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bwaldorf · 5 months ago

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ramasha do you have any bollywood movie recs?? 🎤

omgggg em im so honored you thought of me!! 🫶🏼🩷

tbh i've sorta been on a journey of watching more bollywood (and south asian cinema in general), since there was a huge chunk of my life where i just never really kept up with releases and was sorta discouraged from watching it so my taste isn't the Most diverse (in terms of genres and years) but i'm working on it 😭 that said, here's my attempt at giving you a lot of different options, so hopefully there's something here that strikes your fancy hehe :3

lots will be under the cut bc im a huge YAPPER.... sorry. also, some of these haven't really aged that well and are sometimes more of just a nostalgic fav and/or ones i think are iconic so... take some of these recs with a grain of salt

some of my bigger personal faves:

om shanti om (2007) — it may hit more if you have a bit more exposure to bollywood cinema and its industry bc it references it a lot, but i still think it's an enjoyable movie regardless! (yes i am biased bc this is one of my fav bollywood movies ever + a huge nostalgic fav. plus SRK and deepika padukone.. can't go wrong there!)

haider (2014) — this movie is SOOOO good! i highly rec it 💞 it's an adaptation of hamlet, set within the backdrop of the 1995 kashmir conflicts. this is actually a part of trilogy of shakespeare adaptations by the director: the other two are maqbool (2003) which is macbeth and omkara (2006) which is othello

main hoon na (2004) — another SRK nostalgic fav

ghajini (2008) — it rips off christopher nolan's memento but i think it adds a lot of its own stuff too and i have a soft spot for it 😭

andhadhun (2018)

kahaani (2012)

tumbbad (2018)

amar singh chamkila (2024)

3 idiots (2009) — the most likely one that non regular bollywood watchers will know and deservedly so imo

gully boy (2019)

hum saath saath hain (1999) — okay not objectively the best movie.. but its a hugely nostalgic and comfort movie for me and i think its great if you wanna watch something that's heartfelt and doesn't have a ton of high stakes conflict

maine pyar kiya (1989) — same as above ☝🏼 i watched this one a lot as a kid

jab we met (2007)

devdas (2002) — worth it for at least the beautiful cinematography, costumes, and gorgeous talented cast

fanaa (2006) — plot is kinda messy at times but it was a real angst machine for me as a kid 😭

photograph (2019)

sir (2018)

bulbbul (2020) — tw for a rape scene though. sorry for the spoiler but it was genuinely really harrowing for me to watch so i think its important to mention

misc other movies i've seen:

qala (2022)

dil bole hadippa! (2009) — admittedly, i haven't rewatched this one in a long time so i can't totally say it holds up. it's a rip-off of she's the man, but … better….. TO ME. yes im speaking from nostalgia bc this is the one i saw first

badhaai do (2022) — this is technically a 'sequel' to the similarly titled movie badhaai ho (2018) but they're actually total standalones

gangubai kathiawadi (2022) — i have such mixed feelings about this one but it's a movie that really stuck with me ever since i watched it soooo yeah

raees (2017) — SRK looks unbelievably fine in that movie. need i say more?

koi mil gaya (2003) — it's a mix of both ET and close encounters of the third kind... but in my very biased, nostalgic opinion: better 🫣 there's also a few sequels, but i only really remember seeing krrish (2006)

josh (2000) — another entry to the SRK looks super gorgeous in this movie 😭 this is basically a desi west side story

go goa gone (2013) — not the best to me, but its a bollywood zombie movie! which was a very new concept to me in that industry so ofc i had to throw it in there

chennai express (2013)

mohabbatein (2000)

dilwale dulhania le jayenge (1995) — had to include this for SRK reasons and also bc it's a massively impactful movie in the industry so i'd be remiss not to

andaz apna apna (1994)

ek ladki ko dekha toh aisa laga (2019)

jaane tu.. ya jaane na (2008)

aaja nachle (2007)

munna bhai mbbs (2003)

gangs of wasseypur - part 1 (2012) — i've only seen the first one in this series but if you want a somewhat slower, meditative, gangster movie this one def fits the bill

what's your raashee? (2009) — can't remember how well this ages (i think it was pretty mid?) but the concept is fun! priyanka chopra plays 12 girls: each personifying a different zodiac sign as the main guy tries to find his soulmate 😭

taare zameen par (2007) — you'll also see this listed as 'like stars on earth' sometimes

amar akbar anthony (1977)

don (2006) — villainous SRK? sign me up! he actually has multiple movies where he's this sorta antihero/"antivillain" type character. and even a few where he's a straight-up villain. i've been trying to get through all of those bc i just love his range

anjaam (1993) — an example of the aforementioned thing ☝🏼 SRK plays a genuinely terrible guy here, and i love how it actually challenges a lot of the tropes that bollywood tends to use in its romances and shows how creepy and stalkerish they actually are (despite it being typically framed in the narrative otherwise)

partner (2007) — i recently found out it was basically ripping will smith's hitch 😭 i haven't seen that one so i can't say which is better, but if you enjoyed that one, you'll probably be into this one too. it's very unserious and not the Best. but i watched it a lot as a kid

aaja nachle (2007)

roadside romeo (2008) — okay this is a very unserious, low budget animated movie rec. it's soooo so silly and dumb but if you're in the market for smth like that, this is an amusing one for that

welcome (2007) — i gotta rewatch this one bc i don't remember a lot but it seems like a lot of tomfoolery and shenanigans

my name is khan (2010) — another one i gotta rewatch for its politics but i figured i'd throw it in regardless

black (2005)

kal ho naa ho (2003)

kuch kuch hota hai (1998)

sholay (1975)

hungama (2003)

some from my watchlist that i haven't seen yet:

(as if this list needed to be any longer.... but anyways! including these bc i think they seem promising/interesting and i think they introduce More variety of genres/time periods than the ones before)

ijaazat (1987)

thappad (2020)

udaan (2010)

merry christmas (2024)

chhoti si baat (1976)

hindi medium (2017)

the lunchbox (2013) — heard LOTS of good things about this one!

lipstick under my burkha (2017)

neerja (2016)

queen (2014)

rajnigandha (1974)

kaagaz ke phool (1959)

anand (1971)

paheli (2005) — it's a mainstream bollywood remake of duvidha (1973)

baadshah (1999)

monica, o my darling (2022)

madhumati (1958)

raaz (2002)

satya (1998)

highway (2014)

oh darling! yeh hai india! (1995)

pyaasa (1957)

sardar udham (2021)

awaara (1951)

shree 420 (1957)

kaminey (2009)

mahal (1949)

chandigarh kare aashiqui (2021)

bunty aur babli (2005)

talvar (2015)

duplicate (1998)

lootera (2013)

mughal-e-azam (1960)

baazigar (1993)

trapped (2017)

fire (1996) — a hugely significant movie in explicitly showing a wlw relationship in bollywood. i believe it was the first in that regard?

stree (2018)

piku (2015)

english vinglish (2012)

umrao jaan (2006) — there's also an earlier version of this movie with the same title that came out in 1981! i haven't seen either yet so i can't say which is better

jodhaa akbar (2008)

darr (1993) — big movie for villain SRK enthusiasts if that interests you too like it does me 🤭

zindagi na milegi dobara (2011)

dil dhadakne do (2015)

dear zindagi (2016)

special 26 (2013)

badla (2019)

mardaani (2014)

raman raghav 2.0 (2016)

peepli live (2010)

drishyam (2015)

#sorry i got WAY too carried away 🏃🏻‍♀️ but if anyone has any recs beyond this please feel free to let me know!#also there is unsurprisingly a lot of srk movies here bc he's kinda everything to me 🤭💞#librapropaganda #messages

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baby-dragons-art · 9 months ago

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The halls of Barad-Bur

{Encountering the very last person she wanted to see in the last place she wanted to be.}

Sauron X OC

《Short story from the tale of Sauron and the Haradrim Rejha》

Read more below

"We have waited too long." Nedir said as he stood rigidly, the weight of his burden heavy. The members of the garrison shifted in silent agreement. It had been too long...

An hour or so had passed since the envoy of Haradrim were ordered in this corridor to await further instruction. Each carried a precious load of iron clad chests, bundles, and sacs, all filled to the brim with offerings. Harad was a loyal subject of Mordor. But loyalty was not always enough to secure the protection and graces of their benefactor. Harad had other resources besides fighting men and Oliphaunts.

Kashmir, insence, rare spices, ancient Harad text and lore all this and more were given as tribute for the favor of Mordor. It was a great honor for this garrison of 15 to ensure the safety of Harad in this way. But it was a heavy burden and not without danger.

Rehja readjusted the sac over her shoulder. The load she bore was an assortment of rare spices from various regions of Harad. The scent of which was so pungent that it wafted about the corridor. It was not an unplesant smell. Earthy tones that hid a sharp sting on the tongue were highly sought after with her people and clearly with Mordor. Were she anywhere else, the scent would have been pleasant.

However, the corridor the garrison stood in was anything but comfortable. The hall was long. Too long. It stretched to the left and right into darkness where no light could reach. The obsidian walls carved masterfully, stretched upwards and over like a cage. Their height seemed immeasurable, arching high above.... adorned with watchful horrors.

Beasts of some unknown dread prowled down the walls, perminelty snarling. The detail was prestine. The effect, horrifying. Rehja refused to look up into the black skulls or glanced above to whatever hellish scene were carved to torment them.

Nedir paced uneasily. They should have been seen by now, delivered their load, and be gone. Though this garrison was an ally and servant to mordor, that did not guarantee their safety in every situation.

This was Barad-dur and not just the lower levels but the palace wings. They were scum of the earth in this place. Inconsequential. He shuddered a thought at tales of the servants that stalked these halls. Men... changed by magic. Different. Wrong.

Sighing, he carefully placed the chest in his hands down and looked back on his people. "Not long now." He reassured. "Not long. When we have delivered our offering, we shall make camp in Odûn and celebrate properly." He said, nodding as a small hum of encouragement emminated from the group.

"Yes. The skins of wine will do, I think. Then tomorrow we will make the-..."

Nedir was interrupted when a stark waft of air and the sliding of rock against rock broke the silence. From the side wall, adjacent them, doors of immense height opened unto darkness. None had noticed the doors until they opened, astonished how doors of such size had been so close but obscured.

Nedir looked back, startled but cooed for his people to remain calm. They were an example of Harad, regardless of who they met, it was imperative all be at their best.

From the doors walked a tall cut of darkness that seemed to guide across the floor. This individual was unlike the palace stuards Nedir had seen before. They were not lavishly dressed or absurdly decorated in finery. No. Not a guard, not a nazgûl, not a uruk.

Simply black. Black upon black robes covering the entirety of the person. Only small glints of gold hinted at embroidery within the fabric and upon a crown that rested atop the dark veiled head. This pillar of shadow walked toward them yet did not pay them mind, almost walking past the group completley.

No one in the party spoke or made a move. However, perhaps at the strong, allurings cent of their burdens, the individual slowed to a stop and raisded their head.

Now Nedir could see. An encounter far more dangerous than any he had anticipated was before them. The moment the individual turned and looked back on his people, a soft but clear glow eminated from the veil. It cast two lamp like hues of red that beamed down on them, almost casting a halo like glimer about the head and crown.

Nedir only needed to witness those lamps behind the veil to fall on his hands and knees in an instant. He uttered one word in their own language that caused his people to reverently put down their burdens and bow to the floor as well.

"Anattar." Nedir dared not speak the given name, not here, not here, not before /him/. Sauron.

The robed figure stood still in the corridor, the fiery eyes looking individually at the group, appraising them and their many gifts. Rehja kept stone still on the floor, her heart in her ears as she dared to open her eyes and watch from under her brow. She could see nothing but the floor, it's reflection and the warm casting of light that shifted over them. When the light fixed on her, she closed her eyes immediately, not moving an inch.

An eternity seemed to pass in mere seconds. She could hear heavy footsteps and the hiss of fabric slithering toward her. An oppressive heat grew to her left side, growing like a wild fire. Something brushed against her, shuffled with in her sac, then drew back.

The heat and foot steps slowly moved away down the corridor until, at last, they were well away from their hearing. Nedir was the first to raise his head. Then, slowly, the rest of his people lifted their gaze. Rehja sighed anxiously, rubbing sweat from her brow as she looked at her garrison. None were harmed.

At her side, she saw her sac had been opened, and smaller sacs from with in littered the floor. Gasping, she reached in and took inventory of what was there. After a moment, she announced with shock, anxiety, and slight distaine.

"...He took the saffron."

#digital art #drawing #the lord of the rings #sauron art #sauron #the eye of sauron #digital painting #sauron fan fiction #sauron fanart #sauron imagine #sauron short story #short story

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paganimagevault · 1 year ago

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Foreign merchant (with Sogdian appearance) in China 618-907 CE

By the time the Hephthalites (White Huns) were destroyed the Sogdians had such a widespread influence that they were able to continue to enjoy their prosperity for another century. However, the crippling of the Hun's power by the Turks and Persians also eliminated Sogdiana's safety net and made them vulnerable. The chaos created to the east by the Turkic An Lushan rebellion in China and the chaos created to the west by the Sassanid's blundered aggression closed the doors on the Sogdian era of prosperity that had begun under Hunnic rule. Even after the An Lushan rebellion ended, China [one of the Sogdian's most important trading partners] was in ruins and vulnerable to other threats. Trade routes were choked off by hostile armies. Instability meant more danger for travelers. Sassanid rule had become so dysfunctional that the primitive Arab Muslims were able to conquer Persia, afterward pushing on into Sogdiana. The Hephthalites were no longer there to stabilize the Persian government as they had done in the time of Peroz and Khuvad. The Sassanids had gained their financial freedom from the Hephthalites and then, less than a century later, used that freedom to destroy themselves.

"In July of 751, a Tang army was defeated at the battle of Talas at the hands of a Turgesh-Arab alliance. The defeat effectively ended the Tang’s ability to intervene in Asia beyond the Tarim Basin. This defeat and the Tang’s subsequent inability to project force beyond the Tarim Basin played as important role in the downfall of the Sogdians as the Arab invasions themselves. With the Tang military held behind the Pamirs, the Tibetans moved to occupy the passes leading into China and into Kashmir, creating a chokehold on valuable trade networks the Sogdian merchants depended on for their livelihoods. Campaigns in 747 CE and 753 CE served to ease these Tibetan holds on the passes, but relief was only temporary. The Tang loss at Talas freed the invading Arabic forces to take control of Central Asia as well as weakening the Tang’s ability to cope with longstanding enemies closer to home. The situation for both the Sogdians and the Tang was only going to worsen. Taking advantage of the inner turmoil caused by An Lushan’s rebellion, Tibetan troops marched on and captured Chang’an in 763 CE. Rather than attempting to hold the city the Tibetans gradually withdrew along the Gansu corridor. Movement up this major trade artery by a hostile army could only have disrupted the Sogdian’s trade network, which was already likely in poor condition due to rebellions and the depredations of preceding armies. As the Tibetans withdrew they occupied the cities they encountered along the way, taking first Liangzhou (764) in the east and eventually Hami (781–782) in the west. At least two key Sogdian colonies at Hami and Chang’an, would have been seriously damaged by the rampaging Tibetans.

It is also quite likely that throughout their operations in China, Sogdian wealth would have proved a tempting target for looting by invading armies such as the Tibetans or rebelling generals. The Tibetan occupation of the passes restricted any influx of Sogdian immigrants into China to bolster the reeling Sogdian communities. With China wracked by invasions and rebellions, their Chinese colonies in ruins, the mistrust of the Sogdian people by the Tang due to the rebellion of An Lushan, and their homeland occupied by invading armies, the Sogdian trade network and nation could not but have suffered grievously. Previously the Sogdians had shown a remarkable ability to escape destruction, but the combination of forces besieging them eventually proved too great.

The Sogdians embodied the spirit of the Silk Road perhaps better than any other people. The Silk Road functioned as a conduit for exchange of both ideas and goods. The Sogdians for hundreds of years served as an invaluable vehicle for that exchange."

-The "Silk Roads" in Time and Space: Migrations, Motifs, and Materials. Edited by Victor H. Mair. Sino-Platonic Paper 228.

#sogdiana #tang dynasty #chinese art #ancient history #silk road #history #antiquities #art #sculpture #statue #ancient art

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kimskashmir · 5 months ago

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Owaisi slams Centre over Doda attack, says govt failed to control militancy

HYDERABAD — Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre over the killing of four soldiers in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday accused the NDA regime of completely “failing” in not being able to control militancy. A day after four army personnel, including an officer, died after being injured in a gunfight with heavily…

#Asaduddin Owaisi #Doda Encounter #Jammu #Jammu and Kashmir (J&K)#Kashmir #Militancy #Politics

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mrprettywhenhecries · 1 year ago

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all that glitters [b.h]

✧ a stranger things/bioshock au ✧

one. | a fated encounter

Billy Hargrove ✘ Win Lewis (OC)

✧ Inspired by @b1tchy3lf's Not a Bang, But a Whimper series ✧

☞ w.c. 2.8k words ☞ warning(s). canon x oc pairing, f!oc, mention of plastic surgery, flirting, incredibly niche crossover lol, not much this chapter honestly ☞ a/n: I've been obsessed with Steph's nabbaw series since she told me the premise and I couldn't help imagining Win in the Bioshock universe. So when she asked demanded I write it and gave me the prompt for the plot how could I say no?

[ masterlist ] [ win lewis bio ]

Rapture, 1955–

When young Rapture newcomer, Win Lewis loses her job, she thinks her luck’s taken a turn for the worse, until a new employment opportunity brings her and diver, Billy Hargrove, together. With plasmid use on the rise, the two formulate a plan to get rich selling stolen ADAM on the downlow. However, every up has it’s down and when the young couple’s scam gets discovered, they must fight to escape the underwater city before it can become their downfall.

Rapture.

Rapture was supposed to be a dream come true. A city under water, a technological marvel, a haven for those with ambition.

No limitations, no restrictions. If you worked hard enough, you could achieve anything your heart desired. The true American dream.

Having lived there for several months now, Win was starting to have her doubts about all that, but it certainly was beautiful.

“Win, dear, are you working or gawking?”

Joyce Byers’ cheery voice snapped her from her reverie and she gave a jump, turning away from the large window that looked out into the gorgeous shifting blue of the bottom of the ocean, a school of colourful fish swimming by.

“Sorry, Mrs. Byers,” Win murmured, smoothing her dress and flashing an apologetic grin.

“If you can’t pay attention out on the sales’ floor, I’ll have to put you in the back,” Joyce warned, though her smile never faltered and Win had to fight not to roll her eyes as the woman turned away to see to something else.

Win let out a sigh and went back to stocking the racks with the newest arrival of dresses, letting her fingers linger over the silky fabric and wondering what they’d look like on her. Discreetly checking one of the price tags, she let out a hiss. There was no way she could afford any of them.

She’d come to Rapture with her father, a scientist recruited to work with the renowned geneticist, Bridgid Tenenbaum, and while it sounded prestigious, he was merely a research assistant with a meager salary. Their home in Rapture was modest, but nothing like he’d made it sound when he told her about the job. It didn’t feel much different from their life on the surface, except here it seemed everyone looked down their noses at everyone else. The only real thing Win had going for her was her looks, which in Rapture was important. The way some people went around getting surgery every other week without a second thought made her shiver.

She looked at the dresses on the rack. If she had something like that to wear, maybe she’d finally be able to get that singing gig at the Kashmir. They’d said she was a dime and had the chops, but to come back when she looked the part.

If she could just slip one of the dresses into her bag…

She’d nicked smaller things before and hadn’t been caught, mostly jewelry, or anything small and easily concealed. She’d never taken anything that big before. She chewed her lip and formulated a plan.

As her shift came to an end, Win slipped into the back room where she’d stowed one of the dresses. She quickly pulled it from the hanger and was in the midst of shoving it into her bag when the door opened and she froze.

“What are you doing?”

Win didn’t need to turn around to know who had entered, recognizing Carol Perkin’s voice and the way she smacked her gum — very unladylike.

“Nothing,” Win replied as casually as she could. “Just getting my things to clock out.”

Slipping her bag onto her shoulders and clutching the strap tightly to her side, she turned around and tried not to wince at the knowing look on her coworker’s smug face.

“Looked to me like you were putting a dress in your bag,” she said, raising her eyebrows as she placed her hands on her hips.

Knowing she’d been caught, Win licked her lips, thinking quickly. She knew Carol had taken things too, but she’d looked the other way, never ratting the other woman out. She wasn’t a snitch.

“Look,” she began, shifting her weight, “we both know you’ve nicked things, Carol. So why don’t you keep your mouth shut and I’ll do the same.”

Carol studied her for a moment, as if thinking it over before a wicked smile crossed her pinched features.

“You can’t prove that,” she said, reaching for the telephone on the wall, her eyes never leaving Win’s as she brought the receiver to her ear. “But I can, and I think Mrs. Byers would be pleased to know we’ve caught our shop lifter. She might even give me a raise.”

Win’s stomach dropped as the other woman punched in the number to Joyce’s office, gleefully ratting her out. Though they were supposedly friends, it was in name only. She should have known Carol would have jumped at any excuse to snub her.

Now all she could do was wait helplessly as their boss arrived with a peacekeeper to escort her out.

Joyce stood by the door, arms crossed over her chest, a disappointed look on her face. “I wouldn’t have expected this from you, Winrey,” she said as the peacekeeper—a large man with a thick mustache and a permanent frown etched on his bluff face—searched her bag, pulling the glittery dress from its confines and holding it aloft.

Mrs. Byers shook her head, her expression tightening. “You were a decent employee,” she murmured while Carol grinned smugly, slipping away to spread the news of Win’s disgrace, no doubt.

“I hope you know I can no longer employ you,” Joyce continued, tutting to herself. “Get her out of my shop, officer,” she said, turning her attention to the peacekeeper, pinching the bridge of her nose as the man grabbed Win’s arm and hauled her forward.

“There’s no need for that!” Win hissed, attempting to jerk out of the man’s grasp.

“No offense, but I gotta make sure you don’t make a break for it, doll,” he grumbled as they neared the door to the front.

“Please,” Win pleaded, shooting him an earnest look. “I swear I won’t run. Just—just let me leave with a little dignity?”

She glanced at the badge on his chest, reading his name.

“Please, Hopper.”

The peacekeeper looked at her before sighing and releasing her arm. “Alright kid, don’t make me regret this.”

Win nodded, silently thanking him and held her head high as they talked side by side through the store to the entrance. She could feel curious eyes on her as she made her walk of shame, but she carefully avoided them.

As soon as they were out of the store, she let out a long breath, deflating slightly and Hopper glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “You ever steal before, Miss—?”

“No,” Win lied, keeping her eyes ahead. “Lewis,” she added, answering his unspoken question.

Hopper snorted doubtfully and Win couldn’t help but turn to gape at him, surprised at his bluntness. He merely grinned bemusedly at her, reaching into his breast pocket to retrieve a brass cigarette case, taking one for himself before offering her one.

“Where d’yeh live, kid?” he asked, snapping his fingers to light her cigarette for her and Win stared at the flame that danced above his finger tips. Taking a pull from the cigarette til the cherry burned bright, she blew the smoke out and told him her address.

“What, gotta walk me all the way home?” she asked, a little petulantly and the peacekeeper chuckled.

“Yeah, that’s right. You tellin’ me you don’t like the pleasure of my company?” he joked, shaking the flame away after lighting his own smoke.

Win shrugged. She supposed it could be worse, at least Hopper seemed like a decent fellow, not like some of the peepers who took their job too seriously, letting the power of their position go to their heads.

“You know, you’re lucky old lady Byers ain’t pressin’ charges after that stunt you pulled,” he mused.

“Yeah, lucky,” Win muttered, bringing the cigarette to her lips. “Still need a new job though.”

Hopper glanced at her as they stopped at the transportation hub, waiting for the bathysphere door to unlock and swing open.

“Maybe you should’ve thought about that before stealing,” he pointed out, nudging her inside the submersible.

“Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten caught,” Win muttered.

Silence fell as they traveled down a level, Rapture sprawling out before them through the porthole, the lights of the neon advertisements on the sides of buildings flashing by. An Andrews Sisters’ song played softly through the speakers before the familiar grinding of metal signaled they’d arrived at the next station.

“You handy at all?” Hopper asked suddenly as they neared her and her father’s apartment and Win frowned.

“What?”

Hopper turned to look at her, dropping the butt of his spent cigarette to the ground and snubbing it out with his boot.

“Maintenance is always looking for people,” he said, hiking his trousers up. “Seems like there’s more leaks sprung every day. Usually they only employ men, but if you’re handy and mention I sent you, they might consider it.”

Win peered at the man, studying him shrewdly. “Why would you help me?” she asked and the peacekeeper shrugged uncomfortably, clearing his throat.

“I dunno, kid,” he said, his voice a little gruff. “Just don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, alright?”

Win nodded slowly, digging her keycard from her bag. “Thanks…” she murmured, still unsure what to make of the man.

“Yeah, sure. Just keep out of trouble, okay? Keep your nose clean,” Hopper said, tilting his hat to her before lumbering away.

Win watched him go before unlocking her door and stepping inside. There were definitely worse peacekeepers. She’d gotten lucky.

—

When her father had returned from his shift, Win didn’t have the heart to tell him she’d lost her job, determined to find something else before letting him know, to soften the blow, and the next day she took Hopper’s advice and traveled down to the engineering sector in Hephaestus to inquire about a job.

Win had traversed most of Rapture, but she’d never been this far down before and she tried not to gape at the massive machinery that flanked her as her shoes clicked across the metallic floor that gave way to glass as she entered a sealed off passageway that snaked along the ocean floor. Men in coveralls and diving suits passed her, giving her strange looks, but she ignored them, walking a little faster.

It turned out Hopper was right. Though the man she’d spoken to—Ed something or other—was skeptical at first, as soon as she brought up Hop’s name he seemed to change his tune.

“You know how to sew?” he asked as he led her through a winding labyrinth of machinery filled rooms, steam leaking from vents and puddles of water here and there.

“Uh, yes,” she answered, distracted by the amount of leaks there seemed to be down there.

“Good,” Ed said, grabbing the smallest uniform he could find from a rack next to a long row of lockers. “We need someone to repair the diver’s suits whenever they wear out and to keep the tools and parts room organized and inventoried,” he explained, thrusting the coveralls into her hands.

“Doesn’t sound too hard,” Win murmured, watching some of the workers slip past to get into their lockers.

“Good. You go get changed and I’ll show you to your station,” Ed said, nodding to a changing room. “Don’t wanna get your nice clothes ruined.”

Once she’d been shown her duties, Win set about familiarizing herself with the storage room which was to be her office, as it were. A row of diving suits that needed mending hung from a rack near a desk with a sewing machine, while along the rest of the walls were rows of tools and spare parts in differing states of disarray.

“Looks like I’ve got my work cut out for me,” she murmured, running her fingers along one of the dusty shelves. At least down here she wouldn’t have to put up with snooty high society types looking down their surgically altered noses at her.

“You the new girl?”

A voice at the door made her jump and Win quickly spun around to face the man who’d spoken.

“Uh, yeah,” she replied, sucking in a breath as her gaze settled on one of the most beautiful men she’d ever seen, leaning in the doorway.

His caramel blonde hair was slicked back in a messy wave, a few strands out of place against her forehead, and he wore a grin that was framed by a neat mustache and thin close cropped goatee that lined his sharp jawline. Blue eyes like ocean waves watched her from beneath a cocked eyebrow sporting a fierce split, sparkling with amusement as her gaze traveled down his broad shoulders and smooth chest, shown off quite nicely by the stained tank top he wore, the bottom half of a diving suit hanging loose around his waist.

A tattoo of a laughing skull, a lit cigarette hanging from its jaw adorned his right bicep and a single golden pendant hung round his neck, resting against his sternum.

The man chuckled and Win quickly tore her eyes away, her face warming when she realized she’d been staring, and quite obviously so.

“What, uhm, what can I do for you?” she asked, clearing her throat as he stepped closer, his own eyes roaming over her form appreciatively.

“My suit needs patching,” he said, unzipping it further and stepping out of it. “Think you could take a look at it for me, doll?” he asked, holding it out for her to take.

“I suppose,” Win snapped, though her lips curled slightly. “Where’s the leak?” she asked, glad to have something else to focus on, though she could still feel his eyes on her.

“Right here,” he said, showing her a small tear in the arm.

“That’s not too bad,” she mused, reaching across her desk to grab a needle and thread. “I can mend this while you wait, if you want,” she offered, threading the needle.

The man shrugged and leaned against her desk. “Got nothing better to do,” he drawled, watching her. “So,” he said after a moment, “you got a name to go with that pretty face?”

Win nearly stabbed her finger with the needle as she pushed it through the thick oiled fabric. “Winrey. Winrey Lewis, Win for short,” she answered, hoping he hadn’t noticed her near mishap.

“Win,” he mused, as if savouring her name, and she looked up at him. “I like that,” he said, his low voice sending a shiver through her.

“And do I get the pleasure of your name?” she asked expectantly, a hint of sarcasm tinging her voice and his grin grew wider.

“Since you asked so nicely,” he teased. “William Hargrove, but you can call me Billy,” he answered, holding out his hand.

“Billy,” Win repeated, taking his outstretched hand to shake. “Glad to meet you.”

“The pleasure’s all mine,” he drawled, voice like honey, winking as he brought the back of her hand to his lips.

“Charmer,” Win huffed, her cheeks practically burning.

Billy shrugged, reluctantly letting go of her hand. “I’ve been called worse.”

“I’m sure you have,” Win muttered, returning her focus to his suit.

“Can I ask you something?”

“I suppose.”

Billy leaned back, pulling a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket. “What brings a pretty little thing like you all the way down here?” he asked, placing a cigarette between his lips, the scent of cloves filling the small room as he lit it.

“You want the honest answer?” Win asked, glancing up at him, catching him staring and he nodded.

“If you feel like telling it.”

She swallowed, contemplating. “I got fired from my last job,” she finally answered honestly and Billy’s eyebrows rose, a sarcastic whistle leaving his lips.

“No shit? What for?”

“Got caught stealing,” Win answered, shrugging, and Billy barked a laugh.

“You’re a bit of a bad girl, huh Winnie?” he drawled, though he sounded almost impressed.

“Maybe I am,” Win replied evenly, her eyes flicking to his defiantly and he sucked his teeth, ashing his cigarette in the glass ashtray on the desk.

“I think you’ll do just fine down here,” he said and Win couldn’t help the strange feeling of pride that seeped through her chest at his words.

She merely grinned in response, however, tying off the thread and snipping the excess as she finished sewing up his suit. “All done,” she said, tossing it back to him.

Billy studied her handiwork and let out a sigh. “Guess that means I better get back to it.” Shoving his boots back into the oversized suit, he pulled it up, slipping his arms into the gloved sleeves. “You doing anything after work?” he asked, lingering by the door.

“No, not really,” she answered slowly, biting her lip.

Her answer seemed to please him. “Come for a drink with me?” he offered.

Under that lidded blue eyed gaze, Win could hardly say no, and her answer earned her a roguish flash of white teeth that made her glad she was sitting, lest her knees give out.

“Good, see you then, doll.” With a wink he slipped back out the door, leaving Win alone with her thoughts and her burning cheeks.

Maybe this job wouldn’t be so bad after all.

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#billy hargrove #billy hargrove x oc #bioshock!au #bioshock!billy #oc: win lewis #otp: lewgrove #joz.fic #fic: all that glitters

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