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from-memphis-with-love · 12 days ago

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Songbird - Chapter 2 - After Hours

Summary: Valerie meets Elvis again, again by chance. And this time, it's in a far more intimate setting.

Author's notes: Edit alert. I am constantly tooling and retooling my fics. To me, they never seem finished when I reread them. I've been taking the time to hone my craft and take online writing classes (yes, I am that loser who wants to become a better writer so I can regale you all with smutty Elvis fic), so I hope you will indulge. I am actively working on it and I believe I have it right this time. Enjoy!

You know that moment when everything's gone so spectacularly wrong that all you can do is laugh? Well, I wasn't laughing. I was slumped over the International Hotel's bar like a marionette with cut strings, wondering if it was possible to actually die of embarrassment. The doctors would probably call it something fancy, but the death certificate would tell the real story: Here lies Valerie, who bombed her Sinatra audition so bad they stopped her halfway through.

The bartender looked like he'd stepped straight out of a movie about Vegas in its golden age - crisp white jacket, perfectly groomed silver hair, the kind of face that had seen it all and wasn't impressed by any of it anymore. He glided over like smoke.

"What'll it be, miss?"

I'd never ordered a real drink in my life. Back home, the wildest I got was box wine and even that made me giggle. But tonight? Tonight felt like a good time to start.

"Gin and tonic. Make it a double."

The words felt foreign in my mouth, like trying on someone else's clothes. But isn't that what you're supposed to do after you crash and burn? Drown your sorrows in bottom-shelf liquor while the bartender pretends to care about your troubles?

My mind kept rewinding to that awful audition, like a broken record stuck on the worst song ever made. My voice had shook worse than Elvis's hips (and there was a comparison I didn't need in my head right then). The piano player had actually winced. And those other girls, the ones with their perfect hair and professional headshots, they'd smirked like they knew all along I didn't belong there.

The drink appeared in front of me like magic. I took a sip and immediately regretted it. Tasted like Christmas trees. But I kept drinking anyway, because that's what people do in situations like this, right? They sit in dark bars and drink gin and pretend they're in a film noir about beautiful losers.

That's when I saw him.

You ever have one of those moments that feels like fate just reached down and flicked you right between the eyes? There in the mirror behind the bar, I caught a flash of red hair that made my stomach drop like an express elevator. Red, Elvis's mountain of a bodyguard, was heading straight for me with the kind of determined look that meant trouble.

"Well I'll be damned," he boomed, voice carrying across the bar like thunder. "If it ain't that pretty little songbird from the elevator."

My drink tried to go down the wrong pipe. He remembered that? More importantly, he remembered that ridiculous nickname Elvis had given me?

"Uh, hi there," I managed to squeak out. Real smooth, Valerie. Real smooth.

Red's grin could have lit up the Strip. "You clean up real nice. Mr. Burrows know you're here drowning those sorrows all by your lonesome?"

Mr. Burrows. That's what they called Elvis when they were trying to be discreet, though why they bothered was beyond me. As if anyone could mistake him for just another guy named Jon. The memory of our elevator encounter hit me like a shot of whiskey - all heat and dizzy promise. The way his voice had wrapped around my name like silk, how his presence had made the air feel electric...

"Oh, I'm sure he has more important things to worry about than little old me," I said, aiming for breezy and probably landing somewhere around desperate. "I was just about to call it a night."

"That so?" Red's grin turned sly as a cat in a creamery. "Well, it just so happens the boss is having a little private soirée up in his suite right about now. What do you say we head up there and turn that frown upside down?"

My mama always said I had more curiosity than common sense. Standing there in that bar with Red's invitation hanging in the air like cigarette smoke, I knew she was right. The smart play was to finish my drink, go up to my room, and catch the first flight back to Chicago tomorrow morning.

But when did I ever make the smart play?

"Lead the way, Red."

The trip up to Elvis's suite was like ascending to Mount Olympus, if Olympus had shag carpeting and gold-flecked wallpaper. Red kept up a steady stream of chatter, but I barely heard him over the thundering of my own heart. What was I doing? Walking straight into the lion's den like some lamb dressed for dinner.

When we reached the mahogany door - the kind of door that whispered "money" in twelve different languages - a man I'd later learn was Jerry Schilling answered our knock. The wall of sound that hit us was like walking into a beehive: dozens of conversations buzzing, ice cubes clinking against crystal, and somewhere, someone was playing "Great Balls of Fire" on what had to be the most expensive piano I'd ever seen.

The suite itself was pure Elvis - all crushed velvet and religious iconography, like a bordello had a baby with the Vatican. A small crowd milled about: men in sharp suits, women who looked like they'd stepped off magazine covers, all of them moving in invisible orbits around...

And then I saw him.

You know how sometimes a room just seems to shift, like reality hiccups and everything reorganizes itself around a single point? That's what happened when my eyes found Elvis. He was holding court in the center of the room, sprawled in what could only be described as a throne, his long legs stretched out in front of him like he owned not just the chair but the very concept of sitting. A tumbler of amber liquid dangled from those ring-laden fingers, and sweet Jesus, that shirt... black silk unbuttoned just enough to make a good girl think bad thoughts.

Two women flanked him like matching bookends - a blonde who looked like she'd been poured into her dress, and a brunette whose legs went on for days. The brunette was trailing her fingers down his chest, purring something about taking a ride in his Cadillac. The kind of thing that should have been ridiculous but somehow wasn't, not with the way Elvis's lips curled up at the corners, lazy and amused like a cat with a bowlful of cream.

I should have felt invisible. Should have felt like a sparrow in a room full of peacocks. Instead, somehow, impossibly, his gaze found mine across the crowd. Those eyes, blue as a Memphis summer sky, locked onto me like heat-seeking missiles.

And just like that, the air changed.

A man who introduced himself as Sonny West materialized at my elbow, drink in hand. His face was all dimples and good humor, the kind of guy who probably never met a stranger. "You look like you could use this more than me," he said, offering me something that smelled strong enough to strip paint.

I took it because, hell, what else was I going to do? Standing there watching Elvis with those two glamazons draped over him like living accessories was enough to drive anyone to drink. The brunette - who I'd mentally dubbed Colette because she looked like a Colette - was doing her best to crawl into his lap without actually moving.

But here's the thing about Elvis Presley that nobody tells you: even when he's looking at someone else, you can feel when he's watching you. It's like standing in the sun with your eyes closed - you just know. And brother, was he watching me.

The Memphis Mafia - that's what they called Elvis's entourage - adopted me like a stray kitten. Before I knew what was happening, I was deep in a heated debate with Lamar about breakfast foods, of all things. These guys were like a bunch of overgrown boys playing in a very expensive sandbox, and somehow they'd decided I belonged there.

"Biscuits," I insisted, probably louder than necessary. The drink Sonny had given me was doing its job. "Fluffy, buttery perfection. Pancakes are just... flat disappointment circles."

Lamar clutched his considerable belly like I'd personally insulted his mama. "Blasphemy! Pancakes are God's own breakfast food!"

"Y'all are both wrong," Jerry chimed in, grinning like he'd just won the lottery. "Waffles. Those little squares? Perfect syrup holders. That's just science."

I was laughing, actually laughing, when I heard it. That voice, smooth as aged whiskey, cutting through the noise like a hot knife through butter.

"Valerie."

Just my name. That's all it was. But the way Elvis said it made it sound like a song he'd been practicing his whole life. I turned, and there he was, standing close enough that I could smell his cologne - something expensive and spicy that probably cost more than my rent.

"Come here, pretty girl," he said, soft enough that only I could hear. "Let's you and me get better acquainted."

Colette the Brunette huffed like someone had punctured her, shooting me a look that could have curdled milk. But Elvis didn't even notice. His eyes were fixed on me like I was the only person in the room, and Lord help me, but I was moving before I realized my feet had gotten the message.

You ever touch an electric fence? That little shock that starts in your fingers and races up your arm? That's what it felt like when Elvis's hand brushed mine, guiding me toward the piano. Every nerve ending suddenly woke up and started singing hallelujah.

"You play?" he asked, those blue eyes twinkling with something that wasn't quite innocence.

I ran my fingers over the keys, smooth as silk under my touch. "A little. My daddy taught me before he passed."

Something shifted in Elvis's expression then - understanding, maybe, or recognition. "Music's in your blood," he said softly. "Like me."

He slid onto the piano bench like liquid grace, patting the space beside him. Now, there's a moment in every girl's life when she knows she's about to make either the best or worst decision of her existence. Sitting down next to Elvis Presley, close enough that our thighs touched through silk and cotton, that was mine.

"You know 'Heart and Soul'?"

I had to laugh. It was like asking if I knew how to breathe. "Who doesn't?"

His fingers found the keys first, and mine followed like they'd been doing it all their lives. The melody rose soft and sweet, barely audible under the party chatter. Then Elvis started to sing, and I swear to God, the air in the room changed. Became thicker, heavier, like honey dripping from a spoon.

"Heart and soul, I fell in love with you..."

He glanced at me, one eyebrow raised in challenge, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth that would have made a saint think sinful thoughts. Well, mama didn't raise no coward. I opened my mouth and let my voice join his.

"Heart and soul, the way a fool would do..."

You know how sometimes two voices just... fit? Like pieces of a puzzle you didn't even know was incomplete? That's what happened when Elvis and I sang together. Our voices twined around each other like lovers' hands, his deep velvet wrapping around my higher notes until you couldn't tell where one ended and the other began.

The room had gone quiet - that special kind of quiet that feels like holding your breath. But I barely noticed. I was lost in the music, in the warmth of Elvis's thigh pressed against mine, in the way his eyes kept finding mine as we sang.

"Madly... Because you held me tight..."

His voice dropped lower, intimate, like he was telling me a secret.

"And stole a kiss in the night..."

Our fingers stilled on the keys. The last note hung in the air between us like a question nobody dared to ask. Elvis turned to face me, and sweet Jesus, the look in his eyes... It was like being caught in a spotlight and wrapped in velvet all at once.

"Valerie," he murmured, my name a prayer on those lips that had made him famous. His hand came up to brush my cheek, and I swear I felt that touch all the way down to my toes.

I couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. The world had narrowed down to just this: Elvis's eyes, dark with something that made my stomach flip, and the whisper of his fingers against my skin.

That's when Colette materialized like a bad penny, slamming her drink down on the piano hard enough to make the strings vibrate. "Elvis, baby," she purred, but there was steel under that sugar. "I'm simply parched. Won't you fix me a drink?"

Now, I expected Elvis to jump at the chance. After all, what was I compared to this goddess in a dress that probably cost more than my car? But Elvis just smiled - not the megawatt grin he was famous for, but something smaller, more polite, more dismissive.

"Not right now, darlin'," he said, never taking his eyes off me. "I'm a bit busy at the moment."

If looks could kill, Colette's glare would have reduced me to a small pile of ash on that piano bench. But Elvis's attention had already shifted back to me, like she was just another piece of furniture in his very expensive suite.

"I gotta say," he murmured, voice low enough that only I could hear, "you sure know how to captivate a man's attention. Ain't too many gals out there who can tear me away from a pretty face batting her lashes my way."

The thing about Elvis - and this is something all those magazines and fan clubs don't tell you - is that when he really looks at you, it's like being the only star in the sky. Like every light in Vegas has suddenly focused on you alone.

We fell back into playing, our hands dancing over the keys like they'd been doing this dance for years instead of minutes. Every now and then, our fingers would brush, and I swear it felt like touching a live wire. The kind of electricity that should come with a warning label.

That's when I spotted them - Red and Sonny, going at it in the corner like two roosters in a barnyard. I nudged Elvis with my elbow, nodding toward the brewing storm. "Looks like trouble in paradise. What's eating them?"

Elvis followed my gaze, and his grin was pure mischief. The kind of grin that probably got him in trouble in grade school. "Those two? Hell, could be anything. Whose turn it is to make the midnight burger run, who's got the better car, whether Kong could take Godzilla in a fair fight..."

"Godzilla," I said without hesitation. "Fire breath beats opposable thumbs any day."

"Now see, that's where you're wrong, darlin'," Elvis countered, eyes sparkling like sunlight on water. "Kong's got the reach advantage."

We watched the argument escalate, Elvis leaning close enough that I could feel his breath on my ear. "Five bucks says Sonny throws his drink in the next minute."

Maybe it was the gin, maybe it was the way his proximity made my skin hum like a tuning fork, but I heard myself say, "You're on. My money's on Red putting him in a headlock first."

The next few seconds played out like a scene from a Three Stooges routine. Sonny's wild gesticulation sent his drink flying straight into Red's face. There was a moment of perfect stillness, like the whole room was holding its breath. Then Red lunged, catching Sonny in a headlock that would have made a wrestling coach proud.

Elvis and I lost it. Complete, total hysteria. The kind of laughter that comes from your toes and takes your whole body with it. I ended up half-collapsed against him, his arm around my shoulders, both of us wheezing like we'd run a marathon.

"Guess... we both... win that bet," Elvis managed between gasps, and I could feel his laughter rumbling through his chest where I was pressed against him.

That's when someone cleared their throat behind us - the kind of throat-clearing that sounds like a period at the end of a sentence. We sprang apart like teenagers caught necking at a drive-in.

Lamar stood there looking like the cat who'd caught both the canary and the cream, fixing us with a knowing smirk that made my cheeks burn. "Hate to interrupt you two, but the natives are getting restless." He jerked his head toward the crowd. "Big Man's here, E."

Even I knew who "Big Man" meant - Kirk Kerkorian, owner of the International Hotel and the man who'd shelled out big money to bring Elvis back to live performing. The kind of man who could make or break careers with a nod.

Elvis dragged a hand down his face, and for just a second, I saw something flicker there - frustration, maybe, or resignation. The mask of the entertainer sliding back into place. But when his fingers found mine under the piano's cover, giving them a quick squeeze, that felt real. That felt like just us.

"Duty calls, I suppose." His eyes met mine, dark with promise. "Don't go anywhere, alright? I'm not done with you yet."

The way he said it made heat pool in my belly, like I'd swallowed a shot of pure sunshine. I could only nod, my voice lost somewhere between my brain and my mouth, as he stood and moved into the crowd.

I watched him work the room like he was born to it - which, let's face it, he was. Elvis Presley in his element was something to see. He had that rare gift of making everyone feel like the most important person in the world, if only for a moment. A group of older women were let in, clutching programs and photos, and he signed every single one with the same megawatt smile.

But every so often, his eyes would find mine across the room, hot enough to melt steel. A reminder that I was still on his mind, even as he played the gracious host.

That's when it hit me - what I was doing, where I was, who I was playing with. This wasn't some local boy at a church social. This was Elvis Presley, and he was married, and I was so far out of my depth I couldn't even see the shore anymore.

I slipped away like smoke, keeping to the edges of the room. Sometimes the smart choice and the right choice are the same thing, even if it feels like ripping off your own skin to do it.

I'd barely made it to my door when I heard footsteps behind me. Fast ones.

"Valerie, wait!"

It was Joe Esposito, Elvis's right-hand man, slightly out of breath like he'd been chasing me down the hallway. He pressed something into my palm - a ticket, but not just any ticket. Front row, VIP access to tomorrow night's show.

"Boss wants you in his private booth," Joe said, grinning like he knew exactly what kind of bomb he was dropping. "Wear something pretty. Elvis likes his girls dolled up nice."

He was gone before I could process what had happened, leaving me standing there with a piece of cardstock that felt heavy as gold in my hand.

I looked down at the ticket, running my thumb over the embossed lettering. Tomorrow night. Elvis wanted me there tomorrow night, in his private booth no less. The kind of invitation that would make those women in the lobby sell their souls.

Standing there in that quiet hallway, I knew I was in trouble. The kind of trouble that starts with a capital T and rhymes with double. But as I got ready for bed, I couldn't stop grinning like a fool.

Only one problem: I didn't have a damn thing pretty enough to wear to an Elvis Presley show.

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#elvis presley #elvis #elvis fans #elvis fanfic #elvis presley fanfiction #elvis fanfiction #elvis presley fic #elvis presley fanfic #elvis fic #elvis x oc #songbird 1969

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libertyreads · 8 months ago

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April TBR 2024--

This next month is set to be full of rereads, hockey romances, and new to me books. It is also the month I'm starting a certification program so it will probably be a bit of a struggle to get through this month's TBR. I don't even remember the last time I've thought that about a month's TBR. I really hope I have as much fun with this TBR as I'm expecting to. I've really been in the mood for these rereads and these hockey romance so I'm excited to finally get to it.

Silver in the Bone by Alexandra Bracken-- This is just one of a few rereads this month. Book two in the series comes out next month. I originally read this one as an ARC so I definitely need a refresher first. Tamsin Lark is a mortal with no magical talent who was never meant to break into ancient crypts or compete with sorceresses and Cunning folk for the treasures inside. But treasure hunting is the only way she could keep herself and her brother Cabell alive following her thieving foster father's disappearance. Ten years later she's looking for a ring that is supposed to save her brother from a curse. It's based in Arthurian legend.

Teen Titans: Beast Boy by Kami Garcia and Gabriel Picolo-- Another reread before a new book in the series. I remember enjoying this one slightly less than Raven's book, but I still enjoyed meeting a new character and getting their origin story. I also felt like it addressed an issue that isn't brought up a lot: male body image issues. We see it addressed a lot in fiction for girls, but there are boys who also go through this growing up. Plus it's beast boy and lots of green animals.

The Score by Elle Kennedy-- A hockey romance! I've been so in the mood for hockey romances this year. I don't know if it's because I found a few new to me authors and bought some kindle books for Christmas or what. In this one we follow Allie Hayes who is in crisis mode. Graduation is looming and she's dealing with a broken heart thanks to the end to her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just one though because even if her future is uncertain it sure as heck doesn't include Dean. It seems like he's going to pursue her after she puts him in the friend zone following their one night stand. I love it when the guy falls first or the guy is pursuing the girl so I'm looking forward to this one.

Stars and Smoke by Marie Lu-- The last of the rereads for this month. I'm so excited for the next book too. In this one we follow an international pop sensation named Winter Young who is brought into the world of spies when a major crime boss gifts his daughter a private concert with Winter for her birthday. Sydney Cossette is a member of the elite covert ops group who is forced to work alongside Winter to infiltrate the crime organization's inner circle. This was such a fun and quick read for me last year and I can't wait to go back into this world of glitz, glam, and spies.

Bad Men by Julie Mae Cohen (NetGalley)-- This one just sounded so good when I saw it on NetGalley. It's unhinged women at its finest. Saffy Huntley-Oliver is an intelligent and glamorous socialite; she also happens to be a proficient serial killer. Over the course of fifteen years, she's dispatched bad men--rapist, murderers, domestic abusers. But leading a double life has left her lonely. Dating's rough when your boyfriend might turn out to be your next victim. Saffy thinks she's finally found a truly good man in Jonathan Desrosiers, a true crime podcaster. This is a feminist thriller that asks if even a serial killer can have a happily ever after. My hopes for this one? Rich people drama and some mad women.

The Hemlock Queen by Hannah F. Whitten (New Release)-- The second book in the series is finally coming out. This series starts with Lore, who has a dark power and a hidden past, as we follow her into the intrigue of the Sainted King's royal court. The king and his priest manipulate Lore and have her spy on the prince in order to determine just who is killing the villages at the edge of the kingdom. We follow on from the events of the first book in this new one.

My Lucky #13 by Piper Rayne (Kindle)-- A hockey player who is going through a scoring draught is worried he's going to get traded before the deadline if he doesn't turn it around. Following a New Year's Eve with a woman, he has a waterfall of goals and knows he has to see her again. She wants nothing to do with him and he feels his has to change her mind. A hero falls first sounding story that I'm so looking forward to. I will say that there's a very obvious hockey error in the synopsis of this one and we all know I'm a little picky about hockey details. But I'll try to keep an open mind on this one.

Just Do This One Thing For Me by Laura Zimmerman (Library)-- I'm going to pull the synopsis straight from GoodReads since it's a Mystery/Thriller and those are hard to explain at the best of times: "'Just do this one thing for me.' Drew's mother says it more often than good morning. Heidi Hill has been juggling shady side hustles for all of Drew's seventeen years, and Drew knows that 'one thing' really means all the necessary things her mother thinks are boring, including taking care of her fifteen-year-old sister and eight-year-old brother. In fact, Drew is the closest thing to a responsible adult they've ever known. When their mother disappears on the way to a New Year's Eve concert in Mexico and her schemes start unraveling, Drew is faced with a choice: Follow the rules, do the responsible thing, and walk away--alone--from her mother's mess. Or hope the weather stays cold, keep the cons going, and just maybe hold her family together."

#silver in the bone #Alexandra bracken #teen titans: beast boy #kami garcia #Gabriel picolo #the score #elle kennedy #stars and smoke #marie lu #bad men #Julie mae cohen #the hemlock queen #Hannah f. whitten #my lucky number 13 #piper rayne #just do this one thing for me #Laura zimmerman

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lumibye · 9 months ago

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hi charm !! what would these matching rings look like 😳 or , as an alternative question, what kind of gifts would sycamari get for each other ? - @dmclr

ooh they'd have to be silver . . he's incredibly sentimental so if it's not something like a family heirloom it'd be something that lasts and can be passed down but not overly expensive . . i imagine it'd be something delicate and understated but with a filigree pattern and tiny gems , and maybe his would have the inverse pattern to match ? i think that'd be incredibly cute 🥹🩵 gifts is actually such a sweet question because lore wise she gives him a little resin enclosed forget-me-not charm , just because it's her favorite flower but he's always been confused as to if it has a double meaning maybe 🩵 . . that and she'd bake for him ! a little gift box of sweets and stuff . . for her , he'd definitely get her a specially curated bouquet ( ok , admittedly , i think they both would do this but anyway ! ) of all of her favourite flowers as well as some of his own / one's that convey his affections well . . there's other little gifts that i could imagine him buying ( as phoney as those certificates are that say you own a star , i think that'd be super cute ) but i think he'd prioritise quality time with her if that counts as a gift ? for the first year , he knows she's not too comfortable with flashy dates so he'd treat her to a decent bottle of wine and cook for her as more of a ' home date ' and yes i imagine there are candles 😔👉👈 . .

#‎‎ ✦#⊱ mailbox ⊰#tw alcohol #hii btww ! i'm so sorry it took me so long to get to this 🥺🫶 just been feeling a little off lately 🩵

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minah-delacroix · 5 months ago

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Breaking Down Tech Magnate Sungjae Lee’s Watch Collection

Founder, chairman and CEO of magic tech company, StarLabs, shares part of his impressive collection of timepieces with Spellbound.

In this exclusive feature, British businessman Sungjae Lee briefly let us in on his favorite luxury watches, from the ultra exclusive custom-made Astronomia Solar Zodiac by Jacob & Co, which was personalized to reflect Lee’s style sensibilities, to the Summit 5.2 Smartwatch from his company’s recent collaboration with the muggle German luxury good manufacturer Montblac.

Jacob & Co’s Astronomia Solar Zodiac Custom-Made Watch

Part of a limited edition of just 101 pieces worldwide, the Astronomia Solar Zodiac is a unique and captivating design replicating the solar system on the dial with a variety of gemstones such as amethysts, sapphires, peridots, rhodonite, and red jasper. Lee’s custom piece features aquamarine and bloodstone — his birthstones — as well as a nod to his relationship to French businesswoman and style icon Minah Delacroix — a design of her birth’s constellation serves as the base of the exclusive timepiece.

Vacheron Constantin’s 6694 35 mm yellow gold, “The Batman”

A highly coveted and rare watch, the Vacheron Constantin 6694, best known as “The Batman,” is considered among the brand’s finest products. A quirky nod to his longtime fascination with the pop culture fictional icon Batman, this yellow gold watch is one of Lee’s favored timepieces. The magic tech creator's “The Batman” watch flaunts rare features that set it apart from the regular pieces available in the market — diamond hour markers and an original Vacheron Constantin chronometer rating certificate. As Lee shared with Spellbound, “The Batman” is his go-to piece on regular days and one of his most worn timepieces.

A. Lange & Söhne’s Saxonia Thin Limited Edition

Another well-loved and frequently used piece in Lee’s collection is the rather underrated Saxonia Thin by A. Lange & Söhne. The watch delivers a minimalist, but elegant design focusing on essential functions. Lee’s timepiece belongs to a limited edition range of just 50 pieces of the Saxonia Thin with a touch of night sky on a solid silver dial coated with blue gold flux. Leaning on his affinity with stars and space imagery, this German watch is on rotation in Lee’s wrist wardrobe and, he tells us, is a reminder of his family ties as the piece was a gift from his father.

Patek Philippe’s Golden Ellipse

Fitting for his signature aesthetics and minimalist wardrobe, the Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse is Lee’s next watch of choice. Refined, luxurious and timeless, this design is a an everyday essential that matches nearly any occasion.

"I focus on the design and functionality," Lee tells Spellbound. "I look for watches that double as accessories, suitable for daily wear, work, or special occasions." The Patek Philippe Golden Ellipse surely fits the bill.

StarLabs x Montblanc Summit 5.2 Smartwatch

Luxe meets top-notch tech in the latest collaboration between StarLabs and Montcblac: the Summit 5.2 Smartwatch. This design combines advanced technology with the craft of classic watchmaking, resulting in an innovative companion that can be worn on the wrist and linked to magic tech apps, social media services and a suite of health and security monitoring sensors.

Lee shares with Spellbound, “Although this watch can easily be mistaken for a classical analogue watch at first glance, it is equipped with advanced magic tech technologies including an Augmented Reality system and security features.” For added personalization, the timepiece comes with both an elegant leather strap and a sporty rubber strap. Alternatively, you can purchase any of Montblanc’s many stylish smartwatch straps to suit your look.

...

#oc #gossip witch #gossip girl au #edits #min yoongi #yoongi #hp au #sungjae lee #bts au

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crystalelemental · 1 year ago

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Alright, here goes. Bingo Board for fourth anniversary. These are all of my hopes and fears.

Please Poison. Essentially, please give us a good Poison pair. This can be one of two things. Geeta with Glimmora, or any form of Lusamine alt with Nihilego. If the VA does focus on villains for once, maybe there's still hope.

BP Roxanne. Every year I hope for it. Every year it fails me. When will Roxanne get her Golem?

Geeta. I still believe in Paldea-versary, no way did they big up Nemona to not do anything Paldea focused. Geeta is the long-shot hope. She's an unpopular champion, but hopefully DeNA doesn't know that and just hears "champion."

C!Elesa and SS Hau. They're going to rerun with the Electric High Score. I can feel it. SS Lysandre reran early with Water, Hau will rerun early for this, and we'll finally get C!Elesa to rerun.

Morgan Master BP. It's her or Dana. I am hoping for her. Virizion with Grass Teamwork, make it happen.

Variety Select Scout. I'm kinda surprised it's not already a thing. This feels really simple. Variety Scouts aren't super popular, but a free pick of one for like 3k gems? Some people (me) would go for it.

VA Actually Satisfying. 80% of the villain arc sucked. Here's hoping the ending is good.

Palmer Real. I personally think BP Master Ticket, but some hope for more. If he's even here I'll be surprised.

Master BP EX Unlocked. Sincerely, what is the holdup?

Actual Villain Alts. The VA is over, and some villains didn't get their due. Specifically, Archie, Maxie, Ghetsis, and Lusamine got fuckall. Where are their alts. "What about Guzma?" Yeah sure him too I guess.

Special Costume. Mirroring last year, a special costume alt in the second half. Bonus points if it's more exciting to me than anniversary proper.

Mega Mewtwo X. Everyone anticipates it. The counterpart to Giovanni's shit, and given the Mewtwo runs in Scarlet/Violet, it's mirroring Jirachi, where everything bigged up a legend and then Masters followed suit.

VA Ending. Confirmed.

Paulo. Feels like it'd be weird to end this whole arc and not introduce Paulo. I mean, he's kinda...required. The Villain Arc was his arc.

Leaf Alt. If it has to be Kanto, please let it be Leaf.

3* Flying Gear. I don't really know who, but I think Flying has waited long enough. I don't see Bug alt this month, so that's for later.

NC Silver. Many guesses have been made about the function of the villain arc ending. Somehow, few guess a Silver alt. He has the most beef with Giovanni and didn't get anything for the VA, come on.

Paldea Protags. I feel confident in Miradon/Koraidon. Protagonists are one avenue, and they are the worse one.

Classic Elesa Expansion. If she reruns, it's damn near guaranteed.

Kanto Lodge. Kanto's way behind in the lodge game, it feels likely. Probably Red but who knows.

AI Professors. The better ending for Miraidon/Koraidon alts.

Galar BP. Anyone. I don't care enough to make demands, but Galar needs F2P options that aren't just Hop.

Miraidon. Given Electric High Score, this feels like a guarantee. Even if it's not both, Miraidon feels very, very likely.

Dusk Lycanroc. More than likely, this is Paulo's partner. They've been setting this up a long time.

No New Level Cap. Please. For me. Certificates of Excellence are hard enough to get, and now doubling the number needed per new unit to cap out? It's too much. We barely made headway on what currently exists.

#poma bingo

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nwbeerguide · 10 months ago

Text

Stone Brewing Company adds Stone Delicious Hazy IPA to their already popular lineup.

Press Release

ESCONDIDO, CA (January 31, 2024) – Stone Brewing, among the world’s most renowned IPA breweries, introduces a new addition to its popular lineup of Delicious IPAs. Stone Delicious Hazy IPA is now available on draft and in cans year-round and nationwide. Thanks to this fourth Stone Delicious variation, the brewery also announces the anticipated release of a Stone Delicious IPA Variety 12-Pack in addition to its innovative variety six-pack.

The newly expanded Stone Delicious lineup includes:

Stone Delicious Hazy IPA (7.2% ABV) Brewed with Sabro, El Dorado and Azacca hops, giving the beer intense creamsicle, peach and pineapple flavors with a beautiful slightly opaque appearance.

Stone Delicious IPA (7.7% ABV) The original Stone Delicious IPA packs a refreshing and hoppy lemon candy flavor making it especially complementary to an array of foods and a superior standalone IPA.

Stone Delicious Double IPA (9.4% ABV!) A beer that stands out with a serious depth of flavor and explosive aroma of lemon and tropical fruit from Centennial and Amarillo hops. With less bitterness than a typical double IPA, this one is extra fruity, extra gratifying and extra Delicious.

Stone Delicious Citrus IPA (7.7% ABV) Brewed with Talus hops that impart vibrant citrus notes complemented by the addition of sweet orange peel. The result is especially bright and satisfyingly juicy.

Stone Delicious Hazy IPA – like all the beers in the Delicious series – also happens to be gluten reduced. In fact, each beer clocks in below the FDA requirement for “gluten free” labeling (less than 20 parts per million). A gluten-reduced Hazy IPA is hard to come by. Not only does this one exist, but it also packs an unparalleled flavor rendering that gluten conversation nearly irrelevant. The beer is juicy, creamy and full-bodied with notes of peach candy, orange, vanilla and sweet pineapple.

“The Brewing Team takes the challenge of calling a beer ‘Delicious,’ very seriously and all four of the beers need to live up to that name,” explained Jeremy Moynier, Senior Manager of Brewing & Innovation. “Stone Delicious Hazy IPA definitely lives up to the Delicious standard and is a great addition to the Delicious family of beers.”

Fans of Delicious things can find Stone Delicious Hazy IPA nationwide in stand-alone six-pack as well as in Stone Delicious Variety Six-Packs and Stone Delicious Variety 12-Packs. Find them nearby at Find.StoneBrewing.com or order online in select states at Shop.StoneBrewing.com.

...

ABOUT STONE BREWING

Founded in 1996, Stone pioneered the West Coast Style IPA, helping to fuel the modern craft beer revolution and inspire generations of hop fanatics. Today Stone operates breweries in Escondido, CA and Richmond, VA plus seven tap room and bistro locations. Stone offers a wide range of craft beers including its most popular Stone IPA, Stone Delicious IPA and Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager. The company’s long list of environmental efforts includes a LEED Silver Certification, world-class water reclamation and creative uses of spent grain. Stone has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice. To find Stone beers, visit find.stonebrewing.com. For more information on Stone Brewing visit stonebrewing.com, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

#Stone Brewing Company #California #Escondido #San Diego #Beer #Press Release

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raxistaicho · 1 year ago

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How is Edelgard the best unit gameplay-wise ? She's my favorite character but I don't know much about unit tier-listing and all that

I made a post on this ages back, here you go:

Reddit also went into it here.

Here's some fun quotes from that:

S Tier - incredibly she somehow has an even better early game than the S-tier Byleths thanks to higher strength, easy access to Weight-3, brainless Armor Knight certification, and good base Authority for early Blaze. Transitions to flight at lv 10 and never needs to look back. Galeforces her way through any problematic Part 2 maps thanks to the frankly ludicrous Raging Storm. Pound for pound might be the best unit in the game thanks to how much better and more centralizing she is than Dimitri in the early game.

Girlboss indeed.

Edelgard is also very good before she gets her hands on Aymr as well, her bases are among the best in the game, 13 base Str + 55% growth means she puts a massive dent to anything she attacks from the get go and can reliably ORKO with Brave Weapons later on. She has decent bulk, the best in her house along with Ferdinand though Petra is better at baiting speedier enemies since she won't get doubled, that being said Black Eagles don't have a dedicated tank and you'd be better off recruiting Balthus who can do the job better. Her Charm is among the best in the game which means her Gambits have high Accuracy and hits hard and she can dodge enemies Gambits more reliably than most units in your team.

Edelgard is hands down the best unit in this game. I’d be inclined to put her in a tier by herself in S+, but going by the rubric laid out by OP she is S tier.

Edelgard thoroughly dominates the early portion of the game with the best base strength among students and outstanding bases in other stats. Her middling base speed is easily fixed by her easy access to Wt-3 and later Darting Blow. She can also certify in Armor Knight for a cheeky defense boost. She is tanky as heck, never gets doubled, deals out huge damage, and her personal allows her to snowball quite dramatically. She can be argued as the best early game unit, although Dedue, Leonie, Dimitri, and the Byleths are competitive.

Mid game she still dominates although she has some competition. She will basically be the best of the female flying units. Death and Darting Blow, along with Weight -3 and Hit +20 make her a fearsome combat unit. She will double quite frequently and has good survivability on enemy phase.

But once Chapter 13 rolls around, it’s all over for every other unit. Raging Storm is either the #1 or #2 most busted thing in the entire game depending on how you feel about Warp. Edelgard can legitimately beat maps by herself once she gets this ability. It’s so good that I have to force myself not to use it sometimes because I don’t want to just solo the game with her. The fact that all part 2 maps are boss kill just makes her complete overkill in this game.

She is better than her stepbrother. Not his fault, just the way the game is designed favors a broken PP unit more than a broken EP unit. I will say that Edelgard needs more investment to be amazing than Dimitri does, but at the end of the day she is just flat better than him, to a degree where the higher investment doesn’t sway me.

Best unit in the game imo. At worst she's FByleth but with better boons/tutoring, meaning easier access to armor skills/classes and wyverns. She's one your best early game units, to the point that I still rate her highly in Silver Snow. And of course there's Raging Storm. Awakening Galeforce was way too broken; restricting it so only 1 unit can use it 5 times in a row clearly solves the problem right? The one weakness she may have is that she wants to rely on crit in order to kill with Raging Storm, especially against bosses, but Crest of Flames prevents her from using defiant crit more consistently.

Yes, she is better than Dimitri. Dimitri heavily relies on bwrath/vantage and is much weaker without it, and it's painfully apparent in HBD and even some of the later chapters. Even without Amyr, Edelgard is still FByleth with better boons. While her strength/speed growths may be lower, she's actually going to outdamage/outspeed Dimitri for a very long time thanks to her bases and easier access to strong skills/classes. May be a different story if more route objectives were present, but in reality many maps just require defeating the commander(s), which Edelgard excels very well at.

#fire emblem three houses #edelgard von hresvelg

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