#from the desk of norab

[norabrice1701]

So, I guess this is what happens when I ignore a crush for ~12 years...

5 completed fics posted

1 in-process posting fic

1 fic wrapped & ready for Christmas Eve

4 fic WIPs

And, apparently, my brain likes Zemo in niche sport AUs (which is so unlike me, I'm not very sporty). But I'm playing around with an enemies-to-lovers idea, and I made a thing for the working summary:

Working Title: High Octane

Working Summary: When legendary offshore powerboat racer Tony Stark rolled his ‘Iron Man’ boat at the Key West World Championships and retired two weeks later, the offshore racing world upended. When he announced you as his successor, not even you could have predicted that you'd win two world championships within the next four years. But ever since Zemo Racing burst onto the offshore scene, you've been frustrated in more ways than you're willing to admit. Since Zemo's debut, it's been two long years of second places, narrow misses, and drowning in his sea spray. It all comes to a head at this year's Key West World Championships.

(This WIP is already 45+ pages long, and may be a thing in Jan/Feb '22...? Either way, I'm enjoying writing a snarky, cocky Stephen Strange as the reader's co-pilot)

The day may come when this blog won't be so Brühl-centric, but it is not this day...(especially not when those GIFs of Father Antonio are also simmering in the back of my brain...)

[norabrice1701]

Rules: Answer questions and tag blogs to get to know better!

Tagged By: @ebiemidnightlibrarian (thank you for thinking of me! 😊)

Name: Nora (on here, at least...)

Star Sign: Scorpio

Height: 5'-8"

Time: 1:49 PM

Birthday: Between October 23 - November 21

Favorite Bands/Solo Artists: Sooo many... too many to single out a list

Last Movie: Con Air

Last Show: Obi-Wan Kenobi

When Did I Create This Blog: March 2018

What I post: Fandom stuff! Usually whatever fandom holds the most sway at the moment... but mostly, I post my shameless fanfics stemming from my celebrity crushes

Last thing I googled: Toto Wolff interview

Other Blogs: @leftenantmackgordon - I'm super proud of this super niche blog that gets a lot of love from a dear group of Discord friends! (And I'm getting dangerously close to making an F1 sideblog so I don't clog up my main blog with too much...)

Do I Get Asks?: Yes, inbox is open and it's always fun to get a new message

Why I Chose My URL: Nora Brice is my nom de plume, and 1701 is the Starfleet starship registry number for the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)

Following: 146

Followers: 329 (this has brought the biggest smile to my face - thanks, y'all 😊)

Average Hours of Sleep: Per my watch, 7.5 hrs/night

Instruments: Piano still, violin and flute in my past

What Am I Wearing: Shorts, t-shirt, and flip-flops

Dream Job(s): NASA or F1 engineer (loved the course I took at uni on race car design & dynamics); owning a small seaside bistro on the Mediterranean (Italy/Monaco/South of France)

Favorite Food: Cheat foods - mac'n cheese, pizza, Key Lime Pie, Rum Cake

Nationality: American

Favorite Songs: I'll just go with ones that are currently inspiring active fics:

Hypnotised - Years & Years

La Mer - Chantal Chamberland

I Think We're Alone Now - Hidden Citizens

How Did You Love - Shinedown

Blindfold - Sleeping Wolf

Corynorhinus - Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard

Last Book I Read: "Petroleum Refining in Nontechnical Language" (for work...). For fun, currently reading "Bloodless" by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child, and just re-read a section of my "Race Car Vehicle Dynamics" uni textbook for fic background...

Top 3 Fictional Universes I'd like to Live In: Hogwarts/Wizarding World Universe, Star Trek Universe, Lord of the Rings Universe

This was fun - thanks again, Ebie!

No pressure tagging forward: @frmagpieao3 @raniiaaa @violetmuses @scuttle-buttle @lorna-d-m @khorstmayer @nvtaliaromanovv @f1yogurt

[norabrice1701]

We interrupt this program of fictional creative imaginings with some non-fictional astronaut adoration during the 51st Anniversary of Apollo 13: 

I made these last year, when the ‘Apollo 13 in Real Time’ rolled out (still love it, and please forgive these - I’m better with words than visual arts) - but I loved the random glimpses of John Young supporting the mission! Like countless others, he all but lived at NASA in the days after the explosion in the true spirit of engineering, problem-solving team work (in addition to being the mission backup Commander). After reading his autobiography, I call John Young my personal patron saint of technical conscience in my own engineering work (I can just picture his half-grimace/half-embarrassed smile at that), and these shots of him at work make me smile (plus, bonus Deke Slayton and Vance Brand):  

These last two take place just minutes before Apollo 13 lost signal behind the moon - usually such a feverish time in Mission Control (with the normal concerns replaced by a whole new slew of concerns for this mission), and John’s just got a sandwich. (I would have been a ball of anxiety, but I also wouldn’t hack it as a test pilot, and I would be woefully out of my depth to even mention engineering to Mr. Young.)

I’m probably not old enough to say this, but they don’t make ‘em like they used to. Godspeed, Mr. Young.  

[norabrice1701]

Y'all are the best!

As a multi-fandom, mostly fanfic blog with an inconsistent posting schedule (because I don't like to start posting a story until I have it 90% finished), I never thought to gain many followers - so, I'm beyond excited that I have 100+ followers right now!!!!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH for your support, encouragement, and interest in these musings!

I know I'm small potatoes in a huge cornucopia of creative delights, so everyone gets a happy Andrea potato in celebration!

Also with my thanks and potatoes, in case anyone's interested, here's a draft teaser of inspiration for the next fic that's fighting with 'Dance Card' for space in my brain:

The Cloverfield Pyramids

(Still Physicist)!Schmidt x Fem!Reader

"The Cloverfield Paradox" Lost Ruins/Archaeology Expedition AU

Working Summary: You didn't look gift horses in the mouth. It was how you got your job. It was how you met Ernst before he became Schmidt. It was how you found yourself piloting an expedition ship up the Amazon River with a team of scientists searching for the undiscovered pyramids of the ancient Cloverfield tribe. Sure, it sounded laughably implausible - but with each nautical mile and each increasingly mysterious, horrific happening on the ship, you had to reconsider. Perhaps the Cloverfield Pyramids did exist, and perhaps they remained lost for a reason....

Much love, heartfelt thanks, and cheers! -NoraB

[norabrice1701]

Hi, y'all!

There's so much good content lately - it's got me so antsy to start contributing again! I am excited to share that the draft of 'The Cloverfield Pyramid' Ernst Schmidt x Fem!Reader AU story is finished! It's longer than planned, but I've had fun building this world (if only to satisfy my creative muses haha). I'm planning to soon post an extended summary preview, and update my master list with chapter count, and maybe even Chapter 1 itself....

@raniiaaa has graciously (and bravely) volunteered her services as beta-reader, and her feedback has been so beneficial. Ch. 1 has worked through the queue, but there's a lot of pages left to go, so I can't guarantee a regular posting schedule right now. I'm debating posting Ch. 1 now to (hopefully) whet appetites, and then pause to stockpile future chapters to release closer together...unless I just post chapters as they're ready...🤔

Thanks for hanging on in the downtime, and for all new followers - welcome! The wait is almost over...assuming you're a Schmidt/Daniel Brühl fan ☺️

[norabrice1701]

Personal Tag Game

Tagged by @f1yogurt - thank you, hon!

Last TV Show: Pam & Tommy (so much I didn't know)

Last Song: American Cars - Annie (love the vibe)

Currently Watching: Our Flag Means Death (such a joy)

Currently Reading: Carrying the Fire by Micheal Collins (soo wishing I could drink martinis with him 🍸)

Tagging it to anyone who sees this & wants to play! 😊❤