Short supply? Mythical substance it seems at times...Very true on all counts. Unfortunately, politics often shows common sense to be in short supply.
Short supply? Mythical substance it seems at times...Very true on all counts. Unfortunately, politics often shows common sense to be in short supply.
The thing is, Vicky knows that there will be pushback on the matter.
And no matter how popular the monarchy is, Louis will take flak over the matter if it comes out. If he abandons his daughter for the monarchy, he's a monster. If he stands by his daughter, he's trying to shove a certain lifestyle down the throats of Germans.
Granted there is a lot of goodwill towards the Royal Family, but even goodwill can evaporate quickly under the right circumstances.
To put it in terms with the monarchy most people are familiar with on the internet, this would be "Charles and Diana divorcing" levels of bad press for the Hohenzollerns. The British public didn't side with the Royal Family on that matter, and while not the lowest point, it did show just how quickly the public could turn on an issue.
If anything, I can see the resentment between Vicky and Rea growing stronger over this, purely because it will be seen more and more that Rea gets to live the life she wants without consequence while Vicky doesn't. And sure it is all a needless drama, but who said "Stupid Luck and Happenstance" only ever has happy outcomes?
Depends on which the public feel is the bigger fish.Well, timing could help hugely there - somehow I doubt that people would pay as much attention if it came out during a moment of international crisis Yanno, scandal is all very well but when there's bigger fish to fry...
Except it is her brother on the throne (or her sister if PM feels like making it be Kiki just to torture her) and that means she is still far too close to the Kaiser(en) for such a revelation to be publicly acceptable (excepting the Mulaney Rule happening) and no matter how divorced from the position she is, until it is Ferdi's child on the throne (or Kiki's) she will be too damned close.In all seriousness, I do see what you're saying. Though it occurs to me that - if Vicky were up for it - it's something that could be handled in such a way that does give her greater freedom. Basically, don't mention anything about it, just have her say something along the lines of she's going to be stepping down from her 'Princess-y' stuff and going to be living life on her own terms, and as such will not be getting the usual money, benefits etc. from the family. Then set up somewhere herself, get a job, her own place... Since the royal family's going through a 'Scandinaviasation process', this wouldn't be as problematic as it would have been back in the day, and while it'd cause some mild interest it'd be dropped in favour of the Next Big Thing.
Basically, 'abdication' as a Princess while still remaining in touch with/on good terms with the family.
Then if in, say, five or ten years, after Louis' abdication was done and dusted, the truth came out...she'd already have been 'separated' from the royals as an institution so to speak, plus she'd have already been known as mildly eccentric for 'abdicating', so...while there'd be interest in her, the blowback on the monarchy would be very little.
That Vicky will be happy isn't up for debate, at least so long as Franz isn't a dick (and we have no evidence he is yet) but whether that happiness would be greater or lesser depending on what she does with her life is the crux of the argument.Yeah, I'd agree on the resentment.
And I mean...like I said, I imagine that even marrying Franz, Vicky can have a decently happy life - she can carry on a relationship with Anna (or A.N. Other, depending how the story goes ), she can also have kids, and the deal with Albrecht has it set up that aside from public appearances she'll basically be doing her own thing (and if the old bastard lives as long as he did OTL, Franz wouldn't be King of Bavaria for a looooooooong time...). It's just got its share of rather sad problems too.
On that, I have no arguments.And you're right - though then again, we're all guessing in the dark when it comes to P-M's ultimate plans
Depends on which the public feel is the bigger fish.
Do the German people want to get involved in Poland? Do they want to keep playing the European policeman? Do they want yet another war in their lives?
Or would they rather ignore all that by going after the thoughts of a nice juicy sex scandal involving a Royal? Do they even want to go off to war for the Kaiser if the Kaiser's own house isn't properly in order?
Except it is her brother on the throne (or her sister if PM feels like making it be Kiki just to torture her) and that means she is still far too close to the Kaiser(en) for such a revelation to be publicly acceptable (excepting the Mulaney Rule happening) and no matter how divorced from the position she is, until it is Ferdi's child on the throne (or Kiki's) she will be too damned close.
Basically, sans Mulaney happening, Victoria is going to be in the closet for the rest of her life. Whether that is being Queen of Bavaria or living out her hardest cottage-core desire, she will be in that closet.
It is not right, but that is the world P-M has made.
That Vicky will be happy isn't up for debate, at least so long as Franz isn't a dick (and we have no evidence he is yet) but whether that happiness would be greater or lesser depending on what she does with her life is the crux of the argument.
If she turned to Louis and said "I want to live on the Pacific islands for the rest of my days where no one will ever disturb me", he could make it happen, but whether that would bring her more or less happiness is what needs to be considered. Right now, she see's the future deal with Franz as the most likely to bring happiness, but that doesn't mean she doesn't have doubts.
Hell, I wouldn't be shocked if some of Kiki's insanely large Imposter Syndrome is dripping onto her younger sister, just with a side helping of "closet induced depression" with it.
On that, I have no arguments.
I've been on the other side of the curtain, and what the author knows, and what the audience knows, are as different as night and day.
Not to always bring things back to our little island, but, The Troubles didn't distract the UK from all scandals involving the British Government/Royal Family. And this is pretty much a Troubles situation.Fair point. I mean, I'd assume the Polish issue specifically would attract patriotism and what have you because Germans are involved, but...that is a fair point.
John Mulaney is a comedian. In one of his sets he has a routine about not wanting to talk about something awkward with his family, the important part of the routine (The Mulaney Rule) is that "I don't want to talk about it unless a lot of people get cool about a lot of things real fast.True enough... Sadly.
...and I may be exposing myself as totally ignorant, but what's the Mulaney Rule? Googling it just gives me a comedian...
Her mother's short life span means I'm sceptical if she'll make it to the 2010's. Kiki might, provided she doesn't die of stress related strain, purely because of her active lifestyle and moderate diet. But her sisters may not be so lucky unless they start to take up similar lifestyles.[I'd dispute 'the rest of her life', though - she might decide as an old woman in the 2010s, to come clean, if Louis, Albrecht and Franz are all dead and buried and her prospective child is already Monarch of Bavaria and is happy to have her go ahead. She might go 'Yeah, that's how it is, it was arranged this way...so what? My kid's indisputably born of me and Franz, within wedlock, they're already crowned...suck it, world' (only more diplomatically) Cue human interest story, someone doing a film, Vicky retrospectively becoming somewhat of an icon...]
Agreed.Oh, for sure. And so far, the two of them seem to actually be becoming friends, so that's a positive sign. As long as he's decent, they have a friendly relationship and at least get on OK with each other's 'particular friends', she should have a fairly OK life. Again, better than many royals in her situation.
ThanksVery true.
And I wouldn't be surprised either...
Every time he describes the Royal Family on a "factory new airliner" I keep bracing myself for the thing to fall apart in the air. Sure it's unlikely, but I'm always expecting it.Oh, this is very true.
For all we know, P-M's plan could be that the entire family dies in some kind of RL version of Summerhall I mean, the readership would riot, but for all we know it could happen
Every time he describes the Royal Family on a "factory new airliner" I keep bracing myself for the thing to fall apart in the air. Sure it's unlikely, but I'm always expecting it.
Kinda surprised they don't just stick with one for a couple decades, and modify it more like Air Force One. Reconfiguring a plane twice a year just seems like a waste of money.About the airliner question, these are of proven design that have just rolled off the assembly line and have been thoroughly flight tested.
Ah, but it is not a command plane like Air Force One... It is a civilian airplane with a buyer after the use. And we actually do not know how much it is reconfigured. New paint job is expensive, yes, but it is nothing against replacing the entire interior. I thought they simply use the first class seats for the royal family and Friends and the other, normal seats for the staff. (Or have not placed the seats yet, and thus can use it for cargo. Not much, and with huge problems, but they also do not need much...)Kinda surprised they don't just stick with one for a couple decades, and modify it more like Air Force One. Reconfiguring a plane twice a year just seems like a waste of money.
Chapter One Thousand Eight Hundred Thirty
24th January 1968
Prague, Bohemia
It was a good day in Prague as Michael awarded medals to the first recipients of the Kepler Order of Art and Science. He had wanted to give the Order to just one man but had been warned that it would look bad, so Michael had taken suggestions about who else would be worthy of such an honor. It was their idea to have Albert Einstein be posthumously inducted into the Order and his family had been grateful when it was presented to them.
Among the living recipients, the first went to Miloš Forman, a Film Director whose work in Babelsburg and now Prague were considered groundbreaking. Michael hadn’t had time to watch movies in years, so he had not had much to say to the man other than to congratulate him and give thanks on behalf of Bohemia. Next was Doctor Maja Kozel, an Epidemiologist whose tireless efforts against communicable disease was highly regarded. It was hoped that the recognition that the medal would bring would help provide more resources for her work. Finally, there was Gotthard Glas, a weapons designer whose work Michael was familiar with. A couple years earlier Michael had asked Brno for one thing, to build a new machine pistol that was comparatively good as the vaunted but expensive MP5 for vehicle crews and rear support units at a much lower price per unit. It had been Glas who had delivered, and the machine pistol had been issued widely.
It made for an enjoyable afternoon.
Unfortunately, like a black cloud on the horizon, Kurt Knispel entered the reception afterwards. He wanted to talk about a letter that he had received from an old friend who had gotten himself in a fix in Poland. A fix that he had played a large role in getting his friend into.
“I don’t know what you expect me to do about it” Michael said, “Poland enjoys the same sort of sovereignty as Bohemia does. That includes not having others mess about in internal matters. Do I need to tell you that us getting involved in a matter like this would essentially be escalating it into a civil war?”
“So, you are saying that we cannot do anything?” Kurt asked.
“This Olli Bauer, how much do you trust him?” Michael asked in reply. An idea had occurred to him; the machine pistol wasn’t the only untested toy that he had at his disposal. This was an excellent opportunity to see how they performed in actual combat.
“With my life” Kurt answered, “He was the Loader in my Panzer in Spain and throughout the Soviet War.” Michael understood, a Panzer’s crew had to be a tight knit unit to survive for any length of time. Kurt’s crew had been together for years and their accomplishments bordered on miraculous.
“There are a few possibilities” Michael said, “But they will require everyone involved to keep their mouths shut about it, probably for a long time afterwards.”
Kurt looked at Michael eagerly, he knew that half of something was always better than all of nothing.
Jena
Of all the insulting things that could have happened to Kiki this had to be the worst. It being in the middle of winter, she had been surrounded by sick people and they just couldn’t keep their viral infections to themselves. That was why she was at home on a weekday feeling like death. Rather than trying to get upstairs she was sleeping on the couch in the parlor, for the last day she had alternated between being chilled to the bone and burning up. Getting up to let Rauchbier out every few hours had been as much as she had been able to do.
Kiki didn’t hear the door open when Peter Holz and Nora Berg entered, but her security detail tended to come and go. She had told them that she was sick, they had to have known that something was off though. It occurred to her that she had never bothered to know anything about them, for years they had quietly tolerated her behavior as she had treated them like an obstacle as best.
“All these years and you still don’t know when to ask for help Kristina” Berg said as she forced her to sit up and Kiki felt her shirt being lifted up and the cold metal of a stethoscope pressed against her back. “A deep breath now.”
Kiki did the best she could to follow those directions, but a coughing fit put a stop to that.
“Looks like you’ve earned yourself another stay in the hospital this winter” Peter said, as he watched.
“Why are you here?” Kiki asked, “Both of you.”
“You told your bodyguards that you were sick, and they have been watching you for the last two days get sicker” Burg answered, “They called us when they got concerned.”
Who had told them to do that? How had they even gotten the phone number? Then Kiki had a fuzzy memory that suggested that she had been the one who had given it to them when they had asked.
“Oh” Kiki said, as she watched with complete detachment over the next few minutes as Burg and Peter started gathering her things.
“Do you think that she can make it out to the car?” Burg asked Peter.
“With a bit of help” Peter replied.
“What about Rauchbier?” Kiki asked, they turned at looked at her almost as if they weren’t expecting her to say anything.
“Your dog will be taken care of” Peter said, “You are the concern right now Kiki, so let us do that.”
Poor Kiki she just can not get a break...