Stupid Luck and Happenstance, Thread II
- Thread starter Peabody-Martini
- Start date
I think that Kat is going to find herself running the Kira Kirillinova Foundation after her "retirement" and this is going to lead to some interesting things like a focus on building hospitals, health clinics, and vaccination programs in places like the German Pacific Islands where Kira is going to be revered.
If Kiki gets her wish to serve in the JMS, she is going to find that being a Princess going to be a good way to bring attention to such projects as the JMS probably is the chief medical providers to the Islands themselves.The
Ben despite being a teenager is not that stupid and will accidentally stumble on the fact that Kiki is Princess Kristina and will keep that secret as a way to make up for his spying on her.
If Kiki gets her wish to serve in the JMS, she is going to find that being a Princess going to be a good way to bring attention to such projects as the JMS probably is the chief medical providers to the Islands themselves.The
Ben despite being a teenager is not that stupid and will accidentally stumble on the fact that Kiki is Princess Kristina and will keep that secret as a way to make up for his spying on her.
On her first deployment as part of JMS Kiki takes a leaf out of Kat's book and inverts it. The sign of a JMS clinic is a white-painted cat silhouette with blue marbles for eyes and a red cross on the body. Maybe a dot of pink for the nose and few black lines for whiskers.
That reminded me of something. WWII and the Pacific War didn't happen here. Cargo cults didn't get created. The Prince Philip movement wasn't started by pacific islanders and Prince Philip is not revered as a god in this timeline.
Maybe some JMS hospital or supply ship touring the region might accidentally start something similar in this timeline with Kira (maybe because they name a ship after her) just to balance the scales.
Speaking of deities, what is Haile Selassie doing right now?
Actually the Pacific War did happen ITTL but it was mostly concentrated around Southeast Asia, the campaign in the former German territories of German New Guinea took place near the tail end of the war and was mostly to prevent the United States from taking them.
Sometime after the war the Kaiser and Empress made a very successful tour out there and the Kaiser was proclaimed by the various Island Kings as the High King.
The Islands are on a path to be independent but still being part of the German Empire.
And as a confession, I did know about the Prince Philip movement, I just substituted Empress Kira instead.
Sometime after the war the Kaiser and Empress made a very successful tour out there and the Kaiser was proclaimed by the various Island Kings as the High King.
The Islands are on a path to be independent but still being part of the German Empire.
And as a confession, I did know about the Prince Philip movement, I just substituted Empress Kira instead.
"Attempting to circumvent these restrictions is expensive. It can cost an arm and a leg."
Mate, it's dynastic politics. I assure you, nothing short of a literal minefield would stop some of them.
In saying that though, I can't help but hope for a "good" future for Louis (I have a soft spot for him, I don't demonstrate it much in this thread) where in maybe ten years or so he abdicates like his Grandfather did to retire, but does it right. Mainly he still hangs around to be used for functions and advice by the new younger Kaiser while the pressures of State are no longer on him. He might even then find a new wife, or romance, and it would also mean that outside of any title given to him after he retire/abdicates, any possible children of such a relationship (an unlikely prospect unless he marries young) wouldn't be in line for the crown.
And I'm talking European Dynasts.
They aren't quite T-50's, but they are damn well close to it...
I think that Louis Ferdinand will get an one year grace period to mourn before being reminded that he is the Public Face of the Empire and then it is back to hosting State Dinners, making State Visits, and all the things that go along with being the Kaiser.
Cecilie should be interesting to watch as she may be able to give Kristina some perspective about being a Princess, the fact that she married an Officer and a Commoner who was severely wounded during the European War may have made her popular with the public as she is showing that love can overcome any obstacles.
Cecilie may be a better gatekeeper than Kat is because instead of Kat's first instinct to shut everyone who is not near family out, Cecilie will know far to go before offending people unnecessarily.
Cecilie should be interesting to watch as she may be able to give Kristina some perspective about being a Princess, the fact that she married an Officer and a Commoner who was severely wounded during the European War may have made her popular with the public as she is showing that love can overcome any obstacles.
Cecilie may be a better gatekeeper than Kat is because instead of Kat's first instinct to shut everyone who is not near family out, Cecilie will know far to go before offending people unnecessarily.
Part 81, Chapter 1233
Chapter One Thousand Two Hundred Thirty-Three
4th August 1957
Moscow, Russia
The Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church had been positively euphoric to have Gia among the Communion. It was clear that he was one of those who bought into the idea of who they thought Jehane Alexandra was. Since she had returned to Russia, Gia had realized what Kat had meant when she had talked about her public persona being an unwelcome roommate who couldn’t be evicted. Many people in Moscow held her in great reverence and the further she went out into the countryside the worse that got. She didn’t want to think for an instant about what was said about her in places like Siberia and the Far East.
The story that got the most play was about her confronting Stalin himself in his prison cell. How she had seen the suffering that had been inflicted upon her family reflected in the treatment of the imprisoned despot and felt that was wrong even for a monster like Stalin. Now, in light of more recent events, Gia was being depicted as a crusader. Not to liberate the Holy Land or fight the heathens, but to challenge the entire world to be a better place.
Kat’s friend Nancy had told her that as far as public perceptions were concerned there were organizations, governments and corporations that would kill to be seen in the same light that she was. That reinforced Gia’s belief that Kat and Nancy got along so well together because they were both equally insane, just in different ways. The Russian people would probably view her with considerably less warmth if they knew what was going on in her head. How she was torn about who she despised more at the moment, her cousin Georgy or his friend Fyodor Volkov and how a bit of regicide would solve so many of her problems. There were also several moments lately when Anya had been severely trying Gia’s patience. The girl had dreamed of moving to Moscow. Now it had happened, and she had to leave her friends behind. Anya had raised stubborn noncooperation and being passive aggressive to an artform as she had expressed her unhappiness about the move.
Her turning twenty-nine the prior month had resulted in her cousin hinting that she was running out of time for certain things. Gia had demanded to what he had meant by that only to have Georgy sheepishly change the subject. Fyodor had been a lot more direct. He had warned her that Georgy’s advisors were pressuring him to find a suitable husband for Gia and order her to marry that particular man. Apparently, Gia’s independence was giving women ideas, Heaven forbid. She probably had Georgy’s wife Lidiya to thank for him not doing something so stupid, not yet anyway. Fyodor’s solution was exasperating for Gia, it was also presumptuous and self-serving on his part. He had dared to suggest that Gia consider a marriage of convenience to him for practical considerations. He pointed out that he had been courting her as Alexandra Lukichna, an individual as opposed to those who saw her as an easy means to wealth and power. Unlike them, he had always been trying to win her heart.
It was all exactly in keeping with every cynical thing she had heard among the sisterhood about men in general and how they viewed her. Fyodor’s efforts had been clumsy, heavy handed and he had never once given her a chance to get to know him beyond his apparent new-found wealth and abilities as her cousin’s good soldier. It simply wasn’t enough. How could someone be so obviously competent, yet completely clueless at the same time?
Hohenzollern Castle
For the first time in months that Kat had seen Louis somewhat happy and that was good to see. She was however less thrilled with the company he was keeping this afternoon but was willing to overlook that. Particularly because she had the foresight to tell Doug to bring his camera.
Kat had come with Douglas, Tilo and Nancy because she and Nancy had business with the Emperor. Doug had suggested that they make a weekend of it, a chance to escape from the pressures of home and their children for a few days. A couple hours on Saturday afternoon had been spent talking to Louis about media strategy and he could not have been less interested. Eventually he had just told Nancy to do what she thought would work best regarding public relations.
Today was different, however. Kat realized that this was Louis in his element, talking cars with other men who shared his passion. A few days before, Porsche had delivered a 356A convertible to the garage that Louis had built in a hollow on the mountain below the castle. The engine compartment was open, and he was talking about it with a Frenchman and two Americans who he had met at the Porsche factory. The Frenchman was Robert Benoist, a semi-retired racecar driver who was looking to start a racing team and had been looking for sponsors, corporate or just someone rich enough to throw money at it. The Americans were two actors who had roles in the latest American Western that John Wayne was making with Sergio Leone in Spain. One of them, James Dean, Kat had heard of, the other, a Clint Eastwood, she had not. Though bizarrely Tilo had met Eastwood once in California just before the Mexican War when he had been serving as a lifeguard at an Officer’s Club pool in Los Angles.
4th August 1957
Moscow, Russia
The Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church had been positively euphoric to have Gia among the Communion. It was clear that he was one of those who bought into the idea of who they thought Jehane Alexandra was. Since she had returned to Russia, Gia had realized what Kat had meant when she had talked about her public persona being an unwelcome roommate who couldn’t be evicted. Many people in Moscow held her in great reverence and the further she went out into the countryside the worse that got. She didn’t want to think for an instant about what was said about her in places like Siberia and the Far East.
The story that got the most play was about her confronting Stalin himself in his prison cell. How she had seen the suffering that had been inflicted upon her family reflected in the treatment of the imprisoned despot and felt that was wrong even for a monster like Stalin. Now, in light of more recent events, Gia was being depicted as a crusader. Not to liberate the Holy Land or fight the heathens, but to challenge the entire world to be a better place.
Kat’s friend Nancy had told her that as far as public perceptions were concerned there were organizations, governments and corporations that would kill to be seen in the same light that she was. That reinforced Gia’s belief that Kat and Nancy got along so well together because they were both equally insane, just in different ways. The Russian people would probably view her with considerably less warmth if they knew what was going on in her head. How she was torn about who she despised more at the moment, her cousin Georgy or his friend Fyodor Volkov and how a bit of regicide would solve so many of her problems. There were also several moments lately when Anya had been severely trying Gia’s patience. The girl had dreamed of moving to Moscow. Now it had happened, and she had to leave her friends behind. Anya had raised stubborn noncooperation and being passive aggressive to an artform as she had expressed her unhappiness about the move.
Her turning twenty-nine the prior month had resulted in her cousin hinting that she was running out of time for certain things. Gia had demanded to what he had meant by that only to have Georgy sheepishly change the subject. Fyodor had been a lot more direct. He had warned her that Georgy’s advisors were pressuring him to find a suitable husband for Gia and order her to marry that particular man. Apparently, Gia’s independence was giving women ideas, Heaven forbid. She probably had Georgy’s wife Lidiya to thank for him not doing something so stupid, not yet anyway. Fyodor’s solution was exasperating for Gia, it was also presumptuous and self-serving on his part. He had dared to suggest that Gia consider a marriage of convenience to him for practical considerations. He pointed out that he had been courting her as Alexandra Lukichna, an individual as opposed to those who saw her as an easy means to wealth and power. Unlike them, he had always been trying to win her heart.
It was all exactly in keeping with every cynical thing she had heard among the sisterhood about men in general and how they viewed her. Fyodor’s efforts had been clumsy, heavy handed and he had never once given her a chance to get to know him beyond his apparent new-found wealth and abilities as her cousin’s good soldier. It simply wasn’t enough. How could someone be so obviously competent, yet completely clueless at the same time?
Hohenzollern Castle
For the first time in months that Kat had seen Louis somewhat happy and that was good to see. She was however less thrilled with the company he was keeping this afternoon but was willing to overlook that. Particularly because she had the foresight to tell Doug to bring his camera.
Kat had come with Douglas, Tilo and Nancy because she and Nancy had business with the Emperor. Doug had suggested that they make a weekend of it, a chance to escape from the pressures of home and their children for a few days. A couple hours on Saturday afternoon had been spent talking to Louis about media strategy and he could not have been less interested. Eventually he had just told Nancy to do what she thought would work best regarding public relations.
Today was different, however. Kat realized that this was Louis in his element, talking cars with other men who shared his passion. A few days before, Porsche had delivered a 356A convertible to the garage that Louis had built in a hollow on the mountain below the castle. The engine compartment was open, and he was talking about it with a Frenchman and two Americans who he had met at the Porsche factory. The Frenchman was Robert Benoist, a semi-retired racecar driver who was looking to start a racing team and had been looking for sponsors, corporate or just someone rich enough to throw money at it. The Americans were two actors who had roles in the latest American Western that John Wayne was making with Sergio Leone in Spain. One of them, James Dean, Kat had heard of, the other, a Clint Eastwood, she had not. Though bizarrely Tilo had met Eastwood once in California just before the Mexican War when he had been serving as a lifeguard at an Officer’s Club pool in Los Angles.
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Oddly enough i could see Louis asking Kat for her opinion. While not exactly a professional Racer, Kat it's the kind of individual who can give you a serious idea of if a car can be useful for high level urban driving if required....
With no ITTL American involvement in World War 2, John Wayne does not become the iconic star that he became IOTL.
James Dean is still alive, how I don't know, but this may butterfly his cultural icon status as people IOTL only remember him from three films mostly Rebel Without a Cause, a James Dean still making movies in his fifties and sixties somehow won't still have the same image that his does today IOTL.
Americans making films in Europe earlier is a sign that the American people want more realistic movies (Sex and Violence) from the Hollywood studios but they are still not getting them and that is opening doors to European filmmakers.
James Dean is still alive, how I don't know, but this may butterfly his cultural icon status as people IOTL only remember him from three films mostly Rebel Without a Cause, a James Dean still making movies in his fifties and sixties somehow won't still have the same image that his does today IOTL.
Americans making films in Europe earlier is a sign that the American people want more realistic movies (Sex and Violence) from the Hollywood studios but they are still not getting them and that is opening doors to European filmmakers.
IOTL he was killed in a car wreck in 1955, ITTL he simply wasn't there.