The Cauldron

Wow, so many replys!

Anyhow, I also love that Sergent Major who loves to tease Rhapsody because of her Lirin Blood, yet is very protected, funny, and a big monster with weapons to BOOT! I especially liked Grunthor in Rhapsody, while they were crawling along (SPOIL) Sagia. He seemed like a big, armoured teddy bear with a disturbing green grin. But, even though Achmed may seem like a jerk sometimes, and a rude A$$, I have a soft sport for assassins anyhow.

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The instructor put's out a single chair in the middle of an empty room, and he says; "Explain to me how this chair is not here."
One student says: "Chair, what chair? I don't see a chair."

AVATAR BY ME

I guess I'm not really undecided, more like I think Ashe would be fantastically awesome and wonderful romantically, whereas Achmed would not appeal to me much beyond a brother type.

 

Oh Ashe. If only you actually existed.

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Av. used with permission from me, to me, by me, for me etc.

I may not have ended up where I intended to go, but I have ended up where I needed to be.

This thread has taken on a life of it's own...

First, I don't remember who said this but you are not the only guy here!  Second I think Ashe will become and even more interesting character when he becomes a dragon!  Imagine having a dragon for a Dad or husband.  That would come in handy.  I think it'll happen one day and even then Rhapsody won't leave him.  I know this is a little off-topic for the whole "Ashe vs. Achmed" thing but I was just thinking (hence the steam coming out of my ears).

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Save the Earth; it's where I keep all my stuff!

I like Achmed's personality better then Ashe's, but why did Achmed have to be so scary looking.  I wish Achmed was orignally super handsome and then got horribly disfigured somehow.  Then when they went through the flame at the center of the earth he got super handsome again and is only hiding it with like a mask or something cause he's embarrased.

 I don't think Ashe deserves to be with Rhapsody cause he's often indecissive, childish, and lacks initiative.  Like when Achmed told him that if he wanted to Ashe could be the biggest rock ever thrown in the pond but he refuses even to be so much as a pebble.

But i'm torn because as much as I dislike Ashe, I think with all she's been through Rhapsody deserves to be happy---and being happy means being with Ashe.

So I guess in the end it's a choice between me being happy (which means Achmed) and Rhapsody being happy (which means Ashe).

...I choose me... go Achmed!!!

Sam I am. wrote:

I like Achmed's personality better then Ashe's, but why did Achmed have to be so scary looking.  I wish Achmed was orignally super handsome and then got horribly disfigured somehow.  Then when they went through the flame at the center of the earth he got super handsome again and is only hiding it with like a mask or something cause he's embarrased.

Wow what a fantastic idea - that would be so cool - I'm only on Elegy right now so perhaps this can still happen???? No, don't tell me, I'll wait and see.

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Maireann croí éadrom i bhfad - a light heart lives longest

Sam I am. wrote:

why did Achmed have to be so scary looking.  I wish Achmed was orignally super handsome and then got horribly disfigured somehow.  Then when they went through the flame at the center of the earth he got super handsome again and is only hiding it with like a mask or something cause he's embarrased.

               

Achmed had always made a point of remaining cloaked and hooded whenever possible, behaving in many subtle ways like a man who felt his appearance to be unpleasant to behold, even freakish.  Now, seeing his countenance ungarded in the light, she couldn't understand why he had.  He wasn't ugly, at least in her estimation.  There was a strange beauty to his face, in fact; instead of a face that reflected atrocity, she saw a distracted god's unfinished work.
    It was easy to imagine the rendering that created him, the unfinished head of a sculpture placed on its body, all full of kneadings and excess clay, unrefined, with just a small crimp to approximate a nose, some uneven thumb marks where the eyes might one day be, another swipe of the thumb to make a half-smiling, half-grimacing, lipless mouth.
    The mismatched eyes, the fine scoring of vessels beneath the surface of the skin, had come together to form a work of art, not attractive in the classical sense, but fascinating and rare.

Rhapsody, 198-99

 

Now what part of that doesn't scream "super handsome" to you?????  

Personally I think "handsome is in the eye of the beholder."  Now, before I get pummeled with the cliche rocks, attraction is definitely subjective.  Yes, there are those certain, uberattractive people that everyone wants to nail. (Jessica Simpson, Keira Knightley, Viggo Mortensen, Joaquin Phoenix, <insert your favorite gorgeous celebrity here>)  And then there's the rest of us who are attractive to most (but probably not all) of the population because attraction is subjective.

Granted, Rhapsody is the uberattractive celebrity, and I think Ashe is meant to be the stereotypical blatantly handsome, fairy-tale prince (because those guys are ALWAYS hot) so that they make a beautiful, leadership couple.

I think Achmed is more the "tall, dark, and handsome" type (at least for me).  I do think that everyone is attractive to someone, even if others don’t think so.  My first boyfriend was so cute to me, even though my sister couldn’t see why I found him attractive.  My current boyfriend is the hottest guy in the world.  So while Rhapsody is attractive to everyone, Achmed is attractive to a select few, one of them namely being me. 

I yield to your post and find myself much ashamed for my vanity... 

I guess veins *gulp* can be a.. attractive.  And thumb marks for eyes *cough* are just as g.. good as baby blues.  And didn't they always say having lips was overated, something like it's never the kisser that matters but the kiss.

I have no doubt that Rhapsody would always love Ashe even if something happenned and he ended up looking like Achmed.  But I wonder if Ashe would still love Rhapsody if she somehow ended up looking like the crypt keeper.

Target Zero wrote:

This thread has taken on a life of it's own...

In every version of the Cauldron I have been a member of, and the ones before my time from what I understand, the "Ashie-pooh is better/Achie-pooh is better" thread ALWAYS takes on a life of it's own, unfortunately.

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Avie pic by me.
Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.
Jake: Hit it. ~ The Blues Brothers (1980)

I hear you, Val...

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"All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream."
~Edgar Allan Poe
"Darest thou now O Soul, Walk out with me toward the unknown region, Where neither ground is for feet Nor any path to follow."
~Walt Whitman
~Avatar made by Me, madhatter.

Originally, Achmed annoyed the hell out of me and I was a complete Ashe fan. But, having re-read the books a few more times, I must admit that Achmed's grown on me.
Ashe was originally a really cool character, but....I don't know, at some point he lost that. I like Ashe, but, eh, I really felt that he could have been done better. Though, Kirsdarke is one heck of an attraction....

I admit, I do favor Achmed and Rhapsody more then Ashe and Rhapsody. No idea why, it just appeals to me more. Maybe it's simply a difference between people who favor the whole "opposites attract" thing and those who favor the more "classic" relationship?

Bah, I is make no sense. Late nights be good for many things, but posting not be among them. Posting with a semblance of coherency, that is.

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The woods are lovely, dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep.
- Robert Frost

In order to solve this I'll make a ruling as judge (to which position I just appointed myself): I rule in favor of neither!  Ashe needs to take on more initiative and stop whining, Achmed is ugly and a jerk; therefore I order them both to stop competing and become best friends.  In addition, Achmed will get married to all his fans and the only "vs." discussion that his will ever be involved in again is Achmed vs. Captain Jack Sparrow!  Ashe will take some Prozac, stop losing his mind, and stay human so he can be a good husband to Rhapsody who will teach him to grow some marbles!  Lastly I order Grunthor to throw the biggest bachelor party for Achmed that the world has ever seen and you are all invited!  Booyah!  This is my ruling; case closed!     

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Save the Earth; it's where I keep all my stuff!

Target Zero wrote:

In order to solve this I'll make a ruling as judge (to which position I just appointed myself): I rule in favor of neither!  Ashe needs to take on more initiative and stop whining, Achmed is ugly and a jerk; therefore I order them both to stop competing and become best friends.  In addition, Achmed will get married to all his fans and the only "vs." discussion that his will ever be involved in again is Achmed vs. Captain Jack Sparrow!  Ashe will take some Prozac, stop losing his mind, and stay human so he can be a good husband to Rhapsody who will teach him to grow some marbles!  Lastly I order Grunthor to throw the biggest bachelor party for Achmed that the world has ever seen and you are all invited!  Booyah!  This is my ruling; case dismissed.         

Soooooo tempting to appoint myself as the Highest Appeals Court Judge and overturn your ruling!  I reserve this right, even though I choose not to exercise it in my post at the moment.    (Nice try, though, TZ!)  (and sidenote:  if you give a ruling, then the case isn't dismissed.  It's closed, and court is dismissed, but the case is only dismissed if it's thrown out before it reaches a judgement.)

I don't think this is a debate that has a "right" and "wrong" answer...although one solution that crossed my mind is that Rhapsody should shun both of them in favor of girls...wouldn't THAT be a kick in the crotch of all mankind!

Oh, and Achmed v. Sparrow??  Are you kidding?  Sparrow'd never see it coming!  Achmed would take his ass out with the cwellan before he could say, "Captain!  Captain Jack Sparrow!"

Target Zero wrote:

In order to solve this I'll make a ruling as judge (to which position I just appointed myself): I rule in favor of neither!  Ashe needs to take on more initiative and stop whining, Achmed is ugly and a jerk; therefore I order them both to stop competing and become best friends.  In addition, Achmed will get married to all his fans and the only "vs." discussion that his will ever be involved in again is Achmed vs. Captain Jack Sparrow!  Ashe will take some Prozac, stop losing his mind, and stay human so he can be a good husband to Rhapsody who will teach him to grow some marbles!  Lastly I order Grunthor to throw the biggest bachelor party for Achmed that the world has ever seen and you are all invited!  Booyah!  This is my ruling; case closed!     

"Cough, cough, ugh... Oh, excuse me. I agree perfectly with Achmed's Lover, Achmed would kick A$$ against Captain Jack Sparrow (I perfer Jonny Depp in Sleepy Hollow more then Pirates of the Caribbean, Dead Man's Chest though). But anyhow, I think Achmed stands out alone against anybody else. But I rather see Grunthor beating up Tristan Steward (or Achmed can do that) then throwing a huge party for Achmed. Achmed is a VERY busy Dharacian/Bolg, and has no time for fooling around. And Achmed getting married to all his fans? Well, it sounds nice, but I prefer him staying single, it works out better that way. But I toatlly agree about Ashe become more sane.

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The instructor put's out a single chair in the middle of an empty room, and he says; "Explain to me how this chair is not here."
One student says: "Chair, what chair? I don't see a chair."

AVATAR BY ME

Target Zero wrote:

In order to solve this I'll make a ruling as judge (to which position I just appointed myself): I rule in favor of neither!  Ashe needs to take on more initiative and stop whining, Achmed is ugly and a jerk; therefore I order them both to stop competing and become best friends.  In addition, Achmed will get married to all his fans and the only "vs." discussion that his will ever be involved in again is Achmed vs. Captain Jack Sparrow!  Ashe will take some Prozac, stop losing his mind, and stay human so he can be a good husband to Rhapsody who will teach him to grow some marbles!  Lastly I order Grunthor to throw the biggest bachelor party for Achmed that the world has ever seen and you are all invited!  Booyah!  This is my ruling; case closed!     

LMAO! Works for me!!

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Avie pic by me.
Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.
Jake: Hit it. ~ The Blues Brothers (1980)

Like you said a few posts ago Val, this has taken on a life of it's own as it always does in each version of our beloved forum...I think it's time for something else.  Oh, and why is it every time we talk about Achmed vs someone we all assume it would be in a fight.  With Achmed vs. Captain Jack Sparrow I was talking about a pie-eating contest! 

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Save the Earth; it's where I keep all my stuff!

Naw I say that Achmed and Captain Jack will get together with Grunthor, have an ale, and get drunk in Ylorc's Great Hall, singing Grunthor's marching cadences. 

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"All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream."
~Edgar Allan Poe
"Darest thou now O Soul, Walk out with me toward the unknown region, Where neither ground is for feet Nor any path to follow."
~Walt Whitman
~Avatar made by Me, madhatter.

Target Zero wrote:

I rule in favor of neither!

I agree, IMO the only person that truly deserves to be with Rhapsody is Lord Stephen.  I bet that if they were together Rhapsody would have done more to save his life at the end of Destiny.

*Sigh of happiness* That would have been the best thing, Sam I Am. They deserved to be happy, and I think they would have been happy together...

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Avatar Art © Rhapsody - Yargh, that would be Thesa, the fiery Pirate Captain! =]

Achmed's Lover wrote:

 

...But physically, oh man, that's a whole other realm.  It wasn't her choice to become a prostitute (and all of the physical stuff that that entails) but it can't be ignored.  Granted, the fire gave her a "second chance" which she didn't mess up (much).  Ashe took her virginity again, and then the only other sexual encounter she had was with Constantin in the Veil of Hoen, which wasn't REALLY her, but...

 

You forgot about the time in the middle of Destiny when Rhapsody is dressed in disguise as a massage girl to give the gladiator Constantin a massage after his recent arena battle but ends up giving him a tad bit more than just a massage.

 

from Destiny : Chapter 28, pg. 275

 

Choking back with disgust, Rhapsody leaned forward quickly and kissed Constantin, causing his eyes to close and his hands to move to cradle her head, while her free hand stroked him with a sensuous technique she had learned a lifetime ago.

 

Rhythmically she worked, using her charms with great success...

 

 

I wonder if Ashe would consider this cheating on her part?  Or maybe I'm just over interpreting that passage and she's only messing around with his beard---except, I don't recall him having one.

 

It seems to me that E. Haydon has done a fine job of contrasting Ashe and Achmed against each other, enough to create some remarkable dramatic tension.

Ashe is the perfect man, the perfect lover, the perfect husband. He's handsome, a skilled warrior, and a sensitive soul to boot. In all honesty, how could Rhapsody *not* fall for him over Achmed? Even his flaws contribute positively - without them, he'd be a cookie-cutter romance novel hero, so the fact that he's a little bit possessive, a little bit jealous, a little bit...dragon is definitely what makes him dynamic. I'll even go so far as to assume that in real life, many, if not most, people would choose an Ashe over an Achmed. Thus the Ashe fans.

HOWEVER - Achmed is extremely appealing in his complexity, his mystery, and his novelty. He is abrasive and unconventionally blunt - everyone has those times when they wish they could retort like that to an enemy, tell a co-worker what they *really* think, and so on...he's also the ultimate underdog, an aspect that any reader can identify with themselves, in one way or another. We have yet to see him be truly happy, even for a moment, and Rhapsody is the only vehicle for any hope of a greater happiness for Achmed. Thus the Achmed fans.

Personally, I've read dozens of cliche romance novels and stories where the handsome man gets the pretty girl, so I'd love to see an out-of-the-box resolution. My vote's on Achmed.