#tamil crown

[quieteating]

Tamil Crown

In these cold dark days (London is like that in winter), sometimes I feel a need of some warmth. Which is how I ended up at Tamil Crown, a place offering South Eastern fire.  Located in an old pub, its credentials in the spicy department were unsubtle.  Heavily advertised as having Roti King pedigree, I had high hopes.  So long as we can forget Gopals… Table ornament.  The reminders of the fire…

[starryalpacasstuff]

Queer Indian Media: A Compilation

A couple of days ago, @impala124 sent @lurkingshan an ask about the lack of discussion about Queer Indian Media in fandom spaces. I wrote about it here, @neuroticbookworm here, and @waitmyturtles here (both of them have excellent points, I highly recommend you read their posts!). It's become quite apparent that people are willing to watch and engage in discourse about queer Indian media, it's just that the lack of popularity and accessibility makes it harder for people to start. So, I've decided to make a list tracking all of the queer Indian media I know of, and hopefully also any meta/discourse about it, which is an idea I've had floating in my head for months now.

This list is by no means comprehensive, so if you have recs, send them my way! Text me on DM, send an ask, tag me in your posts, whatever. And though it's not possible for me to watch everything on the list, I will be slowly going through as many of these as I can and writing about them, as well as hopefully finding more stuff and easier to access versions for the ones that are harder to access right now. This post is going to be a slow work in progress, but I'm hoping to update it regularly. So, if you'd like me to keep you updated, let me know through the tags/replies and I will tag you in future posts!

I've tagged the people who've recommended certain shows alongside each show. Everything on here is available online. The hyperlinked titles lead you to the media itself, meaning that it's available for free online with subtitles. Other details will be mentioned separately.

Disclaimer: The media I have watched/read have recommendation ratings (which will not always reflect my enjoyment of something, rather are based on how much I'd recommend it). While I did lightly screen everything on here, the criteria was 'has a trailer or otherwise showing queerness to be a central theme in the story' and 'is available online', so take that into account if you decide to pick something up, and definitely watch trailers and/or skim the wikipedia pages beforehand.

Movies

Fire | English | @neuroticbookworm 

Recommendation: 8.75/10 A 1996 movie surrounding a lesbian couple packed with commentary on religion, class, purity culture and more. Quick Pitch + Historical Context

Kapoor & Sons | Hindi | @neuroticbookworm

Available on Netflix, Prime, and paid on Youtube and Apple TV

Kaathal-The Core | Malayalam | @neuroticbookworm 

Officially on Prime, also available grey without subtitles

Super Deluxe | Tamil | @neuroticbookworm 

Officially on a paid streaming service called aha, grey on youtube

Dear Dad | Hindi | @neuroticbookworm 

Geeli Puchi (Ajeeb Dastaans) | Hindi | @blorbingqls @neuroticbookworm 

Available on Netflix

Cobalt Blue @blorbingqls

Officially on Netflix, also available grey without subtitles

Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga | Hindi | @fallsouthwinter @usertoxicyaoi @neuroticbookworm

Available officially on Netflix, so watch there if you can, but can also be found grey in two parts without subtitles

Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish | Bengali | @silverquillsideas @neuroticbookworm 

I believe it's available on prime, but you might need to do some digging. Also available grey on youtube without subtitles (the movie is in part Bengali, part English)

Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhan | Hindi | @silverquillsideas @twig-tea @neuroticbookworm

Officially on Amazon, grey on youtube without subtitles

Maja Ma | Hindi | @flyingrosebeetle @silverquillsideas 

Available on Amazon Prime

Badhaai Do | Hindi

Officially on Netflix, available grey without subtitles

Loev | Hindi

Available on youtube with Spanish (I think?) subtitles

Margarita With A Straw | Hindi

I believe this is a cut version, it is officially on Netflix which is likely the uncut version

Recommendation: 9/10

A self-discovery story about an Indian woman named Laila with cerebral palsy with great rep and beautiful execution.

Meta by @wen-kexing-apologist

Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui | Hindi | anon

Available grey without subtitles, officially on Netflix

Amar Prem Ki Prem Kahani | Hindi | @flowerbeasblog @aneechan

Officially on Jio Cinema, also available grey without subtitles

Time Out | Hindi

Available on Netflix

My Brother…Nikhil | Hindi

My Son Is Gay | Tamil

Hindi dub available on youtube without subtitles

Shows

Romil and Jugal | Hindi | @anixknowsnothin

You do need a vpn if you're outside India to watch it with the above link, it's also grey on youtube without subtitles

Recommendation: 8.5/10 India's modern gay remake of Romeo and Juliet, five years before Bad Buddy Random thoughts

The Married Woman | Hindi | @a-not-knowing-bisexual-wizard

Dev DD Season 2 | Hindi

Legitimately no clue whether this and the prev are grey or official

Made in Heaven | Hindi | @flyingrosebeetle @non-beingnary @neuroticbookworm

Available on Prime

All About Section 377, Still About Section 377 | Hindi

The Story Tales S2 | Gujrati

Insomnia | Hindi

It's a streaming service I've never heard of before, not unlike Gaga, this is one of the darker shows on the list so please do check out the trailer beforehand

Amra 2GayTher | Bengali

Available on two streaming services here and here, both paid

Mini gls from @twig-tea (og post here)

Firsts S3 | @tinyreadinglifelight

Neverland

Maaya 2

Last two eps do not have subtitles but the story is followable

The ‘Other’ Love Story @/silverquillsideas 

Just Another Love Story

Books

Memory of Light

Recommendation: 5/10 A historical book set during the colonial era, the lesbian romance is mostly a subplot that loses it's way towards the end. It's kind of a drag, but the history component is somewhat interesting.

Don't Let Him Know

Recommendation Rating: 7.5/10 with serious trigger warnings including rape. It's a brutally honest book designed to make the reader uncomfortable, so proceed with caution. I personally liked it quite a lot, but that's majorly because of how authentic the book felt.

Falling Into Place

Recommendation Rating: 8/10 A modern lesbian romance that follows similar beats to the typical thai bl/gl. A little underdeveloped in some places, but overall quite good.

My Magical Palace

Cobalt Blue

The Paths Of Marriage

Marriage Of A Thousand Lies

[mudlarkspur]

Junior, who is beloved by her Draxum, and Muninn come to the completely wrong conclusion about why so many other raised-by-Draxum!Donnies are absolutely fucked. Gotta be the he/him pronouns they all seem to use.

Obviously none of them are being mistreated. Her Appā would never.

for @tmntaucompetition, AUs are EW by @cupcakeslushie BTO by @risebto RR by @red-rover-au and EMD by @3lectricinsomnia and @teaableu

Desc/Transcript under Readmore

four panel comic

Image 1: CY!Donnie looking dejected as Muninn looks at their face over their shoulder. To their left are headshots of Donnie/Two/Purple from EW, RR, EMD, and BTO. Donnie is wearing her saree with three necklaces. Their headphones have 'ear' attachments that are drooping and they have dangling earrings. They're wearing a mask with eyebrows and their tilaka (a dot with a small line under it on her anja chakra point) painted on. They have three scars on the lower left side of their face. Muninn is a raven wearing a flower crown made of roses. Muninn is drawn in black pen and Donnie is drawn in purple pen.

Donnie: Does it seem like there's something deeply wrong with the other me's raised by அப்பா?

(Note: அப்பா is the spoken Tamil word for Father, written as Appā in the latin alphabet)

Image 2: Muninn with a wing to his beak, looking considering.

Muninn: Hm...

Image 3: Muninn with his wing extended, looking towards where Donnie's face would be while he's perched on their shoulder.

Muninn: Well ... I did hear a lot of he/him out there. Plus the horns thing is aaaallll rams.

Image 4: straight on shot of Donnie from the chest up, looking at the new she/they sticker on the right side of their plastron where their saree doesn't cover. Their ear attachments are back in the default position. Muninn is cheerfully flying on their left.

Muninn: There!

(Note: the ! is dotted with a heart)

[theyungihven]

Kashmir To Kanyakumari

↬ Genre : romance, comedy

↬ pairing : seonghwa as rahul (shahrukh khan) and reader as Meena (deepika padukone)

↬ Synopsis : Meena, an agra girl, travelling to tamil nadu for her cousin's wedding meets Rahul, a delhi boy on the train with whom she first fights then becomes close enough to share one of her darkest secrets.

↬ Author note : i wanted to do something different so i wrote my version of chennai express with roles reversed with north city girl and south village boy seonghwa. hope yall enjoy!!!

S2 MASTERLIST

S1 MASTERLIST

taglist : @riboism @fireheaurt @xddjoong @seongwin @fictionlover100 @davoraciousreader @engentiny @hwasa28 @retromx @http-gyu @absentcaryatid @xddjoong @yunnierights @ateezworshipper @vanishingboots @changbinscheeks @idek-nly @rosie-lov3 @btr123 @diorwoo

Attention dear passengers, Navyug Express 16688 which is bound from kashmir to kanyakumari has arrived on platform number 4

There is a rush, a weird sensation in my stomach. I can’t fumble it around nor untangle it but it tells me, something big is going to happen today. 

I swing my bag back onto my shoulders which keeps falling down as I search for my carriage on this huge pan-indian train. I love to travel, watching people and their stories unfold with the place reminds me that things around us do matter and that everything has a significance because without influences, we would just be empty pots of clay in various shades of earth. 

In the middle of the monologue, I find my carriage and now embark on another quest to find my allotted seat. It goes well and I reach my seat. I place my luggage above and make myself comfortable on my seat before dozing off. 

I wake up to my bladder full which is the after effect of drinking too much Maaza in the hot summer. So I decide to visit the bathroom only for the train to stop when I'm emptying my bladder. 

I sigh, hearing the sound of the passengers echoing and make up my mind to get slapped in the face by them on my way back to my seat. After going through a couple of elbow nudges and accidental slaps on the face with luggage as expected, I reach my seat which is occupied? by a girl looking out of the window, lost in time and space. “Excuse me? Woh mere seat hai(that’s my seat).” I say, pointing at her. 

She looks up at me, confusion crowning her face as she then checks the seat number. “Sorry, woh left aur right gadbad hojati hain (I’m bad with my lefts and rights).” she replies in her Luckhnowi accent and my heart skips a beat. I bet she’s a poet. 

She gets up from my seat and goes to sit on her own. “Aap baith jaiye(please sit).” she gestures with her hand and places her luggage above us before sitting down on my seat. 

“Hi, Rahul!” I say, forwarding my hand for her to shake.

“Meena.” she says as her lips pull into a sweet smile and she tilts her head then lets go of my hand before awkwardly looking out of the window. I notice her ears and cheeks being graced with a coral pink shade and I can't help but bite back a smile.

“So, which station is this?” I ask her 

“Agra, kyun? Did you miss your stop?” she asks, looking at me sceptical with her eyebrows irked.

“No no, I'm going to madurai.” I say and she raises her eyebrows. “I was just asking because I slept-” she doesn’t let me finish and interrupts me.

“madurai? I'm going to Tamil Nadu too!” She cuts me off but I brush it off because she looks genuinely excited about us going to the same state.

“After getting on at the delhi station” I finally complete my sentence as I sigh thinking that there's finally someone who talks either more than me or as much as me. “Why are you going to in Tamil nadu? I am visi-” 

“I have a wedding to attend.” she cuts me off again but it doesn’t matter this time too because she’s too cute talking that it might be rather rude to interrupt this woman.

“Your cousin?” I ask, because if it were her sister then she’d be travelling with her family right now.

“Nah, it's my elder sister. But she is my cousin practically, anyways.” She says in such disappointment that it makes me want to crack a joke to make her smile but before she starts speaking again but this time in a much angry tone. “The guy is a complete idiot and doesn’t even know the difference between saunf and jeera. Like gobi jaisi toh shakal hai ladke ki(the groom looks like a cabbage).”

“God!” I laugh at her comparison of the guy with a cabbage.

“What? At Least i’m being honest! If you give me even a hundred million rupees, I won't marry his brother!” She says and it makes me laugh so hard that I need to stop breathing to avoid choking on air.

“Is his brother that bad?” I ask in amusement.

“I heard he’s some surgeon in Delhi who is never home cuz he's a travel freak.” Her description sounds a lot like me but who isn’t a doctor and traveller these days? And what are the possibilities of it being me? zero?

“Not bad” I comment and she looks at me like I stole a little kids candy.

“Not bad? I heard he’s so egoistic and boast about his achievements and changes girlfriends every week.” She complains and the more she says about the guy, the more I’m convinced that it isn’t me whom she’s talking about.

“Oh god!” I gasp dramatically trying to match her energy and it works because she giggles at my reaction. “I bet he’s a fuckboy who has no respect for women!”  I add in, like fuel to the fire.

“Exactly, who would even marry him?”

“I wanna meet him now” I say and the look she gives me sends chills down my spine. God those kohl filled eyes are just heavenly!

“Why? He's such a kamina” shes says the borderline curse but it sounds so cute rolling off her lips as she huffs.

“Well, getting new girlfriends every week is a skill. I need to learn something from him.” I get smacked on my head by her hand upon saying this.

“You’re such a MC.” she says and i look at her in disbelief. Did she just curse at me?

“Machhar(mosquito)?” I ask her, even though I completely understood when she first said it but I tease her a little because her reactions are just so cute.

“What? Yeah, a machchar(mosquito)." She agrees with calling me a mosquito.

“Why am I a mosquito now?” 

“I don’t know why I said that.” she says smiling and looking down, tearing her gaze away from me.

“Cute” I mumble, the words flowing past my lips but not reaching her ears.

She looks out the window as the sun sets down and reflects over the water as well as passes through the bridge over a river. 

I stand up and she looks at me in surprise. “I’m just taking my bag, don't worry.” I chuckle.

“Not funny.” she says and goes back to her people watching. “Do you have snacks?”

I burst out laughing and she pouts and I swear I can see her eyes tear up. 

“I just asked if you have something to eat.” she says, still pouting.

“You sound like a kid, asking if I have games on my phone.” I grab two packets of chips from my bag and zip it back up before sitting down on my seat.

“Well, everyone calls me a kid so nothing new.” she huffs. 

“Here,don’t cry.” I say as I give her the chips packet and ruffle her open hair which makes her smile. But that smile disappears when she realises what I did and her reaction to it, and gets embarrassed over it as her cheeks turn red again. 

“Don’t scold me but you look like a north indian.” She adds, tearing her packet of chips.

I sigh, “I get that a lot.”

“People are so stereotypical in India, it's tiring.” she sighs too, looking out of the window. What did she mean by that?

“That sounded personal.” i say because the amount of emotion she said in the sentence earlier was a bit too suspicious. 

“Because not every poet has had heartbreak or is in love.” she says, with a hint of sadness that raises an eyebrow.

“You’re a poet?” I ask, curiosity getting the best of me.

“Hmm…” she pretends to not answer.

“Urdu?”

“Both, english and urdu”

“Can I ?”

“Sure. let me take out my notebook, wait”

‘I can even wait a century, if it’s for you.’ I hum in my mind.

“So” she flips the pages “jo apne hi nahi, unse dukh baant na, kisi khudgarz ki dil par dastak dena hota hain”

“Care to explain? My urdu is weak”

“So basically those who are not our family or people that care about us, sharing your emotional burden with them is equal to loving a narcissist”

“Damn. you did hit my heart with an arrow!”

“The cupid’s bow?”

“I- i mean-” i am speechless at the sudden flirtatious comment. She keeps her diary inside and pulls out another book which has urdu written on the front page. Maybe a poetry collection. 

“Now if you excuse me, I need some personal space.” she asks politely and I cannot even deny her.

“Yeah sure sure, I won't disturb you.” God, this woman is doing things to me.

Time passes by and we chat, share food, walk around when the train stops for longer on a station until I get off the madurai station but a few days later I meet her at a wedding in Kodaikanal only to find out that the groom she was complaining about is my brother so technically I’m the brother whom she was calling a playboy.

[thecreaturecodex]

Rakshasa Immortal, Korittunni

“The Mouse King” © deviantArt user MalakiaLaGatta, accessed at her gallery here

[”The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by ETA Hoffmann is much darker and weirder than the more famous ballet it inspired. It’s mostly to do with the machinations between rival magical kingdoms and the Mouse King’s extortion racket for Christmas presents. As opposed to the ballet, which is fully half plotless dances based on ethnic stereotypes. I do enjoy Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, but let’s be honest. The Mouse King in the story is much more monstrous, having seven heads. For practical reasons, this is usually dropped from adaptations. A Soviet animated version compromised with three heads, and designs with that number are much more common than the full set.

The character has no name in the original story, just a title. We do get his mother’s name: Mouserinks. She’s the one who cursed the prince into being a nutcracker in the first place, and the Mouse King is hunting him to prevent him from turning back. My name for the character is derived from a Tamil word meaning rat or mouse. Since I’m making him a rakshasa, and different adaptations vary in what species he’s supposed to be, I figured that it was appropriate. The flavor text may draw some inspiration from the recent OGL unpleasantness.]

Rakshasa Immortal, Korittunni The Mouse King, The Rat King Concerns greed, gluttony, rodents Domains Animal, Evil, Law, Trickery Subdomains Fear, Fur, Greed, Tyranny Worshipers evil ratfolk, extortionists, misers, wererats Minions rakshasas, rat kings, swarms Unholy Symbol seven crowns stacked in a triangle Favored Weapon rapier Obedience gorge yourself on fine food and drink for 1 hour. Despoil any leftovers so no one else may benefit from them. Gain a +4 profane bonus on saves against disease Boons 1: summon swarm 2/day; 2: hunger for flesh 2/day; 3: heroes’ feast 2/day

Rakshasa Immortal, Korittunni CR 21 LE Outsider (native) This humanoid stands smaller than a human and has seven rodent heads, arrayed facing in all directions. They are clad in a fancy military dress uniform, carry a fine saber, and wear a crown on each of their heads.

Korittunni the Mouse King is one of the least of the rakshasa immortals, but that does not make him any less dangerous or destructive. He is obsessed with things: taking them from other people and destroying them if he cannot take them. No object is below his acquisitiveness; he enjoys stealing toys and candy from children as much as he does jewels or magical items from the wealthy and powerful. He rarely works alone, and surrounds himself with sycophantic ratfolk, ver, wererats and other rodent-like humanoids. Most of his elite agents are other rakshasas, typically with rodent features in their natural form.

Korittunni often is the one to initiate hostilities, but if he can take what he wants through intimidation, trickery or mind-controlling magic, he does so before fighting. His teeth are strong and powerful, but he usually fights with a dueling sword. He is a master of bardic magic, weaving spells and magical dance together in order to augment his own abilities and those of any of his minions. Korittunni often leaves his victims alive but humiliated, cursed or polymorphed, as a warning to others who would cross him.

The Mouse King’s kingdom is a vast subterranean city, from which he plots robbery and extortion. Many criminal gangs pay him protection money, and in turn he helps to supply them with tools and talent from his own reserves. And doesn’t just wipe them out and steal from them. Korittunni is a dangerous partner, however, as he will often make the terms and conditions of his deals more and more restrictive, until his allies are little more than slaves. He can be charming when he wants to, but his default mode of expression is to threaten and bully. He is something of a mama’s boy and speaks fondly of his own mother, although whether she actually literally existed as he describes, or is a composite character based on dozens of reincarnations, is mysterious.

Korittunni is only two feet tall, but no less dangerous for his size. He always carries a magic rapier capable of stealing magical defenses and a rod of splendor.

Korittunni           CR 21 XP 409,600 LE Small outsider (native, rakshasa) Init +14; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception +29, scent Defense AC 38, touch 22, flat-footed 27 (+1 size, +10 Dex, +1 dodge, +14 natural) hp 420 (29d10+261) Fort +17, Ref +26, Will +22 DR 20/epic and piercing; Immune death effects, disease, petrifaction, poison, polymorph; Resist acid 20, cold 20, electricity 20, fire 20, sonic 20; SR 36 Defensive Abilities all-around vision, evasion Offense Speed 30 ft., climb 20 ft. Melee +3 spellstealing rapier +43/+38/+33/+28 (1d4+9/15-20), 7 bites +35 (1d4+3) or 7 bites +40 (1d4+6) Special Attacks bardic performance (59 rounds/day, swift action, countersong, deadly performance, dirge of doom, distraction, fascinate, frightening tune, inspire competence +6, inspire courage +4, inspire greatness, inspire heroics, soothing performance, suggestion), detect thoughts (DC 35), voracious Spell-like Abilities CL 20th, concentration +31 (+35 casting defensively) At will—bestow curse (DC 25), contagion (DC 25) 3/day—greater command (DC 26), greater teleport, nightmare (DC 26), quickened phobia (DC 27), ravenous rodents 1/day—demand (DC 29), mass hunger for flesh (DC 28), polymorph any object (DC 29), prediction of failure (DC 29) Spells CL 20th, concentration +31 (+35 casting defensively) 6th (7/day)—mass cat’s grace, mass cure moderate wounds (DC 27), greater scrying (DC 27), irresistible dance (DC 29), pied piping (DC 29) 5th (7/day)—cloak of dreams (DC 28), greater dispel magic, mind fog (DC 28), nightmare (DC 28), seeming (DC 26) 4th (7/day)—dominate person (DC 27), freedom of movement, hold monster (DC 27), legend lore, pessimism (DC 27), sleepwalking suggestion (DC 27) 3rd (7/day)—cure serious wounds (DC 24), fear (DC 24), glibness, haste, mass feather step, sculpt sound 2nd (8/day)—blur, gallant inspiration, heroism, invisibility, quick change, silence (DC 22) 1st (8/day)— charm person (DC 24), comprehend languages, cure light wounds (DC 22), identify, saving finale, undetectable alignment 0th—detect magic, ghost sound (DC 21), light, lullaby (DC 23), prestidigitation, read magic Statistics Str 23, Dex 31, Con 28, Int 25, Wis 22, Cha 32 Base Atk +29; CMB +34; CMD 55 Feats Combat Casting, Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Extra Performance, Greater Spell Focus (enchantment), Improved Critical (rapier), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Mobility, Quicken SLA (phobia), Spell Focus (enchantment), Spring Attack, Step Up, Whirlwind Attack Skills Acrobatics +31, Appraise +25, Bluff +36, Climb +32, Diplomacy +18, Disguise +40, Escape Artist +31, Intimidate +29, Knowledge (arcana, engineering, dungeoneering, local) +25,  Knowledge (planes) +27, Perception +29, Perform (act, dance) +32, Sense Motive +27, Spellcraft +25, Stealth +35, Swim +24, Use Magic Device +29; Racial Modifiers +4 Bluff, +8 Disguise, +2 Perception Languages Common, Goblin, Infernal, Senzar, telepathy 300 ft. SQ change shape (humanoid or rodent, polymorph), rakshasa lord traits Ecology Environment urban and underground Organization unique Treasure triple standard (rod of splendor, +3 spellstealing rapier, other treasure) Special Abilities Bardic Performance (Su/Sp) Korittunni can use bardic performances as a 20th level bard. Rakshasa Immortal Trait (Ex/Su) Korittunni is a rakshasa immortal, a powerful unique outsider capable of granting spells. This also grants him the following abilities

Immunity to death effects, disease and poison

Resist acid, cold, electricity, fire and sonic 20

DR/epic

Telepathy 300 ft.

Korittunni’s natural weapons, as well as any weapons he wields, are treated as epic, lawful and evil for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction.

Ravenous Rodents (Sp) This spell functions as a creeping doom spell, except that the swarms summoned appear as rats and mice. The swarms have the animal type instead of the vermin type, and do not have the poison special attack. Instead, they gain the voracious ability (see below) and deal damage to unattended objects in their area as well. This is the equivalent of a 7th level spell. Spells Korittunni casts spells as a 20th level bard. Voracious (Ex) Korittunni’s bite attacks deal double damage to creatures with the plant subtype, and to objects made out of plant materials such as paper, wood and most cloth.

[ambidextrousarcher]

“ஆமாம். அக்கா, ஆமாம்! நாகைப்பட்டினத்துப் புத்த பிக்ஷுக்கள் சொன்னதாகக் கூறினாயே? அதன்படியே நடந்தது. அநுராதபுரத்தில் புத்த பிக்ஷுக்களின் மகா சங்கத்தார் எனக்கு இலங்கைச் சிங்காதனத்தையும், கிரீடத்தையும் அளிக்க முன் வந்தார்கள். நா��்தான் மறுத்து விட்டேன், அக்கா! இராஜ்யத்தில் எனக்கு ஆசையில்லாதபடியால்தான் மறுதளித்தேன். நீ வேறு எது சொன்னாலும் கேட்கிறேன். இராஜ்யம் ஆளும் தொல்லை மட்டும் எனக்கு வேண்டாம்! அதைக் காட்டிலும் கடலில் படகு விட்டுக்கொண்டு எவ்வளவோ ஆனந்தமாயிருக்கலாம். கேள், அக்கா! கோடிக்கரையில் ஓடக்காரப் பெண் ஒருத்தி இருக்கிறாள்...”

Excerpt From

Ponniyin Selvan Anaithu Pagangal (Tamil Edition)

Kalki

This material may be protected by copyright.

Context: Arulmozhi thinks he is speaking to his sister in his fevered delirium.

“Yes, elder sister, yes! Had you not told me of the prediction made by the Buddhist monks in Nagapattinam? Events happened just as they were foretold. The Buddhist monks belonging to the Maha Sangam in Anuradhapuram came forward to grant me the throne and the crown of Lanka. It was I who refused, elder sister! Having no desire to rule a Kingdom, I refused. Whatever else you say, I shall listen. Only the trouble of ruling a Kingdom, I don’t want! Instead of that, how happy we can be sailing in the seas. Listen, elder sister! There is a boatwoman in Kodikkarai…”

Delirious as he is, I still think Arulmozhi holds Poonkuzhali in a high regard at this point of time, because his first thought to tell his adored sister was about her. I do believe he felt something for her, at least as a friend, or something akin to admiration for her.

Also….this is making me think, for in a future chapter, one probably set a few days after this one (as Arulmozhi, Sendhan and Poonkuzhali reach Choodamani monastery) one of the monks there speaks of Kundavai having visited them in the recent past, and spoken of the possibility of them hosting Arulmozhi, that what is the timeline for these events? I like to think that Kundavai had spoken to the monks in Nagapattinam and sent Arulmozhi a letter regarding the possibility of him being enthroned, or had Annirudhar rely her message, which means Kundavai had visited Nagapattinam very recently, perhaps after leaving Thanjai on the way to Pazhayarai?

Tagging my usual tag list! @whippersnappersbookworm @mizutaama @celestesinsight @thereader-radhika @thelekhikawrites @themorguepoet @deadloverscity @harinishivaa @racoonpaws @favcolourrvibgior @willkatfanfromasia and @humapkehaikaun

[ramayantika]

Chinnanjiru Nilave (a dance or me just acting around??? 🥲)

Do you remember Mathura Nagarpati? I am not Tamil so I looked up a few translations for this song: Chinnanjiru Nilave The song doesn't exactly match my story obviously but the singer's voice and the music had those final moments/separation themes which immediately got the Mathura Nagarpati scene in my mind. I hope I did not butcher the song. I was also lazy to edit so here's the raw draft.

The translation of the scene below:

1. Nayani fills her pot by the Yamuna and as she is about to go home, she hears a voice she hasn't heard in years. Turning around she sees Krishna standing in front of her. She is shocked to see him and confirms his presence by touching his face and hands.

2. "After so many years you've come back here. Tell me, not even once did you remember me, us and Vrindavan. We all would gaze at the far waters if Yamuna in hopes that you will one day come back. Couldn't you have ever sent a letter, just one letter about your well-being. I don't know what to say, Krishna. I am seeing you after so many years. It feels like a yuga has passed. I thought you have forgotten all of us. I no longer know what to say or how to behave. You were my first love. I am now married to another man, but you were the one in my heart. Upto this day, I have breathed only in your name

3. Somehow she looses her anger and smiles saying, "Anyway how long can I be cross with you?" Krishna drops a bomb again when he tell her you might just be because I am here to give you a final parting Gift to bid you farewell.

4. Nayani is confused when Krishna takes her hand and asks her to take his morpankh from his crown and blow it to the skies. He starts walking back which causes Nayani to hold his hand. Pleading, she says, "Do not leave just now. If you go away I will die right here."

5. Krishna still holds her hand and makes her blow the feather away as a reluctant Nayani lets him go while the feather makes its journey to the sky. Another game of Time and dust goes into her eyes before she can see Krishna leave. When she opens her eyes, Krishna is nowhere to be found. Later she hears some person tell her that Dwarkadheesh is no more.

6. Devastatation

Taglist: @morally-gayy @bambioleo @shanti-ashant-hai @kabhi-sukoot-bhi-sukhan @inexhaustible-sources-of-magic @arachneofthoughts @kaal-naagin @krishna-priyatama @reallythoughtfulwizard @savlon-bhoi

[sarkariresultdude]

Tamil Nadu Board Exam Results: A Comprehensive Overview

 The Tamil Nadu Board Result of Secondary Education (TNBSE) plays a critical function in shaping the instructional landscape of the kingdom. The board is accountable for carrying out examinations for classes 10 and 12, which are pivotal in determining students' academic paths. The effects of these examinations are surprisingly anticipated every yr, impacting students' futures and educational choices.

Examination Structure

The Tamil Nadu board checks generally encompass principal levels: the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) for class 10 and the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) for class 12. The SSLC assessments usually take area in March, while the HSC exams observe quickly after. These tests cover various topics, such as Tamil, English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science, among others.

Importance of Results

The outcomes of these board assessments are enormous for several reasons:

Academic Progression: For magnificence 10 students, the SSLC outcomes determine their eligibility for higher secondary education. Depending on their rankings, students can select among diverse streams including Science, Commerce, or Arts in class 11.

Higher Education Opportunities: Class 12 students, however, need their HSC consequences for university admissions. Performance in those tests is critical for securing seats in universities and expert publications.

Career Decisions: The results additionally impact career alternatives. High rankings can open doorways to prestigious establishments and aggressive courses, while lower scores may also require college students to recall opportunity paths or remedial measures.

Psychological Impact: The strain surrounding board examination outcomes can considerably affect students' intellectual health. The anticipation of consequences can cause anxiety, stress, and, in some cases, sadness, highlighting the need for adequate counseling and aid systems.

Result Announcement Process

The Tamil Nadu board commonly publicizes the examination results in May or June, some weeks after the crowning glory of the exams. The results are made available online on the legit TNBSE website, along with different structures, making sure easy get admission to college kids and dads and moms. 

In recent years, the board has also delivered SMS offerings, allowing college students to access their results directly on their mobile phones. This initiative aims to ensure that students in far-flung regions have identical access to their results, thereby promoting inclusivity.

Performance Trends

Every 12 months, the Tamil Nadu board sees various performance trends based totally on several elements:

Overall Pass Percentage: The ordinary bypass percentage is a critical metric. In recent years, the SSLC results have frequently visible pass percentages in the variety of ninety-95%, while the HSC results can vary more widely, depending at the subjects and the general trouble of the exam.

Subject-Wise Performance: Typically, students perform well in languages and social sciences, even as topics like Mathematics and Science can also see a decrease in common ratings. This fashion regularly sparks discussions about the need for a curriculum evaluation and stepped-forward coaching strategies in these subjects.

District-smart Performance: The results also are analyzed at the district level, with some districts always outperforming others. These statistics is precious for policymakers and educators to become aware of regions desiring interest and assistance.

Post-Result Scenario

After the results are announced, the subsequent steps for students include:

Counseling and Admission Processes: Students ought to make crucial selections concerning their in addition schooling. Many faculties and colleges arrange counseling periods to help students recognize their options based totally on their ratings.

Re-assessment and Re-checking: Students who are disappointed with their effects have the option to use for re-assessment or re-checking of their solution sheets. This system is vital for individuals who agree that their overall performance is no longer correctly pondered within the initial grading.

Supplementary Exams: For college students who did not bypass, the board gives supplementary tests, normally performed a few months after the primary results are declared. This gives students a second chance to clear their subjects.

Challenges Faced

The board consequences method isn't without its challenges. Issues such as administrative delays, discrepancies in grading, and the high stakes associated with the exams can result in significant pressure for college kids and educators alike. Furthermore, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has raised issues approximately the preparedness of college students, as many had to adapt to online learning, which varies in effectiveness.

[vishnavishivaa]

His Ilavarasi (Ponniyin Selvan OS)

Italics is for flashbacks and most Tamil words. 

------------------------------------- Where had the Ilavarasi gone?

Arulmozhi was flabbergasted, for he had been spending time with her since she had set foot in the choodamani viharam, and she had suddenly vanished. He could still remember her tear filled eyes as she peered into the small window to see him, and their eyes had met for a split second before she had turned to hide.

Once again. 

This had become some mischievous habit of hers, he thought fondly, remembering their second meeting, the first one with him as Arulmozhi Varman, the Prince of the Chozha empire, rather than the yaanai paagan she knew him as. 

Even then, once she had known he was Arulmozhi Varman, she had taken to hiding every time their eyes met. Whenever she could afford it, rather, given that his Akka Kundavai rarely allowed the Princess of Kodumbalur away from her, being as attached to the latter as the Princess was to Kundavai. 

In all fairness, the Ilavarasi had not been anything but Vaanathi in his mind for a long time, even before he had been sent to Eezham with his forces. 

After being celebrated with him, walking along his left side, she had now chosen to completely vanish, which was unacceptable to him. He had gotten so used to Vanathi’s presence during his days, that a sudden absence was like losing a limb. 

And this was why he did not want anything to do with falling in love. 

Arulmozhi groaned softly, knowing that if his elder sister were there, she would ask pointedly obvious questions. He could not deny that he had indeed fallen in love with Vanathi, and was also not in the mindset of denying it. He knew of Poonguzhali’s affection for him, and while she was incredibly important to him, and he respected her highly, her eyes were not the glow of the stars that filled his night’s vision. 

Vanathi had become an integral part of him, a part he knew Kundavai had been hoping for, ever since she had gotten to know the Ilavarasi. 

His Ilavarasi. 

“Akka, why did you put these thoughts into my head?” he mumbled to himself, sitting down on the large, ornate couch, looking to his right, and seeing the vision of Vanathi in bright red and orange, simple but effective jewelry adorning Her ears, neck and arms. 

They had made a statement with their appearance together, and he knew of the turmoil and the envy that would have caused. His elder sister’s companions, all Princesses of the small Chola Kingdoms, all had their eye on him as their husband, and disliked Vanathi for her purity and sweetness that had won over Kundavai so easily, without the former trying to do so. 

And now, she had taken to going missing, definitely due to some plan she had, though he could not think of her as devious. She was the opposite of that, simple, pure and gentle, a devadhai in human form, one he had been blessed with. 

He also knew well that many of the elders of the Chola empire had hopes on their marriage, including her Periappa, Poodi Vikrama Kesari. 

And that brought him to his current problem. 

“If I do marry Ponniyin Selvar, by his own will, I will only stay in his Antahpura, but not rule the Chola empire.”

Why had she said that?

He sighed again and again, knowing he was broadcasting his confusion as well as astonishment. Despite understanding why she had chosen to make that vow, he did not really want to rule without her by his side…

But should he even rule? 

What if….

He felt the idea settle into his veins, and he wondered if he could make it work that way. 

“Om Namaha Shivaaya ||”

He whispered a prayer to his Shiva, his Aaradhya, and got up, now energized and enthused by his idea. 

*****

Arulmozhi could not contain his happiness, and he had no problems showing his happiness as well. 

He had gotten Madurantakan crowned, and was now going to be part of naval expeditions, after ensuring the stability of his Kingdom. His sister had started insisting on him getting married now, and Madurantakan had also expressed his wish to see Arulmozhi’s marriage. 

“Thambi.”

“Akka,” he had smiled at his radiant sister, whose eyes held a hope that he would listen to her. 

“I think it is time for your Kalyanam, Thambi. Our lineage has to continue,” Kundavai said. However, Arulmozhi knew his sister very well. While she did believe in her own words, she also nurtured a deep hope that he would marry her best friend, who she could have as her sister-in-law then. 

“Who should I marry Akka? Your companions have all fawned over me whenever they could. Who among them should I marry?”

“Do all my companions fawn over you, Thambi?” frowned Kundavai, narrowing her eyes at him, as if knowing that he was up to something. He controlled the smile that was suddenly threatening to burst from within, and he shook his head, knowing it was the truth. 

“Then?”

“Only the Kodumbalur Princess does not fawn over me, Akka.”

He could not prevent the smile that formed on his face, so he allowed his emotions to overtake his expression instead, smiling wider at the surprised but delighted expression that had alighted Kundavai’s features. 

“Has my thozhi managed to find a place in your heart, Thambi?” Kundavai asked, the tiny inflection in her voice betraying her joy. 

“She is my entire heart, Akka.”

The happy conversation that had followed would be etched in his mind, and would be one he would revisit as often as he could. He had also managed to convince Kundavai to allow him to speak to his Ilavarasi, for he wanted to formally discuss the situation with her. 

And that was where he was headed. 

Kundavai had told him that Vanathi was in the garden near the Kaveri, and he had taken a secret shortcut, and now stood in the corner, watching Vanathi silently. She was seated in the same place they had met, and was smiling softly at the birds that chirped around her. 

“Is there no bird for me to rescue today, Ilavarasi?”

He called out and stepped into the grove, the sudden reaction from Vanathi telling him that he had succeeded in hiding from her. 

“Ponniyin Selvare!” she exclaimed, a rosy hue flooding her cheeks, making him smile more. He should have caught her like this before, in retrospect. 

“I am unable to find you much these days, Devi. What wrong have I done that you have deprived me of your presence?”

“Ilavarase,” Vanathi exclaimed, in a tone that sounded completely astonished. “You were busy, and I was staying out of the way.”

“Out of whose way, Devi?” Arulmozhi did not know what came over him, but he just wanted answers in that moment. He still stood at a respectful distance from her, despite wanting to be much closer. 

“Ayya, I was trying not to disturb anyone, especially after everything Periappa did. Even now, I am here for one of the last times. Periappa wants to take me back to Kodumbalur, but Akka has been insisting that I not leave.”

She was leaving?

She had not left Kundavai’s side in years, and now, when things had settled down, and he could finally be in Tanjai, she is leaving? 

She was leaving him?

“You are leaving, Ilavarasi?” he blurted out, though chided himself internally at his blathering of sorts. 

“It is Periappa’s wish, Ayya,” she lowered her gaze, not meeting his eyes. He stepped forward, a little closer this time, waiting for her gaze to lift up once more. Without her permission, he would not go closer. 

“What about yours, Vanathi?”

He used her given name, choosing to forgo all formalities, wanting her to know he was serious with his question. She looked at him, her doe eyes wide, shining like the sun’s glow on amethyst. 

“Ayya…” she hesitated, faltering in her words, though her eyes expressed everything he needed to know. Joy dancing through him like Shiva’s blissful dance did through the Universe, he stepped straight into her personal space, peering down at her deeply, reading through her star-like eyes. 

“What about your wish, Vanathi?” 

“Ponniyin Selvare,” she said, looking back deeply into his eyes. “If I had it my way, I would not set even a foot away from you.”

“That is my wish too, Vanathi. Will you be my Queen?”

“Swami,” she responded, lowering her head out of bashfulness, her body language indicating the same. “I will not go back on my words. I will not rule the Chola empire, but if you want me as your wife, I will be so. I will be your sahadharmini in everything but ruling the Chola empire. I will be yours as I always have been, Ayya, but do not ask me to rule the Kingdom.”

“Ennavale,” he whispered, softly, gently touching her chin with the tip of his fingers, raising her lowered gaze back to meet his. He took a moment to admire the red blush on her moon face, before continuing. “I will not make you rule as the Queen of the Cholas, but I will go to you for advice, much like I do to Kundavai Akka.”

“And as your wife, I will fulfill it, Swami.”

He nodded, content with gazing at her at that moment. Everything else could be and would be discussed in the future, but he wanted those few moments with his beloved, to have this poignant silence which spoke all their love into existence as if new. 

Everything else could wait. 

—--------------------------------------------------

Glossary:

Ilavarasi- Princess

Yaanai Paagan- elephant mahout

Akka- elder sister

Eezham- Lanka

Devadhai- angel

Periappa- elder father or father’s elder brother

Aaradhya- the One who is worshiped 

Thambi- younger brother

Kalyanam- marriage

Ilavarase- Prince

Ayya- Sir

Swami- Lord

—-------------

This OS is completely inspired by the movie- though I have a couple of book references here. I hope you all like it, and I hope to write much more of VanMozhi, including multi chaptered fics. Hopefully, by the grace of HariHara, all will work out. 

Dedicated to @vibishalakshman and @dumdaradumdaradum <3 

[academiaandarson]

The library of Alexandria, the library of Nalanda, the various Tamil Scriptures that were burnt and destroyed, the various books burnt, author's killed, scientists murdered, poet's forgotten i will never stop thinking about them. Mourning them.

I'll never stop seething over the fact that foolish fanatics have the privilege of ignorance. The privilege of never knowing guilt or remorse for the damages they've inflicted on the rest of the world. The way these people never really face any consequences..

If there's anything unfair about this world, it's the hatred that crowns the ignorant head. The hatred that somehow makes him gain gullible followers.

[thoughtlessarse]

Last month, the US blocked a British Indian Overseas Territory (BIOT) court from entering the British territory of Diego Garcia—part of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, and prevented a group of Tamil migrants—stranded on the island since 2021, from presenting their case that they were being unlawfully detained. This has left the Tamils living in what amounts to a concentration camp, locked in a legal limbo and held in virtual incommunicado 1,000 miles away from the nearest landmass in India. Tessa Gregory, a lawyer at Leigh Day solicitors representing the asylum seekers, said, “That the British Indian Ocean Territory supreme court has been prevented from sitting in its own territory on Crown land is an extraordinary affront to the rule of law.” She appealed to the incoming Labour government foreign secretary to do everything he could “to ensure that the hearing goes ahead as soon as possible.” In 2021, 89 Tamils, including 16 children, who had fled torture and racist persecution in Sri Lanka, had been trying to reach Canada when their fishing boat ran into trouble. They were rescued by Royal Navy ships and brought to Diego Garcia, part of the British Indian Ocean territories, where they have remained ever since, trying to seek asylum in Britain. In 2022, four more boats carrying asylum seekers reached the island, some of whom were allowed to leave and succeeded in reaching the French territory of Reunion. The conditions in the camp are so dire that a number returned. Others were deported back to Sri Lanka. While some of the migrants were sent to Rwanda for medical treatment, they were later returned to Diego Garcia. It is believed that there are at least 60 asylum seekers still on the island, awaiting decisions on their claims or appeals of earlier rulings that are being processed in the UK. Their plight is compounded by the fact that access to Diego Garcia is restricted to those with connections to the military or BIOT’s administration. There are no commercial flights to the island and access for yachts is only for safe passage through the outer Chagos Islands. They live in rat-infested, communal tents and are confined to a small fenced-in area, no bigger than a football pitch, under the watchful eyes of G4S, a security firm who “are treating us like prisoners,” according to anonymous statements by two of the asylum seekers. The BBC says there have been “multiple suicide attempts” and “reports of sexual harassment and assaults.” Lawyers say that there have been hunger strikes, including by children. In November last year, the UN’s High Commission for Refugees visited the island, and wrote a damning report about the camp. It concluded that “conditions there amounted to arbitrary detention” and called for the Tamils’ “immediate relocation.” Even the British Foreign Office, which administers the BIOT from its office in London, admitted the conditions were not suitable. Britain’s control over the BIOT has been deemed illegal. Britain’s Labour government separated Diego Garcia and the 60-plus Chagos Islands from Mauritius in 1965 before it became independent in 1968 and subsequently incorporated the Islands into the specially created British Indian Ocean Territories. This violated the 1960 United Nations Resolution 1514 banning the breakup of colonies before independence. It forcibly expelled Diego Garcia’s 2,000 indigenous people—the Chagossians—who were exiled to slums in Mauritius and the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean and eventually the UK, where, denied support and compensation and subject to racial discrimination at the hands of officialdom, they have lived in impoverished conditions ever since. The British government has repeatedly rejected their demands to return their homeland.

continue reading

Brexiteers on EU: Sovereignty blah blah blah control our borders blah blah blah our rules blah blah blah

Brexiteers on US presence in what they see as British territory: *crickets*

[gabriellademonaco]

Crown Princess Mary’s Official Engagements in March 2023:

01/03: Official Visit to India - Visit to Engineering Company Larsen & Toubro

01/03: Official Visit to India - Visit to Grundfos' Head Office in India 

01/03: Official Visit to India - Reception by the Governor of the Province of Tamil Nadu

01/03: Official Visit to India - Closing Reception

07/03: Maternal Mortality Roundtable with Maternity Foundation & UNFPA

08/03: Gender Diversity Roundtable

08/03: International Women's Day

10/03: Meeting at the US Ambassador’s Residence

13/03: Meeting with Denmark's Climate Ambassador Tomas A. Christensen and Chief Climate Negotiator Maria Samuelsen 

27/03: Presidium Meeting of the WWF World Wide Fund for Nature

28/03: Meeting with Crown Princess Mary Center Advisory Committee

29/03: Meeting with the Director-General of UNEP, Inger Andersen

[indepwom101]

🇩🇰 The Crown Prince Couple

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Final Day of visit to India

The Crown Prince and Princess were received by Governor Ravi and The First Lady of Tamil Nadu Tmt at Raj Bhavan.

[mudlarkspur]

hey @chiscribbs our AUs are in the prelims for @tmntaucompetition together!

Donnie is way more excited for an alt brother with an alt same-dad than whatever alt her has going on. He doesn't have the same Draxum as her so he dodged Donnie being envious/mean for no reason.

Desc under readmore

Two part comic

Image 1: Catch You Donnie and Muninn from behind. Muninn is a raven wearing a flower crown on Donnie's shoulder. All that's visible of Donnie is about half of their face. They are wearing a mask, their headphones (with their panel attachments in the default position). Part of an earring and one of their cheek scars if visible.

Donnie is saying "ok, Muninn. Grown Apart AU. The rat raised Mikey & Lee, then I was raised by ... Big Mama??? And Raph was raised by-"

Image 2: grown apart Raph from straight ahead looking down and to his left at catch you Donnie. Raph has a scar on one cheek and a chipped/scratched plastron. He is wearing a name tag on one shoulder, a helmet, and a belt. Donnie is beaming at him. They are wearing a saree and the three scars on their shell and jaw are visible.

Donnie is saying "Hi! Hello!! We have the same அப்பா! Are you desi, too? Can we be friends? Does your Appā love you? Mine loves me, he's nice and tells me about everything and-"

Note: அப்பா is Appā which means father in Tamil. Draxum is Tamilar in this AU.

[penpaperandbooks]

They Bring Me Flowers - Pt. 2

Glossary: arasan - the Tamil equivalent of 'Your Highness' illavarasan - the Tamil equivalent of Crown Prince devi - a term used to address any woman respectfully

"But, Father, you haven't seen her! She would be per--" he broke off as the arasan raised a hand to stop him.

"I haven't seen her and I shall not see her. She is a mere flower girl and you, the illavarasan. Either take her as your mistress or you can forget all about her."

The illavarasan kept quiet and gave orders to his servants to bring the girl to the palace. They fulfilled his orders and brought a frightened flower girl to the palace.

The illavarasan's friend rushed over when he heard the news, distraught at what had taken place. His father had agreed to their marriage, but now this? He couldn't bear to see his beloved in the house of another, sleeping with another.

The illavarasan welcomed him with open arms, delighted at his arrival. "My dear friend!" he exclaimed, hugging him fondly. The boy stood rigid, frozen from rage. "All this is thanks to you! Your act of kindness towards the poor flower girl led me to find such treasure," he said, motioning for him to take a seat.

The boy kept standing, shocked that it was him who had caused all this. He opened his mouth to tell everything, to accuse the illavarasan of stealing his beloved but when he saw his delighted face, he kept quiet, forcing himself to smile.

"I am..." he gulped, tears pooling in his eyes. "I am happy for you, friend. Cherish her," he said, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder.

The musician ended the story here, the climax fading into a sad, mournful ending of two lovers, separated for life, never to be happy with their lives.

I open my eyes as the song ends, turning towards her. She bowed, waiting for me to motion for her to sing another song.

"It was beautiful," I say, controlling my voice from trembling. "You have a gift, and as a token of my appreciation, take this." I motion for a maid to come forward and take the necklace I unclasped from my neck.

"Much obliged, devi." she says, folding her hands and bowing.

I sigh, getting up from the low sofa. "You may go now," I say, and walk to my quarters. The palace gifted to me is spacious, white marble reflecting sunlight in the winter and lattice windows shading the inhabitants from the harsh sun in the summer.

Rooms line the hallways, each one having a different purpose. I reach my quarters and shoo the maids away, insisting that I want to be alone for some time. They disperse reluctantly, but I know they are glad to leave me, allowing them to look after themselves and help their friends while gossiping about the happenings in the main palace.

I flop onto the bed, finally allowing myself to shed the tears pooling in my eyes. But my sadness soon turned to anger as I mentally cursed the musician. "Why did that idiot have to bring up that story now?!" I cried, sitting up.

"Why did who have to bring up what?" a voice asked. I looked up in surprise, a smile erupting on my face as I saw the person who asked the question. Her hands held a vase full of lilies this time, ready to change out the parijat jasmine she had brought me earlier.

She looked at me questioningly, a smile mirroring mine on her face. "Hm?" she asked, walking towards me. I sit rooted in place while she takes a seat next to me.

The only thing I remember next is my lips on hers, both of us falling onto the bed, entwined in each other's arms.

Hours later, as we sit on the balcony overlooking the main palace, moonlight shining down on us, I relay the story to her. She smiles sadly, wiping the tears threatening to fall from my eyes.

"Come, come," she consoles me, patting my back warmly. "Thank goodness my idiot brother took you only as a mistress, hm? Can you imagine if you were his wife? I would never be able to come to your quarters so freely then!" she says, desperately looking for a silver lining.

I smile, placing a small peck on her lips. "Mhm," I hum, leaning against her as we look up at the sky. "I just wish they'd got your gender right. And given us a different ending."

The travelling bards' voices travel for miles, singing the song of two lovers, separated forever. But in a small room in a palace, the two lay close by, looking up at the star-studded sky, wrapped in each other's embrace.

[dear-indies]

hi! i hope you dont mind the ask! im looking to set up a period fc and just looking to get some fc help! i want the group to be diverse as possible and was hoping you could help with some fc suggestions?

Kathy Bates (1948) - American Horror Story as Madame LaLaurie.

Richard Ridings (1958) - Dickinson.

Michelle Yeoh (1962) Chinese Malaysian - The School for Good and Evil.

Zahn McClarnon (1966) Hunkpapa Lakota, Sihasapa Lakota, White - History of the World, Part II.

Sophie Okonedo (1968) Nigerian / Ashkenazi Jewish - The Wheel of Time, The Hollow Crown.

Adrian Lester (1968) Afro Jamaican - Mary Queen of Scots.

Yuliya Aug (1970) - Ekaterina.

Warwick Davis (1970) - Willow - has spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita.

Danny Sapani (1970) Ghanaian - in Harlots.

Nick Frost (972) - The Nevers & Into the Badlands.

Matt Berry (1974) - Year of the Rabbit.

Caroline Chikezie (1974) Igbo Nigerian - The Shannara Chronicles.

Ashlie Atkinson (1977) - is queer - The Gilded Age.

Karthi (1977) Tamil Indian - Ponniyin Selvan.

Oscar Isaac (1979) Cuban-Guatemalan-Spanish - In Secret.

Nonso Anozie (1979) Igbo Nigerian - Cinderella.

Adeel Akhtar (1980) Pakistani / Indo Kenyan - Enola Holmes.

Chrissy Metz (1980) - American Horror Story as Ima ‘Barbara’ Wiggles.

Angel Coulby (1980) Afro Guyanese / White - Merlin.

Mahesh Jadu (1982) Indo Mauritian - The Witcher.

Ella Smith (1983) - The Nevers.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw (1983) Zulu South African / White - Belle.

Joel Fry (1984) Afro Jamaican and White - Drunk History UK.

Freida Pinto (1984) Konkani Indian - Mr. Malcolm's List.

Sterling Sulieman (1984) African-American - Still Star-Crossed.

Zawe Ashton (1984) Ugandan / White - Mr. Malcolm's List - has spoken up for Palestine!

Sonoya Mizuno (1986) Japanese / Spanish-Argentinian, White - House of The Dragon.

Jodie Turner-Smith (1986) Afro Jamaican - Anne Boleyn.

Deepika Padukone (1986) Indian - Bajirao Mastani.

Lashana Lynch (1987) Afro Jamaican - Still Star-Crossed.

Susan Wokoma (1987) Nigerian - Enola Holmes - has spoken up for Palestine!

Pippa Bennett-Warner (1988) Jamaican and Kittitian - Harlots.

Stefanie Reinsperger (1988) - Maria Theresa.

Aiysha Hart (1988) Saudi / White - Atlantis - has spoken up for Palestine!

Gratiela Brancusi (1989) Romani and White - 1883 - has spoken up for Palestine!

Dalmar Abuzeid (1990) Sudanese - Anne with An E.

Sophia Nomvete (1990) Iranian and Black - Rings of Power.

Himesh Patel (1990) Indian - The Aeronauts and The Luminaries.

Lolly Adefope (1990) Nigerian - in Ghosts - has spoken up for Palestine!

Paapa Essiedu (1990) Ghanaian - Anne Boleyn - has spoken up for Palestine!

Jacob Anderson (1990) Black Caribbean and White - Interview with the Vampire.

Ebonee Noel (1990) Afro Guyanese - Still Star-Crossed.

Dianne Doan (1990) Chinese - Warrior.

Katie Findlay (1990) Chinese, Portuguese-Macanese, White - Walker: Independence - is queer (they/them) I'm unsure if they're referring to gender and/or sexuality as queer but I'm under the assumption it's both! - has spoken up for Palestine!

Liu Yuning (1990) Chinese - A Journey to Love.

Dev Patel (1990) Gujarati Indian - The Personal History of David Copperfield.

Sope Dirisu (1991) Nigerian - Mr. Malcolm's List.

Medalion Rahimi (1991) Iranian, Mizrahi Jewish - Still Star-Crossed.

Ashley Park (1991) Korean - Mr. Malcolm's List.

Ronke Adekoluejo (1991) Nigerian - Chevalier.

Kiran Sonia Sawar (1991) Pakistani - The Nevers.

Denée Benton (1991) African-American - The Gilded Age - has spoken up for Palestine!

Emma D’Arcy Actor (1992) - is non-binary (they/them) - House of Dragons - has spoken up for Palestine!

Anna Shaffer (1992) Black and White / Jewish - The Witcher.

Devon Terrell (1992) African-American / Anglo-Indian - Cursed.

Crystal Clarke (1993/1994) Trinidadian and Guyanese - Sanditon.

Kelvin Harrison Jr. (1994) African-American - Chevalier.

David Licauco (1994) Filipino - Maria Clara at Ibarra.

Julie Anne San Jose (1994) Filipino - Maria Clara at Ibarra.

Kit Young (1994) Ugandan / White - Shadow and Bone.

Lola Petticrew (1995) - is non-binary (they/them) - Anne Boleyn.

Jack Wolfe (1995) - is queer - Shadow and Bone - has spoken up for Palestine!

Maddison Jaizani (1995) Iranian / White - Versailles.

Alisha Boe (1997) Somali / White - The Buccaneers - has spoken up for Palestine!

Madeleine Madden (1997) Eastern Arrernte, Arrernte, Kalkadoon, White / Gadigal and Bundjalung - The Wheel of Time.

Chen Muchi (1997) Chinese - The Starry Love.

Archie Renaux (1997) Indian and White - Shadow and Bone.

Sophie Wilde (1998) Ivorian / White - Tom Jones.

Josie Totah (2001) Palestinian / Lebanese and White - is a trans woman - is a trans woman - The Buccaneers.

Aaron Cobham (?) Black British - The Spanish Princess.

Stephanie Levi-John (?) Black - The Spanish Princess.

Akil Largie (?) Black - Sense and Sensibility.

Bayo Gbadamosi (?) Black British - The Great.

Thalissa Teixeira (?) Afro Brazilian - Anne Boleyn.

Matthew Broome (?) Black - The Buccaneers.

Colette Dalal Tchantcho (?) Cameroonian / Sunni Kuwaiti - Dangerous Liaisons.

Scott Turner Schofield (?) - is a trans man - The Conductor.

Gladly! I'd also suggest checking out @periodfcnetwork's amazing directory and page, maybe they can help find more disabled, fat and/or trans suggestions not listed because I sadly couldn't find many!