WIP Wednesday for Angbang Week 2026
My work schedule is not very compliant, so now I have finally finished writing my entry for Day two, Dating and Intimacy.
This is my first take on a modern AU, set in the region of Germany I was born in. If time permits I will also be writing this AU for the upcoming @jrrt-native-languages-fest
And now have a snippet before I hopefully post the full thing when I have finished editing it.
Eisenknall, or Iron Bang
Germany, in our times. We are in Silmaringen, a typical medium-sized town in south-western Germany. There are some last remnants of tobacco farming in the nearby Rhine valley, and when you take the country roads into the foothills of the Black Forest, you can find many very decent winery every few kilometers on the wayside. The lives of the village folk and townspeople alike mostly revolves around who knows whom, and whatâs for dinner tonight.
Melkor Bauglir, the co-owner of Silmaringenâs hardware store and a small scale building company Bauglir & Finsterweber, is on his way to AulĂ«âs Smithy to personally inspect and receive five boxes of the finest custom-made ironmongery to stock up his shelves. Those gizzmos sold like hotcakes and that certain Smith at AulĂ«âs just knew how to fabricate them most preciseley. The product was a case of doing it properly, or half-assing a mediocre device that promised a lot but delivered headaches to DIYers and professional builders alike.
Melkor parked his car on the customer parking strip. He did not want to turn off the radio yet. His random playlist had decided to bless him Ellaâs rendition of âStormy Weatherâ. So he treated himself to sit through the entire song before finally getting out of his car. The sun had come out again after a mostly rainy day and the ground was gradually drying. Before stepping inside the workshop area, he had to remind himself again that Mairon was not going to rip him another one just for existing in his workplace. This place was his supplier and his customers loved him for stocking the best hardware and ironmongery a person could get, but doing business with these people was something else.
It was AulĂ« and his family that depended on his business, but that special feeling of entering the principalâs office after being called out in class still crept up on him every time he drove out to pick things up. Mairon was brilliant, so he accepted the volatility and the thrill that came with these visits. He had been discussing âbitey Maironâ with Gothmog over many Feierabend (after work) beers.
âBauglir!â he announced himself, trying his best to sound casual and exactly like the self-assured mover and shaker he actually was. âI am here to pick up the stem-bolts!â There was some banging in the back, where AulĂ« had his tools for making small hardware pieces. Mairon appeared, removing his protective goggles. The skin around his eyes was clean, making the smith look like one of those posh tourists who came here to ski in winter. âI swear to the stars, Bauglir!â Mairon placed his goggles on a palette full of boxes. âIf I have to make one more of your fussy self-sealing stem-bolts in the foreseeable future, I will come and let you have it!â
âLet me have what?â Melkor thanks himself for reacting quickly.
âMy fullest attention.â Mairon snaps back, but is smiling. A genuine smile, not one of his snide sarcastic lopsided smirks.
âIs that a threat or a promise?â Melkor plays the ball right back with a grin of his own.
âThat depends on you taking your order with you and me for a drink.â
Did that temperamental metalworker just ask him to ask him out a date? Melkor had braced for everything, but being approached on a personal, even private level by Marion himself.
I tag my dear @rebornflameofthenoldor, @belforte, @sauron-kraut @yewfae @perlen-gold @saintstars @cilil @kisses-in-the-void @annarobots, @ulmondil, @gospelxforxthexfallenxones, @starsofarda, @winds-of-zephyr416, @lildragoncosplay @peasant-player, @riaayanami @a-dwarfs-dream-of-space, and @angband-thrall-no-1035
I bet I forgot some of you, so do feel welcome to join!
No pressure and any WIP is a good WIP, may it be a fic, painting, dolls, cosplay or cake.
