[attr="class","starrBodyScroll"]

HISTORY ⋆

"All I want's a house,"[break][break]
[TW: Loss of family members][break][break]

Bram’s history is strangely fragmented; an odd amalgamation of storybook-like tales that he adopted from his youth, mingling with devastating realities of real life. -- Growing up in the rural, uninhabited port town of Karskär in Sweden, a young boy named Bram Karlsson resided with his grandparents in a structure that was no more than a wooden shed. A singular room was shared amongst the trio, alongside a miniscule washroom and a kitchen. Humble beginnings nursed Bram down the path of a vibrant childhood; one that involved fishing with his grandpa, hunting the local wildlife for dinner, and sleepily listening to his grandmother tell stories whilst she crocheted blankets to prepare for winter. All of her stories were carefully crafted and contained an air of magic about them that left the little boy eagerly clinging to every word. One that he could never forget was the tale of his parents. He recalled so clearly how she would tell them, infusing her words with whimsy and adventure. Apparently his parents were pirates! His mother gave birth to him, but sadly the couple couldn’t care for their new-born, as they needed to sail the seven seas and defend the world from a ferocious shark that had a big enough jaw to engulf the entirety of earth! Child-like wonder prevented Bram from seeing the ugly truth that lay dormant behind the fantastical tales, and even his grandparents knew that their little boy would soon grow up to discover the dull realities of his unwanted upbringing. [break][break]

For years upon years Bram remained living his sheltered life. Since the age of 15, his grandparents were the only humans he had ever known. On the odd occasion he had spotted local hunting parties venturing in their otherwise desolate neck of the woods, making note of their rifles and being advised by his grandparents to stay out of their business. The secluded, off-grid lifestyle that they led was all the young boy knew, and so it was all he was ever concerned about. Days were spent skimming rocks upon the waters surface on the nearby docks, hunting game and deer and foraging the forests treasures. Life seemed simple and care-free, living like a wild boy in the woods, however, as Bram entered young adulthood, his parents similarly grew older with time. The weight of work that was once evenly distributed between the trio was now shifting onto Bram’s shoulders. Despite this, he continued like a well oiled machine, lifting heavy fire wood that his grandma no longer could, hunting more often than before, and even cooking the daily meals. Some would argue that he heavily over worked himself to provide for his old folk, but Bram was simply doing what he knew. [break][break]

A couple of years later, a cruel winter fell over Karskär, creeping in like a villain under the veil of night. Food supplies were running low, and heat and light were almost absent from their tiny home. Every night an anxious Bram would sit at the foot of his grandparents bed, knowing that it was going to happen. Ever since the two elders had rapidly grown ill, the young man simply waited. Their weak immune systems were not fit enough to fight this off, and he knew that. He continued everyday just like normal, only bearing the presence of a knot in his stomach and a wasp in his brain. One night, he made their favourite soup. The next morning, Bram found his grandparents unconscious in their bed, most likely passing away from the winter illness whilst they peacefully slept. Bram had to dig their own grave. He chose a nice spot with land that he knew bluebells sprouted from in the spring.[break][break]

Ever since then, Bram lived alone like a mad man in the wooden shack in the forest. He was the type of legend that the villagers in the most prominent parts of Sweden told stories about, treating him like a Loch ness monster kind of figure. [break][break]

PERSONALITY ⋆

"so that I can set you free,"[break][break]

Due to his secluded upbringing, Bram’s personality definitely reflects that of an old man who spent the entirety of his childhood living in a wooden shack in the forest. He’s rough around the edges unapologetically himself, and downright crazy. Loud, abrasive and vibrant, Bram has no trouble gaining attention with his commanding presence, whether that be out in the streets of Tokyo or in the workplace. Being heavily opinionated, aggression is never forgotten with Bram, and he has no trouble giving people a piece of his mind, whether or not it’s harmful. The old man is also witty with a spectacular humour of his own, and will rise at any opportunity to tell fellow folks crazy tales that he adopted from his grandmother; usually twisting and turning them in order to make his life seem more interesting than it is in reality. Lacking real parental figures in his life, Bram seemed to adopt his own sense of what a guardian should be. He treats those younger than him as his children, showering them with tough love, terrible advice and- well, his wonderful presence? [break][break]

APPEARANCE ⋆

"let the dogs hunt you down."[break][break]

Playing into the ‘man in the woods’ stereotype, Bram stands at a towering 6”5’. Adding to his gigantic frame are his muscles, which are not mere decorations, but instead the product of years of chopping wood, hunting and more. His aged body occasionally fails him from time to time, but Bram confidently believes that all he needs in life is his brain and his trigger finger. Rough around the edges, scruffy and unkempt are just some of the introductory thoughts that come to mind when first laying eyes upon Bram, but there is something endearing and comfortingly real about this man. [break][break]

EXTRAS ⋆

"Drinks on me."[break][break]

• After his grandparents passed away and he had spent a fair amount of years alone, some say Bram left his home and searched for job opportunities in order to make money.
• No one really knows how Bram made it to Japan. Some say he sailed around the entirety of the world in just a fisherman's boat, whilst others claim that he built his own man-sized catapult and slingshot himself!
• Similarly, it is unknown how Bram got his eyepatch, or why he wears it. Enemies claim he just wears it in an attempt to look young and cool.
• Bram legally changed his last name from Karlsson to Ishida when he got to Japan in order to fit in. He also couldn’t bear the ties it held to his family, reminding him everyday of the losses he faced.