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sayantan1 · 2 years ago

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arayurvedafitness · 2 years ago

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6 Best hair growth tips in Hindi

हर कोई लड़की चाहती है उसके बाल लम्बे घने और मजबूत हो उस के लिए अन्य उपचार देखती है अपने बालो को ग्रोथ बढ़ाने के लिए केमिकल से तैयार किए गए शेम्पू और तेल का इस्तेमाल कर��ी है, या फिर बालो में ट्रीटमेंट करवाती है, क्योकि उसे अपने बाल अच्छे दिखाने है और उसे लगता है की उसके अभी के बाल अच्छे नहीं है। लेकिन ट्रीटमेंट के थोड़े समय बाद ही उनके बाल ख़राब हो जाते है और वो अपने बालो को पहले जैसा बनाने के लिए बहोत प्रयास करते है लेकिन ऐसा हो नहीं पाता है। इससे पैसो की बर्बादी होती है और बाल भी खराब हो जाते हैं।

बालो का झड़ना और बालो का ग्रोथ बढ़ाना आज कल की आम समस्या हो गई है। बालो के झड़ने की वजह से अधिक महिला अपने बालो को लेकर चिंतित हो जाती है और इसी वजह से वो अपने बालो का इलाज करवाने डॉक्टर के पास जाती हैं पर और ज्यादातर डॉक्टर तुरंत असर दिखाने के चक्कर में हाई डोझ वाली दवाई देते है जिससे बहोत ज्यादा नींद भी आती है और ऐसी दवाई हमारे स्वस्थ्य के लिए हानिकारक है ऐसी दवाई की शुरू शुरू में सही असर दिखा सकती है बालो के लिए लेकिन आगे चल कर ये भी बालो को नुकसान ही पहुँचती है। ये हमारे बालों के विकास को प्रभावित नहीं करते हैं। इसलिए इसके लिए हम प्राकृतिक और घरेलु उपचार का भी प्रयोग कर सकते है। यह हमारे स्वास्थ्य के लिए भी सही है और बालो का ग्रोथ बढ़ाने में और जड़ने से रोकने में मदद करता है।

यहाँ पर हम आपको कुछ घरेलु उपाय बताएँगे जिससे आप अपने बालो का ग्रोथ बढ़ा सकते हो और बालो को लम्बे, मजबूत और जड़ने से रोक सकते है। पर इसे पहले हम जान लेते है की हमारे बाल क्यों झड़ते हैं। बालों का झड़ना कई कारणों से हो सकता है जैसे की जब हमारी उम्र बढ़ जाती है तब बाल बढ़ना मुश्किल होता है, तनाव की वजह से, पर्याप्त पोषक तत्व नहीं लेते हैं, हार्मोनल परिवर्तन ,कोई गंभीर बीमारी जैसे की कैंसर, थाइरोइड आदि जिससे बाल जड़ते हैं। इसलिए निचे दिए गए घरेलु उपाय जो आपके बालो को झड़ने से रोकेगा और आपको चमकदार, रेशमी बाल और प्राकृतिक बालों का विकास करने में मदद करेंगा ।

1.प्याज का रस

रात को प्याज का रस निकाल कर नारियल के तेल के साथ इस्तमाल करना है। फिर सुबह को अपने बालों को धो लेना है, प्याज का रस अपने बालो में लगाने के अन्य फायदे है, जैसे की बाल बढ़ते है, जड़ते कम है, इससे ग्रोथ भी बढती और लम्बे होते है, बालो को सही पोषक तत्व मिलता है। प्याज का इस्तमाल करने से बाल सुन्दर और घने बनते है |

२. दही

दही के इस्तेमाल से हमारे बाल मजबूत और घने बनते हैं, दही में मौजूद लैक्टिक एसिड जो बालों को रूसी, सफेद बाल और बालो की ग्रोथ भी बढती है, बालो को टूटने से बचाता है। दही को स्कैल्प पर लगाने के बाद शैम्��ू से धोने के बाद बाल सिल्की और हेअलथी बनते है।

३.ऐलोवेरा

ऐलोवेरा के साथ नारियल या प्याज के रस को मिलकर कर भी इस्तमाल कर सकते है। फिर उससे बालों को धो लेना है ऐलोवेरा का इस्तमाल करने से हमारे बाल सिल्की और हेअलथी बनते है और उससे बालो को पोषक तत्व मिलते है और इसका इस्तमाल करने से बालो की रुसी (dandruff) और बालो की खुजली भी दूर होती है | ऐलोवेरा बालो के साथ त्वचा के लिए भी इस्तेमाल किया जाता है। ऐलोवेरा से त्वचा में ग्लो बढ़ता है और त्वचा सुन्दर करने में भी मदद करता है। एलोवेरा को प्राचीन समय में दवाई के रूप में भी इस्तेमाल करते थे। इससे चमड़ी के कोई भी रोग एलेर्जी या फिर बालो के लिए बहोत ही सही माना जाता था। बहोत सारे लोग अभी भी इसका इस्तेमाल करते है।

4. अंडे

आप अनेक लोगो से सुनते ही होगा की अंडे से उनके बाल स्लिकी और चमकदार हो जाते है। अंडे में पाए गए विटामिन, कार्बोहायड्रेट और फाइबर जिसे हमारे बाल मजबूत और घने हो जाते है। पर अंडे का इस्तमाल करने से बदबू भी बहोत आती है। उसके लिए हेयर मास्क का भी इस्तमाल जरुर करे और फिर बालो को शेम्पू से धोए। बाल धोने के बाद मजबूत और सिल्की बन जाते है। अंडे का इस्तमाल करने से अन्य फायदे भी होते है जैसे की बालो की ग्रोथ बढ़ने में मदद करता है, गिरते हुए बालो को रोकता है, और बालो को स्लिकी और लम्बे बनते है।

५. अमला पाउडर

आवला पाउडर चुनिंदे आमला को सूखा कर उसका पाउडर बनाया जाता है। अमला में एंटी ऑक्सिडेंट, विटामिन, आयरन, फॉस्फोरस, फाइबर और कार्बोहाइड्रेट भरपुर मात्रा में पाया जाता है। अमला पाउडर का इस्तमाल करने से हमारे बाल झड़ने से रुक जाते है, बालो की रुसी (dandruff) कम होता है, बालो की ग्रोथ होती है, और सफ़ेद बालो को बढ़ने से भी रोकता है। अमला पाउडर बालो के साथ साथ स्किन को भी ग्लो करता है इसका पेस्ट इस्तमाल करने से त्वचा सुन्दर और चमकार बनती है। अमला पाउडर का इस्तेमाल करने से आखो की भी रौशनी बढती है।

५. शिकाकाई पाउडर

प्राचीन समय में लोग शिकाकाई पाउडर का इस्तमाल करते थे। जिसकी वजह से उनके बाल घने, मजबूत, काले और सिल्की होते थे। शिकाकाई पाउडर में एंटी-ऑक्सिडेंट्स, एंटी-बैक्टीरियल, एंटिफंगल, गुण और विटामिन A, विटामिन C, विटामिन K और विटामिन D जैसे पोषक तत्वों भरपूर मात्र पाए जाता है। शिकाकाई पाउडर का इस्तमाल करने से बाल बालो की ग्रोथ बढती है, बालो की रुसी (dandruff) कम होता है, पतले बालो को रोकता है, दो मुंहा बालो को भी बढ़ने से रोकते है।

https://ayurvedichealthind.wordpress.com/2022/09/15/6-best-hair-growth-tips-in-hindi/

#how to hair growth faster in hindi #hair growth tips in hindi #long hair tips in hindi #hair growth tips at home in hindi #fast hair growth tips in hindi #hair fall control in hindi tips

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parichaytimes · 3 years ago

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बालों को लंबा और रेशमी बनाने में मदद करेगी मेथी, बस इन 3 तरीकों से करें इस्तेमाल

Image Source : INSTAGRAM/KLASSY MISSY बालों को लंबा और रेशमी बनाने में मदद करेगी मेथी, बस इन 3 तरीकों से करें इस्तेमाल मेथी का इस्तेमाल बालों की देखभाल में सालों से किया जाता रहा है। मेथी में बालों की किसी भी समस्या को दूर करने की क्षमता होती है। मेथी बालों का झड़ना कम करके बालों को तेजी से लंबा करने में मदद करती है। इसके साथ ही बाल रेशमी और मजबूत बनते है। मेथी में सोडियम, जिंक, फॉस्फोरस, फॉलिक…

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ashish40s · 4 years ago

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youtube

Raisins health benefits

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chuuyrr · 3 years ago

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hi po! pede po bang pa request ng baby! Fushiguro x bsd na nag ka crush sa port mafia? kayo na po bahala kung sino and pede nyo naman din hindi gawin yung request (´∀`)

scarlet witch! baby fushiguro! reader has a crush on akutagawa

jujutsu kaisen x reader x bungou stray dogs

masterlist of the series

╰➤ CW(s): possible bungou stray dogs spoilers, themes of fluff, soft(?) akutagawa

╰➤ PAIRING(s): platonic! bungou stray dogs x reader

hello yes i opened requests as of 06/09/22 :D thank you so much for requesting bb!! i couldn't decide which port mafia scarlet fushiguro bb reader will have a crush on, so im doing akutagawa ryunosuke because he's so pretty, and so is gin (insert bi panic) and i might do a separate one for chuuya because im biased but idk yet, anyway enjoy ♡

apart from the armed detective agency, you spent time in the port mafia base too, mostly because chuuya was there. it started when you came back to their world and ended up straight to where chuuya was because you missed him. he panicked at first because the port mafia isn't a place for children. two, he doesn't know how mori and the other members will react.

but that was until you ended up running straight to elise, and she ended up liking you a lot. so as to not upset elise-chan, mori, and the rest of the mafia, they treat you nicely, but also because they want to get on your good side since they discovered you were a special gifted person who has great aim and wits, and you could be a valuable asset to them.

you haven't really met the black lizards since you were often at chuuya's office or at mori's office because elise, your playmate, was there. so, while you were at mori's office, coloring and doodling on paper together with elise while chuuya and mori were discussing mafia business, the door opened to reveal a young man with choppy black hair with side bangs that reach his chin and turn white at the tips and sharp gray eyes dressed in a long black coat and white dress shirt with layered ruffles on the chest.

"[name]-chan? [name]-chan?" elise noticed you had stopped drawing and was staring at the boy, who had just entered the office, with wide eyes. "what's wrong?"

"nothing!" you quickly responded to her and returned to your drawing, smiling at elise, who was perplexed.

but you kept sneaking glances at him as he bowed to chuuya and mori, and that's how your small crush on the rashomon ability user blossomed, and it wasn't long before chuuya and the rest of the port mafia discovered it.

"oi, [name]-chan! why are you ignoring me?" chuuya pretended to pout as he furrowed his brows at you, who had her attention else where. the two of you were playing cards together somewhere in the port mafia base since it was his break. "i thought i was your favorite and not dazai."

"i'm not ignoring you." you responded without even batting an eye.

"yes, you are! who are you staring at anyways?" chuuya huffed and narrowed his eyes, feeling a little jealous.

"pretty boy!" you pointed your index finger at the boy in the long black coat who was conversing with the girl in the ponytail who had her face hidden.

"pretty what?!" chuuya's eyes widened in surprise as he dropped the cards in his hands.

"him!" you cried out again, a smile on your face, as you tugged on chuuya's sleeve.

chuuya screamed, "AKUTAGAWA?!"

you nodded vigorously before leaping from your seat and sprinting towards him, causing the black-haired boy to take a step back when you placed yourself in front of him. you extended your hand, pointing at him, with a determined expression and a smile on your face.

"i like you!" you exclaimed.

as his sister and the rest of the mafioso in the room paused from whatever they were doing, akutagawa shifted his gaze to you and pointed at himself, perplexed. "me?"

"yes, and i'm gonna marry you too!" with that, you ran right into him, wrapping your tiny arms around his legs and rubbing your cheek against his stomach.

his normally sharp and devoid gray eyes widened as a faint blush of pink spread across his cheekbones. gin, on the other hand, couldn't help but laugh quietly behind her mask as the other mafiosos in the room stared at you as if you were insane. you couldn't really blame them. because of all the people you had to choose from, it had to be the merciless and blunt mafioso over someone sweeter like chuuya.

"o-oi! what the hell are you saying?!" akutagawa stammered out, attempting to distance himself from you.

"i said i like you and i will marry you!" you repeated, and this time, his face burned beet red instead of pink.

"stop spouting nonsense kid! you are not marrying me!" akutagawa grabbed you with rashomon, a black tendril wrapped around your body that yanked you upwards in the air, away from him.

"yes i am! it's not nonsense! it's love!" you giggled as you traced a heart in the air with your now red glowing index fingers.

"shut up! s-stop that!" he scowled at you before gently handing you into chuuya's arms and storming away, his face flushed with embarrassment.

"jesus christ, kid. why did it have to be him? dazai and the agency is going to freak out." chuuya shook his head and mumbled, as you waved your hand at akutagawa as he walked away.

and, true to chuuya's words, dazai and the armed detective agency freaked out when they discovered your crush on a port mafia member, specifically the scariest and meanest mafioso. our poor detectives truly believed that someone with a special ability or some sort of black magic was behind all of this.

"you like akutagawa ryunosuke?! why?"

atsushi was in so much disbelief.

what do you see in that guy that they don't..?

"mhm! he's a pretty boy and his ability is super cool. everything about him is just dreamy!" you expressed, throwing your arms in the air before clasping your hands together. "and i already made up my mind that i'm gonna marry him!"

dazai instantly became a splitting image of your dad, gojo satoru. "no, no, no. you're not marrying anyone little missy! not on my watch, ya' hear?" he placed his hands on his hip, peering down at you.

"but why?" an adorable pout contorted on your face at that instant.

"because you're too young and you should only marry the person you really love!" dazai argued, puffing his cheeks.

"then i'll marry him when i get older!" you bit back. "i love him already!"

"why not.. i don't know.. someone like.. chuuya-kun? actually, no. nevermind that. he's a terrible choice, [name]-chan." dazai scratched his head, grimacing a bit when he mentioned his old partner.

"i don't like chuuya-nii!" you stuck your tongue out, folding your arms.

"ah, thank goodness! i'm glad you agree!" dazai draped the back of his hand on his forehead as leaned back dramatically, faking a tear.

"i'm still marrying him! you can't stop me!" you persisted, running towards the door to head to your "one true love".

dazai gasped, immediately getting up from the couch to chase after you as you left. "no you will not! get back here, [name]-chan! no marrying!"

"and dazai calls me a 'mother-hen'." kunikida drew out a sigh, shaking his head as atsushi sweatdropped.

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sunshine-on-my-mind · 3 years ago

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Once upon a song

pairing: Colin Shea x Desi!Reader

a/n: Requested by @moonstruckbirdie !! Sorry for taking so long, I really hope you like it.

warnings: FLUFF, kisses, hugs.

words: 899

You were making masala chai while one of your favourite Hindi songs played in the background. You were humming the tune, the kitchen was filled with a beautiful aroma.

You didn’t hear the sound of keys turning and your boyfriend coming in. Colin kept the pizza he brought on the table and looked at you, smiling to himself.

“Hey there, beautiful.” You gasped and turned around.

“What took you so long?”

“Got us Pizza, baby.”

You cheered hearing about Pizza.

“I making chai, you want some?”

“Oh yes please.”

Colin came behind you, and wrapped his hands around your waist, nuzzling your hair with his nose.

“Smells so good doesn’t it?” You asked him, referring to the aromatic chai.

“Oh yes, smells so good” Colin smiled against your hair, while you giggled softly at your boyfriend’s action.

“You sure you’re talking about the tea Colin?” He chuckled. Colin held you while you hummed the tune of the song playing.

“What song is this?”

“It’s called ‘Pehli Nazar Mein’, one of my favourites.”

“Yeah it’s really nice, love the tune.”

Suddenly an idea formed in your head. The tea would still take some time to be ready so why not utilise the time? You turned around.

Grabbing your boyfriend’s shoulders, “Let’s Dance” you told him. Colin loved the idea.

The two of you swayed with the music.

Pehli nazar mein

Kaisa jaadoo kar diya

Tera ban baitha hai

Mera jiya

You giggled when he twirled you. Colin brought his lips closer to yours and enveloped you in a soft kiss.

“What do the lyrics say?” Colin asked.

“It says that, at first sight you had cast a magic on me and my heart became yours.” You beamed at him, kissing the tip of his nose.

“Well you know some meaning gets lost in translation but it’s mainly about love at first sight. It’s about asking the lover to live in the moment and embrace each other in a way that they forget about the rest of the world.”

Colin pulled you closer and kissed you again, this time deeper and with more passion, but before you could get too lost in the kiss you pulled apart.

“Wait! Chai!”

Chai was ready and you poured it in two cups, giving one to Colin.

Evening flowed into night. You had Pizza while cuddling on the sofa, watching a movie.

When you were laying against Colin’s chest, his hand wrapped around your waist, his focus shifted from the movie, to you.

A beautiful smile adorned your face. Colin looked at you and realised he had never loved someone that much. Suddenly the tune of the song came to his mind.

Maybe what you had wasn’t exactly love at first sight, or maybe it was? Colin wasn’t sure, but he was sure that you did cast some magic on him when he saw you for the first time, when he talked to you for the first time. And every time he surely forgot about the rest of the world, when he was with you.

Colin smiled, giving you a kiss on the temple.

The next morning, Colin woke up early, pretty early for a Sunday. You were snuggled up against him. You looked so cute like this.

Carefully, without waking you up, he got up from the bed. Colin went to the living room to prepare for what he had suddenly planned.

Few hours later you woke up, a little disappointed to not find Colin beside you. You went to the living room to look for him, when you heard something.

“Colin?” You came out of the bedroom to find your boyfriend sitting on the sofa with his guitar.

“Morning baby, I’ve a little surprise for you. Well, I got very little time to prepare so it won’t be perfect.”

Colin started playing a tune on his guitar and you immediately recognised it. The room was suddenly filled with the music of “Pehli nazar mein”.

You placed your hand on your mouth while you looked at your boyfriend with awe and love in your eyes. Colin played the song with utmost care and love. Looking at you, with a loving smile on his face.

“Well I’ve learned only this much till now.” Colin informed while keeping his guitar aside. You didn’t wait any longer to wrap your musician boyfriend in a big hug, when you ran towards the sofa, towards him.

“It was so good baby, it was amazing.” Colin smiled and pecked your lips.

“Glad you liked it sweetheart.” He took your hands and kissed them.

“Baby, I hope you know how much I love you. You’re my world, you’re my home. I know I’m not great at expressing my love. I know I’m not that romantic, mostly just joking around or being silly but I hope you know I’m very serious about us, about you. I love you so much my beautiful girl.”

You could feel tears brimming your eyes.

“Oh Colin, you’re too sweet baby. I love you so much, so much. You make me feel so special. Thank you for this surprise it was so beautiful, and thank you for everything.” You started planting soft kisses all over his face and he chuckled. Colin wrapped his arm around you, holding you in a loving embrace.

Indeed the best way you could have started your Sunday.

#colin shea x reader #colin shea fanfiction #colin shea x desi reader #colin shea fluff #chris evans fluff #chris evans characters #chris evans x reader #chris evans x desi reader #chris evans x desi!reader #Spotify

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balladofbells · 3 years ago

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Trying to the best of my abilities to break down the planets we see on the Asteri’s star maps in Hosab

I was thinking sjm was using a kind of language for “Rentharr”. More ancient languages than modern, for example, (old) Norse. Sarah literally based the world of Crescent city on Norse mythology. Midgard, Vanir etc. So I would of thought sarah hid it in Norse. But I CANNOT, no matter how much I translate or research “Rentharr” from Norse, I can’t find anything on it. But I tried Hindi, random but yes, in Hindi, Rentharr means renter, obviously meaning someone who rents or is an occupant. (I still think Rentharr is Norse 😭)

“A bellicose, aquatic people. Primordial land life. Little supply. Terminated A.E. 14007.”

The beings that dwelled on Rentharr demonstrate aggression and willingness to fight, from The Asteri’s notes. The creatures existed at or from the beginning of time. So In the earliest stage of development. You know what these creatures remind me of? The Nøkk from Hoeab AND the Kelpie from Acosf.

Kelpies and Nokks in mythology are actually related to each other and are even said to be the exact same creature.

The Nøkks In Hoeab are around eight feet long and look like a Helish twin to a Mer male. Instead of humanoid features, the nøkks present a jutting lower jaw with a too-wide, lipless mouth full of needle-thin teeth. They have overlarge, milky eyes, like some of the fish of the deep. Their tail is mostly translucent, and is bony and sharp. Above their tail a warped, muscled torso rises. No hair covers their chest or head, and their scaled, four-fingered hands end in daggerlike ivory claws. They cannot be exposed to air like the Kelpie in acosf could.

The kelpie that came across Nesta in the Bog of Oorid was humanoid in appearance, with the notable exception that he moved on all fours when on land. His skin was whiter than bone and limbs and chest thin and bony, masking his great strength. His arms ended in fingers as long as Nesta's forearms, four-jointed and tipped with dagger-sharp nails. His black eyes were enormous, without whites to be seen, cheekbones sharp and nose narrow, long obsidian-black hair straight but full of bog weeds. The mouth was too wide and long and filled with twin rows of rotted teeth, jagged as shards of glass. The tongue was long and black, similar to a worm. His breath smelled of foul meat. When he spoke, his voice was deep and hoarse, grating like rock on rock. The language he spoke was an ancient faerie dialect that had not been spoken in fifteen thousand years, indicating he was at least that old. What I’m saying is that these Kelpie/Nøkk creatures home world could of been this planet. Don’t ask me how they got to where they are now.

I know this is Prythian, like the fandom already is aware of, but I’ll state some facts about why I’m certain of it.

“Conq. A.E. 680. Lost A.E. 720.”

At the beginning of the Asteri’s arrival at Iphraxia, they originally conquered the planet. But, they then were overthrown and forced to move out of the planet. Like the Daglan, who are known in Prythian for enslaving humans and faeries and drinking the magic from the land. Exactly like the Asteri. I hope some of you reading this have read this Asteri + Daglan theories. Because I can’t be bothered to explain more. The Daglan are The Asteri, so Iphraxia is Prythian. Don’t know how Sarah came up with Iphraxia, I can say that I’ve made some connections to it in Acosf though. Nesta Archeron’s magic sword, Ataraxia, sounds familiar? I cannot by the life of me find anymore connections.

“Denizens learned of our methods too quickly. We lost many to their unified front. Evacuated.”

Denizen: a person, animal, or plant that lives or is found in a particular place or a foreigner allowed certain rights in their adopted country.

But this passage shows that The Asteri are not lone conquers, they have armies of a sought to fight their battles. Yk what I’m thinking? Valg.

Contacted others? Sharing of bounty? I’m still thinking About Maeve from ToG.

Why? Because the fae from ToG all have animal forms (animal shifters) and they came from a different world, not the one which starborn came from (Prythian) but Erilea! If this is true, Maeve knew the Asteri, and could of possibly been an Asteri herself.

Might think of Urganis as Uranus? Idk familiar but Sarah could of based it off Uranus for it’s reference to the Greek god of the Sky and it’s order from the Sun, as it’s seventh planet from the Sun. Sarah LOVES the number 7 in her series.

7 Asteri

7 courts in Prythian

7 princes of hel

7 autumn court brothers

7 levels of the library

The Greek sky god reference is pointing towards House of Sky and Breath, the book title + House of the CC species. But I did more digging then that and let me tell you I dug DEEP.

I eventually found connections to The Druids.

Druids were the priests of the early Celtic religion, on the top rung of the three-tiered Celtic society consisting of serfs, warriors, and learned men. But in addition to their religious function, Druids also performed the roles of judge, doctor, and scholar.

It was so hard to find something on anything sounding like Urganis on them. But I also have other reasons why Sarah would choose The Druids as references to this planet.

The greatest of these mythological druids was Amergin Glúingel, a bard and judge for the Milesians featured in the Mythological Cycle. The Milesians were seeking to overrun the Tuatha Dé Danann and win the land of Ireland but, as they approached, the druids of the Tuatha Dé Danann raised a magical storm to bar their ships from making landfall.

Wiki

The Tuatha Dé Danann are entwined with the Druids and their history. You get what I’m trying to connect here? DANANN? Ruhn Danann from Crescent city?

Fionn mac Cumhaill is also entwined with their history. GETTIN’ IT?! KING FIONN IN ACOTAR?!

It was hard work trying to find a familiarity to Urganis but I got there eventually.

Involved in the Druids history, Urgan is the Gwrgi of the Triads, a mystical cannibal. He was a priest, or an idol, who delighted inhuman sacrifices. Maybe that’s what Sarah did to get the planet’s name, or maybe a coincidence.

Hel in CC is home to the 7 princes, apparently to the CC history, might not be true history. But, I want to talk about some things I picked up on here and what raised my suspicion.

A dark, cold world with mighty creatures of night.

The sjm fandom have been questioning Hel a lot lately. Theorising if Hel is actually The Night Court or Hewn city. I don’t want to go that deep into another theory but yeah, this raised by suspicion. Creatures of night? Night Court?

(House of Sky and Breath ending spoilers)

The Illyrian wings are described as ones of a demons, the creatures from hel, they reside to the night court. Picking up something here.

That is all really confusing, honestly, BUT,

What happened to those captured lieutenant? We’re they left somewhere? This makes me think of Keoshi. Just another random gut feeling with absolutely nothing backing it up.

Perhaps we might actually see their home world in The Throne of Glass series. I’m pretty sure in Crown of Midnight. Off the top of my memory it sounded very similar to how they described Hel.

#sjm theories #Sjm #Hosab #house of sky and breath spoilers #house of sky and breath #Crescent city #acotar #ToG

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sooibian · 4 years ago

Text

So Let's Runaway - Prologue

photocreds @tuanzie

Pairing: Kyungsoo x Fem!Reader ft. bff!Chanyeol

Genre / Themes: Fluff, mild angst, travel AU, road trip through Spain, travel buddies Chansoo!

Warnings: Themes of grief / loss, heartache, toxic relationships, strong language, i guess..

Description: An unlikely group of three comes together for the journey of a lifetime.

A/N: This fic is part of @supermwritersnet “Around the world in 31 days event”. Inspired by the Hindi movie Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Uploading prematurely so as to stop obsessing over the prologue and get cracking on the travelogue which requires a tonne of research. Let me know if you’d like a tag on the upcoming chapter(s) due for upload on 19th July 2021.

Word Count: 3k *unedited*

____________________________

Doh Kyungsoo had dragged his feet up the endless flight of stairs seeking solitude...not drama.

A stranger, just one misstep away from a fatal fall, was the last thing he’d expected to find on the rooftop of Seoul’s Park Hyatt at three in the morning. He slipped the rooftop access key card (that he’d borrowed from the security guard in exchange for a 50,000 won bill) in the back pocket of his trousers while simultaneously dwelling on the depths of the rot of corruption. He had half a mind to turn away and forget that he’d just seen someone contemplating their existence on the ledge of a highrise but there was something about you that rooted him to the spot. Dressed in fine evening wear, you’d stretched your arms out like wings as you looked up at the vast expanse of midnight blue, the wind kissing your wild, waist length hair. From his standpoint, you looked oddly at peace.

Kyungsoo had never been an idealist or a victim of the white knight syndrome. He wasn’t one to delve into the ethical and philosophical conundrums for most things in life because to him it was all just a waste of time. Seeing you on the parapet filled him with neither sympathy nor worry. It was your life after all and with it you could do whatever you deemed fit as long as you weren’t inconveniencing others. Scratch that.

As long as you weren’t inconveniencing him.

But right now, unbeknownst to you, you were inconveniencing Seoul’s hottest financial broker, Doh Kyungsoo.

He wasn’t invisible to the hotel’s security cameras and being labelled suspect in an abetment to suicide investigation wasn't exactly what he was looking for after the day he’d had. Albeit inebriated and heavy-eyed, he could effectively calculate the logistics involved in pulling you off the ledge with the cacophony of the omnipresent Seoul traffic drowning out the sound of his footsteps.

Bracing himself for superficial bruises from the impact of falling to the right side of the precipice with the weight of an adult human pressing down on his 173 cm high frame, he took off his custom tailored blazer (that had been flown in from Vietnam especially for that evening) and folded it in half, making sure that the lapels touched. Some habits are hard to shake. He put the blazer on the ground as a makeshift floorcloth for the rest of his belongings. With his back facing you, he allowed himself a moment's peace as he loosened his tie, languidly rolled the sleeves of his pristine white dress shirt up to his elbows, freed himself off the Rolex Cellini on his left wrist, his Bottega Veneta fine leather wallet, and the cursed Tiffany Blue Box that he simply couldn’t bear to look at anymore and neatly placed them all on the blazer.

Letting out a deep exhale, he muttered curses under his breath before turning to your silhouette only to find it...gone.

Kyungsoo’s eyes narrowed and then immediately grew into large circles as he grappled with the shocking turn of events. An inexplicable heaviness bloomed in his chest and he felt sick to the stomach which, in a state of denial, he chalked up to the dubious mixture of spirits he’d downed not too long ago.

Before he could find his bearings and figure out what to do next, a light tap on his shoulder made him jump. His jaw went slack and his heart threatened to leap out of his chest to find you casually smiling at him. In that moment, he wanted nothing more than to climb onto the very same ledge and scream into the void but he simply stood there, mouth agape, wanting to say a million things but he could hardly muster a peep.

Reading the confusion painted across his sharp, well defined features, you uttered an unsure, “Hi?”

“I thought you’d jumped,” he whispered, head tilted to the side, his compelling, bloodshot eyes locked with yours.

“Says someone who’s unusually jumpy,” you jested, but your expression immediately turned solemn when you caught the tremble in his right hand. “Are you on something?”

There came about a sudden shift in his aura. Hands on hips, he deadpanned, “Why? Are you with the cops?”

“No, don’t worry,” you let out a soft chuckle and he started scrambling for his things, “How long have you been standing here?”

Hastily stuffing everything into the pocket of his well fitted trousers, he muttered something along the lines of ‘Chaos. Just chaos everywhere!’

Leaning into his frame, you quipped, “What’s that?”

Alarmed and goggle-eyed, he snapped, “Nevermind,” and turned towards the exit.

“Hey! You seem to have forgotten something!” You called out after him upon finding his blazer on the ground, the silken sheen of it reflecting a myriad of citylights.

No answer.

“I wasn’t going to jump!” You yodelled childishly but the man was long gone.

Seven Hours Earlier

“Natasha -” Kyungsoo huffed.

The feather light Tiffany 1873 Blue Box in his left hand had suddenly started to feel like a giant boulder weighing down on his entire being. The sparkle of the uncut diamond reflected in his misty eyes as her uncharacteristically stoic silence left him struggling for words. He searched Natasha’s face for a hint of mischief...he so desperately wished for her to crack a sly smile and pull him in for a kiss and whisper ‘Yes! Yes! A thousand times yes!’ against his lips like they do in the movies, that he’d almost started to imagine it. It had to have been some sort of an ugly prank.

What reason does she have to turn me down? he wondered.

Kyungsoo breached the uncomfortable spell of silence with a desperate plea, “Say something!” the throbbing in his head intensifying by the second.

Did these three years mean nothing to you? What did I do wrong? Do you hate the ring? Is this not the kind of proposal you wished for? Is it because I left the bathroom lights on all night? Or is it because I forgot to wish your mother on her birthday? A flurry of questions spawned in Kyungsoo’s mind only to die at the tip of his tongue.

“I’m sorry, Kyungsoo, but I can’t do this. I just -” Natasha spoke finally. Gingerly shifting the weight of the box onto the ebony restaurant table, she slammed it shut as if the ring had been eyeing her lecherously.

Meeting Kyungsoo’s gaze almost defiantly, she declared, “Kyungsoo, I don’t think that I could be the kind of wife that would make you happy and I don’t think you could make me happy either.”

Two Weeks Later

Setting your eyes on that distinct pair of Dumbo ears, you excitedly weaved through the peak hour coffee shop crowd with an Iced Americano held firmly in one hand. Slamming the beverage down on the table, you engulfed his giant frame in a back hug and squealed, “Park Chanyeol!”

His wide eyes turned into even bigger brown circles and his mouth rounded into an ‘o’ in surprise. Grinning, he got off the uncomfortably tiny coffee shop chair and wordlessly pulled you in for what was famously known in Uni as a ‘Classic Chanyeol Hug’. You didn’t know how much you missed it until you felt your worries immediately dissipate into nothingness.

He hugged you a little tighter the moment you started to pull away before taking your hands in his and stooping down to your eye level. “Shifu, my love! You’re back in Seoul?!” Chanyeol exclaimed with all the love in the world sparking in the depths of his dark eyes.

Even after all this time, it felt as if nothing had changed….you’d suddenly been whizzed into a not-so-distant ‘Gothic architecture and coffee shops’ past in which a cotton candy haired boy, dressed in a pair of freshly ironed beige chinos and a plain white tee, smiles his sweetest smile simply at the sight of you. Chanyeol always felt like home. Funnily enough, even more so at the moment.

Giving him a good natured smile, you nodded in response, albeit cringing a little on the inside. Having been President of the martial arts club back in the days, you got stuck with an ingenious moniker “Shifu” which you clearly couldn’t shake off even after half a decade since graduation. You did a double take when your gaze veered to acknowledge the person seated opposite Chanyeol who, dressed in an ivory business suit, almost blended into the background. Just the way you could spot Chanyeol’s ears from a million miles away, you could recognize those eyes anywhere and right now they were shooting daggers at you.

“OH! Hi!”

His response to your greeting was a curt nod accompanying a vague hand movement, something between a hi and a failed facepalm.

At this Chanyeol guffawed, “You two know each other?”, his keen gaze rapidly flitting between the two of you.

“Yes -”

“No -”

While gesturing you to take a seat at their table, Chanyeol slumped into his chair and pursued the conversation in a voice laced with amusement, “So which is it?”

You gave your head a little shake, signalling Chanyeol to drop the topic since his friend had made his apprehension quite evident with an unambiguous “No” when asked if he knew you. Which...wasn’t entirely untrue. Even though Chanyeol now seemed to be on the same page as you, for good measure, you deflected his question with a polite, “I hope I’m not interrupting anything?”

“Absolutely not!” Chanyeol assured, deftly steering the conversation back to you, “We could actually use your advice on something but first, Shifu, look at you! How long has it been? Five years?”

“Five years!”

“Wahhh! What brings you back to Seoul?”

With a wistful smile, you answered, “Appa passed away in April...”

“Oh, I’m- I’m so sorry -” stuttered Chanyeol, immediately placing his hand on your arm and giving it a light squeeze. From the corner of your eye you noticed Chanyeol’s friend chewing on his bottom lip and listening to this exchange with rapt attention.

“No, no, it’s erm...we’re doing okay now, I guess-”

It had been two and a half months but every time you talked about it, a black hole burgeoned right in the middle of your chest, sucking you within itself and rendering you breathless. You still hadn’t picked up the art of condoling the “condoler”. What were you even supposed to say to the faultless “I’m sorry”? Who came up with condolence jargon, anyway?

“I’m sorry we haven’t been in touch - ”

“Oh, please. You know how it is after Uni, isn’t it,” you turned to Chanyeol’s friend to make him feel a little less left out, “what did you say your name was?”

“I didn’t,” he answered in a clipped tone while mindlessly scrolling through his phone.

“Yah!” Chanyeol chastised him with a deathly glare before continuing with an impish smile, “He’s Doh Kyungsoo.”

“Ah! So he’s Doh Kyungsoo! I’ve heard a great deal about you!” Your enthusiasm invoked a quick cursory smile from him. Doh Kyungsoo had apparently made it his life’s mission to make this unexpected rendezvous as icky as possible, leaving you to wonder if Chanyeol had ever discussed your brief relationship with him. Ex-girlfriend meets best friend? Not an ideal scenario in any part of the world.

Chanyeol and you had gone out for a couple of weeks towards the end of freshman year until you both realized that you were much better off as friends. Despite being joined at the hip in Uni, the two of you had gone your separate ways after post-grad. While he returned to Seoul to join the family business, you’d stayed back in Milan to explore job opportunities. Messages and phone calls became few and far between and it wasn’t long before both of you had completely lost touch with each other.

And it wasn’t until you met him again that you realized how desperately you needed a friend considering everything that had been going on in your life. You selfishly wished for Kyungsoo to leave you two to catch up on all these years spent apart but clearly that was a lot to ask considering how tacitly territorial he seemed to be getting about Chanyeol.

“So what was it that you wanted to talk about?” you asked in another feeble attempt to water down the rancour.

Chanyeol’s features flared into a bashful smile but the moment he opened his mouth to speak, Kyungsoo held a hand up to him and insisted, “Allow me to spare you the blushes,” before starting to explain the situation in an uncharacteristically eager tone, “This idiot is getting married in three months -”

Boisterously thumping Chanyeol’s back, you showered him with congratulations which he accepted with a shy ‘thank you.’

Kyungsoo continued, “- and we have a road trip planned for next month. As per the pact -”

Head tilted to the side, you shot, “What pact?”

“Some stupid pact that I have no memory of - ”

“That you conveniently have no memory of!” interrupted a salty Chanyeol.

Kyungsoo grimaced. Rubbing the corner of his eye, he continued with a heavy sigh, “It was supposed to be the three of us...Chanyeol, me, and our school friend Yixing.”

“Oh, okay?”

“So Yixing fell off a tractor and broke his back -”

“Oh, my gosh!” You exclaimed.

Kyungsoo’s mouth fell open. “I wasn’t there but I’d bet my ass that’s exactly what he said at the time.”

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing.”

“Wait, wait, slow down, why- how- a tractor?”

“He quit his CEO position to become a full time….farmer,” deadpanned Kyungsoo as if it was the stupidest thing Yixing could’ve done which rubbed you up the wrong way and coloured your otherwise neutral expression.

“He basically did what Kyungsoo doesn’t have the balls to do,” quipped Chanyeol, lips stretched into a gremlin-like grin. Kyungsoo returned his jibe with a strike to his arm causing him to let out a dramatic wail thus inviting the attention of everyone around you.

But none of it deterred Kyungsoo. He continued nonchalantly as if presenting a well crafted business proposal, “Since one of us is unavailable it only makes sense to postpone the trip and that’s exactly what I’ve been asking Chanyeol to do but he just won’t listen.”

“You’re getting married in three months and you’re taking this road trip next month. Will you be left with enough time for wedding planning?” you reasoned with Chanyeol, well aware of the kind of family he belonged to and the kind of weddings these families planned.

“Mr. Park here was way too eager,” Kyungsoo butted in.

“Shut up, Kyungsoo!”

“Wahhh you must really love her ~ ,” you sang, moon-eyed.

“Clearly. He couldn’t even wait for the rest of us to finish singing the birthday song for his Eomma.”

“What?”

“Yeah! He popped the question to Aera right in the middle of it.”

“WHAT!”

“That’s a story for another day,” replied Chanyeol in an atypically calm tone, “but you’re right, Shifu, it’s not enough time and that’s why I’ve been asking this idiot to just -”

“All reservations are for three. It logistically makes more sense to reschedule,” declared Kyungsoo with a hint of finality in his tone.

It didn’t. It definitely didn’t make more sense to reschedule but as gullible as Chanyeol was, he said nothing to counter Kyungsoo’s illogical argument.

“Are you sure your friend Yixing would be okay with it, Yeollie? I’m sure you can wait for him to get better and -”

Firmly setting his jaw, Chanyeol looked you square in the eyes and stated, “It's now or never.”

Kyungsoo stole a glance at you and cleared his throat, hesitance betraying his voice when he spoke again, “Chanyeollah, you’re only getting married stop talking like you’re terminally ill.”

Chanyeol's expression softened to convey an implicit plea causing you to tweak your suggestion, “The two of you can still go? I’m sure Yixing won’t mind.”

But Chanyeol hit you with an unexpected proposal. He asked, “Do you want to come?”, in a tone that was way too serious for a road trip.

“What? No!”

“Why not? You’re here and - “

“- and Yixing’s not,” interrupted Kyungsoo.

Ignoring the sarcasm in Kyungsoo’s voice, you turned Chanyeol down gently, “No, Yeol, it’s just- it doesn’t make sense, bub.”

“Why not? We leave in a month and that’s plenty of time to get all your travel docs in order -”

“Travel docs? You mean….insurance?” You asked hesitantly.

“Yeah! Insurance...you won’t need a visa, though.”

“Visa? Yeah, obviously I won’t be needing a visa. Why would I need a visa for a road trip?”

Chanyeol slapped his forehead and wondered aloud, “Oh, shoot! We didn’t tell her, did we?”

Kyungsoo gave his head a little shake, prompting you to ask, “Tell me what?”

“It’s a road trip through uhhh northeastern Spain -”

Chanyeol’s elaborate account of the itinerary was drowned in the whirlpool of emotions that erupted within you at the mention of the country. That part of your life you had locked away in the deepest, darkest corners of your consciousness now stared you straight in the eyes, forcing you to acknowledge a reality far too jarring for your fragile state of mind. You took a sip of your long forgotten beverage to centre yourself but it didn’t take a genius to know that something was up.

Placing a hand on your head, he asked softly, “What is it, Shifu? I understand if you can’t leave Eomma alone at this point...”

“It’s not Eomma,” you took another sip of the drink to fight the lump in your throat, “Eomma is - Eomma is in Bucheon, visiting her sister. For I don’t know how long but...long.”

“Is it work?” contributed Kyungsoo.

“I quit my job,” you answered and he looked at you as if you, a total stranger, had just asked him his body count.

Chanyeol took your hand in his and reiterated, “Come, then? You need this.”

Your gaze bounced between the two men who wore the exact same expression in expectation of two entirely different answers. And whatever you chose to say next, you were sure to disappoint one of them.

Eyes unfocussed, a deafening ringing echoing in your ears, you declared softly, “I need this,” with a million unpleasant scenarios running through your head, making you sick to the stomach.

Chanyeol pulled you in for a bear hug. Kyungsoo rolled his eyes and let out a deep, disappointed sigh.

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fitjourneydaily · 11 months ago

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The Complete Guide to Keratin Treatment Maintenance, Hair Extension Care, Keratone Oil Usage, and Healthy Nails in Hindi

Keratin-based hair treatments, glued-in hair extensions, and specialized hair care oils have gained immense popularity in recent years due to their ability to transform and enhance hair health. Additionally, maintaining healthy nails is equally vital for an overall polished appearance. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the best practices for maintaining Keratin treatments, caring for glued-in hair extensions, using Keratone oil effectively, and achieving healthy nails, all while incorporating Hindi keywords for our Hindi-speaking audience. 1. How to Maintain Keratin Treatment: A Step-by-Step Guide (400 words) Keratin treatments are widely favored for their ability to rejuvenate and smoothen hair, making it more manageable, frizz-free, and shiny. However, proper maintenance is crucial to ensure long-lasting results. Here are some essential steps to follow: - Washing Your Hair: Use a sulfate-free shampoo and a keratin-friendly conditioner. Avoid hot water and excessive hair washing. - Drying Techniques: Pat dry gently with a towel or use a blow dryer on a cool setting. Avoid rubbing your hair vigorously. - Avoiding Heat Styling: Minimize the use of heat styling tools to prevent heat damage and maintain the integrity of the treatment. - Styling Products: Opt for keratin-infused styling products to enhance the treatment's effectiveness and prolong its benefits. 2. How to Take Care of Keratin Glued-in Hair Extensions: A Comprehensive Guide (400 words) Keratin glued-in hair extensions provide an instant boost to hair length, thickness, and volume. However, these extensions require proper care to prevent damage and maintain their natural appearance. Follow these steps to ensure the longevity of your hair extensions: - Detangling: Gently brush your hair extensions with a wide-toothed comb or a specialized hair extension brush to detangle them, starting from the ends and working your way up. - Shampoo and Conditioner: Use a sulfate-free, extension-friendly shampoo and conditioner specifically formulated for hair extensions. Avoid applying conditioner near the roots to prevent slippage. - Avoiding Excessive Moisture: Minimize exposure to water and avoid swimming or showering with hair extensions. If necessary, use a shower cap or tie your hair in a loose bun to protect the extensions. - Styling and Heat: Use heat protectant products before using any hot tools and avoid high temperatures to prevent damage to the extensions. 3. How to Use Keratone Oil for Hair: A Step-by-Step Guide Keratone oil is a nourishing and revitalizing hair treatment that works wonders in improving hair health. Follow these steps to use it effectively: - Section Your Hair: Divide your hair into manageable sections to ensure even distribution of the oil. - Apply the Oil: Pour a small amount of Keratone oil onto your palms and rub them together. Gently massage the oil into your scalp and work it down to the hair ends. - Leave-In Time: Allow the oil to penetrate your hair for at least 20-30 minutes. For better results, cover your hair with a shower cap or warm towel to enhance absorption. - Rinse It Out: After the recommended leave-in time, rinse your hair thoroughly with a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner. 4. Achieving Healthy Nails: Simple Tips in Hindi Healthy and well-maintained nails contribute significantly to a polished appearance. Here are some essential tips to achieve healthy nails: - Moisturize Regularly: Apply a good-quality hand cream regularly to keep your nails and cuticles hydrated. - Nail Care Routine: Trim your nails to your preferred length, file them in one direction, and gently push back the cuticles using a cuticle pusher. - Nail Protection: Wear gloves while doing household chores or engaging in activities that may expose your nails to chemicals or excess moisture. - A Healthy Diet: Consume a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals to promote overall nail health. 1. Keratin treatment maintenance 2. Hair extension care 3. Keratone oil usage 4. Healthy nails in Hindi Conclusion: With the right knowledge and proper care, you can ensure the longevity of your keratin treatments, glued-in hair extensions, and maintain your overall hair and nail health. By following the steps provided in this guide, you can enjoy the benefits of these popular hair treatments and achieve beautiful, healthy hair and nails. Incorporate these practices into your routine and enjoy the visible difference they make. Discover the secrets of Keratone – learn about keratin treatments, maintenance tips, and how to use keratin products effectively. For more information and expert guidance, visit the 'Keratone' website. Visit the Keratone Product Page. Read the full article

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abbatoirablaze · 3 years ago

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Queens Of The Mayans, Aayana, Chapter 1

Word Count: 1.1k

Warnings: none really. Just world building.

"Papa," my younger sister pleaded from the back office, "please stop yelling at Aayana and I in Hindi. It's making customers nervous, and they’re starting to leave."

"Priya, do not chastise your father," my mother said firmly, her accent thickening as she began to get upset. She turned to me, "did you put her up to this Aayana? Priya, did Aayana put you up to this? Did you tell her to do this, Aayana?"

"No," I said shaking my head. I began to fiddle with my apron, "I swear. Papa began yelling at Priya and I in Hindi and it made her customer's walk out. She's upset because they didn't leave a tip, or even pay for their check. They just left the food uneaten and ran out of here."

"These damn Americans," my father hissed, wringing his hands, "they come in here, and eat at our diner, and think that they can just do whatever they want. Promised land they told me. A land of milk and honey is what they promised before your mother, and I fled to this country. A load of bullshit that was. THE SHIT OF BULLS!"

"Papa," Priya pleaded, looking through the window to see a few more customers looking concerned, "please don't curse."

I heard the bell ding and my father got up from his desk and went down the hall, "we'll be with you in one moment, please seat yourself."

"You can take this customer Priya," I offered, “I-“

"It's your turn in the rotation," she said shaking her head, "I'm not going to take your customer. Especially since you're supposed to be saving for the wedding."

I closed my eyes and gave a heavy sigh. My mother grabbed my chin and my eyes shot open, "what are you sighing about Aayana? Rakesh a great suitor for you. You need to be doing more to be a good wife for him. What is wrong?"

"Nothing mama."

"Are you still throwing a tantrum about your arranged marriage?" she asked, “Rakesh comes from a good family. He will give you many children.”

"Mama," I hissed. She gave me a stern look and I looked down the hall to where my father was returning, "don't say anything to papa. I don't want to upset him. I am happy about the wedding. Just nervous."

She dropped my chin and looked at my father, "well?"

"Priya, go take care of the customers. Your sister will be out in a moment. Aayana."

I watched as my sister went through the office door and my father gestured for me to take a chair, "it's fine papa. I'll stand."

"Very well," he said, "I need to speak to you about your marriage. I was speaking to Rakesh's family, and they are agreeing to move the wedding date up."

"What?" I asked, eyes wide, "what are you talking about?"

"I'm moving the wedding date up," he said simply, "if I do that, they are willing to forgo your dowry as they want his grandfather to be there for the wedding. You know he's unwell."

"Papa I don-"

"I don't want to hear a disapproving remark from you," he said simply, waving a hand. I heard the bell go off, but I didn't move.

"Mama?" I asked, "did you know about this?"

She shook her head, "no. But your father makes his decisions for good reasons. Be a good daughter, Aayana. Do not question your father's judgement."

"Correct," papa said, as mama put a hand on his shoulder. He reached back and touched it, "now, the bell on the door has rung. Go serve the customers. Don't make Priya do all the work."

I sighed and hung my head, "yes papa."

I made my way out to the diner floor and saw that Priya was taking the orders of a younger couple with a few children. At the door were three men clad in leather and denim.

"We get a table?"

I nodded, "feel free to sit anywhere. I'll grab some menus."

I began to walk behind the counter, and the three men sat down at the counter. One with long hair smiled at me, "thank you kindly, sweetheart."

I smiled back and handed them each a menu, "what can I start you gentlemen off with?"

A bigger guy chuckled, "gentlemen. Bish, she's calling you and Che gentlemen. I'll have a coffee sweetcheeks."

"Make it two," the third guy said, raising his hand ever so slightly.

"And you?" I asked, setting out the coffee cups for his friends. The man with the long hair reached out and touched my hand, "you wouldn't happen to have beer, would you?"

I reached into the cooler beneath me, "Corona okay?"

He gave a slight grimace but nodded, "better than nothing."

I cracked the top off, and put a lime wedge in, before setting it in front of him, "I'll give you guys a few moments to look over the menu. Let me know when you want to order, okay?"

The guys on either side nodded and I went to check on my older brother in the kitchen, to let him know we had a few tables.

"Miss?"

I turned to see the guy with the long hair holding his hand up slightly. I walked back over to them, "yes? Did you need something?"

"You never told us your name."

“Oh I’m sorry about that,” I apologized, "My name is Aayana."

"Well kind Aayana, I'm Taza," he said, taking my hand and kissing it, "thank you for being our waitress."

I felt a blush creep up onto my cheeks as he did that.

"Of course," I stuttered. I blushed walking away. I went back into the kitchen where Priya was already waiting. She had a gigantic grin on her face, "why are you so happy?"

"That guy was flirting with you Aayana."

"So?"

"What do you mean so," she giggled, "he's cute."

"He's a customer," I said, shaking my head, trying to be reasonable, "and anyways, I'm an engaged woman. I’m not going to flirt with him seriously. I’m not like that."

"You don't want to marry Rakesh," she said with a shake of her head, "what if this man is the man you are meant to be with?"

"It's not my decision Priya."

"What if Shiva constructed this Aayana. What if you are meant to be with this attractive random stranger?"

"Shiva would not waste such energy on me, sister. I’m but a blip in time, and an unimportant one at that."

"Aayana," my father called, coming into the kitchen, "the men at the counter wish to order. Go service them."

"yes papa." I said quietly, going back out.

Chapter 2

#mayans fx #mayans mc #taza romero #taza #che romero #che #mc #indian reader

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cutesilyo · 4 years ago

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no place in the world (like manila) — an amephil fanfic

A few months after the outbreak of the Philippine-American War, Alfred falls in love with and is betrayed by a bright-eyed teenager with the prettiest smile on this side of the Orient in a single night.

This is not a love story.

Also available on AO3.

—

"Sir, I don't think it's safe for you to leave the camp," Major-General MacArthur warned. "I don't know how, but the revolutionaries know your face. They could attack you!"

"Pshaw," Alfred snorted. "I'm a nation. What could they do that could take me down, huh?"

MacArthur's mustache bristled in displeasure. "Be that as it may sir, might I remind you that you only arrived in Manila a week ago? Knowing you, you'd just get lost and I'd have to put together a whole squad of troops just to hunt you down. You could get captured, Alfred. I don't know how to tell you just how badly that would bring down morale."

Alfred just wagged his fingers, a bright grin on his face. "Look, if I get captured, I'd bust out of whatever crappy holding place they'd put me in without barely breaking a sweat! And knowing our soldiers, that's just the stuff that would make a great story to tell at dinnertime. How's that for morale?"

The way that MacArthur simply stared at him blankly told Alfred that this was not a convincing argument.

"I hate it when you do that," he groaned, slumping back on his seat. The leather was hot with the heat of the tropical sun and it stuck uncomfortably to his skin. Oh, how badly he wanted to just finally get up and leave. "I'm just saying, I can't stay inside here forever just waiting for you to dictate our next move."

"It's part of our strategy—"

"And it's boring. I'm bored, Major-General. I might as well look around." Alfred's eyes glinted dangerously. "Besides, you'll capture the whole nation for me soon enough, won't you? No harm in wanting to see what we're winning once this war is over."

The silence lasted for a few seconds before the major-general sighed in defeat.

—

Private Patton R. Wilkes was assigned to “accompany” Alfred while he roamed around Manila, but he knew that MacArthur just wanted someone to make sure he would actually return to camp instead of getting lost or, God forbid, taking the next ship back to America. Though the both of them were dressed in civilian clothing, the private carried himself with a strict stiffness that just screamed hardened military man. If Alfred wanted any chance of escape, it looked like the private would be hard to shake off.

Alfred tried to stay optimistic about the trip anyway. He hadn't paid much attention to the city while he was on the way to the American camp, but he certainly expected it to have an air of exoticness. He was a bit disappointed not to see anything like the palaces of Japan or the distinctly oriental architecture of China. Instead, he found street signs written in Spanish, the excited chatter of fast-talking brown-skinned people, and the cacophony of guitars, church bells, and the sound of horse-drawn carriages trotting along the stoned roads. Walking around Manila was like looking at a funhouse mirror version of Mexico: more or less the same, but with just enough differences to make his head spin.

"Uh, you alright there, sir?" Patton asked.

"Was just thinking about a bad memory, is all," Alfred grimaced. He's sure that Alejandro would have his head once he returned to the continent. He's been pissing off a lot of Spanish-speaking nations recently, that's for sure. "Come to think of it, the Philippine Islands must have its own personification too, right?"

The private's face darkened. "He's a force to reckon with, sire. Haven't seen no hide nor hair of him myself, but some guys in the other squadron barely survived after fighting with the kid."

"A kid?" Alfred furrowed his eyebrows. He didn't know there were still nations out there who were that young. Then again, he was only a teenager himself, and he was even younger when he fought against Arthur as well. "I don't know how I feel about fighting a kid. Couldn't I just give him a lollipop or something and this could all just work itself out?"

He meant it as a joke, but Patton seemed to take it seriously and started furiously shaking his head. "Don't think you could even try negotiating with him sir, the kid's a savage. Hacked and slashed his way through the guys with some kind of golden knife, they said. We're lucky our medics are so darned fast, otherwise, we would've been down almost a dozen men from him alone."

Something in Alfred's resolve hardened at the thought of losing his soldiers to someone so brutal. He clapped the other man on the shoulder and said, "Don't you worry, Pat. We'll end this soon, and when we win, we'll make sure that nobody from these islands ever lays a hand on any of our own."

That seemed to comfort Patton somewhat, though he was still shaking with anger. "I'll give them a good walloping right by your side, sire."

"Now that's the kind of patriotic determination I wanna see!" Alfred crowed. He then immediately scrambled for his wallet and hurriedly gave the private a wad of bills. Some onlookers openly gawked at seeing the number of dollar bills in his hand. "Tell you what, why don't you buy some booze, head back to camp, and inspire your fellow soldiers, eh? God knows we need some fun around here."

"Um," Patton blinked, caught off-guard. "I don't know if Major-General MacArthur—"

"Tell Major-General MacArthur that I'm just trying to boost morale," Alfred winked. "Also, tell him I'll back by next morning!"

He didn't get to hear Patton's response as he took off running wildly in the opposite direction. He barely registered running past the stores, wet market, and the cathedral; he just wanted to be alone and independent, exploring this new land to his heart's content. The buildings were shorter and the roads were narrower here than in his own country, but Alfred was just so glad to finally be in a place filled with people just like he was used to.

Alfred collapsed on his knees, winded. When he looked up, he was surprised to see that he had apparently made it to one of Manila's many ports. Past the numerous small fishing boats and trading boats, he could see that the sun was already beginning to set. The sky was painted in a pretty combination of pinks and oranges in contrast to the ocean's blue, the stars already starting to twinkle faintly into appearance one by one. The rhythmic lapping of the waves against the rocks seemed louder than everything else around him — a stark reminder that no matter where he went, there was always something bigger to discover.

He stood there for a moment, mesmerized when a loud grunt startled him out of his stupor.

He turned to find some kind of bull staring at him with its beady eyes, its long horns curving towards the back instead of to the front. It was pulling a wagon full of leafy vegetables that Alfred couldn't recognize, and the old man riding it looked startled to come across a foreigner.

"Hijo, padaan naman po," he said, with a strained smile.

"Oh, sorry, I don't know what you mean," Alfred tried, but the man just continued smiling at him. He was starting to think that maybe abandoning Patton, who wasn't fluent but at the very least conversational in Tagalog, was a bad idea.

Luckily, someone came to his rescue. A teenager with bright eyes approached him, an amused twitch of the lips on his sharp face. He was dressed simply: unlike the suit and tie ensemble of the richer Filipinos he'd come across or the pale blue uniform of the Philippine Army, he wore a thin white top and trousers cut just above his ankles. The scabbard on his hip would have been concerning if Alfred didn't know just how many Filipinos carried knives in their daily lives. All in all, he looked just like any other street vendor, but the red handkerchief tied around his neck was vibrant enough to make him stand out. "You are American, yes?"

"Ah yeah," Alfred flushed, a bit flustered. The way the stranger leaned in was a little too close for comfort, but he looked harmless and at least he spoke English. "Can you help me? I think that man is talking to me, but I can't understand what he's saying."

The teenager grabbed his arm to pull him to the side. The old man tipped his straw hat in thanks, and the teenager smiled, saying: "Pasensya na po, lolo! Hindi kasi taga-rito."

The two of them watched the wagon pass them by. They stood there in silence for a moment, and then Alfred blurted out, "I didn't know I was in the way, I swear."

"You did seem quite distracted." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the other boy laugh. The both of them turned to each other at the same time, a small smile on each other's faces. "Not that I blame you. I am sure you have sunsets in America, but it is different here than in other countries. I think the colors are more vibrant, do you agree?"

"Certainly takes my breath away," he admitted. "I do have to ask, how come you speak English so well? I've only been in Manila for a few days but I don't think I've met another Filipino that's as good as you are."

The teenager only laughed again and held on to Alfred's arm tighter. As he looked up at him, his eyes and grin were equally bright with mirth; and despite himself, Alfred was a bit charmed. "Us Filipinos are not as stupid as you think, señorito. Now, you say you are a stranger to Manila, yes? Come with me, and let me show you around my city."

—

They ended up hailing a tranvia, a carriage made to carry a whole group of people instead of just a pair. Alfred found it small and quaint, making an internal note to build tram lines in the city once he was able. Yet the energy that the teenager had with him was larger than life. He had apparently noticed the other passengers giving Alfred a suspicious side-eye, and immediately launched into a round of jokes to dispel the tension. Though he barely understood the jokes due to them being told in a mix of Spanish and Tagalog, the way that the whole tranvia burst into loud laughter was enough to assure him that his companion was quite the comedic performer.

When they got off, the driver even thanked them for the entertainment and told them not to pay the fare anymore. Alfred let out an excited whoo! as the teenager did an exaggerated bow.

As the carriage rode off, Alfred turned to his new friend and exclaimed, "Wow! The way you handled that was amazing! I mean, I've been through worse than an awkward train ride, but you definitely saved my ass back there."

The teenager blushed slightly. "Think nothing of it. I would rather see my companions happy and comfortable in my care than anything else."

"Still, that thing you did was certainly a swell sight." Alfred breathed in the cold evening air and let it out with a contented sigh. He looked straight into the other boy's eyes as he said, "And it's really nice that you're going through all the trouble to be with me tonight too! Like, we don't even know each other's names but you just whisked me away like some kind of fairytale hero! That was really awesome of you, I have to say."

"You are a man of sweet words," the teenager said, with a smile that looked almost bittersweet. Then, as if he had completely forgotten about his melancholy, he grabbed Alfred's arm again and dragged him towards the next street corner. "But let us not waste time talking! Most of these shops close soon, and I would hate for us to miss them!"

Helpless, Alfred let himself be strung along.

Sadly, most of the shops they went past had already closed for the day. Still, the teenager cheerily talked his ear off about what wares they sold and the local gossip about the people who ran those stores — like Pepito, owner of the clay pottery store, who had apparently given away all his lotto winnings to the next city's blacksmith. The one time that they had actually been able to buy something was when they came across a small, brightly-colored cart that apparently sold the Filipino version of ice cream. Both the vendor — Mang Tomas, as he was introduced — and the teenager had chuckled when he brought out a wallet full of dollars, so the teenager had to reach into his own pocket to pay with a few coins. As they walked past yet another cathedral, Alfred caught his friend singing the hymns under his breath. When they reached the plaza, the teenager then asked the lady standing nearby — Aling Nena, he was told — to give him a jasmine garland, the scent of the white flowers so powerful that it immediately made Alfred sneeze on his friend's face when he put them around his neck. Yet instead of getting mad like he expected, the teenager had only laughed and told him he looked handsome.

No matter where they went or who they talked to, his friend always seemed to know everyone's names. Alfred had no idea how he had the time to possibly get so familiar with all the people around him, but he certainly understood the sentiment; he loved talking with all the Americans that he came across with too. Personally getting to know the people who made his nation always made him feel more connected with them in a way that war and politics never could.

And if the Philippine Islands was truly to be his someday, Alfred knew he wanted to treat them similarly. More than anything or anyone else though, nobody in the archipelago had intrigued him most than the young man beside him whose smile was brighter than any star.

Yet all his experience in small talk failed him tonight, and not for lack of trying. Every time he asked questions about his friend, he was always diverted away from the topic.

Which part of the city are you from? was met with a vague Do you ask the flower which vine it came from? You are better off simply enjoying the whole garden.

Where is your family? had been completely ignored as his friend said You must be hungry, yes? I know a place with the best empanadas this side of Binondo.

What is your name? earned him a cheeky wink and a teasing If your mind still ventures to inane questions like that, then I am not doing very well in completely impressing you.

How old are you? made the teenager burst out into loud, hearty laughter that lasted for more than a minute. Alfred didn't even bother to try asking anything else after that, choosing to focus on his empanadas and arroz a la valenciana for the rest of the meal.

Later, when they were served a bottle of gin to share along with a bowl of peanuts, his friend had the grace to apologize for his behavior.

"I truly am sorry," he said, but the playful grin on his face made it difficult to take his apology seriously. "I simply do not think that you knowing more about me is more important than us having a good time together."

"How am I supposed to find you again if I don't know who you are, huh?" Alfred couldn't stop himself from whining. He ignored the glass in front of him, taking a swig straight from the bottle and letting the alcohol burn down his throat. His friend watched him in bemusement. "This has been the best night of my life in a long time. And if this is the last time we see each other, I don't think I'm going to forgive myself if I don't push you into giving me a hint."

This time, it was his friend's turn to take a drink: he filled his glass half-full and downed it all in one go. "You are certainly bold, señorito, I will give you that. A good friend of mine warned me about how loud and annoying Americans were, but it seems he neglected to tell me about how forward you all were as well."

Alfred resisted the urge to roll his eyes; of course, he would get deflected yet again. "Alright, I'll bite. Tell me more about your friend."

The teenager looked surprised. "You wish to know more about a man that insulted you?"

"If this is the closest I get to you telling me more about yourself, I'll take it," he shrugged. "Besides, I'd love to know how this friend of yours thinks. Americans are the greatest people in the world! He must be stupid if he doesn't know that."

The other boy laughed. "Of course you would say that, you biased brute. And I will have you know that my friend was quite smart, actually. One of the smartest men I have ever known."

Alfred felt like he wouldn't like the answer, but he asked anyway: "Was?"

All traces of laughter from his friend's face faded away into a hollow smile. "Killed by firing squad a few years ago."

Silently, Alfred poured gin into both of their glasses. They drank in solemn solidarity.

"My sincere condolences," said Alfred, and he meant it: he had lost too many friends himself over the centuries. "And I'm sorry I called him stupid."

His friend waved it off. "No worries. Pepe was incredibly intelligent, but he definitely had his fair share of stupid moments — you wouldn't believe how many times that man fell in love over the course of his short lifetime. Still, I miss him terribly and I wish he was still around. God only knows what he would have thought about everything happening at present."

"Oh, I know the feeling." Despite him dying decades prior, Alfred still longed for George Washington's steadfast guidance sometimes. He reached, a bit messily, for another drink. "It's uncanny, yeah? Some people just have this weird ability to analyze the present and predict the future. I certainly don't know how they do anything like it, really. I kind of just talk big and hope for the best."

"Funny that you talk about the future," the teenager chuckled. "Somehow, my friend even managed to predict that you would come here, Alfred. I did not believe him at the time, of course, but here you are."

"Here I am," Alfred repeated faintly. "Hold on, how did you know my—"

"Why were you all alone in my city, señorito?" His friend interrupted, looking up at him through his eyelashes. He leaned closer, close enough for the skin of their arms to touch, and Alfred suddenly forgot about all his worries. "I was very surprised to see you on your own, looking every bit like a lost little lamb. You are very lucky that I found you."

"Lucky indeed," he murmured, adjusting the collar of his shirt. It felt like the temperature in the room had risen by a dozen degrees. "Just wanted to explore, is all. MacArthur told me we had to stay low for a few more weeks, I got bored, and he let me out."

Those bright eyes were practically glittering as the teenager looked up at him, his fingers slowly tracing up his arm. "And you were alone? I always thought American soldiers traveled in pairs, but perhaps I was mistaken."

"No! No, you're right, you're definitely right," Alfred stammered out. He was sure his face was completely red by now. "I was with Private Wilkes earlier, but we, ah, got separated. He must be on the way back to Bulacan by now."

"How unfortunate," the other practically purred, clearly delighted. "Say, tell me, how did this Wilkes look like? Because I am sure that he does not look as handsome as you do."

That damned smile, now coy instead of kind and sweet, was tantalizingly close. If only he had the courage to lean down—

Alfred, trying desperately to distract himself, grabbed the bottle again and took a long swig.

There were about a million promises that threatened to spill from Alfred's lips, each one more outrageous than the other: Come with me. Stay with me. I'll keep you safe. I'll love you. Yet at the moment, he found himself tongue-tied. He didn't know if it was the alcohol or the atmosphere or the way the young boy across the table had so effortlessly allured him, but he felt like he was about to go insane. He barely registered the both of them standing up to leave, didn't question why they didn't need to pay at the restaurant, paid no heed to what his friend had whispered to the men standing guard by the door. His mind was in a muddy haze, and all he could focus on was the fact that his friend was holding his hand as he was led into the dark streets.

Dimly, Alfred thought that however striking he looked by the setting sun, he looked much more ethereal bathed in moonlight.

He must have said this aloud because the teenager laughed.

"You are a man of sweet words," he said, and there's that oddly bittersweet smile again. "And I wish we could have met in better circumstances."

"What's wrong with the way we met today? I had fun," Alfred argued. He swayed slightly on his feet, and his friend held on to him to keep him from falling. "Didn't you have fun?"

"You forget we are at war, señorito. And you forget that you are seeking to control me and my people, not find a lover." Despite the harsh words, the way his friend said this was soft and sad. Almost like he was somehow hurt. "It does not matter what we feel today if we are bound to fight each other tomorrow. Should you not know this by now?"

They walked together in silence, each supporting the other. Slowly, Alfred's alcohol-induced dizziness began to subside. It was replaced by a growing emptiness in his chest — and a heavy, heavy realization.

"You knew I was America this entire time." When his friend deigned to respond, he continued. "Then, why...?"

At this, the teenager laughed — broken and wistful and desperate, all at once. "I do not know myself. I was ready to attack you, but for some reason, the look in your eyes as you watched the sunset stopped me. I thought, if you could look at my country with such amazement, then you could see that this war is unnecessary. That if you could know my land and my people the way I knew them, full of vibrancy and color and light, then you could realize that they did not deserve to die.

"Yet as the night went on I began to realize my efforts were fruitless. It was not them you were looking at anymore, but me." Here, his friend faced him; Alfred barely catching a glimpse of his wet eyes before the teenager looked away. "Believe me, I would love to spend another night like this with you. But you have your responsibilities and so do I."

"Fruitless," Alfred repeated hollowly. The cold night wind was in stark contrast to the hot rage he felt bubbling inside him. He forcefully wrenched himself away from his friend, yelling: "You made me tell you classified information!"

In seconds, he watched the teenager's face go from shock to hurt to an angry glare.

"Do you not understand how badly I need to win this war? My people did not give their lives to free me from Spain just so you could swoop in and take over! So forgive me, señorito," his friend spat mockingly, "for trying to find whatever advantages my poor nation can get against such an imperialistic nation like you!"

"And do you not understand what we're trying to do here?" Alfred shouted. "We are fighting this war to save you! Don't you see that your country is a mess? That you're underdeveloped, uneducated, and unfit for self-rule? I was the hero who helped save your people from Spain, jackass, and—"

"—and you promised to give us independence, and yet all your countrymen seem to do is kill." The teenager finished, both his eyes and the hilt of his knife glinting golden under the moonlight. "Is that what freedom means to you, America? I beg to differ."

As Alfred stepped away from him in furious, furious betrayal, all he could think about was that the other boy looked so small.

"I thought of you as my friend," he said.

"And I thought of you as my liberator," the teenager said coolly. "I see we were both wrong."

A harsh whinny interrupted them both. Alfred turned to find Patton riding a chestnut brown horse, his face red from exhaustion but seemingly unharmed. The private stopped in front of him, dismounting without grace on the pavement. His face was red from exhaustion and his clothes looked considerably ruffled, but otherwise, he looked unharmed.

"It ain't my position to say this sire, but don't you dare ever try to run away from me like that again," Patton panted, giving a quick side-eye to the other teenager before dismissing him. "We best hurry now, because those two won't be happy about their stolen horse."

Just as he was about to ask who those two were, a pair of Filipinos with muskets turned the corner and ran towards them. He vaguely recognized them as the same two men who were standing guard at the restaurant. They shouted loudly, a mix of Tagalog and Spanish expletives that Alfred could barely recognize, and a phrase distinct enough that he felt like it was something significant: amang bayan.

Patton evidently recognized the words. He looked at him in a wide-eyed panic, saying, "Sire, we need to leave—"

And as quick as lightning, Patton fell to the ground with a sickening crack. Caught completely off-guard and his arms restrained, he was helpless against the teenager who had a knife at his throat: a knife that, as Alfred began to realize with a horrified lurch of his stomach, was engraved with golden flowers and the insignia of an eight-rayed sun.

"You must be Private Wilkes," the Philippines smiled. "I do hope you are enjoying my country."

"Get off him or else!" Alfred screamed, the combined events of the night making him feel like he was about to reach his breaking point. He reached for the pistol he kept hidden on his belt and took aim, hoping to God that the other nation wouldn't force him to shoot. Even after everything, he didn't feel like he had the nerve to hurt Philippines after the hours they spent together; maybe some other day, but not tonight.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw that the two men had caught up to them. They angled their muskets at him from a distance. The horse, which Alfred had been planning to use for escape, had already taken off running in the commotion.

Patton stared up at him with fear in his eyes, a bleeding gash on his forehead, and Alfred's hands began to shake.

Above all else, Philippines was still smiling: eyes bright, amused twitch of the lips on his sharp face. Slowly, he stood to approach him.

Like a switch had been flicked, his features turned soft and kind again — more like the boy that Alfred had met earlier, the boy who had dragged him around the streets of Manila with lighthearted laughter, the boy whose smile was brighter than any star. All Alfred could do was stand there, mesmerized once again, as his hand was gently pried away from the gun.

"Alfred," Philippines said this quietly, almost like he was invoking a prayer. He motioned the men to stand down. "I do not wish to fight."

"I don't want to either," Alfred admitted. Maybe there was hope... "C'mon, we can talk this through, right? Look, we haven't had a battle in months. It should be really easy to negotiate, yeah? I'll set up a meeting with your generals and mine, we'll have a civil discussion with no weapons allowed, and we'll reach a compromise."

The other nation was leaning in, and this time, Alfred took his chance. He held Philippines' cheek in his hands and they kissed, soft and quick and chaste.

"Of course," Alfred said, as he pulled away. "I would need your complete surrender—"

He was swiftly kneed in the stomach, disarmed, and shot.

"Alfred, I do not wish to fight," Philippines said, as he watched Alfred collapse to the ground. "But I have to. I hope you understand."

He vaguely registered Patton reaching out to him as his eyes closed and the blood pooled around him, but all he could focus on was watching the other nation walk away into the darkness.

—

When Alfred came to, he was already back at camp. Without thinking, he immediately trudged to the general's war office.

"Good morning, Major-General MacArthur," he smiled, bright and cheery. "Gather the troops. I want to destroy Manila immediately."

—

Notes:

This is set in October 1899, during those months when there were no battles or skirmishes between the two armies. On the first day of November, the Americans launched a major attack on the Filipinos. This attack happened in San Fabian, Pangasinan, not in Manila, but let's forget about that.

Major-General MacArthur is, of course, Arthur MacArthur Jr., who was a major military figure during the Philippine-American War. I also claim artistic license in hinting that the American camp was in Bulacan because it probably wasn't.

Alfred's comments about Manila looking like Mexico are based on a comment by former president Manuel L. Quezon when he visited Mexico back in 1937: "Everything was the same." He meant that very, very affectionately.

Here's a nifty map of modern Manila. Alfred and Patton start out in Quiapo, which is basically the heart of downtown Manila. Alfred runs all the way to Muelle del Rey, which, coincidentally, happens to be the same place where the Jones Bridge stands today. Alfred and Phili take the tranvia to Binondo, Manila's business district and home to the world's oldest Chinatown.

The names of the store owners and vendors that Phili talks about are references to assorted media in Philippine pop culture. Pepito is a reference to Pepito Manaloto, a long-time comedy show about a man who won the lotto. Mang Tomas (Mang being an informal way to refer to a male adult older than you) is the name of a popular brand of gravy. Aling Nena (Aling being an informal way to refer to a female adult older than you) is a reference to the song Tindahan ni Aling Nena, about a boy who falls in love with a storeowner's daughter.

The garland of white jasmines that Phili puts around Alfred's neck are supposed to be sampaguitas, our national flower. They're usually sold near churches and are given as a sign of respect.

I have no idea if there are actually empanadas and valenciana sold somewhere in Binondo, but let's jot that down to artistic license. But these are very much Filipino foods that were adapted from Spanish foods, which is why Phili brings it up when Alfred asks about his family.

The old friend that Phili keeps talking about is Jose Rizal, our national hero. He is primarily known for being a great writer, whose novels inspired the Philippine War for Independence, and for being killed for it. He is also known for being having a long list of lovers, many of them not even Filipino. Lesser known is the fact that he visited America, hated it, went on a train ride with an American, and hated it. He wrote a whole diary entry about how much he didn't like America and Americans. He had also predicted that out of all the world powers, it would be America who would probably take an interest in conquering the Philippines when Spain was out of the picture. Go figure. Rizal was also affectionately known by his nickname, Pepe.

I imagine Phili to be particularly proficient in arnis, which is also known as kali or eskrima. It's a kind of Filipino martial art, most easily recognizable as that one martial art where everyone is dual-wielding a pair of sticks. The sticks are actually for training. Traditionally, arnis is fought by dual-wielding knives or swords, and it's meant to be quick and efficient in defending, attacking, disarming, and killing. Phili's fictional ornately designed knife is inspired by this very real ornately designed knife. The detail of the eight-rayed sun is a reference to the eight-rayed sun in the Philippine flag.

Lastly (phew!), some Tagalog to English translations!

Hijo, padaan naman po - Young boy, kindly let me pass Pasensya na po, lolo! Hindi kasi taga-rito - Sorry, grandfather*! He's not from around here. Lolo literally means grandfather but is a general way to refer to any elderly man regardless of any actual blood relation. Amang bayan - Fatherland

#hws #hws america #hws philippines #usph #amephil #hetalia philippines #hetalia america #aph philippines #aph america #historical hetalia #mine

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