[Herr D]

You happen to be the most qualified person to make an illustration of what happens in a medley when one song takes over from another. You pick the medley. Looking forward to the results.

[Herr D]

She SAID one side was longer than the other . . .
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u438/jamais5/2014hm/JustAnEnthusiasticTrim_zpsca7cb964.png
Too many people are ready to assume the worst when you’re chasing a pretty woman with a sharp implement. It really was going to be “Just An Enthusiastic Trim.”
—honestly.

**********
Yeah, Maaz. I know what you mean. Nice ring or no–way too much loyalty for all the evil geniuses and not enough for the happy-go-lucky, not-even-insane above averages.

[Herr D]

Yikes. I’m with JR, your Maria won my vote. The Violinist came 2nd for me.

Here’s where I go awry. Your interpretation of what steampunk means seems dead-on to me, but I think I only saw airships from you and I. The Violinist told an uncertain story, but I could believe that that violin and the thing behind her might have had a real purpose behind the gears. (My airship had gears as a deliberate decorative identifier, as a conceit to the apparent style, but it may have made the viewports too subtle and spoiled the composition.)

I also misinterpreted Maria’s emotion–not as insane glee, not as acceptance, not as insane apathy.
I thought she was staring out at what made her sad, inviting the man behind her to comfort her through seduction by languid pose and movement, perhaps wearing what she thought she looked best in.

[Herr D]

. . . there may be a way to enjoy war . . .

[Herr D]

Please let me know if you find the original of this; I promised someone I’d try, but I can’t seem to find it to give them credit. This is an approximation of a clipping of uncertain age.
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u438/jamais5/2014hm/BrainJoke_zpsbf5f46f0.png
*
*******
“The inventor’s guild’s exclusive nightclub has three requirements before it will consider you for membership.”
“Those being?”
“First, you must invent a means, without any climbing, to board the nightclub.”
“BOARD?!”
“Second, you must prove that it requires no more than one assistant to operate.”
“Begging your pardon sir–did you say–“
“Third, you must bring an ineligible guest with you on your first visit and safely depart with them.”
“Safely. Errrr-yes, quite. . . “
“Any other questions? The Top Hat Brass should be arriving here soon.”
” . . . “
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u438/jamais5/2014hm/HerrD-TheTopHatBrass_zpsa4591852.png
*Steampunk
********
She SAID one side was longer than the other . . .
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u438/jamais5/2014hm/JustAnEnthusiasticTrim_zpsca7cb964.png
Too many people are ready to assume the worst when you’re chasing a pretty woman with a sharp implement. It really was going to be “Just An Enthusiastic Trim.”
—honestly.
*OPMC
*
********
We’ll call this one a ‘cooperative’ piece–AHEM!
“She didn’t have a hero name till today. We knew she had the dexterity to twirl a lasso and the aim to rope something. We even knew she had super-strength. We DIDN’T know she gets confused between her right and left–“
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u438/jamais5/2014hm/ThrownForALoop_zpsd0788744.png
“. . . She threw him for a loop.”
“How did she confuse him?”
“No, doc, she THREW HIM FOR A LOOP. That’s why he has a minor concussion.”

“–OH-HHHH . . . “
“So we call her ‘Hurly’ now.”
*

[Herr D]

@livewyre1014 said:

Thanks everybody…I went through like 5 different designs for BUB before I landed on that one.

Now BUB is the kind of character, for all those of you who HAVE little ones, that might deeply appreciate holding those other 5 designs in reserve to preserve himself! You know, ask a four-year-old a question six times for six different answers, right? This one’s great–hope you stay on his good side by keeping the others . . .

[Herr D]

A point of curiosity for me, as someone who doesn’t usually have 20 minutes uninterrupted (closer to 7 minutes on average, undistracted,) do you have mini-deadlines, any time-keepers besides your computer clock? Any advice you give might be useful to any parent or sufferer of ADD (pretty sure I’m both.)

[Herr D]

@DiCicatriz said:

Yay! You’re back :D. Raven King is superb as usual.

Agreed. I’m not going near him till I know the pecking order.

[Herr D]

[looks down suddenly from lab table bolted to wall near ceiling, calls out through slightly open door.]
. . . Um–more. WORKING ON IT! THANK YOU!
[pats monstrosity in shadow as it growls] Him–I mean, working on him, sorry. I’ll just get you some darker scales, okay? Right after I lock the lab door again–you deserve your PRIVACY before your first rampage.

[soft sucker sounds on wall, then the lab door clicks shut–]

[Herr D]

Manzarak hood or no I’m thinking isn’t so relevant. Opens up a chance to surprise audience with a costume change / disguise. (I’ve always been entertained when someone/something of unusual power level just blandly uses some prosaic thing to get the job done. Like maybe Batman could go for style deflecting bullets with his gauntlets but chooses to use the ‘close elevator door button’ instead?)

What I DO care about is the mask itself. Looking like a faceless head opens up this ‘other’ mystic possibility: maybe the mask suppresses his entire ‘real’ identity, allowing his full potential to emerge.

Some people say that Heaven is where souls go when all their ‘earthly cares have been stripped away.’
–That means it’s the wearer’s own soul that is doing the mystic stuff . . .

[Herr D]

Maaz! Pick 3! Hoof as head was clever–almost didn’t catch it. –and I think EVERYONE should just ditch the forces of evil!

[Herr D]

[Chapter 12 continues]

It took twelve in all. Jennifer opened packages of deodorizers as Tony and Mike duct-taped garbage bags into a makeshift sluice-way from the tile section to the drain and placed the buckets. Mike stacked up two tables to elevate the extension cord for the drill, plugged everything in, and double-checked sight-lines for the camera while Jennifer, from her chair, helped duct-tape two aprons and six garbage bags over Tony. Then Tony stepped onto the rubber mat, poked the drill through the placemat, and began drilling as Mike hung deodorizers on the screens. Sure enough, the mortar dust from the drill stopped abruptly as an ugly gray-brown stream of water started spraying Tony.
“WaHA!” he shouted. Mike handed him a bucket, which filled very quickly. Mike rolled the buckets to the drain and carefully poured them down, walking back and forth to swap them. When the water slowed to a drip, Tony drilled two more holes an inch from the first and pounded a crowbar between the tiles with the heavy mallet. He took off the makeshift splash shield, wiped his hands, and helped Mike up to stand on the crowbar. Mike carefully hopped twice and fell on Tony as most of the tile section collapsed, breaking into five large pieces. They fell in a heap on the floor. Laughing, Tony heaved Mike to his feet and struggled up. He pulled a flashlight from the toolkit and shone it through the hole in the wall.

[Herr D]

[Chapter 12 continues]

The waiter paused, then nodded and scurried out. Mike had screens blocking off a fourth of the dining room and a camcorder set up on a tripod before the waiter could leave the room. Tony kicked the downed chair a few feet and went down on one knee as Mike began moving tables from between the camera and the tile section on the right. Tony cut a large triangle out of the carpet and peeled it up to reveal an old drain. Mike was finishing testing the camera when the waiter returned. He wheeled in two mop buckets lined with garbage bags and nearly filled with the supplies. He wheeled them up to the screen beside Jennifer and looked up at her.
Do I LOOK like I know what to do with all that? Jennifer leaned past the line of screens. “Mr. Machiavelli? The waiter just brought the supplies you asked for.”
“Henri? Did you find everything?”
“Yes sir.”
“Add duct tape to the list of supplies to buy anna mark it ‘urgent.’ I’m gonna be out in about five minutes.”
“Yes sir. Should I send in Charlie to help you? He does enjoy helping with renovation.”
“No! Tell him I’m rating how well he’ll run things when I’m out sick next month.”
“Next month?”
“Well, last year my doctor said I’d have a heart attack by next month. If I don’t, I’ve got to schedule a time to call him and laugh at him, okay?”
“Ah. Yes sir,” Henri winked at Jennifer, smiling, “Zuppa Giovanni for three in ten minutes.”
“Henri?”
“Yes?”
“Better make it fifteen.”
“Fifteen, sir.” Henri walked out.

[continued next block]

[Herr D]

Chapter 12: Taking Care Of Business

“You heard the lady!” said Tony, “Zuppa Giovanni for three! Hurry back with those bags!” The waiter retreated. “Good choice of soup with steak!” He unbuttoned his suit jacket and loosened his tie. He lifted the toolbox onto a chair next to Jennifer and put his hands under the table. Mike was across the table in an instant and they lifted it and carried it around behind Jennifer. “Miss?”
“Jennifer.”
Tony smiled, hanging his coat over a chair. “Jennifer. Please dig out the large safety knife. Dinner will be about twenty minutes.” As she pulled out the knife, the waiter came scurrying in with a cloth toolbag and a black vinyl camera bag. Mike took the camera bag and motioned the waiter to Tony. “Okay, order in?”
“Yes sir. The mayor wants to know if you’re available. Charlie wants to know if we should open a fifth dining room. Jacques said we need to double our chicken, chocolate, and spice orders this week and wants you to come along on the market run in the morning. Something about a vendor who wants to meet you personally.”
Tony looked around, annoyed, holding the knife switched open. “Put those screens around this area from the lady’s chair to that wall.” He looked up to see Mike had put two screens up already. “No, we’ll do that. Bring me a whole box of finger wipes, a package of bleach wipes, a box of garbage bags, a box of deodorizers, two empty mop buckets, and two butcher aprons. A rubber mat–one of the ones Jacques isn’t using. A plastic placemat. One of the big ugly ones from the back of the storeroom. Jacques thinks we need that much CHICKEN? Tell Jacques ‘we’ll see,’ tell Charlie ‘yes, limited menu if Jacques is willing,’ and tell the mayor ‘probably not.’ I owe my distant cousin here a favor, and I’d like to handle it tonight–just call it a family matter. It’ll make him laugh. Don’t disturb us except to bring the meal–help Charlie instead. Capishe?”

[continued next block]

[Herr D]

[Chapter 11 continued]

“Yes, Tony. Sounds wonderful.” said Mike.
Tony looked back up at the waiter. “Skimp on my three salads. I want to enjoy my dessert. And bring Michael’s black bag from the office before the soup. And the drill bag from the pantry.”
The waiter paused. “Soup?” he said.
“I’ve heard,” said Jennifer, “That your Zuppa Giovanni is VERY good.”

[Author]

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