Clockwork Heart
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AO3
LJ: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5
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Title: Clockwork Heart
Author: sundaysalvation [tumblr]
Beta: finnickodair-you-are
Artist: freakingpotter [art link] and keep-frozen [art link]
Word count: ~53,300
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None (although there is a single mention of Finn in the final chapter)
Characters and Pairings: Characters include: Kurt, Rachel, Blaine, Mercedes, Sam, Burt, Isabelle Wright (with appearances by Elliott, Marley, Santana, Dani and a host of characters as clockwork automatons).
Parings include: pre-Kurt/Blaine (mentions of Santana/Dani, Burt/Carole).
Summary: Kurt and Rachel are on their rocky start of a dream of owning their own theater in Lima. However, after a year of terribly acted plays and no money coming in from audiences, their dream is moments away from being taken from them. The hopeful souls that they are, Kurt and Rachel decide to put on a play by themselves as a last ditch effort to save their dreams and their theater. But as they can’t stage a play with just the two of them, they have to find human actors they can’t pay and use clockwork actors that are in dire need of repairs. Kurt is determined to replace every broken spring, every cracked jewel, and every exhausted wheel to get the heart and soul of his theater ticking and turning again. But even though he’s willing to compromise and waste no expense he can on this make-or-break performance, there is no way Kurt Hummel is getting up on that stage to perform.
Author's Note: I really want to thank the three people who were so instrumental in me writing this. First, my two amazing artists freakingpotter and keep-frozen, who made two of the most incredible pieces of art I’ve seen for ages and were cheerleaders when I needed them the most. I was speechless when I first saw both works of art (to be honest I'm still speechless, and in love) and I hope I’ve written a story that matches the amazing work you’ve done. Both of you showing me your artwork inspired me to get this story finished and I can’t thank you enough for that. And second to my beta finnickodair-you-are, for literally everything. Telling me that yes my first ideas really weren’t great, helping me sort through everything for the story I eventually wrote, helping me in the dying moments of the eleventh hour and for being there start to finish and beyond.
This story was somewhat inspired by Rude Mechanicals by Lesley Livingston (which can be found in the anthology Corsets and Clockwork) but it took on a life of its own about a day after its conception. The script I use in the story of Much Ado About Nothing is the 70% abridged version found here. The information used in this story about clockwork and timepieces comes from extensive internet research, so I apologise if any of it is wrong. Also, if anyone needs clarification about the steampunk terminology used in this story, feel free to message me!
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AO3
LJ: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5
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