrong and immediately breaks up with Shira. Although cheating is not something we should condone can we actually acknowledge that Shira was the worst and doesn't even remember Ben's name. Compare that to Devi's premeditated cheating. Her Eleanor are literally laughing at how amazing they are for pulling it off and Devi didn't care about either of their feelings cause she was going to be India. Sorry but that is far worse. She also thinks she can bullshit her apology with Ben. He isn't here for that...which is fine! He kept trying his level best to avoid her but even that she wouldn't let him do.

7. "Ben is Horrible". Has Ben done some shitty things. Absolutely. People complain that he has never apologised for anything. Fair enough. He needs to apologize for the UN comment and the psychosomatic comment. It was incredibly hurtful. However, no one does call him out of it. Now you could argue he should just do it. Please... have you watched these particular set of teenagers? None of them apologise without being called out on it first(except maybe Fabiola). And you only get called out my your support system ... which Ben does not have. He practically looks like he raised himself. He doesn't have parents to put him back in line or a sister to call him out on his shit. Devi has her mom, cousin, grandmum , Elanor, Fabiola and her therapist. Does she ever listen to them the first time? Nope. And her first time apologies are such messes. She only gets it right the 2nd or 3rd time. All of them have some form of support but not really him. And it is heartbreaking. It's why I genuinely believe he needs to go to therapy. He needs an outlet to express everything he feels. He also needs to be held accountable for those comments and understand the root of it (ok let's be honest Devi even in their rivalry was probably the most constant person in his life, and fighting with her meant she stayed close by- it's a subconscious thing). He should apologize to her and also find better ways to communicate what he is feeling. The nose ring thing was manipulative. I agree. He should apologize. But I'm not gonna lie, it doesn't piss me off as much because I think it's pretty messed that it took that for her to realise how much she hurt him. Also tbh if you were willing to alter your body on a 2 minute thought out dare, you wanted to do it anyway. But again not a healthy way to emote on Ben's part. The David thing doesn't upset me because he knows how to pronounce her actual name. It's not like he doesn't know how and doesn't bother to try. It was part of their rivalry to irritate her. I honestly find it quite endearing as part of their friendship and think Devi does. I may be wrong and she may not like it and in that case he needs to stop and apologize.

I am not upset by him coming over to her house and calling her out about Aneesa. She deserved it. Also if she was that uncomfortable she could have taken him outside to talk like she did with Paxton. She is clearly comfortable enough to have him in the house. And her therapist agrees with Ben. If he hadn't, she wouldnt have known that Aneesa was leaving. Her mom took away her phone. And even then her first attempt at an apology was soooooo bad. And I don't think Ben did it solely to get Aneesa to stay so he could date her. This is Ben, he was willing to do long distance with Devi from India, I think he could have done the same with Aneesa from like the same town 🙄

I genuinely like Ben because he is a good kid. He makes mistakes like they all do. His personality is hilarious to watch but also his and Devi's relationship is so special. Me liking Ben and Devi has nothing to do with what Paxton has or has not done. I just like the dynamic between the two. They obviously care deeply for each other. Their conversations are hilarious. I love their banter. I love how comfortable they are with each and am sometimes surprised by the depth of their conversations. But also they have amazing chemistry. All the jealous looks and angst are between these two idiots pining for each other. I think she does have chemistry with Paxton but it's more because he is PHY, school Adonis. I mean let's be honest, he'd probably have chemistry with Fabiola solely cause he is PHY. The two nerds just match each other and it's so funny how often they are in sync. It's honestly adorable. They just get each other. That bathroom scene was the sweetest thing and also proves he's not this terrible person. She only comes out of the stall because of his support. He is genuinely hurt for her when technically it should have been a great moment for him.

I do believe the two have to be single for a bit before admitting their feelings for one another and moving forward. That's why my main thing for season 3 is that he absolutely cannot interfere in her relationship with Paxton. He needs to give her the space to figure that. Do I think there will be moments between them... absolutely but no cheating please. Everyone needs to move on from that. If they do it...I honestly think il be done with the show.

Anyways sorry for the really long ramble. If you made it to the end thanks for your patience 😌

Thank you for this beautiful masterpiece, I pretty much agree with everything and need to put it out there for the world to see

[princepotatosack]

i really like your wikipedia pages for your choices mcs and that they're all asian!! And that you included a south asian as well, ily <3

hehe happy aapi heritage month!!!! ty love<3

[varmajackie]

my take on pb being so obsessed with the poppy propaganda is that she's the peak example of the western idea of asian women. she's a privileged, pretty, size zero woc but in that very gaze that fetishizes asians. zoey on the other hand is definitely not as skinny or privileged as poppy is, and as shown in the bacchanalia chapter, belvoire clearly enjoys humiliation at the expense of black women. and it's clear when they gave a chance for mc to hook up with poppy at the gala that pb doesn't care about how they treat their black characters.

oh SO TRUE!!!! i absolutely agree w your take on poppy!! she is very much like the asian streotypes that we see in media and she is fetishized in a similiar way with the eastern asian women we see imo? if she were central, south or west asian i honestly do not think she would get attention this way (and this comes from somone whos west asian) bc that wouldn't fit with pb and the people's idea of "asian". but on the other hand zoey feels so real, natural and sincere!!! she feels human and honestly!!! it's gross that a black woman faced racism but at the same time, players were given to a choice to hook up w the person is responsible of this. both pb and poppy really got away with what they did and... it's really gross