Stupid Luck and Happenstance, Thread III
- Thread starter Peabody-Martini
- Start date
The character is a tad too old to be Ian Curtis. Hopefully this TL won't butterfly away Joy Division, although if it butterflies his suicide...
While I give bonus points for originality, there is small matter of this being sacrilege.Agnetha Fältskog?
Given who else Lemmy has worked with and/or dated OTL, I'm less convinced it is...
Perhaps, but IMO his mental health issues would have to be detected earlier. I get the impression from what I've read, that like Syd Barrett (who David Gilmour said had already had a mental breakdown, when he was a teenager), that Ian Curtis had mental health issues before Joy Division existed as a band. The epilepsy that especially became bad before he took his own life, was the final nail in the coffin.
Well, if it is Mr. Kilmister, it looks like he never got into playing bass, due to him never joining Hawkwind. Being put on the spot by Dikmik (who played synth for Hawkwind, and whom Lemmy happened to be hanging out with at the time), when Lemmy and Dikmik showed up at a Hawkwind rehearsal, to find out the bass player called it quits, having Dave Brock basically saying "what are we going to do for a bass player?" and having Dikmik say (pointing to Lemmy) "he does" (despite the fact that Lemmy had never played a bass before), and Lemmy trying out bass at Hawkwind's rehearsal (being hired in the process), isn't happening. No "Silver Machine" (which Lemmy not only played bass on, but sang the lead vocals on [he was the only one who could sing the higher notes - which irritated Robert Calvert to no end, since he wanted to sing the song]), nor singing on other Hawkwind sings (such as "Motorhead", which Lemmy also wrote).
Also, no Lemmy becoming noted as a bass player (albeit with a rather unique style - through a Marshall Stack, with distortion, sounding more like a mutant rhythm guitar [which Fast Eddie Clark said, made it hard at times to come up with rhythm guitar parts, that didn't clash with or get swallowed up in the mix, by Lemmy's playing]), which is too bad - he was only a so-so rhythm guitar player pre-Hawkwind (something that even Lemmy admitted was the case)..
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Sorry, I meant that I was less than convinced that that Lemmy working with or dating Agnetha from Abba was less likely to be sacrilegious.
The switch from rhythm to bass could still occur easily enough, just with a different band/audition, so hopefully we will not be denied that unique sound.
Maybe Jo needs to take Ian to the V8 on an open mic night?
The switch from rhythm to bass could still occur easily enough, just with a different band/audition, so hopefully we will not be denied that unique sound.
Maybe Jo needs to take Ian to the V8 on an open mic night?
Part 140, Chapter 2423
Chapter Two Thousand Four hundred Twenty-Three
12th December 1975
Mitte, Berlin
Sophie felt like she looked completely absurd as she glanced a reflection of herself in a mirror that was used to give an illusion of additional space in the entry of the Old Winter Palace. This wasn’t helped by Tatiana’s opinion of things. That it was an outdated practice that was elitist, patriarchal, and a complete waste of time. But since when had she cared too much about what Tatiana thought? When she just happened to agree with her, Sophie thought glumly to herself. Aunt Marcella had told Sophie that years earlier Tatiana had refused to take part, promising to cause a massive scene if she were forced and had even threatened to use extremely creative measures to embarrass Kat. Kat had reluctantly conceded that the introduction to the Imperial Court was an opportunity for her oldest daughter, it was her choice. That had played out around the time of Sophie’s arrival in the household, and she had not been aware of all that had been going on. Sophie just wished that she had a fraction of Tat’s courage when it came to matters like this.
“You made it after all, Zoey” Gabbi said with a smile, delighted that Sophie was here. Her half-sister had been born into an aristocratic family without most of the issues that Sophie had. So, her presence tonight had been expected from the moment she had been born because Gabbi belonged in these circles. On the other hand, most of the people at this event would have been scandalized by Sophie’s very existence just a few decades earlier. She was under no illusions about that.
“I thought that you said you were not going to come?” Gabbi asked, and Sophie sort of wished that she could turn invisible. “Especially after the orientation.”
“I thought so too” Sophie said without elaborating. Kat had left her little choice. She had simply pointed out to Sophie that they had given her a whole lot without asking for anything in return and to just consider what being introduced to the Court meant for her. Guilt had done the rest.
During the weeks prior, Sophie had learned what would be expected of her over the Winter Social Season with events planned for every week between now and the 11th of February when the one of the largest festivals of the year would take over the center of Berlin. The Summer Season would start in May and conclude in August. After that, what Sophie did next was entirely up to her, it was the hope of the Empress though that those of her group would see the benefit of being a part of her inner circle and come back next year. Sophie got the impression that if she came back it would be one those better to be a guard than one of prisoners, sort of thing.
“Err, shall we?” Sophie’s other problem tonight asked awkwardly.
Sophie’s escort for the night was the seventeen-year-old son of a friend of Kat’s. Kat had told her that they had a great deal in common. So far, Sophie was finding that he had far more in common with a box of rocks and the way her towered over her, he was almost comically tall. Even worse, he attended one of the Prussian Institutes, exclusive gymnasiums where the Ancient Houses sent their particularly useless sons. When he showed up at Kat’s house that evening, he was wearing the red and grey formal uniform of a Cadet. He had a few medals, for athletics and good conduct at the Institution, which wasn’t particularly impressive. With a bit of reluctance, Sophie took his arm. There was an etiquette to this that Sophie had drilled into her head over the last few weeks.
“Once we are in there, you can have your choice dance partners” Sophie said.
“Oh, I thought that…” Sophie’s escort said, before stopping midsentence. He sounded disappointed.
What exactly did he think this was? And what was going to happen? This whole thing was an obligation, and he was a part of that. Not a blind date or something equally stupid. Looking at his face, Sophie realized that Kat and his mother had been unfair to him. He must have had never had a chance to do anything like this, kept sequestered far from anything social which wasn’t carefully controlled. Even tonight’s event which was well chaperoned was radical freedom for him. Sophie wondered what he would make of some of the art and music festivals she had attended over the last couple years.
“I’m sorry Sabastian” Sophie said, “This is not about you, my involvement with this… production, it wasn’t my idea.”
“I thought that girls liked this sort of thing” Sabastian replied.
“What gave you that impression?” Sophie asked.
“I have two sisters who wanted to come to this, but Anna isn’t invited until next year” Sabastian replied, “Gretchen still has a few years, something which my mother is happy about.”
How did you begin to explain to someone like Sabastian things like economic class? How someone like Sophie’s father, the man who Kat told her was little more than a sperm donor, had treated her mother like a plaything and thought that he would get away with it because of that? Sophie doubted that he could ever understand.
As they entered the formal ballroom, Sophie heard Sabastian announced as Fähnrich Sabastian Reier Markgraf von Schultz zu Oppeln. She was aware that meant that he was the son of the Marshal of Silesia. Then she heard her name, Sophie Pauline Sommers, but they finished with saying that she was ward of Katherine von Mischner. Nothing more. She hoped that he understood just what that meant.
12th December 1975
Mitte, Berlin
Sophie felt like she looked completely absurd as she glanced a reflection of herself in a mirror that was used to give an illusion of additional space in the entry of the Old Winter Palace. This wasn’t helped by Tatiana’s opinion of things. That it was an outdated practice that was elitist, patriarchal, and a complete waste of time. But since when had she cared too much about what Tatiana thought? When she just happened to agree with her, Sophie thought glumly to herself. Aunt Marcella had told Sophie that years earlier Tatiana had refused to take part, promising to cause a massive scene if she were forced and had even threatened to use extremely creative measures to embarrass Kat. Kat had reluctantly conceded that the introduction to the Imperial Court was an opportunity for her oldest daughter, it was her choice. That had played out around the time of Sophie’s arrival in the household, and she had not been aware of all that had been going on. Sophie just wished that she had a fraction of Tat’s courage when it came to matters like this.
“You made it after all, Zoey” Gabbi said with a smile, delighted that Sophie was here. Her half-sister had been born into an aristocratic family without most of the issues that Sophie had. So, her presence tonight had been expected from the moment she had been born because Gabbi belonged in these circles. On the other hand, most of the people at this event would have been scandalized by Sophie’s very existence just a few decades earlier. She was under no illusions about that.
“I thought that you said you were not going to come?” Gabbi asked, and Sophie sort of wished that she could turn invisible. “Especially after the orientation.”
“I thought so too” Sophie said without elaborating. Kat had left her little choice. She had simply pointed out to Sophie that they had given her a whole lot without asking for anything in return and to just consider what being introduced to the Court meant for her. Guilt had done the rest.
During the weeks prior, Sophie had learned what would be expected of her over the Winter Social Season with events planned for every week between now and the 11th of February when the one of the largest festivals of the year would take over the center of Berlin. The Summer Season would start in May and conclude in August. After that, what Sophie did next was entirely up to her, it was the hope of the Empress though that those of her group would see the benefit of being a part of her inner circle and come back next year. Sophie got the impression that if she came back it would be one those better to be a guard than one of prisoners, sort of thing.
“Err, shall we?” Sophie’s other problem tonight asked awkwardly.
Sophie’s escort for the night was the seventeen-year-old son of a friend of Kat’s. Kat had told her that they had a great deal in common. So far, Sophie was finding that he had far more in common with a box of rocks and the way her towered over her, he was almost comically tall. Even worse, he attended one of the Prussian Institutes, exclusive gymnasiums where the Ancient Houses sent their particularly useless sons. When he showed up at Kat’s house that evening, he was wearing the red and grey formal uniform of a Cadet. He had a few medals, for athletics and good conduct at the Institution, which wasn’t particularly impressive. With a bit of reluctance, Sophie took his arm. There was an etiquette to this that Sophie had drilled into her head over the last few weeks.
“Once we are in there, you can have your choice dance partners” Sophie said.
“Oh, I thought that…” Sophie’s escort said, before stopping midsentence. He sounded disappointed.
What exactly did he think this was? And what was going to happen? This whole thing was an obligation, and he was a part of that. Not a blind date or something equally stupid. Looking at his face, Sophie realized that Kat and his mother had been unfair to him. He must have had never had a chance to do anything like this, kept sequestered far from anything social which wasn’t carefully controlled. Even tonight’s event which was well chaperoned was radical freedom for him. Sophie wondered what he would make of some of the art and music festivals she had attended over the last couple years.
“I’m sorry Sabastian” Sophie said, “This is not about you, my involvement with this… production, it wasn’t my idea.”
“I thought that girls liked this sort of thing” Sabastian replied.
“What gave you that impression?” Sophie asked.
“I have two sisters who wanted to come to this, but Anna isn’t invited until next year” Sabastian replied, “Gretchen still has a few years, something which my mother is happy about.”
How did you begin to explain to someone like Sabastian things like economic class? How someone like Sophie’s father, the man who Kat told her was little more than a sperm donor, had treated her mother like a plaything and thought that he would get away with it because of that? Sophie doubted that he could ever understand.
As they entered the formal ballroom, Sophie heard Sabastian announced as Fähnrich Sabastian Reier Markgraf von Schultz zu Oppeln. She was aware that meant that he was the son of the Marshal of Silesia. Then she heard her name, Sophie Pauline Sommers, but they finished with saying that she was ward of Katherine von Mischner. Nothing more. She hoped that he understood just what that meant.
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No he won't. What Sebastian will hear is "Sophie is the ward of Tante Kat, if you even think about the most fleeting idea crossing the deepest reaches of the back of your mind about upsetting this girl, volunteering for mine detection with a pair of lead clown shoes may be a better idea".
The reality is Kat in person is not the Kat of reputation, and Sophie is likely more than plenty capable enough of looking after herself.
That said, reputations can also be an advantage almost as often as they're a hindrance.
Yeah, Bas will be thinking that someone standing on top of a mountain during a thunderstorm, while wearing wet, copper armour, waving a sword above their head and shouting "God is a bastard!", would have a far, far better chance of seeing another sunrise than he would if he EVER thought about trifling with Sophie's affections. Which is slightly disappointing, because it seems as though he rather likes her. On the other hand, it does leave the door open for Sophie's ex.
The thing is, Sophie doesn't seem to understand that her being introduced at court as Kat's ward, and escorted by someone with Bas' titles, relatively recent though they are, is a significant indication to those who still view things in a more traditional manner that 1) times have changed and 2) this young woman is a suitable match for any of your offspring. In fact, it indicates that their offspring might not be a suitable match for Sophie.
Sophie has issues with resentment and trust, she believes that anything that is given to her can easily be taken away from her.
This includes social ranking that she has through Kat, and Sophie to herself will always be that girl from the lower class that nobody, not even her mother wanted.
The only time that Sophie feels confident about herself is when she is racing on her bicycle .
As for shipping Sophie and Bas, there is also Sepp in the background, and that could lead to some fun teen drama.
As for the time commitment that being a Maid of the Court entails, Sophie has a built in excuse about being training for the Olympics next Summer in Montreal and the prestige of being one of the youngest member of the German Olympics Team more than makes up any absences that may occurs.
This includes social ranking that she has through Kat, and Sophie to herself will always be that girl from the lower class that nobody, not even her mother wanted.
The only time that Sophie feels confident about herself is when she is racing on her bicycle .
As for shipping Sophie and Bas, there is also Sepp in the background, and that could lead to some fun teen drama.
As for the time commitment that being a Maid of the Court entails, Sophie has a built in excuse about being training for the Olympics next Summer in Montreal and the prestige of being one of the youngest member of the German Olympics Team more than makes up any absences that may occurs.
Part 140, Chapter 2425
Chapter Two Thousand Four Hundred Twenty-Five
15th December 1975
Wahlstatt, Silesia
Bas had finally made it back late the night before after a rare trip home over a weekend. It was particularly strange because it was so close to them all leaving for the Christmas Holiday. Naturally, that was all anyone wanted to talk about, but Bas said that he was interested in talking about what had happened. He sat there eating his breakfast, ignoring everyone until he had Niko were walking to lecture hall for the first class of the day. The end of the academic year might still be months off, but they had the exams to sit to receive the Abitur ahead. Which meant that they needed to know anything that their examiners might throw at them. Niko had realized that the months he had spent in Argentina were weighing on him. He had been told that he needed to keep up his studies regardless of where he landed, but with everything else going on there simply had not been the time. He had spoken with the Headmaster about it and Oberstleutnant Gruber had told him that the knowledge that the world would not always be accommodating of him was an important lesson to learn, it was up to him to carve out the time necessary for his studies. It was in that moment that Niko figured out that the Headmaster had known exactly what was going to happen to him in Argentina. That was what he had been doing for months, making up for lost time.
That was what Niko was thinking about when Bas finally spoke up.
“I went to the apartment that my parents have in Berlin” Bas said, “My mother wanted me to be presentable so that I could escort this girl as she was introduced to the Court. There was this formal reception, it was strange.”
“That was all?” Niko asked, “Why all the secrecy?”
“What secrecy” Bas replied, “Not wanting to talk to the entire class is hardly keeping secrets. Last I looked, my life isn’t their entertainment.”
“I didn’t mean the entire class” Niko said.
“I’m talking to you now” Bas said, “Without the audience.”
The two of them had more or less grown up on Opa von Richthofen’s estate or Aunt Katherine’s house. Which meant that they had always been close as brothers. Niko should have known that Bas would tell him the story when he felt like it and not a moment sooner.
“So, from my parent’s apartment I went to Aunt Kat’s place and, do you know Sophie?” Bas asked,
“Sort of” Niko replied, “I’ve seen her around, but we are on totally different wavelengths.”
Bas just nodded.
Niko knew Sophie in passing. She had lived at his Aunt’s house for several years, but he had made little effort to get to know her after she had rather pointedly ignored him the few times they had met. The few times they had been forced to interact she had not made things easy. Niko had no idea that Berlinerisch really was a thing until Sophie had made a point of using it when talking to him.
“She was the girl I was escorting to the opening of the Winter Season” Bas said.
“Sophie?” Niko asked, “I thought that she wasn’t into socializing?”
“She did tell me that her involvement wasn’t her idea” Bas replied.
“She said that” Niko asked, “Whose idea was it then?”
“I don’t know” Bas replied, “I get there, and she was wearing this white dress that shimmered as she walked down the stairs. There was also this jewelry she had on, diamonds, I think.”
“Aunt Kat probably had something to do with that” Niko said, “She is associated with one of the top fashion designers in the city and goes all out with events like this. Dolling up her girls until you can barely recognize them.”
“Well, it worked because she looked incredible.”
“Really?”
“Like an actress at that film festival in France that shows films from all over” Bas said, “You the one with palm trees.”
“You mean Cannes?” Niko asked.
“I think that’s it” Bas replied, “I read an article about it and none of the movies named seemed like anything I would sit through.”
Niko figured that there was probably a great deal of truth in that about the nature of films that were meant to appeal to reviewers and critics. Bas preferred action films of the sort that were not known for challenging their audience and were extremely unlikely to be shown at the International Film Festival held in Cannes.
“As I was saying though, Sophie looked incredible” Bas said, “She acted like she didn’t like me very much though.”
Because it wasn’t an act, Niko thought to himself.
“That’s over with I guess” Niko said, “You won’t have to think about her anymore if that is how she is.”
“You don’t know?” Bas asked, “She is going to Montreal with us next summer, Women’s Road Cycling.”
“I don’t know if I am getting that chance” Niko said. He had looked into if there were any events where he might be able to qualify to compete in the upcoming Summer Games. It was something which he and Bas had dreamed about for years. The best shot he had was on the Fencing team to go as an alternate this year which would be a major leg up to compete in the Moscow games. Even that was dependent of someone getting injured. The presence of Sophie Sommers was an additional complication.
15th December 1975
Wahlstatt, Silesia
Bas had finally made it back late the night before after a rare trip home over a weekend. It was particularly strange because it was so close to them all leaving for the Christmas Holiday. Naturally, that was all anyone wanted to talk about, but Bas said that he was interested in talking about what had happened. He sat there eating his breakfast, ignoring everyone until he had Niko were walking to lecture hall for the first class of the day. The end of the academic year might still be months off, but they had the exams to sit to receive the Abitur ahead. Which meant that they needed to know anything that their examiners might throw at them. Niko had realized that the months he had spent in Argentina were weighing on him. He had been told that he needed to keep up his studies regardless of where he landed, but with everything else going on there simply had not been the time. He had spoken with the Headmaster about it and Oberstleutnant Gruber had told him that the knowledge that the world would not always be accommodating of him was an important lesson to learn, it was up to him to carve out the time necessary for his studies. It was in that moment that Niko figured out that the Headmaster had known exactly what was going to happen to him in Argentina. That was what he had been doing for months, making up for lost time.
That was what Niko was thinking about when Bas finally spoke up.
“I went to the apartment that my parents have in Berlin” Bas said, “My mother wanted me to be presentable so that I could escort this girl as she was introduced to the Court. There was this formal reception, it was strange.”
“That was all?” Niko asked, “Why all the secrecy?”
“What secrecy” Bas replied, “Not wanting to talk to the entire class is hardly keeping secrets. Last I looked, my life isn’t their entertainment.”
“I didn’t mean the entire class” Niko said.
“I’m talking to you now” Bas said, “Without the audience.”
The two of them had more or less grown up on Opa von Richthofen’s estate or Aunt Katherine’s house. Which meant that they had always been close as brothers. Niko should have known that Bas would tell him the story when he felt like it and not a moment sooner.
“So, from my parent’s apartment I went to Aunt Kat’s place and, do you know Sophie?” Bas asked,
“Sort of” Niko replied, “I’ve seen her around, but we are on totally different wavelengths.”
Bas just nodded.
Niko knew Sophie in passing. She had lived at his Aunt’s house for several years, but he had made little effort to get to know her after she had rather pointedly ignored him the few times they had met. The few times they had been forced to interact she had not made things easy. Niko had no idea that Berlinerisch really was a thing until Sophie had made a point of using it when talking to him.
“She was the girl I was escorting to the opening of the Winter Season” Bas said.
“Sophie?” Niko asked, “I thought that she wasn’t into socializing?”
“She did tell me that her involvement wasn’t her idea” Bas replied.
“She said that” Niko asked, “Whose idea was it then?”
“I don’t know” Bas replied, “I get there, and she was wearing this white dress that shimmered as she walked down the stairs. There was also this jewelry she had on, diamonds, I think.”
“Aunt Kat probably had something to do with that” Niko said, “She is associated with one of the top fashion designers in the city and goes all out with events like this. Dolling up her girls until you can barely recognize them.”
“Well, it worked because she looked incredible.”
“Really?”
“Like an actress at that film festival in France that shows films from all over” Bas said, “You the one with palm trees.”
“You mean Cannes?” Niko asked.
“I think that’s it” Bas replied, “I read an article about it and none of the movies named seemed like anything I would sit through.”
Niko figured that there was probably a great deal of truth in that about the nature of films that were meant to appeal to reviewers and critics. Bas preferred action films of the sort that were not known for challenging their audience and were extremely unlikely to be shown at the International Film Festival held in Cannes.
“As I was saying though, Sophie looked incredible” Bas said, “She acted like she didn’t like me very much though.”
Because it wasn’t an act, Niko thought to himself.
“That’s over with I guess” Niko said, “You won’t have to think about her anymore if that is how she is.”
“You don’t know?” Bas asked, “She is going to Montreal with us next summer, Women’s Road Cycling.”
“I don’t know if I am getting that chance” Niko said. He had looked into if there were any events where he might be able to qualify to compete in the upcoming Summer Games. It was something which he and Bas had dreamed about for years. The best shot he had was on the Fencing team to go as an alternate this year which would be a major leg up to compete in the Moscow games. Even that was dependent of someone getting injured. The presence of Sophie Sommers was an additional complication.
Niko's best shot at making the Olympics is Modern Pentathlon, an event consisting of five events simulating an officer getting a message back to HQ.
There is Fencing, where everyone faces each other in a round-robin format, small bore pistol target shooting, a 300 meter swim, a 4km cross-country equestrian event on a randomly assigned horse, and a 3km cross-country run.
There is Fencing, where everyone faces each other in a round-robin format, small bore pistol target shooting, a 300 meter swim, a 4km cross-country equestrian event on a randomly assigned horse, and a 3km cross-country run.