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harmonysanreads · 1 year

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A shower thought I have because of the current sumeru event and the hexagon polycule (I haven't started playing it yet) :

All the participants trying 90000% harder not only to win, but also to impress you while Layla and Faruzan are just

"🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️pls don't hurt us"

Wanderer also ofc wants to impress and win but his ego took a heavy blow after being listed in as "Hat Guy"

Alhaitham can't really participate but that won't stop him from making snarky remarks over them ( *cough cough* Kaveh and Cyno * cough cough*)

I was waiting for this event like a kid for their favorite cartoon show to air no kidding and it DID NOT disappoint<33 (I want either Kaveh or Layla to win so bad ☹️) And by the laws, brainrot is unavoidable :)

spoilers under the cut! [ au masterlist ]

I was thinking about Reader being chosen as one of the Commentators for extra spice actually— imagine how much harder the boys work to get your approval, this is the moment they get to show off, after all. No one can question it, you have abundant knowledge and capability from your travels, are eloquent with words, well acquainted with every contestant and can generally keep everything in euphony ; Nahida didn't even find any room for a contrary opinion as Alhaitham and Hat Guy brought these points forth (separately) so matter of factly. Having you there will just make this even a little (no, a lot) bearable for them, is all.

Faruzan is amused to a degree, ho, youngsters these can be so passionate! Though there slowly forms a concern for your future as she realizes that their efforts aren't just simple courting tactics. Layla's just... scared. She may or may not have accidentally looked through your constellation and it may or may not have traumatized her a little.

The fact that Kaveh wants to buy a place for himself with the prize money?? *chefs kiss* The architect has come to the realization that he needs to iron his backbone if he's to court you officially, he needs to show you that he can achieve way more than that insufferable cabbage (soon to not be) roommate of his. And when Kaveh is serious about something, you better know you're not going to have it easy anymore.

Tighnari is such a showoff in the first round, creating that butterfly show not only to catch potential students but to impress you knowing you have an affinity for pretty things. He didn't entirely lose in the second round either, as you rushed to take care of him, he savored all that attention more than the water he passed out without :/

Cyno is, well, ... Cyno. Don't get him wrong, he most definitely wants your praises and he does get them in the second round. On a side note, based on the Biryani factor joke he made I have a new headcannon that Cyno regularly tells you food puns — now whether you enjoy them is purely up to you :)

Though, things with him really get interesting in the final round as Wanderer takes him head on (or I'm assuming something similar since it's not out yet). Even the densest person can tell they're ready to tear each other limb from limb here, but honestly, who has the guts to stop these two? Not like you aren't mildly entertained by their duel either.

You're surprised when you heard that Wanderer was taking part, you recovered quickly though ; squeezing him affectionately like you usually do and even jokingly adding what else he was doing behind your back (not missing the way he tensed up). Whatever his true motives are, it's apparent he's determined to prove something to you. He's trying to better himself, alright. But old habits die hard, how can these mortals even compare to him? If he can (and he will) establish the fact that he's obviously the superior choice —to you only, of course as he doesn't give a crap about what others think— then taking that dent to his pride will be worth it.

Alhaitham is the saltiest version of himself throughout the whole event (Nilou's sweating bullets throughout the whole time). Most of the actual commentary is done by you and Nilou as he just occasionally quips in to add a snarky remark or to do announcements. Doesn't waste a breath fleeing from the venue when a round ends and even whisks you along with him. At one point though, he asks who you support the utmost among the participants (no, ‘everyone’ isn't an acceptable answer), purposefully when they're gathered together. You aren't dumb, you know that despite the tone in which he delivered it, this is the pinnacle of this competition for everyone. If he was just fanning the flames before, he's poured out an entire barrel of gasoline in it now.

Oh, we cannot forget the Traveller and Paimon who are actually doing their job just...deadpanning by the sidelines as everything unfolds :>

(also, you're going on a date with dehya and candace sooner or later, no questions asked.)

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everythingne · 6 months

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⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ ➛ out of the woods - chapter seven (ls2)

Logan tries to give the two of short break in Bali. Which does succeed, but then the Canadian GP tears down anything Dhanishka had left to stand on. Good thing she's got Logan, the Norris' and Charles, right?

warnings/notes: alright buckle in. Like two sex jokes, car accidents, concussions/migraines, lightly mentioned injuries, the FIA doing their job, heavy heavy betrayal, me yet again trying to hint at the biggest Marketing Ploy x Out Of The Woods connection no one has noticed LMAO

Logan's arm is firm around my waist as I stir the food in the pan, watching the sizzle of the chicken against the oil underneath it. I murmur along to the song playing, and Logan sways us to the rhythm. I'm home for a weekend with him while my parents are off in Cambridge with my sister for her college visit. We'd taken the invitation to house sit, deciding to take a full break in the short interim off we have before we both have to leave for Canada.

"We should go somewhere." Logan hums, mouth peppering a kiss to my bare shoulder next to the strap of my tank top. He's been abnormally clingy, and while I would usually mind... it feels nice.

"Where would we even go, Lo?"

He smiles, beginning to pepper soft kisses to my shoulder, trailing them up my neck as he speaks, "Well, Dalton and his wife are in Bali this weekend. He told me he wants to see you again."

"Bali? That's a like.. fifteen hour flight from here." I chuckle, squirming when his kisses get a little ticklish around my neck and the air he huffs out in a alguh rolls across my skin.

"Fifteen hours there, then a twenty three hour flight to Canada." He says, "I looked into it."

I blink, then look down at him, "You already bought the tickets, didn't you?"

Logan smirks and I laugh, capturing his lips in a soft kiss, "I'll tell my parents tonight when they get back. I'm sure they won't mind."

Logan grins and pops a few more kisses to my lips, cheeks, and forehead before I shooing him away so I can keep cooking. The meal I'm making is not something I'd typically be eating, because its for Logan's meal plan, but luckily his team had let me throw in a small bit of Indian influence to the dish via a makeshift biryani dish. Which I know Logan's been missing by the way he melts when he steals a bite.

"You cook like your mom used to when we were kids." Logan groans against my shoulder and I laugh, taking my own spoonful and pouting a bit because its not as flavorful as we used to make it.

"You have to come to Bahrain over your winter break so you can have a proper Aayi Dubey biryani with all the spices and such." I muse, "it's lacking my mothers proper smothering of spices, sadly meal plans do restrict us from going full Indian mother here."

Logan nods, taking a bit more of the rice dish into his mouth and I laugh softly before making us two bowls of it to eat. He starts washing up some of the dishes while I'm setting the table, and I mange to pull him away to eat--promising we'll finish cleaning later.

We don't talk of much, other than him calling Dalton to let him know we'll be in Bali in two days their time. He taps his sock against my leg as I stare out the window at the setting sun. It's comfortable, just existing with him.

"I never thought we'd get here." Logan admits and I turn, looking at him curiously which makes him continue, "I thought you'd hate me through this whole thing after that night and we'd never speak again."

"I did too, to be honest." I laugh softly, finishing off the last of my rice and setting the bowl aside to take Logan's hands to stop him from picking at his fingers, "I called Lando about it, since he was the only person I knew in London at the time since Oscar was... I don't even remember, and Charles was in Monaco. I went to his and Olivia's apartment, the one they have over here because of McLaren? They told me I should just go through with the plan and do the whole fake dating thing because we kinda had too, but also to see if it maybe wasn't as one sided as I thought."

Logan just starts to giggle, small laughs that slowly grow louder before he brings my hand to his lips again, kissing my palm and then each finger.

"What's got you like this?" I laugh in response, and he grins at me sloppily with the most lovestruck look as his lips hover over my left hand. His bottom lip just brushing along my ring finger as he smiles and shrugs.

"Funnily enough, Dalton told me the same thing.” He firmly kisses my ring finger now, and just resorts to playing with my hands as a fidget instead, “You really fell for me huh?"

And now it's my turn to laugh, standing up to lean over the table to properly kiss my boyfriend. He grins, meeting me halfway with a gentle caress of my jaw and when we pull back, I rest my forehead to his.

"I was always in love with you, dumbass."

Hours later we're at that same table, Logan making sure the little decorative centerpiece my mother has is perfectly clean while I dot my lipstick back to perfection.

I figured cleaning the entire house and then making ourselves well pull together would keep my father from realizing we'd done nothing but laze around for the last few days.

Hey, we were on break, okay?

“Aw fuck.” I complain as I twist out my lipstick a bit more. Logan hums, looking over at me as I groan impatiently as I pull the whole tube up.

At the second groan he asks, “What’s a matter?”

“I’m almost out of lipstick.” I whine in complaint and he huffs out a laugh, stepping around the table to press a few soft kisses to my cheek.

"We can buy more tomorrow, yeah? Isn't there a Dior in City Centre?" He hums, pressing a kiss to my lips that has me rubbing the lipstick off his lips with a laugh as his arms wrap firmly around my waist.

"Yes, but it's fine, I can get it later and--"

Logan cuts me off with a firmer kiss this time, letting me wipe the lipstick off his lips again as he says, "Let me buy you a refill. For old times sake."

"Fine." I smile as the door opens and Logan retracts to just make it look like he was taking the lipstick from me to put it in my purse. I smile as Anya bounces to my side and starts babbling about the campus and such. I glance over my shoulder to see Logan with mt parents and the smile and wink my mom sends me says one thing,

This is all gonna work out.

logansargeant

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logansargeant: booked the tickets before i asked her :)

tagged: dhanishkadubey, daltonsargeant, a.sargeant

dhanishkadubey: he deadass goes "my brothers in bali" 😭

user1: SHUT UP SHE WENT ON FAMILY VACATION?

a.sargeant: it was lovely having u and isa!!!

user2: dhanishka sargeant at this point fr

I'm standing in the bathroom of the hotel this time when Logan wraps his arms around my waist. I can hear Dalton and Ashlynn laughing in the connected living room, it feels weirdly homely as he presses a soft kiss to my jaw as one of his hands rubs small soothing circles against my hip bone.

"James call you?" I asked, I had been the one to hand him his phone, so I had seen the caller ID.

"He asked about you, actually." Logan rests his head on my shoulder once I've finished fixing up my hair and I hum as I lean back into his touch. His arms are firm, and the way his gaze wanders across my face tells me he's thinking as he takes one of my hands. My left ring finger is pecked by his lips before he settles them back at my waist again.

"Me?" I hum, watching the way he nods and still thinks. I assume it's the wording as his hands fiddle with something. I'm too focused on doing my eyeliner to look.

"You didn't answer your phone and he wanted to say he’s got the final draft of your contract ready to be signed.”

I laugh softly, looking at him in the mirror, “Wow, already?”

"Mhm." Logan kisses my cheek once I'm done with my eyeliner and steps aside to just watch me finish up my makeup. Once I've sprayed myself down with setting spray, I go to grab my lipstick and open it, pausing when I notice it's refilled.

Logan wears a triumphant smile.

"You." I poke his chest and giggle, capping the lipstick before turning around to kiss him. He laughs into the kiss, catching himself on the doorway as his hands slide around my lower back. One kiss turns to two, and ever since we'd fallen back in love it'd been impossible to keep off of eachother. Like we were making up for lost time.

A few seconds after a soft groan leaves the back of Logan's throat, followed by my giggle, Dalton shouts,

"I'm walking in, you both better be dressed!"

Logan and I laugh and I part from him, lifting my hands to fix up the bits of his hair that I'd jostled. Dalton smiles as he steps in and looks us over.

"What did you think we were doing?" Logan says to Dalton who shrugs, punching his brothers arm.

"Something not PG." Dalton shrugs and I blush, now taking my turn to whack his chest.

"Not with your immature ass around," I hum, turning back to finish up my make-up while Dalton and Logan talk about getting to our dinner reservation.

It's weird how naturally I slot into this little family, like I've always belonged.

Canada starts great. Luckily for Logan, and his success in straights, theres quite a few here. Unluckily for me, it means my overtaking this weekend is gonna be shit.

But, I know I'll fight.

I qualify Q3, beating Logan out by less than .5 or even smaller. I can't even really remember as the whole weekends a blur. Ferrari is practically running me ragged, insane amounts of training, simulator work, media... I'm exhausted each night when I fall into Logan's hotel room bed. His arms barely wrapping around me before I'm asleep against his chest.

He promises it's okay, but I feel like shit each morning for not spending time with him. But he just presses a kiss to my jaw and squeezes my hip as I get out of bed way too early to shower.

And after three nights of that, it's time for the race. By Sunday I feel like a husk, trudging myself to the garage with a water bottle full of Red Bull I'd stolen from Max. I go through the motions, take my migraine medication just as a precaution as I feel a headache forming.

And the first half of the race is fine, until I overtake Oscar to fight Carlos for P3. And I manage to get him on the hairpin turn, but something is weird about how easily he lets me by. The back wheel of my car clips something and I start to spin. I right myself, but narrowly dodge Carlos, who whips around me.

It's fine. I'm fine.

Something bumps me again and I check my mirrors, one of the RB cars coming very close to my side. I curse, steering in a bit more and understeering to get out of who I assume is Yuki's way before I'm blocking him from overtaking.

When did he get around Oscar?

"Wing damage, wing damage, I need to box." I curse into my headset, feeling the steering starting to go. It's always my steering first, I expect the rear wing to follow shortly.

"Copy."

I turn in a bit harder now, trying to get to the pit lane. It's becoming harder to steer and I feel panic rising in my stomach but I clamp it down. All I can do in this moment is trust myself, and trust my training.

I don't make it to the pitlane.

We go back through the hairpin and Carlos juts out, making me swerve to dodge. With my shit steering, it sends me into a spin. I shriek, grabbing my harness as the car--and the world around me, shuffles and spins. When the car stills I huff out slow breaths, willing myself to open my eyes.

I'm in the wall.

I can't move.

I force breaths in, force my hands to unstick from my harness. My hands come to the steering wheel and I shake, trying to disconnect it. Everything feels disconnected. I can't hear. The world is blurry. I feel sick. Sicker than sick. I manage to get the steering wheel out, tossing it up to the top of the car.

I realize no ones called for me over the radio, through the incessant ringing in my ears.

I click off the restraints slowly, trying not to jostle my aching ribs, and I get out of my car with shaking arms. And then promptly fall back in.

"Fuck!" I shriek, groaning and arching my back out of pure pain. Two hands come to my shoulders and I lift my head to see Lando. I know he's talking, but my head is swimming too much to focus on his words.

"C'mon, Danny." Lando's voice finally cuts through when he lifts my visor, "C'mon, we're gonna get you out, okay?"

"Your race..!" I gasp and he shakes his head.

"I can always get more points later, but I can't do anything if you're seriously injured and I don't help you now." He says and I nod. His hands grab under my shoulders and he helps hoist me up to sit on the halo. I try to focus, but find myself in a haze.

Somehow, I end up on a stretcher. My helmet is off and I blink slowly as Lando holds my hands.

"Dhanishka." He says softly. When did he take his helmet off?

"Lando." I hum back as the stretcher starts to roll. He follows, his hands tight in mine as he follows inside the ambulance. They've got me covered in blankets, and something clicks.

"Lando. Lando." I start saying, slapping his hands when he's not looking at me. He stops, taking my hands in his, but I just see that he's looking at me so I gasp out, "tell Logan to race. He's gonna wanna not because I got hit, tell him he has to. Tell him I said so."

When Lando nods, coaxing me to lay down again as they strap me in, I feel a bit more at ease... but the world is still soft and fuzzy and I still feel sick.

Concussed, strained muscles around my ribs, and something fucked up with my shoulder.

I'm out fully for a week, I'll skip Barcelona and be back for Austria.

Lando and Olivia are by my side when I'm told. Olivia taking it upon herself to use my phone to call my parents to let them know what was going on, and when she disappears into the hall, Lando keeps a soothing hand intertwined with mine. It's my first injury, ever. Not just a sore spot that'll go away.

And of course, the hazy symptom I'd been feeling all weekend had to be a major migraine on its way. So I'm grumpy, in serious pain, and quickly losing my stomach in a hospital bathroom while a nurse gently ties my hair back and rubs my shoulders while Lando goes out in the hall to grab Olivia.

I'm so weak I can hardly move, and the nurse is so kind, so gentle. It makes me want to cry as she guides me through the hardest parts of my migraine and gets some painkillers for my IV when it's clear I'm only set to get worse.

It takes off the edge as I'm coaxed to lay down in bed once more, a bucket off to the side if needed.

I learn from the TV playing in the room that Logan went on to place P5 behind Oscar, Carlos, Charles, and Max, in that upwards succession. Which makes me feel better a bit as Lando and Olivia help me get situated. It's only been maybe twenty minutes since the race ended, but I can hear more commotion outside than before.

A nurse calls out my room number and it takes maybe two seconds before Logan comes through the door, still in his racing gear, holding his helmet, panting like he’d ran straight here.

He had, hadn't he?

“Isa.” he sighs and I smile, extending a heavy arm to him. He shuts the door, blocking the hall light and makes his way inside the little makeshift room. He slots perfectly against my side and gently kisses my head, sighing once he’s got me safe in his hands. I wrap my un-IV'd arm around Logan shoulder, kissing what part of his head I can reach without moving. He settles me back against the blankets as Lando gives him his chair, going to get another from the hall.

Olivia sighs softly and moves a bit closer to check my IV, “She’s pretty badly concussed. Strained some muscles around her ribs and her shoulder. She's out for Barcelona, they're gonna try to get her back in for Austria."

"Ah, shit." Logan hums and I lean into his touch so he shifts so one of his hands holds mine, the other running through the wispy bangs by my face that have fallen out of my ponytail.

"Lo..." I murmur softly and he hums, looking down at my small pout. A tiny smile crosses his lips as he leans down to peck mine, then rests his forehead to mine as I whine, "my head hurts."

"I know, baby." He's basically crooning, kissing the tip of my nose and squeezing my hand, "you're gonna be alright."

Olivia gives a tiny sigh, patting Lando's arm and making a vague motion for him to follow her out of the room. They leave me and Logan in silence, the only sound the soft noise of his thumb running along my knuckles, the heart monitors methodical beeps, and the occasional kiss.

Logan, Lando, and Olivia take me back to Ferrari. The two Norris' waiting outside while I slip in with Logan. I'm only half sneaking him in and out, because if Ferrari even tried to raise hell with me when I was as in pain and as pissed off as I was right now, someone would be getting hit.

I nod to Charles when I enter and he gives me a half nod, trying to conceal the way I sneak Logan in by engrossing the engineer with a few more questions about... my car?

Why mine? Why not his?

I let the question slip from my mind, I figure I can ask him later, and go to my room. Logan helps me collect my stuff, having already brought me a change of clothes to the hospital given to him by Charles. Logan uses my phone to send a text to my manager Lucie to show her the damage to the suit, helmet, and shoes so she can get me set for new ones and then we make sure I have all my belongings and bounce.

I'm halfway through shutting the door when I hear Charles shout, "You did what?!"

"She's an idiot if she hasn't realized by now." I hear a mechanic say and I clamp a hand over Logan's mouth, he's about to complain (which, I'm sneaking him out of my drivers room, he has no right to) when a cruel laugh echoes followed by Charles' shocked gasp.

A short conversation in French, slowly getting louder and louder, is cut off by a loud slap and a scuffle. Eyes widening as I hear the two beginning to shout even louder and I grab Logan by the sleeve and shove him in my drivers room. His big eyes watch me as I pause, one hand on the door before I curse and look back at him with a sort of flame in my eyes.

"Stay!" I hiss, before slamming the door shut and following the hall to the garage. He feet carry me, sliding on the balls of my feet into the room as Charles shoved a mechanic against a wall.

"Charlie!" I shriek despite my head pounding, moving forward, knocking him to the ground with my shoulder. As he fall he pants up at me and I turn to the mechanic, then down to Charles, then step back.

"What the fuck is going on?!"

Charles wipes blood from his own nose and slowly rises to his feet. There's a challenge in his eyes, and a challenge in the mechanics--and I come to realize that Aakash stands off to the side with his fists tight.

"What is this?!" I shout again and look down the hall where Astrid is dragging Logan out of my room and I blink, straightening up. She basically tosses Logan at me, and my arms shoot out to grab him as he sticks to my side.

"Ferrari's been purposefully fucking up your car this entire season! Aakash and his--" Charles starts to say before Aakash moves. It's Logan who manages to intercept, shoving me behind him as he shoves Aakash to the floor. My eyes widen to literal dinner plates, backing up until my back hits something and I look up to see Olivia.

Lando seems to have given up on holding her back as she holds her phone up.

"Charles, talk." She snips and the Monégasques listens, quickly spilling everything from his lips as Logan keeps Aakash and the other mechanic at bay, Astrid glaring daggers.

"Aakash has been having the engineers purposefully loosen the steering and rear wings, causing any and all jostling to randomly disengage them. They have it all written out on Aakash's computers, even if he tries to delete the files Ferrari keeps all changes up to a month." Charles shouts, moving closer to where Olivia keeps a hold on my shoulders. Logan backs off as well when Lando calls him over, but the guys stand in front of me and Olivia, like a wall.

"Astrid's plan was to have Dhaniska continuously wreck out so that there would be positive PR of Logan coming to her aid, but bad PR for Dhanishka because she keeps wrecking." Charles says and I see Olivia's jaw tick, her eyes glancing back to Lando's who's are equally as shifty.

Somethings not right.

Olivia and Lando echo each other as they say, "Who?"

"My manager," Logan peeks over his shoulder, "Astrid Marina."

"Oh you've gotta be--" Lando starts but Olivia's shoving her phone in my hands. And I'm reminded of the time Lando had called her the 'most aggressive Piastri' at a bar during Monaco's weekend as he darts forward but not before Olivia delivers a strong backhand to Astrid.

"You fucking bitch! They're not your little PR playthings!" Olivia screams and Lando grabs her arm, pulling her back as she keeps shouting, "I should've made sure no fucking team ever hired you again but I didn't think anyone was that level of stupid!"

Logan and I share a confused look. How the fuck does Olivia know Astrid and what the hell did Astrid do to her?

“She’s Astrid?!” Charles shouts, “what the fuck?”

“Why do you all know her!” Logan shouts and the room goes quiet. Olivia's mouth gapes, but it's interrupted by a few stewards entering the garage to see what's happening. My headache flares and I grip Logan's arm when everyone starts shouting over each other and he escorts me outside where it's a bit colder and a lot quieter.

"I-I don't understand." I eventually choke out, and Logan wraps me tight in his arms. Soft kisses are pressed to my head as he coaxes me to sit with him on the ground outside Ferrari.

And when a steward approaches us, and he sits with us, I wish I could be surprised by the fact we're being interrogated.

But yet, I'm not surprised.

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f1: FIA Statement on the investigation of @ scuderiaferrari .

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#f1 fanfic #f1 smau #formula one fanfiction #formula one fic #logan sargeant x reader #logan sargeant fanfic #logan sargeant fic #logan sargeant imagine #logan sargeant fanfiction #ls2 fanfiction #ls2 fanfic #ls2 fic #ls2 x reader #nicole wrote this

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redbleedingrose · 9 months

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I feel like Rhys makes some good ass hot chai.

Not like the chai’s from coffee shops if that makes sense, but the real authentic shit that you can make at home.

I’m craving some hot chai right now but I can’t make any because I used up the last of my ingredients last night and I don’t want to go to the store 😔😔

He’s also a great cook. Had to throw that in there.

He really does. Rhysand is a pro at making chai, the mother hen he is. Male is putting the cinnamon and cardamom into the chai with the cloves and it is just mwah, chefs kiss.

I can agree that he makes some bomb ass food, though he rarely does it. His mother def taught him how to make chicken biryani that is so spicy, your mouth waters every time you have it. And the beef nihari he makes??? Shut the fuck up its so fucking good. The spice, the beef literally falling apart in your mouth with the buttered naan that he made himself.

sigh, he is the best cook out of the two of you, and while you loathe to admit it, he makes the best chai in the WORLD.

Also don't even get me started on the fact that he hand feeds you your meals. You are his QUEEN, and you are not lifting a finger. Not even for fresh cooked palaou. His favorite part is when you use your teeth to scrap the flavor off his fingers. Def gets the slut in him going imo.

#rose rambles #rose answers #rhysand x reader #rhysand headcanons #desi food #pakistani food

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beautyandlifestyleblog86 · 5 months

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Spices can enhance the flavor of a wide variety of foods and can take a dish from ordinary to extraordinary. Experimenting with different spices and flavor combinations can help you discover new and exciting ways to make your meals taste mouth-watering good.

Examples of food and spice combinations:

1. Meat dishes: Spices can add depth and complexity to meat dishes such as roasted chicken, grilled steak, or slow-cooked ribs. Common spices used with meat include garlic, paprika, cumin, and rosemary.

2. Soups and stews: Spices are essential for adding flavor to soups and stews. Spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, and chili powder can transform a simple soup or stew into a flavorful and comforting meal.

3. Rice and grain dishes: Spices can elevate the taste of rice and grain dishes such as pilafs, biryanis, and risottos. Spices like saffron, cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg can add warmth and complexity to these dishes.

4. Vegetables: Spices can add flavor and interest to vegetable dishes, making them more appealing and delicious. Spices like cumin, turmeric, smoked paprika, and chili flakes can turn simple roasted vegetables into a flavorful side dish.

5. Baked goods: Spices are essential for adding warmth and flavor to baked goods such as cakes, cookies, and bread. Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves can add a delicious aroma and taste to sweet treats.

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jester-lover · 2 years

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this is my first time writing a request, so please let me know if i need to be more specific! i was wondering if you could write a desi reader x the dorm heads (twisted wonderland). like introducing the boys to the culture and stuff like that? thank you!!

YES OF COURSE!!!! I’m desi myself! We desperately need representation in anime/game spaces, these are just the ones I could think of one the spot, but I saw this request and it made my day!!

also fun fact: this blog was originally supposed to be centered around desi women, but I couldn’t keep up with that idea, this is such a lovely reminder!!

Warnings: Fluff, food, hair mentioned, ‘starting a family’ mention but no kids or anything, unapologetic cultural appreciation, desi families (positive), author calls the pale ones gora pakoras, rambling

Dorm Leaders with a Desi Girlfriend!

Riddle Rosehearts

I don’t think you understand how much your mom loves him

His spice tolerance is at ZERO, but boy will he try for you

He adores gulab jamuns, I mean ROSES?? WITH DESSERT?? This is his destiny

Adores chai, drinks more chai than all your aunts combined

He loves chai so much he’ll ask for you to make it for the tea parties, drinks the chai with biscuits

OFF WITH THEIR HEAD to anyone who calls it ‘chai tea’ !!!

Desi jewelry is his favorite thing you wear, the intricate patterns and shapes make his heart beat faster

If you get him jewelry he’s probably gonna cry

“You look absolutely gorgeous, I almost can't believe you’re with me.”

Leona Kingscholar

The mix of y’all’s cultures is perfect

He will happily eat spicy meat, he can go on about the meat

Biryani is his favorite, goat or chicken

You might expect me to say your parents don’t like him, but HE’S LITERALLY A PRINCE, man is rich asf you’re gonna be taken care of

He’s also so respectful to your mom, she def tells you to act more like him

If you have to accompany him to some gaudy event in the savanna, and you choose to wear cultural clothing, like a sari or salwar kameez, he’s literally frozen

He’s buying a ring as we speak

All the whatsapp aunties are gossiping about the two of you, but you literally couldn’t care

He’s def the type to buy you jewelry

“I- god for once in my life I literally don’t have words, you’re glowing.”

Azul Ashengrotto

I will defend fishy fishman until my last day

he is such a good boyfriend, always treating you out and keeping you happy

Your parents support you two, because Azul has a good head on his shoulders and has a good chance of being successful

He really adores you in blue, especially blue lehengas, you look like a princess to him

he is super appreciative whenever you introduce him to new recipes, his lounge may even use some of the spice blends you suggest (with credit)

He enjoys paneer pakoras, fried desi food is a wonder to him

“I know I’m stuffing my face right now, but can you really blame me?”

Kalim Al-Asim

HE IS PERFECT !!

He’s so happy to meet someone of a similar culture to him!

But this is also where his main problem lies..

He’s so blushy around you its crazy

Never did he think he could meet someone who he knows so well, who feels like home and warm welcomes

You two go on so many adventures

Jamil is so tired, let my man rest

Sometimes the cultural overlap is so prominent, especially in words and food items

Both of you adore a good lamb curry

You ever see that tikitok trend, the “I can’t date outside of my culture because how am I supposed to explain _______”

You both can relate to that one.

Something about you brings out the poet in him

(I have to stop eventually because this could just become it’s own post)

“You are my home, you are warmth and kindness packed into a beautiful human being.”

Vil Shoenheit

THIS

He’s honestly so happy to be in a relationship with a desi girl, you open up a whole new world to him

I feel like he would be an appreciator of desi bread on his cheat days

Especially paratha, it’s so buttery and rich, he’ll eat it with achaar

Your clothes always astound him

He’s used to glitz and glamour, but the sheer amount of detail in your outfits, that will leave him speechless

I believe he’d enjoy salwar kameez, especially in a more early 2000s way (think kabhi khushi kahbie gham)

Honestly he enjoys everything about desi fashion, he deeply respects you for wearing those HEAVY

Helps you oil your hair, it’s an extremely intimate moment and you grow a lot closer together

“Liebling, please hold still, I still have to get to the back of your head!”

Idia Shroud

(He’s Greek in my heart)

Idia is such a little loser/pos

He’s so nervous at any of your family gatherings, ortho has to hype him up before

He’s definitely the person at a desi house party who slips away after the food is served, literally gone

If he ever visits your country (in a different dimension lol) he might have a tough time

Homie is so sensitive to hot weather, he’s getting sunburned so hard

He gets so shy when you’re all dolled up, he can’t even look you in the eye

You just look so above his league

This is where you build his confidence, because he would look gorgeous in desi clothes

Him in a kurta is the thing that would actually kill me

Idia is obsessed with you, even if the time you spend together is spent inside his room, cuddled up watching anime or playing games instead of socializing

You probably get him into old bollywood movies

“I mean, we ate already, what’s the point of sticking around?”

Malleus Draconia

He’s a well educated person, so he probably keeps a respectful distance until you start educating him on your culture

Malleus deeply enjoys the sense of family in desi culture, the community that helps one another and keeps your head lifted

It reminds him of his own caring upbringing

He’s another appreciator of desi desserts, more modern ones tend to stick to him better, like mango ice cream

He is smitten with Rooh Afza in milk, even if he doesn’t need human drinks

He finds your cultural apparel so pretty

especially if you wear deeper colors like emerald and black

He really just wants to match

Really enjoys historical drama bollywood movies

Is the type to tell you when your chunni is slipping off, and carries extra safety pins to help with fashion mishaps

“I hope one day, our own family will be a beautiful as this.”

I’m so sorry for the bad dialogue, every time I try to think of something a character says, the voice in my head (inner monologue) turns into bob belcher from bob’s burgers. I will be trying my best to fix the flat dialogue with better nicknames and stuff. Thank you for reading.

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lemonlyman-dotcom · 5 months

Note

Lemon I have come to seek attention 😌

If Paul and Carlos are best friends (and I know you agree), what's a disastrous friend date they've had? Whose idea was it? What happened? Did it lead to a lot of inside jokes? Was it early into their friendship or later? Did TK have to bail them out?

Oh Tessa, thank you for this excellent question! Paul and Carlos’s first solo hang actually took place shortly after the night he and Carlos and TK went to the club! Paul was itching to make his grandma’s goat curry, however he was having trouble figuring out where to buy goat meat in ATX. In Chicago he always bought it at the Caribbean market in Humboldt Park (@freneticfloetry for the Chicago fact check) with the walk up counter for bomb oxtail stew and the spicy slaw that he still dreams about. But he’s still new to Austin and hasn’t been able to find any Caribbean or African markets yet.

After the club night Paul feels emboldened to approach Carlos on a scene, knowing he’s an Austin native and also a patrol officer, meaning he spends a lot of time in different parts of the city, he asks him if he knows of any West African or Caribbean markets where he might be able to buy the meats and spices he’s used to cooking his grandmother’s dishes with, the maggi and geera and culantro. And goat meat. And oxtail.

Carlos knows of a few places. He’s never been in them, never really had a reason to try West African food, but he’s always down for trying new foods. So over the next few months they explore the Caribbean and African markets and restaurants mostly in North Austin. They find a market that’s also a restaurant that serves all of Paul’s favorites: fufu, jollof rice with roasted lamb, Senegalese peanut stew, fried plantains and freshly fried meat pies. They fill up on food and rum punch before venturing into the market. Paul finally finds his goat meat and Carlos decides to buy some too. Lubricated by the rum punch he decides he’s definitely gonna cook a ton of goat recipes, so he buys nine pounds of it.

Paul and Carlos get home, still a little buzzed, and find a bemused TK waiting for them. When he sees the NINE POUNDS of goat meat he’s like, “…what on earth are you going to do with all of that goat meat, you don’t even have space in your fridge for that.” He’s right. He has to get TK to take some home and squirrel it away in the back of Owen’s freezer. He ends up making all sorts of goat dishes. He tries his hand at biryani and chanfana. But ultimately he uses it in soups, empanadas, chili… He even brings some over to Tía Lucy’s for a tamale party and finds it’s a hit with the family.

This is also how Carlos becomes Paul’s very eager taste tester in his lifelong efforts to perfect his grandma’s Trini goat curry.

Cc’ing @guardian-angle22 for Paul content, @liminalmemories21 for food & @carlos-in-glasses for goat curry mentions.

#tarlos #911 lone star #paul strickland #Carlos Reyes #best friends

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hd-fan-fair · 2 years

Text

H/D FOOD FAIR 2022 ANONYMOUS MASTERLIST

(IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER)

Art

1. Portkey Reservation for Two (General, Digital Comic)

Harry is determined to resolve the mystery of Draco's peculiar and frequent Portkey reservations.

2. Sweet Sweet reunion (Mature, Digital)

Harry sends Draco products as bribe. They decide to test them together ;)

3. Melting for You (Teen, Digital Comic)

Model Draco Malfoy lands a risqué dessert shoot with famous photographer Harry Potter and uses his props to shamelessly flirt with Harry in front of the whole crew.

4. Body By Biryani (General, Digital)

Harry co-owns a Biryani Stand at the Wizarding Little India Bazaar. It's Draco's favourite spot. All the aunties love to take care of Draco and want Harry to ask him out already.

5. once more, with feeling (General, Digital Comic)

A proposal, past and present.

6. What the Heart Wants (General, Digital)

What do you do when your new husband ruins all your carefully scheduled travel plans for a local tourist trap? You indulge him, of course.

7. Delicious Curse (General, Digital Comic)

Draco has to eat a traditional dish from each continent, cooked by a person dear to him, to break an unusual curse...

8. For the Love of Asian Noodle Cups (General, Digital)

While it wasn’t the farthest Harry could get from London, landing in Berkeley, California wasn’t a bad start. He just needed somewhere to finally breathe.

Harry had had a very vague idea of what to expect when signing up for the new Ministry Approved Muggle Immersion (MAMI) program.What he absolutely never expected was to walk into his dorm room at UC Berkeley and see an incredibly fit Draco Malfoy already setting up one side of the room.

9. Chitter Chatter Masala (General, Digital)

Bewitched by spices and herbs.

10. Unmei no Akai Ito (Mature, Digital Comic)

Harry thought that spending a year in Japan would give him the anonymity and freedom that he needed after the war. He didn't expect to run into Draco Malfoy shortly after arriving. Or running into him again, and again, and again.

11. A Sense of Balance (Teen, Digital)

Draco never thought having Harry Potter as a travelling partner would actually ground him. For once, he's seeing the world from a new perspective, taking part in newfound rituals, and everything somehow feels right.

[Or, where Draco's Super Important Notebook™ documents tea facts and sketches, as well as candid moments of him falling in love with a soft Gryffindor.]

12. The Bloody Baron's Birthday Bash (Teen, Traditional Comic)

Headmistress McGonagall has put Harry in charge of sourcing pungent delicacies for the Bloody Baron's deathday fest. This would all be very simple, except that finding a food rancid enough to impress a ghost is no easy task, especially not when you have Draco Malfoy and his interest in an Authentic Muggle Experience getting involved.

Art and Fic

13. Preserving Lemons (Explicit, 17196)

There's probably some immutable magical law that if someone steals your wand to destroy the century's most murderous maniac you then bump into that someone in Italy.

Harry is cooking food he couldn't care less about; Draco is making art he couldn't care more about.

A story about kebabs, miniskirts and the way preservation can transform a lemon.

14. Qui Vivra Verra (Explicit, 22144)

“It’s just- It’s a bit funny is all. Draco Malfoy working in a coffee shop.”

“Patisserie,” Malfoy corrected.

The one where Harry is a sad tourist and Draco feeds him croissants.

Fic

15. The Thief and the Throne (Fallen Kingdom) (Mature, 26355)

Many years after the Dark Lord killed the last King and took the throne, a young orphan joins the Order.

Harry hopes that they will teach him how to help those their new King deemed unworthy: the Regulars. Those people who worked hard for their food yet had to hand over most of their harvest to fill the already overflowing warehouses of the Capital.

With the help of the Order and an unexpected ally Harry is ready to right the wrongs.

16. I Want Your Heart To Be For Me (Explicit, 4372)

It’s not often that Harry can pull one over on Draco, his husband of almost twenty years, but Harry thinks he’s done it this time. He aims to recreate their proposal picnic on the grounds of the Eiffel Tower and, later, reignite their passion behind the closed doors of their Parisian hotel room.

18. The Best Cup Noodle (Teen, 4753)

Draco opts to go to an American Muggle university for a year hoping to escape the past. Unfortunately, Harry Potter has decided to do exactly the same thing.

19. Peerless (Teen, 14,546)

Draco’s trip around the world is cut short when he crash lands on an island during a storm. Hoping for a resort or at least a village, he wanders around until hunger forces him to scavenge for food.

20. True Love is Priceless, Finding True Love is Expensive (Teen, 4664)

After the war, Draco Malfoy had a plan to redeem his family name. He donated most of his family's money, started a luxury blind dating service with Pansy, and intended to marry one of the Greengrass sisters.

Dating Harry Potter certainly was not part of the plan.

But, one dinner might change this.

21. Both Feet in the Grape (Teen, 1741)

While on their honeymoon in Italy, Draco and Harry try their hands feet at grape-stomping.

22. Hope's Only Promise (Explicit, 86,095)

Harry lives in Havana and loves making batidos from all his favorite fruits. He doesn’t have a job and plans to wile away his life in his own little plot of paradise. Draco, released from Azkaban on probation, is set with the unwieldy task to convince Harry to come home. He has to go right back to prison if he fails, but he has been cursed to keep all of that from Harry.

23. This is not a love song (General, 12437)

When Pansy leaves to make a Grand Tour across Europe, Draco almost goes with her. But in the end, he stays and is stuck at Grimmauld Place with his roommate, Potter. And they're doing perfectly fine together: Harry cooks, Draco takes care of the rest, and they exchange the perfect amount of words with each other. Until Pansy gets the idea that they need a teambuilding activity and starts sending recipes to cook together.

24. Chicken Parmi and a Lager (Teen, 3325)

Mandy Thorne thought it'd be a nice, relaxing year, backpacking through the Australian outback.

She didn't expect to run into two war heroes in a pub.

25. Hunc Draco Dormiens Amat Titillare (Mature, 15475)

Harry was sent on a journey to discover himself by his ex-wife. He doesn't know what else he has to discover, after finding out he's gay and having to tell his wife and his children about it. Maybe what he's supposed to do with his life now that he's quit the aurors?

He's in Antwerp when he stumbles upon a small high-end patisserie-chocolaterie. What he finds there exceeds all expectations.

26. it is not a house (Explicit, 43390)

There are many stories that can happen in a forgotten house, in the middle of the Arctic.

Heart-warming tales about human connection and finding the essence of the self.

Epic love stories that defy reason.

Warnings about the hubris of human explorations.

This is both none of the above and a bit of all.

This is a horror story.

27. The Beau-tea Of It All (Teen, 7101)

"Welcome back, Draco! What took you so Oolong?"

And there he goes again.

aka Harry and Draco open up a Tea Shop after their Eighth Year, puns are the bane of Draco's existence, he just can't seem to be able to keep himself out of trouble, and Harry is an overprotective idiot.

28. Contentious Confections (Mature, 16725)

Harry and Draco are both younger, lower-level Ministry employees. They have a lovely arrangement going between them but then suddenly the Minister has urgent need of a diplomat and Draco is sent abroad on a mission.

Draco, in an effort to combat the stress of constant travel and with the added benefit of teasing Potter from a'far, revives an old hobby: the making of a confection modelled vaguely after Bott's Beans. He calls them 'Barelys'.

Everyone else, however, calls them 'courting'. Excepting Harry, naturally, who was raised Muggle.

29. Chocolate Cocks and How to Make Them (Explicit, 9628)

Draco's life is practically perfect. Every day he follows the same routines, wears the right clothes and sees the same friends. His books balance. His chocolate factory is successful. Life is good.

It's predictable. Controllable.

If only there wasn't Potter with his stupid just-shagged hair, his flirty comments and his habit of making Draco say the first thing that pops into his brain, and—did he hear that right?—request for edible sex toys.

30. Through Worlds (Mature, 42619)

Harry is looking for a new start, and he's travelled the world to find it. Now in Japan, a chance encounter with someone from his past threatens to distract him from his goal, but when he runs into them again and again, he begins to wonder if maybe he's found what he was searching for all along.

31. The Final Frontier (Teen, 3408)

When the Ministry decides to create a program to send wizarding kind to space, they contact Harry to cook the food for the opening night aboard the station. Harry not only has to work out exactly how to cook in space, but also how to make it taste good.

32. on your heart (Teen, 9916)

Harry runs a successful Palestinian restaurant. Draco works at a small cultural magazine as a junior photographer. When Draco receives his dream assignment, their paths cross for the first time in a decade.

33. The Least Expected (General, 17454)

Draco put everything he had into buying The Villa Narcisa. Things were off to a good start, though. His first guests were expected any minute.

34. That Time I Was Possessed By a Norse God (Explicit, 8370)

Draco is called to aid in an Auror raid of an illegal magical creature ring in an old potions shop in the middle of Norway. A stray spell hits Harry, flinging him into the potions shelves. As the dust clears, Harry isn't himself anymore. It seems he may have been possessed by something ancient and unforgiving, and he had chosen Draco to serve him.

Podfic

35. Melange a Deux (Teen, 01:13:00)

This is the story of two men finding love in unexpected places. And lots of delicious food.

36. haunt yourself and refuse to be buried (General, 00:23:56:00)

Harry Potter is eighteen years old and he is not okay.

Food Fair Cup team members, please help us record how many entries you have entered as a team at this spreadsheet. You can also join our discord for discussions with other enthusiasts!

Do keep on commenting on our wonderful entries and help spread the word by reblogging our fanwork headers or by reccing the wonderful fanworks!

#hd fan fair #hd food fair #drarry #drarry recs #drarry fic #drarry art #drarry podfic #drarry fic and art #drarry fest #Draco Malfoy #Harry Potter #Draco Malfoy/Harry Potter

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robbiemd · 2 months

Text

I totally crashed into a food coma after getting back from a quick bank errand and a side-quest, which involved grabbing a late lunch alone at 5pm. It was my first meal of the day since it was so busy and I didn't have time to eat earlier.

Kurosaki: In-English ako ng waitress, po*a.

Hoshino: Haha! Mukha ka kasing Arabo. Bagay ka sa Dubai.

K: I'll blend well. Gulat s'ya nung nag-Tagalog ako e.

I tried Ashoka once when a friend brought us some Biryani on duty, but I never got to eat at their restaurant because of the parking hassle. The prices were a bit steep, but I get it – quality spices can be pricey.

I had a sweetened Lassi, a Punjabi yoghurt-based smoothie (Php 199) and for lunch, I went with my favourite Indian dish, Rogan Josh (Php 509) – a Kashmiri meat dish cooked in curry with Kashmiri chillies accompanied by a heaping serving of Basmati Rice (Php 199). It was all perfect. The food was so great that I had to commend the owner (a legit Indian migrant, by the way) before leaving. It was just that good and authentic!

22 July 2024 10:08 PM El Nido, Philippines

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teabutmakeitazure · 1 year

Note

Imagine Chrollo finally lets you cook for him and it’s something that’s like. Yk. Not THAT spicy but his mouth is on fucking FIRE. He’s trying to be nice about it, like yeah it’s great! He says, while his whole face and neck are bright red and he’s on the verge of fainting from it. Idk you think the troupe might be able to handle it? I feel Phinks? Shalnark, and Nobunaga couldn’t handle spice.

There are many dishes that don't look spicy but are spicy. I don't eat spicy food but it's just in our cuisine. For someone who's used to salted boiled chicken with pepper kind of tastes, even the mildest flavour would be too much so imagine an actual dish. Maybe the salted boiled chicken with pepper is an exaggeration but still. I have seen many brave soldiers fall in the face of innocent rice dishes such as biryani only to be saved by milkshakes. Chrollo is no different.

Saving face backfires because even though he's able to push through and eat, the red face and neck give everything away. Take that you pale nihilist.

I'm not sure about the other troupe members but Feitan, Nobunaga and Shalnark strike me as people who can't handle spice at all. Especially the discount samurai.

#I would be banned from the kitchen on day 1 #but i shant back down because i need flavour #ask #anon #chrollo questioning why im making mango milkshake when dinner is almost ready #me: its a surprise tool that will help us later #jokes aside mango milkshake is delicious

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pumpkinsy0 · 7 months

Note

Do you have any other Desi Johnny hc’s? I love them soo much, It’s so interesting to hear about other cultures! 🫶🏻

yea sure of course!!!

unfortunately still dont have many hcs so some of these will just b building off of old hcs but WHATEVERRRR

•ik i said he wears a lungi at like his house, but he actually did wear it from time to time in the curtis house for when he was sleeping over

•his spice intake is crazy he can eat something rlly spice w no reaction meanwhile everyone else is dying

•ik holi is a hindu holiday and hes not hindus BUT i think he would find it very pretty and be very interested in it (i mean shit unless u wanna hc his religion being hinduism be my guest)

•johnny actually uses a shawl a LOT when hes cold and when he notices that ponys cold he just, uses his cloth and makes pony wear a shawl too, literally 0 questions asked

•his fav food is biryani i will not be elaborating

•he eats w his hands a lot (like yknow he eats things like rice w his hands) he finds it pretty practical, and he WAS nervous about doing it around everyone else outside his home but he kinda grew out of that

•his mom used to feed him w her hands, thats like one of the better memories he has w her, so maybe???he also feeds pony w his hands??? as like a familial thing

•FUN FACT in 1952 there was this big emphasis on bengali culture, especially language and since johnny was born in like 1949, i think his mom (i hc him as half mexican half bengali, his mom is bengali, or if u want u can reverse it it truly does not matter) would have this big idea to surround him around him speaking bengali as his first language (if ur curious spanish is his second language, then english is his third)

•him learning english as his third language is kinda why he has trouble reading acc, i forgot if that was canon or not, but yea, he can speak it perfectly fine, he just didnt practice actually reading it as much

•he sees his mom as like bollywood pretty when she was younger, if that makes any sense, like movie star pretty (YES IK BOLLYWOOD IS FROM INDIA but my point still stands)

THATS THE HCS I GOT FOR NOW, if i messed anything up or wasnt culturally right someone feel free to tell me

#ponyboy curtis #desi johnny cade #johnny cade

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mauvecherie-writes · 1 month

Note

Hey i was the one who got excited when you made butter chicken. I would recommend ‘biryani’ that is one of the loved dishes of India. Slightly on the heavier side in terms of spices n ol but I hope you enjoy it with a side of ‘Raita’ (cucumber and tomato and some salt and cumin mixture)

If you can PM me a recipe 🥹🥹 and all the spices that you use! I’ll try my best! I’m going home for Bank Holiday weekend and I’ll try to make it then! 🫶🏾

Any other food ideas, just drop an ask and I’ll post them if I do them 🩷

#mauvecherie writes #foodie

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ronaldofandom · 2 years

Text

A Bond Like No Other (RRR / Charak fic)

After 9 months of being obsessed with them, I succumbed to writing my first Charak fic. This is bromance; this is how we know them.

Summary: BTS of 'Naatu Naatu' shooting

Title: A Bond Like No Other (RRR / Charak fic)

Creator: Ronaldofandom

Giftee: @ladydarkey

Prompt: Charan & Tarak pulling a prank on SSR on set

Relationships: Charak (purely bromance, nothing more)

Rating: For General Audience

Warnings: None

Created for: @celebrrration Holiday Swap 2022

..........................................................

They loved Rajamouli to bits. They respected him infinitely. They adored him to the moon and back. The man was one in a zillion. The gargantuan storyteller. The wizard. The alchemist - turning innocent emotions into a force of nature. The myth. The legend. The one and only.

Very rarely, though, in select moments, they wanted to throw a chair at him. Or a mic (which was his preferred weapon for throwing as well). Or anything that is close range, actually. His zeal for perfection was admirable. But it could be anal. So so anal. To the point where he was the only one to spot a perceived aberration that even computer vision could not spot.

They had been having one of those moments for the last 15 days. He had flown them to Ukraine to shoot the ‘Naatu Naatu’ sequence. He had briefed them at length as to how this would be the most pivotal and potentially most popular song of the movie. He also explained to them how this is like a movie within a movie. It was Bheem’s struggle to get to Malli, via Jenny. In his innocent ways, he would conclude that this would be the only possibility for him. This would also be a realization for Ram about how dear Bheem really is to him. This is also the beginning of the revolution - where they defeat the Brits at their own game and refuse to be subservient to them. And this would further cement how they were so in sync with each other - their emotions translating into exact physical movements. Which would play a crucial role in the key sequences for the rest of the movie.

Both Charan and Tarak were thorough professionals and were obviously fully on board with Rajamouli’s vision for the song. They were immensely thrilled about working with him again. But the man had clearly gone crazy this time. He had spent months with the music director and choreographers on this one song - rejecting multiple versions before zeroing in on the current one. They had rehearsed in Hyderabad at length - separately and together. Then they rehearsed for 10 days in Ukraine while he was shooting other sequences. Every evening, he would come to their rehearsal hall to check on their progress and point out impossible details that he wanted them to nail down. ‘Two bodies, one soul’ - he would keep repeating to them. To the point where they started hearing it in their dreams, also.

Tarak and Charan had just completed day 5 of shooting and were still only half done with the song. They reached their hotel and ordered room service. It was Charan’s turn to order this time - Tarak had plopped down on one of the twin beds in Charan’s room and refused to move a muscle.

‘What do you want to have?’ Charan asked Tarak.

‘How does it matter? We are never leaving this country and going to die here anyway.’

That made him look at Tarak, who was still lying lifeless on the bed. Charan smiled at his friend, whose penchant for histrionics was second to none. He was zonked out himself but still managed to be amused by his friend’s antics.

‘Don’t be like that. Look - I found Biryani on the extended menu. Shall we have that? At least it will have some spice and flavor. I am sick of all the bland food we have been eating the last two weeks.’

‘Biryani? Great idea. If Jakanna finds out, he will annihilate both our nutritionists and us. And god forbid, if we end up putting on even 100 grams, he will know. And then he will scream at us for messing with the continuity of the song and the fitting of the costumes. Which would mean spending even more days here. No, thank you - I will pass on the biryani. Order the usual, tasteless food.’

If Charan didn’t know any better, he would have called Tarak paranoid and laughed away his concerns. But he knew this was a possibility. SSR was capable of making them use the weighing scale every day if he suspected any change in their build. It was better to suck it up for a few more days instead of prolonging their agony. So he ordered their pre-approved menu for dinner and plopped down on the other bed. Both were silent for a good while, just trying to gauge which all body parts were sore from today’s shooting.

‘You know - everyone on the set was so sympathetic. Olivia even got me two lemonades between the zillion takes. Karth was almost apologetic for his father’s craziness. But one person who was unfazed and unmoved by all this was Jakanna. He didn’t say a word; he didn’t even look at us between takes.’

‘Yeah, man. He is a tough taskmaster - we both knew that. But this is something else. Every time he calls us to the monitor to show the break in sync, I can’t spot it. It’s not visible to the naked eye, even to him. What is the logic of using screen freeze when people are going to be watching in real time? Does he think we are going to get an Oscar for this, or what? This could have been wrapped up days ago. Why don’t you talk to him? He might listen to you - the two of you started together, and he respects your opinion.’

Tarak let out a snort at Charan’s innocent hopefulness.

‘Baby, he won’t listen to even God. He is a different man now. A crazy, whacky, infuriating man.’

Charan hummed in agreement.

‘So, what then? There is nothing we can do?’

‘What if we call in sick? Just one of us will do - coz he can’t shoot without both of us present. He has all the shots anyway - he is just making us redo stuff that he caught in screen freeze in his 15th viewing. He can literally just use what he already has, and that would be a great song.’

‘It won’t work - he will see right through it. On normal days it could work. But he knows how irritated we are right now, and he would expect us to pull something like this. So he won’t buy it. I won’t put it past him to send doctors to check in on us if we try this route.’

It was Tarak’s turn to hum in agreement now. They both fell silent again.

‘I have half a mind to just run away. Like literally, just catch the first flight tomorrow morning and get back. He won’t be able to find out if we take a commercial flight, not a charter one. Seriously, what’s the worst that can happen? Maybe it will be a wake-up call for him that he needs to tone down the craziness.’

Charan laughed out at Tarak’s sense of humor. But when Tarak didn’t join in the laughter, he looked at his friend curiously.

‘Please tell me you are kidding, Tarak. Say it.’

Tarak paused for a good ten seconds, a pregnant pause. Then conceded half-heartedly. He could never go through something like that, however much he wanted to. But he didn’t give up, not yet.

‘What if he actually sees us getting injured? In front of him? One of us should do a fake fall tomorrow and then cry out for dear life. Even if he calls a doctor, they won’t be able to definitively comment on muscle pain.’

Charan pondered on the suggestion - this one seemed to have potential.

‘And it should be you, baby, not me. He would never believe me. But I don’t think he would doubt you much - he thinks of you as a good, decent, well-behaved boy. Coz he doesn’t know you like I do.’

Charan turned to his side to find Tarak smirking at him, his eyes hopeful and giddy. Tarak’s child-like enthusiasm was infectious, as was his optimism. But in this case, he knew they were doomed to fail. He voiced his concern out loud, and Tarak’s face fell in resignation. He was still not ready to give up, though.

‘What if the costumes got stolen? Or misplaced? I could do that easily.’

Tarak was just grasping at straws now.

‘A - he has backup costumes, Rama ma’am told me. B - the crew will get yelled at for this, which we can’t let happen.’

‘Ok. What if we call the producer and ask him to intervene, citing budget issues or something?’

‘You and I both know we won’t go behind Rajamouli Garu’s back like this.’

‘Do you have anything to contribute here, then, other than shooting down all of mine?’

‘Well, since your ideas are as good as a 10-year-old’s, I have no choice but to shoot them down. Seriously, even Abhay would be able to come up with better plans to ditch school than all the nonsense you just spewed.’

Charan half giggled at his friend, who was pouting and sulking now.

‘Are you saying I am not naughty enough? Not bad-ass enough?’

‘No. I am saying your plans suck because your heart is not really into it. Neither is mine. Deep down, we respect that infuriating man too much to pull any serious stunts on him.’

Tarak huffed, but he knew Charan was right.

‘Urghhhhhhhhh. I will burn that costume if he asks me for more retakes. I have given more takes here than I have in my entire career. Seriously, he is destroying my reputation as a single-take actor. I can’t take it anymore. This is torture. This is a war crime.’

Charan laughed and threw a cushion at Tarak.

‘A war crime huh? Try saying that to him tomorrow.

‘Oh, I will. I most definitely will. I will also report him to United Nations Human Rights Council while I am at it. The videos from the set are enough proof of torture. And captive labor. And slavery.’

Even Tarak could hear how ridiculous he sounded right now, but he kept going anyway. Charan continued to humor his friend.

‘At least your individual takes get approved in one go. Because you are such a fantastic dancer, and Rajamouli knows that.’

Tarak was lying on his stomach, with his face buried in the pillow. He just gave a brief ‘hmm’ and didn’t say anything more. But Charan was in a confessing mood now.

‘I was nervous, you know - before we started rehearsing.’

Tarak peaked sideways from the pillow.

‘Nervous? Why?’

‘Why? Because I had to dance with you, Einstein. I even talked to Bunny about it before coming here - he gave me a good pep talk.’

‘Why didn’t you talk to me about it? Why him?’

‘I don’t know. It just felt silly bringing this up. Like I knew I must work twice as hard to match up with you. But I just hope I am able to pull it off.’

Tarak didn’t resort to any false assurances on how Charan was as good a dancer or anything. Charan would see right through it.

‘I saw you working extra hard. And it has paid off. We have both seen the shots - you are as good as me. It’s him who is the problem, not either of us.’

They both burst out laughing. Hard. All the exhaustion of the last two weeks had taken its toll, but they were glad to have each other on this journey. They also knew it was possibly the only time they would get to work together, and they relished every moment of it.

‘You know what? Enough with the gloom and doom. Enough with the rules. We only have to face him tomorrow morning. Let’s make tonight worthwhile. What say?’

Charan was beaming at Tarak now. While Tarak was intrigued yet perplexed by the sudden turn in his mood.

‘Ummm what do you have in mind, to make tonight worthwhile?’

Charan went to the mini-bar and pulled out a bottle of tequila. Tarak looked at it tentatively.

‘I don’t know, baby. We have to get up really early tomorrow and be ultra alert on set. Are you sure this is a good idea?’

‘Yes, I am. And we are doing this. Look - we are anyway going to be yelled at. He is anyway not going to be happy with most of the takes. Let’s at least get something from it.’

Charan poured the shots and handed one to Tarak. They gulped together. And again. And one more time. In 3 minutes, they were five shots down. On an empty stomach since the food hadn’t come in yet. Tarak was singing a double-meaning song from a cheesy movie while Charan was dancing to it.

‘My dear Cherry - on a scale of 1 to 10, how angry would Jakanna be if he sees us like this a few hours before the shoot?’

‘My dear Tarakuuu, he will be angry 1000 crores. Anything less than that number is not his thing.’

They laughed like kids. They laughed like maniacs. They laughed like best friends.

They knew they should have crashed like 30 mins ago, but they kept chatting and dancing around the room for a good 2 hours more. Torture awaited them on the other side, and they were building up the strength to deal with it for a few more days. At least they would be together through it - being each other’s support, cheerleader, confidante, and agony aunt. Such was their relationship - which had only gotten stronger through the course of this movie. RRR had been a blessing for them in many ways. They just hoped the love translated to and resonated with the audiences. They just hoped that the audiences loved Ram and Bheem’s bond, which was, in so many ways, a representation of their own bond, that they had built and cherished over the last 10 years. A bond for life. A bromance for eternity. A love like no other.

.....................................................................................

I was very nervous while writing my first Charak fic - hope this was half-decent :)

As always, would love to know your thoughts!

@irisesforyoureyes @rambheem-is-real @thewinchestergirl1208 @eremin0109 @eenadu-varthalu @rorapostsbl @anyavaramyr @yehsahihai @budugu @rasnak2 @fadedscarlets @maraudersbitchesassemble @juhiiiiii @justmeand-myinsight @rambheemisgoated @rosayounan @jrntrtitties @obsessedtoafault @rambheemlove @jjwolfesworld @alikokinav @iam-siriuslysher-lokid @bromance-minus-the-b @dumdaradumdaradum @lovingperfectionwonderland @annieginny @chaanv @ssabriel @sally-for-sally @bitchy-bi-trash @milla984 @doodlesofthelastpage @boochhaan @mesimpleone @carminavulcana @filesbeorganized @meastradeur @teddybat24 @fangirlshrewt97 @stanleykubricks @stuckyandlarrystuff @burningsheepcrown @veteran-fanperson @voidsteffy @ronika-writes-stuff @beingmes-blog @yonderghostshistories @nisreenart

#rrr fanfic #ntr jr #jr ntr #tarak #rrr tarak charan #charak #ram charan #ss rajamouli

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