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demospectator · 2 years

Photo

“B 7. Store Window in Chinatown, S.F., Cal.” c. 1885. Photograph by Isaiah West Taber (from the Cooper Chow collection at the Chinese Historical Society of America). The “B” designation referred to Taber Photo’s “Boudoir Photos” sold in the 5 x 8 size

The characters 祥隆 (canto: “Cheung Lung”), literally “auspicious prosperity” appear in the center pane of the storefront window. A second sign is visible inside the store, inscribed with the characters “榮生,” which, when read from right to left would be “生榮” (canto: “Saang Wing”). In the lower left-hand corner of the photo, the vertical signage for a business located in the basement appears below the lower left corner of the window display area. The name 有記 (canto: “Yow Gay”) appears, followed by what appear to the characters 包料木工枱瞪 (canto: “bau liu muk gung toy duhng;” lit. “packing woodworking table”), indicating the business of a woodworker or carpenter. The ghostly figure of a vendor can be seen in the entryway at right, presumably overseeing the small sidewalk display to the left of the store entrance. His relationship to the operators of the interior store space is not apparent. The left-center portion of I.W. Taber’s photo of a “Store Window in Chinatown” shows the prominent 押 character on the signage for a pawnshop. Typical for that era, the two-part signage of the bat hanging upside down and holding a coin is suspended from underneath the overhang of the first story’s balcony.

Pawnshops of Old Chinatown

When the Chinese pioneers began to settle in America, the appearance of pawnshops and pawnbrokers in cities and Chinatowns throughout the Pacific Coast and the western United States, became inevitable. Pawnshops, offering loans to borrowers and secured by personal property collateral, had traced their history more than three millennia to ancient China.

For lower income groups, pawnshops have, in the words of professor Heiko Schrader, “a high outreach, are very often financially viable and have several advantages, compared to other institutions of the micro financial sector. Clients cannot fall into long-term indebtedness, due to the fact that they have to deposit a pawn of at least the same value. And for the pawnshop this pawn reduces the risk to provide a loan to poor people, and monitoring is not necessary.”

“Street in Chinatown, San Francisco. Completely Burned. No. 2168,” published c. 1906. Photographer unknown for the Photo. Co. of America, Chicago. The street is the pre-1906 pawnshop row along the north side of Washington Street at the southern entrance to Ross Alley. The pawnshop signage for the On Wing (安榮) store at 828 Washington appears in the center of the photo.

The photographic record of old San Francisco Chinatown’s streetscape provides numerous scenes of the southern Chinese pawn shop sign – the 押 character or symbol (canto: “aap”), literally a “mortgage” or pledge. Additional signage showing a bat holding a coin 蝠鼠吊金錢 (lit. “bat mouse hanging money;” canto: “fūk syú diu gām chin”), signifying fortune and the benefits denoted by the coin, can be discerned.

“The Sign of the Pawn Shop” c. 1896-1906. Photograph by Arnold Genthe (from the Genthe photograph collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division). A print of a similar image appears in Old Chinatown : a book of pictures by Arnold Genthe with text by Will Irwin (New York : M. Kennerley, 1913, p. 195). The signage for the pawnbroker, Hang Lee & Co. (亨利押; canto: “Hung Lei aap;” pinyin: “Heng Li”) or “Pervasive Profit” pawnshop was located at 830 Washington Street near the entrance to Ross Alley, can be seen suspended in the foreground of the image. The Hang Lee pawnshop was located at 830 Washington Street, on the northwest corner of Washington Street and Stouts (or Ross) Alley – strategically situated within easy walking distance of gambling establishments and bordellos.

Historian Jack Tchen wrote in reference to Arnold Genthe’s photo “The Sign of the Pawnshop” for the Hang Lee & Co. as follows:

“Amid the gambling rooms where savings were quickly lost, pawnshops thrived. Pawnshops had very high counters upon which the item to be pawned would be place for inspection by an unseen shop worker, hidden behind the counter for security purposes. Often a man visiting his favorite prostitute or singsong girl would stop by the shop and pick up a present. [Arnold] Genthe developed his collection of jades by frequenting these stores. “

The residents of old Chinatown preferred to hold liquid assets in the form of gold or gems because of the relative ease with which they could arrange loans from pawnshops when they needed cash urgently. The neighborhood’s pawnbrokers located their shops in strategic proximity to houses of gambling and/or prostitution, with particular concentrations of shops on Washington and Jackson Streets.

“Dupont St. Wood Carriers of Chinatown Sf Cal.” c. 1890. Photograph by A.J. McDonald (from the Marilyn Blaisdell collection). The wood carriers might have been based on Dupont Street, but the signage in the upper left-hand corner of the frame advertise the location of the Hang Lee & Co. pawnshop or “Pervasive Profit” pawnshop (亨利押; canto: “hung lei aap”), at 830 Washington Street, at the northwest corner of Washington Street and Stouts (or Ross) Alley. Also, the barely discernible signage for the On Wing (安榮) pawnshop slightly down the eastern incline of the street at 828 Washington can be seen in the upper center of the photo.

"Hung Ai[sic] Art Co. doorway, August 24, 1901.” Photograph by D. H. Wulzen (from the D.H. Wulzen Glass Plate Negative Collection (Sfp 40), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library).

In contrast to the misfortune which befell his contemporaries, the glass negatives of photographer D.H. Wulzen survived the quake and fire of 1906. As a result, the San Francisco Public Library provides higher quality images of Wulzen’s work online, such as his 1901 photo of the Hung Hai Art Co. at 832 Washington Street. Its name (恒泰) and address appear clearly in the center of the photo, as well as a prominent 押 (canto: “hung tai aap”) character emblazoned on an oversized coin topped by the usual inverted bat icon which holds the coin.

Additional confirmation of the address location on Washington Street may be found by the partially-obscured signage of its adjacent pawnshop, the Hang Lee & Co. (亨利押; canto: “hung lei aap”). The Hang Lee shop was located below street-level at 830 on the northwest corner of Washington Street and Stouts (or Ross) Alley.

The below-street grade location of the Hang Lee & Co. pawnshop at 830 Washington Street on the northwest corner of the intersection of Washington Street and Ross Alley, c. 1900. Photograph by Henry H. Dobbin (from the Marilyn Blaisdell collection).

Detail of the locations of Chinese pawnbrokers’ shops on the north side of Washington Street as depicted on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ special committee map of July 1885 (from the Cooper Chow collection at the Chinese Historical Society of America). The address numbers of 828 (at the northeast corner of the inverse “T”-intersection and 830 (which was located below street level were omitted by the 1885 survey.

“136. Pawnbroker’s Shop, Chinatown, San Francisco, Cal.” no date. Photographer unknown, stereograph published by The Thomas Mfg. Co., Dayton, Ohio (from the private collection of Wong Yuen-ming).

A single print (from a private collection) of the north side of Washington Street at the entrance to Ross Alley, flanked on the left by the Hung Hai Art Co. at no. 832, Hang Lee & Co. at no. 830, and, to the right of the entrance, the On Wing shop at 828 Washington Street. The trio of businesses represented a strategic and convenient cluster of pawnshops which San Francisco’s 1885 “vice map” recorded as occupying the north-side frontage of Washington extending west from Dupont Street and across Stouts (a.k.a. Ross) Alley.

The Horn Hong Company’s business calendar-directory of 1892 shows the pawnshops located in the 800-block of Washington Street, flanking the southern entrance to Ross Alley’s gambling establishments..

The 1885 map and the various business directories for Chinatown of the 1890’s show the pawnbrokers (including the Hung Hai company’s predecessor, Fong Chong Fook Kee & Co, which had occupied the 832 Washington premises during the 1880s and early ‘90s), had strategically situated themselves adjacent to, and within easy walking distance of, the gambling establishments and bordellos on Ross Alley.

Three Children outside of the Hung Hai Art Co. pawnshop at 832 Washington Street and Ross Alley. The signage for the pawnbroker, Hang Lee & Co. (亨利押; canto: “Hung Lei aap;” pinyin: “Heng Li”) or “Pervasive Profit” pawnshop at 830 Washington Street is visible above the head of the boy in the right half of the frame. Photograph by Arnold Genthe, c. 1896 – 1906 (from the collection of the Library of Congress).

“Ross Alley Chinatown 1904.” Photograph by Henry H. Dobbin (from the collection of the California State Library). At right, the sign for the 巨興 (canto: “Geuih Hing”) or “Great Prosperity” pawnshop can be seen.

“The Morning Market” c. 1896-1906. Photograph by Arnold Genthe (from the Genthe photograph collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division).

In the center of Arnold Genthe’s “Morning Market” photo of a Jackson Street block dominated by grocery stores, the glass windows of the Kung Wo pawnshop (公和押; pinyin: “Gunghe;” canto: “Gung Wo aap;” lit. “Honorable Peace Mortgage”) can be seen in the center of the photo at 639 Jackson Street, between the grocers Tuck Wo (德和) at 635 Jackson and Yee Chong (裕昌) at 639 Jackson.

The Chinese preferred to buy assets like gold or gems because of the relative ease with which they could arrange loans from pawnshops when they needed cash urgently. To respond to the cash demands by the dominant population of single male workers for the recreational services provided by sex workers and gambling operations, pawnshops proliferated in old Chinatown.

Detail from San Francisco’s 1885 vice map of the location of the predecessor pawnbrokerage to the Kung Wo pawnshop (公和押; pinyin: “Gunghe;” canto: “Gung Wo aap;” lit. “Honorable Peace Mortgage”) which would occupy 639 Jackson Street at the time of Arnold Genthe’s photo of the block, “The Morning Market.” The pawnshop was located at the top of the T-intersection of Jackson Street and the southern end of Bartlett Alley. The alley contained the highest concentration of Chinese houses of prostitution as depicted by the “C.P.” coding in the San Francisco Board of Supervisors’ special committee map of July 1885 (from the Cooper Chow collection at the Chinese Historical Society of America).

According historian Jack Tchen notes, “[Chinatown’s] pawnbrokers were primarily located on Jackson and Washington Streets, near the concentration of gambling rooms,” and the city’s 1885 “vice map” shows such location, as well as near houses of prostitution.

“Ross Alley, Chinatown” 1886. Oil painting by Edwin Deakin. The painting depicts a Chinese New Year’s celebration at the southern end of Ross Alley as viewed from Washington Street and the pawnshops flanking the entrance to the alleyway.

Having operated for more than three decades, Chinatown’s pawnshops were all destroyed during the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906. However, the pawnbrokers reestablished their shops in the rebuilt neighborhood and often on familiar streets.

This post-1906 photo shows the T.G. Kong Co. pawnshop at the renumbered street address of 852 Washington Street, on the same northwest corner of Washington Street and Ross Alley.

The reminiscences of longtime Chinatown resident, Lyle Jan, about the new Chinatown’s pawnshops provide insights into how business was conducted during the era between the world wars:

“There were several pawn shops in Chinatown. I remember one in particular. It was located on the corner of Waverly Place next to Washington Street. I remember this particular pawnshop because my mother often visited this shop whenever we were short of cash.

“The pawn broker, or as he was also called, the moneylender, would provide money with interest, on personal property deposited with him as security. The pawnbroker kept the personal property until the borrower paid off his loan. Chinese gold jewelry is a personal property that can be easily pawned. The moneylender knew that if the borrower did not redeem the item, the gold jewelry would be fairly easy to sell to customers who seek a bargain on gold jewelry. The unredeemed gold jewelry is also attractive to goldsmiths who can melt the gold and make new jewelry from it.

“As a bit of added interest, during the 1930s and even up to the 40s, the street windows of pawn shops in Chinatown were boarded up so that passerbys on the street could not see the person inside the shop making a transaction. Inside the shop, the borrower faced an approximate 6 foot high counter with a wrought iron framework on the top. There was an opening in the framework much like the one for a teller in a bank. The borrower would hand the item he wanted to pawn with a raised arm and give it to the moneylender seated behind the opening of the wrought iron framework. The moneylender appraises the item to be pledged as security for the loan, then quotes the loan amount plus interest available to the borrower. If the borrower agrees to the loan terms, the money and a receipt is handed down to the borrower by the money lender. At no time was there a direct face to face contact between the moneylender and the borrower. . . .

“Customer at pawnbroker's shop remains hidden, slips camera through window for the Chinese consider it a disgrace to pawn anything”, 1944. Photograph by James Wong Howe on assignment for LOOK magazine (from the collection of the Bancroft Library).

“The reason for the boarded street windows and the high counter between the moneylender and borrower was an effort to provide privacy for the borrower during the loan transaction. It was considered a loss of face for anyone to go to a pawnshop to borrow money. This privacy bit was rather comical, in that probably more than half of the Chinatown residents have had to walk into the portals of a pawn shop for cash to tie them over temporarily, especially during the Depression Years in America. I wouldn't be surprised that when a borrower walked out the doors of a pawnshop after receiving a loan, his best friend or relative might be just walking in to pawn his or her personal property.

“There was another purpose for the high counter besides privacy. In case there was an attempted robbery, the height of the high counter would act as a physical obstacle to the robber.”

-- from China 2227 Long, Long Ago: Memoirs of Old San Francisco by Lyle Jan (Infinity Publishing.com, 2005)

The Yick Lung Co. pawnshop operated at 852 Washington Street on the same northwest corner of Washington Street and Ross Alley as had its pre-1906 predecessor pawnbrokers. The proprietor’s name was Alexander Dea. Photographer unknown.

The sign of the Foo Wah Cheung hangs over the premises of 852 Washington Street at Ross Alley on June 8, 2022. Photograph by Doug Chan

“Toymaker Off Ross Alley” Oil painting by Mian Situ. This historically-inspired painting by Situ depicts a street artist working under the faded signage of a pawnshop in front of a building façade (blending elements from the Hung Hai Art Co.’s Washington Street store frontage and the Ross Alley streetscape) from pre-1906 Chinatown. Although purporting to depict old Chinatown, the artist’s juxtaposing children with a deteriorating pawnbroker’s sign foreshadows the decline of a business sector which had served the old bachelor society and the concurrent rise of fully-formed families in the community.

With the dramatic growth of the Chinese population and families in Chinatown, the neighborhood’s once-ubiquitous pawnshops no longer play as prominent a role in the micro-economy of the once-segregated community. The pawnbrokers have faded from view, their functions assumed in large part by institutional lenders and the jewelry stores. They remain, however, an integral part of the colorful and historical past of San Francisco Chinatown’s.

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“Arrest in Chinatown, San Francisco, Cal.” (c) October 25, 1897 by Thomas A. Edison, Inc., from the collection of the Library of Congress. “This film shows the arrest and conveyance of a Chinese man in Chinatown, watched by a crowd of onlookers. The precise date of this film and the arrest charge are uncertain. It is possible that the arrest was connected with the smuggling of illegal immigrants from China. By mutual agreement between China and the United States, a small quota of merchants and students was allowed to immigrate yearly, but few legal immigrants actually were of these professions, and illegal immigration continued. One of the San Francisco residences for new arrivals was located at 830/832 Washington Street, the general location from which the arrest[ed] party ascends at the start of the film. . ..” The signs of the pawnshops can be seen in the background.

#Pawnshops of San Francisco Chinatown #Chinatown pawnbrokers #Sign of the Pawnshop #Arnold Genthe #I.W. Taber #Hang Lee & Co.#Hung Hai Art Co.#On Wing #Horn Hong Company #Kung Wo pawnshop #Washington St.#Jackson St.#Ross Alley #Bartlett Alley #James Wong Howe #Mian Situ

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doyumacy · 4 years

Text

FALLOUT |LH| TWO

gif not mine

PAIRING: donghyuck x reader bodyguard!donghyuck

WARNINGS: mentions of yuta. swearing, blood (i’ll let you know when there are parts with blood mentions), smut (let you know), violence, angst

WORD COUNT: 2,9K

ONE TWO THREE

It had been a week since Donghyuck was working as your personal bodyguard and things were apparently going well. The threats had stopped, but they didn't want to let their guard down in case something happened.

Donghyuck and you had got a little closer since they used to spend quite a lot of time together. One night, you left the office at one o'clock in the morning and after Donghyuck insisted you eat something, you ended up eating at a stall in a street in downtown Seoul.

You took the opportunity to get to know each other a little bit better and Donghyuck told you that he wanted to be a music producer and went to music school, but his father never approved it and had to devote himself to what he did.

On the other hand, you shared that you never thought of becoming a CEO. You always pictured yourself a baker and having a small bakery, but somehow you weren't a great baker. He found it very interesting how the tables turned.

On Wednesday, Donghyuck arrived earlier than normal and you extended your hand and shook his, greeting him, pleased to note how firm and strong his handshake was. Why did a handshake suddenly seem so much more evocative? You had shaken hundreds, thousands, of men’s hands and none, not even your ex-partners, had a touch that brought shivers to your spine like that.

Maybe that day wouldn’t be so bad after all. You thought.

You had been told that one of your negotiations had been called off and they notified you right after you arrived at their building. What a waste of time.

“Ma’am, I was wondering if we could discuss you using the underground entrance from now on?” Donghyuck inquired.

No, it was still a bad morning. With one question, the attractive bodyguard brought on you wrath and was anything but attractive to you anymore. How many times have you instructed the driver and the staff that you were going to continue to enter the Genesis Intelligence Headquarters.

And how many times did you need to remind Donghyuck to call you (Y/N), not “Ma’am“?

“I’m late for a meeting,” you snapped. You turned on your shoes and started towards the building.

As irritated as you were, you were still aware of the presence of the well-built Donghyuck a few steps behind you and caught a glimpse of him in the window’s reflection as you entered the building. Hmmm, you sighed. «Even if he does annoy me, he is still lovely to look at.»

In your irritation and your attempt to get back on schedule, you lost sight of Donghyuck for the next ninety minutes. The 9:30 meeting to which you were late did not go well. Again.

As you exited the meeting to take his 10:00 call, Lia approached you. “I’ve confirmed your slot with Lee Youngjoon for tomorrow, but Nakamoto Yuta wants to see you at 10:45 this morning, instead of 11:30. He insisted.”

You frowned. Yuta? You hadn't heard or seen him in a year and suddenly he wanted a meeting with you?

You glanced at your watch. It was just shy of 10:00. If you were lucky, you could take your call and still make it to 10:45.

“Why?” You demanded.

“I don’t know, but he was very persistent.” Lia came to the response.

“Fine. Make sure to update security on the change in plans,” You instructed Lia. “Thanks, Lia.”

Fifteen minutes later, while in the middle of your 10:00 call, Donghyuck knocked on her door. Oh right, him. He entered your office without waiting for your response. You glared at him as you put your call on hold.

“Ma’am, we need to be leaving for your meeting if you want to make it on time.”

“I’m afraid you have the time wrong. We have another fifteen minutes and I need to finish this call.”

“No, ma’am. We need to take an alternate route. If we don’t leave now, you’ll be late.”

You continued glaring at Donghyuck. “Why? What’s wrong with our regular route? I could walk there faster than what you’re proposing.”

“I don’t doubt that ma’am, but I would advise against it. It’s all for your safety, ma’am.”

It seemed unlikely that you would win on this one. You ended your call, gathered your things, and followed Donghyuck to the elevators, where he selected the basement level rather than the ground floor. You shook your head and sighed. Once the elevator stopped, Donghycuk led you through to the underground entrance, where your car was waiting.

“Donghyuck, this will be the first and only time you have me use the underground entrance, do you understand?“ Your tone was scathing.

Donghyuck nodded in silence and as he held open the car door for you, your hand accidentally brushed against his and you couldn’t help but catch a whiff of his cologne. You froze. For three seconds, the world stopped. You were distracted by how attractive Donghyuck was. You almost didn’t want to move. You wanted to be as close to him as possible, for as long as possible.

Your reverie was broken by the sound of a car horn somewhere else in the garage. You felt a rush of heat flood to your cheeks. You slid down into his seat as Donghyuck closed the car door, hoping that he hadn’t noticed any of this. That behaviour, those reactions, were completely out of character. Even after the car started moving, you couldn’t quite shake the feeling of butterflies in your stomach.

…

“You look as beautiful as usual, sweetheart,” Yuta greeted you planting a kiss on your cheek.

“It’s nice to see you, too,” you told him.

Yuta clicked his tongue, not sure what if he had done something wrong. “Come.” With that, you walked into his office,, leaving the door open. Donghyuck gave you a look and stood right in the door, turning his back on you.

“Since when do you have a dog following you around?” Yuta raised an eyebrow, sitting on his chair, eyeing Donghyuck. “I think I’ve seen him before.”

“He’s my bodyguard, not my dog,” you corrected him and sat in front of him. “And why don't you ask him?

Yuta shook his head. “Maybe he was someone else’s dog before you.”

You rolled your eyes. “Why did you want to see me?”

“Because I missed you.”

“Cut the crap.”

Yuta giggled. “You’re really having a bad day, huh? What happened?”

You sighed and relaxed on the chair. “The guy from Hong Kong called off the negotiation this morning and I was counting with that money for the new software we were going to launch next year. And he fucking called me right when I was outside the building!”

“I warned you about him, sweetie.”

“That’s the last thing I need right now, Yuta,” you glanced at him.

“I know, I’m sorry,” he nodded. “What if I invest in it?”

“You?” You looked at him. “Why would you do that? We’re literally direct competition.”

“We could launch it together. Right now your A.I is one of the best in the market, and I’m not gonna lie: I’m a bit jealous,” he admitted. “You combine tasks such as teaching self-driving cars to avoid accidents, assessing damage of a natural disaster, and detecting parking lot usage. This is all done through drone and satellite imagery.”

“Who in hell would've come up with that?” Yuta looked at you. “I can help you penetrate the Japanese market and get even bigger.”

You bite your lip. It’s true, during the last year you did everything to crack the Japanese market but failed and since Yuta’s company was a large and established company there, he could help you.

“You are really willing to negotiate with me?” You asked him.

He nodded. “I’ve known you for many years and I have followed your work. I’m pretty sure Genesis Intelligence could take over Industrial artificial intelligence.”

You stayed quiet for a couple of seconds and stood up walking around his office. “I need to think about it. You’re my friend and I don’t want business to screw things up.”

Yuta laughed and stood next to you placing a hand on your shoulder. “If sex didn’t screw things up neither will this.”

“Oh my, God. Shut up,” you hissed, looking to where Donghyuck was standing. He didn't even seem to move. You looked back at Yuta. “I’m gonna leave.”

Yuta chuckled and caressed your shoulders. “Stay, it’s been so long since we saw each other.”

You squint your eyes looking at him. “I’m not gonna fuck with you in your office.”

“I never said anything about fucking, but if you want me to bend you over my d-” You placed a hand on his mouth to stop him from talking and sighed.

“I’ll tell my assistant to call you so we can arrange a meeting soon with the rest of the staff,” you told him and grabbed your purse.

“I’m looking forward,” he smirked.

You nodded and started making your way out of the office when he called you. “(Y/N)?”

You turned around. “Yes?”

“Your ass looks incredibly hot today in those dress pants,” he smiled at you.

“Good afternoon, Yuta,” you said leaving his office.

Donghyuck started walking behind you, escorting you and didn’t understand why the comments Yuta made got him upset. Was he your boyfriend? Ex-boyfriend, perhaps? Your lover?

Why did he even care? It wasn't as if he was interested in you. He had a task he must comply with. Just another job. That's what this was supposed to be. He had done it dozens of times, killed someone for money, that is. He'd earned a reputation among others in his trade for being discreet, efficient, and the ability to make it look like an accident. He quite enjoyed it, too. It was an outlet for his creativity and frustration and he had a lot to be frustrated about.

You two were sharing the enclosed, confined space of a gaudy elevator. The metal around you was pristine, without a single smudge to be seen. Directly behind you, it seemed a ceiling to floor mirror was installed over the wall of the elevator... For what reason, Donghyuck sure. He wasn't much of an aestheticist anyway, prefered things to be plain or simple in design.

There was an awkward silence and you cursed Yuta’s building which had 25 floors. The ride was long.

“So… Mr. Nakamoto and you?” Donghyuck broke the silence. You looked at him, frowning. “Right, sorry. It’s none of my business.”

You scratched your forehead and then snickered leaning against the metal wall. “I’m guessing you heard our conversation. Sorry about that.”

“No, please. I apologise. Again, it’s none of my business, ma’am.”

“Yuta and I used to… be really good friends,” you looked at him. “That’s in the past, and it’s even more buried now that we’re gonna be partners. It wouldn't be ethical.”

Donghyuck nodded. “Got it, ma’am.”

You huffed and rolled your eyes. “You need to stop calling me ‘ma’am. I feel like a 50 year old woman.”

“Sorry ma’am, but you don't look anything like a 50 year old woman,” Dongyuck glanced at you.

Your overactive imagination can’t help but bring that off-handed comment to life inside your head. You smiled. "Thank you. So, will you stop calling me that?"

"No."

You sighed. "Please?"

Donghyuck laughed lightly. “You worry too much about that.”

“Yes,” You didn't deny it. “It's strange. You're only 2 years older than me and are ma'aming me everyday.”

Donghyuck smirked at the word you used. “You’re my boss. I’m just being professional.”

Your mouth opened to speak, but the elevator suddenly shook, the lights flicker, and you stumbled. Donghyuck reacted without hesitation, sidestepping to make sure that you fall into his chest instead of to your knees. The emergency light of the elevator turned on, and you two shared a glance at each other.

“Did it break?” A stupid question, you're sure.

Donghyuck hummed, stepping away from you and towards the elevator door before banging a fist against it. He checked the elevator buttons, then leaned back to glance up at the dial above the door - you're stuck between the sixth and fifth floor. Donghyuck pulled out his cellphone and groaned. "I have no signal."

You breathed a couple of times and looked at him. "Am I under attack? Am I gonna get killed here? Did someone plan this?!"

"Hey, hey," Donghyuck cupped your face with his hands and stared at you. "It's just a shut down. You're okay, nothing will happen to you as long as you're with me."

You nodded and closed your eyes trying to relax. Donghyuck's hands around your face felt like heaven; they were warm and soft. You opened your eyes again just to see a Donghyuck still staring at you. You could drown in that look. "Better?"

"Yeah, thank you," you whispered.

Donghyuck let go of your face and you hated the feeling of emptiness he left.

The bright lights flickered on and made you squint. You clapped your hands together cheerfully, turning to look at the dial over the door that begins to move again. “Oh, thank God!"

“Told you,” Donghyuck smiled at you. “Shall we?”

“Yeah.”

…

Your hands moved from his shoulders to the top button of his shirt. As you slowly unfastened button after button, your piercing eyes met his. Donghyuck thought he might come just from the intensity of your look and the feel of your fingers opening up his shirt. Donghyuck’s fingers grazed across your stomach and you shivered. Your hands moved around to Donghyuck's back, underneath his shirt. You pulled him closer to you, but not close enough that your lower halves touched. In fact, it appeared that he intentionally stopped their lower halves from touching. In one quick movement, you had Donghyuck shirtless. He barely registered when you started kissing his neck and then his chest with soft kisses. When your hands reached the top of his pants, you slipped them between the fabric and his skin. Grabbing the top of your ass, he finally pulled his lower half in contact with your lower half...

BEEP BEEP BEEP

Donghyuck awoke with a start. His breath erratic, his heart racing. It took him a few seconds to realize where he was and what was happening. Donghyuck looked around his room, around his bed. Both were empty, as always. It was a dream. Just a dream. You weren’t there.

He groaned when realised someone had woken up very ‘pleased’ that morning. Donghyuck ran a hand through his hair and got out of bed walking to the bathroom and taking care of his ‘problem’ and getting ready to go to work.

And that same night, you sat in the venue dressing room where you were about to make a speech, reviewing your notes. Donghyuck stood silent and still by the hallway door.

Lia entered the room, carrying several cups of coffee and a bag of food. It was about damn time. You had requested the coffee as soon as you got there; what had taken her so long? You had less than ten minutes to down the cup of decaf.

After having two sips of coffee, the venue manager called you so you could wait backstage since you would be on it in 5 minutes.

As the presenter made his little speech, you tried to crack your fingers for the third time in the day. You were nervous and Donghyuck noticed it. “If you keep trying to do that you’re gonna end up with no bones to crack for the rest of your life.”

“Huh?” You looked at him and then giggled. “Sorry, it’s just that… I’m nervous.”

“I never thought you were the nervous type when it came to speeches,” he said.

“It’s not about giving the speech, it's about who is here,” you sighed.

“And that is?” Donghyuck raised both eyebrows.

“My father.” You admitted.

“He 's here?”

You nodded and your eyes went to the crowd looking for him until you spotted him. “Do you see the man with the grey suit and a black tie, surrounded by 4 guards?”

Donghyuck’s eyes slyly followed yours and found the man you were talking about. He knew him from somewhere. He squinted to have a better look of his face and froze when he recognised. There was no way.

“... he technically is my father, but left my mom when I was a newborn and never came back. And 3 years ago he contacted me telling me he’s interested in my business but I have no plans to sell it or make a partnership by any means…”

Donghyuck was aware you were talking to him but he couldn’t stop looking at the man, or your father. Why would he want you dead? So he could take over your business? That was evil.

“Right?” You looked at him and shook your hand in front of him. “Donghyuck? Are you alright?”

“Yeah… yeah,” he shook his head and gave you a warm smile. “I was just… shocked to know he’s your father.”

“He’s a businessman with relations pretty much everywhere,” you said, “he’s so judgmental of my work but hasn’t even bothered to get to know me better. I guess he’s a natural dick.”

“He is… I mean, you’re great. He should feel lucky to have you, but he doesn’t appreciate that.” He looked at you. “You turned out great without him.”

“That’s what my mom says,” you beamed. “I should relax, what can he do to ruin me? Nothing.”

He gulped. Little did you know.

#donghyuck x reader #donghyuck imagine #donghyuck smut #haechan imagines #haechan x reader #haechan smut #nct x reader #nct haechan #nct dream

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underthewingsofthblackeagle · 4 years

Photo

Foto: Panorama Helsinki / Finland - Dom und Parlamentsplatz (by tap5a)

“We only do this for Fergus!” is a short Outlander Fan Fiction story and my contribution to the Outlander Prompt Exchange (Prompt 3: Fake Relationship AU: Jamie Fraser wants to formally adopt his foster son Fergus, but his application will probably not be approved… unless he is married and/or in a committed relationship. Enter one Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp (Randall?) to this story) @outlanderpromptexchange

Chapter 7: Coming home

"Papa, did you know that the Siberian tiger is the biggest cat in the world?"

"Papa, did you know that a monk invented soda water?"

"Papa, did you know why moka faux was invented?"

"Papa, did you know that the first Christmas market was held in Bautzen back in 1384?"

"Papa, do you know where the term 'glasses' comes from?"

"Papa, do you know if titmouse dumplings are good or bad for the birds?"

"Papa, did you know that Vikings didn't wear helmets with horns at all?"

"Papa, did you know when writing was invented and when apothecaries began to exist?"

Fergus spoke about squirrels, trees, dogs, lighthouses, penguins, pyramids, birdsong, whales and dolphins, and of course, The Mouse. And this, of course, every new evening. Afterwards, he let himself be told where his Papa was, what he had experienced and seen.

From Iceland, Fraser had flown first to the Swedish island of Gotland, then to Helsinki, and then back to Frankfurt am Main. One night later, he flew first to Bangkok, then to Hong Kong and finally to Taipei. The return trip took 22 hours and took him from Taipei via Bangkok and Amsterdam finally back to Berlin. He arrived there around noon and was picked up by a one of the company's chauffeurs. He had himself driven to the headquarters, where Ned Gowan was waiting for him and briefed him on current business developments over a light lunch. Fraser looked through his mail, packed a box of files, gave final instructions, and about 5 pm another chauffeur drove him to Potsdam. As the car left the underground garage, he dialed Claire's number and announced his arrival.

Claire was in the dining room when Jamie's call reached her. When she hung up, Fergus was standing in the doorway.

"Was that Papa?" he asked excitedly.

"Yes," Claire replied, unable to suppress a joyful smile.

A few minutes before 6 pm, Fraser's car turned into the street leading to the house. He asked the driver to stop for a moment. Then he opened the window a crack and took a deep breath of the cool evening air. Closing his eyes, he paused for a moment. Fraser knew exactly how Fergus would welcome him. But Claire he would meet today for the first time after ten days of absence. He had to prepare himself inwardly for that. He took another deep breath, then asked the driver to move on. Shortly after, the car stopped again. Contrary to his habit, Fraser got out in front of the front door and let the driver bring the car into the garage. He himself took only his briefcase. Once again, he took a deep breath, then opened the small gate in the fence that separated the property from the street. Through the skylight above the front door, he saw that lights were on in the entryway and the hallway. He took the steps of the small staircase with a few sweeping strides and was about to take his keys from his pocket when the front door opened and Claire smiled at him. He couldn't help but smile joyfully as well. Claire stepped aside and let him into the house. Fraser walked through the porch and as he stepped into the hallway, he saw Fergus standing in the doorway to the living room.

"Fergus!" he exclaimed joyfully.

"Hello, Papa," the boy replied, coming slowly toward him.

Fraser looked at him in wonder:

"Aren't you glad to see me again?"

The boy approached him and Jamie took him in his arms.

"Oh yes Papa, but I ... wanted to ... be considerate. Claire explained to me that you need to rest because you have Jack's leg."

The adults looked at each other and began to laugh uproariously. Now it was Fergus who looked at them in amazement. Claire approached Jamie, who still had Fergus in his arms.

"It's called 'jet lag', not 'Jack's leg'. But you'll learn that soon enough."

She stroked Fergus's brown curls and gave him a fleeting kiss on the forehead. Then she looked at Jamie and asked:

"Do you want to go to sleep right away, or are you going to stay a little longer? Are you hungry? Thirsty?"

"We'll sit in the living room for a bit, won't we Fergus?"

The boy nodded.

"Then I'll bring sandwiches and tea in a minute?"

Jamie nodded, and while Claire disappeared into the kitchen, Jamie carried Fergus into the living room, where he set him down on the sofa. Then he took off his coat and laid it over one of the armchairs. At that moment the door opened and Claire pushed a serving cart into the room. At the sight of the platters of sandwiches, Fergus straightened up in his seat expectantly. Jamie went to help Claire, but she directed him toward Fergus with a motion of her head. Jamie nodded, sat down, and pulled the boy close.

"Well, don't we have it good? Look, so many sandwiches!"

“Snack” by congerdesign

Jamie took one of the plates and held it out to Fergus. As expected, the youngster had a hard time deciding. But then he reached for a sandwich with chicken, tomato, and mozzarella. Meanwhile, Claire poured herbal tea into three cups and pushed two of the cups toward Jamie and Fergus. Then she, too, sat down. They stayed together for about 40 minutes, eating, drinking, and talking a bit. Then Jamie and Claire managed to convince Fergus that it was now time to go to bed. They agreed that Claire would put Fergus to bed alone one more time that night. Together they went upstairs to Fraser's apartment, where outside the door was his suitcase, laptop bag, and box of business documents. Jamie unlocked the door and let Fergus and Claire go inside. Then he put the things away in his study. Half an hour later he was lying in his bed, freshly showered and fast asleep. Fergus, too, had already fallen asleep. Claire, on the other hand, had retired to the guest room, where she would sleep that night as well.

Fraser had put his smartphone on his nightstand, not thinking that it had rejoined the domestic network when he entered the house. He shouldn't realize it until several hours later.

Iphone by Pexels

Claire woke up immediately when she heard the cry that sounded from her smartphone paired with the baby monitor. Since she had been watching Fraser's son day and night, she no longer slept deeply, but was always on guard inside. She jumped out of bed, threw on her robe and ran out of the room. In the dark hallway, she bumped into a mountain of meat. Then the automatic light came on and she recognized Jamie.

"What are you doing sneaking around outside my door?" she snapped at him.

"I'm not sneaking around your door! I heard Fergus crying ..."

At that moment, another scream rang out from Fergus' room. Together they ran down the hallway. Claire reached the door first, threw it open, and rushed toward Fergus' bed.

"It's all right, Fergus. I'm right here, you just had a bad dream."

The boy woke up and looked at her with wide eyes. Then he clung to her. Claire began to sway slightly. Jamie sat down next to her and gently stroked Fergus's back.

"It's all right, Fergus. You don't have to be afraid. Claire and I are here."

Claire gave Fergus some water to drink, then accompanied him to the bathroom. Back in bed, Jamie wrapped him in his comforter. When they heard Fergus' steady breathing, they left the room. Slowly, they walked down the hall. Before Claire turned into her room, she said:

"I'm sorry I snapped at you like that ..."

"No problem, I ... had forgotten that my smartphone ..."

"It's okay ... Just turn it off. I am here if he should have another bad dream. But usually it doesn't happen twice in one night. Now go to sleep and get some rest. Good night."

"Good night, Claire."

Jamie slept until noon the next day. When Claire picked Fergus up from school, he came down from his apartment, talked to Mr. and Mrs. Curtius, and then strolled around the garden a bit. As soon as he heard the car turn into the driveway, he climbed the steps of the spiral staircase and headed for the dining room, where he planned to wait for Claire and Fergus. This time, his foster son's greeting turned out to be stormier:

"Papa! You're awake!" exclaimed Fergus, who looked into the dining room from the hallway and immediately wanted to rush toward Fraser. But Claire held him by his jacket:

"Fergus Fraser! First, we take off our dirty shoes and our jackets! We don't want to make Mrs. Curtius any more work than necessary, do we?"

"Sorry, Claire," the boy said a little meekly. He took off his shoes, put them on the shoe rack, and slipped into his slippers. But then he was unstoppable. He ran toward Fraser, who had leaned down and caught him with outstretched arms. Jamie carried the boy up to the dining room table, sat down in his seat, and settled Fergus on his lap. Claire put down her coat, took a deep breath, and then listened to the conversation that was developing between father and son. Fraser inquired how the school day had gone. Fergus reported, but then in turn kept asking about Fraser's trip and his well-being. When Fraser asked his son if he was hungry and he answered in the affirmative, he rang the bell and shortly thereafter Mrs. Curtius brought lunch. Now Claire also joined "the men."

“Modelleisenbahn” by naturfreund_pics

Jamie and Fergus spent the afternoon and early evening in the garden and then in the conservatory playing with their train set. Claire joined them only for tea and dinner. She had cleaned out the guest room and moved her things back to her apartment. After dinner, she said goodbye to Fergus with a quick kiss on his forehead. For the next few days, Fraser would be caring for his son alone, and Claire was looking forward to a few days with more free time to herself. However, as she sat at her desk and the time came when she would normally sit by Fergus' bedside and read to him, she missed that moment together. In fact, she had to force herself a bit to get back to the tasks she had set out to do that evening. Claire managed to distract herself for a few minutes, but then she suddenly thought of the evening Skype conversations she had had with Jamie every night for the past ten days. She realized that those evening conversations would now come to an end as well. They would all return to 'normality', whatever 'normality' meant in the Fraser-Fraser-Beauchamp constellation. And if she was honest, she had to admit to herself that she would miss the evening conversations with Fraser. But suddenly she was jolted from her thoughts by that familiar sound that announced the arrival of a video call. It was Jamie.

"Sorry Claire, I'm interrupting again today after all."

"Is something wrong with Fergus?"

"No, no, though of course he complained that … but I explained to him that he needs to give you a rest once in a while, too. The reason I'm getting back to you is ..." - Jamie sighed - " ... our meeting with your friend Geillis and her partner Dave .... I ... would then call him tomorrow and invite them over for next weekend ... if you're okay with that?"

"Yeah, let's get over with this," Claire replied with a slightly snippy tone in her voice.

"Claire, if you're not ..."

"No, no, I'm allright, I ... we are doing this for Fergus, after all."

"Speaking of Fergus. I've been thinking that I'm going to ask Mrs. Curtius if he can sleep at their livingroom that night."

"Why?"

"Well, uhm, so we don't run the risk that he might somehow slip ... regarding the status of our ... relationship."

"Well, that's a thought, of course ... But do you think he'll do it willingly?"

"I'll find some bait ..."

Fraser smiled.

"Well, Claire," he then said, "I'll get on the phone with Dave and tomorrow we'll talk again about it. Is that all right with you?"

"Sure, but I'll be out all day tomorrow and won't be back until dinner."

Jamie paused for a moment, then nodded.

"Of course, take as much time for yourself as you like. Good night, Claire!"

"Good night, Jamie."

The screen went dark, but a kind of home movie started playing in Claire's head that would keep her awake for some time.

“Kaffee” by congerdesign

Claire used her first day off in a long time to sleep in thoroughly. After taking a long shower and dressing a little warmer than usual, she went down to the kitchen, where Mrs. Kurtius was already preparing lunch for Jamie and Fergus. The caretaker offered her a cup of coffee, and while the two women talked about the experiences of the past few days, Claire made herself two sandwiches, which she ate at her leisure. Just as she was about to leave, Jamie returned, having brought Fergus, who had to be a little late for school that day, there.

"Good morn... uhm, good day, Claire."

"Good day, Jamie. I forgot to ask, but is the car free?"

Fraser looked at her in surprise for a moment.

"Basically, it is ... I uhm, wanted to pick up Fergus later though ..."

"I just want to get into the city," Claire replied, "it would only take 30 minutes and then I'd send the driver back. And tonight, I'd call to have him pick me up again around 5:30. Is that all right?"

"Sure. I don't have anything planned for today except a little paperwork, picking up Fergus, lunch, schoolwork, and then playing with him ... maybe we'll take a little walk to the lake, but, no, take the car. If something really important happens and I need a driver, I'll have one come from the company. Enjoy your day off!"

Claire nodded.

"Thanks!"

She put on her coat, picked up her bag, and moments later was gone in the elevator that took her to the garage.

Fraser watched her go, then stood in the hallway for a moment, undecided.

"Well, Mr. Fraser? How about some fresh coffee?"

Surprised, he looked over at Mrs. Curtius, who was still standing at the kitchen counter, watching the whole scene with interest.

"If it's strong, I'd love it," Jamie replied.

"There's only coffee here the way you like it: black, hot, and strong!"

Jamie climbed onto one of the counter chairs and Mrs. Curtius pushed a large mug of hot coffee toward him.

"Thank you, Mrs. Curtius," Fraser said with a smile, sipping his fresh coffee. Then he decided to seize the opportunity:

"Tell me, how have the past ten days been with Mrs. Beauchamp?"

“Museum Barberini” - by nofu

At the same time, Claire drove toward downtown and then dropped off in front of a bookstore. The bookseller greeted her warmly, and when he heard her name, his face lit up all the more. Claire had ordered some books, three of which had already arrived, others still awaited. She took the three books, paid, and then retreated to the back of the store, which was home to a small café. She placed her book bag in one of the large dark plush chairs and took off her coat. Before she had even sat down, a waitress appeared and took her order. Claire sat down, pulled up the small side table, and looked in the book bag. She took out one of the smaller copies and began to read. A few minutes later, the waitress brought her tea and a bagel - "smashed avocado, tomato, mint, arugula, and olive oil" - as the card announced it.

“Bagel” by sanfirabogdan

Claire enjoyed the food, but even more the peace and quiet that being in the store guaranteed her. Although the bookstore was bustling with comings and goings, and customers regularly showed up at the café to order pastries or other food as takeaways, patrons rarely strayed into the café's seating area on weekdays. Claire knew this from her previous visits and had chosen the day very deliberately. She stayed for a total of two hours, during which she ordered and ate a second bagel - "tapenade, goat cheese, arugula, tomato". She then strolled slowly through the city, enjoying looking at shop windows at her leisure. In the early afternoon, she visited a new exhibition at the Museum Barberini and then directed her steps toward the Dutch Quarter. There she wanted to try out a café that Ms. Curtius had recommended to her. And the caretaker had not promised too much. She was immediately impressed by the interior, the friendly manner of the staff, and the large, non-mainstream selection of baked goods. Again, Claire sat down as far as she could in the back of the café. She ordered a hot sea buckthorn juice with orange and cinnamon and a cake with blueberry lavender mousse. The time Claire spent enjoying the food and her reading flew by and after two hours it was time to call the driver to come pick her up.

“Haus Gutenberg / Hollänisches Viertel / Potsdam” via Von Clemensfranz - Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=19986832

Once home, Claire had dinner with Fergus and Jamie. Fergus, who had eaten two large sandwiches and some salad in no time, began to question Claire. Where had she been? What had she been doing? Jamie interrupted him:

"Fergus Fraser! That's not the way to do it. It's very rude to question someone like that. If Claire wants to tell us something, she will. And if she doesn't want to tell us anything, that's her right too. And besides, we're eating. You're not giving Claire any time at all."

The boy looked at the plate in front of him for a moment, embarrassed. He blushed to the tips of his ears. Then he looked at Claire:

"Please excuse me, Claire."

Claire gulped down her tea. Then she fleetingly stroked Fergus's hair:

"Apology accepted. You know, Fergus, we'll eat in peace now and then I'll tell you about my afternoon over another cup of tea. Is that okay?"

Fergus didn't have to answer at all. The smile that beamed all over his face was answer enough.

And so, it happened. While Fraser cleared the table, Claire sat down with Fergus in the living room on the sofa and told him about her visit to the Museum Barberini. When she finished her little report, she noticed that Fraser was standing in the doorway, listening as well. He motioned Fergus to say goodbye to Claire and sent him up to the second floor where he was to get "ready for bed" ahead of time. Fergus slid awkwardly from the sofa to the floor, said goodbye to Claire, and sent himself off to his heavy fate with a deep sigh. Jamie glanced at Claire and fixed his eyes against the sky.

"Don't dawdle, Fergus. I'll be right with you," he called after the boy.

Claire had also risen and was about to make her way to her apartment.

"Just a moment, Claire," Fraser asked. Then he grabbed a Din-A-5 envelope lying on the dining room table and handed it to her.

"I have a little ‘thank you’ here for all your overtime."

“Brief” by Catkin

Claire opened the envelope and, to her amazement, held in her hands a confirmation of a vacation for two at a luxury hotel in Madeira for the period December 22, 2025, to January 3, 2026. Astonished, she looked at Jamie:

"What's this?"

"Well, I thought you might like to take a vacation with a friend over Christmas and New Year? You certainly deserve it."

"So, you don't want me here over Christmas?"

Now it was Jamie who was taken aback.

"Maybe if you ... don't want to go ... to Madeira ... we can rebook that ... wherever you want to go."

He was silent for a moment, then started again:

"Claire, we can't ask you to spend your holidays with us, too ..."

Suddenly, the CEO of "Fraser & Son International" looked a little helpless.

"Jamie," Claire began, taking a step closer. Lowering her voice, she continued:

"We're clear that our concern is for Fergus' well-being, right?"

Fraser nodded.

"For a child of Fergus' age, stable circumstances, regularities, rituals, and good experiences are very important. You've just been away for ten days. Now you're home again for a few days and then I take over again and just before Christmas it alternates again? Do you really think that's good for Fergus?"

Claire didn't let Jamie get a word in edgewise.

"He's really looking forward to the run-up to Christmas, and I promised him we'd do lots of crafts and baking together."

Jamie looked at her thoughtfully.

"Or do you want to spend Christmas alone with your son? Are you worried I'll have too much influence on him?"

"For heaven's sake! No, Claire!"

"Good," she said, pressing the booking forms for Madeira into his hands. "Then there's no need for this."

Indecisively, Jamie looked at the envelope.

"But if you need anything, free time or ..."

"Then I'll say it, loud and clear. I have a mouth and I know how to use it."

Jamie nodded. Then he asked:

"Why are we whispering, anyway?"

"Because this house has ears, little ears that grow on the head of a little boy who hides behind the dining room door and thinks we won't see him."

Jamie wanted to turn away instantly, but Claire held him back and gave him a look that kept him from rushing to the dining room door and giving Fergus a lecture.

"Well, Claire," Jamie then said in an exaggeratedly loud tone, "thanks for the info. I have to go see Fergus now though, I'm sure he's already showered and is waiting for me to read to him now."

Only seconds later, they heard the floor door slam into the lock. Then tripping footsteps could be heard on the stairs.

Jamie was about to run after him. But Claire's gaze held him back.

"Give him a moment. He's already gotten a reprimand tonight for his investigative questions. That's enough."

Jamie sighed.

"If that's what you mean."

Together they walked to the stairwell. Outside Fraser's apartment door, they said their goodbyes. Shortly after Claire got to her apartment, the app that paired the baby monitor with her smartphone popped on. She saw Fraser and Fergus sitting on the boy's bed, joking with each other. Then Fraser began reading aloud from the big book they had brought back from the museum trip to Chaff. For twenty minutes she watched and listened to the "two men." Then Fraser got up, tucked the boy in, and walked slowly to the door. Suddenly he stopped. To Claire's surprise, Jamie looked up at the wall clock that hung over the door and concealed the security camera. He smiled and winked one eye. Then Claire just heard the door close. Startled, she put the smartphone aside.

#Outlander #We only do this for Fergus #Outlander Fan Fiction #Fergus Fraser #Jamie Fraser #Claire Beauchamp #Berlin #Potsdam #Germany #Modern AU

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alexazbofficial · 3 years

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[ARTICLE] AleXa is “XTRA” and Proud

Since AleXa debuted in 2019, the soloist has been acting the part of fiery A.I. warrior in an apocalyptic world, soundtracked by heavy trap and techno beats. With her colorful new single “Xtra,” she shows a glimpse of the artist beneath the concept. AleXa spoke to EnVi over email about Y2K inspirations in her latest album ReviveR, humble beginnings, and her never-ending passion for performing.

New Flavors, Extra Cheese

If you’ve heard AleXa speak for any amount of time, you already know “extra” is the perfect descriptor for the spritely, Gen Z idol. In interviews, and on her personal vlog channel, AleXa 360, she speaks in memes and RuPaul’s Drag Race references. Her discography tells a different story.

From the artist’s debut single “Bomb,” to her last comeback, “Revolution,” AleXa has dropped darker anthemic tracks, wrapped up in multiverse lore—loosely speaking, she’s an android, manufactured within a dystopian world. “All of my previous comebacks show you the A.I. AleXa, but with this new comeback and concept, we’re wanting to show you her past life and memories as a human,” AleXa writes. “While the choreography is still very hard-hitting, it gives a lighter edge than the dark and bombastic side that the fans are used to seeing.”

Buoyed by its horns and spoken hook (“I got you, I got you, I got you, I got you”), “Xtra” captures AleXa’s signature spunk. The track was written by two Swedish duos—Moonshine and Sunshine, who have both worked with NCT Dream, Red Velvet, Twice, and more—and the finished product retains most of its original English. By remaining in the idol’s native tongue, the song plays to her wheelhouse, with cheesy (no pun intended) but instantly earworm-y lines like, “On my burger and my fries always extra cheese, yeah,” that stick in your mind for days.

With “Xtra,” AleXa sought to combine the attitude of late ‘90s and early ‘00s hip-hop videos with the girlish sensibilities of high teen—a style craze currently taking over South Korea. The hodgepodge styling ranged anywhere from more modern-looking streetwear to airbrushed tees to preppy tartan. “The team and I really wanted to emulate things that we enjoyed from the 2000s, such as iconic fashion statements, old music video aesthetics, and the editing style,” AleXa says.

A Sagitarrius sun and moon, AleXa will freely admit that she’s deeply competitive, which explains the music video’s climax: a dance-off with KARD’s BM and rival crews, reminiscent of mid-aughts movies like Step Up. (She wins, of course.) It’s moments like these that make “Xtra,” though still connected to AleXa’s A.I. concept, feel more like a love letter to the eccentricities of the person behind the character, Alex Christine.

Knocking the Door Down

When one door closes, another opens—so goes the age-old adage. But doors don’t always open by themselves, and AleXa is well-acquainted with finding opportunity, wherever and whenever it may come knocking.

At the time she came to Korea from her home in Tulsa, Oklahoma to audition for Cube Entertainment and—the next week—a spot on Mnet survival show Produce 48, she hardly spoke any Korean. The former tryout resulted in rejection, and so did the latter, though not right away: she made it onto the show, but out of 96 contestants vying for debut in a temporary girl group, she ranked 82nd. (Don’t worry, she’s coping admirably.) Yet through this process, she was scouted by ZB Label, becoming their first and only trainee.

Debut for AleXa, as with all idol hopefuls, was never guaranteed. In a recent episode of K-pop Daebak, she recounts the story of a meeting she had with Zanybros (the parent company of ZB Label) CEO Kim Jun-hong amidst her training period. Second-guessing the rate at which she was improving in language proficiency and performance, AleXa says she held back tears as Kim hinted that this was the end of the line.

“He hands me this envelope, and he says, ‘In this envelope, there’s a contract that you [have to] sign that’s going to completely nullify the AleXa name, it’s going to cancel all debut plans, and it’s going to guarantee you a flight back home,’” she recalled on the podcast. Confused and heartbroken about having her dream snatched back from her a year into training, AleXa opened the envelope. Inside was a note congratulating her on her forthcoming debut.

As incidental as AleXa’s path to becoming a performer may appear, it would never have been possible without her resolve. After years of dancing as a child—she started at just eighteen months old—and performing in competitive show choir, AleXa studied musical theater during her brief stint at college. At the same time she was going to school and working at the mall, she made dance covers, building an audience on social media.

The only person who could tell AleXa no was herself. “While I never necessarily doubted that I would ever become a performer, it wasn’t always exactly what I wanted to do,” she recalls. “Growing up, I had a handful of different aspirations, all varying in different fields.” Had she not gone for the creative route, AleXa says, forensic pathology was up there on the list.

Going the “Xtra” Mile

How does AleXa keep pushing forward, despite the roadblocks she’s met along the way? “I honestly live my life by planning short-term goals for myself, whether it’s something I can accomplish within the day or within the week.” Looking back at her journey, a series of smaller victories pile up on each other: forming a following for herself, making it to Korea without family here for support, mastering a language foreign to her. Everything AleXa has achieved is built upon her relentless hard work and, as she semi-seriously jokes, “the will to not ever lose—in anything.”

And, as much as she’s grown, she’s not slowing down any time soon. With each comeback, AleXa has broadened her vocal range and Korean fluency—so much so that she’s begun to amass writing credits for majority Korean tracks. Funky ReviveR b-side “Obsession” was penned by a handful of writers, with a collaboration between AleXa and Vanessa Jefferson—Lizzo’s sister—while she was in Korea. “Obsession is definitely one of my passion projects,” AleXa writes. “I’m very grateful and blessed to have worked beside Vanessa in creating this track.”

Although the idol had participated in lyric writing before, this was AleXa’s first time trying her hand at toplining over preexisting instrumentals the label sent to her. For coming projects, she wants to expand her skillset even further: “I would very much like to learn how to compose tracks and to better myself as a lyricist for future albums.”

Authentically AleXa

On and off the stage, AleXa’s personas couldn’t be more different (cyberpunk soldier versus bubbly, 4’11” Oklahoma native), but there’s an underlying attitude of self-assuredness tying the two together. That easygoing confidence is what makes her so magnetic.

Now she wants to be a beacon of optimism for others. “Whenever people see me perform, I hope they take away positive energy and some kind of spark to fuel their inner fire to use towards their passions,” she says. More than entertaining, AleXa hopes to be creative and spiritual kindling for those around her—to push them toward their dreams, as she always has for herself.

“At the end of the day, you are the one and only you that exists,” she writes to fans inspired by her enduring energy. “Every day, go out there and be the best, most unapologetic, most authentic version of yourself.” Even, or perhaps especially, if it means being extra.

For more AleXa, make sure to follow her on Instagram and Twitter, and listen to ReviveR on Spotify or Apple Music.

Want more in-depth artist features? Check out our exclusive interview with solo artist MRSHLL here!

#alexa #alex christine #kim seri #article #210812

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shadesofhui · 4 years

Text

Pentagon Magic/Fantasy Au, I might or not do something with

Jinho - Half Fae, Pixie | Soloist and lives with Hui

Mostly human however does have glamour and pointy ears

Hongseok checks in weekly with them household wise to make sure it’s liveable and cleans it up

Started his music career same age as irl

Hui - Human, no nonhuman relatives | Music producer and collabs with Jinho sometimes

Completely oblivious to the nonhuman community and magic around him, half the town ironically thinks he’s a witch or fairy in hiding

Only Jinho, Yanan, and Hyojong know the truth. Hyojong and Yanan have a bet going on when Hui will find out and the stakes are high

Hyojong - Elemental Witch, specializes in fire | Music producer, dancer, and model

Grew up in the same town where everyone lives currently but signed with a company that required him to move to the city

Has to have fire resistant clothes because he kept setting his on fire

Clearly still dating Hyuna, they visit the others often still

Hongseok - Human, with a witch parent | Owns a bakery in town specializing in pastries

Likes to do wedding catering on side occasionally, it’s mainly for the gossip

He lives above the bakery

Hongs parents owns the inn locally, he grew up bothering travelers for stories as a child

Shinwon - Human, no nonhuman relatives but suspiciously knows of the community and can keep his memory | Food critic and model

Jinho, Hui, Hong, Shinwon, and Hyojong are all childhood friends. Hui moved in town at 6 years old

Starting modeling after Hyojong asked a favor for him to model one time and wouldn’t stop pestering him to pick up modeling

Changgu - Shapeshifter | Art Therapist

I’ll address this now, yes Shinwon is afraid him still when he’s shifted as an animal

Grew up in the mountains with his family and moved to the village at 17 by himself

Hyojong met him by accident when Changgu was 10 shifted nearby as a dog in the woods next to the town. Hyojong brought him home and tried to adopt him. Mildly panicked witch parents trying to explain you can’t kidnap other people’s children is fun

Yanan - Earth and Weather Witch | Farmer and Environmentist (?) Idk how to categorize him yet

Inherited farmland from a family friend 4 years ago and has been here since thing, it seems like he’s always been here aka he’s so loved

Lots of misc witch related magic he can do some is: have it rain by singing and can speed up plant growth

Yuto - Oni demon | Music Producer and photographer

Newest to town, only has been there for a year

Looks like a normal human besides two smallish horns similar to a baby goats on his head. Wears a hat normally to hide them

For supposedly being a threatening demon, he is the easiest to scare

Kino - Fairy | Dance Instructor for kids and teenagers

Moved in at 16 years old and at the time lived with Shinwon. Now lives with Wooseok and Yuto

Accidentally illuminates when over emotional

Can communicate with animals, so can talk with shifted Changgu

Wooseok - Korean Dragon | Human job is an artist and his official posted job is the river spirit/ caretaker of the town

Is the newly appointed baby dragon to the village so doesn’t know much about the world and is still learning

Korean dragons are smaller than European dragons but Wooseok is that oddity and is giant

He’s asked to breathe fire as a joke a lot and gets a kick blasting them with water

#yes i have more headcanons lol #pentagon #jinho #hui #hongseok #shinwon #yeo one #yuto #yanan #wooseok #kino #pentagon au #pentagon imagines #i have no idea on fanfic tags #lol #long text tw #if you cant tell hyojong is my fav choatic child

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timeless-hollywood-classics · 4 years

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Veronica Lake (born Constance Frances Marie Ockelman; November 14, 1922 – July 7, 1973) was an American film, stage, and television actor. Lake was best known for her femme fatale roles in film noirs with Alan Ladd during the 1940s and her peek-a-boo hairstyle. By the late 1940s, Lake's career began to decline, due in part to her alcoholism. She made only one film in the 1950s, but made several guest appearances on television. She returned to the big screen in 1966 in the film Footsteps in the Snow (1966), but the role failed to revitalize her career.

Lake's memoir, Veronica: The Autobiography of Veronica Lake, was published in 1970. Her final screen role was in a low-budget horror film, Flesh Feast (1970). Lake died in July 1973 from hepatitis and acute kidney injury at the age of 50.

Lake was born Constance Frances Marie Ockelman in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Her father, Harry Eugene Ockelman, was of German and Irish descent, and worked for an oil company aboard a ship. He died in an industrial explosion in Philadelphia in 1932. Lake's mother, Constance Frances Charlotta (Trimble; 1902–1992), of Irish descent, married Anthony Keane, a newspaper staff artist, also of Irish descent, in 1933, and Lake began using his surname.

The Keanes lived in Saranac Lake, New York, where young Lake attended St. Bernard's School. She was then sent to Villa Maria, an all-girls Catholic boarding school in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from which she was expelled. Lake later claimed she attended McGill University and took a premed course for a year, intending to become a surgeon. This claim was included in several press biographies, although Lake later declared it was bogus. Lake subsequently apologized to the president of McGill, who was simply amused when she explained her habit of self-dramatizing. When her stepfather fell ill during her second year[vague], the Keane family later moved to Miami, Florida. Lake attended Miami High School, where she was known for her beauty. She had a troubled childhood and was diagnosed with schizophrenia, according to her mother.

In 1938, the Keanes moved to Beverly Hills, California. While briefly under contract to MGM, Lake enrolled in that studio's acting farm, the Bliss-Hayden School of Acting (now the Beverly Hills Playhouse). She made friends with a girl named Gwen Horn and accompanied her when Horn went to audition at RKO. She appeared in the play Thought for Food in January 1939. A theatre critic from the Los Angeles Times called her "a fetching little trick" for her appearance in She Made Her Bed.

She also appeared as an extra in a number of movies. Keane's first appearance on screen was for RKO, playing a small role among several coeds in the film Sorority House (1939). The part wound up being cut from the film, but she was encouraged to continue. Similar roles followed, including All Women Have Secrets (1939), Dancing Co-Ed (also 1939), Young as Your Feel (1940), and Forty Little Mothers (also 1940). Forty Little Mothers was the first time she let her hair down on screen.

Lake attracted the interest of Fred Wilcox, an assistant director, who shot a test scene of her performing from a play and showed it to an agent. The agent, in turn, showed it to producer Arthur Hornblow Jr., who was looking for a new girl to play the part of a nightclub singer in a military drama, I Wanted Wings (1940). The role would make Lake, still in her teens, a star. Hornblow changed the actress's name to Veronica Lake. According to him, her eyes, "calm and clear like a blue lake", were the inspiration for her new name.

It was during the filming of I Wanted Wings that Lake developed her signature look. Lake's long blonde hair accidentally fell over her right eye during a take and created a "peek-a-boo" effect. "I was playing a sympathetic drunk, I had my arm on a table ... it slipped ... and my hair — it was always baby fine and had this natural break — fell over my face ... It became my trademark and purely by accident", she recalled.

I Wanted Wings was a big hit. The hairstyle became Lake's trademark and was widely copied by women.

Even before the film came out, Lake was dubbed "the find of 1941". However, Lake did not think this meant she would have a long career and maintained her goal was to be a surgeon. "Only the older actors keep on a long time ... I don't want to hang on after I've reached a peak. I'll go back to medical school", she said.

Paramount announced two follow-up movies, China Pass and Blonde Venus. Instead, Lake was cast in Preston Sturges's Sullivan's Travels with Joel McCrea. She was six months pregnant when filming began.

Paramount put Lake in a thriller, This Gun for Hire (1942), with Robert Preston as her love interest. However, she shared more scenes with Alan Ladd; the two of them were so popular together that they would be reteamed in lead roles for three more films. Both had cameos in Star Spangled Rhythm (1942), an all-star Paramount film.

Lake was meant to be reunited with McCrea in another comedy, I Married a Witch, (also 1942) produced by Sturges and directed by René Clair, but McCrea refused to act with her again, reportedly saying, "Life's too short for two films with Veronica Lake". Production was delayed, enabling Lake to be reunited with Ladd in The Glass Key (again 1942), replacing Patricia Morison. The male lead in I Married a Witch was eventually played by Fredric March and the resulting movie, like The Glass Key, was successful at the box office. René Clair, the director of I Married a Witch, said of Lake, "She was a very gifted girl, but she didn't believe she was gifted."

Lake was meant to co-star with Charles Boyer in Hong Kong for Arthur Hornblow, but it was not made. She received acclaim for her part as a suicidal nurse in So Proudly We Hail! (1943). At the peak of her career, she earned $4,500 a week.

Lake had a complex personality and acquired a reputation for being difficult to work with. Eddie Bracken, her co-star in Star Spangled Rhythm, in which Lake appeared in a musical number, was quoted as saying, "She was known as 'The Bitch' and she deserved the title." However, Lake and McCrea did make another film together, Ramrod (1947). During filming of The Blue Dahlia (1946), screenwriter Raymond Chandler referred to her as "Moronica Lake".

During World War II, Lake changed her trademark peek-a-boo hairstyle at the urging of the government to encourage women working in war industry factories to adopt more practical, safer hairstyles. Although the change helped to decrease accidents involving women getting their hair caught in machinery, doing so may have damaged Lake's career. She also became a popular pin-up girl for soldiers during World War II and traveled throughout the United States to raise money for war bonds.

Lake's career faltered with her unsympathetic role as Nazi spy Dora Bruckman in The Hour Before the Dawn (1944), shot in mid 1943. Scathing reviews of The Hour Before the Dawn included criticism of her rather unconvincing German accent. She had begun drinking more heavily during this period, and a growing number of people refused to work with her. Lake had a number of months off work, during which time she lost a child and was divorced.

In early 1944 she was brought back in Bring On the Girls (1945), Lake's first proper musical, although she had sung in This Gun for Hire and Star Spangled Rhythm. She was teamed with Eddie Bracken and Sonny Tufts. The movie was not a financial success.

In June 1944, Lake appeared at a war bond drive in Boston, where her services as a dishwasher were auctioned off. She also performed in a revue, with papers saying her "talk was on the grim side". Hedda Hopper later claimed this appearance was responsible for Paramount giving her the third lead in Out of This World (1945), supporting Diana Lynn and Bracken, saying "Lake clipped her own wings in her Boston bond appearance ... It's lucky for Lake, after Boston, that she isn't out of pictures".

Lake had a relatively minor role in a film produced by John Houseman, Miss Susie Slagle's (also 1945), co starring Sonny Tufts; Lake was top billed but her part was smaller than Joan Caulfield. In November 1944 she made a third film with Bracken, Hold That Blonde (1945). She liked this part saying "it's a comedy, rather like what Carole Lombard used to do ... It represents a real change of pace".

Lake then made a second film produced by John Houseman, The Blue Dahlia (1946), which reunited her with Ladd. While waiting for the films to be released in 1945, she took stock of her career, claiming, "I had to learn about acting. I've played all sorts of parts, taken just what came along regardless of high merit. In fact, I've been a sort of general utility person. I haven't liked all the roles. One or two were pretty bad".

Lake expressed interest in renegotiating her deal with Paramount:

The studio feels that way about it too. They have indicated they are going to fuss more about the pictures in which I appear. I think I'll enjoy being fussed about ... I want this to be the turning point and I think that it will. I am free and clear of unpleasant characters, unless they are strongly justified. I've had a varied experience playing them and also appearing as heroines. The roles themselves haven't been noteworthy and sometimes not even especially spotlighted, but I think they've all been beneficial in one way or another. From here on there should be a certain pattern of development, and that is what I am going to fight for if necessary, though I don't believe it will be because they are so understanding here at Paramount.

Since So Proudly We Hail only The Blue Dahlia had been a hit. She made her first film outside Paramount since she became a star, a Western, Ramrod (1947), directed by her then-husband Andre DeToth, which reunited her with Joel McCrea, despite his earlier reservation. It was successful.

Back at her home studio she had a cameo in Variety Girl (1947) then was united with Ladd for the last time in Saigon (1948), in which she returned to her former peek-a-boo hairstyle; the movie was not particularly well received. Neither was a romantic drama, Isn't It Romantic (also 1948) or a comedy The Sainted Sisters (1948). In 1948 Paramount decided not to renew Lake's contract.

Lake moved to 20th Century Fox to make Slattery's Hurricane (1949), directed by DeToth. It was only a support role and there were not many other offers.

In 1950 it was announced she and DeToth would make Before I Wake (from a suspense novel by Mel Devrett) and Flanagan Boy. Neither was made.

She appeared in Stronghold (1951), which she later described as "a dog", an independent production from Lippert Pictures shot in Mexico. She later sued for unpaid wages on the film. Lake and DeToth filed for bankruptcy that same year.

The IRS later seized their home for unpaid taxes. On the verge of a nervous breakdown and bankrupt, Lake ran away, left DeToth, and flew alone to New York.

"They said, 'She'll be back in a couple of months,'" recalled Lake. "Well I never returned. Enough was enough already. Did I want to be one of the walking dead or a real person?"

She performed in summer stock theatre and in stage roles in England. In October 1955, she collapsed in Detroit, where she had been appearing on stage in The Little Hut.

After her third divorce, Lake drifted between cheap hotels in New York City, and was arrested several times for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. In 1962, a New York Post reporter found her living at the all-women's Martha Washington Hotel in Manhattan, working as a waitress downstairs in the cocktail lounge. She was working under the name "Connie de Toth". Lake said she took the job in part because "I like people. I like to talk to them".

The reporter's widely distributed story led to speculation that Lake was destitute. After the story ran, fans of Lake sent her money which she returned as "a matter of pride". Lake vehemently denied that she was destitute and stated, "It's as though people were making me out to be down-and-out. I wasn't. I was paying $190 a month rent then, and that's a long way from being broke". The story did revive some interest in Lake and led to some television and stage appearances, most notably in the 1963 off-Broadway revival of the musical Best Foot Forward.

In 1966, she had a brief stint as a television hostess in Baltimore, Maryland, along with a largely ignored film role in Footsteps in the Snow. She also continued appearing in stage roles. She went to Freeport in the Bahamas to visit a friend and ended up living there for a few years.

Lake's memoirs, Veronica: The Autobiography of Veronica Lake, which she dictated to the writer Donald Bain, were published in the United Kingdom in 1969, and in the United States the following year. In the book, Lake discusses her career, her failed marriages, her romances with Howard Hughes, Tommy Manville and Aristotle Onassis, her alcoholism, and her guilt over not spending enough time with her children. In the book, Lake stated to Bain that her mother pushed her into a career as an actress. Bain quoted Lake, looking back at her career, as saying, "I never did cheesecake like Ann Sheridan or Betty Grable. I just used my hair". She also laughed off the term "sex symbol" and instead referred to herself as a "sex zombie".

When she went to the UK to promote her book in 1969 she received an offer to appear on stage in Madam Chairman. Also in 1969, Lake essayed the role of Blanche DuBois in a revival of A Streetcar Named Desire on the English stage; her performance won rave reviews. With the proceeds from her autobiography, after she had divided them with Bain, she co-produced and starred in her final film, Flesh Feast (1970), a low-budget horror movie with a Nazi-myth storyline.

After purchasing an airplane for her husband, André de Toth, Lake earned her pilot's license in 1946. She later flew solo between Los Angeles and New York when leaving him.

Lake's first marriage was to art director John S. Detlie, in 1940. They had a daughter, Elaine (born in 1941), and a son, Anthony (born July 8, 1943). According to news from the time, Lake's son was born prematurely after she tripped on a lighting cable while filming a movie. Anthony died on July 15, 1943. Lake and Detlie separated in August 1943 and divorced in December 1943.

In 1944, Lake married film director Andre DeToth with whom she had a son, Andre Anthony Michael III (known as Michael DeToth), and a daughter, Diana (born October 1948). Days before Diana's birth, Lake's mother sued her for support payments. Lake and DeToth divorced in 1952.

In September 1955, she married songwriter Joseph Allan McCarthy. They were divorced in 1959. In 1969, she revealed that she rarely saw her children.

In June 1973, Lake returned from her autobiography promotion and summer stock tour in England to the United States and while traveling in Vermont, visited a local doctor, complaining of stomach pains. She was discovered to have cirrhosis of the liver as a result of her years of drinking, and on June 26, she checked into the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.

She died there on July 7, 1973, of acute hepatitis and acute kidney injury. Her son Michael claimed her body. Lake's memorial service was held at the Universal Chapel in New York City on July 11.

She was cremated and, according to her wishes, her ashes were scattered off the coast of the Virgin Islands. In 2004, some of Lake's ashes were reportedly found in a New York antique store.

For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Lake has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6918 Hollywood Boulevard.

#veronica lake #classic hollywood #classic movie stars #classic cinema #old hollywood #1940s cinema #1940s hollywood

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aiotabek · 5 years

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Just some OOC / DND stuff

Guess who slept until nearly noon today? LOL Well... guess I”m not getting shit done today.

But I was up until 3 am sketching again. I’m really out of practice, but working on a few new DND Characters and playing with character design.

I’m definitely a story-mode type RPer - so who knows if these will ever actually find a group to play in but man - I’m really having fun making characters.

We do literally nothing with the backgrounds of our characters with the group I’m in and I desperately want to find a group that USES those backgrounds, quirks, bonds, ideals and traits.

Anyway - below a readmore because I’m a long winded bastard, you will find the 3 I’m working on now.

First one is obviously my favorite from the sheer length-

1) High Elf Dragon-Blood Sorcerer - Background: Haunted One

High Elves are supposed to be innately attuned to magic. They are surrounded by it. Protected by it. Their homes are hidden from normal society by enormous domes of intricate magic that make their cities and villages invisible to the naked eyes - tucked halfway between this world and the next.

But he is weak when it comes to the magical arts. He struggles to keep up with the rest of his classmates. Ambition. Pride. Perhaps wounded determination to prove those who made fun of him or belittled him drove him to seek power in other ways. To practice magics that were frowned upon or altogether forbidden - but even those he was not strong in. Until he found a book. Bound and sealed in a cage of magical fire.

And opened it.

The book whispered to him about promised power. Strength beyond his imagining. And revenge.

When he released the being inside, it laid waste to his village. Froze them into a globe of solid ice, leaving only him alive - but not alone.

He had wanted revenge, but not like this. And now he wields power like he’s never had before - at the price of carrying the soul of the long-dead White DracoLiche inside him.

The more he uses this power, the more the Liche takes hold - he becomes less and less himself. The draconic features spread like a disease. Slow but steady, and someday, he fears, it will completely overcome him, and he needs to find a way to seal it up again, before he fully releases it back upon the world and loses himself in the process.

**All spells and Cantrips cast have an Ice/Snow/Cold or Necromantic Aesthetic - for example - Ray of Frost rather than Firebolt, Fog Cloud would be cold, fine ice crystals **

**W/ each level of Sorcerer he gains, the ‘disease’ spreads further and he gains another draconic feature - scales spread, tail grows longer, horns, claws, etc. By level 20, he will almost fully look like a white dragon-born and the Dracoliche has a chance to take him over completely.

**The more levels he gains in Sorcerer, the higher the DC to resist ‘urges’ or flashes of rage, etc. He must make willpower/ wisdom checks at times of high emotion, high stress, or other DM deemed appropriate times. A failure means he succumbs to whatever draconic/ liche emotion/urge has been triggered i.e. hoarding, rage, ‘Hunting’, etc.

2) Hobgoblin Battlemaster

Betrayed by his captain on the battlefield, he and a small group of soldiers rallied together in an attempt to form a coup. Unfortunately, it failed and he and all his men were slaughtered on the field.

Or so it was thought.

Dishonored. Wounded. Unable to go home to his wife and children for fear he would endanger them, he had to make peace, for now, with letting them believe he had died out there so that they could go on with their lives.

He picked up what little was left to him - a banner from his company as a reminder of the men who had died under his command, The remnants of his armor and the swords that had been handed down from generation to generation - family heirlooms that would some day carry his revenge in their sharp edges.

But he is an outcast. A ghost. And until he is strong enough to face the commander again - he must drift where the wind takes him in hopes of finding that strength, either in allies or in himself.

He finds himself in foreign waters/ lands - unfamiliar with the civilian way of life and struggling to survive.

**Heavy Chinese military influence - Terracotta warriors/ ‘Great Wall’/ Hong Kong Hollywood style historical Chinese magical dramas - very ‘Crouching Tiger/ Hidden Dragon’ / Hero / House of Flying Daggers, etc. **

3) Firbolg Spore Druid

Death is natural. A part of a great, inevitable cycle. Energy that is used is only borrowed and must be returned, eventually. It is a necessity - neither cruel nor kind - it is but one cog in the wheel of existence.

His Clan understood the concept, but found his fascination with the necromantic arts.. .distasteful. His comfort with the dead and dying made them UNcomfortable. It teetered too close to things they call ‘evil’ - and when he succeeded in temporarily raising one of their long dead - it was more than they could look past.

He was banished from the clan for toying with magics that they felt lead only to Evil.

He was not surprised, and had been prepared - he had things packed and ready for a hasty retreat should the need arise. All in all the parting was relatively amicable and he shambled out of his homeland valley with a few furtive, forlorn looks thrown over shoulders that should have been turned away from him in the Shunning...

He now wanders aimlessly, attempting to further his knowledge and to help those who should need the assistance to pass to the other side, whether they ask for that help or not. Immortality - as appealing as it may seem - ‘gums up the works’. The wheel must continue to turn. Life must become.And unbecome. Rise and fade away again for new life to begin. The wheel must continue to turn.

Even Gods must die, in the end.

But some things try to escape this inevitability - Vampires, Liches...

In order to maintain balance, and to keep the wheel turning, he must gently (or not so gently) guide them to their next lives.

Sooo... there’s my bit of creativity for the day. Not that anybody cared. But now it’s written out so there we go.

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sonyabaril-blog · 5 years

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An Image Gallery of Popular iPod Accessories

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randomvarious · 5 years

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youtube

Prince Buster - “Chinaman Ska” Skankin’ Ska Song released in 1964. Compilation released in 1999. Ska

Prince Buster is a legendary pioneer of Jamaican popular music. He was there to witness and take part in all of the nation’s different musical movements from ska to rocksteady to reggae. His catalog is immense, having released over 300 singles and 17 albums throughout his career. Prince Buster’s work has served as an inspiration to many, including many reggae artists as well as the second wave ska movement in Britain of the late 70s and early 80s, with bands like Madness, the Specials, and the English Beat.

Prince Buster started out as a ska artist, releasing his first single in 1961. In 1964, he had an absurd amount of singles, nearing 25 of them. One of them was Chinaman Ska, a song whose title has dated horribly, but whose music is still great and lively to this day. Thankfully, Buster doesn’t utter that word on the song, or any word or phrase that would near an ethnic slur. There doesn’t appear to be any animus with the use of the word for this song title.

A couple things before we do some delving into this song: One, YouTube has mistitled this video as “Ska Town” by Don Drummond. It’s not. Two, the audio quality of this is very shoddy. There are clearer versions on YouTube, but this one is slightly different from the others because of its ending. Therefore, this version appears to be a very rare recording. Obviously, it’s better to have a shoddy and rare recording of something than not have a recording at all.

On this song, Prince Buster laments that the rich man is trying to take his ska away from him and the people he makes it for. I don’t think he means this literally, but instead means that big record executives are trying to spread ska around the world in a way that puts greed over authenticity. Buster says that his music is for the Jamaican poor and working class. He doesn’t make it for anyone else. So, when he delivers the line “they better sing Chinese language and sell it inside Hong Kong,” he seems to mean that he doesn’t want some record company making a profit off of his music by selling it to people halfway across the world. If the record company wants to make money in China, they ought to sell Chinese music. Don’t sell them this music; it wasn’t made for them. Buster’s take is an interesting one that’s still culturally relevant today, appearing to be an argument against the idea of cultural appropriation and selling out a culture for capitalist gain.

But over 50 years have passed since this song’s release, so I think it’s safe to say that it’s now a cultural artifact. It made its impact inside Jamaica in 1964 and now it’s past time to archive it and let people outside Jamaica listen to it, analyze it, and put it into a broader context and history of ska music.

The backing band on this song isn’t credited, but it’s a lively bunch. A guitar provides the constant offbeat skanking rhythm, while a couple horns provide a quick, spurting kind of rhythm atop it. There’s also an awesome clinking rhythm in the background that you might miss if you don’t listen closely enough. It sounds like someone taking a stick to an empty glass bottle. The horn solo in the middle of the song is admittedly terrible, but in a way, the amateurishness is kind of charming.

Like I said, there are versions of this song with better audio quality on YouTube, like this one, but there’s a slight difference. The version from Skankin’ Ska is rare. It has an improvisational harmonica solo at the end. The clearer version, like just about every other version on YouTube, cuts off just as that solo begins. Maybe I’m being nitpicky, but I wanted to post the version I have, which is of bad audio quality with a harmonica solo at the end.

A rare cut of an awesome mid-60s ska tune by one of Jamaican music’s most legendary pioneers.

#ska #ska music #music #60s #60s music #60's #60's music #60s ska #60's ska

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ferrethyun · 6 years

Text

BTS x Male! Reader Headcanons (Mythology series)

Okay so these headcanons are based off of my moodboards I started about 3 days ago! Swing over to my masterlist to find them

Genre: General

Au: Non-idol, Mythology au

Warnings: none?

Ghost! Reader/Back story:

Okay! So! The reader is a ghost.

The best way I can explain this mythology series is that people are born into normal families but in very rare cases there’s genetic mutations from centuries back that are specific to culture that can occur in one person per generation Some are very generic mutations and some are very rare.

These mutations are known as mythology mutations and can skip several generations before they occur.

In this case the mutation that had occurred in M/n was the ghost mutation.

His family never had a mutation happen in the past five generations. So m/n was a god send.

His family were highly accepting of this and thanks to the plethora of information on the internet, due to the commonness of his mutation, were able to adapt.

Some of his abilities are: Going through walls, becoming invisible and possessing objects.

Unfortunately, having the mutation also affected m/ns appearance.

He was completely opaque at birth but as he got older he became more and more transparent.

The process slowed once he became a legal adult thankfully.

When he was 18, M/ns grandparents died but in their will was their wish to leave their mansion to who ever had a mythology mutation in their family.

So M/n became the owner of their mansion and moved out of his family home at 19 and into the mansion.

However, he became less and less willing to leave the home and so he began to not care for himself.

This caused him to lose control of his abilities and so he became completely invisible.

He stayed in this state for 3 years and due to the thought of the public believing that the mansion was completely empty, it went up for sale.

(You can see where this is going-)

Obviously, Bts, a group of 7 mythology mutation inclined boys, bought the mansion.

When they moved in, M/n was in shock. So much so that he lost invisibility in front of them and freaked everyone out.

With a lot of screaming, debates on who owned the mansion and phone calls to the housing company later. They finally settled on living together.

And that’s where this begins...

Naga! Namjoon:

Namjoon is a naga. A.k.a He’s a snake.

Literally.

He has a room on the main floor of the mansion and at the back where the garden and library are.

His room is far away from Jungkooks due to fire and grass not mixing too well....

He works in the botanical gardens on the outskirts of the city and wouldn’t change it for anything.

He also studies natural science at the university and is in his last year.

He maintains the garden when he can and it’s very pretty. It’s his treasure.

Also he’s hella smart-

Willingly will educate you on whatever you want.

Sometimes talks in riddles and drags out his ‘s’s...

He get’s along well with M/n mainly because he was the one who was able to convince him that it was a good idea to have all 7 of them living in the house.

I mean... He did it somehow?

Is a voice of reason in the group.

He can de-escalate an argument really quickly and thank god for that because this mix of mythologies can be dangerous.

His abilities: He can take the form of a snake, move incredibly fast and detect changes in heat drastically better than someone else.

Appearance wise there’s not much; He has a few scale patches across his body and his pupils are slits. Nothing too much.

One thing the members cannot stand is when he does the thing when he opens his mouth much wider than a normal person can. Freaks everyone out.

Vampire! Jin:

Vampire Jin. Explains his never ending beauty.

Vampires do not live forever in this au but they can live significantly longer than a normal person.

Most like to play up the fiction that they can live forever though...

Jin’s room is in the basement with Jimin’s but they’re on complete opposite sides of the basement.

He chose the basement so that he doesn’t have to bother with the light of day while he tries to sleep.

He’s adapted his sleep schedule so that he’s up in the early evening and asleep at around five or six am.

He’s more than willing to help make dinner before he goes out to work.

Surprise! Jin owns a night club!

It’s his pride and joy because he’s spent so long making it perfect.

He did go to university but that was a long time ago...

He studied acting if you’re wondering.

He likes to go to the local feeding bank for vampires and personally pick out what he’s drinking.

He hates drinking directly from people; he says it makes him feel like a monster.

He and M/n have an interesting relationship due to Jin being able to feel M/n before he sees him; then turns out M/n is invisible right next to him.

They get along none the less.

His abilities: Night-vision, moving at ridiculous speeds and seduction with touch.

He never likes using seduction do to anything however-

Appearance wise there’s not much going on; he’s a little paler than everyone else and has fangs and very amber eyes. He’s also cold to touch.

Everyone respects him due to his knowledge of the past..

This doesn’t stop Jungkook from being a little shit at times though.

Siren! Yoongi:

Instead of Hong Kong, his tongue will take you to your potential death,,,

His room is on the main floor with Namjoon but is on the opposite side and is at the side of the house.

He’s located far from Jungkook due to his room needing to be many degrees colder than the younger’s.

((I feel like I’m ostracising kook :( ))

He works for a music company in the city as a producer and has permission to work from home on rainy days due to his mutation.

His abilities: Siren body and luring with voice.

The siren body thing he can’t really control due to if he gets wet it kinda just happens.

Appearance wise its not much once again. His body has this wet sheen to it and he has a few scales here and there. He also has a second film-esk layer to his eves to be able to see in salt water; he’s also very cold to touch.

He and Jungkook can rarely touch each other, or at least have to be careful when doing so. If their skin directly touches, steam occurs and Yoongi’s skin dries out some. Not good.

He and M/n get on due to the similarities in living styles. Both rooms have to be several degrees cooler than most and both are cold to touch.

Yoongi has to have a separate bathroom due to the involuntary siren body thing when he washes himself.

He originally never wanted to get involved in music due to the voice that he can use to lure people but he couldn’t keep himself from music.

However he’s still uncomfortable talking to strangers and so it took a while for him to talk to M/n.

He also avoids arguments as much as possible due to the potential loss of control over his abilities

Summer elf! Hoseok:

A god send for keeping the group together.

Room wise; he shares the top most room with Taehyung but it’s a large space and their ‘rooms’ are sectioned off by curtains.

They share the top floor because of the massive skylight that allows for both of them to be happy.

His ‘room’ is full of flowers?? This boy loves his flowers.

Ability wise there’s not much to him: He can form wings to fly and grow plants.

Appearance wise is exciting: He has elf ears (Y’all know what i’m talking about) and he literally glows.

He g l o w s.

A yellow ring of light guys.

As I said before; he keeps the group together.

He is not effected by anyone’s mutation in anyway so he easily holds the group together when all 7 + M/n are in one place.

If someone needs to place them self away from the group to cool off or something of the sorts. Hobi will go with them and make sure they don’t feel left out.

As I said. A god send.

Hobi has A degree in dance and has a studio in the city where he usually teaches kids and occasionally teaches adults.

He loves it. The studio is bright due to the skylights and has plants where ever he can get them without getting in the way when they dance.

He gets along with everyone, so obviously he gets along with M/n.

He’s always there to comfort and help if he loses control of his abilities.

He does the same for the other members of course.

Also, he cares for the garden when Namjoon can’t. Like, he’ll care for it for a few days and suddenly there’s 5 new plant species blooming and about 7 new fruit and veg growing and a new tree.

He also created dances that go along to random beats that Yoongi creates.

We love a supportive king

Demon! Jimin:

A little promiscuous shit.

His room is in the basement with Jin as I’ve mentioned but it’s on the other side due to how protective he gets of his space. And the amount of noise he makes when he brings people home.

Furthest room from Taehyung due to their mythologies being complete opposites; doesn’t stop them from being friends though.

His abilities: Seduction without touch, emotional control, control of minor appearance and his demon form.

Appearance wise he can choose what he looks like. He prefers to look normal when he’s out in society during they day (e.g he has no horns and normal eyes). When he’s at home or in the club he likes to have his horns out and his natural red eyes out.

He’s fervently bisexual and is openly feminine. He goes around wearing heels usually due to the feeling of power they give him.

He’s also very openly sexual.

He rarely uses his abilities to seduce someone but when he does...

The whole household disproves and he’s banished to his room for a while and is not allowed to go out for a few nights.

No one’s against him being overtly sexual and having may sexual partners it’s just no one in the mansion really likes using their powers to get their way.

Anyways! Jimin goes to university as well and is doing a psychology course! A mythological based psychology course.

He get’s along with everyone by implementing dirty humour into the conversation.

However he views his and M/ns relationship differently.

Jimin is severely insecure and opens up to M/n only. He doesn’t know why but it helps.

Have it be known that he refuses to get with anyone in the mansion. He simply doesn’t feel comfortable being that close to someone and having a one time thing and then having to see them after.

Angel! Taehyung:

A Prince. Well an angel that looks like a prince

As I’ve said; he’s on the top most floor with Hobi due to the skylight.

Tae likes it because he likes being closer to heaven in a way.

((I hope that doesn’t sound morbid))

As I’ve said again, he’s furthest from Jimin due to their mythologies not mixing well.

Abilities wise: He can spawn wings and fly with them and he has increased strength and empathy.

Appearance wise he looks like an actual prince; he glows. If you look carefully you can see a faint halo above his head and he has the scars where his wings spawn from.

Tae doesn’t enjoy spawning his wings as it’s an incredibly painful process and takes quite some time due to the fact his wings are massive.

Tae goes to university and he studies human psychology. He’s usually in the same building as Jimin but never the same class.

He aims to use his abilities to help people who are struggling though tough times.

He’s similar to Hobi in a way that he helps hold the group together. He can feel when someones anger is rising or an argument is about to erupt. So he helps to negate this.

He’s close to M/n in a way that he helps M/n get though when ever he’s having a rough time emotionally.

Of course he does this for everyone.

Tae likes to go to the children's hospital in the city every Sunday and go around and talk to every single child and help them feel a bit better.

And as a treat; once a month he spawns his wings and lets the kids touch them as a treat.

The kids love it due to how rare it is to see an angel mutation and it’s always something new for them to experience.

He’s lost count of how many parents have thanked him for supporting their kids when they cant be there for them due to work or otherwise.

Phoenix! Jungkook:

Oh boy. Jungkook is one spicy flame boy.

He’s located on the second floor with M/n but they’re on opposite sides.

His room is very, very, very hot. His walls are covered in soot and have to be regularly cleaned off.

There’s his own smoke detector in his room and it usually goes off when he’s mad.

His abilities: Phoenix form and pyrokinesis.

his appearance isn’t anything major. He has a lot of burn scars and he feels ridiculously hot.

He never uses his phoenix form for several reasons. It takes too long for him to do the transformation, he hates being covered in soot and ash when he re-forms and it’s highly dangerous.

He’s usually up first out of everyone. Ironically during golden hour.

He literally thrives in summertime and hates the winter time.

However he does act as a good heater during winter and he helps light the fire.

He goes to university!! And he’s on a sports scholarship for judo.

Unsurprising really.

He’s known as a ladies man on the university campus but doesn’t want t get involved with relationships ever so some girls think he’s a fuckboy.

Rude that’s what that is.

Usually makes dinner for everyone with Jin and It helps because it allows Jin to get to work quicker.

If Jin’s already out before dinner, he makes dinner with M/n.

Their relationship is interesting because Kook still gets freaked out when he’s stirring something and M/n reaches straight through the pot and him to grab something on the other side.

But he also talks to M/n about university and any problems he’s having. Though these problems are usually him getting lost in the mansion.

Anyone who’s always cold, Jin, M/n and Yoongi, like to sit near Kook but not too close. Kook finds it weird but all three explained to him that it helps them feel a bit more normal so Kook’s more than willing to help his hyungs out if it makes them feel better.

Damn son that took forever-- If you have any questions about each member just swing me an ask. Or if you have your own headcanons you should come tell me uwu.

#Admin Tea #kpopwonderlandtag #bts x male reader #bts x reader #(Mythology series)#kim namjoon #kim taehyung #kim seokjin #park jimin #min yoongi #jeon jungkook #jung hoseok #bts #bangtan #bangtan soneyondan #(Headcanons)#male reader #reader #mythology au

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demospectator · 2 years

Photo

Untitled Chinatown street, c. 1898. (Photograph by Oscar Maurer (from the collection of the Oakland Museum of California, Museum Income Purchase Fund). The men seen in Maurer’s photo are standing on the landing of the stairs to 116 – 118 Waverly Place. Occupying a lot on the east side of the small street (and across from the Tin How temple and the headquarters and shrine of the Ning Yung district association), the building served as a boarding house.

Locating Oscar Mauer on Waverly Place (with a little help from D.H. Wulzen and the Goldsmith Bros.)

The Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906 obliterated San Francisco Chinatown so thoroughly that identifying the subject matter depicted by the scant photographic record of the community necessarily relies on chance and coincidence, and it often ends in futility. Not surprisingly, the untitled photo by Oscar Maurer taken in the late 1890s has eluded clarification by researchers of old Chinatown for decades.

Maurer migrated from his native New York City to study at the University of California at Berkeley and thereafter opened a photography studio in San Francisco. According to the Getty Museum, he became an associate member of Alfred Stieglitz's Photo-Secession and the first California-based photographer to achieve national prominence. “The only entrant from California in the first Chicago Camera Club Salon of 1900, Maurer received critical acclaim for his atmospheric landscape photograph The Storm. Encouraged by this success, he helped establish the first San Francisco Salon, held at the Mark Hopkins Institute of Art in 1901. Maurer regularly contributed his Pictorialist landscape photographs to Camera Craft, the journal of the California Camera Club, and to Camera Work, Stieglitz's influential publication.

As was the case of most of his fellow photographers in San Francisco (such as his colleague and collaborator, Arnold Genthe), Maurer lost his studio and its contents in the earthquake and fire. Although he reopened his studio in Berkeley, where he remained for the rest of his life, his photographs of old Chinatown remain very rare.

“Group of Highbinders Discussion a Late Proclamation, c. 1900. Photograph by Oscar Maurer (from the collection of the Bancroft Library).

“San Francisco, 1906” Photograph by Oscar Maurer (from the collection of the Oakland Museum of California)

“San Francisco, 1906” Photograph by Oscar Maurer (courtesy of John Aronovici)

Fortunately for the researchers of old Chinatown, Maurer captured two crucial pieces of signage in his 1898 photograph that help in identifying the precise location in Chinatown of the buildings. The first example can be seen in the vertical sign appearing at the left of the frame, containing the characters 致和堂參茸藥材 (lit.: “Gee Wo Ginseng Medicinal Herbs;” canto: “gee wo tong sum yung yeuk choy;” pinyin: “Zhì hé táng cān rōng yàocái”). The Horn Hong & co. Chinese business directory and lunar calendar for 1892 shows the Gee Wo Tong company located at 124 Waverly Place.

Detail from the Horn Hong & Co. Chinese directory for 1892 for the Gee Wong Tong company.

By the publication of the 1895 Langley directory the Gee Tau Hong & Co. and Gee Wo Tong & Co. shared the premises at 124 Waverly Place. The 1905 Sanborn map for this Chinatown street confirmed the presence of, and use of the property by, the Chinese herbalists. Having established the street on which the herbalists operated, the location of the basement eatery whose entrance signage can be seen in the center can be located with equal precision.

Moreover, by comparing Maurer’s photo with one by D.H. Wulzen of the same basement entrance, the full tradename of the eatery can be discerned as “Wah Ying Lung” 華英隆(canto: “wah ying loong”), a name which could also constitute literal shorthand for Chinese/English (or Chinese American). When viewed together, Mauer’s photo corroborates the partially-obscured address plate in the Wulzen photo as located at 120 Waverly Place.

Restaurant worker returning from a delivery to a basement eatery, c. 1900. Photograph by D. H. Wulzen (from the D.H. Wulzen Glass Plate Negative Collection (Sfp 40), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library). The last two digits of the address at 120 Waverly Place can be seen over the door to the basement entrance. The right portion of the sign advertises literally seasonal, i.e., 時款 (canto: “see foon”) food.

Two boys play near the sign of the basement eatery “Wah Ying Lung” 華英隆(canto: “wah ying loong”), c. pre-1900. Photograph by the Goldsmith Bros. (from a private collection).

Having established the address of the Wah Ying basement eatery at 120 Waverly Place, the men seen in Maurer’s photo are standing on the landing of the stairs to 116 – 118 Waverly Place. Occupying a lot on the east side of the small street, and across from the Tin How temple and the headquarters and shrine of the Ning Yung district association, the building served as a boarding house. The 1905 Sanborn map confirmed its use as “lodgings.”

Detail showing Waverly Place in San Francisco Chinatown from the 1905 Sanborn Insurance Map (Vol. 1, Page 39-40) of San Francisco, prepared by the Sanborn-Perris Map Company, Limited, of New York.

A detail from “Waverly Place - April 9, 1900” Photograph by D. H. Wulzen (from the D. H. Wulzen Glass Plate Negative Collection (Sfp 40), San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library). This close-up looks north on Waverly Place from the intersection with Clay Street. Magnification of the center portion of the image shows the building elevation, the partial signage for the basement entrance to the Wah Ying eatery, and the stairs on which the trio of Chinese men stood for Oscar Maurer’s photo.

Thanks to the photographers of pre-1906 Chinatown such as Oscar Maurer, D.H. Wulzen, and the Goldsmith brothers, determined researchers can view the visual legacy of the Pictorialists and expand the public’s understanding of the gone world of old Chinatown.

[updated 2024-3-11]

#Oscar Maurer #Waverly Place #Gee Wo Tong & Co.#Wah Ying restaurant #D.H. Wulzen #Horn Hong & Co.#Goldsmith Bros.

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