Dear Yule Writer
Signup achieved, more details forthcoming
First off, Dear Writer, thank you for loving something I love, and writing for me. I have never been disappointed in a Yuletide piece written for me, and I am sure I will love yours!
1. Take Some Fire - Any
2. JC Leyendecker - All
3. Drujienna's Harp : Eshone's Father, Acheron
4. Till We Have Faces (Song)
5. The Iliad - Homer : Hector, Odysseus, Hephaestus
6. The Prydwen Sails Again (song)
General Thoughts
This year's general thoughts resemble earlier year's, but I have re-formatted them somewhat. Previous year's letters can be found under the Dear Writer tag on Dreamwidth and on Live Journal.
Things I love:
Strength - of character, of intellect, of will, of ability - interwoven with vulnerability. brilliance with fragility, knowledge/wisdom/power with geasa/restrictions/damage, grace under strain, extraordinary capabilities under constraint. And when it is self-restraint, that is all the more wonderful. Nearly every fandom and character I deeply love contains this idea to some degree.
Competence - people who are good at what they do, and exercising those skills & abilities. Smiths smithing beautiful things, poets shaping reality with their words and music. Smithcraft and Making are part of this, with which I have an abiding fascination.
Kingship, Sovereignty, Bardship, Wizardry - an abiding fascination of mine, both in success and failure, requirements and advantages, positives and negatives.
Hope - light at the end of the struggle, the possibility of joy out of grief or difficulty, beauty in the midst of sorrow or pain. I like angst, and hurt/comfort, and clever, driven, competent people set against great odds and obstacles, but I want there to be a point to the quest, value to life and love and light. Bittersweet is lovely, but requires sweet with the bitter. (And fluffy, happy, even silly things can be good too.)
Language - lyrical, poetic, atmospheric words as an element of the work, how the story is put together. I am very open to receiving different kinds of story, if that is your thing. And if not, I love transparent storytelling too. I love conversation and description and exploration of tiny moments as well as grand tapestries.
Intimacy and relationships - I am fine with any rating, but I prefer emotional intimacy and exploration to parts and mechanics, if that makes sense? Consent is important to me. I would prefer no non-con or dub-con.
Individual Requests
1. Take Some Fire - Any
I adore all four of these songs, both together and individually. I will be happy with a story that combines some or all of them, or deals with any one of them singly. Would prefer something with a hopeful or positive slant/ending.
More Info:
CD-Baby page listing the album
I will be making a promo post with the lyrics. Unfortunately none of the four songs are on YouTube, but they can be listened to on LastFM here. Or I assume they can. I don't actually know how it works.
Album on Amazon from whence the individual tracks may be bought.
Take Some Fire
When the weeping willow grants you a place to grieve your loss
When the fire-crested healer sees your bones of shame
When the lowly worm turns silent in a pod of introspection
It’s then you’ll find a voice to reclaim
The weeping willow once lay choking with a deadly blight
And the fire-crested healer once lay frozen in the snow
You, too, will overcome, though your journey will be hard
And you must take some fire when you go
Celebrate your anger, and be baptized in your tears
For a wisdom lives within you, as only you can know
Prepare yourself for battle, and your flight into the storm
And you must take some fire when you go
When a thousand fallen heroes turn against you in the dark
And your guardian angels here on earth turn a deaf ear towards your cries
When you perform great miracles that no one seems to see
And your good intentions fall by the wayside
When the ice you tread is fragile in the endless winter night
And below its frozen surface are the memories within
The water will still haunt you until you give it some release
As a wound must bleed to cleanse itself again
Celebrate your anger, and be baptized in your tears
For a wisdom lives within you, as only you can know
Prepare yourself for battle, and your flight into the storm
And you must take some fire when you go
Like the kindness of a stranger who sees you safely home
Your fury will propel you to that freedom you desire
That spark that once eluded you now illuminates your smile
And it comes when you take fire
When the need for instant comfort leads you to the poisoned stream
As it strips you of your armor and lances you with pain
When the mask you wear of silence bears a stoic web of scars
And there are secrets you no longer can contain
When a phantom terror drains you of the life you never knew
When your spirit of survival is exhausted to the core
When the sadness of unlearning lies behind your tired eyes
Of one who’s seen it all and then some more
Celebrate your anger, and be baptized in your tears
For a wisdom lives within you, as only you can know
Prepare yourself for battle, and your flight into the storm
And you must take some fire when you go
Like the kindness of a stranger who sees you safely home
Your fury will propel you to that freedom you desire
That spark that once eluded you now illuminates your smile
And it comes when you take fire
It comes when you take fire
It comes when you take fire
Thoughts:
In the Name of Honor
There a great imbalance at the grisly banquet table
As some people slowly starve to death, and other are force-fed
You cannot hear my silent scream, for now I am unable
I am forced another morsel and wish that I was dead
In the name of honor, we must suffer
In the name of pride, we must pretend
In the name of fate, we must carry a burden
And make martyrs of our hearts to defend
... our honor
Now, I am a common criminal, a thief of sacred thoughts
There is a plan laid our for me to counter all my sins
Do not mourn my execution, for my penance will be bought
Just be strong for me and rest assured one day we will win
In the name of secrecy, we perish
In the name of discipline, deny ourselves a joy
In the name of morals, we must sacrifice a loved one
And hunt down another mystery to destroy
... our honor
In the throes of desperation, we raise our voices high
Haunted by the deep blue sea and burning summer sky
I’ve never begged for anything, but now my time draws nigh
If it truly is your will, might this cup pass me by?
In the name of honor, we must suffer
In the name of pride, we must pretend
In the name of fate, we must carry a burden
And make martyrs of our hearts to defend
In the name of secrecy, we perish
In the name of discipline, deny ourselves a joy
In the name of morals, we must sacrifice a loved one
And hunt down another mystery to destroy
... our honor
Thoughts:
Wings
This strange celebration would eat you alive
Only for its indifference did I survive
I’m lost in a world where glory is not what it seems
Two souls vying whether to fight or to pray
On wings of thin paper glide swiftly away
Once you saw visions and now I’ll make you dream dreams
And I’ll carry this torch to some other place
To keep this destruction at bay
Dark wings beat wildly inside my ribcage
Til it opens...and they all fly away
I have tasted the sweetest of things
Against my lips, the fluttering wings
Of a delicate moth blindly drawn to the light that burns it
My body was weightless, not flesh, but of flame
As two pairs of wings become one and the same
But the gift of flight only comes to the man who earns it
And I’ll carry this torch to some other place
To keep this destruction at bay
Dark wings beat wildly inside my ribcage
Til it opens...and they all fly away
Pounding heart, wings at your heels
Mercurial eye, and tongue made of steel
Your message is divine indeed-I can’t help but listen
And should I fly with you to solace and space
As a soft wing of darkness fall over my face
Gravity will give in at last, and we will have risen
And I’ll carry this torch to some other place
To keep this destruction at bay
Dark wings beat wildly inside my ribcage
Til it opens...and they all fly away
Your wings shine a subtle desiring dare
Let no one rob you of the candle you bear
For the path that you fly tonight should never be lightless
Only take care, lest your judgement fails
For if caught by the wings, those sparking scales
Will cling to their fingertips, and render you flightless
And I’ll carry this torch to some other place
To keep this destruction at bay
Dark wings beat wildly inside my ribcage
Til it opens...and they all fly away
Thoughts:
Coiling
The embers on the drying grass, the calm before the storm
The stillness of the glacier before the waters warm
The lioness retaliates when harm comes to her pride
The grizzly far more dangerous with an arrow in her side
Coiling, coiling, coiling, coiling
Action potential can never be ignored
Coiling, coiling, coiling, coiling
The villain falls from power, the balance is restored
It’s when the spark ignites the grass or the storm destroys the path
And when the shock wears off the mind, it’s when you face its wrath
The rattlesnake must coil at first before she strikes and slashes
And friction comes between the clouds before the lightning flashes
Coiling, coiling, coiling, coiling
Action potential can never be ignored
Coiling, coiling, coiling, coiling
The villain falls from power, the balance is restored
A ticking time bomb tension winding tightly like a spring
The arrow nocked into the bow, the tautness of the string
The pressure mounts within the earth before the crater cracks
The cornered creature sounds the call before instinct attacks
Coiling, coiling, coiling, coiling
Action potential can never be ignored
Coiling, coiling, coiling, coiling
The villain falls from power, the balance is restored
All lyrics: Copyright Patterson, Beth (2014-01-31). Mongrels & Misfits. DarkStar Books/Event Horizon Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Thoughts:
2. JC Leyendecker - Works
- Blond Arrow Collar Man
- Brunet Arrow Collar Man
- Interwoven Socks Man
- Arrow Collar Woman
A glimpse into these people's lives and loves would be a delight.
More thoughts:
Who are they? What adventures do they have? A period piece (1900s - though 2000s could be interesting: time travel! or any of the other eras of which the art was a part) would be particularly nice, but I would not be averse to a modern or future tale if that is what speaks to you.
Possible crossover idea:
Daddy Long Legs - Jean Webster: Is Jervis Pendleton part of their circle/set?
Resources:
This is the article that got me first interested: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/the-perfect-american-male/
Dandyism.net: http://www.dandyism.net/2008/11/14/eye-for-elegance/
Here is a Tumblr with many lovely things: http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com
Top pick of the various books available on Amazon : http://www.amazon.com/J-C-Leyendecker-American-Laurence-Cutler/dp/0810995212/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411788575&sr=1-1&keywords=j+c+leyendecker
Here are some representative paintings for the characters:
The Arrow Collar Men & Woman: http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/image/93640227747 ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/65845866897/cruzship-fucking-leyendecker-that-man-was ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/9013859581 ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/1225270132/komangography-illustration-by-j-c-leyendecker ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/1225181618
Blond Arrow Collar Man & Brunet Arrow Collar Man: http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/83959025437/cigartop-lots-of-artists-can-fill-their-work ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/9219194381/ofshalott-ad-for-i-think-arrow-shirts-1920s ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/1225268496/gettothechoppah-the-longer-you-look-at-this
Blond Arrow Collar Man: http://38.media.tumblr.com/bba73bff755301c3a398f2aaae477f6b/tumblr_myyxj9HHBy1s5roolo4_400.jpg ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/1225213129/oceanlwaves-leyendecker
Brunet Arrow Collar Man: http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/69070931494/kungfugrift-pinterest-theres-probably-going
Interwoven Sock Man: http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/image/85468177647 ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/68359479267/christinerod-interwoven-socks-ad-illustrated ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/5406557975/via-marycbrown
3. Drujienna's Harp - Ellen Kindt McKenzie
- Eshone's Father
- Acheron
Is Acheron the Wizard? Is Eshone's Father Drujienna's Father in a new life? How have they held on through the years, what is their story, their relationship? Anything at all will be a delight to know.
4. Till We Have Faces (Song)
I love the atmosphere of this song, and the contrast between the lover and the beloved.
Song on YouTube
Lyrics are on this page with a sample, about 3/4ths the way down.
my joy and i held candles before the frozen throne
she in her winged sandals, i in my boots of stone
she in her silken flora, i in my leather drear
she with the grace of cora upon the road of tears
and did they see us shining through winter’s dark decree
those gods of time and dying who reasoned doom to me
came bright the dove of april, good summer in her wake
the eaglet in her cradle, and autumn’s golden snake
who was it caught my dearest in snares of shallow will
to bind her frail and fearless upon their hallowed hill?
come now you crawling spider, dire wolf and driving rain
my heart will sleep beside her, secure as iron chains
i climbed the rise at evening to bury my delight
no sign of web or weaving, no shadow of her flight
behold the unmade chalice, the wine that has no taste
the bare and phantom palace she made of my embrace
behold these endless mazes, these winters without end
we roam till we have faces to feel the spring again
5. The Iliad - Homer
- Hector (Iliad)
- Odysseus (Iliad)
- Hephaestus (Iliad)
I would love to see something happen between these two, before or during (or after! What if Hector doesn't actually die? Or in the afterlife? Or perhaps in re-incarnation or something) the story. I do see Hector as played by Eric Bana in Troy and Odysseus as played by Sean Bean, but that's really a visual/aural reference only, and if you see them differently, that is totally ok. Slash could be fun, though I'd prefer it if Andromache were not dissed in the process.
Anyway: Hector, noble, brave and true, (also: not stupid), and Odysseus, too smart for his own good. Sparks and snark and adventures.
Alternately, Hephaestus, solo or in combination with Hector | Odysseus - what is his perspective on this whole thing? How did he come to make the artifacts he does that get used & misused in the war? (Hephaestus is definitely one of the Smiths and Makers of my heart.)
Ideally, I would like a happy tale, not a bleak one, canon or otherwise.
Additional Thoughts:
Or a threesome with Andromache - heck, if we're speculating that far, Andromache/Penelope and Hector/Odysseus, or all 4 together.
6. The Prydwen Sails Again (Song)
- The Singer,
- The Singer's Boyfriend
Home came seven from Caer Siddi -- was the singer's boyfriend one of them? Why isn't the singer on the quest?
This mythology and story are fascinating to me, and the atmosphere of the song is so haunting. I would love essentially anything dealing with before, during or after, though some kind of hope would be appreciated.
Resources:
Song on youTube
Lyrics on Lyric Wikia
Article on Caer Siddi at Wikipedia (also Caer Sidi, Caer Sidydd)
Article on Preiddeu Annwn on Wikipedia
Article on Culhwch and Olwen
(And this is what link-hopping gets you: a site with translations and information about lots of Celtic literature, including the relevant Welsh pieces.)
The Prydwen Sails Again
-Heather Dale : The Trial of Lancelot
King Arthur sails the broken sea,
His ship the summer's pride,
To scale the walls of Caer Siddi
With tested men and tried.
I know but one who sails within
The ranks of Arthur's men
To challenge death at Caer Siddi.
The Prydwen sails again.
The Prydwen sails again.
At Arthur's call, the bravest
Of his knights did take to sea.
Of a legion, seven did return
Who once faced Caer Siddi.
So bear my token proudly, love,
And fight until the end.
I know your banner's carried as
The Prydwen sails again.
The Prydwen sails again.
The Cauldron and the peace it brings
Are nowhere in this land.
May Arthur find them finally
With you among his band.
Keep your shield before you
And your head held high, my friend.
I'll bring my sword to join you when
The Prydwen sails again.
The Prydwen sails again.
Thoughts:
None of the sources say who went with Arthur, or who returned with him, so the field is pretty much open. One who occurs to me is Taliesin himself (meaning that the one waiting could be Adaon ap Taliesin his son, or his lady/boyfriend/King-not-Arthur).
Crossover possibilities:
- Preiddeu Annwn : this poem is one of the sources from which this song is drawn, and if you want to include things from it, that would be neat
- Chronicles of Prydain - Lloyd Alexander : Adaon son of Taliesin is a character in The Black Cauldron, another ready combination
- Arthurian Mythology - kind of a super-set in which this song is included.
- Dans les Prisons de Nantes (Song) : I don't know why this popped into my head, but it did.
This entry was originally posted at http://lferion.dreamwidth.org/248513.html, where there are currently
comments. Please comment there using OpenID.
First off, Dear Writer, thank you for loving something I love, and writing for me. I have never been disappointed in a Yuletide piece written for me, and I am sure I will love yours!
1. Take Some Fire - Any
2. JC Leyendecker - All
3. Drujienna's Harp : Eshone's Father, Acheron
4. Till We Have Faces (Song)
5. The Iliad - Homer : Hector, Odysseus, Hephaestus
6. The Prydwen Sails Again (song)
General Thoughts
This year's general thoughts resemble earlier year's, but I have re-formatted them somewhat. Previous year's letters can be found under the Dear Writer tag on Dreamwidth and on Live Journal.
Things I love:
Strength - of character, of intellect, of will, of ability - interwoven with vulnerability. brilliance with fragility, knowledge/wisdom/power with geasa/restrictions/damage, grace under strain, extraordinary capabilities under constraint. And when it is self-restraint, that is all the more wonderful. Nearly every fandom and character I deeply love contains this idea to some degree.
Competence - people who are good at what they do, and exercising those skills & abilities. Smiths smithing beautiful things, poets shaping reality with their words and music. Smithcraft and Making are part of this, with which I have an abiding fascination.
Kingship, Sovereignty, Bardship, Wizardry - an abiding fascination of mine, both in success and failure, requirements and advantages, positives and negatives.
Hope - light at the end of the struggle, the possibility of joy out of grief or difficulty, beauty in the midst of sorrow or pain. I like angst, and hurt/comfort, and clever, driven, competent people set against great odds and obstacles, but I want there to be a point to the quest, value to life and love and light. Bittersweet is lovely, but requires sweet with the bitter. (And fluffy, happy, even silly things can be good too.)
Language - lyrical, poetic, atmospheric words as an element of the work, how the story is put together. I am very open to receiving different kinds of story, if that is your thing. And if not, I love transparent storytelling too. I love conversation and description and exploration of tiny moments as well as grand tapestries.
Intimacy and relationships - I am fine with any rating, but I prefer emotional intimacy and exploration to parts and mechanics, if that makes sense? Consent is important to me. I would prefer no non-con or dub-con.
Individual Requests
1. Take Some Fire - Any
I adore all four of these songs, both together and individually. I will be happy with a story that combines some or all of them, or deals with any one of them singly. Would prefer something with a hopeful or positive slant/ending.
More Info:
CD-Baby page listing the album
I will be making a promo post with the lyrics. Unfortunately none of the four songs are on YouTube, but they can be listened to on LastFM here. Or I assume they can. I don't actually know how it works.
Album on Amazon from whence the individual tracks may be bought.
Take Some Fire
When the weeping willow grants you a place to grieve your loss
When the fire-crested healer sees your bones of shame
When the lowly worm turns silent in a pod of introspection
It’s then you’ll find a voice to reclaim
The weeping willow once lay choking with a deadly blight
And the fire-crested healer once lay frozen in the snow
You, too, will overcome, though your journey will be hard
And you must take some fire when you go
Celebrate your anger, and be baptized in your tears
For a wisdom lives within you, as only you can know
Prepare yourself for battle, and your flight into the storm
And you must take some fire when you go
When a thousand fallen heroes turn against you in the dark
And your guardian angels here on earth turn a deaf ear towards your cries
When you perform great miracles that no one seems to see
And your good intentions fall by the wayside
When the ice you tread is fragile in the endless winter night
And below its frozen surface are the memories within
The water will still haunt you until you give it some release
As a wound must bleed to cleanse itself again
Celebrate your anger, and be baptized in your tears
For a wisdom lives within you, as only you can know
Prepare yourself for battle, and your flight into the storm
And you must take some fire when you go
Like the kindness of a stranger who sees you safely home
Your fury will propel you to that freedom you desire
That spark that once eluded you now illuminates your smile
And it comes when you take fire
When the need for instant comfort leads you to the poisoned stream
As it strips you of your armor and lances you with pain
When the mask you wear of silence bears a stoic web of scars
And there are secrets you no longer can contain
When a phantom terror drains you of the life you never knew
When your spirit of survival is exhausted to the core
When the sadness of unlearning lies behind your tired eyes
Of one who’s seen it all and then some more
Celebrate your anger, and be baptized in your tears
For a wisdom lives within you, as only you can know
Prepare yourself for battle, and your flight into the storm
And you must take some fire when you go
Like the kindness of a stranger who sees you safely home
Your fury will propel you to that freedom you desire
That spark that once eluded you now illuminates your smile
And it comes when you take fire
It comes when you take fire
It comes when you take fire
Thoughts:
In the Name of Honor
There a great imbalance at the grisly banquet table
As some people slowly starve to death, and other are force-fed
You cannot hear my silent scream, for now I am unable
I am forced another morsel and wish that I was dead
In the name of honor, we must suffer
In the name of pride, we must pretend
In the name of fate, we must carry a burden
And make martyrs of our hearts to defend
... our honor
Now, I am a common criminal, a thief of sacred thoughts
There is a plan laid our for me to counter all my sins
Do not mourn my execution, for my penance will be bought
Just be strong for me and rest assured one day we will win
In the name of secrecy, we perish
In the name of discipline, deny ourselves a joy
In the name of morals, we must sacrifice a loved one
And hunt down another mystery to destroy
... our honor
In the throes of desperation, we raise our voices high
Haunted by the deep blue sea and burning summer sky
I’ve never begged for anything, but now my time draws nigh
If it truly is your will, might this cup pass me by?
In the name of honor, we must suffer
In the name of pride, we must pretend
In the name of fate, we must carry a burden
And make martyrs of our hearts to defend
In the name of secrecy, we perish
In the name of discipline, deny ourselves a joy
In the name of morals, we must sacrifice a loved one
And hunt down another mystery to destroy
... our honor
Thoughts:
Wings
This strange celebration would eat you alive
Only for its indifference did I survive
I’m lost in a world where glory is not what it seems
Two souls vying whether to fight or to pray
On wings of thin paper glide swiftly away
Once you saw visions and now I’ll make you dream dreams
And I’ll carry this torch to some other place
To keep this destruction at bay
Dark wings beat wildly inside my ribcage
Til it opens...and they all fly away
I have tasted the sweetest of things
Against my lips, the fluttering wings
Of a delicate moth blindly drawn to the light that burns it
My body was weightless, not flesh, but of flame
As two pairs of wings become one and the same
But the gift of flight only comes to the man who earns it
And I’ll carry this torch to some other place
To keep this destruction at bay
Dark wings beat wildly inside my ribcage
Til it opens...and they all fly away
Pounding heart, wings at your heels
Mercurial eye, and tongue made of steel
Your message is divine indeed-I can’t help but listen
And should I fly with you to solace and space
As a soft wing of darkness fall over my face
Gravity will give in at last, and we will have risen
And I’ll carry this torch to some other place
To keep this destruction at bay
Dark wings beat wildly inside my ribcage
Til it opens...and they all fly away
Your wings shine a subtle desiring dare
Let no one rob you of the candle you bear
For the path that you fly tonight should never be lightless
Only take care, lest your judgement fails
For if caught by the wings, those sparking scales
Will cling to their fingertips, and render you flightless
And I’ll carry this torch to some other place
To keep this destruction at bay
Dark wings beat wildly inside my ribcage
Til it opens...and they all fly away
Thoughts:
Coiling
The embers on the drying grass, the calm before the storm
The stillness of the glacier before the waters warm
The lioness retaliates when harm comes to her pride
The grizzly far more dangerous with an arrow in her side
Coiling, coiling, coiling, coiling
Action potential can never be ignored
Coiling, coiling, coiling, coiling
The villain falls from power, the balance is restored
It’s when the spark ignites the grass or the storm destroys the path
And when the shock wears off the mind, it’s when you face its wrath
The rattlesnake must coil at first before she strikes and slashes
And friction comes between the clouds before the lightning flashes
Coiling, coiling, coiling, coiling
Action potential can never be ignored
Coiling, coiling, coiling, coiling
The villain falls from power, the balance is restored
A ticking time bomb tension winding tightly like a spring
The arrow nocked into the bow, the tautness of the string
The pressure mounts within the earth before the crater cracks
The cornered creature sounds the call before instinct attacks
Coiling, coiling, coiling, coiling
Action potential can never be ignored
Coiling, coiling, coiling, coiling
The villain falls from power, the balance is restored
All lyrics: Copyright Patterson, Beth (2014-01-31). Mongrels & Misfits. DarkStar Books/Event Horizon Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
Thoughts:
2. JC Leyendecker - Works
- Blond Arrow Collar Man
- Brunet Arrow Collar Man
- Interwoven Socks Man
- Arrow Collar Woman
A glimpse into these people's lives and loves would be a delight.
More thoughts:
Who are they? What adventures do they have? A period piece (1900s - though 2000s could be interesting: time travel! or any of the other eras of which the art was a part) would be particularly nice, but I would not be averse to a modern or future tale if that is what speaks to you.
Possible crossover idea:
Daddy Long Legs - Jean Webster: Is Jervis Pendleton part of their circle/set?
Resources:
This is the article that got me first interested: http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/the-perfect-american-male/
Dandyism.net: http://www.dandyism.net/2008/11/14/eye-for-elegance/
Here is a Tumblr with many lovely things: http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com
Top pick of the various books available on Amazon : http://www.amazon.com/J-C-Leyendecker-American-Laurence-Cutler/dp/0810995212/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1411788575&sr=1-1&keywords=j+c+leyendecker
Here are some representative paintings for the characters:
The Arrow Collar Men & Woman: http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/image/93640227747 ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/65845866897/cruzship-fucking-leyendecker-that-man-was ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/9013859581 ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/1225270132/komangography-illustration-by-j-c-leyendecker ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/1225181618
Blond Arrow Collar Man & Brunet Arrow Collar Man: http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/83959025437/cigartop-lots-of-artists-can-fill-their-work ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/9219194381/ofshalott-ad-for-i-think-arrow-shirts-1920s ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/1225268496/gettothechoppah-the-longer-you-look-at-this
Blond Arrow Collar Man: http://38.media.tumblr.com/bba73bff755301c3a398f2aaae477f6b/tumblr_myyxj9HHBy1s5roolo4_400.jpg ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/1225213129/oceanlwaves-leyendecker
Brunet Arrow Collar Man: http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/69070931494/kungfugrift-pinterest-theres-probably-going
Interwoven Sock Man: http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/image/85468177647 ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/68359479267/christinerod-interwoven-socks-ad-illustrated ; http://jcleyendecker.tumblr.com/post/5406557975/via-marycbrown
3. Drujienna's Harp - Ellen Kindt McKenzie
- Eshone's Father
- Acheron
Is Acheron the Wizard? Is Eshone's Father Drujienna's Father in a new life? How have they held on through the years, what is their story, their relationship? Anything at all will be a delight to know.
4. Till We Have Faces (Song)
I love the atmosphere of this song, and the contrast between the lover and the beloved.
Song on YouTube
Lyrics are on this page with a sample, about 3/4ths the way down.
my joy and i held candles before the frozen throne
she in her winged sandals, i in my boots of stone
she in her silken flora, i in my leather drear
she with the grace of cora upon the road of tears
and did they see us shining through winter’s dark decree
those gods of time and dying who reasoned doom to me
came bright the dove of april, good summer in her wake
the eaglet in her cradle, and autumn’s golden snake
who was it caught my dearest in snares of shallow will
to bind her frail and fearless upon their hallowed hill?
come now you crawling spider, dire wolf and driving rain
my heart will sleep beside her, secure as iron chains
i climbed the rise at evening to bury my delight
no sign of web or weaving, no shadow of her flight
behold the unmade chalice, the wine that has no taste
the bare and phantom palace she made of my embrace
behold these endless mazes, these winters without end
we roam till we have faces to feel the spring again
5. The Iliad - Homer
- Hector (Iliad)
- Odysseus (Iliad)
- Hephaestus (Iliad)
I would love to see something happen between these two, before or during (or after! What if Hector doesn't actually die? Or in the afterlife? Or perhaps in re-incarnation or something) the story. I do see Hector as played by Eric Bana in Troy and Odysseus as played by Sean Bean, but that's really a visual/aural reference only, and if you see them differently, that is totally ok. Slash could be fun, though I'd prefer it if Andromache were not dissed in the process.
Anyway: Hector, noble, brave and true, (also: not stupid), and Odysseus, too smart for his own good. Sparks and snark and adventures.
Alternately, Hephaestus, solo or in combination with Hector | Odysseus - what is his perspective on this whole thing? How did he come to make the artifacts he does that get used & misused in the war? (Hephaestus is definitely one of the Smiths and Makers of my heart.)
Ideally, I would like a happy tale, not a bleak one, canon or otherwise.
Additional Thoughts:
Or a threesome with Andromache - heck, if we're speculating that far, Andromache/Penelope and Hector/Odysseus, or all 4 together.
6. The Prydwen Sails Again (Song)
- The Singer,
- The Singer's Boyfriend
Home came seven from Caer Siddi -- was the singer's boyfriend one of them? Why isn't the singer on the quest?
This mythology and story are fascinating to me, and the atmosphere of the song is so haunting. I would love essentially anything dealing with before, during or after, though some kind of hope would be appreciated.
Resources:
Song on youTube
Lyrics on Lyric Wikia
Article on Caer Siddi at Wikipedia (also Caer Sidi, Caer Sidydd)
Article on Preiddeu Annwn on Wikipedia
Article on Culhwch and Olwen
(And this is what link-hopping gets you: a site with translations and information about lots of Celtic literature, including the relevant Welsh pieces.)
The Prydwen Sails Again
-Heather Dale : The Trial of Lancelot
King Arthur sails the broken sea,
His ship the summer's pride,
To scale the walls of Caer Siddi
With tested men and tried.
I know but one who sails within
The ranks of Arthur's men
To challenge death at Caer Siddi.
The Prydwen sails again.
The Prydwen sails again.
At Arthur's call, the bravest
Of his knights did take to sea.
Of a legion, seven did return
Who once faced Caer Siddi.
So bear my token proudly, love,
And fight until the end.
I know your banner's carried as
The Prydwen sails again.
The Prydwen sails again.
The Cauldron and the peace it brings
Are nowhere in this land.
May Arthur find them finally
With you among his band.
Keep your shield before you
And your head held high, my friend.
I'll bring my sword to join you when
The Prydwen sails again.
The Prydwen sails again.
Thoughts:
None of the sources say who went with Arthur, or who returned with him, so the field is pretty much open. One who occurs to me is Taliesin himself (meaning that the one waiting could be Adaon ap Taliesin his son, or his lady/boyfriend/King-not-Arthur).
Crossover possibilities:
- Preiddeu Annwn : this poem is one of the sources from which this song is drawn, and if you want to include things from it, that would be neat
- Chronicles of Prydain - Lloyd Alexander : Adaon son of Taliesin is a character in The Black Cauldron, another ready combination
- Arthurian Mythology - kind of a super-set in which this song is included.
- Dans les Prisons de Nantes (Song) : I don't know why this popped into my head, but it did.
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