I would literally do anything to re live that feeling I had when I first watched Masaan. There is something extremely raw about understanding the original dialogue & not needing subtitles.
And yet. Yet. I did not know a lot of cultural nuances within the story. Such as the belief that splitting the skull during cremation is said to help the soul rest in peace. The betting on kids who can dive to pick coins. Slut shaming & stigma on pre marital sex being more condemned in smaller towns than metropolitan cities.
The subtlety of accents. Devi uses the word "please" "papa" & always speaks in a clear "sophisticated" way, sprinkled with English words. She's digitally literate. Confident even that despite everyone's blackmail, she was just in love & not being the so called slut. She was afraid but never guilty. She never accepted harassment.
Then we have Deepak & Shaalu. Blissfully happy. Until reality starts sinking in. Their families will not accept an inter caste marriage. Deepak starts getting insecure that his family cremates bodies for a living. Shaalu feels pathetic for asking. Of course she meant no harm but damn was she scared of bring disowned.
And then it starts to merge. Devi & Deepak both want to break their cycle of poverty. They study hard & move in search of opportunity. They want to better their lives. They've lost their lovers. They both throw their lover's remaining token into the rivers.
I personally see the last line to be layered. That they should go to sangam twice. But were they really alone? Or were they going with that someone not next to them but in their heart?
Not to sound nihilistic, but I feel like the best works of fiction with kid protagonists are almost always the ones with a key understanding of how strange, helpless and even kind of crushing childhood can really be, not the ones that see those years as pure innocence and nothing else.
Too lazy to write a disclaimer let's just call it fluff k thxx😭🙏
Eiji's sleep was disturbed by muffled sobs. Not again he thought. Ash screamed in his bed ,"Don't die on me Eiji. I'll quit this lifestyle. I'll come to Japan. I'll do anything!!"
Eiji quietly slid into Ash's blankets & spooned him. "I'm still here, Ash. With you." Ash turned & slept on his back. Eiji's view was breathtakingly beautiful. Blonde messy hair, moonlit features, slightly parted lips.
Eiji was not thinking when he lifted his head & almost kissed Ash. Almost. But stopped. What was he doing. He must be ashamed. Ash was asleep. Unaware. His curiosity was not even close to important.
"What are you doing?" Ash blinked
"I must have been sleepwalking. Sorry."
Eiji tried to leave but Ash held his hand. "I felt your breath on my face. Don't lie to me. Not about this."
"Fine. It's just that... Since the day you passed me a message when I came to see you in prison I've been confused as hell...."
"Let me help you find your answers then."
Ash slid his hand into Eiji's hair & pulled him into a kiss. Besides Eiji, it seemed to answer some of Ash's own questions. And Eiji reciprocated based on instinct having no prior experience. They pulled apart. Breathless. Sweating.
"You taste divine." Ash blinked with a perplexed expression.
"Do I really like it or... Is it just because you're good at it..."
"I did not do it out of obligation or use rehearsed moves on you...."
"Ash could I pass you a secret message this time?"
"You could."
Eiji cupped Ash's face & looked him in the eyes before leaning in & giving a gentle peck on the lips.
"You could read my message here. There's no one else"
Okie random but I just imagined how Ash must be terrified of camera's click sounds bcs of his childhood trauma but like Eiji wants to photograph him all day so he disables skeuomorph on his phone to secretly take Ash's pics. Ofc Ash knows & he chooses to act like he doesn't but Eiji knows he's acting but stays quiet anyway
barbie movie is releasing soon & i just remembered an anecdote from my childhood.
i grew up in a conservative town where gender roles & stereotypes were barely questioned. my neighbor was a boy. he was 5. i was 8. he walked into our living room as i was watching the beginning of barbie princess charm school. my grandmother came after a while & asked if he watched barbie & not ben 10.
"omg she's so cool she wiped the tables, cooked & served customers so fast in 10 seconds she's a superhuman!!" he exclaimed & continued watching as long as his attention span of a 5 y/o could take.
misogyny is not inherent. misogyny is taught. understand that.
You cheer from up close Nishinoya during a match headcanon
Nishinoya X reader
Warnings : none (oh, but I didn't proofread)
It was *that* match against Inarizaki & you knew you had to go down near Yachi & Kiyoko. Nishinoya was surely feeling pressured from being targeted for the first time.
You made your way down to where Yachi was. "Nishinoya Yuū!! Remember when you were scared to ask me out? How did you do it??" Nishinoya turned around. "I did it scared!" Escaped his lips. "Exactly! If the ball scares you then it hit it being scared!" Nishinoya looked at his teammates. "Grandfather was right! If I'm still scared then I ask for help. But sometimes I can do it myself being scared!!"
You smiled at him & he smiled back. "Remember how you fumbled & beat around the bush & asked with your face half looking down? You were scared but you still asked me. I said yes because you asked!!"
"You'd never say yes if I didn't ask! There is no hope if I don't move but little hope if I do! I LOVE YOU Y/N!" "I LOVE YOU TOO!!"
"Thank you for coming" Yachi smiled at you. "This will probably come on national television & I'll have to introduce him to my parents before we graduate high school but oh well." Nishinoya who was approaching you for a quick good luck kiss winked at you both saying "That's my girlfriend <3" You sent a flying kiss & started going back up saying "I'll see you later when you win the match :)"
"Looks like Karasuno's libero got the best motivation ever!" "We forget the players are still high school kids, ah young love!" The commentators added.
*time skip*
You went down to help Kiyoko & Yachi after the match was over. Nishinoya was making way towards the bench to sleep when he saw you. And he flopped into your arms while trying to hug you & greet you. "Sleepy baby" you giggled & kissed his temple as his eyes were drooping.
Sugawara saw you & giggled before helping you support his weight. Both of you dragged noya to the bench & you put his head in your lap as he drifted off to sleep.
You always carried a small blanket to matches knowing your boyfriend was a sleepyhead. This time too, you pulled it out & covered him & stroked his head. "You've done well love. I'm proud of you." You whispered into his ear.
*later that night*
The match highlights were on. Asahi & Sugawara were cringing at themselves. Hinata was all excited. Kageyama & Tsukishima groaned when Nishinoya came on screen. Of course they had to broadcast that scene of you trying to encourage your own boyfriend. It was a clip of you both conversing but the "I love you's" were the only audible dialogue luckily.
Later that night you were with Nishinoya for a bit before bedtime. "Thank you today Y/N... I should be a better boyfriend by not getting flustered when you are in the stands..." "I know, noya. You're worried people will blame me for distracting you if the team loses, right?" "People judge harshly, Y/N. I don't want you to be blamed for our mistakes." "I couldn't care less what people say & I don't bother if you win or lose. I just like it when your happy. And you're happy playing on the court." Both of you were holding hands but Nishinoya removed his.
You moved closer making your lips touch to initiate a kiss. It was very sweet & gentle. Your hands in his fluffy hair. His hands on your shoulders. You heard a slight sound so you pulled back. Normally Nishinoya wouldn't care of someone saw you both making out even, but he didn't want to do anything today. Especially with 2 teachers in the house.
You tucked him in bed, saying "Sleep tight Noya. You've worked hard all day." "Come to see us even tomorrow Y/N, love." "I will. Good night now <3" "Aren't you forgetting something??" "I was about to give your good night kiss omg you're such a baby!" "Yes I am. But YOUR baby!" He winked
"You better win many matches before heading home, because you'll have to meet my parents after we got exposed on TV"you laughed before kissing his forehead & nose & walking back to your room.
sotus and sotus s were kinda way ahead of their time and nobody is ready for this conversation
Yes it did receive appreciation for being a trendsetter of university setting in BLs but the criticisms on lack of intimacy is getting on my nerves.
First of all, the main focus seems to be on the senior-junior struggle with hazing and the characters' internal struggles. THE AIM WAS NOT FANSERVICE AT ALL.
With that being said, it is completely normal for them to NOT be all over each other on screen even in season 2. Portraying emotional intimacy is harder than physical & it's done beautifully. They are two boys trying to graduate and do well in their jobs, it's absurd for them to come home and be all energetic in bed.
The relationship is actually balanced in its own way. Arthit gets a lot of hate for not communicating enough. When it actually does not seem like the case. Because in s2 he tells Kong "We can normally talk about anything, right?" That actually shows they are close enough to have tough conversations without jeopardising their relationship. Arthit knows since s1 that Kong is a rich kid, only he never know who exactly his father was.
Moreover Arthit's introversion & mysteriousness is what seems to draw Kong to him. We see how possessive Kong is - he cannot stand anyone else knowing little details such as pink milk & Aioon. I bet he'd not like him if Arthit was an easily likeable popular extrovert. The fact that Arthit is visibly shy is enough for Kong. And the fact that Arthit does not say "I love you" or "You are my world" regularly is what makes his words more valuable. Because Kong knows that it means beyond the surface in a situation when he says it.
It's good that Arthit continues to be shy & silent even in s2. Because that shatters the most common misconception that people change. He himself says that he loves Kong regardless, and saying it everyday would only reduce its importance. (Also, he's shy & that's how he is. Kongpob can accept it so it's all good innit?) Despite taking a long time to deal with his inner struggles he always comes back. He doesn't go around announcing about his relationship, but he does not keep it a secret forever either.
And the fear of society is actually well portrayed. University & workplace is different. Your sexual orientation doesn't reflect on your academic reports, but it CAN reflect as workplace discrimination. We also see that Arthit slowly realises that nobody is gossiping like he imagined. That's how he learns how pointless his worries were.
There are other shattered stereotypes. Such as the owner's nephew being a hard worker unlike the general nepotism character. And Earth just taking her time to warm up instead of turning out to be the female villian.
With all this being said, the show has a balance of silly entertainment & realistic ish character growth, idk it's a hill I'm willing to die on kbye.
His favourite part of the day is telling you about his day
Thought you'd be jealous of Kiyoko but he ends up jealous when you say you find her attractive too
Prefers phone calls over texts
Always cheers you on in your endeavours
Makes sure to say that he's grateful of how supportive you are about his obsession w volleyball (he feels guilty for prioritising team over you sometimes)
Laid back and not much of physical touch person (not that you both are shy, but that's just how it is)
A very mature relationship where both of you want to be tg for long
Always tries to spend quality time w you after practice
He's sometimes so tired from practice he gladly falls asleep in your lap
Would literally run and kiss you hard after a great match/ fruitful practice
Loves talking about his younger teammates as well as some opponents he's befriended
Sawamura is grateful the vice captain he leans on has someone too
Runs his hand through your hair and smiles a lot
You once washed and packed his uniform & sports gear for him, he was over the moon, wouldn't stop bragging about it to his teammates
You both gossip a little about Michimiya's crush on Sawamura for fun
Gets flustered & looks at you a lot if he's not playing on the court when you come to cheer
You once asked to try on his jersey so he's now very careful to not get it sweaty and smelly so you can wear it a lot
Tanaka & Nishinoya tease him a little about how whipped he is for you
Doesn't plan anything like cheesy couple outfits, but would absolutely wear one if you ask him to
Gently affectionate but not very big on PDA
You once dabbed his sweat after a match and he swore his heart was about jump out from his throat
More romantic and emotional intimacy than physical
Lets you paint his nails and keeps them even if his friends say the mismatched colours look funny
He's very good at reading people but fails to read you because he's overcome w infatuation
You met Sherlock once and he overanalyzed you so much William stopped him
You always fall asleep when he & Sherlock start talking or when he goes on and on about math (he finds it weirdly cute tho)
Keeps you away from his plans as much as possible
Deep philosophical conversations
Sherlock has threatened you multiple times to never break his friend's heart
You vibe with James Bond/Irene Adler a lot
A lot of train rides that take scenic routes
Calls you his safe space and confidant
He's down for you SO BAD that one touch of your fingertip and this man LITERALLY MELTS
Can't help giving forehead kisses when he finds you asleep
His students often gossip about how their witty professor loses his mind from lovesickness around you
But the students also hope they can have what you both have w their future spouses
Won't initiate physical touch but LOVES it when you do
Doesn't usually make the first move to kiss but will surely leave you panting in the end while smirking about having ✨skills✨
Talks about you to Albert ALL.THE.TIME. Albert just smiles at how cute his little brother looks when he does that
Knows that his students and Moran gossip a lot about you both but doesn't mind at all
Pats your head a lot
Cries everytime his hands are covered w blood not because he took away someone's life.... But the fact that you know his crimes & still love & accept him
Always calm and collected but can lose his cool on rare occasions when it comes to you
Always needs you to hold him till he can fall asleep