Steampunk Songs - Chastity

Loosely inspired by the Go-Gos' "Throw Me a Curve" (was I the only person in the known universe to buy that record?), as well as the number of layers of clothing Victorian ladies had to wear. Having unmarried ladies chaperoned seemed unnecessary - who would get through all those layers? Then again, never bet against two people burning with desire.

Chastity

(chorus)
Corset, bodice, whalebone stays,
Petticoats, eyeholes, wanton ways.
Tell me how to get him near
With so many clothes to wear.

It's as though these clothes were designed
By a teenager girl's father to ease his worried mind:
No man has the energy
To take a girl's virginity.
Fumbling with laces can take all day
By then the passion has drained away.

(chorus)

Though it's quite the rage there's too much fuss 'til
He finds a way to detach the bustle.
Just when he thinks he's gotten there,
Another layer between you and bare.
Until he makes it it's just rumors
That nothing comes 'tween you and your bloomers.

(chorus)

(bridge)
Society may disapprove
Of ladies' lusts, you see,
But nature will not be stopped
By attempts at chastity.

By the time they're off it's half-past ten,
Time to start dressing all over again,
Or perhaps by now comes a knock from Maid
Interrupting your best plans to get laid,
Or he leaves baffled by clothing esoterica -
It's enough to drive a girl to hysteria!

(chorus)

Steampunk Songs - Doctor Sabo

Inspired in equal parts by the Beatles' "Doctor Roberts," Tom Waits' "What's He Doing in There?", and some of the madder scientists in Caledon. (You know who you are.)

Doctor Sabo

He prefers to work in stormy weather
Harnessing electricity, donning leather
Gloves and apron, stiff with blood
Is he evil, mad, or just misunderstood?

What is he cooking up in the lab?
A mix of a rabbit and a dungenees crab.
He experiments with the human genome
Crossed with a vulture's chromosome.

Doctor Sabo - he's a genius
Doctor Sabo - he's a madman
Creating life to come out and play.
Doctor Sabo - he's demented
Doctor Sabo - he's a wizard
Wreaking havoc 'til they put him away.

Don't let it escape from its metal cage,
Loosed with fangs and pent-up rage.
If it comes for you, this monster and freak,
Your last sound will be but a girlish shriek.

(chorus)

Doctor Sabo has invented his very own phylum
Now he's locked safely in the lunatic asylum
With plans for talons on a Barbary ape.
Better start running when he makes his escape.

(chorus)

Steampunk Songs - Better Days

Inspired in part by Miss Orr's series of Journal entries on the topic (I think I linked to the first one, and the series continued from that point) on what constitutes Steampunk music, I thought I would amuse myself by developing a batch of lyrics for Steampunk songs - that is, topics that might be considered part of a steamy Victorian past.

(It's true that any number of songs already explore such themes, from some of Abney Park, to Rasputina, to, um, my memory fails right now, so I'll leave it at "others." I never said I was original.)

Then I thought: why not embarrass myself by including them in Journal entries! This seemed a spectacularly bad idea, but I lacked sufficient self-control to stop myself. And, let's be frank, one advantage of the semi-anonymity of a character's Journal is that it's freeing. To paraphrase Love Story, "Being anonymous means never having to say you're embarrassed." (Which makes much more sense than the original quote.)

This one is a little too serious, I'll grant (and lacks a third verse that may or may not ever materialize). I was thinking the other day how most neo-Victorian roleplay seems to gloss over the grittier parts of Victorian life: the workhouses, the grime, the uneducated urchins. Everyone is a duchess or a lady. Of course, Victorian life was was often brutish, nasty, and short, and it pays to remember that. (But not dwell on it too much - the next two are funnier.)

Better Days

Walking down cobblestone streets
Past gaslamps and alleyways,
I pass a child by and his dirty face
Looks me in the eye,
His expression blank, face fixed.
What thoughts are trapped inside his head?
But in my mind he's
Hoping for better days.

Walking past the workhouse door,
Press of bodies and odors and heat.
Ladies pressing laundry
Sigh in resignation.
Do they ever ask themselves
When things went so terribly wrong?
Or are they even now
Hoping for better days?

(chorus)
Like seeing in the wretched mud
A rose sprung from the dirt,
Hope blossoms even now
From a world drenched with hurt.
Dreams of robots and airships
Don't seem so far away,
Feet are bound, imagination unchained
Waiting for a better day.

Infestation of Giant Lapins

The giant bunnies are multiplying! Help!


One bunny - a mess. Two bunnies - a giant mess. Two bunnies of opposite sex - a whole garden-ful of bunnies. I'm glad I don't own property in Eyre!

Goode Inventions

I had seen the Steampunk Face Light in action, but a recent notecard from Dr. Garth Goode indicated where one might purchase this device: Goode Inventions, in The Mermaid Arcade, New Babbage.

I was delighted to see that it came in a ladies' version as well. (And the illustration may indicate why so many men walk into things.)

I must confess some confusion over the Mechanical Infant Avatar, however.

Museum of Oddities and Wonders

I visited the Dr. Charon's Museum of Oddities and Wonders, on the second floor of the Third Life area. The first floor has books, an area for literary discussions, and a variety of products for sale for RFL. The second floor contains the museum of Dr. Noble Charon's expeditions.




Each exhibit has a detailed notecard explaining how the artifact was discovered, and something of its background or history.


I shudder when I think of Dr. Charon's adventures and close calls, but the museum makes for a fascinating visit. Highly recommended.

Kathy Goes to the Museum

Okay, a housekeeping note first: I, Kathy Jameson, being of sound mind...rats, wrong crib sheet. I finagled my way into being an author on Rhianon's Journal - not that I have any complaints about her work in editing, and sometimes writing up, my travels, but sometimes it's easier say it directly. We'll see what works.

To tonight's travels. Once I heard of it, I had to see the Museum of Sex Furniture. Am I right? Come on, folks, with a name like that, I had to go. (And no worries, it's all workplace safe.)

First things first: I didn't try out any of the exhibits. Honest. I won't swear that I haven't seen any of these before, but...a girl's got her secrets, okay?

Anywho, I must say that I was totally at sea about some of the devices. This one, for example:

Looks like a milking device for a cow. What's that all about?

And this thing. It's an outhouse. Primative loo. This is supposed to be a sex museum? Maybe I've just lived a sheltered life.

And I'm totally clueless on this one.


This one, I get: you can roast yourself on a spit. Ouch. But where's the sex? Is it now considered sexy to become barbeque?

I left confused. But there was a second museum to visit this evening...

(To be continued.)

Amaranthus

I had wondered to what purpose would be put the gothic building in Cape Wrath. The building stands next to the pub, on the water, and has a darkly forbidding look.


All was revealed when I received a note saying the building would house Amaranthus, a Victorian jewelry store, owned by Miss Elbereth Nightfire. Below, I look at some of the pieces for sale.

An amaranthus is a type of flower - as the infallible Wikipedia says, named from the Greek, the "one that does not wither, or the never-fading (flower)."

Although I missed the opening celebration, I saw that the shop still had out cake and assorted goodies. I thought cutting the cake would be rude, so I contented myself with a small piece of chocolate.


Of course, leaving without buying a piece of jewelry would also have been rude.

Politeness simply required that I buy something. Or at least that's what I plan to tell my accountant.

Bashful Peacock First Anniversary

The Bashful Peacock held a three-hour dance on Sunday to mark its first anniversary. Although I could attend the last hour only, an impressive number of supporters came out to celebrate.

Our host, Mr. Rudolfo Woodget (left) and Mr. Austin Susanti dance


Duke Otenth Paderborn dancing with Mr. Steadman Kondor


Mr. Jameson Despres and Mr. Jayleden Miles dancing (and matching!)


YHN, with Sundog Silvercloud in the background

Radio Riel DJ Miss Soliel Snook

Miss Caladon Rae, dressed to kill, looks on as Miss Magdalena Kamenev dances

Miss Garnet Psaltery

Miss CronoCloud Creegan

Moi again

Center: Miss Kiralette Kelly and Mr. Podruly Peccable dance; Left: Mr. Sascha Vayandar; Right: Mr. Roy Smashcan

Inkwell Manor

I was wandering through Regency, Stormhold, and Wellsian today when I saw the most amazing gothic/Steampunk structure.

Wandering closer, I saw it was named Inkwell Manor, and is owned by Mr. Wrath Constantine and Miss Aevalle Galicia.

Every good Steampunk house needs a rocket ship poised for quick getaway.

The gazebo in the gardens is striking in its own right.

The balloon-ship doubtless ferries its guests in style.

All in all, one of the most impressive Steampunk builds - with nary a gear in sight!