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umichenginabroad · 4 months

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Stockholm Week 17: Final Days In Stockholm With A Hint of Italy

This 4-day Italy trip was the most hectic trip I’ve ever had. So many unlucky events occurred over and over but we pushed them through.

5/4 Sat: DELAY

My original plan was to arrive at Milan Airport around 4 pm, look around the city, eat dinner with my high school friends, and have a good night’s sleep for a long day.

The first problem occurred in the Oslo Airport. I boarded the flight and departed as normal. I fell asleep and after a while thought I heard something but disregarded it. After landing, I took a look at the way out and noticed the weird resemblance between Oslo Airport and Milan Airport. The clothing stores and convenience stores were oddly similar; I could only think that they might be similar since they are both European countries. However, when I saw the phrase “Welcome to Oslo,” I realized that something was very wrong.

Asking people gave me the context of this situation: the plane discovered an issue during the middle of the flight and decided to come back to Oslo to fix the issue. The flight was delayed a couple of hours, to 5 pm departure.

While waiting for the delayed flight, I filled out the SAS compensation form since my arrival time got delayed by more than 3 hours. I was half doubting I’d get anything back but I figured it was worth a try.

The second flight was thankfully uneventful and I arrived in Milan at night. I didn’t want to waste any more time, so I went on a walk around Sforzesco Castle. All the lights on the castle were turned on, illuminating the night sky. The flowers on the trees were giving off their fragrance on the side as well!

Pic - If I had lived here I would have taken a walk here every night

I walked a bit more to look around Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and Duomo Di Milano.

Pic - Night at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

At a nearby gelato store, I met up with my high-school friends. Of course, we didn’t miss out on the opportunity of getting an authentic Italian gelato.

The BEST mango and strawberry gelato I’ve ever had!!!

5/5 Sun: Florence Tour

We woke up early to take the morning train to Florence. It was only a two-hour train ride and there wasn't enough time for us to yap. Two hours flew by and we were in Florence!

We put our bags into Bounce and started a grand walking tour: Baptistery of St. John, Odeon Library and Cinema, Vecchio Bridge, Santa Trinita Bridge, Fountain of Neptune, Replica of Statue of David, Piazza Santa Croce, Scuola del Cuoio.

At Scuola del Cuoio (Leather School), we each bought a leather charm for our bags. I got a cherry one and I could NOT stop myself from talking about how cute it is for the rest of the trip.

For dinner, we went to Piazzale Michelangelo to watch the sunset. We each bought a sandwich and a bottle of white wine from a 5.0-star store.

The sunset was worth the wait. I wanted to look at the night view as well but we all didn’t have any batteries left :(

The last pictures that I took before I turned on airplane mode

Although we were on the last strand of the portable's battery, we safely made it back to our safe Airbnb.

We started planning for the next day and discovered that NOTHING is open on Mondays. All the entrance tickets for the cathedrals were sold out and Boboli Garden was closed.

We were all bummed and looking for something else to do when my friend half-jokingly said what if we went to Pisa. My eyes widened and said what if we did that. And just like that, we decided to go to Pisa the next day ( 0_0 )

5/6 Mon: Leaning Tower of Pisa

Before heading to Pisa, we stopped by the Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella to smell the scent of Florence that the Queen of France asked to recreate. It was more like a museum than a regular perfume shop!

All the rooms had different styles and scents - my favorites out of all (yes, we smelled ALL) were Fresia and Angeli di Firenze

Our next big stop was Pisa!! Although it was an abrupt decision, it felt like the main event of the trip. After an hour, we arrived at Pisa!!! Since the central train station was close to Keith Haring’s mural, that was naturally our first destination.

I didn’t think I’d see his work with my own eyes, but there it was, right in front of me

We spotted THE leaning tower after walking a bit. We took a billion photos together and enjoyed an aperitivo moment afterwards. The combination of bruschetta, tiramisu, and Spritz was perfect :)

We lifted the leaning tower and saved the world

5/7 Tue: The Kiss

In the morning we came back by train again.

At first, we went to Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan. The museum was filled with Renaissance pieces.

This is the most famous painting, The Kiss!

Before our flight back to reality, we looked around the city center one more time. We didn’t forget to grab gelato for ourselves too :)

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II in the day

At the end of my trip to Italy, I got an email from SAS saying that they’d give me full compensation for the delayed flight.

My Italy trip ended on a good note :))

5/8 Wed: DIS Festival

On the last day of school, DIS prepared a variety of events for students to enjoy. There were presentations, catered food, and a photo booth!

Last photo with my friends and my core-course professor :(

5/9-10 Thu-Fri: Last Few Days

I had so much fun in Europe and now the time has run out.

The last few days were hectic, writing essays and taking final exams.

I went to Gamla Stan and ICA with my friends for the last time on Friday, buying last-minute souvenirs.

Cleaning up and packing everything in my room was bittersweet. I still can’t believe my studying abroad semester is over… It was busier than I thought, but I had so much joy during my studying abroad. I wouldn’t trade anything for this!

My next post will be a summary of all the tips and tricks for studying abroad.

This will be the most helpful post so don’t forget to check it out!

Ciao,

Jiwoo Kim

Chemical Engineering

DIS Study Abroad in Stockholm, Sweden

#UmichEnginAbroad #IPEStockholm #JiwooKim #IPEWinter24 #Sweden

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rpmtrish · 11 months

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SHELBY AMERICAN ISSUES LAST CALL TO HONOR CARROLL SHELBY WITH CENTENNIAL EDITION 2023 SHELBY F-150 SUPER SNAKE TRUCK

Executives with Shelby American , a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI:PK), issued a “last call” to honor the company’s founder with a commemorative truck by introducing a Centennial Edition Ford Shelby F-150 Super Snake . The stunning truck, which honors Carroll Shelby, was introduced on Friday, September 29 during the annual Team Shelby Bash in Las Vegas. Only 100 of the four door 800* horsepower 2023 Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition Super Snake trucks will be built. “Throughout his life, Carroll Shelby tinkered with anything that had wheels to maximize performance, including trucks,” said Gary Patterson , president of Shelby American. “Carroll especially enjoyed driving performance trucks on the street. In fact, he drove pickups more often than any other vehicle during his last few years of life. It’s fitting that our final build to honor him will be the Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition Super Snake F-150.” Carroll Shelby had a long history with performance trucks and SUV’s; he experimented and built various models over the years. That interest led to many influential truck programs and the introduction of the offroad-oriented Shelby F-150 Carroll Shelby Centennial Editon pickup in 2023. “The demand for the lifted, high-performance Centennial edition Shelby F-150 was extremely strong, leading to a rapid sell out of the special edition trucks,” said Vince LaViolette , Shelby American Vice President of Operations and Chief Designer. “At the same time, fans of the lowered street-focused Shelby Super Snake F-150 began to clamor for a Centennial Edition truck. We took the same approach to this commemorative model by adding more power, increasing the stopping power and giving it the distinctive Shelby good looks. The result is a fast four-door street truck with the awesome capabilities that Carroll Shelby expected. Having spent so many years working directly with him, I’m confident Carroll would be proud of this truck.” The 2023 Ford F-150 is based on the Lariat 4x4, 5.0-liter SuperCrew, the 100 Centennial Edition trucks come standard with 400 standard horsepower; and an optional supercharger boosts the V8 engine to 800* horsepower. The heavy-duty suspension and underbody of the Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition truck were built to handle the street with a Shelby by Ridetech Suspension System featuring adjustable FOX coilover shocks and new upper control arms up front while FOX adjustable Shocks, a new sway bar and track bars keep the rear in place. The interior was completely redesigned to elevate truck ownership experience with style, comfort and utility. The truck has black stitched black leather covers with Centennial Edition logos, “race red” lighting, the official Shelby serial number and Shelby floor mats. Each truck has deep tinted windows to keep the interior cool and a ram-air-style hood. A total of 100 four-door Centennial edition trucks will be built for the US market. Starting MSRP for the truck is $127,995 (naturally aspirated) and $136,995 (supercharged); they have a 3 year/36,000-mile warranty including powertrain. Shelby American gave those attending the Annual Las Vegas Team Shelby Bash a first peek at the vehicle. The event included an exciting lineup of the latest performance vehicles, track days, parties, tours, a poker run, scavenger hunt and car show. The Friday night banquet featured racing Legend Don “The Snake” Prudhomme receiving the Carroll Shelby Spirit Award from the Carroll Shelby International board just after the surprise truck unveiling. “As part of our celebration of the Carroll Shelby Centennial, Shelby American surprised those in attendance with a personal introduction to an exciting limited-edition truck,” said Tracey Smith , Team Shelby International Director. “This demonstrated Shelby American’s tremendous support for the club, as well as a major benefit of membership. Everyone was thrilled to witness the ‘birth’ of the Centennial Edition Ford Shelby F-150 Super Snake as we celebrated Carroll’s 100th birthday.” Each Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition Super Snake F-150 includes membership in Team Shelby , the worldwide club established in 2008, and will be eligible for documentation in the official Shelby Registry . The package includes the same style black Stetson hat that Carroll Shelby wore. The 100 trucks are offered through select Ford dealers in North America. Individuals interested in a Shelby vehicle can visit their local dealer or go to www.shelby.com/en-us/Vehicles . *Horsepower ratings based on use of 93-octane fuel **Supercharger available for post-title sales only About Shelby American, Inc. Founded by legend Carroll Shelby, Shelby American, a wholly owned subsidiary of Carroll Shelby International Inc. (CSBI:PK), manufactures and markets performance vehicles and related products. The company builds authentic continuation Cobras, including the 427 S/C, 289 FIA, 289 street car, Daytona Coupe and Shelby Series 2 component vehicles; it offers the Shelby GT, 1000, Super Snake, CODE RED, Carroll Shelby Centennial Edition, SE and Shelby GT500KR post-title packages for select model 2015-2023 Ford Mustangs. Shelby American also offers the Shelby Raptor, Shelby F-150 Super Snake and Shelby F-150 trucks, as well as the Shelby F-250 Super Baja. Heritage cars include the continuation 1965 Shelby GT350 competition model, 1967 Ford Shelby Super Snake and 1968 Ford Shelby GT500KR. A post-title package is also available in Europe for the current generation Ford Mustang Mach-E GT. For more information, visit http://www.shelby.com . Read the full article

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rjswriting · 2 years

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One book, Thirty 5-Star Reviews!

BULLETS & BANDAGES: Bond of Brothers, and happy readers.

Wendyl Leslie, a review, BULLETS &BANDAGES: Bond of Brothers

5.0 out of 5 stars "Vivid and Real!" November 7, 2021

"The Vietnam War was in full-swing during my high school and college days and was the major issue of our nation during those ten years. Robert Saniscalchi's "Bullets and Bandages" was one of dozens of books, both fiction and nonfiction that I've read about the war and must say it has been of the best of what you would call a fictional account of it. Although the novel is based on true stories told by the author's brother, you could say it's partially nonfiction as well. The story is about an army medic's tour in Vietnam and his experiences, many painted in its vivid gory color told through a fictional character named Rob Marrino. Written an an easy story-telling style, it's characters, descriptive details of the locations, the equipment. The story is real. It shows the bravery and the glory, as well as the pain and the blood. It doesn't shy away from the death and the sadness many endured. But the story ends surprisingly well. It was with tears that I closed its final page. Saniscalchi's story is a good one. I highly recommend it. 5 stars, sir!"

#historical fiction #period drama #action and adventure #faith #faith and friendship

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asianjeremyheere · 5 years

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bitch again?????

#bmc #be more chill #5.0????? tour??????????? finally?????????????

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aetherochemical-meme-facility · 5 years

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Actual Picture of Me Opening YouTube Today

#FFXIV #Final Fantasy XIV #Memes #Square Enix #MMORPG #Shadowbringers #Mr. Happy #MTQ Capture #5.0 #Media Tour

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krjpalmer · 2 years

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Amazing Computing January 1996

This issue’s editorial explained how the cover of November’s issue had gone a bit awry when being sent to the printer with its background graphic disappearing. One letter from an aspiring developer proclaimed they were intent on programming “the Amiga version of Wolfenstein 3D: Multiplayer, Doom I and Doom II, a Ranma 1/2 fighting game, and finally an Amiga version of WordPerfect 5.0″; they did ask for “the address and/or phone number of the current owners of the Amiga OS,” though. The “studio tour” mentioned at the top of the cover showed off four Amigas, a Pentium PC, and one of the new Power Computing Macintosh clones, mentioning “MicroSoft and Intel would like you to think that the MAC is on its way out, but don’t bet on it”; “Copeland” would be out soon enough.

#computer magazine cover #amazing computing

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sillyrabbit81 · 3 years

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Her Heavy Cross

Summary: Three years after tragedy hits, Lana she decides to start dating again. She meets Will through a dating app and they begin an online romance. After months of constant requests, Lana relents and agrees to meet and go on an irl date with Will. But is Will who he says he is? Lana is quickly pulled into an intense relationship forcing her to confront her tragic past. Will Lana face it or will she close her heart forever?

Pairing: OMC x OFC

Word Count: approx 2.6k

Warnings: swearing, mention of death, angst

Authors Note: The story started as a Henry Cavill fanfiction but I changed it to be an original character, but shades of Henry are still there. Hope you enjoy the story and thanks for reading.

Part 12 Part 14

Part 13

Liam said we should drive to the restaurant. I wanted to get an Uber because I didn't think we would get a car park close to the restaurant. The shoes I was wearing were not made for walking.

"We don't have to worry about the car. They have a valet service," Liam said when I suggested an Uber would be better.

Of course, they do. I don't think I've ever used a valet service in my life, and Liam tells me like it's an everyday thing. I suppose it is for him. Earlier in the week, I was amazed to find out that he gets driven to work most days even though he only lives about 10 minutes away. No wonder movies and tv shows are so expensive to make if they have to pay for things like drivers on top of everything else.

I was excited about going in his car, though. I was itching to drive it. I wanted to ask him if I could, but I didn't. As stupid as it was, I was scared he'd say no. Every guy who had said no to letting me drive his car ended up being a prick. So I was floored when he said I could drive if I wanted.

"Really?" I asked. I was practically bouncing with excitement.

"Yeah, you seemed to like it. I was going to ask if you wanted to take it out before we got..." Liam paused, seemingly to look for the right word. "Distracted."

I clapped my hands and squealed like a child. I'm such a dag, but I was excited. I'd never driven a car that fast or expensive before.

The drive was exhilarating but too short. Its 5.0 litre, supercharged V8 engine was insanely powerful, and since it was AWD, its handling took me a bit to get used to. When we got to the restaurant, I couldn't stop smiling. "Thank you! That was heaps good!"

"You're hilarious."

"Why? What did I do?" I asked, getting out of the car and handing the keys to the valet and thanking him.

"Don't think I didn't notice that you deliberately went the long way and on the highway so you could drive faster."

"I don't know what you're talking about." I widened my eyes and tried to look innocent.

Liam just shook his head and placed his hand on my back, guiding me into the restaurant.

The food was modern Australian, Liam had a scotch fillet and salad, and I had barramundi. Liam wasn't drinking and said he would drive home. I had a couple of glasses of white wine and felt a bit sauced.

I had trouble staying awake on the way back to Liam's, and eventually, the rumble of the engine lulled me into sleep. The wine combined with the stressful week had caught up with me. I woke up when Liam pulled into the garage.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to doze off," I said as we got out of the car.

"Never mind," Liam said. "Come on, let's go to bed."

We walked across Liam's backyard holding hands. I looked around as the first time I was lead through here, I only had eyes for Liam. It was big for a house so close to the city. "You have a pool? I wish you would have told me. I would have brought my swimmers."

Liam opened his back door. "You don't need bathers," he said winking. I blushed then yawned. "Poor princess. Do you want a shower? Or straight to bed?"

I nodded, "yeah, a shower would be good. I've gotta wash this makeup off too." I kicked my heels off. The relief was euphoric, my calves were sore, and I rubbed them as I bent to pick up my shoes.

"Want a bath instead?" Liam asked, noticing my massage. It was sweet that he noticed little things like that. "The bathroom on the third floor has an enormous bath. I haven't had a chance to use it yet."

"Fuck, yes! That would be awesome. What other crazy shit do you have in this place? I think you'd better give me a tour tomorrow."

Liam laughed as we went up the lift. "Yeah, ok, there's a couple of things you might like that I've not shown you yet."

The bathroom was stunning, like a hotel or spa. The bath was the hero piece of the room, and it was huge. It sat in the middle of the bathroom on a raised platform and had tiled steps around it. The whole room was decorated to be a romantic space, a couples bathroom. Candles and body wash sat by the bath, and the room's lighting was warm. Robes hung on the wall near the tub. Although there were a shower and sinks, there was no toilet. The room was definitely built for romance, not practicality.

"I thought you said you hadn't used this bathroom."

"I haven't." I pointed out the candles, soaps, towels and robes. "A stylist got all that, fitted out each room with basics so I can move in, and it's all done." My jaw dropped.

"Your life..."

"Isn't normal." He interrupted with a half-smile. "I know." Liam started the bath. "Do you need anything? Your toiletry bag? Toothbrush?"

I nodded. Liam kissed me as he left to get my stuff. The bath would probably take 20 minutes to fill, so I thought I'd wash my make-up off and brush my teeth while it did. I got undressed and put one of the robes on. They were both huge, no his and hers, but it was warm and soft.

Liam returned, and I started to wash up. I put my hair in a bun with a scrunchy and washed my face. I brushed my teeth and saw that Liam was sitting on the edge of the bath, still fully clothed, watching the water fill up.

"You're not getting in?" I asked with a mouthful of toothbrush and toothpaste. Liam looked at me confused, so I finished brushing, rinsed and repeated my question.

Liam turned the water off, bath finally full and got up. "I thought maybe you'd like to soak by yourself for a while."

"No," I said. I wrapped my arms around Liam's waist, feeling short again as my head rested against his chest. "I want you to get in with me."

He lifted my chin and kissed me softly, almost lazily. "Alright, Sweetheart."

I lifted his jumper and raised it over his head. Liam had to help by ducking. He sat and took his shoes and socks off and then stood to remove his pants. I hung my robe back up, and we both got in the water. I sat between his legs and laid my back against his chest, my head resting on his shoulder. The water was bliss, almost too hot but soothing. Liam had put some fragrance in the water, and it smelled of lavender. Breathing it in relaxed me, and I closed my eyes.

Liam nuzzled into my neck and caressed my arm. I smiled as he kissed my neck and shoulders until I felt him stir against my back. He stopped kissing me, and he just held me close to his chest like he was trying not to get turned on. It didn't seem to be working as I could still feel him, but I admired his efforts.

"Lana, I want to ask you something," Liam said. His timbre was soft but echoed slightly through the room, making his words seem more ominous than he probably meant them to be.

My body tensed slightly, and hesitantly I said, "Okay."

He cleared his throat, and I realised he was nervous. I don't think I had heard him unsure like that before. I felt cold. "I uh, I have a premiere to attend on Thursday evening, one of Myra's. Tom, my agent, set it up." Oh fuck. He's not going to ask me to go with him, is he? "I would very much like it if you came with me." I sat up quickly, and water splashed everywhere. "Sarah said that since the cats out of the bag and I'm serious about you, you should come too." He added quickly.

I looked back at him, furious. "Why would you ask me that?"

"Because you're my fucking girlfriend." He was also mad now.

"I'm not your fucking girlfriend." I stood up and got out of the bath. I almost slipped on the tiles as I did. His hand shot out to steady me, but I pulled my arm out of his grasp. I stomped over to the robes and pulled one on. Then I grabbed my clothes from the floor.

"What are you doing?" Liam asked, getting out himself. He didn't put his robe on, and he just stood there. I don't know why, but that seemed to make me angrier.

"Getting my shit and going home."

"What the fuck, Lana? Why?"

I grabbed my bag and went to leave and found him blocking my way. "Because I want to, that's why. Get out of my way."

"What's wrong with you?"

"Just piss off."

"No, tell me what's wrong. Why don't you want to be seen with me? Why don't you want to be my girlfriend? I don't understand." He was shouting now, his voice full of anger and frustration. "You treat me like a fuck toy one minute, and the next, you're treating me like we've been married for ten years. What do you want from me? You say you aren't my girlfriend, but you sure act like you are. If you just want to fuck me, fine. Come over and fuck me, then leave. But don't lay with me and cuddle all day, cook me food, confide in me, talk to me at night until you fall asleep and make me fall in love with you. I can't take that."

For a moment, I softened. In so many ways, Liam was right. We had fallen into this relationship so easily. I felt like I knew him because we talked for months before meeting. I did enjoy hanging out with him talking. He's often felt like home to me, a safe place, a person I could trust. He was my boyfriend in everything but name. He saw the change in me and moved towards me.

I stiffened, "No, fuck you. Don't put this on me. I told you to go slow. I told you I don't want a relationship in the spotlight, and you won't listen to me." My frustration poured out. "You lured me in under false pretences with no thought about how I would feel. Like having the great Liam Cross interested in you would be enough. You're so fucking self-centred. I'm not impressed by all this," I waved my hand around the room, "Or that," I waved my hand at his naked body. "For fuck's sake, put some fucking clothes on. You're not that attractive."

Liam looked over at the robes and saw how far away they were. He shook his head. "I think we need to talk, Lana. You can't run away from this."

"You can't keep me here." He just raised an eyebrow. I gasped horrified. "You wouldn't?"

His body tensed, and he looked like he was going to try to stop me for a minute. But then his shoulders slumped, and he stepped aside.

"Thank you," I said through gritted teeth as I walked out.

I took the stairs down to his room and got dressed. He followed me, still naked and dripping water. I thought he would try to keep talking to me, but he went straight to his dressing room.

When he came out, he wore tracksuit pants, his chest was bare, and he still had beads of water clinging to his chest. My traitorous eyes looked him up and down, and I noticed it looked like he wasn't wearing underwear. Fuck me. He was magnificent. I tore my eyes away and back to packing my bag. I wasn't going to let his body distract me.

"Please, Lana, just talk to me."

"What's the point?"

"The point is so you'll let me in. You talk to me, you tell me things about you, and just as it cuts close to the bone, you clam up."

"I'm my own person, Liam. I'm allowed to have secrets." My bag was packed, and I stood up with it.

"Why didn't you tell me about Andy and your father's car accident? I had to read about it on the fucking internet."

I felt like I had been punched in the guts. I felt both hot and cold waves flow over me, and for a moment, I thought I was going to throw up.

"You're a fucking prick." I was raging.

"Alright, Lana, have it your way. Go back to being miserable and alone. Go put your wedding ring back on because obviously, you'd rather stay in love with a dead man than be seen with me." He was still shouting. Liam's body was taught, so much tension in his muscles. His lips almost looked cruel, twisted up into a sneer. His eyebrows were drawn low, making his eyes seem small.

"Yeah, you're right. I would. I shouldn't be here with you." I was near screaming now. I was irrational, tired, slightly drunk and drained. "I should be miserable and alone, and I should be thankful for that. It's my fucking fault he's dead. I fucking killed him. It should have been me. It's my fault..." I sobbed. The tears started, and I knew they couldn't be stopped. "Oh God, it's my fault." I couldn't breathe. I dropped my bag and clawed at my shirt, trying to get a breath. I was on my knees, now fighting the panic that threatened to overwhelm me.

Liam's arms came around me. I tried to push him away, fight him. He was too strong. "Shhhh shhh." He tried to soothe me. He rubbed my back. I wanted to scream at him to go away, to leave me alone. He wouldn't let go. He held me tighter until I couldn't fight anymore and just let myself go. He pulled me onto his lap, and I curled up into him as he whispered, "You're ok. It's ok." I kept sobbing until I clutched at his neck and cried into him.

I don't know how long we sat there. It felt like hours. "I'm sorry," I said when I had calmed. My throat was sore. I don't think I could have spoken any louder.

"Don't be. I shouldn't have pushed you. You were right. I was being selfish."

"I should have told you before you found out. It still hurts. I can deal with them being gone, but I can't get past the guilt. I should have been in the car with Dad. Andy was doing me a favour because I was too tired from Christmas. I wanted a day off, you know? A day where I didn't have to deal with people." My throat was feeling raw, and my mouth was dry.

"You don't have to tell me."

"No, I do. Just let me get through it, ok?" He nodded and pulled me into a more comfortable position on his lap. "I was supposed to take my Dad to Dave's house for a second Christmas. My parents had split up a couple of years ago. I fought with my mum the day before and didn't want to go through it all again the next day. My Dad couldn't drive anymore; his eyes were too bad. So Andy said he'd drop him off and I could stay in bed. He said he would tell them I had a migraine. So I laid in bed sleeping while my father and husband laid on the road, dying, trapped under a truck."

"I'm so sorry," Liam said. "I don't know how I would deal with that either. But it's not your fault. You know that, right?"

I didn't say anything. Liam was quiet after that. But he didn't let me go.

Part 14

#original character #original fiction #romantic story #happy ever after

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silent-era-of-cinema · 4 years

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William Henry Pratt (23 November 1887 – 2 February 1969), better known by his stage name Boris Karloff was an English actor who was primarily known for his roles in horror films. He portrayed Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935) and Son of Frankenstein (1939). He also appeared as Imhotep in The Mummy (1932).

In non-horror roles, he is best known to modern audiences for narrating and as the voice of the Grinch in the animated television special of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966). For his contribution to film and television, Karloff was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Karloff was born William Henry Pratt on 23 November 1887,[2] at 36 Forest Hill Road, Dulwich, Surrey (now London), England. His parents were Edward John Pratt, Jr. and Eliza Sarah Millard. His brother, Sir John Thomas Pratt, was a British diplomat. Edward John Pratt, Jr. was an Anglo-Indian, from a British father and Indian mother, while Karloff's mother also had some Indian ancestry, thus Karloff had a relatively dark complexion that differed from his peers at the time. His mother's maternal aunt was Anna Leonowens, whose tales about life in the royal court of Siam (now Thailand) were the basis of the musical The King and I. Pratt was bow-legged, had a lisp, and stuttered as a young boy.[7] He learned how to manage his stutter, but not his lisp, which was noticeable throughout his career in the film industry.

Pratt spent his childhood years in Enfield, in the County of Middlesex. He was the youngest of nine children, and following his mother's death was brought up by his elder siblings. He received his early education at Enfield Grammar School, and later at the public schools of Uppingham School and Merchant Taylors' School. After this, he attended King's College London where he took studies aimed at a career with the British Government's Consular Service. However, in 1909, he left university without graduating and drifted, departing England for Canada, where he worked as a farm labourer and did various odd itinerant jobs until happening upon acting.

Pratt began appearing in theatrical performances in Canada, and during this period he chose Boris Karloff as his stage name. Some have theorised that he took the stage name from a mad scientist character in the novel The Drums of Jeopardy called "Boris Karlov". However, the novel was not published until 1920, at least eight years after Karloff had been using the name on stage and in silent films, opening the possibility that the Karlov character might have been named after Karloff after the novel's author noticed it in a cast listing and liked the sound of it rather than simply being a coincidence. Warner Oland played "Boris Karlov" in a film version in 1931. Another possible influence was thought to be a character in the Edgar Rice Burroughs fantasy novel H. R. H. The Rider which features a "Prince Boris of Karlova", but as the novel was not published until 1915, the influence may be backward, that Burroughs saw Karloff in a play and adapted the name for the character. Karloff always claimed he chose the first name "Boris" because it sounded foreign and exotic, and that "Karloff" was a family name (from Karlov—in Cyrillic, Карлов—a name found in several Slavic countries, including Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria).

Karloff's daughter, Sara, publicly denied any knowledge of Slavic forebears, "Karloff" or otherwise. One reason for the name change was to prevent embarrassment to his family. Whether or not his brothers (all dignified members of the British Foreign Service) actually considered young William the "black sheep of the family" for having become an actor, Karloff apparently worried they felt that way. He did not reunite with his family until he returned to Britain to make The Ghoul (1933), extremely worried that his siblings would disapprove of his new, macabre claim to world fame. Instead, his brothers jostled for position around him and happily posed for publicity photographs. After the photo was taken, Karloff's brothers immediately started asking about getting a copy of their own. The story of the photo became one of Karloff's favorites.

Karloff joined the Jeanne Russell Company in 1911 and performed in towns like Kamloops (British Columbia) and Prince Albert (Saskatchewan). After the devastating tornado in Regina on 30 June 1912, Karloff and other performers helped with clean-up efforts. He later took a job as a railway baggage handler and joined the Harry St. Clair Co. that performed in Minot, North Dakota, for a year in an opera house above a hardware store.

Whilst he was trying to establish his acting career, Karloff had to perform years of manual labour in Canada and the U.S. in order to make ends meet. He was left with back problems from which he suffered for the rest of his life. Because of his health, he did not enlist in World War I.

During this period, Karloff worked in various theatrical stock companies across the U.S. to hone his acting skills. Some acting companies mentioned were the Harry St. Clair Players and the Billie Bennett Touring Company. By early 1918 he was working with the Maud Amber Players in Vallejo, California, but because of the Spanish Flu outbreak in the San Francisco area and the fear of infection, the troupe was disbanded. He was able to find work with the Haggerty Repertory for a while (according to the 1973 obituary of Joseph Paul Haggerty, he and Boris Karloff remained lifelong friends). According to Karloff, in his first film he appeared as an extra in a crowd scene for a Frank Borzage picture at Universal for which he received $5; the title of this film has never been traced.

Once Karloff arrived in Hollywood, he made dozens of silent films, but this work was sporadic, and he often had to take up manual labour such as digging ditches or delivering construction plaster to earn a living.

His first on screen role was in a film serial, The Lightning Raider (1919) with Pearl White. He was in another serial, The Masked Rider (1919), the first of his appearances to survive.

Karloff could also be seen in His Majesty, the American (1919) with Douglas Fairbanks, The Prince and Betty (1919), The Deadlier Sex (1920), and The Courage of Marge O'Doone (1920). He played an Indian in The Last of the Mohicans (1920) and he would often be cast as an Arab or Indian in his early films.

Karloff's first major role came in a film serial, The Hope Diamond Mystery (1920). He was Indian in Without Benefit of Clergy (1921) and an Arab in Cheated Hearts (1921) and villainous in The Cave Girl (1921). He was a maharajah in The Man from Downing Street (1922), a Nabob in The Infidel (1922) and had roles in The Altar Stairs (1922), Omar the Tentmaker (1922) (as an Imam), The Woman Conquers (1922), The Gentleman from America (1923), The Prisoner (1923) and the serial Riders of the Plains (1923).

Karloff did a Western, The Hellion (1923), and a drama, Dynamite Dan (1924). He could be seen in Parisian Nights (1925), Forbidden Cargo (1925), The Prairie Wife (1925) and the serial Perils of the Wild (1925).

Karloff went back to bit part status in Never the Twain Shall Meet (1925) directed by Maurice Tourneur but he had a good support role in Lady Robinhood (1925).

Karloff went on to be in The Greater Glory (1926), Her Honor, the Governor (1926), The Bells (1926) (as a mesmerist), The Nickel-Hopper (1926), The Golden Web (1926), The Eagle of the Sea (1926), Flames (1926), Old Ironsides (1926), Flaming Fury (1926), Valencia (1926), The Man in the Saddle (1926), Tarzan and the Golden Lion (1927) (as an African), Let It Rain (1927), The Meddlin' Stranger (1927), The Princess from Hoboken (1927), The Phantom Buster (1927), and Soft Cushions (1927).

Karloff had roles in Two Arabian Knights (1927), The Love Mart (1927), The Vanishing Rider (1928) (a serial), Burning the Wind (1928), Vultures of the Sea (1928), and The Little Wild Girl (1928).

He was in The Devil's Chaplain (1929), The Fatal Warning (1929) for Richard Thorpe, The Phantom of the North (1929), Two Sisters (1929), Anne Against the World (1929), Behind That Curtain (1929), and The King of the Kongo (1929), a serial directed by Thorpe.

Karloff had an uncredited bit part in The Unholy Night (1930) directed by Lionel Barrymore, and bigger parts in The Bad One (1930),The Sea Bat (1930) (directed by Barrymore), and The Utah Kid (1930) directed by Thorpe.

A film which brought Karloff recognition was The Criminal Code (1931), a prison drama directed by Howard Hawks in which he reprised a dramatic part he had played on stage. In the same period, Karloff had a small role as a mob boss in Hawks' gangster film Scarface, but the film was not released until 1932 because of difficult censorship issues.

He did another serial for Thorpe, King of the Wild (1931), then had support parts in Cracked Nuts (1931), Young Donovan's Kid (1931), Smart Money (1931), The Public Defender (1931), I Like Your Nerve (1931), and Graft (1931).

Another significant role in the autumn of 1931 saw Karloff play a key supporting part as an unethical newspaper reporter in Five Star Final, a film about tabloid journalism which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.

He could also be seen in The Yellow Ticket (1931) The Mad Genius (1931), The Guilty Generation (1931) and Tonight or Never (1931).

Karloff acted in eighty movies before being found by James Whale and cast in Frankenstein (1931). Karloff's role as Frankenstein's monster was physically demanding – it necessitated a bulky costume with four-inch platform boots – but the costume and extensive makeup produced a lasting image. The costume was a job in itself for Karloff with the shoes weighing 11 pounds (5.0 kg) each.[13] Universal Studios quickly copyrighted the makeup design for the Frankenstein monster that Jack P. Pierce had created.

It took a while for Karloff's stardom to be established with the public – he had small roles in Behind the Mask (1932), Business and Pleasure (1932) and The Miracle Man (1932).

As receipts for Frankenstein and Scarface flooded in, Universal gave Karloff third billing in Night World (1932), with Lew Ayres, Mae Clarke and George Raft.

Karloff was reunited with Whale at Universal for The Old Dark House (1932), a horror movie based on the novel Benighted by J.B. Priestley, in which he finally enjoyed top billing above Melvyn Douglas, Charles Laughton, Raymond Massey and Gloria Stuart. He was loaned to MGM to play the titular role in The Mask of Fu Manchu (also 1932), for which he gained top billing.

Back at Universal, he was cast as Imhotep who is revived in The Mummy (1932). It was as successful at the box-office as the other two films and Karloff was now established as a star of horror films.

Karloff returned to England to star in The Ghoul (1933), then made a non-horror film for John Ford, The Lost Patrol (1934), where his performance was highly acclaimed.

Karloff was third billed in the Twentieth Century Pictures historical film The House of Rothschild (1934) with George Arliss, which was highly popular.

Horror, however, had now become Karloff's primary genre, and he gave a string of lauded performances in Universal's horror films, including several with Bela Lugosi, his main rival as heir to Lon Chaney's status as the leading horror film star. While the long-standing, creative partnership between Karloff and Lugosi never led to a close friendship, it produced some of the actors' most revered and enduring productions, beginning with The Black Cat (1934) and continuing with Gift of Gab (1934), in which both had cameos. Karloff reprised the role of Frankenstein's monster in Bride of Frankenstein (1935) for James Whale. Then he and Lugosi were reunited for The Raven (1935).

For Columbia, Karloff made The Black Room (1935) then he returned to Universal for The Invisible Ray (1936) with Lugosi, more a science fiction film. Karloff was then cast in a Warner Bros. horror film, The Walking Dead (1936).

Because the Motion Picture Production Code (known as the Hays Code) began to be seriously enforced in 1934, horror films suffered a decline in the second half of the 1930s. Karloff worked in other genres, making two films in Britain, Juggernaut (1936) and The Man Who Changed His Mind (1936).

He returned to Hollywood to play a supporting role in Charlie Chan at the Opera (1936) then did a science fiction film, Night Key (1937).

At Warners, he did two films with John Farrow, playing a Chinese warlord in West of Shanghai (1937) and a murder suspect in The Invisible Menace (1938).

Karloff went to Monogram to play the title role of a Chinese detective in Mr. Wong, Detective (1938), which led to a series. Karloff's portrayal of the character is an example of Hollywood's use of yellowface and its portrayal of East Asians in the earlier half of the 20th century. He had another heroic role in Devil's Island (1939).

Universal found reissuing Dracula and Frankenstein led to success at the box-office and began to produce horror films again starting with Son of Frankenstein (1939). Karloff reprised his role, with Lugosi co starring as Ygor and Basil Rathbone as Frankenstein.

After The Mystery of Mr. Wong (1939) and Mr. Wong in Chinatown (1939) he signed a three-picture deal with Columbia, starting with The Man They Could Not Hang (1939). Karloff returned to Universal to make Tower of London (1939) with Rathbone, playing the murderous henchman of King Richard III.

Karloff made a fourth Mr Wong film at Monogram The Fatal Hour (1940). At Warners he was in British Intelligence (1940), then he went to Universal to do Black Friday (1940) with Lugosi.

Karloff's second and third films for Columbia were The Man with Nine Lives (1940) and Before I Hang (1940). In between he did a fifth and final Mr Wong film, Doomed to Die (1940).

Karloff appeared at a celebrity baseball game as Frankenstein's monster in 1940, hitting a gag home run and making catcher Buster Keaton fall into an acrobatic dead faint as the monster stomped into home plate.

Karloff finished a six picture commitment with Monogram with The Ape (1940). He and Lugosi appeared in a comedy at RKO, You'll Find Out (1941), then he went to Columbia for The Devil Commands (1941) and The Boogie Man Will Get You (1941).

An enthusiastic performer, he returned to the Broadway stage in the original production of Arsenic and Old Lace in 1941, in which he played a homicidal gangster enraged to be frequently mistaken for Karloff. Frank Capra cast Raymond Massey in the 1944 film, which was shot in 1941, while Karloff was still appearing in the role on Broadway. The play's producers allowed the film to be made conditionally: it was not to be released until the production closed. (Karloff reprised his role on television in the anthology series The Best of Broadway (1955), and with Tony Randall and Tom Bosley in a 1962 production on the Hallmark Hall of Fame. He also starred in a radio adaptation produced by Screen Guild Theatre in 1946.)

In 1944, he underwent a spinal operation to relieve a chronic arthritic condition.

Karloff returned to film roles in The Climax (1944), an unsuccessful attempt to repeat the success of Phantom of the Opera (1943). More liked was House of Frankenstein (1944), where Karloff played the villainous Dr. Niemann and the monster was played by Glenn Strange.

Karloff made three films for producer Val Lewton at RKO: The Body Snatcher (1945), his last teaming with Lugosi, Isle of the Dead (1945) and Bedlam (1946).

In a 1946 interview with Louis Berg of the Los Angeles Times, Karloff discussed his arrangement with RKO, working with Lewton and his reasons for leaving Universal. Karloff left Universal because he thought the Frankenstein franchise had run its course; the entries in the series after Son of Frankenstein were B-pictures. Berg wrote that the last installment in which Karloff appeared—House of Frankenstein—was what he called a " 'monster clambake,' with everything thrown in—Frankenstein, Dracula, a hunchback and a 'man-beast' that howled in the night. It was too much. Karloff thought it was ridiculous and said so." Berg explained that the actor had "great love and respect for" Lewton, who was "the man who rescued him from the living dead and restored, so to speak, his soul."

Horror films experienced a decline in popularity after the war, and Karloff found himself working in other genres.

For the Danny Kaye comedy, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947), Karloff appeared in a brief but starring role as Dr. Hugo Hollingshead, a psychiatrist. Director Norman Z. McLeod shot a sequence with Karloff in the Frankenstein monster make-up, but it was deleted from the finished film.

Karloff appeared in a film noir, Lured (1947), and as an Indian in Unconquered (1947). He had support roles in Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947), Tap Roots (1948), and Abbott and Costello Meet the Killer, Boris Karloff.

During this period, Karloff was a frequent guest on radio programmes, whether it was starring in Arch Oboler's Chicago-based Lights Out productions (including the episode "Cat Wife") or spoofing his horror image with Fred Allen or Jack Benny. In 1949, he was the host and star of Starring Boris Karloff, a radio and television anthology series for the ABC broadcasting network.

He appeared as the villainous Captain Hook in Peter Pan in a 1950 stage musical adaptation which also featured Jean Arthur.

Karloff returned to horror films with The Strange Door (1951) and The Black Castle (1952).

He was nominated for a Tony Award for his work opposite Julie Harris in The Lark, by the French playwright Jean Anouilh, about Joan of Arc, which was reprised on Hallmark Hall of Fame.

During the 1950s, he appeared on British television in the series Colonel March of Scotland Yard, in which he portrayed John Dickson Carr's fictional detective Colonel March, who was known for solving apparently impossible crimes. Christopher Lee appeared alongside Karloff in the episode "At Night, All Cats are Grey" broadcast in 1955.[17] A little later, Karloff co-starred with Lee in the film Corridors of Blood (1958).

Karloff appeared in Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1952) and visited Italy for The Island Monster (1954) and India for Sabaka (1954).

Karloff, along with H. V. Kaltenborn, was a regular panelist on the NBC game show, Who Said That? which aired between 1948 and 1955. Later, as a guest on NBC's The Gisele MacKenzie Show, Karloff sang "Those Were the Good Old Days" from Damn Yankees while Gisele MacKenzie performed the solo, "Give Me the Simple Life". On The Red Skelton Show, Karloff guest starred along with actor Vincent Price in a parody of Frankenstein, with Red Skelton as "Klem Kadiddle Monster". He served as host and frequent star of the anthology series The Veil (1958) which was never broadcast due to financial problems at the producing studio; the complete series was rediscovered in the 1990s.

Karloff made some horror films in the late 1950s: Voodoo Island (1957), The Haunted Strangler (1958), Frankenstein 1970 (1958) (as the Baron), and Corridors of Blood (1958). In the "mad scientist" role in Frankenstein 1970 as Baron Victor von Frankenstein II, the grandson of the original creator. In the finale, it is revealed that the crippled Baron has given his own face to the monster. Karloff donned the monster make-up for the last time in 1962 for a Halloween episode of the TV series Route 66, which also featured Peter Lorre and Lon Chaney, Jr.

During this period, he hosted and acted in a number of television series, including Thriller and Out of This World.

Karloff appeared in Black Sabbath (1963) directed by Mario Bava. He made The Raven (1963) for Roger Corman and American International Pictures (AIP). Corman used Karloff in The Terror (1963) playing a baron who murdered his wife. He made a cameo in AIP's Bikini Beach (1964) and had a bigger role in that studio's The Comedy of Terrors (1964), directed by Jacques Tourneur and Die, Monster, Die! (1965). British actress Suzan Farmer, who played his daughter in the film, later recalled Karloff was aloof during production "and wasn’t the charming personality people perceived him to be".

In 1966, Karloff also appeared with Robert Vaughn and Stefanie Powers in the spy series The Girl from U.N.C.L.E., in the episode "The Mother Muffin Affair," Karloff performed in drag as the titular character.

That same year, he also played an Indian Maharajah on the installment of the adventure series The Wild Wild West titled "The Night of the Golden Cobra".

In 1967, he played an eccentric Spanish professor who believes himself to be Don Quixote in a whimsical episode of I Spy titled "Mainly on the Plains".

Karloff's last film for AIP was The Ghost in the Invisible Bikini (1967).

In the mid-1960s, he enjoyed a late-career surge in the United States when he narrated the made-for-television animated film of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and also provided the voice of the Grinch, although the song "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" was sung by the American voice actor Thurl Ravenscroft. The film was first broadcast on CBS-TV in 1966. Karloff later received a Grammy Award for "Best Recording For Children" after the recording was commercially released. Because Ravenscroft (who never met Karloff in the course of their work on the show) was uncredited for his contribution to How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, his performance of the song was often mistakenly attributed to Karloff.

He appeared in Mad Monster Party? (1967) and starred in the second feature film of the British director Michael Reeves,The Sorcerers (1966).

Karloff starred in Targets (1968), a film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, featuring two separate stories that converge into one. In one, a disturbed young man kills his family, then embarks on a killing spree. In the other, a famous horror-film actor contemplates then confirms his retirement, agreeing to one last appearance at a drive-in cinema. Karloff starred as the retired horror film actor, Byron Orlok, a thinly disguised version of himself; Orlok was facing an end of life crisis, which he resolved through a confrontation with the gunman at the drive-in cinema.

Around the same time, he played occult expert Professor Marsh in a British production titled The Crimson Cult (Curse of the Crimson Altar, also 1968), which was the last Karloff film to be released during his lifetime.

He ended his career by appearing in four low-budget Mexican horror films: Isle of the Snake People, The Incredible Invasion, Fear Chamber and House of Evil. This was a package deal with Mexican producer Luis Enrique Vergara. Karloff's scenes were directed by Jack Hill and shot back-to-back in Los Angeles in the spring of 1968. The films were then completed in Mexico. All four were released posthumously, with the last, The Incredible Invasion, not released until 1971, two years after Karloff's death. Cauldron of Blood, shot in Spain in 1967 and co-starring Viveca Lindfors, was also released after Karloff's death.

While shooting his final films, Karloff suffered from emphysema. Only half of one lung was still functioning and he required oxygen between takes.

He recorded the title role of Shakespeare's Cymbeline for the Shakespeare Recording Society (Caedmon Audio). The recording was originally released in 1962. A download of his performance is available from audible.com. He also recorded the narration for Sergei Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf with the Vienna State Opera Orchestra under Mario Rossi.

Records he made for the children's market included Three Little Pigs and Other Fairy Stories, Tales of the Frightened (volume 1 and 2), Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories and, with Cyril Ritchard and Celeste Holm, Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes, and Lewis Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark.

Karloff was credited for editing several horror anthologies, commencing with Tales of Terror (Cleveland and NY: World Publishing Co, 1943) (compiled with the help of Edmond Speare). This wartime-published anthology went through at least five printings to September 1945. It has been reprinted recently (Orange NJ: Idea Men, 2007). Karloff's name was also attached to And the Darkness Falls (Cleveland and NY: World Publishing Co, 1946); and The Boris Karloff Horror Anthology (London: Souvenir Press, 1965; simultaneous publication in Canada - Toronto: The Ryerson Press; US pbk reprint NY: Avon Books, 1965 retitled as Boris Karloff's Favourite Horror Stories; UK pbk reprints London: Corgi, 1969 and London: Everest, 1975, both under the original title), though it is less clear whether Karloff himself actually edited these.

Tales of the Frightened (Belmont Books, 1963), though based on the recordings by Karloff of the same title, and featuring his image on the book cover, contained stories written by Michael Avallone; the second volume, More Tales of the Frightened, contained stories authored by Robert Lory. Both Avallone and Lory worked closely with Canadian editor and book packager Lyle Kenyon Engel, who also ghost-edited a horror story anthology for horror film star Basil Rathbone.

Beginning in 1940, Karloff dressed as Father Christmas every Christmas to hand out presents to physically disabled children in a Baltimore hospital.

He never legally changed his name to "Boris Karloff." He signed official documents "William H. Pratt, a.k.a. Boris Karloff."

He was a charter member of the Screen Actors Guild, and he was especially outspoken due to the long hours he spent in makeup while playing Frankenstein's Monster.

He married six times and had one child, daughter Sara Karloff, by fifth wife Dorothy Stine. His final marriage was in 1946 right after his fifth divorce. At the time of his daughter's birth, he was filming Son of Frankenstein and reportedly rushed from the film set to the hospital while still in full makeup.

He was an early member of the Hollywood Cricket Club.

Upon returning to England in 1959, his address was 43 Cadogan Square, London. In 1966, he bought 25 Campden House (in 29 Sheffield Terrace), Kensington W8, and 'Roundabout Cottage' in the Hampshire village of Bramshott. A longtime heavy smoker, he had emphysema which left him with only half of one lung still functioning. He contracted bronchitis in 1968 and was hospitalised at University College Hospital. He died of pneumonia at the King Edward VII Hospital, Midhurst, in Sussex, on 2 February 1969, at the age of 81.

His body was cremated following a requested modest service at Guildford Crematorium, Godalming, Surrey, where he is commemorated by a plaque in the Garden of Remembrance. A memorial service was held at St Paul's, Covent Garden (the Actors' Church), London, where there is also a plaque.

During the run of Thriller, Karloff lent his name and likeness to a comic book for Gold Key Comics based upon the series. After Thriller was cancelled, the comic was retitled Boris Karloff's Tales of Mystery. An illustrated likeness of Karloff continued to introduce each issue of this publication for more than a decade after his death; the comic lasted until the early 1980s. In 2009, Dark Horse Comics began publishing reprints of Boris Karloff's Tales of Mystery in a hard-bound edition.

For his contribution to film and television, Boris Karloff was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 1737 Vine Street for motion pictures, and 6664 Hollywood Boulevard for television.[36] Karloff was featured by the U.S. Postal Service as Frankenstein's Monster and the Mummy in its series "Classic Monster Movie Stamps" issued in September 1997. In 1998, an English Heritage blue plaque was unveiled in his hometown in London. The British film magazine Empire in 2016 ranked Karloff's portrayal as Frankenstein's monster the sixth-greatest horror movie character of all time.

On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Boris Karloff among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.

#boris karloff #silent era #silent hollywood #silent movie stars #golden age of hollywood #classic movie stars #classic hollywood #1910s movies #1920s hollywood #1930s hollywood #1940s hollywood #1950s hollywood #1960s hollywood #classic horror #horror icons #frankenstein #the mummy #hollywood legend

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lilsimsie · 6 years

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SIMSIE’S STARTER SAVE FILE VERSION 5.0 DOWNLOAD

The moment we have all been waiting for... the updated version of my Simsie Save. I finally finished fixing everything in Del Sol Valley, and I’m finally happy with it all and ready to share. This version took a lot more fixing than usual because the lots in Del Sol Valley were... special.

I “fixed” the entire Sims 4. I went in and renovated every community lot, filled every empty lot with new homes and locations, and created new CC free townies to fill every empty house in the game.

What’s included? - 34 brand new lots - Renovated versions of every EA community lot - 65 new townie families (all with skills, careers, relationships, & stories)

What’s new in this version? - 5 new households - 3 new community lots in Newcrest (Two restaurants and a bar/bowling alley) - Renovations of every lot in Del Sol Valley - New lots to replace Mirage Park - Fixed broken Police Station - Now starts on first day of Summer at 6am

Requirements and download instructions under the cut.

DOWNLOAD (simfileshare) + CLICK HERE to tour the save on my Tumblr!

*alternate download on Mediafire

What do you need?

EVERY PACK is necessary

The save will work without all the packs, but you’ll have naked Sims

Recommend this default skin (Knight Skin by madmono).

No mods or custom content are necessary.

* I’m only recommending my defaults to ensure that the Sims look the same in your game as they do in mine. EA skins aren’t the cutest and my Sims will be ugly without that default, I assure you.

Where can I get more information?

If you go to the Simsie Save Tumblr you can tour the save, read more about it, and see all of my new townies before you even download it! The explore page lets you click through the worlds and there’s a page for each world listing all of the townies with their images and descriptions.

You can download all of my townies, homes, and renovated lots individually on my Gallery (lilsimsie). You might have to do some scrolling because I’ve been working on this for so long, but they’re all up there.

How to install?

Make a backup of your Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Saves folder.

Download the file, unzip, and place files in Electronic Arts/The Sims 4/Saves.

If it says you already have a file of that name, change the slot number. You should probably choose something higher. Just make sure you don’t have that slot number already. (Example: change Slot_00000088.save to Slot_00000099.save)

Open your game and enter the save. It is named “SimsieSave5.0”. You’ll see it pop up with a ghost as the preview family.

Once you’ve got the save opened, make sure you “save as” and create a new file for your own gameplay. This way you can use the save again without having to redownload.

Place your own Sims or play with some of mine. Have fun!

I just wanted to drop a quick thank you at the end of this for all of the tremendous support I’ve had on this save. This is basically my child and I’m so glad to that so many of you enjoy it and are playing with it. Lots of love to all of you.

#ts4 #the sims 4 #simsie save

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thebiasrekkers · 4 years

Text

Fragmentation 5.0 - KNJ

Plot: How does one measure freedom? Are our choices truly our own, or are they part of a preset design outside of our control? We all have a question burning inside of us, though few speak it out. It is the question that drives us forward, seeking purpose in our lives. What is The Matrix?

Rating: NC-17 // NSFW

Pairing: N/A

Warnings: Strong language, allusions to suicide, extreme angst, graphic violence

Links: FAQ || BTS Masterlist || Admin E’s AO3 || [ REQUESTS ARE OPEN ]

Word Count: 2,269

AN: Now we get Namjoon’s perspective. YAY. Also in the Real World in Zion. Again, all information in the universe can be found on the official Matrix Wiki so please use that as a reference guide if you ever get confused!

Tag List: @aroseforyoongi, @prisczero, @pinkpjmin, @btsaudge, @flowerwrites06, @unoriginal-username15432

© thebiasrekkers (Admin E). All rights reserved. Reposting/modifying our work is prohibited. Translations are not allowed. Plagiarism/stealing is not tolerated by any means. Legal action will be taken in instances of theft.

“Oh look,” a voice said suddenly, “it’s the prodigy.”

Namjoon sighed as he continued typing away on one of the system computers. For the last three years, he lived in Zion’s control tower. It was where all the trainees went who hoped to become Operators for a ship. In less than a year of his boarding, Namjoon showed excellent marks in reaction time as well as hacking prowess. It was no secret that he was far ahead of the rest of his class and there were rumors that he would graduate in the next year if he continued to excel in every area of expertise they could throw at him.

That didn’t make him very popular with his peers. Then again, it wasn’t like he actually cared. They all had a common goal and as long as that remained true, then they only needed to focus on doing their jobs.

Who cared if it was some popularity contest?

“Wait guys. You know he hates that title. We have to call him by his alias, remember?”

The tone was snide and insincere. Again, Namjoon didn’t care. He had other things he needed to devote his attention to. Rumor was that he would be boarding a ship soon to help with a simple reconnaissance mission. Nothing too overly complicated, but he wasn’t about to turn his nose up to the task. The lives of Matrix Operatives were in his hands and that was a responsibility that no one should ever take lightly.

So he continued to tune out his fellow classmates, focusing his energy on the program he was creating. It was a training program that would be used in the Construct - an exercise to help hone the sensory perceptions of operatives so that Agents wouldn’t be able to get the jump on them. When Agents obtained a target, they were relentless in their pursuit until an Operator was able to get them out. Namjoon wanted to prevent such tragedies from ever taking place. What better way than to prepare the operatives in any way possible?

He received word from his mother that Taehyung would be boarding a hovercraft next year. To successfully become a pilot, a trainee needed to physically handle the controls for years. Namjoon barely saw his brother due to his own hacker training, but it was guaranteed that they would not cross paths for several more years once Taehyung boarded a vessel.

Namjoon felt a hand on his shoulder, but he continued typing away at his station.

“Don’t listen to them,” said Vermillion, giving Namjoon a gentle shake.

“I don’t,” he replied, his eyes narrowing at the line of code he was reworking, “I always tune them out.”

“Typical. That’s just like you, Spectre.” Vermillion chuckled, sliding into the chair beside him. She peered over his shoulder as he continued working. “That looks pretty advanced. I can’t wait to see it when it’s finished.”

Pressing several more keys, Namjoon saved his progress and closed out the command console. Everything was transferred to the mini disc that slid out from a tray on the main hub. He popped it into a small case and shoved it into his pocket.

“It’ll take a few more weeks before I’m satisfied.”

Namjoon stood from his chair, grabbed his bag, and made for the exit. He didn’t have to look to know that Vermillion was hot on his heels. It wasn’t that he didn’t like her, but he’d come to be a very solitary person. He rarely saw his mother and there was a good chance that he wouldn’t see his brother for several years. Not until they were both finished with their respective Training Programs.

“You’re not going to report to the Head Programmer of your progress for the day?”

He smirked. “He already knows.” Turning to look at her, he continued walking. “I was told to help out at the Command Tower for a few hours.”

Vermillion’s eyes widened. “Wow. Forreal?”

He nodded and they continued walking through the various metal corridors. The shocked look on her face was well-placed. Most people didn’t get to work at the Command Tower during training because there was a high risk of something failing because of an amateur mistake. The fact that their teacher cleared him for work at the Command Tower was another testament to Namjoon’s skill level.

They reached the elevator for the Command Tower. Namjoon’s hand hesitated over the button as he looked at Vermillion. She seemed to want to say something else to him, so he waited. But after a handful of minutes of silence, he sighed and pressed the button to call the lift.

“Well, I’ll be seein’ you,” he said as he readjusted his bag’s strap along his shoulder.

The metal doors groaned as they slid open, granting him access. He stepped onto the lift and just before the doors closed, he saw Vermillion’s smile as she waved at him.

“Do well, Spectre.”

He flashed an easy grin in her direction. But once the doors were closed, the smile fell off his face immediately. Namjoon didn’t have any time to waste. There was a chance the war could be over in his lifetime. It waged on for damn near a century already. The people of Zion, human-born and field-born alike, were all tired of this seemingly never ending conflict. His parents saw the brunt of it during the beginning phases - children when their parents were fighting for their freedom.

Namjoon didn’t want to pass this burden on to his children.

To keep that from happening, he would work himself into the ground. Until there wasn’t a single breath left in his mortal body.

Four Years Later

Spectre pulled out his mini computer, booting it up to look over the dossier files of the ship he was newly assigned to. He was originally slated for Operator duty the previous year, but he opted out of it. His brother, Edge, hadn’t returned from his training tour yet. The benefit of finishing at the top of his peer group was that Spectre got to pick and choose a few things here and there.

Namely when he would be boarding a ship.

He quipped a brow at the list of crewmates on his future ship. There were some impressive resumes on the vessel. Certainly nothing he could turn his nose up at. The Admiral must have had a hand in the assignments and there was clearly a reason why Spectre was placed with that particular group. Based on the skill records of everyone on board, save for the pilot, they all had more than one year of field experience that wasn’t “on the job training”.

The Captain and First Mate in particular.

His eyes scanned over the pilot’s name and he couldn’t help the smile that pulled at the corners of his mouth. Spectre had all the faith in the world that his brother would make it through the Training Program, but he hadn’t expected to see his name on a crew member manifest just days after his ship docked back home.

“Yo, Big Bro!”

Spectre lowered the mini computer to his side, lifting his gaze up to see his younger brother strolling up the long metal walkway toward him. He closed the computer, slid it into his pocket, and waved to Edge. His little brother wasted no time closing the distance between them, taking off in a dead run and barrelling into him. Spectre grunted when he felt Edge’s shoulder crashing into his chest, his arms encircling around his waist. He laughed as Edge lifted him up off the ground.

“Hey,” Spectre said, patting his younger brother’s head, “a little over the top, don’t you think?”

Edge set him down, placing a fist on his hip. “Are you kiddin’ me?” He pouted. “I haven’t seen you in years. I should be setting off fireworks.”

Lifting a basket off the ground and handing it to Edge, Spectre shook his head. “Yeah, don’t do that. We’ll get court-martialed.”

Edge’s heavy steps reverberated off the metal flooring. “It would totally be worth it, though.”

“It wouldn’t, actually, but whatever.”

The brothers shared a smirk with each other.

It didn’t take them long to reach their house. The door was already open just as they saw their mother stepping out. She carried a basket of linens in her hands - presumably to go do laundry at the water recycling plant. The minute her eyes shifted in their direction, however, she seemed frozen in place. They took a few more steps toward her, watching as she dropped the basket at her feet. The dirty clothes and bedding would remain ignored. They already knew what mattered most to their mother.

“You’re back,” she finally managed, her hands trembling as she reached for them, “I knew you’d both come back home together.”

The two brothers filled their arms with their mother - holding her closer than they believed was possible. Her smell hadn’t changed and the strength in her embrace was just as they remembered it when they were children. She openly sobbed against each of their faces, overwhelmed with how much they’d changed. Yet they remained the same. They were men now, but the brothers knew that they would always be her little boys.

Her pride and glory.

After what seemed like too short a moment, their mother pried herself from them. “You two must be starving,” she said, turning to usher them into the house, “I’ll see about gathering some rations for dinner.”

Spectre leaned down to pick up the discarded laundry basket. “You don’t have to do that, Mother,” he offered, but he could tell that she would not be hearing any of it.

“Go inside and unpack your things. I’ll be back!”

They both sighed in unison as they watched their mother dart off down the metal walkway and across the bridge. Spectre turned to Edge and they both shrugged, making their way inside the home they hadn’t been in for several years. Lucky for them, nothing had really changed.

Spectre poured himself a cup of water, handing it to Edge and then poured another. “Have you gotten your assignment yet?”

Edge smirked as he pressed the metal cup to his lips. “Of course I have.” He gulped down half the water and set it down on the metal counter. “I’m stoked as fuck that I’m going to be piloting the ship you’re the Operator of.”

“That’s it?” Spectre lofted a brow at his younger brother. “Nothing else?”

“I mean, not really.” Edge shrugged. “I don’t know much about the others. I’m just glad I’m with you.”

Chuckling, he shook his head. He should have known that his brother would still continue to be simple-minded, even after all of these years. It didn’t come to him as a surprise; not really. In a way, it was almost relieving to know that his brother remained wholly the same - even after the intensity of the Training Programs.

“Did you get a chance to look at the ship?”

Edge whistled, sailing his hand out across his body in a dramatic flourish. “Bro, let me tell you…” He leaned sideways, bumping his shoulder against Spectre’s. “Just thinking about flying that ship is giving me a hard-on like you wouldn’t believe!”

He rolled his eyes, lightly elbowing his younger brother’s side. “Seriously? Come on.”

“I’m dead-ass serious, Bro. Like, holy shit, the Amaterasu is one sexy fuckin’ vessel.” Spectre watched a gleam sparkle in his younger brother’s eyes as he spoke. “She’s the newest hovercraft in the fleet and that baby was made for speed and destruction. I bet she could make it to The Fields and back before a Sentinel could even detect what actually happened.”

Spectre quipped a brow. “New stealth tech?”

He watched his brother nod emphatically. “Oh yeah, and then some.” He clapped his hands together. “I can’t wait to test that beauty out.”

Pulling out his computer, he looked over the ship’s diagnostics. There was some serious hardware put into the hovercraft. If the deployment of the Amaterasu was successful, the engineering crew would work on replicating the ship’s schematics for future hovercrafts. As exciting as that prospect was, Spectre couldn’t help but frown a little.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out that the Amaterasu was a guinea pig ship. This would be the first time the crew would work together as a collective. Some were still fairly young, their minds “freed” but needing more time to mature. There was also the chance that they would all clash when it came to their personalities and work flow.

He barely got the sigh out of him before Edge wrapped an arm around his shoulder to pull him in close. “Hey, c’mon, Spectre! This is what we went through all that training for, right?” Edge winked at him. “Everything’ll be fine. Every single member of the crew is the best of the best of the best, right?”

Spectre nodded. “Yeah…”

“So there’s nothing to worry about. We’re going to be the talk of the entire fleet. Everyone in Zion is going to know our ship.” Edge laughed, causing Spectre to grin; his enthusiasm was infectious. “We’ll do great things, Bro. I know we will.”

Spectre ruffled his little brother’s hair. It brought him an overwhelming amount of relief to know that his younger brother had, in fact, barely changed at all. In a time where their future was bleak and uncertain, pure optimism was necessary. Hope was needed.

And he would do whatever he needed to do in order to ensure that that hope never died.

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aethernoise · 5 years

Note

Tbh the ShB media tour reveal of BLM changes is making me consider actually investing in the job instead of primarily doing melee things, looks really fun

It’s a blast.

I will not apologize for the pun.

It looks like they’re taking steps to soothe some major pain points with the ‘everyday’ gameplay of the job. These changes* are probably going to make it easier and more comfortable and I see that as a win no matter what– more beginner friendly and a breath of relief for long-suffering mains. That said, I’ve always had fun with it, but it seems to only be getting better. To paraphrase something Larryzaur said in his video, if you’re already good at BLM, you’re just going to be even better at it in 5.0.

I fully encourage you to embrace true destructive power! I’ll be real with you though, as a melee main the lack of movement and necessity for strategic placement might be frustrating and/or hard to get used to. I’m sure you’ve already experienced this playing the job at all much less regularly lol. Then again, I guess it’s all just positionals…. but bigger….

*none of these changes are confirmed or final. Things are still in development. Please nobody forget that.

#come join the void tea party #i really do love it despite it's flaws #looking forward to next month aaaaa #answers #emily blabs #just black mage things #nozomijoestar

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rjswriting · 3 years

Text

Readers talk about the new Bullets and Bandages: Bond of Brothers!

Top reviews from the United States

📷 Wendyl Leslie 5.0 out of 5 stars Vivid and Real! Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2021 The Vietnam War was in full-swing during my high school and college days and was the major issue of our nation during those ten years. I lost many friends to what was a corrupt war waged by corrupt politicians. I missed going over there due to my being deaf and unable to pass the physical. It was the first war where we at home could watch it "live" on our television screens. In the end we lost over 58,000 of our finest, not including the over 300,000 who were wounded. Robert Saniscalchi's "Bullets and Bandages" was one of dozens of books, both fiction and nonfiction that I've read about the war and must say it has been of the best of what you would call a fictional account of it. Although the novel is based on true stories told by the author's brother, you could say it's partially nonfiction as well. The story is about an army medic's tour in Vietnam and his experiences, many painted in its vivid gory color told through a fictional character named Rob Marrino. Written an an easy story-telling style, it's characters, descriptive details of the locations, the equipment and protocols are realistically portrayed. Though the story is real, the author is careful to leave out the vulgar language while still showing the horrors of the war. I appreciated that The story is real. It shows the bravery and the glory, as well as the pain and the blood. It doesn't shy away from the death and the sadness many endured. But the story ends surprisingly well. It was with tears that I closed its final page. Saniscalchi's story is a good one. I highly recommend it. 5 stars, sir! 📷 Craig Stucko 5.0 out of 5 stars A home spun war story! Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2021 I really liked Bullets and Bandages, an accounting of a medic’s time in Vietnam told through the memories of his younger brother who listened to his older brother’s stories about the “Nam”. It was fun picking out the parts of the story that sounded like the war memories an older brother would share with a younger brother when out on a hunting trip. Robert Saniscalchi cleverly expanded those stories into a well threaded war story. Good writing! 📷 Tim Antonie 5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2021 It was a tribute to all veterans, as well as those who serve now to protect our country. The most intriguing aspect of the novel is that the author writes from personal experience, which makes the book quite relatable. It was an engrossing, engaging, and uplifting book that drew me in from the first page to the last. This book can only be described in one word: magnificent.

#military #thriller #robert j saniscalchi #historical fiction #books and libraries #war stories #faith #action and adventure

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linelpisffxiv · 5 years

Text

5.0 Spoilers

I’m still working on/thinking up 75, 77, and 79/80 parts for tomorrow and tomorrow, but here’s a coda

He hears the portal ripple to life a few weeks later.

Lin comes through in the outfit he gave her when she first arrived. The golden brass just makes the warm tones of her skin stand out like a beautiful sunset.

“G’raha! Have you any need for me?”

He shakes his head. “For now, the peace has no need for the Warrior of Darkness. Though time has slowed down a bit compared to your world. I feel that you can spend three days here and have only two and a half pass by back on the source.”

She smiles. “Perfect. Every extra hour I can spend here with you is one well-spent. I got you something back home.” She holds out a parcel.

“A gift?” he asks. He’s used to gifts. The people of the Crystarium had relied on him for a century now, and sometimes thankful bordered on worship. “You needn’t get anything for me.”

She pushes it towards him. “Please, it’s my choice to spoil you if I want to. I just hope it fits.”

He takes the package and starts to open it. “Fits? Hm, I did not expect you to get me clothes. I don’t think I need any.”

“You’re about the same size as Raks if I remember correctly. You remember him, right? My friend?”

He does. Another young miqo’te who was practically her brother in some respects. Lin may have been blind to his affections back then, but the one who told him she was spoken for was Rakka. More friendly and clueless, not understanding love can be unrequited.

G’raha nods his head. Inside is a set of clothes, something different from his robes. A pair of simple trousers, and a combination of a shirt and waistcoat. The latter could be worn alone, but the shirt it comes with is high-necked and long-sleeved. “I assume this is...”

“You wished you could travel Norvrandt with me, love. If you don’t wish to draw attention to yourself, you can wear the shirt. I know I can’t cover everything, but it would be enough to discourage second glances. I wanted to get gloves and boots, but those are something that need better fitting.”

She looks at him. “You don’t like it? I’m sorry, I just--”

He shakes his head. “No, no, I love it. It has been far too long since I’ve seen anywhere I haven’t had need to be. You just know that I can’t be far from the tower for too long. So a full adventure will never be on the table.”

“Then just spending a day somewhere else,” she says. “If everything is peaceful, you won’t need your powers, and I can fly you wherever you need. Do you know where everyone is?”

Adventures for a day. He likes that. Even if it wouldn’t be one grand tour, a day would be plenty to be a sightseer.

“Each of our friends have returned to where they were before. Though Alphinaud has been spending time specifically in Eulmore--”

“Perfect!” she says. “I wanted to see how Eulmore and Kholusia fare first. They were the last to get night, after all.”

The original plan had been to call everyone and have them come to the Crystarium, but clearly that was not a plan Lin would agree to.

She claps her hands together. “It’s decided then. Decide whether you want to be the Exarch or G’raha, and I’ll meet you at the Amauro Launch either way.”

She kisses his cheek as she leaves the Occular.

It takes a few minutes to decide, but he chooses to put on the outfit. It almost feels odd to wear something different, but she has an eye for detail. Hints and pieces are like what he wore on his expedition, but she chose softer fabrics than he wore before. His trip to where she’ll meet him turns a few heads. It has been so long since he’s presented as himself. There was an open secret of his race once people had been in the Crystarium long enough, there was no proof, but there was a stunning amount of proof he was no Hume, Galdjent, Dragn, Ronso, Elf, or Dwarf (And almost certainly not a Viis). So the fact that no one could prove he had the ears and tail of a cat was moot.

Still, without him in his robes, it made it clear to all that whatever he planned to do, planned to go to, he was not doing it for the sake of politics or stability. He was doing it for himself.

When he meets with Lin again, she looks him over. “Hm, Raks has wider shoulders than you. But next time, we can ask for help in the Mean. Still, I think the colors are right for you.”

He helps her get on the amaro and guides them across the Tempest. Lin loves looking along the coast, pointing out areas that haven’t changed since the sundering. First the west coast of the main continent as it disappears, then Kholusia as it grows in their view.

As they draw in to Eulmore, he sees a perfect place to land. Then there’s the people there. All of them focused on the amaro only now slowing down.

Space is made in the end, and they land perfectly.

Fewer people notice his crystal hand and cheek here, with more eyes focused on Lin.

“The Warrior of Darkness has come,” someone says, and suddenly, they’re surrounded. So many words of thanks. Others talking about the steps they’ve made.

Lin smiles and listens to them, lets them take her hands.

“I thought you didn’t wish to be seen as their savior,” he says.”Especially given how you’ve reacted to other titles you’ve earned.”

Lin laughs. “I did, and it’s true. But in my defense, we did draw quite the attention, landing on a balcony not meant to be landed on, Exarch.”

Her use of his title, his name, is quite pointed, though few still give him more than a few glances.

“Alright everyone,” a familiar voice says. “You’re coddling the poor girl. Let her breathe now.”

“Dulia!” Lin says. She cuts through the crowd. “It’s great to see you! I heard that Alphinaud has been spending time here. Do you know if he’s in?”

“Of course he is, dear,” the voice returns. The woman he remembers from the assault breaks the crowd. He remembers just how positive she had been. How encouraging. She looks over to him. “And you’ve brought a friend as well. We’ll have to get more tea and sweets for you, then. Apparently the trade between Eulmore and the Crystarium has brought so much new diversity to my palette.”

He looks over to Lin, whose eyes sparkle at the suggestion. “I’d love to catch up with you and Alphinaud, then.” One of her hands takes his, laces her fingers between his as she leads the way.

He follows her to a table by the aetheryte, and watches as Lin talks animatedly with the woman.

“You’ve been quiet,” she finally says, looking at him. “Tell me about yourself. You’re that nice boy in the robes A’lin kissed on the beach, aren’t you?”

How long it has been since someone called him a boy? It was a surprise, but just like Lin’s use of his name, it makes him feel young in the best ways.

“Ah, that was a bit spontaneous on our parts. Lin always has a flair for the dramatic. She’s quite prone to sitting on tall archways when she plays music back in the Crystarium.”

She laughs and pushes him, however the woman’s eyes open. “Oh, you are a musician as well? You never told me that.”

He’d never seen Lin’s skin darken so much. “Raha...”

Turnabout is quite fair play. It’s one thing for her to request the intimacy of dropping her own clan, but dropping his, in public? He’d never asked, but she knew she had the right. It still was a shock.

“So that is your name,” Dulia says. “What a lovely one you have Raha.”

He shakes his head. “I-- It’s G’raha. The way my name and A’lin’s work, removing the first sound is a sign of family. Or romantic affection, as is the case with us.”

“Still, play us a song,” Dulia-Chai says. She claps her hands together. “In hindsight, your voice is perfect for singing. Well, if you don’t mind performing publicly.”

Lin nods her head. “There’s a piece I put the finishing touches on a while ago. I kind of meant it to be personal, but if you don’t mind?’

“If it is the song you picked at since you’ve come, please.” He moves his hand. “If you are nervous, pretend we are alone in my chambers.” Wait, there were implications of that. “I mean the Ocular.” His own cheeks heat up.

She quickly presses her lips against his cheek. “I know full well what you meant, and it is not fear. I just like to let a friend or lover be the first to hear a song, much like you always shared your Talos with your wife, Master Chai.”

Chai-Nuzz looks at her for a moment, but nods. “Should you need an instrument, I am sure we can find one for you.”

She pulls out her lyre and strums it a few times, tuning a few strings. “No need. I bring it everywhere.”

A few more odd plucks of some strings, and she starts. A haunting wail. Regret and the past, but it turns to the same lyrics he saw her picking at on the arch back then.

A new addition surprised him. She adds his words in a line she couldn’t get right before. No wonder she wanted to give the song to him first. It was for him. About him.

Tears well up as he listens.Every lyric meant for him alone. To know he has become a muse to her, let her reach some beautiful crescendos in emotion. To remember that she once said she was letting her time in the First be a place to heal from her past, only to pass on that gift to him. He’s been too old for too long.

When she sets down the harp, he realizes she had attracted a crowd again. Several others clap for her. He’d kiss her again, but he didn’t believe she would appreciate it this time.

He’ll just have to follow through later.

“I-- Thank you everyone,” she says. “I am glad the song is good. I haven’t done much composing recently, but I found inspiration some time ago.”

Lin looks at him when she says that. She may have been his inspiration since they met, but to hear those words from her mouth, that he had inspired her in the end...

His throat catches.

“It is hard to believe the Exarch is the same man he was before,” Alphinaud says. “A’lin has changed you, and I must say it is for the better. Much as she has for so many of us.”

Only one of those words reaches the other ears. “The Exarch?” someone says. “The Crystal Exarch is come?”

His ears twitch and he almost has to laugh. “Thank you, Alphinaud. A’lin and I had mostly hoped to not draw attention. While she had failed, I had succeeded in seeming little more than an errand boy. Even with my condition.”

“I knew,” Dulia-Chai says. “While I only saw you in passing as the Exarch, the mark under your eye is quite distinctive. I doubt people from the Crystarium just happen to be part crystal. I just figured that you wanted a moment free of your duties.”

“Indeed,” Chai-Nuzz says. “I must say that while some can blind themselves when people wish to hide, I can just respect the attempt. A keen eye is how I made my fortune, after all.”

“Well, I doubt we’ll be having a quiet moment alone now.” Lin stands up. “So if I could have all of your attentions, I shall share other songs I’ve written, back in my homeland.”

He can’t take his eyes off her when she does so. Most are happy, though he does hear a requiem in one such ballad. Her own version of the end of the Dragonsong War. Of the Fortemps Memoirs he had devoured time and again over the years.

He listens to every song she shares, how she commands his attention and those around her. Back on the source, people would likely call her the sun, but the murmurs in the crowd he picks up compare her voice to the gentleness of the welcome night.

It is quite apt.

Whatever plans of leaving Eulmore end up delayed, as she sings full through the afternoon, and only stops as she sees stars.

“Ah, this went on much longer than I had intended.”

“You can stay here for the night. We have plenty of room,” Dulia-Chai says.

Lin shakes her head. “I’m sorry, but G’raha needs to return to the Crystarium, and I would like to be with him tonight. Perhaps soon, though.”

Alphinaud scrunches his face. “I do suppose you’ve been anticipating time alone with the Exarch.” He shakes his head. “Sorry, G’raha. I just have known you as the Exarch my time here, and I only know parts of the story A’lin has of how she knew you in the past.”

He shrugs. “Either is fine. Whatever you feel comfortable saying. Though being the Exarch is more than just a convenient title.”

The flight home is different. It was intimate, but there was adventure promised as well. Whatever plans Lin has for now are not the same.

“I liked that song,” he says. He needs to fill the silence.

She nods her head. “I’ve never played a song first to a crowd. Alphie was the first to hear a few. Arenvald, a Scion back home, got one. Sanson and Guydelot, some friends of mine in Gridania were present for quite a few. And Rielle from Ishgard had one shared with as well. And I suppose it’s obvious who also had a few.”

Haurchefant. Both his journeys with her centuries ago and everything he had read once made the man feel larger than life, someone who left a void on Lin so deep she never recovered.

“Do you miss him?”

She wraps her arms around him tighter. “Sometimes, but it is better now than before. As I said, he wished I would heal.” She brushes her lips against his ears, purring the next words into them. “I think he knew someone who’d cherish me waited on the other end of my journey.”

Her teeth nibble a corner, making it harder to concentrate. She has had practice with that technique. Just enough pressure to stimulate the nerves and blood, but not so hard it’s painful. A purr catches in his throat and his tail starts tapping the side of the amaro with increased frequency.

“You didn’t need to return to the Crystarium with me. We could have started our journey from Eulmore.”

“Let me be more obvious then,” she says. “If you want me to speak plain, I do not intend to retire to my room tonight. That is, unless you plan to as well, Raha.”

Her hands slip lower, one almost resting on his groin. “At least, should you consent.”

Gods she makes him feel young in more ways than one. This is no exception.

“Why settle for the Pendants, when I know your curiosity well enough. Even though I lack the need, there is a bed in the Umbilicus for the rare occasions that merely joining with the Tower isn’t enough.”

Lin chuckles as her lips find his jaw for a second. “You know how to treat a lover, if that is a yes.”

“A yes to what? You have given no hint towards your plans other than you seem to want to sleep by my side.” He grins as he speaks.

“Ah, you want to hear the exact words then, and not let my hands talk. You. Me. Nude. Kisses. Intimate.”

He pretends to think on it. “Yes.”

#Crystal Exarch #G'raha Tia #G'raha Tia/WoL #Crystal Exarch/WoL #5.0 Spoilers #ShB Spoilers #Tomorrow and Tomorrow #Post-ShB

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