Need some help from my friends

[cornerofmadness]

writer help that is. One of the complaints on my steampunk novella is it didn't use anything steamy to stop the villain. I think my local group has helped me out there but also that there weren't that many steamy things in the background. I'm not particularly convinced of that BUT it should be an easy thing to fix.

So if you were reading a steampunk, what kind of things would you like see in the background?

And for a completely different story I'm looking for a dark haired cutie to base the love interest on. I'm picturing him as slender/wiry muscles as opposed to Chris Hemsworth ripped. Doesn't even have to be a current picture. If you had a fave from the 70s (why is the guy from Robin Hood coming to mind?) that's fine. Actor, model, singer, hell if you can find me a cute scientist anything works. Yes I know we all have different ideas of cute but that's what makes this request kinda fun.

Comments

[wildrider.livejournal.com]

I can't think of "something steampunky" to forward the plot, aside from the typical madboy-scientist-stuff... the bulk of my steampunk world was setting up the past history rather than worrying about what was steampunk and what wasn't. But you could get elaborate if you wanted.

Let's see... for some reason the first guy to come to mind was a young John Stamos (who I think IS pretty freakin' adorable still); of course my tastes in the 70's where pretty whacky (Clark Gable, Henry Winkler, Elvis...), but suddenly I can't think of any more cute dark-haired guys.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yeah i know. I didn't think it was an issue but he wrote three paragraphs at how I sucked the big one because I didn't have more steampunky things other than an airship and I apparently didn't do that right either.

John is. Well it didn't have to be 70's dudes. I just didn't want people to think they had to limit themselves to today's entertainers

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

The problem with using Michael Praed

is Mercedes Lackey already did for her gay character.





Is that enough?

I haven't read enough steampunk to even know what to suggest to add to the background except for the airships.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Randolph might be too ethnic but yum.

She did? That's who Vanyel is based on? I can totally see that.

Kaleo might enjoy looking like Pierce.

Is that Adam Ant?

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Until you told me Randolph was Native, I had no idea.

Yes, that's who Vanyel is based on.

Adam Ant, yes.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

hahaha really? I knew he was at first glance.

Hey i remembered Adam's name

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

I always thought our friends, the Brandensteins, were Native. The parents were swarthy, straight-haired, dark-eyed people.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

ah

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Everyone else around my area was blond German types. I was the only girl in my class with brown hair. For many, many years.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yes i know that feeling....HERE

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Not at all surprised.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I'm detecting a theme of no one knows what should be in a steampunk but air ships

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Maybe you need an automaton of some sort besides the dog and the butler.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yeah but i don't know what and how to work it in without being distracting. I DO have three freaking clockwork birds

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Too bad they don't play more of a part in solving the mystery. Maybe that's the problem.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yes but mysteries aren't solved by gadgets

[scribesds.livejournal.com]

I like the Victorian-ism of Steampunk myself, and love to have little reminders of the era – the use of bellows, box cameras, etc and it fascinates me that the first vacuum cleaner was Victorian. You could use a penny-farthing or the later boneshaker bicycles, or even try mechanising them somehow. Or doing the opposite and making, say, a computer steam-powered? Or how about using ornithopters? Submarines or drilling machines?

As to the menfolk… can’t help with that one offhand. I generally prefer my boys chunkier. Sorry…

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

It was definitely an inventive period. I WAS just thinking that today that Abe could have invented an early motorcycle prototype. They do have the air ships (as opposed to ornithopters)

He has a difference engine, something of an early computer

thanks

[katimac8.livejournal.com]

70s? Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, Jim Morrison, Jimmy Plant, Freddie Mercury

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Pierce is an excellent choice

[a2zmom.livejournal.com]

Pierce Brosnan, yuuuum.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

He is

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

I can't help you with the steam punk, but 70's guy...

Steven Tyler when he was younger. http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8i17eU2ZM1r10hcho1_500.jpg

Jim Morrison

Freddie Mercury http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/f9/00/a4/f900a48a9721d44a0b30b553faf6fbba.jpg

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

all excellent choices. thanks

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

Thanks & you're welcome! :D

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

Just thought of another one. A young Henry Rollins... *sighs*

http://pleasekillme.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/rollinsshirtless.jpg

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Oh that is nice.

I remembered one on my own http://wetmen.provocateuse.com/images/photos/mark_dacascos_01.jpg Mark Dacascos

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah! ;p

Oooh... That's not bad either! :D

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

He was hot when I was younger

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

*nods*

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Oh I know Young Mandy well. Kevin is also nice. Not quite what I'm looking for for my SF dystopia but I will keep this in the folder of nice faces.

I can't work in a train in this story but I CAN in my non-erotica steam punk. In fact the train is the site of the murder so this is helpful for that. Thanks

[helliongoddess.livejournal.com]

What about a young Kevin Kline (think "Pirates of Penzance" or "Big Chill"
http://posterromance.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/600full-kevin-kline.jpg
If you do a google image search on him, there's lots of great portrait shots, and he had a dancers build.
Or how about (sort of in the same vein, I guess) a young dashing Mandy Patinkin? Had to use this older one because of the steampunk look...
http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100127042337/muppet/images/6/60/Huxley.jpg
Or better, from Princess Bride --- OK, for some reason, LJ is being weird, and I can't seem to find a Princess Bride link that works - but if you just do a google image search for Inugo Montoya, and there's tonsoo of great pics of KK buckling his swash.

As far as Steampunk imagery, I'm far from an expert, but I picture places and things like the trains and train stations Arakawa drew in Brotherhood- especially the train stations with that slightly grungy look, yet the glorious architecture, with the high vaulted ceilings and such. Plus, a train station was for then what an airport is these days: a great observation point for all aspects of human drama - meetings, partings, reconciliations, break ups, espionage, bringing people home to die, bringing families together for births, you name it.