#Napoleon Bonaparte dreams meaning

[copperbadge]

Okay so wait a minute, with this aphantasia thing. I don’t think I have aphantasia because I process audio fine, in fact I prefer not to have any visual, but apparently there is some relationship between it and ADHD. I’m not trying to be confrontational in any of this but I’m bewildered by the idea of mentally picturing things you listen to or read about. It’s bothered me since I posted the ask. 

I can picture things in my head, if I stop and make a conscious decision to build them, but if I’m doing that I can’t do anything else -- I can’t listen to a podcast and picture it in my head and also do something with my hands. Come to think of it I probably couldn’t even keep up with the podcast if I was trying to picture it in my head, I’d struggle to choose which things to imagine and by the time I got them built they’d have moved on. It never feels like a very useful thing to do, because I’ve already got the words, that’s the important part, and I’d rather be doing stuff. I just assumed that most of the time when people talk about picturing stuff they’re either doing it very deliberately, like a guided meditation, or they’re being poetic, like people don’t actually do that, we just say we do as a way of describing someone thinking about something.

So, I’m listening to a podcast in which the host reads a letter from Napoleon Bonaparte to his brother, discussing his brother’s relationship with his wife (“she’s still young, let her dance if she wants, don’t lock her up with the kids all day.”) If you see images in your head when you hear audio, are you seeing the host reading off a sheet of paper, or Napoleon writing the letter, or Napoleon talking to his brother, or are you seeing Napoleon’s brother being mean to his wife? If you don’t know what any of these people look like, do you just make something up? 

Jesus Christ, when people read erotica do they picture the sex happening? What’s that like? You just get porn in your head involuntarily? I mean, not involuntarily, you’re choosing to read the text, but it just shows up when you do? 

Writers, when you write do you get mental images as you go? I often will pause in writing to build a mental image in my head and then describe it but as soon as I do it disappears, and it’s mostly a waste of time so I really only do that when I need to describe a space that people are moving around in (like the fishing lodge with the kitchen bar dividing the living room and kitchen, I do have several mental “camera snaps” of that setup, but I don’t picture it when I’m writing about it). 

This might explain why I always get yelled at for not describing people in my books. It’s simply unimportant to me 99% of the time and awkward to try and insert it the other 1%. I don’t picture people in my head when I read -- they’re a personality, a collection of characteristics. My characters don’t have faces to me, like how people in dreams don’t have faces, you just know who they are. I describe them but that’s just words I really like, or I pick out people who already exist and just say “oh they look like that”. Obviously when someone wants a description I do my best to supply it, but in prose it’s just not important. 

This is genuinely blowing my mind. This is why people always want descriptions of things! They get to see the descriptions! Reading a book must be like going to an art gallery anytime you want without moving. Is that what it’s like? Is this super common, like am I the weird one, or is this just like for people with super vivid imaginations? 

#aphantasia #mental images #imagination #an aphantasia fantasia

[secretmellowblog]

Les Mis French History Timeline: all the context you need to know to understand Les Mis

Here is a simple timeline of French history as it relates to events in Les Miserables, and to the context of Les Mis's publication! A post like this would’ve really helped me four years ago, when I knew very little about 1830s France or the goals of Les Amis, so I’m making it now that I have the information to share! ^_^

This post will be split into 4 sections: a quick overview of important terms, the history before the novel that’s important to the character's backstories, the history during the novel, and then the history relevant to the 1848-onward circumstances of Hugo’s life and the novel’s publication. 

Part 1: Overview 

The novel takes place in the aftermath of the Battle of Waterloo, during a period called the Restoration. 

The ancient monarchy was overthrown during the French Revolution. After a series of political struggles the revolutionary government was eventually replaced by an empire under Napoleon. Then Napoleon was defeated and sent into exile— but then he briefly came back and seized power for one hundred days—! and then he was defeated yet again for good at the battle of Waterloo in 1815.

After all that political turmoil, kings have been "restored" to the throne of France. The novel begins right as this Restoration begins.

The major political parties important to generally understanding Les Mis (Wildly Oversimplified) are Republicans, Liberals, Bonapartists, and Royalists. It’s worth noting that all these ‘party terms’ changed in meaning/goals over time depending on which type of government was in power. In general though, and just for the sake of reading Les Mis:

 Republicans want a Republic, where people elect their leaders democratically— they’re the very left wing progressive ones, and are heavily outcast/censored/policed. Les Amis are Republicans.

Liberals are (iirc) actually the most powerful “leftist” group at the time; they generally want limits on monarchical power but don’t go as far as Republicans.

Bonapartists are followers of Napoleon Bonaparte I, who led the Empire. Many viewed the Emperor as more favorable or progressive to them than a king would be. Georges Pontmercy is a Bonapartist, as is Pere Fauchelevent. 

Royalists believe in the divine right of Kings; they’re conservative. Someone who is extremely royalist to the point of wanting basically no limits on the king’s power at all are called “Ultraroyalists” or “ultra.” Marius’s conservative grandfather Gillenromand is an ultra royalist.  Hugo is also very concerned with criticizing the "Great Man of History," the view that history is pushed forward by the actions of a handful of special great men like kings and emperors. Les Mis aims to focus on the common masses of people who push history forward instead.

Part 2: Timeline of History involved in characters’ Backstories

1789– the March on the bastille/ the beginning of the original French Revolution. A young Myriel, who is then a shallow married aristocrat, flees the country. His family is badly hurt by the Revolution. His wife dies in exile.

1793– Louis XVI is found guilty of committing treason and sentenced to death. The Conventionist G—, the old revolutionary who Myriel talks to, votes against the death of the king. 

1795:  the Directory rules France. Throughout much of the revolution, including this period, the country is undergoing “dechristianization” policies. Fantine is born at this time. Because the church is not in power as a result of dechristianization, Fantine is unbaptized and has no record of a legal given name.  

1795: The Revolutionary government becomes more conservative. Jean Valjean is arrested. 

1804: Napoleon officially crowns himself Emperor of France. the Revolution’s dream of a Republic is dead for a bit.  At this time, Myriel returns from his exile and settles down in the provinces of France to work as a humble priest. Then he visits Paris and makes a snarky comment to Napoleon, and Napoleon finds him so witty that he appoints him Bishop.

Part 3: the novel actually begins 

1815: Napoleon is defeated at the Battle of Waterloo by the allied nations of Britain and Prussia. Read Hugo’s take on that in the Waterloo Digression! He gets a lot of facts wrong, but that’s Hugo for you.

Marius’s father, Baron Pontmercy, nearly dies on the battlefield. Thenardier steals his belongings. 

After Napoleon is defeated, a king is restored to the throne— Louis XVIII, of the House of Bourbon, the ancient royal house that ruled France before the Revolution. In order to ensure that Louis XVIII stays on the throne, the nations of Britian, Prussia, and Russia, send soldiers occupy France. So France is, during the early events of the novel, being occupied by foreign soldiers. This is part of why there are so many references to soldiers on the streets and garrisons and barracks throughout the early portions of the novel. The occupation officially ended in 1818.

1815 (a few months later): Jean Valjean is released from prison and walks down the road to Digne, the very same road Napoleon charged down during his last attempt to seize power. Many of the inns he passes by are run by people advertising their connections to Napoleon. Symbolically Valjean is the poor man returning from exile into France, just as Napoleon was the Great Man briefly returning from exile during the 100 days, or King Louis XVIII is the Great King returning from exile to a restored throne.

  1817: The Year 1817, which Hugo has a whole chapter-digression about. Louis XVIII  of the House of Bourbon is on the throne. Fantine, “the nameless child of the Directory,”  is abandoned by Tholomyes. 

1821: Napoleon dies in exile. 

1825:  King Louis XVIII dies. Charles X takes the throne. While Louis XVIII was willing to compromise, Charles X is a far more conservative ultra-royalist. He attempts to bring back the Pre-Revolution style of monarchy. 

Underground resistance groups, including Republican groups like Les Amis, plot against him.  

1827-1828: Georges Pontmercy, bonapartist veteran of Waterloo, dies. Marius, who has been growing up with his abusive Ultra-royalist grandfather and mindlessly repeating his ultra-royalist politics, learns how much his father loved him. He becomes a democratic Bonapartist. 

Marius is a little bit late to everything though. He shouts “long live the Emperor!” Even though Napoleon died in 1821 and insults his grandfather by telling him “down with that hog Louis XVIII” even though Louis XVIII has been dead since 1825. He’s a little confused but he’s got the spirit. 

Marius leaves his grandfather to live on his own. 

1830: “The July Revolution,” also known as the “Three Glorious Days” or  “the Second French Revolution.” Rebels built barricades and successfully forced Charles X out of power.

Unfortunately, TL;DR moderate politicians prevented the creation of a Republic and instead installed another more politically progressive king — Louis-Philippe, of the house of Orleans. 

Louis-Philippe was a relative of the royal family, had lived  in poverty for a time, and described himself as “the citizen-king.” Hugo’s take on him is that he was a good man, but being a king is inherently evil; monarchy is a bad system even if a “good” dictator is on the throne.

The shadow of 1830 is important to Les Mis, and there’s even a whole digression about it in “A Few Pages of History,” a digression most people adapting the novel have clearly skipped. Les Amis would’ve probably been involved in it....though interestingly, only Gavroche and maybe Enjolras are explicitly confirmed to have been there, Gavroche telling Enjolras he participated “when we had that dispute with Charles X.”

Sadly we're following Marius (not Les Amis) in 1830. Hugo mentions that Marius is always too busy thinking to actually participate in political movements. He notes that Marius was pleased by 1830 because he thinks it is a sign of progress, but that he was too dreamy to be involved in it. 

1831: in “A Few Pages of History” Hugo describes the various ways Republican groups were plotting what what would later become the June Rebellion– the way resistance groups had underground meetings, spread propaganda with pamphlets, smuggled in gunpowder, etc. 

Spring of 1832: there is a massive pandemic of cholera in Paris that exacerbates existing tensions. Marius is described as too distracted by love to notice all the people dying of cholera. 

June 1st, 1832: General Lamarque, a member of parliament often critical of the monarchy, dies of cholera. 

June 5th and 6th, 1832: the June Rebellion of 1832:

Republicans, students, and workers attempt to overthrow the monarchy, and finally get a democratic Republic For Real This Time. The rebellion is violently crushed by the National Guard.

Enjolras was partially inspired by Charles Jeanne, who led the barricades at Saint-Merry. 

Part 4: the context of Les Mis’s publication 

February 1848: a successful revolution finally overthrows King Louis Philippe. A younger Victor Hugo, who was appointed a peer of France by Louis-Philippe, is then elected as a representative of Paris in the provisional revolutionary government.

June 1848: This is a lot, and it’s a thing even Hugo’s biographers often gloss over, because it’s a horrific moral failure/complexity of Hugo’s that is completely at odds with the sort of politics he later became known for. The short summary is that in June 1848 there was a working-class rebellion against new unjust labor laws/forced conscription, and Victor Hugo was on the “wrong side of the barricades” working with the government to violently suppress the rebels. To quote from this source:

Much to the disappointment of his supporters, in [Victor Hugo’s] first speech in the national assembly he went after the ateliers or national workshops, which had been a major demand of the workers. Two days later the workshops were closed, workers under twenty-five were conscripted and the rest sent to the countryside. It was a “political purge” and a declaration of war on the Parisian working class that set into motion the June Days, or the second revolution of 1848—an uprising lauded by Marx as one of the first workers’ revolutions. As the barricades went up in Paris, Hugo was tragically on the wrong side. On June 24 the national assembly declared a state of siege with Hugo’s support. Hugo would then sink to a new political low. He was chosen as one of sixty representatives “to go and inform the insurgents that a state of siege existed and that Cavaignac [the officer who had led the suppression of the June revolt] was in control.” With an express mission “to stop the spilling of blood,” Hugo took up arms against the workers of Paris. Thus, Hugo, voice of the voiceless and hero of workers, helped to violently suppress a rebellion led by people whom he in many ways supported—and many of whom supported him. With twisted logic and an even more twisted conscience, Hugo fought and risked his life to crush the June insurrection.

There is an otherwise baffling chapter in Les Mis titled "The Charybdis of the Faubourg Saint Antoine and the Scylla of the Fauborg Du Temple," where Hugo goes on a digression about June of 1848. Hugo contrasts June of 1848 with other rebellions, and insists that the June 1848 Rebellion was Wrong and Different. It is a strangely anti-rebellion classist chapter that feels discordant with the rest of the book. This is because it is Hugo's effort to (indirectly) address criticisms people had of his own involvement in June 1848, and to justify why he believed crushing that rebellion with so much force was necessary. The chapter is often misused to say that Hugo was "anti-violent-rebellion all the time" (which he wasn't) or that "rebellion is bad” is the message of Les Mis (which it isn't) ........but in reality the chapter is about Hugo attempting to justify his own past actions to the reader and to himself, actions which many people on his side of the political spectrum considered a horrible betrayal. He couldn't really have written a novel about the politics of barricades without addressing his actions in June 1848, and he addressed them by attempting to justify them, and he attempted to justify them with a lot of deeply questionable rhetoric. 1848 is a lot, and I don't fully understand all the context yet-- but that general context is necessary to understand why the chapter is even in the novel. Late 1848/1849: Quoting from the earlier source again:

In the wake of the revolution, Hugo tried to make sense of the events of 1848. He tried to straddle the growing polarization between, on the one hand, “the party of order,” which coalesced around Napoleon’s nephew Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, who in December 1848 had been elected France’s president under a new constitution, and the “party of movement” (or radical Left) that, in the aftermath of 1848, had made considerable advances. In this climate, as Hugo increasingly spoke out, and faced opposition and repression himself, he was radicalized and turned to the Left for support against the tyranny and “barbarism” he saw in the government of Louis Napoleon. The “point of no return” came in 1849. Hugo became one of the loudest and most prominent voices of opposition to Louis Napoleon. In his final and most famous insult to Napoleon, he asked: “Just because we had Napoleon le Grand [Napoleon the Great], do we have to have Napoleon le petit [Napoleon the small]?” Immune from punishment because of his role in the government, Bonaparte retaliated by shutting down Hugo’s newspaper and arresting both his sons.

Thenardier is likely meant to be Hugo’s caricature of Louis-Napoleon/Napoleon III. He is “Napoleon the small,” an opportunistic scumbag leeching off the legacy of Waterloo and Napoleon to give himself some respectability. He is a metaphorical ‘graverobber of Waterloo’ who has all of Napoleon’s dictatorial pettiness without any of his redeeming qualities.

It’s also worth noting that Marius is Victor “Marie” Hugo’s self-insert. Hugo’s politics changed wildly over time. Like Marius he was a royalist when was young. And like Marius, he looked up to Napoleon and to Napoleon III, before his views of them were shattered. This is reflected in the way Marius had complicated feelings of loyalty to his father (who’s very connected to the original Napoleon I) and to Thenardier (who’s arguably an analogue for Napoleon IiI.)

1851: 

On December 2, 1851, Louis Napoleon launched his coup, suspending the republic’s constitution he had sworn to uphold. The National Assembly was occupied by troops. Hugo responded by trying to rally people to the barricades to defend Paris against Napoleon’s seizure of power. Protesters were met with brutal repression.  Under increasing threat to his own life, with both of his sons in jail and his death falsely announced, Hugo finally left Paris.  He ultimately ended up on the island of Guernsey where he spent much of the next eighteen years and where he would write the bulk of Les Misérables. It was from here that his most radical and political work was smuggled into France.

Hugo arguably did his most important political work after being exiled. In Guernsey, he aided with resistance against the regime of Napoleon III. Hugo’s popularity with the masses also meant that his exile was massive news, and a thing all readers of Les Miserables would’ve been deeply familiar with.

This is why there are so many bits of Les Mis where the narrator nostalgically reflects on how much they wish they were in Paris again —these parts are very political; readers would’ve picked up that this was Victor Hugo reflecting on he cruelty of his own exile.  

1862-1863: Les Mis is published. It is a barely-veiled call to action against the government of Napoleon III, written about the June Rebellion instead of the current regime partially in order to dodge the censorship laws at the time.

Conservatives despise the book and call it the death of civilization and a dangerous rebellious evil godless text that encourages them to feel bad for the stupid evil criminal rebel poors and etc etc etc– (see @psalm22-6 ‘s excellent translations of the ancient conservative reviews)-- but the novel sells very well. Expressing  approval or disapproval of the book is considered inherently political, but fortunately it remains unbanned. 

…And that’s it! An ocean of basic historical context about Les Mis!

If anyone has any corrections  or additions they would like to make, feel free to add them! I have researched to the best of my ability, but I don’t pretend to be perfect. I also recommend listening to the Siecle podcast, which covers the events of the Bourbon Restoration starting at the Battle of Waterloo, if you're interested in learning more about the period!

#les mis #someone in a discord server asked about this a while back #so i put it together! #it’s basically what I told them in the discord server but as a tumblr post #and with some extra stuff I forgot to say #but yeAH maybe if more historical information gets spread #we’ll get more canon era fanfics >:3333 #which are always fun

[xxsycamore]

New Year, New Napo

╰┈➤ 🌟 Napoleon's New Year's morning begins with him working on his bad habits.

Napoleon Bonaparte/Main Character • rating: G • tags: Fluff; Morning Kisses • wordcount: 720 • masterlist

a/n: And this is the last fic of the year! Thank you for your support in 2023, it was a great year and I got to write so many things I loved🥺❤ This fic is inspired by this amazing drawing that @bicayaya made for me! I'm still screaming...

It's the shifting of the body next to her that pulls MC out of the depths of her slumber first. Dancing around the surface between reality and dream, she chases after the gradually drifting away words of someone in her sleep, nose scrunching as she tries to remain asleep. A chuckle that comes from somewhere far away from the dreamworld suddenly floats to her ears more clearly, closer by - and then comes the ultimate reveille. A pair of plush lips casting a butterfly caress against her own, covering them fully for a mere second before disappearing with only the faint warmth remaining behind.

"Nnng…mm.." MC groans as if to announce to her kisser that she's now awake and he needn't repeat his ministrations. Though she'd be lying if she said she didn't consider playing asleep for a second longer, even with that confused, still-sleeping brain of hers.

Heavy eyelids open to take in the new day - that's right, a new day of a brand new year, she now remembers, the last remains of pleasant tiredness linked with the lavish partying of last night still sparkling in her muscles as she lazily stretches out in bed.

"Good morning, Napoleon."

"Good morning, mon amour."

MC giggles at the haplessly inlove look in Napoleon's cyan eyes. Is he going to enter the new year being like that, once again? She can't blame him, the same way she can't blame sleep for giving her an equally dreamy look in her own eyes right now.

"How come you woke up earlier than me, hmm?" She pokes his cheek, using the proximity of him leaning over her, glad that he's blocking the blinding sunshine that found them in their bed. It's great that they're having a sunny New Year's morning. She can jump right out of bed and embrace the energy of this new beginning. After a good cuddle session, that's it.

"What can I say. New year, new me."

"Pfff!"

Napoleon frowns in reaction to her dismissive laughter, propping himself up on an elbow with pettiness in his demeanor. "So much for my partner supporting me in my New Year's resolutions, I see."

"I do, I do!" MC hastily assures, patting his arm. "I was just wondering, if you truly woke up on your own, how come you still sleep-kissed me…?"

"That wasn’t a sleep kiss, Nunuche."

Huh? Eyeing him with suspicion, MC tilts her head, ready to hear his explanation.

"We had to kiss because we were under the mistletoe."

"?!"

His other hand that was rested above MC's head ever since earlier when he was leaning above her suddenly comes into view, holding up a mistletoe for her to see.

"What the-"

"Whoops, I guess we're under it once again. Here I go, close your eyes."

"Napoleon-"

Not able to keep up with his sudden burst of nonsense, the best MC can do is close her eyes as told, accepting the inevitable kiss of the man above her. This one is slower and somehow more mischievous, with him nibbling on her lower lip and withdrawing before she can take her revenge.

As soon as their gazes meet, Napoleon holds up the mistletoe again, and dives down for another kiss.

"Napoleon!!" Her protests leave him searching for new targets for his kisses, smooching her cheeks, the tip of her nose, her eyelids squeezed shut in a laughing fit, her forehead.

"What's up with you?"

"I told you, Nunuche. New year, new me. I'm not going to sleep in anymore, and that means no more sleepy kiss attacks."

MC looks at him in disbelief. This is still too much to take in first thing in the morning. Still, she somehow connects the dots.

"So you used the mistletoe as an excuse to keep on with your bad habits…"

"I don't know what you're talking about. It was hanging right there above us when I woke up in your embrace."

"Hahahah…hahaha! Yeah, you totally are as silly as you were last year."

"Hey…" Napoleon's brow furrows once again, announcing that he's had enough of not being taken seriously. He captures MC's wrists on both sides above her head, playfully wrestling with her as she keeps laughing at him and squirming in his grip.

"Happy New Year, Napoleon. Please never change."

"You'll regret wishing for that."

Taglist: @arsnovacadenza @ale-teodora @kimi00twin @otomelady @privilegedpancake @g-kleran    @pumpumnnnp @thesirenwashere @ravenarld @kimmy-banana @devonares @galaxyprison @sadshaxk @starshards26 @thewitchofbooks @acethephoenix256 @ikevamp-shrine-2 @nad-zeta @crystal13unny @lordsister @ikemen-banshou   @themysticalbeing @otome-scribbles @rhodolitesrose @coornn @kpop-and-otome @queen-dahlia @kisara-16 @chaosangel767 @ikemenlibrary @queengiuliettafirstlady @aurora-morning @aquagirl1978 ​ @ikemenlover24 @mcofthemansion @joy-the-reader @katriniac @ikemen-writer @tele86 @lovely-bubb1es @aria-chikage @babyblue0t7 @rhodoliteschaos @shrimpy-kitsune @nightghoul381 @xbalayage @lucyw260 @kittygrimm88 @lokis-laugh @judejazza Let me know if you want to be tagged/untagged!

#ikemen vampire #ikevamp #ikevamp napoleon #ikemen vampire napoleon #ikevamp fluff #ikevamp fanfic #ikemen napoleon #ikemen fluff

[thiswaycomessomethingwicked]

Last night had a dream about Napoleon. Josephine outlived him and got remarried. Then he proceeded to hang around as a ghost judging her new husband.

Napoleon would 100% spook around as a ghost judging the new husband

Jean-Pierre de la Fenêtre: why do i feel silently watched?

Josephine: old house, babe.

Jean-Pierre: oh I don't mean in a spooky way. I mean I feel like I'm being judged. as if all my flaws are being studiously catalogued and mocked.

Josephine: BONAPARTE. I TOLD YOU ALREADY TO KNOCK IT OFF.

Napoleon's ghost shoves all of Jean-Pierre's stuff off the nightstand.

Josephine: babe, don't think I've replaced you.

Jean-Pierre: I? dont?

Josephine: I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to the ghost of my dead husband who is currently telling me that he thinks you're a fool and a wet blanket and that I could have done better.

Jean-Pierre: HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW ME.

Napoleon tries to defenestrate Jean-Pierre and explains to Josephine through spooky ghost-mirror writing that he had to do it because it would be funny if Jean-Peirre de la Fenêtre died while falling out a window. Josephine was not amused.

Glorious. Absolutely glorious.

#we all know the ghost of Lannes would help #thank you so much #this made my morning #I read it before I walked into work and it entertained me on my trot across the city #napoleon bonaparte #josephine #josephine bonaparte #napoleon #ask #reply #anon

[klutzyroses]

Late Hours

Fandom: Ikemen Vampire

Pairing: Napoleon x Fem!Reader

Tags: NSFW, female reader, penetration, office affair, dominant Napo, sub reader, implied fem!masturbation

Word Count: 3335

Summary: Y/N never expected to be the type to start a relationship with her boss. But how can she help it when her sexy manager keeps pulling her in with his charm? It really can't be helped sometimes...

Tagging @kissmetwicekissmedeadly , for putting this in my head...💖

“This. Isn’t. Fair!”

Is the predominant thought on Y/N’s mind as she remains staring down her computer, but not focusing on the content it holds. The young lady had a relatively decent little life. She had an enviable job, a cute little apartment, financial independence, a relatively happy life. So…why was she glaring at her computer, begging for it to engulf and transport her into a digital world of numbers and equations? Honestly, because it would be better than the predicament she was facing in the real world.

No, it wasn’t about documents or deadlines. If only. It was much, much worse than that. This was a 5”8, dark haired problem, one that couldn’t be ignored. Her fingers tap away at her keyboard, her eyes fixated on the screen for dear life, anything to avoid acknowledging the presence of her undoing. But his smooth, captivating voice made her pause unwillingly, giving up on whatever she was supposed to be doing and surreptitiously glance at the source of the musical voice and her current despair. And there he was, standing so confident, yet so laid back that the staff he is addressing is relaxed as well. And that was common of him, that’s why everyone on this floor enjoyed working here.

When Y/N had first arrived for her interview for this job, she had been told that she would be working in a particular department, managed by a “Napoleon Bonaparte”. She had expected a scary, mean grump in his forties…she was soon met with a surprise, when she met him. His good looks and his approachable disposition were both relieving and off putting. He couldn’t be much older than she was, he was like a model from a magazine, and that alone made her feel like she was at the start of an adult romance novel. The ones surrounding an employee starting a whirlwind affair with her attractive boss. How cliché, she had thought at the time, telling herself she was not that type of girl, she knew boundaries, she was more responsible, she had more sense than that.

...Apparently she did not. Considering the situation she found herself in a month into her employment, she was that type of girl. Napoleon Bonaparte was not a bad boss, oh no. He was charming and genuine and put everyone at ease, every member of the staff had nothing but admiration and praise for him. Women loved him and men couldn’t even hate him because he was just such an effortless charmer. Who didn’t like him? Well, right now, she didn’t. And not because of him, but because of the many soaked, ruined panties she has had to get rid of during the nights he invaded her dreams. His viridian eyes glowing in the dark, his strong physique pressing her against the bed, his deep smooth voice lulling and cooing in her ear before going down on her until she cries…

“Isn't he dreamy?” The quiet gushing of her coworker provides her with a fairly superficial distraction from her thoughts. Superficial, because there was no doubt she was speaking of their handsome manager. Feigning disinterest, she gave a half hearted response.

“Yes…I guess so. Though I wouldn’t say he’s dreamy.” Her surprised colleague gave her a curious look.

“Oh? Then what would you say he is?”

Genuine, a friend, a natural leader. Sexy, enticing, forbidden, alluring, seductive. A man. That’s what she would say he was. “Dreamy” didn’t do him justice. Kind, gentlemanly, charismatic, hot, successful, friendly, essentially every woman’s fantasy…but men like him weren't supposed to actually exist. They’re supposed to be fictional, figments of the female imagination. Yet he exists and he is everything a woman could want and more. And he certainly knew how to treat a woman. But she would never divulge why she knew that firsthand. Her silence is met with the giggles of her colleague.

“You’re probably the only one here able to resist that man you know.” While Y/N answered with a playful smile, she knew it was a lie. The “slip up” that took place but two nights ago had very much shown she could not resist him. 

She hadn’t understood what she was thinking then. At all. Perhaps it was the solitude of the elevator, the ambiance of the lighting, or the close proximity to his body allowing his intoxicating scent to wash over her. Like an aphrodisiac, he rendered her helpless to stop herself from pressing herself to him, from wrapping her arms around his neck, with a whisper of his name on her soft lips before they were pressed against his. His mouth fit perfectly against hers, molding them closer together as the man’s hands found home within her hips, grasping them firmly. She simply leaned more into him, her fingers threading through midnight hair as white bangs brushed her eyelids, her lips being parted by his tongue to catch her own in a sensual dance. She finds herself completely lost to reason and sense, to the potential consequences, merely enjoying this stolen, forbidden moment with her-

The sudden sound of the elevator opening had been like ice water drenched on her. Her employer. She had just kissed her employer. She had hurriedly apologized and left in a panic before Mr Bonaparte could even respond. And she hasn’t spoken to, or even gone to his office since. That had been two nights ago, and she had reports she had been due to give him yesterday, yet she could not, for the life of her, bring herself to face him. Why? To get sacked? That would honestly be the best case scenario, she’d be lucky if she only got fired. She knew she could not keep this up forever. She has only avoided him this long because he has been so busy. But eventually he would catch up with her. After all, she works for the man!

“You know, Mr Bonaparte keeps looking over at you.” Her heart pauses and picks up again at double time, because the truth was, she could feel it. Her body could feel those jade orbs pinned onto her, no matter how much she tries to avoid it, she could feel his eyes on her. She could sense the heat in his eyes, she could sense her core starting to boil and simmer. He would probably punish her for the late documents she was supposed to give him…or for being a bad girl. Was this the time to be aroused? Of course not, but here she was, starting to get wet just from having her boss look in her direction. It just wasn’t fair. 

“L/N.” The silky voice behind her made her back straighten as her lips purse from surprise, and the suppressed squeal she had almost released just then. She meets her colleague’s eyes, who looks flustered all of a sudden and seems to try and appear invisible in the moment. With all the composure she could muster, she turns in her seat and looks into the face of her employer. He seemed normal enough, he didn’t seem to be particularly aggravated or combative. Not that he ever did, he never seemed to show anger in the time she worked under him.

“Yes, Mr Bonaparte, what can I do for you?” She swears there is a flash in his eyes and she almost reconsiders her choice of words. But he speaks again before the beauty can recant her question.

“Meet me in my office after your shift. I need to talk to you.” That’s all he says, leaving no room for argument as he takes his leave. When Y/N’s colleague looks at her, she is met with excessive tears streaming down her pretty face onto the desk in waterfalls as her big sad eyes stare forward in despair, low sobs and whimpers almost inaudible to her.

“Y/N…? Are you oka-?”

“I’m g-going to get fired!”

💋~~

When she came into the dimly lit office, the floor was largely empty as other employees left to enjoy their nights, while she was mentally preparing to find a new job. 

“You’re avoiding me.” Was the first thing he said and the last thing she expected him to say. Surely, he knew why she was avoiding him…or was it arrogant to simply assume that, given she had come onto him. She knows what's coming. This was about the kiss. The kiss that had set her alight, that had her melting from the inside, unable to take it but still craving for more. A kiss that she did not regret, regardless of the situation she was in. She knows she would have done it again, though she shouldn’t be thinking about that now. She needs to save her skin right now.

“I haven’t, Mr Bonaparte, you’re incredibly busy and I also had a lot of work so…”

“You don’t really think I’d believe that, nunuche?” She is not really fluent in French, but that sounded like name calling. She supposed she deserved that… though it doesn't feel as demeaning as it probably should've felt. It almost felt intimate, like a pet name. But she shouldn’t be thinking such fanciful thoughts when she was in the middle of getting fired. All she could now is own up and hope for some kind of leniency.

“Mr Bonaparte I…I don’t know what to say I just…I’m sorry.” Just the slightest hint of a crack gave her hidden anxiety away. The quiet footsteps of her employer stopped in front of her as she averted her gaze. She is overtaken by that scent once again once again bringing that heat in her stomach.

“You should be. I’ve been trying to get you alone and to myself since that night.” Confused by the…interesting wording of that statement, the lady looks up to ask him, only to find him mere inches from her face, causing her to instinctively step back…into the wall. No sooner did she realize she was against the wall did she then notice that she was caged in by strong arms planted on either side of her, leaving her unable, and secretly unwilling, to escape. The lights of the city shining through the glass encase him in a cool light, a light he seems to be shielding her from. His eyes seem almost darkened, as though the jade had not been polished, its color muted but its light ever so vibrant with undeniable, unadulterated desire. She can only gaze back at him, as though paralyzed by the intensity of his eyes, her legs frozen, yet liable to buckle at any given moment.

“You ran away before I could get to have you, you know. I can’t say I liked that.” His light smirk almost made her heart and insides catch fire, fire as intense as the one that seems to have come alive in him. And it was a most contagious fire indeed as she felt it spread through her, which was probably what compelled her to find her voice in that moment.

“I only ran away because I knew I would beg you to take me right in that elevator, to pin against the nearest surface and pound me into oblivion…” She trails off, her voice weakening, with both need and doubt. What was she saying? That’s not what she meant to say…But it was the truth, so she couldn’t stop now, she supposed. She could only sink with her ship at this point.

“Can’t you see…how much my body craves you? How much it aches and feens for you? Just seeing you everyday gets me soaked every night…you can see that now, don’t you?”

Why was she telling him all this? She doesn’t have that answer to that but it was out now, there was no taking it back. She could only pray that her next line of employment will not have an irresistible boss too-Was he…chuckling? Was he laughing at her now? Her face morphs into a pout of embarrassment and indignation.

“Don’t laugh!”

“S…sorry, I c…can’t stop right now you’re just…you really are…” He lowers his head as his shoulders shook, keeping her captive still against the wall until his chuckles die down. When he raises his head again, those jade eyes seem to be almost glowing with a hungry light, directed straight at her. His lips are curved in a lustful smirk, spelling without words the many things he could do to her with that mouth.

“Come here.” Her hand is suddenly taken into his larger one as he lifts it to his lips. He presses a kiss to each knuckle, maintaining unabashed eye contact with her as their fingers intertwine, like the locked fingers of smitten lovers. It brings a soft warmth into her heart, making it raise, yet her entire being feels soothed, calmed. It felt less like lustful infatuation and more like something deeper…more meaningful.

“You know…I never got those filled out reports from you, Y/N…You’re falling behind.” Why was he mentioning that now? Where was this coming from? She doesn’t have enough time to ponder that before she is pulled away from the wall and guided to his desk, where a moderately modest pile of paperwork rested. She barely manages to place her hands away from the papers as he bends her over his desk, pulling her hips back to an embarrassingly provocative position in front of him.

“M…Mr Bonaparte!”

“Shh, listen to me, Y/N. You have work to do…And I expect you to finish it.” His voice sounds heavy and heated in her ear, making that burning sensation boil almost unbearably, the feeling of his chest against her back is enough to make her lose her senses, her clothing suddenly feeling less and less necessary.

“...What do you want me to do sir?” When did her voice become so sultry? So wanton and compliant? She wasn’t sure but it seems to have an effect on Napoleon. His low growl resounds into her being as he guides her hand to take the pen by her presumed “workload” as he keeps her in her position, her luscious behind straining against the inside of her skirt, the tempting outlines clear for his eyes to enjoy.

“You’re going to take this pen. And you're going to approve and sign off on these documents in front of you. And you’re going to do it now.” His hips brush against her backside, making her gasp when she feels the…evidence of his arousal on her.

“Is that clear…ma nunuche?” The whispered question is accompanied by her skirt being unzipped and slowly pulled down. Her answer was an obvious one as she swallowed.

“Yes sir…”

💋~~

“A…ahhh haaa!”

She could barely catch her breath as she forcibly keeps her hand as straight as she can on the important document. Reading through it was challenging enough, thinking of the coherent, necessary sentences needed was another thing. It wasn’t as though she couldn’t understand the words in front of her, as she would any other day. It was just that it was a little difficult to focus on figures and contracts when her gorgeous, charming boss was pounding into her from behind while she did it.

“H…haaa…Mr…Bonaparte…sir..!” Her whines were enough to make him chuckle as he nipped at her ear. She pauses to arch closer to him when a particularly hard thrust sends her reeling.

“I didn’t tell you to stop nunuche. I made myself very clear.” A hard squeeze of her plush backside has her shaking her head clear and resume her work. Or at least attempt to resume it.

“Y…yes sir, I’m sorry sir…mmmm~” Her terribly disheveled state was of no consequence to her. Her previously neat hair was now loose and fallen into her flushed face, her blouse opened, the air brushing her exposed breasts and tickling her hardened nipples. To say she was a mess, would be an understatement, but he isn’t doing much better. While he was more dressed than she, his opened, ruffled shirt barely stayed on his broad shoulders whilst his pants hung loosely on his hips, just enough to allow him to rock into her, his hands gripping her hips. Both were blushed a fierce red, panting as the sounds of their passion filled the room, or rather, the entire floor, with her increasingly loud moans echoing through the walls. Who knew who could still be there, but that was not a concern for either of them. Not a big enough concern for them to stop their tryst at any rate.

“I…I…please…too good, nyaa~” Her pleas of ecstasy only urge him further as the pen falls out of her hand completely, unable to go any further with her task as his masterful hand plays with a sensitive nipple.

“Can’t even finish one little document, mon coeur?” He clicks his tongue playfully as his hand moves from her nipple, down her bare stomach and lower still.

“Guess I just have to go even harder on you.” The sudden incessant rubbing on her clit induces a cry of both pleasure and torment. The deliciously rough torture is far more than the woman could take. She didn't think she could take anymore, but clearly, Napoleon felt differently. His free hand reached even lower than his other, caressing the soft skin of her inner thigh, before he, without warning, grasps under her knee and lifts her leg off the ground, leading her to balance herself entirely on the desk as he delves even deeper inside her burning heat. She shrieks, feeling something inside her get hit full force, making her see stars.

“Mr Bonaparrrrte!!” He smirks and repeats his merciless movements, feeling her writhe and scream as he watches her, his viridian eyes half lidded and the most satisfied of smirks on his handsome visage.

“There you go, ma petite…Give into me…” His cooing in her ear made her almost dizzy as she felt the dam about to break.

“I…I…mmm….Kyaaaa!” She couldn’t even get the words out but she didn’t need to. He could feel the way she tightened around him, how her body quaked and trembled. He slowly reaches round and grasps her chin, turning her towards him to meet his eyes. Glowing jade meets sparkling orbs before he captures her lips into a fierce, heart melting kiss. He caresses her cheek, his tenderness against her lips at odds with the rough thrusts of his lower body against hers. It's a passionate, wholehearted kiss, one that fills both with a sentiment just a tad deeper than that of an employer and his employee. Just a tad.

When she at last comes apart, he is not far behind, supporting her with his arm around waist as she bears the weight of both their climaxes, her cries lost into his kiss. And through it all, he never lets her go. He only breaks the kiss when he has ridden them both out, thoroughly out of breath as he slumps down into his desk chair, taking the flustered and heavily spent beauty with him as he shifts her more comfortably on him. She tries to calm her racing heart, as her bangs stuck to her forehead slightly, her body flushed and fatigued but she was all smiles as she listened to the rhythmic heartbeat of Napoleon’s heart. Her damp bangs are moved to press a peck to her forehead as she glances up to him.

“Are you okay, nunuche?”

“Mm. Yes, I’m just fine. Perfect…actually.” He moves her to press his forehead to hers as they lock eyes. He is inscrutable for a brief moment before a slightly boyish smile, with a gleam of lustful mischief lights in his eyes.

“Good, because from now on, I’m going to need you to put in a bit more overtime from now on." He pulls her closer to his chest as her soft cheeks heat up, as the meaning of his words dawn on her.

"You understand, don’t you, ma petite?”

🌸

#ikemen vampire #ikevamp #ikevamp napoleon #ikemen vampire napoleon #ikemen napoleon #ikevamp smut

[retrosofa]

This week let's take a look at Cutie Honey episode 6: "The Black Scissors Shred Dreams."

Screenwriter: Masaki Tsuji

Art Director: Eiji Ito

Animation Director: Kazuhiko Udagawa

Director: Tomoharu Katsumata

The shot where Honey is looking up at the sky thinking about her father was originally animated differently. The original version zoomed out further and had Honey's expression changing. For whatever reason, this was changed on the home video releases.

Scissors Land is most likely a parody of the renowned Disneyland. It could also be a reference to the more Japanese familiar Nara Dreamland. 

One of the first establishing shots of Scissors Land’s popular attraction, the “Coffin House'' shows a hallway full of ghoulish hands reaching out from the walls. This is a nod to Roman Palanski’s 1965 horror film, Repulsion, namely the iconic scene in which the lead character Carol (played by Catherine Deneuve) walks down a hallway while male hands reach out for her from inside the walls.

Later in the episode we see a collection of wax mannequins modeled after historical figures, celebrities and popular fictional characters. Among them are The Beatles, Marylin Monroe, Napoleon Bonaparte, Tarzan, Medusa and others.

Dirty Marry’s hilarious snot-nosed design is based on early artwork for Zuuko Kazami, who would’ve been Seiji’s little sister (in place of Junpei). Zuuko's design had her wearing a diaper, a bib, and Japanese styled sandals called geta. The name “Dirty Marry” probably comes from the 1971 Clint Eastwood film, Dirty Harry. Dirty Marry was voiced by Yoneko Matsukane, who would go on to play Jeanne de la Motte in The Rose of Versailles. 

Mastodon is a wet nurse, which is a woman who breast feeds and cares for another person’s child. This is especially funny when you consider “mastodon” means “breast-tooth” or “nipple-tooth.” Her name also refers to her large body size. Mastodon was voiced by Kimie Nakajima, who did minor voice work in Tomorrow’s Joe, The Gutsy Frog, and other series from the 60’s to 80’s. 

The Principality of Toreador is a fictional place. “Toreador” is the word for a bullfighter.

The style of Honey’s large x-ray vision glasses are known as “dragonfly glasses.” Despite being a handy gadget, Honey only uses them once more in episode 14, where they have red frames instead of black.

Danbei introduces himself by singing a well-known Japanese folk song called Kuroda Bushi or “The Song of Kuroda.” The song originated in Fukuoka City during the 1590’s and is often sung during drinking parties known as nomikai or at karaoke.

There seems to be a deleted scene from this episode. The back of the second laser disc features a screenshot of Honey (disguised as Marie Antoinette) that does not appear in the actual episode.

#cutie honey #cutey honey #trivia #go nagai

[sartle-blog]

Art History Reader: The History of Green

Claude Monet, The Japanese Footbridge, 1899, National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.

  Green means GO! Beginnings are Green. Green means to grow! Fresh and peaceful; compostable and environmentally friendly. Green sounds like cicadas and fresh lettuce.  

  Green is a secondary color made from mixing Yellow and Blue. It is complimentary with Red. Green is Muhammad’s favorite color and symbolizes serenity and calm. Paradise. Green smells like lime and mint mojitos. Green feels like smoking and sitting in grass. Grand views of rolling hills. A popular color to wear during pregnancy, It represents renewal, regeneration, and rebirth. Green is youthful. A Greenhorn is inexperienced. A Greenroom is a space to rest. Green is recyclable. Green can be heroic. In his infamous Green cloak, Robin Hood liberates hoards of money from Green-eyed, greedy Grinches.

  Green is untrustworthy. In China, a Green hat signifies infidelity; It is unlucky to wear it on the stage and unlucky to drive on the racetrack. A Green witch terrorizes Emerald City. Noxious and humid, Green is acidic mountain dew, Nickelodeon slime, and toxic waste. Nothing is less appetizing than Green eggs and ham. (Maybe Green beans.) Sick, nauseous, it tastes like bitter celery and salty seaweed. Green is the most dangerous pigment in the world. It’s historically fussy and notoriously hazardous to work with. 

  History:

  Green was one of the first pigments attempted by early artists; plant pigment, chlorophyll, fades with time. Ancient Egyptians made it by combining crushed malachite and copper minerals which would eventually oxidize into Black. Ancient Romans would throw a copper plate into a vat of wine which produced a beautiful blue-green. It was unstable, it could not resist dampness, it did not mix well with other colors, and it was toxic. Leonardo da Vinci, in his treatise on painting, warned artists not to use it.

  In 1775, Carl Willhelm Scheele made a truly  stunning, vibrant Green pigment. The ‘it’ color of the Victorian era, Scheele’s Green became so fashionable that it was seen everywhere from make-up, clothing, toys, and, famously, Napoleon Bonaparte’s bedroom wallpaper. I subscribe to the popular theory that this wallpaper was the cause of his death because this pigment was made from arsenine (a known poison). 

  That deadly pigment was replaced with an equally deadly pigment made with a mixture of arsenic and copper. Paris Green was named for the Parision Impressionists who were deeply inspired by nature and mostly painted en plein air (outside).  Paris Green was most likely the culprit behind Paul Cezanne’s diabetes, and Claude Monet’s blindness. In his painting The Japanese Footbridge, Monet uses this poisonous Green together with the symbol of a bridge to revive hope for a peaceful future. Green represents a fascinating aspect of human nature: many are willing to die for beauty in art.

  In Kassia St. Clair’s The Secret Lives of Color, she references a Buddhist fable about Green. In the story a deity visits a boy in a dream. The deity tells him that in order to obtain everything he’s ever wanted he only has to close his eyes and not picture Sea Green. There are two possible outcomes to this tale: either the boy succeeds and finds enlightenment or the boy is consumed by failure until his life and sanity fade away.

  Outcome #1: Enlightenment 

  Don’t picture Sea Green. 

  I’m not delusional enough to claim that I know the secret to enlightenment. However, I can say with certainty that, If I were the boy from this tale, my enlightenment would be guaranteed. Perhaps I found a 4-leaf clover in a past life because, luckily, I have aphantasia (I lack visual memory). I can’t picture any color! But, beyond lacking the ability to ‘see’ with your eyes closed, I have no further advice for achieving enlightenment. Instead I can advise you on how to fail.  

  Outcome #2: Insanity and Death

  Picture Sea Green.

  The first issue lies with language. What color is Sea Green exactly? Language has never been quite able to categorize color concretely. (In many languages, such as Japanese, there is no distinction made between Green and Blue). Many have laid claim to the title. Pantone, Crayola, and Copic have all made their opinions known (although I doubt a deity would respect the authority of any company or brand). The truth is that, technically, there are many colors that could be and are referred to as Sea Green. 

  Another issue is how our eyes and brains understand color. For example, If you were to look at a 4-leaf clover it would appear Green. That’s because some light is hitting the clover and being absorbed, while other light bounces off and hits our eyes. The color that we see is precisely the color the clover is not. Which inevitably leads to the question of whether or not color even exists in reality. 

  Let’s assume that ‘reality’ doesn’t matter. Then there’s the problem that anyone who has spent any time looking at the sea would know that it oscillates infinitely between innumerable shades. The truth of the matter can be spun a couple ways. One, because of reflections the sea has been every color. Two, the sea is made of water which is technically clear, and therefore it has no color. So Sea Green is both everything and nothing. 

  Green reminds us that everything dies and that life is ephemeral. Born again, it always returns with the spring. Green is life and therefore essential. Unavoidable yet hard to grasp. It is everywhere in our natural world. It is hope. And although we now have access to a few non-deadly Green pigments, artists rarely use pre-made Green; they prefer to mix it themselves. Ultimately, mixed Greens come the closest to permanence.

    Related Works of Art:

  The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck

Lucretia by Paolo Veronese

Orpheus Leading Eurydice from the Underworld by Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot

Luncheon on the Grass by Édouard Manet

Green Wheat Fields, Auvers by Vincent van Gogh

The Japanese Footbridge by Claude Monet

Mont Sainte-Victoire with Large Pine by Paul Cézanne

Blue Green Red by Ellsworth Kelly

Green Kiss/Red Embrace (Disjunctive) by John Baldessari

Green Table by Jenny Holzer

By: Danni Lin

#art history reader #art education #green #color theory

[northernmariette]

Part 6: Typhus and the Russian Campaign

We have arrived at Typhus Terminus. This is my final post about how typhus contributed to the disaster of Napoleon’s Russian campaign. 

  [...] On 19 October [Napoleon’s] army began the retreat from Moscow.

Fifteen thousand reinforcements had joined the French army during their month’s stay in the city, but nearly ten thousand soldiers succumbed to disease or wounds. The army which left Moscow on 19 October amounted to just over ninety-five thousand dirty, half-starved, unhealthy men. They were encumbered with their sick and wounded, six hundred cannon and insufficient horses to draw them, an immense mass of loot [...].

Skipping ahead, only fifty thousand men made it across the Berezina.

The army now began to degenerate into an undisciplined rabble. On 29 November Napoleon wrote: “Food, food, food - without it there are no horrors that this undisciplined mass will not commit at Vilna. Perhaps the army will not rally before the Niemen. There must be no foreign agents at Vilna, The army is not a good sight today.” Fifteen thousand men died on the road between the Beresina and Vilna. But there was worse to come.

The starving vanguard reached Vilna on 8 December, having marched through thickly falling snow driven by a bitter north-east wind. Only twenty thousand sick and disheartened men comprised the effective force. The rest were stragglers, stumbling along as best they could. starving and frozen, harried by Cossack patrols. Just twenty men remained of Ney’s third corps, who had fought so valiantly in the rearguard. The town of Vilna offered no relief. Already starving, it as crowded with sick, and typhus fever has spread throughout the surrounding countryside. Men suffering from typhus, dysentery and pneumonia lay on rotten straw soaked with their own excrement, without medical attention or means of warmth, so hungry that they gnawed leather and even human flesh. By the end of December over twenty-five thousand sick and frost-bitten men had struggled into the town. Fewer than three thousand of these were alive in June 1813.

[...]

Napoleon left Russia for Paris in early December, leaving Murat in command on the remnants of the Grande Armee.

[Napoleon] could save himself but he could not save his army. Murat, left in command, proved a broken reed. He refused to make a stand at Vilna and on 10 December abandoned the last guns, the remaining baggage and the army’s treasury to the Russians. On 12 December Berthier sent a private report ahead to Napoleon that the army no longer existed, and that even the Imperial Guard, now reduced to five hundred men, had lost all semblance of a military formation. Ney, still stubbornly fighting a rearguard action, crossed the Niemen on 14 December. When the last stragglers had shuffled over to the German bank, there remained fewer than forty thousand of the brilliant Grand Army which Napoleon had reviewed on June 24. It is said that fewer than a thousand of those who returned were ever again fit for duty. So ended Napoleon’s dream fantasy, the conquest of Russia and India. There were, of course, other causes of defeat beside typhus fever. Cold, hunger, the Russians all helped to destroy the army - and so did Napoleon Bonaparte himself.

[...]

On 29 November 1812, during the crossing of the River Beresina, Marshal Ney wrote to his wife: “General Famine and General Winter, rather than the Russian bullets, have conquered the Grand Army.” This is the accepted opinion, but, to tell the whole truth, we must add the names of General Typhus and General Napoleon.

For those who would like to know more about the Russian campaign, I recommend Adam Zamoyski’s book on the topic. While he does not mention typhus very much, he mentions every additional way the soldiers of Napoleon’s army met with their death. The suffering of Napoleon’s men, especially during the retreat, was immense, and all for nothing.

Furthermore, Zamoyski’s book includes an extensive bibliography, over 400 works in six languages (French, English, Russian, Polish, German, and Italian), so there is plenty of material for those who want to read contemporary memoirs or the works of today’s historians.

Disease & History, second edition, by Frederick E. Cartwright and Michael Biddiss, Sutton Publishing, 2000; pp. 97-107

#napoleon #napoleon's army #typhus #russian campaign

[neurologist-in-india]

Myths & Facts about Epilepsy - Dr. Vijendra Kumar Jain

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects people of all ages. It is characterized by recurrent seizures that can vary in severity. Although there is no cure for epilepsy, it can be managed with medication and other treatments. There are many myths and misconceptions about epilepsy, which can lead to misunderstanding and stigma. In this article, Dr. VK Jain, one of the best neurosurgeons in Delhi, India, debunks some of the most common myths about epilepsy.

Myth #1: If you’ve had a seizure, you have epilepsy.

Fact: A seizure is not always indicative of epilepsy. In fact, many people have one seizure in their lifetime and do not develop epilepsy. So, if you have had a seizure, it does not mean that you necessarily have epilepsy. However, if you have had more than one seizure or if your seizures are particularly severe, then it is more likely that you have epilepsy. If you think you may have epilepsy, it is important to see a doctor so that you can get the proper diagnosis and treatment.

Myth #2: People with epilepsy are mentally ill or emotionally unstable.

Fact: Despite what many people believe, epilepsy is not a mental illness. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the brain. People with epilepsy may have seizures, but they are not mentally ill or emotionally unstable. People with epilepsy are more likely to have mental health problems because of the stress of living with a chronic disorder. But having epilepsy does not make someone automatically mentally ill or unstable. With proper treatment and support, people with epilepsy can live full and happy lives.

Myth #3: People with epilepsy aren’t as smart as other people.

Fact: There is a common misconception that people with epilepsy are not as intelligent as those without the condition. This could not be further from the truth. People with epilepsy are just as smart and capable as anyone else.

There are many famous people with epilepsy who have gone on to lead successful lives, such as Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Vincent Van Gogh, and Lewis Carroll. These examples show that having epilepsy does not make someone less intelligent.

Myth #4: People who have seizures can’t handle high-pressure, demanding jobs.

Fact: Seizures are often thought of as a debilitating condition that can prevent people from leading a normal life. This includes holding down a job. However, there are many people with seizure disorders who lead very successful careers in high-pressure, demanding fields.

While it is true that some seizure disorders can be very difficult to manage, many people with seizures are able to control their condition with medication and other treatments. In addition, many employers are now more understanding and accommodating of employees with medical conditions like seizures.

So if you or someone you know has a seizure disorder and is looking for employment, don't let the fear of having a seizure hold you back from pursuing your dream job.

Myth #5: Epilepsy is most common in children.

Fact: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting people of all ages. Though it is often thought of as a disorder that primarily affects children, epilepsy can occur at any age.

Myth #6: It’s easy to tell when a seizure is about to happen.

Fact: Seizures are often unpredictable, and it can be difficult to tell when one is about to occur. Seizure warning signs vary from person to person, and some people may not experience any warning signs at all.

If you have seizures, it is important to work with your doctor to develop a seizure management plan. This plan may include taking medication, avoiding triggers, and knowing what to do during and after a seizure.

Myth #7: You should force something into the mouth of someone having a seizure.

Fact: There is a common misconception that if someone is having a seizure, you should try to force something into their mouth. This is actually a dangerous myth. Seizures involve uncontrolled muscle movements, which means that forcing something into the mouth could cause them to choke. Additionally, during a seizure, a person may lose consciousness and be unable to swallow properly, which could lead to aspirating whatever you’ve placed in their mouth.

Myth #8: People with epilepsy will pass it on to their kids.

Fact: Epilepsy is not contagious and cannot be passed on to children. However, it can be inherited. If you have epilepsy, there is a greater chance that your children will also have the condition. Epilepsy is believed to be due to a combination of genetics and environmental factors.

Myth #9: You can’t live a full, normal life with epilepsy.

Fact: Epilepsy is often thought of as a disease that severely limits a person’s quality of life. But this simply isn’t true. With the right treatment and support, people with epilepsy can live full, normal lives.

Myth #10: Women with epilepsy can’t or shouldn’t get pregnant.

Fact: Some people believe that the seizures that come with epilepsy can harm the developing baby or lead to complications during pregnancy. However, many women with epilepsy have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.

With proper medical care, women with epilepsy can have a successful pregnancy. There are some risks associated with epilepsy and pregnancy, but these risks can be managed with the help of a healthcare team. It’s important to work closely with your doctor to ensure that you are taking the necessary precautions for a healthy pregnancy.

In conclusion, it is important to remember that epilepsy is a serious neurological disorder that can have a profound impact on a person’s life. However, with proper treatment and support, people with epilepsy can lead full, productive lives. If you or someone you know has epilepsy, don’t hesitate to seek out resources and information to help manage the condition.

Dr. VK Jain has been treating patients with epilepsy for over 41 years. He is a leading expert in the field and has helped many people manage their condition.Dr. Jain’s approach to treatment focuses on helping patients control their seizures and improve their quality of life. He offers the latest medication and surgical options, as well as counseling and support for patients and their families.

TAG-  Best Brain Tumor Surgeon in India, Neurologist in India, Best Neuro Surgeon in India

#Best Neurosurgeon in Delhi #Neurologist in India

[drvijendrakumarjain]

Myths & Facts about Epilepsy by Dr. Vijendra Kumar Jain

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects people of all ages. It is characterized by recurrent seizures that can vary in severity. Although there is no cure for epilepsy, it can be managed with medication and other treatments. There are many myths and misconceptions about epilepsy, which can lead to misunderstanding and stigma. In this article, Dr. VK Jain, one of the best neurosurgeons in Delhi, India, debunks some of the most common myths about epilepsy.

Myth #1: If you’ve had a seizure, you have epilepsy.

Fact: A seizure is not always indicative of epilepsy. In fact, many people have one seizure in their lifetime and do not develop epilepsy. So, if you have had a seizure, it does not mean that you necessarily have epilepsy. However, if you have had more than one seizure or if your seizures are particularly severe, then it is more likely that you have epilepsy. If you think you may have epilepsy, it is important to see a doctor so that you can get the proper diagnosis and treatment.

Myth #2: People with epilepsy are mentally ill or emotionally unstable.

Fact: Despite what many people believe, epilepsy is not a mental illness. Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that affects the brain. People with epilepsy may have seizures, but they are not mentally ill or emotionally unstable. People with epilepsy are more likely to have mental health problems because of the stress of living with a chronic disorder. But having epilepsy does not make someone automatically mentally ill or unstable. With proper treatment and support, people with epilepsy can live full and happy lives.

Myth #3: People with epilepsy aren’t as smart as other people.

Fact: There is a common misconception that people with epilepsy are not as intelligent as those without the condition. This could not be further from the truth. People with epilepsy are just as smart and capable as anyone else.

There are many famous people with epilepsy who have gone on to lead successful lives, such as Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Vincent Van Gogh, and Lewis Carroll. These examples show that having epilepsy does not make someone less intelligent.

Myth #4: People who have seizures can’t handle high-pressure, demanding jobs.

Fact: Seizures are often thought of as a debilitating condition that can prevent people from leading a normal life. This includes holding down a job. However, there are many people with seizure disorders who lead very successful careers in high-pressure, demanding fields.

While it is true that some seizure disorders can be very difficult to manage, many people with seizures are able to control their condition with medication and other treatments. In addition, many employers are now more understanding and accommodating of employees with medical conditions like seizures.

So if you or someone you know has a seizure disorder and is looking for employment, don't let the fear of having a seizure hold you back from pursuing your dream job.

Myth #5: Epilepsy is most common in children.

Fact: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, affecting people of all ages. Though it is often thought of as a disorder that primarily affects children, epilepsy can occur at any age.

Myth #6: It’s easy to tell when a seizure is about to happen.

Fact: Seizures are often unpredictable, and it can be difficult to tell when one is about to occur. Seizure warning signs vary from person to person, and some people may not experience any warning signs at all.

If you have seizures, it is important to work with your doctor to develop a seizure management plan. This plan may include taking medication, avoiding triggers, and knowing what to do during and after a seizure.

Myth #7: You should force something into the mouth of someone having a seizure.

Fact: There is a common misconception that if someone is having a seizure, you should try to force something into their mouth. This is actually a dangerous myth. Seizures involve uncontrolled muscle movements, which means that forcing something into the mouth could cause them to choke. Additionally, during a seizure, a person may lose consciousness and be unable to swallow properly, which could lead to aspirating whatever you’ve placed in their mouth.

Myth #8: People with epilepsy will pass it on to their kids.

Fact: Epilepsy is not contagious and cannot be passed on to children. However, it can be inherited. If you have epilepsy, there is a greater chance that your children will also have the condition. Epilepsy is believed to be due to a combination of genetics and environmental factors.

Myth #9: You can’t live a full, normal life with epilepsy.

Fact: Epilepsy is often thought of as a disease that severely limits a person’s quality of life. But this simply isn’t true. With the right treatment and support, people with epilepsy can live full, normal lives.

Myth #10: Women with epilepsy can’t or shouldn’t get pregnant.

Fact: Some people believe that the seizures that come with epilepsy can harm the developing baby or lead to complications during pregnancy. However, many women with epilepsy have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies.

With proper medical care, women with epilepsy can have a successful pregnancy. There are some risks associated with epilepsy and pregnancy, but these risks can be managed with the help of a healthcare team. It’s important to work closely with your doctor to ensure that you are taking the necessary precautions for a healthy pregnancy.

In conclusion,it is important to remember that epilepsy is a serious neurological disorder that can have a profound impact on a person’s life. However, with proper treatment and support, people with epilepsy can lead full, productive lives. If you or someone you know has epilepsy, don’t hesitate to seek out resources and information to help manage the condition.

Dr. VK Jain has been treating patients with epilepsy for over 41 years. He is a leading expert in the field and has helped many people manage their condition.Dr. Jain’s approach to treatment focuses on helping patients control their seizures and improve their quality of life. He offers the latest medication and surgical options, as well as counseling and support for patients and their families.

TAG- Best spine surgeon in Delhi, Best Neurosurgeon in Delhi,  Spine specialist in Delhi, Best Brain tumor surgeon in Delhi

#bestneurologistinindia #bestspinesurgeoninindia #bestbraintumorsurgeon #spinalinstrumentationsurgery #spinespecialistindelhi

[maacwanowrie]

Reality is made up of imagination.

If you are an artist and wish to see your work on a big screen, Visual Effects aka VFX is a good career option for you.Work with spectacular visual effects in movies, games and virtual reality. VFX institute in Pune prepares you for a career in digital media across industries.

 What this quote means:

 Imagination is the beginning of any wonderful adventure. Our thoughts and imaginations are incredibly potent; by changing them, we can make our fantasies come true.

 Your imagination is limitless and can lead you anywhere. Anyone can make a magical object if they have enough imagination and perseverance, provided that their creation is plausible enough.

 "Our thoughts and imagination are the only actual boundaries to our capabilities," once said Orison Swett Marden.

 Our thoughts and imagination are what make us; they are a reflection of who we are. If you can conceive anything, you can probably make it happen, but courage is undoubtedly required.

  The power is in the imagination.

 The best William Blake quotation is, "What is now verified was only dreamed,"

 Every significant advancement and creation began with someone's imagination. That's how it begins; we envision everything first. Since the mind is a very strong instrument, use it as positively and productively as you can, and it will eventually provide you with the best results.

  Try to stay in the present and make the most of every minute to accomplish the things that bring you joy, fulfilment, and progress toward your objectives.

 The world is ruled by imagination. — Napoleon Bonaparte

 New ideas come from imagination, yet our minds are the ones that first conjure up the fictitious image. Everything that you see around you was first a person's imagination.

 Your thoughts can become your reality, but you must be practical and have the fortitude to follow through on your plans no matter how challenging they may be. As long as you keep trying, keep becoming better, and don't give up, your chances of success increase.

 When you put genuine effort into it, imagination becomes reality.

 According to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, "A goal without a plan is just a desire."

 Keep in mind that nothing just happens. Your dream must be linked to a goal, you must create a strategy or blueprint, and you must carry it through no matter how difficult it seems.

 Between a want and a desire, there is a thin line. You immediately have the bravery and resiliency to keep moving forward when you have a desire to accomplish something.

 Your imagination and dreams won't function until you take action. Never lose sight of the fact that only you have the ability to change things and decide what is best for both you and others.

 Everything is in the mind. You become what you think. The Buddha

 We are motivated by the idea that all miracles are performed by the mind, which also determines whether anything is positive or negative.

  You can achieve the finest outcomes by training your thoughts. It is significant because you become what you give your attention to. Adopt the proper attitude and recognise that both success and failure have their own significance. The most important thing is to continue developing and going forward.

 It was once mentioned by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam that "you must dream before your dreams may come true."

 Our existence is a reflection of the thoughts that we have. You may build great things with your thoughts and imagination, but the key is to be realistic enough and to have the guts and motivation to keep looking for ways to make your vision a reality.

 Creation starts with imagination. You will what you imagine, then you produce what you will after imagining what you wish.

 - George Bernard Shaw

[abmains]

Never lose your sparkle quotes

#Never lose your sparkle quotes how to#

Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering.” – Yoda “When we fear things I think that we wish for them… every fear hides a wish.” – David Mamet It is only to be understood.” – Marie Curie “You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.” – Mary Manin Morrissey “There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.” – Paulo Coelho “Men are Moved by two levers only: fear and self interest.” – Napoleon Bonaparte “Fear is never a reason for quitting it is only an excuse.” – Norman Vincent Peale “We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” – Plato “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Franklin D. “Do not let your fears choose your destiny.” – Anonymous “Fear is the highest fence.” – Dudley Nichols “Fear is only as deep as the mind allows.” – Japanese Proverb “Fear has it’s use, but cowardice has none.” – Mahatma Gandhi “Fear is a darkroom where negatives develop.” – Usman B. “Fear is the lengthened shadow of ignorance.” – Arnold Glasow “Fear is faith that it won’t work out.” – Sister Mary Tricky “Do what you fear most and you control fear.” – Tom Hopkins We hope these encouraging quotes for overcoming fear will help you in any situation. To help you in this regard, we have listed the best fear quotes to overcome and handle your fear. Learning to handle fear and overcome it can be an important action, even if it is for 20 or 30 seconds. Overcoming our fears is one of the toughest challenges as a human in our lives. It can be fear of failure or fear to achieve success. It can also keep us away from the opportunities we want to seize, the experience we want to gather, and the person we want to become. On the other hand, it can also keep you away from doing your job. It can be helpful for you to keep you from any harm. But not everyone sees it.Fear Quotes: Fear can be very tricky based on your situation. Start each day with a grateful heart, and a handful of glitter.Ĥ3. If the question is glitter, the answer is yes.Ĥ2. To shine your brightest light is to be who you truly are.ģ9. Don’t let the insecurities of others dull your sparkle.ģ7. She’s bright like glitter and bubbly like champagne.ģ3. Throw a little glitter in today’s faceģ2. We are all stars and we deserve to twinkle – Marilyn Monroeģ1. Leave a little sparkle wherever you go.Ģ9. Life is better when you‘re covered in glitter.Ģ8. Good things take time… and a little glitter.Ģ7. Some girls are just born with glitter in their veins.ġ9. Print your Quotes for a boost of sparkle all day long!ġ7. Nothing can dim the light that shines from within. Her eyes sparkle because she sees magic everywhere.ġ5. Don’t be afraid to sparkle a little brighter.ġ3. Eat glitter for breakfast and shine all day.ġ2. Better a diamond with a plan than a pebble without imperfection. Don’t let anyone or anything to dull your sparkle.ĩ. It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that bling!Ĩ. She who leaves a trail of glitter is never forgotten.ħ. Use each moment to make another’s eyes sparkle and to warm a heart. She leaves a little sparkle wherever she goes. When life gives you Monday, dip it in glitter and sparkle all day.Ĥ. Another day, another chance to sparkle.ģ. Every woman in this world wears a little sparkle, some in their dress, and some in their eyes. You can find quotes every day on the Feed in app!ġ.

#Never lose your sparkle quotes how to#

Save them on Pinterest or let us know your favorites by sharing them with us on Insta Or, scroll down and learn how to print your quotes! Whether you are ringing in the New Year or showing off your prom dress, we have the perfect caption for you! We’ve curated a list of the 45 of the BEST Sparkle & Glitter quotes just for you. It will sparkle more than the sequins on your dress with one of our captions below. Share sparkle & glitter quotes and captions on your social media profile or add a sparkly caption to your Insta post. And we all want to make others feel that sparkle too. Whatever we’ve sharing online, we want it to shine! It’s or most glitzy and glamorous moments that make us feel good. Sparkle quotes 45 Sparkle and Glitter Quotes & Captions

#Never lose your sparkle quotes

[nikolajsenmalling6]

Ten Famous Phrases That Have Changed The World Forever

This blog article looks at ten famous phrases that changed the world forever. The phrases were chosen based on how they influenced society, and how they are still resonating with change today.

“I Have a Dream”

1. “I Have a Dream”: Martin Luther King Jr. spoke these words in a speech in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963. His rallying cry helped spur the Civil Rights Movement and changed the course of American history. 2. “Give Me Your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free”: These words are from the poem “The Internationale” by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. The poem was written in 1848 and became an anthem for the working class during the Revolutionary era. 3. “Aids is not a death sentence, it's a life sentence”: This statement was made by President George W. Bush in a speech in the Oval Office on July 24, 2003. His comment helped turn public sentiment about Aids, which was once thought to be a death sentence, and helped lead to increased funding for Aids research. 4. “You can't keep me down”: This phrase is often associated with British rapper Jay-Z, who popularized it in his song “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” from 2001. The song speaks to the

“A Piece of Paper”

1. “Give me a break.” 2. “You’re fired.” 3. “I’ll have what she’s having.” 4. “You can bank on it.” 5. “A penny saved is a penny earned.” 6. “I ain’t got no quarrel with you, therefore I won’t fight you.” 7. “Freedom is not free.” 8. “The customer is always right, except when he's not.” 9."It ain't over 'til it's over." 10."Stand up and be counted."

“We Will Bury You!”

1. “We Will Bury You!” - Napoleon Bonaparte to his generals 2. “You Lie!” - Richard Nixon to John Dean 3. “I'm Not a Scientist, But...” - Neil deGrasse Tyson 4. “E Pluribus Unum” - The United States of America 5. “I Am the Walrus” - The Beatles 6. “All You Need is Love” - The Beatles 7. “Give Peace a Chance” - John Lennon 8. “Let There Be Light!” - Thomas Edison 9. “Free Beer Here!” - Karl Marx 10. "Anarchy is Order" - Friedrich Nietzsche

“Think Differently”

1. “Let’s think different” – Sergio de Mello 2. “A mind is a terrible thing to waste” – William Shakespeare 3. “There's no need for words” – Walt Disney 4. “If you want something done, ask a busy person to do it” – Franklin D. Roosevelt 5. “Think global, act local” – John F. Kennedy 6. “Better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness” – Edmond Dantes 7. “We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them” – Albert Einstein 8. “It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game that counts” – Vince Lombardi 9. “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things” - Albert Einstein

“Love Your Neighbor as Yourself”

“Love your neighbor as yourself.” This phrase is a very important one, and it has had a lot of impact on the world. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. used this phrase to help spread civil rights around the world.

“Walk Tall, Be Proud, and Be Yourself!”

1. "E pluribus unum" - "Out of many, one" - adopted as the national motto of the United States in 1782 2. "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free" - written by Emma Lazarus in 1883 and originally displayed on a bronze plaque at the base of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor 3. "I am the captain of my fate" - spoken by William James in 1890, after being diagnosed with an illness that would eventually kill him 4. "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country" - said by John F. Kennedy in 1961 during his inaugural address as president of the United States 5. "Equal rights, plus courage, is all that stands between us and justice" - said by Frederick Douglass in 1852 6. "God has given us a beautiful country to live in; let us not tear it down" - said by Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1961 7. "I have a dream... A dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: '

#famous phrases

[thecherryotome]

The ikevamp residents lost in a forest

A short fic about the vampires getting lost in the forest. Enjoy :) edit: this is technically part 1 now lol

Isaac: Are you sure we're not lost. I feel like we've walked past these trees before. Sebastian: It would seem like we have been walking in circles for a while. Arthur: Now now, don't fret. Why don't we split up so we can cover more ground. I'll go with you Isaac and keep you safe Dazai: I would also like to come with you guys Isaac: What no! I don't want to go with any of you. Napoleon: Isaac you can come with me. Isaac: Thank you Napoleon. Sebastian: I should go along with them too. I can finally fulfill my dreams, Napoleon Bonaparte and Isaac Newton trapped and lost inside a dark mysterious forest together with me- Napoleon: Hm, did you say something Sebas? Sebastian: Oh ahem, I would like to join your team. Napoleon: Okay, it's me, Isaac and Sebas then. Who are you going to go with Jean? Jean: I'll go alone. Comte: No you can't go alone Jean, take someone with you. Mozart: I'll go with him then.. better than going with any of you guys. Dazai: I'll join you guys then~ Maybe I can even gain insight into your dark lives. Jean: I don't know what you mean but if you want to come you can I guess. Shakespeare: Gentle Vincent, may I have the honour of going alongside you Vincent: Of course you can Shakesp- Theo: Absolutely not. I'm going with my broer and you can't come with us. Vincent: Theo you needn't be so harsh on him. Arthur: Well then since the spot’s still open, mind if I join you two. Theo: Yes, I do mind very much Arthur: Well that's too bad because I'm joining anyway. Theo: Fine. Better than that psycho corrupting my broer anyway. Shakespeare: I'm deeply hurt Theo but I guess that means I get to go with you Comte. Comte: Yes of course and Leonardo stop smoking cigarillos. We're in the middle of a crisis. Leonardo: Relax, we're vampires. We have eternity to find a way out anyway. Comte: *sighs* how am I still living with you guys.

Sorry I can’t talk Shakespearean-

#ikemen vampire #otome #otome games #ikemen #ikemen games #cybird #cybird ikemen #ikemen series #ikevamp #ikevamp sebastian #ikevamp shakespeare #ikevamp mozart #ikevamp napoleon #ikevamp arthur #ikevamp comte #ikevamp jean #ikevamp isaac #ikevamp leonardo #ikevamp theo #ikevamp vincent #ikevamp dazai

[thiswaycomessomethingwicked]

working on the Napolington rewrite and I’m at the bit where they first meet and we are getting the One Thousand Questions with Napoleon Bonaparte. 

How long are you here for? How did you arrive? Have you visited before? When do you depart? How do you find theatre in London? How does it compare to Paris? What think you of Italian opera? Have you read the latest from Burke? What thought you? Are you a French music or Italian music man? Why French? Why not Italian? Have you considered that Italian music is superior and elevates a man’s soul to sublime heights that French music can but dream of? Have you read Ossian? Opinions on the authorship conspiracy? Do you prefer Homer or Virgil? Why Virgil? Why not Homer? Do you not know that Homer is superior for one can tell that it was written by someone who has actually seen war and captures the realism of these moments with greater accuracy than what Virgil wrote? What is your favourite moment of the Iliad? What are your opinions on the divinity of Christ and Origin’s position that even Lucifer would be forgiven at the End of all things? Do you think Castlereagh’s plan for the Continent will succeed? Is Fuche still being a literal snake? Do you have children? Two sons - excellent - what are their names? Where do they attend school? When are you having more children? What do you mean you’re not having more children? 

&tc. &tc. 

#napoleon bonaparte #is a menace at parties #Arthur is trying to be charming and Napoleon's just peppering him with five million questions while smiling like he's the son god #and staring #non stop #Wwellington: I have no idea what to do with this man. someone please help me #Bertrand: I sympathize but at the same time this is too funny to stop #duke of wellington #napolington #writing #this still needs a title

[grailfinders]

Fate and Phantasms #212

Today on Fate and Phantasms we're annexing most of Europe with the help of Napoleon Bonaparte! He's a Banneret Fighter to become the most inspiring leader you've met, and a Clockwork Soul Sorcerer to power up his big-ass cannon. (tbf, most of the spells are literally the cannon, so it's more like it is the sorcerer here...)

Anyways, check out his build breakdown below the cut, or his character sheet over here!

Next up: Sieg! No wait, Siegfried. No, wait...

Race and Background

Napoleon may be a manifestation of all of humanity's hopes and dreams *undertale intensifies*, but he's still pretty close to being Human, so lets go with that because it's easier. We do want one of those sweet sweet feats though, so we're making him a variant human, which gives him +1 Dexterity and Strength, as well as proficiency in Athletics since we won't be able to focus on strength as hard as I'd like. He also gets the Lucky Feat to make the impossible possible. This lets him re-roll an attack, check, or save he makes; or an attack against him up to three times per long rest. If the other creature also uses a luck point, neither work.

Once again, we're stuck understating a servant's backstory. Noble is really underselling being the emperor of Europe, but we take what we can get. This gives Napoleon proficiency in History and Persuasion.

Ability Scores

Dexterity should be as high as possible. I know it's a huge cannon, but most of that damage comes from a ranged weapon, and that's dexterity. Also you don't like wearing shirts, so you better get good at dodging. Second is his Charisma, the guy's got a winning smile and a giant cannon, and when that thing isn't dexterity fueled it's charisma fueled. After that is Strength. We don't really need it for the build, but I can't give pecs like that a low score. Similarly, your Constitution should be above average. This means your Wisdom will be middling. Napoleon can read a room, but being the spirit of possibility does terrible things to your inhibitions. Finally, dump Intelligence. The man's a himbo.

Class Levels

Fighter 1: Napoleon fights with a cannon, but sadly the closest we can get off the cuff is a heavy crossbow. We'll modify it later on for explosions, but for now grab the Archery Fighting Style to get +2 on its attack rolls. When your ammo explodes you don't have to aim quite as much. You also get a Second Wind, healing yourself with your bonus action. Finally, let's talk proficiencies. You're good with Strength and Constitution saves, as well as Animal Handling checks to hold onto Marengo and Insight checks to figure out people's secret desires.

Fighter 2: Second level fighters can get more done in one turn than thought possible thanks to their Action Surge, which lets them take an extra action in a single turn once per short rest.

Fighter 3: Third level fighters gain their martial archetype, and the Banneret is so persuasive you could walk up to the enemy and simply ask them to switch sides. At third level you gain a Rallying Cry, so when you use your Second Wind to heal yourself you can also give up to three nearby allies a bit of healing.

Fighter 4: At fourth level you get your first Ability Score Improvement. A heavy crossbow is pretty awkward to fight with, so we need to pick up the Crossbow Expert feat. You can fire ranged attacks with enemies in melee, and you can attack multiple times in a single turn with a crossbow.

Fighter 5: Fifth level fighters can attack twice per action, so up to four times with your action surge. I feel like that's a good base, lets make this cannon really boom.

Sorcerer 1: I hope you're sick of short level descriptions, because we're about to get casty. We're gonna add some Clockwork to that cannon for some big blasts. First up, you get some extra spells. Very handy, especially since we can mix them up, but we'll go over those at the end of the level. You can also Restore Balance, spending a reaction to negate advantage or disadvantage within 60' of you proficiency times per long rest. You make impossible shots a little bit easier for allies, and sure hits just happen to glance off them. Okay, but Spells are the biggest part of the build. You can cast them using your Charisma, so pick up Friends to be the life of the party, Thunderclap and Fire Bolt for cannon blasts, and Gust for when you want to use a cannon gently. You also get Mage Armor to show off the pecs without dying, and Catapult to stuff something other than a cannonball into your cannon. Your cannon is at least an 8 pounder, so you'll have to upcast this for maximum authenticity. You also get two bonus spells from being a clockwork sorcerer! Swap out Alarm for Expeditious Retreat, using your cannon to blast yourself around, and also pick up Protection from Evil and Good. You're starting to get used to fighting gods and monsters.

Sorcerer 2: Second level sorcerers become a Font of Magic, giving you sorcery points equal to your sorcerer level per long rest. Right now you can spend them to make a spell slot or vice versa, but they get more useful later. Also, pick up Magic Missile for another rapid-fire cannon shot.

Sorcerer 3: Third level sorcerers can make their spells go even further beyond thanks to their Metamagic. You can spend two points to Quicken the spell, turning an action casting into a bonus action, or three points to Heighten a spell, forcing disadvantage on one creature trying to save against your spells. Speaking of spells, you can use Enhance Ability to give you anime protagonist level skills, giving you or an ally advantage on one kind of ability check. You also get Aid and Magic Weapon as freebies. Blast that cannon through even the toughest of enemies!

Sorcerer 4: Use this ASI to bump up your Charisma for stronger spells. You also learn the Light cantrip to light up an object to help your pathetic human eyes. It doesn't specify the color, so feel free to make your arrows rainbow colored if you really want to. You can also cast Shatter, because wildly enough cannonballs are not good for the environment. They tend to break things.

Sorcerer 5: Our last level of sorcerer gives you Magical Guidance, letting you spend a sorcery point to get another way to re-roll a failed skill check. We are of course picking up Fireball this level for some big cannon blasts. You can also create Flame Arrows if you trust your dexterity more, and you can Dispel Magic to tear through enemy wards.

Fighter 6: We have our weapon, we have our magic, we need to mix the two. Use this ASI to pick up the War Caster feat. It gives you advantage on concentration saves, you can cast spells with both hands full, and you can cast spells with your opportunity attacks, as long as it could only target one creature. Now you can cast fireball with your cannon in your hand. Boom. Literally.

Fighter 7: Seventh level bannerets become an Imperial Envoy (in the book it's "royal" envoy, but, y'know, emperor.) You get proficiency in Intimidation bc it's the only one left, and you get expertise in persuasion, doubling your proficiency bonus. Dude's got a winning smile, what can I say.

Fighter 8: Another ASI already? Bump up your Dexterity for better cannon fire. Not that cannon fire, the other one. It also boosts your AC, so going shirtless is an even better idea.

Fighter 9: Ninth level fighters are Indomitable, letting you re-roll a failed save once per long rest. On top of the three you already could from level 1 thanks to Lucky. Yeah, lucky's busted.

Fighter 10: Anyways, at tenth level bannerets get an Inspiring Surge. When you use your Action Surge, one ally nearby can react to make an attack of their own. Great when you're working with rogues.

Fighter 11: Your next Extra Attack stacks with the first, so you can attack three times per action, up to six with Action Surge. (Technically seven if someone hops in to help.) It would be really weird if Billy the Kid could outdamage you, right?

Fighter 12: Another ASI! It's like my pa always said, if you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough. You're so tough you get an extra 34 HP now, plus two more every time you level up from now on.

Fighter 13: Thirteenth level fighters are even more Indomitable, letting you use that thing twice per long rest to take the burden off of Lucky.

Fighter 14: Use your last ASI to even up your Charisma with your dexterity so all your cannon fire is equal.

Fighter 15: Your capstone level makes you a Bulwark. When you use Indomitable to re-roll an Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma save, an ally can also re-roll their failed save. For once being a himbo actively benefits a build mechanically.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

You are super helpful to have on a team. You can heal people, improve their checks, give them extra attacks, etc. Really this build is just great at giving every a chance to get in on the fun, which is the most important part of D&D.

You have a big ass cannon that can pump out damage like it's nothing. Quickened spell doesn't let you cast two leveled spells at once, but Action Surge totally does. You can fire off two fireballs in a single turn, and still have plenty of weapon skills to keep damage up in later rounds. You can also turn your lower spell slots into points then back into spell slots to keep the fireballs coming between fights, but that's probably putting the horse before the cart.

Dear god, your DM is going to hate you. You can fuck with So Many Rolls. Three of your choice from Lucky, god knows how many checks from Magical Guidance, and up to four saves a day with Indomitable. Also, rogues just don't work against your party now thanks to Restore Balance. Fuck 'em.

Cons:

You have a really limited number of sorcery points, so if you use pretty much any of them on Magical Guidance, you won't have a lot for metamagic, and vice versa. You can always burn slots for more, but then you're adding spells into the tug of war.

Honestly if you just focused on being a fighter you'd probably do a bit more damage from sharpshooter and an extra attack per turn.

The state of your soft stats make your bulwark ability kinda awkward. On one hand your charisma is great, but that means you won't be able to use Bulwark that often on charisma saves. On the other, your intelligence and wisdom are terrible, so you can use bulwark on those a lot, but that probably won't help you make the save that much since you're still bad at those. Basically while you can help your party on saves, odds are it'll still leave one of the pair failing.

#fate grand order #D&D 5e #DND #FGO #Napoleon #Fighter #Sorcerer