Chapter 14: Unmasked Ball
A visit to Richard's flat reveals more of his private life than just his residence. (And the fic at last earns its M rating.)
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@FF.Net The jazz standard featured in this chapter is “The Sheik of Araby,” published in 1921 with lyrics by Harry B Smith and Francis Wheeler, and music by Ted Snyder. Many musicians have performed it over the years, from Louis Prima to-bizarrely-the Beatles, but the one I listened to as I worked on the chapter is
Leon Redbone’s from the Boardwalk Empire soundtrack.
One of the most fun (and distracting) parts of this chapter was setting the stage for Richard’s bold and modern flat above the newspaper lair. I drew my inspiration from these living and dining room designs.
I already posted about how the story Richard tells Mary in this chapter about
the Royal Opera House fire and the Wizard of the North is 100% true. The truth is always stranger than fiction, which is why Richard is many things but not a liar, and such a successful hawker of newspaper scandal. ;)
And last but not least, William the Cat is a bit of Richard headcanon I made up with
Cassie ages ago for an M/R roleplay. Because what’s an evil newspaper lair without an evil newspaper lair cat?