A boy ,behind the older boys (third I think), a girl, behind all the older kids (sixth I think).
Stupid Luck and Happenstance, Thread II
- Thread starter Peabody-Martini
- Start date
The reason that Kira was acting the way she was because maybe she had an undiagnosed case of PTSD.
With her suffering major physical trauma that resulted in her losing one of kidneys and her general decline in health may have made her want to keep everyone around her safe and Kristina wanting to become a doctor made her fearful and that is why she struck Kristina.
With her suffering major physical trauma that resulted in her losing one of kidneys and her general decline in health may have made her want to keep everyone around her safe and Kristina wanting to become a doctor made her fearful and that is why she struck Kristina.
Part 83, Chapter 1277
Chapter One Thousand Two Hundred Seventy-Seven
4th May 1958
Potsdam
It was an official State visit. Something that complicated everything.
Elizabeth of England was here in Potsdam, that was why Michael got dirty looks from the British security as he rode past. By contrast they were augmented by men from the 2nd Life Hussars who were happy to see him. They knew that he had just turned eighteen and would be joining them as soon as he completed his secondary education. That would be just one of the many big changes that were coming.
The other change involved Onnosel. Recently a veterinarian had told Michael that while he was in good health Onnosel was around fifteen years of age, a bit old for the active role that Michael needed him to be able to take and in a couple years Michael had a chance to compete in equestrian events in Rome. So, in the near future Onnosel would return to the Wolvogle estate and live out his years in comfort as a riding horse for the children of Oberst Knispel. While finding another horse wouldn’t be an issue, it just wouldn’t be the same for Michael. As difficult as the bay horse could be, Onnosel was as much of a friend to Michael as anyone he knew from school. Since that decision had been made Michael had made a point of riding Onnosel every afternoon weather permitting. The expansive estate in Potsdam was perfect for that.
As Michael rode into the stable he noticed the girl. Nine years old, blond with a striking resemblance to her father Philip of Greece and Denmark. “Mind telling me what you want Alberta?” Michael asked as he got off of Onnosel.
“Birdie” Alberta said in reply.
“Excuse me” Michael asked.
“I hate the name Alberta, detest it” Alberta, or was it Birdie, said, “It sounds like the name of a fat old woman who lives with a whole bunch of cats.”
With the various families whose children were regularly around Onnosel, the gluttonous horse had learned to associate girls with attention and treats. Birdie was no exception, she had a carrot for him. As Michael lifted the saddle off Onnosel’s back he could hear the horse munching contentedly on it.
“Very well Birdie” Michael said, “What can I help you with?”
“I overheard Mummy and her maids talking about how one day I would marry Prince Michael of Bohemia, how dashing and handsome he is, er… you are.”
Birdie said it very earnestly, and though Michael found the idea hilarious, he didn’t want to laugh at the girl.
“Is that what you want?” Michael asked, only to have Birdie look at him with a bewildered look on her face.
“Well, no” Birdie replied.
“There’s your answer then.”
“That can’t be it” Birdie said, “That is way too easy.”
“Life is only as complicated as you choose to make it” Michael said. He was reminded of the recent week he had spent in Prague. The Chancellor of the Bohemian Reichstag and the Head of the Regency Council had made it clear that while they eagerly awaited his twenty-first birthday when he could be crowned King of Bohemia, they had made it obvious that they wouldn’t mind if he spent most of his time somewhere else. It was cynical, self-serving and entirely predictable. The truth was that Michael had no interest in running a country, being a King however would give him the authority to tell Friedrich where he could stick it. In his mind that was far more valuable. If the Chancellor in Prague liked the idea of facing the wrath of voters, then more power to him. Michael would be there to meet with his successor who hopefully wouldn’t be such a jackass.
With that Birdie was laughing as Onnosel was sniffing at her, searching for more carrots. People could learn a lot from horses when it came to priorities.
“Want to help me with this big lug?” Michael asked.
Birdie smiled at that. It was exactly what she wanted.
----------------------------------------------------------------
It was a State visit, where Elizabeth could meet with Louis Ferdinand. Later they would go before the cameras and talk about how their nations were continuing to cooperate on a variety of issues. Just how long that cooperation would last was an open question. Relations with the United Kingdom were as good as they had been in decades, however there was always the knowledge that even if Britain was no longer considered an enemy, they had never stopped being a rival. That wasn’t however the real reason why Elizabeth had come to Potsdam, the real reason was in this room. Namely Charlotte, but the larger discussion did interest her as well.
While they were waiting until after the wedding in July to call a meeting of the Hundred, several of the most prominent members of the Order of Louise were present today as they were let in the changes in the Order’s charter that Kat had hashed out with Charlotte over the last few days. The biggest changes they had decided on were that the existence of the Order shouldn’t be dependent upon the whims of the Emperor and greater efforts towards continuity following the death of a Grand Mistress needed to be made. The idea of expanding the rolls of membership beyond one hundred was restated. Then an item on that agenda landed like a bombshell, the Order needed to be prepared for the day when the Grand Mistress wasn’t Empress Consort but the Empress outright. That day might not come within their lifetimes, but it was something that needed to be discussed so that the Order would be prepared as an institution. They had the presence of Elizabeth, Queen of England and Empress of the British Empire today as an example of what was possible.
Kat was listening to the excited chatter as they discussed the possibilities. Charlotte had said that if they played this right it could prove to be one of the most important events for the Order since its founding in 1814. The other suggestion that Charlotte had made was one of reconciliation, she had suggested that the role of Chairwoman of the Capitel go to Princess Kristina of Prussia. They didn’t know what the reaction to that would be.
4th May 1958
Potsdam
It was an official State visit. Something that complicated everything.
Elizabeth of England was here in Potsdam, that was why Michael got dirty looks from the British security as he rode past. By contrast they were augmented by men from the 2nd Life Hussars who were happy to see him. They knew that he had just turned eighteen and would be joining them as soon as he completed his secondary education. That would be just one of the many big changes that were coming.
The other change involved Onnosel. Recently a veterinarian had told Michael that while he was in good health Onnosel was around fifteen years of age, a bit old for the active role that Michael needed him to be able to take and in a couple years Michael had a chance to compete in equestrian events in Rome. So, in the near future Onnosel would return to the Wolvogle estate and live out his years in comfort as a riding horse for the children of Oberst Knispel. While finding another horse wouldn’t be an issue, it just wouldn’t be the same for Michael. As difficult as the bay horse could be, Onnosel was as much of a friend to Michael as anyone he knew from school. Since that decision had been made Michael had made a point of riding Onnosel every afternoon weather permitting. The expansive estate in Potsdam was perfect for that.
As Michael rode into the stable he noticed the girl. Nine years old, blond with a striking resemblance to her father Philip of Greece and Denmark. “Mind telling me what you want Alberta?” Michael asked as he got off of Onnosel.
“Birdie” Alberta said in reply.
“Excuse me” Michael asked.
“I hate the name Alberta, detest it” Alberta, or was it Birdie, said, “It sounds like the name of a fat old woman who lives with a whole bunch of cats.”
With the various families whose children were regularly around Onnosel, the gluttonous horse had learned to associate girls with attention and treats. Birdie was no exception, she had a carrot for him. As Michael lifted the saddle off Onnosel’s back he could hear the horse munching contentedly on it.
“Very well Birdie” Michael said, “What can I help you with?”
“I overheard Mummy and her maids talking about how one day I would marry Prince Michael of Bohemia, how dashing and handsome he is, er… you are.”
Birdie said it very earnestly, and though Michael found the idea hilarious, he didn’t want to laugh at the girl.
“Is that what you want?” Michael asked, only to have Birdie look at him with a bewildered look on her face.
“Well, no” Birdie replied.
“There’s your answer then.”
“That can’t be it” Birdie said, “That is way too easy.”
“Life is only as complicated as you choose to make it” Michael said. He was reminded of the recent week he had spent in Prague. The Chancellor of the Bohemian Reichstag and the Head of the Regency Council had made it clear that while they eagerly awaited his twenty-first birthday when he could be crowned King of Bohemia, they had made it obvious that they wouldn’t mind if he spent most of his time somewhere else. It was cynical, self-serving and entirely predictable. The truth was that Michael had no interest in running a country, being a King however would give him the authority to tell Friedrich where he could stick it. In his mind that was far more valuable. If the Chancellor in Prague liked the idea of facing the wrath of voters, then more power to him. Michael would be there to meet with his successor who hopefully wouldn’t be such a jackass.
With that Birdie was laughing as Onnosel was sniffing at her, searching for more carrots. People could learn a lot from horses when it came to priorities.
“Want to help me with this big lug?” Michael asked.
Birdie smiled at that. It was exactly what she wanted.
----------------------------------------------------------------
It was a State visit, where Elizabeth could meet with Louis Ferdinand. Later they would go before the cameras and talk about how their nations were continuing to cooperate on a variety of issues. Just how long that cooperation would last was an open question. Relations with the United Kingdom were as good as they had been in decades, however there was always the knowledge that even if Britain was no longer considered an enemy, they had never stopped being a rival. That wasn’t however the real reason why Elizabeth had come to Potsdam, the real reason was in this room. Namely Charlotte, but the larger discussion did interest her as well.
While they were waiting until after the wedding in July to call a meeting of the Hundred, several of the most prominent members of the Order of Louise were present today as they were let in the changes in the Order’s charter that Kat had hashed out with Charlotte over the last few days. The biggest changes they had decided on were that the existence of the Order shouldn’t be dependent upon the whims of the Emperor and greater efforts towards continuity following the death of a Grand Mistress needed to be made. The idea of expanding the rolls of membership beyond one hundred was restated. Then an item on that agenda landed like a bombshell, the Order needed to be prepared for the day when the Grand Mistress wasn’t Empress Consort but the Empress outright. That day might not come within their lifetimes, but it was something that needed to be discussed so that the Order would be prepared as an institution. They had the presence of Elizabeth, Queen of England and Empress of the British Empire today as an example of what was possible.
Kat was listening to the excited chatter as they discussed the possibilities. Charlotte had said that if they played this right it could prove to be one of the most important events for the Order since its founding in 1814. The other suggestion that Charlotte had made was one of reconciliation, she had suggested that the role of Chairwoman of the Capitel go to Princess Kristina of Prussia. They didn’t know what the reaction to that would be.
18 and 9? Damn, he's going to be waiting nearly a decade before they can actually marry? Arranged marraiges in some way really suck, expecially when its compared to Freddy and Suga who are roughly the same age...
Even though its a possibility I would hope you actually do not have somehting bad happen to Freddy or Michael just to get Kristina on the throne....I mean, Stupid Luck and Happenstance and everything, you do have a way of delivering the expected even when the unexpected is expected in this TL,
True, although I expect at least an incident that makes Charlotte remember the maxim of Orwell..."We sleep soundly in our beds, because rough men stand ready in the night to do violence on those who would harm us"
.... The realization that Kat wouldn't hesitate to do whatever is needed for her safety would be jarring... Yet reconforting in a level that Charlotte wouldn't believe possible.
It would certainly be fascinating to see Charlotte and Louis Ferdinand's talk about Katherine Von Mischner, and hear from Louis someof the viewpoints of Kira that she didn't share with anyone but him about Kat.......
Ahh yes the "Austrian Question" there must be some rumblings from backbenchers in the National Liberals Party that is making other countries nervous about the wedding.
Having Cousin Liz talk to Cousin Louie may clear things up before the rhetoric gets inflamed and lines are drawn.
There may or may not be one or more official government studies about what it would take and what it would cost to integrate Austria into Deutschland proper.
The problem could get more complicated if one or more of the theoretical studies is leaked to the press and create a chain reaction across Europe.
The big issue is that with Austria ITTL having the port city of Trieste, a merger between Germany and Austria would give Germany a warm water port in the Adriatic Sea for the KLM and that would throw the balance of power in the region out of whack.
They will not marry, cause both don't want to.
The traditional (parents deciding on the pairing) arranged marriage for royals is on its death bed, if not already dead and buried.
Eligibility is still a concern, but what is needed to be eligible will decrees fast.
There will be wishing and nudging, but more is no longer possible.
Michael should be competing for Bohemia in the Olympics in Modern Pentathlon as way to solidify his connections with Bohemia and if he wins a medal all the better.
Prince Louis Ferdinand is closed in age to Alberta and he is not up for anything important, just saying.
Beside a pretty medal what does being Chairwoman of the Capital do for Kristina.
Prince Louis Ferdinand is closed in age to Alberta and he is not up for anything important, just saying.
Beside a pretty medal what does being Chairwoman of the Capital do for Kristina.
The four members who make up the Capitel are the gatekeepers, they determine who is eligible to be allowed membership and can expel members.
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Charlotte seems to be attempting to mend fences and to give Kiki her due position if not in ways that she will necessarily welcome.
Exceptionally effective if Charlotte is honest with Kat from the outset.
A strength and flaw of Kat's character is that she will move heaven and earth for the ones she loves or respects, and the fastest way to earn Kat's respect is honesty.
Editorial cartoons in various European newspapers:
The scene is a wedding with Germany as the Groom and Austria as the Bride and the Groom is saying “I take thee Austria...”
The other European countries are portrayed as the wedding guests and the caption on the bottom is “Any Objections to this Union”.
The scene is a wedding with Germany as the Groom and Austria as the Bride and the Groom is saying “I take thee Austria...”
The other European countries are portrayed as the wedding guests and the caption on the bottom is “Any Objections to this Union”.
It would be interesting how France views the ongoing good relations Germany has with the UK. Realistically they are reduced to either going "let's all be friends" and try to get in on it or going "I need some friends of my own" (not that they are spoiled with choices in that regard.)
There is also the question of how the common man on the street around Europe feels about all of this.
With Germany being as complicated as it is, many places within the Empire may feel like they are a citizen of their local sub national political entity first and an imperial citizen second. This will reflect how they view that Austrian thing.
There should also be all sorts of language based cultural identity groups that will see a German speaking Austria differently than French or Polish or Czech speaking parts of Germany.
Religion may be less of a factor with secularization being advanced by scandals generations ahead of schedule. Poles may not see the fellow Catholics in Austria as natural political allies.
And then there is the whole idea of this Germany going the cultural victory approach. With the advent of satellite transmissions, German Radio and tv will reach not just throughout the entire empire but also to anyone who lives close by and happens to be speaking the same language as a major language group across the border. (PAL vs SECAM should be interesting here)
Babelsber may rival Hollywood in influence in Europe and Asia.
There is also the question of how the common man on the street around Europe feels about all of this.
With Germany being as complicated as it is, many places within the Empire may feel like they are a citizen of their local sub national political entity first and an imperial citizen second. This will reflect how they view that Austrian thing.
There should also be all sorts of language based cultural identity groups that will see a German speaking Austria differently than French or Polish or Czech speaking parts of Germany.
Religion may be less of a factor with secularization being advanced by scandals generations ahead of schedule. Poles may not see the fellow Catholics in Austria as natural political allies.
And then there is the whole idea of this Germany going the cultural victory approach. With the advent of satellite transmissions, German Radio and tv will reach not just throughout the entire empire but also to anyone who lives close by and happens to be speaking the same language as a major language group across the border. (PAL vs SECAM should be interesting here)
Babelsber may rival Hollywood in influence in Europe and Asia.
Part 83, Chapter 1278
Chapter One Thousand Two Hundred Seventy-Eight
10th May 1958
Kleinberg, Silesia
Graf Manfred von Richthofen had a lot of reasons to be happy these days. In the bewildering kaleidoscope of life, things had shaken out in an almost acceptable manner for him. The work of the Space Program was placing an array of communications satellites in orbit facilitating transmissions around the globe. Among the first things transmitted was Ilse telling Albrecht that he was acting like a fucking idiot in volunteering to go back into space. He was in full agreement with his Daughter-in-Law, Albrecht had responsibilities to his wife and a child on the way. At the same time there was a part of Manfred that was happy that Albrecht seemed to be finally living up to his name. Getting launched into orbit was more dangerous than Manfred had realized at first, to do it and then volunteer to go back…
Then there was Helene coming to live in Breslau and Hans taking command of the 3rd Landwehr Division. It was obvious to Manfred that Hans was fighting a war against the culture of the Division, he had been hearing from Officers who had been in that Division who had tangled with Hans thinking that he was an easy mark. Instead, they had found that despite being a lunkhead, Hans had shown them the first rule of damn near anything. You question the man in charge at your own peril and you had better be right. Otherwise he would act accordingly and not to your liking. Helene herself was at turns frustrated and exasperated by her career. Building a political party from the ground up was certainly a challenge. There were times when anyone else would have given up, but ever since she had been a little girl Helene had seen obstacles as things to be obliterated…
Manfred’s thoughts were interrupted by the sharp crack of a rimfire rifle. In the distance there was the clank of the 5.6 mm bullet striking the steel target. His namesake grandson looked at him and smiled, he was getting better with practice. It was the same rifle that Lothar, Albrecht and Helene had learned to shoot with years earlier. With them the lessons hadn’t taken, and they had lost interest in shooting and hunting as they had gotten older. It was Manfred’s hope that his grandson would maintain his interest.
Berlin-Tempelhof
Ben could see that Zella was gone. According to Kiki her friend had been staying with the Gräfin while her friend’s parents had gone on vacation to the South Seas. When Ben had gone up onto the roof of his house on clear nights, he had seen what Zella had done. She had deliberately gotten his attention and then flipped him the bird before closing the blinds. Kiki had said that she would get Zella to stop but had never been able to do it. Ben’s father had said that Zella didn’t like him because he threatened her by diverting the attention of her best friend. He didn’t put a whole lot of stock in that, Zella behaved the way she did because she just didn’t like Ben. Clashing personalities, was the term that he had heard used. Zella wouldn’t warm to him if they were cremated together.
Tonight, it was just Kiki as she did her usual ritual of brushing out her hair before braiding it. She got up and Ben was expecting her to close her blinds. As always, he marveled at just how beautiful she was as she stood in the window. Her glasses were left on the desk so she probably couldn’t see him out here. Then she did something different, Kiki opened the window of her bedroom and blew him a kiss before walking back across her room. She took off her blue dressing gown and hung it on a hook on the back of her bedroom door. This had been Ben’s fantasy for months and it turned out to be completely anticlimactic. She was wearing a blue and white striped football jersey that hung down to her knees. Exactly what had he been expecting? That was Ben’s thought as she turned out the light. Kiki just wanted to have some fresh air as she slept, and he just happened to be out here.
11th May 1958
Paris, France
It was a quiet Sunday, it was something that made this pleasurable task easier. On a weekday the streets would be filled with tourists.
After several eventful decades spent in the Paris Metropolitan Police Jean Paul Montrose spent his evenings walking through the neighborhoods he once patrolled. Pensioned out he was just another old man living in an apartment that he had lived in since he had arrived in Paris when he had been young. Simple pleasures all he had left really. This evening’s activity was a part of that.
Jean Paul was feeding a growing number of pigeons while sitting on the stoop of the apartment building owned by Raymond Gagneux, the criminal who he had tried unsuccessfully to put away for decades.
“I will have you killed you son of a bitch!” Gagneux yelled from one of the upstairs windows. He was trying to sell the building and perspective buyers having to walk through pigeon crap was a very pleasurable thought indeed for Jean Paul. As for having him killed, better killers had attempted to do him in several times. Jean Paul was still here, and they were forgotten. Gagneux should have been smart enough to know that.
10th May 1958
Kleinberg, Silesia
Graf Manfred von Richthofen had a lot of reasons to be happy these days. In the bewildering kaleidoscope of life, things had shaken out in an almost acceptable manner for him. The work of the Space Program was placing an array of communications satellites in orbit facilitating transmissions around the globe. Among the first things transmitted was Ilse telling Albrecht that he was acting like a fucking idiot in volunteering to go back into space. He was in full agreement with his Daughter-in-Law, Albrecht had responsibilities to his wife and a child on the way. At the same time there was a part of Manfred that was happy that Albrecht seemed to be finally living up to his name. Getting launched into orbit was more dangerous than Manfred had realized at first, to do it and then volunteer to go back…
Then there was Helene coming to live in Breslau and Hans taking command of the 3rd Landwehr Division. It was obvious to Manfred that Hans was fighting a war against the culture of the Division, he had been hearing from Officers who had been in that Division who had tangled with Hans thinking that he was an easy mark. Instead, they had found that despite being a lunkhead, Hans had shown them the first rule of damn near anything. You question the man in charge at your own peril and you had better be right. Otherwise he would act accordingly and not to your liking. Helene herself was at turns frustrated and exasperated by her career. Building a political party from the ground up was certainly a challenge. There were times when anyone else would have given up, but ever since she had been a little girl Helene had seen obstacles as things to be obliterated…
Manfred’s thoughts were interrupted by the sharp crack of a rimfire rifle. In the distance there was the clank of the 5.6 mm bullet striking the steel target. His namesake grandson looked at him and smiled, he was getting better with practice. It was the same rifle that Lothar, Albrecht and Helene had learned to shoot with years earlier. With them the lessons hadn’t taken, and they had lost interest in shooting and hunting as they had gotten older. It was Manfred’s hope that his grandson would maintain his interest.
Berlin-Tempelhof
Ben could see that Zella was gone. According to Kiki her friend had been staying with the Gräfin while her friend’s parents had gone on vacation to the South Seas. When Ben had gone up onto the roof of his house on clear nights, he had seen what Zella had done. She had deliberately gotten his attention and then flipped him the bird before closing the blinds. Kiki had said that she would get Zella to stop but had never been able to do it. Ben’s father had said that Zella didn’t like him because he threatened her by diverting the attention of her best friend. He didn’t put a whole lot of stock in that, Zella behaved the way she did because she just didn’t like Ben. Clashing personalities, was the term that he had heard used. Zella wouldn’t warm to him if they were cremated together.
Tonight, it was just Kiki as she did her usual ritual of brushing out her hair before braiding it. She got up and Ben was expecting her to close her blinds. As always, he marveled at just how beautiful she was as she stood in the window. Her glasses were left on the desk so she probably couldn’t see him out here. Then she did something different, Kiki opened the window of her bedroom and blew him a kiss before walking back across her room. She took off her blue dressing gown and hung it on a hook on the back of her bedroom door. This had been Ben’s fantasy for months and it turned out to be completely anticlimactic. She was wearing a blue and white striped football jersey that hung down to her knees. Exactly what had he been expecting? That was Ben’s thought as she turned out the light. Kiki just wanted to have some fresh air as she slept, and he just happened to be out here.
11th May 1958
Paris, France
It was a quiet Sunday, it was something that made this pleasurable task easier. On a weekday the streets would be filled with tourists.
After several eventful decades spent in the Paris Metropolitan Police Jean Paul Montrose spent his evenings walking through the neighborhoods he once patrolled. Pensioned out he was just another old man living in an apartment that he had lived in since he had arrived in Paris when he had been young. Simple pleasures all he had left really. This evening’s activity was a part of that.
Jean Paul was feeding a growing number of pigeons while sitting on the stoop of the apartment building owned by Raymond Gagneux, the criminal who he had tried unsuccessfully to put away for decades.
“I will have you killed you son of a bitch!” Gagneux yelled from one of the upstairs windows. He was trying to sell the building and perspective buyers having to walk through pigeon crap was a very pleasurable thought indeed for Jean Paul. As for having him killed, better killers had attempted to do him in several times. Jean Paul was still here, and they were forgotten. Gagneux should have been smart enough to know that.
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