Kristin-V

The Purple Tulip

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This is a fictional story in playing with concepts such as time-travel, (a bit inspired by 1632/the ring of fire by Eric Flint) and is of the contrafactual type. As such this is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to living characters is only a coincidence! Some historical persons portrayed, but their actions may not necessarily do their lives and work full justice. It is not meant as re-writing history, historical revisionism.

The Purple Tulip 6 - Betrayed By All

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Could you trust anyone? The country was about to to be attacked by its mightiest foe, and betrayed by its allies. On a more personal scale I was about to experience the year of calamity. Business relations are your friends because they are in it for the money, so you are aware they might betray if they see that as judicious. But you expect more from more personal friends and family. The very nadir of experience is when even your body betrays you. The year was 1672.

The Purple Tulip 5 - Messing up in Paris

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"I see you are not armed, and unfortunately you have to have a weapon to gain access to Versailles", de Guirec said.
"Sorry?"
"You may not be of noble birth, but in order to gain access to the court of his majesty, you have to give the impression of being one. Appearances is everything."
"And?"
"You must have a sword. Unless you wear a dress", he said, which left me a bit flustered. I could feel the heat coming up in my cheeks.
For a second I thought he had seen I was not a man. I had done everything to look right. High heeled shoes, white stocking, frilly shirt. Thick layer of facial cream, and rouge on the cheeks.
"You know - the member of the clergy don't have to. You obviously didn't bring one, but the booth over there has some swords for hire", he added.
I was still dazed for several reasons. I thought the booth was for tickets, postcards and souvenirs!

The Purple Tulip 4

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While Mike at last wanted to talk, it was difficult to grasp all the details. As usual he did not always complete the sentences he started, so this is an approximation of some of the conversation:
"I get these strange attraction to men", Mike said.
"You mean that you think you are suddenly homosexual?"
"Yes. While I was in Amsterdam, and tried to get you accepted in the guild of surgeons, you requested that I get you some drugs and products. I met a young apprentice-apothecary, and he looked at me, and I felt faint"
"It wasn't the result of you skipping breakfast?" I said, trying to be funny.
I was almost smiling, but managed to stay serious, as it is weird to see a person with breasts, and a vagina complaining about being sexually attracted to a boy.
"No, I had eaten that day, and I couldn't take my eyes off him, and he was sent away"
This required some time to analyse and Mike was crying - well - like a girl.

The Purple Tulip 3

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"But I could never walk around in a dress" I said.
She looked at me, and suddenly she started to chuckle
"On that point I disagree. You just put on a dress, and if you don't stand out in the crowd it's OK. After a few years you get used to it. It is the peoples reaction that decides. Few have the guts to be different, and stand out of the crowd"
"But the corset is constricting ... We come from a time when at least corsets were only worn by those with a fetish."
"Hmm", Anna said. "Corsets are constricting, but you are wrong about them only be worn by fetishists. Anyone who feels they need a thinner waist without resorting to surgery can try. Have you heard of hold-in underwear?"

The Purple Tulip 2 - Building up Muscles

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Two gamers Mike and Paul are trapped in a real-life game that is similar to Europe year 1666-1670. As Mike is stuck in a girls body he has to cross-dress. Women have less rights, and not the least will never be take seriously. Paul has the freedom of trying a social climb by becoming a politician, or a captain in the militia.

The Purple Tulip 1 - Trapped in a Game

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*_*_*_* Mike *_*_*_*
We both got our senses back about the same time. It felt weird, disorientation is just a word that hardly describes the complete loss of the "self". Next to me was a person. He was different. He looked extremely outdated in those woollen clothes, and his face was different, but by elimination and deduction he was Paul. I managed to stutter “Paul - is that you”, at the same time I was irritated that I was wearing a tent.

The Purple Tulip - Prologue

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Paul called Mike over to his house. It was nice to get out of your own sorry flat once in a while, be it that Paul's flat was nicer than Mikes. At least he got it cleaned once a week by someone. Mike's was a mess. He walked with care through the streets. He was careful not to present himself as a target. The streets in this neighbourhood are not save for anyone. Security situation dictated that he had to show his face to the cameras. Anyway Paul pressed the remote door-opener, that allowed Mike to enter. His flat was designed for wheel-chair.

A crash course in French

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Several other stories use French as a theme, but I note that very few authors master the rules of French grammar which is not gender neutral. My recommendation is that you read through at least the first time without looking up the footnotes, as they are only for those that get curious about the details. If you are French you do not need the footnotes at all (maybe when I try to be very phonetic) , and If you know nothing of French the information is probably a waste of time to read them. The pseudo-phonetic parts are rendered in italics, and without translation, just like you would experience if you were the victim..

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