WilliamDArand
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Reversal -CH1- (Highly Experimental)
🕑 Added 2020-05-01 03:53:42 +0000 UTC((Hi! So... you're probably wondering what the fuck this new story is. I'm sure some of you were expecting Remnant or Swing Shift. Yes, they're being worked on, but I'm trying my hand at some experimental stuff.
Or at least, experimental for me. Something quite different and away from the norm. This is what I normally call a 'test write' and only do a chapter or two. Then call it done and walk away.
This one is different. Because I enjoyed writing it, and I felt like I could tell a fun story in it. But... it's not something I'm entirely sold on for my core audience. To the point that I wonder if this would be best suited under a third pen name. One that wouldn't directly link back to Arand or Darren.
Well, enough chatter. Here's the chapter of this new, experimental, and likely non-audience facing book. Should be interesting.))
One
Phillip smiled and waited politely for his aunt to finish with her story.
Chances were good that she wasn’t actually going to finish any time soon, but that was irrelevant to how he was expected to behave.
“-the daft woman couldn’t seemed to be bothered. I ended up backhanding her and having he escorted from my house,” said Elizabeth with a bored hand wave.
“So what are you doing for a wet-nurse then?” asked his older sister.
Looking from his older sister, to his aunt, or even himself, one could easily spot them as familial. The stamp of house Curis was heavy and seemed almost unavoidable.
Straight blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and handsome.
Man or woman, they always came out handsome.
Which didn’t seem to bother the women in his family in the least. In fact, there was a certain aesthetic to it that made his household highly sought after for marriage candidates.
Giving them quite a bit of leeway in choosing who they wished to marry.
Unless you were one of the men in the family, of which there were quite few. Those marriages tended to be high state affairs in the Curis household.
Political alliances arranged through marriage well in advance as soon as a male child was born. Sometimes they would change, as fortunes and families changed, but more often than not they remained steady and pre-determined.
“Oh, I just grabbed one of the house guard who’d just given birth and hired her directly,” his aunt said, shaking her head. “I forbade her from speaking around Stephanie while feeding her though. I swear, sometimes I think I need to do a cleaning of the cadet- family house-guard and get rid of all these rough tongued clods.
“Though she does seem to produce more than enough milk for Stephanie and than her own daughter. Her husband is a rather cute little thing. He came around with their daughter the first day when she hadn’t come home.”
“Oh?” his sister asked, a rather scandalous tone to her voice. “Aunty… you know better.”
“I do, I do. I didn’t touch, I only looked. She didn’t seem to mind me looking either. I gave him a penny just for coming around. I was hoping he’d come around again,” Elizabeth admitted, then laughed. “Must’ve scared him off. Oh well. Do remember that, Louise. You can look at the commoners, but never touch.”
“Of course. Especially after grandmother disinherited poor Gerdie,” said his sister with a shrug of her shoulders.
“I heard from her recently you know. She’s apparently working as a bartender. Her and that man she ran off with bought an inn and are doing alright for themselves,” said Elizabeth. “Can’t say I have much pity for her, she was warned. But at least she’s doing well.”
That’s good. I liked Gerdie. She always treated me rather nicely.
Elizabeth picked up her teacup and drank from it noiselessly, leaning over one side of the arm of the sofa. Her tight pants squeaked at the movement, the only sound in the room.
Glancing into her cup as it came away from her lips aunt Elizabeth set it back down onto her saucer.
Phillip of course hadn’t missed the look, nor the sound the teacup had made when it was set down. He imagined it was empty, or nearly so.
Which meant he needed to take up his duties.
“Aunt Elizabeth, would you care for some more tea? Perhaps a pastry at this time?” Phillip asked, slowly standing up from his seat. Moving over to the tea-trolley he repositioned the tea-pot and turned to his aunt, awaiting her response.
“Phillip, it’s a shame you’re in my household,” Elizabeth said, smiling at him. “I still wonder sometimes what I’d have to give to grandmother to get you wed to my Bethany.
“And yes, I’d love another cup. Thank you. No need for a pastry however. Still working off the poundage I put on for Steph. Though… well… add a sugar for me actually.”
“Ew, Aunty, that’s just… gross,” Louise mumbled, looking to Phillip. “Phillip is… Phillip.”
“Hah, you’ll think differently once you start your own courtship. Your brother is a very fine specimen of a man,” Elizabeth said as Phillip came over with the teapot. “If I could find a man a third as talented as your brother for Bethany I’d be far more at ease with her future.”
He’d already glanced inside and confirmed the tea was still fit for use and wasn’t too dark. The mesh inside was also still quite firmly and place and would keep the tea clean and clear.
Retrieving his aunts saucer he pulled it closer to himself.
Judging the contents, he quickly poured in an appropriate amount. Setting the teapot back to it’s position, he came over with the small pair of tongs and the plate of sugar cubes he’d prepared.
Looking to his aunt, he placed a single cube into the teacup and waited her approval to continue.
Smiling she nodded her head at him and looked back to his sister.
“-ill gross. I mean… he’s Phillip,” Louise was saying.
“Yes. And he’s intelligent. Handsome. Respectful. Understanding. He can cook, read, and maintains the household when your father isn’t available,” Elizabeth tried once again. “As I said. If I didn’t know the answer, and that honestly it really shouldn’t be done, I’d have tried to set him up with Bethany.”
I’d like to firmly pass on that one, please.
She’s about as tactful as a muddy dog during white-linen tea-service.
Picking up the small spoon that’d been laid on the back of the saucer, Phillip neatly and quietly stirred the tea. Moving it back and forth across the center of the cup without making any noise as he did so.
Laying the spoon down on the back of the saucer he angled the handle to match the teacups handle. Then adjusted the teacup slightly so that the handle was the appropriate angle for his aunt.
“Such a shame his original betrothal fell through. House Harkal would have been a good match,” Elizabeth complained. “Well, right up until they lost the family manse and fortune. Then again, house Risal is quite the family, too. I hear his betrothed is already on the way here.”
Phillip nearly lost control of the saucer as he set it back down in front of his aunt.
He’d handled it so smoothly though, no one seemed to have noticed the near faux pas.
“Aunty! Phillip… Phillip doesn’t-” Louise’s voice trailed off as Phillip turned back to the tea-trolly and organized it briefly.
“I think I’ll need to freshen the pot if you’d like more, Aunt Elizabeth,” Phillip said in the quiet stillness that’d come over both women.
“Ah, that’d be a good idea, Phill,” Elizabeth muttered. “You’re a good man. You’ll make some girl real proud some day.”
Smiling, and feeling like his heart had dropped into his feet, Phillip quickly unlocked the wheels on his trolley, and began pushing it out of the room.
“Mother hadn’t told him yet,” Louise hissed as soon as the door closed behind him as he left. Standing there, he knew he’d hear what they said, and that he should leave, but he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
“What? Why not? House Risal is a great house for him. It’ll be great for our house as well,” Elizabeth asked, clearly confused.
“Because… well, Phillip is her only boy. He’s the little prince,” grumbled Louise. “They spoil him.”
“Given his fiance is only a day or two away, that seems like a silly thing to do. Not tell a man to prepare for his bride showing up to take him away.
“As to being spoiled… I’d say he deserves to be spoiled. Your mother and father truly lucked out with him. You really have no idea, dear. You’ll look at your husband down the road and be lucky if he’s an equal to your brother,” said Elizabeth. “Now, look at your father if you want a good example of how any man show grow into themselves. He-”
Walking away from the doors, Phillip wasn’t quite sure how to handle himself. He felt like he was sprinting through an icy field, even though it was the middle of spring.
A day or two away?
House Risal?
Goodness, me.
***
Tapping firmly, if lightly, on his mother’s study doors, Phillip waited quietly.
The two members of the main-branch house-guard were all smiles at his presence.
Coming from a better class of commoner gave them a better sense of self and what most of their employers were like.
There wasn’t a guard or soldier in the Curis main-household that didn’t like Phillip.
“I’m sure she’s just reading,” said the guard on the left. “Give’er a moment and I’m sure she’ll respond.”
“Or… just knock again in a minute,” said the second guard on the right. “We wouldn’t fault you for waiting here with us.”
Phillip smiled at that and ducked his head, not wanting to meet either woman’s eyes.
They were armed and armored, dressed for combat and war.
Additionally they were considerably taller and stronger than him. Each woman reaching six foot five or six foot six easily.
He was just a bit above average for a man at five foot six, which put him on a fairly even footing with most women.
Just not those who were joined the military careers.
“Enter!” called his mother through the door, her voice partially muffled.
“See? Told you so, young master. Now, chin up, smile, and ask your question directly,” said the guard on the left. “Your mother seems a bit harried but in a good mood.”
Glancing to her, Phillip was grateful. She was only older than him by a year or so, but Mildred had always been kind to him.
“Thanks,” Phillip said and then pushed the doors open.
Stepping into what his father called his mother’s “war room” he found himself tensing up. He never really came in here unless his father brought him here to be scolded. Or if he was trying to ask his mother something that he didn’t want the rest of the family knowing about.
Often when something had gone wrong for him and he needed an out.
“Phillip?” his mother asked, looking up from her writing desk.
She was hunched over it, a quill in hand, and an ink-pot at her elbow.
“Ah, yes, mother,” Phillip said, closing the door behind himself. “Do you have a few minutes to spare?”
“Yes, have a seat,” his mother replied after a moment, then motioned to one of the chairs in front of her desk. She went back to her paper, her quill scratching across the surface quickly and neatly.
Walking over Phillip to a seat as indicated and folded his hands in his lap, and then crossed his ankles. He was dressed in the house tunic and trousers that most of his family wore around the house.
Though his riding boots were a gift from his father and weren’t quite house approved, but his mother overlooked them.
Watching his mother, he saw the same broad-strokes that were part of the rest of his family.
Short-blonde hair, blue eyes that nearly glowed, and a handsome face and set of features.
She also looked somewhat tired and worn, but nothing that would cause any alarm for Phillip. His mother often worked late into the night he’d found. On queen’s business, her family’s, or her own. As the Countess of Curis, next in line for the Duchy of Curis, there was a large weight that rested on his mother’s fair brow.
Finishing up, Countess Clarissa Curis leaned back from her work. Inspecting it critically she frowned and began chewing at her lower lip.
“Phillip, read this over and tell me what you think,” his mother said then picked up the paper. Flipping it around she set it down in front of him, wiped off her quill, set it in it’s place, and got up from her desk. Walking around to a bookshelf she began to casually finger through her own books for a moment before moving on toward a map of the Queendom.
“Of course, mother,” Phillip said, looking to the document and then started to read it.
He quickly realized it was a trade agreement with house Risal and that there were a very large number of concessions coming their way.
So many in fact that this almost felt more like an ultimatum rather than a trade deal.
Except everything was penned in an acceptance form of verbiage. This wasn’t someone asking for these items, they were agreeing to receiving them.
Realizing that this agreement was likely part and parcel to his own marriage, Phillip had a number of concerns and doubts well up in him.
If House Risal found him wanting, it was quite likely this deal would never happen.
And while his family didn’t need the deal, it would help them out considerably.
“It reads fine, mother,” Phillip said, moving around to the other side of his mother’s desk. While he didn’t often visit her study, she’d often included him in her works.
Even going so far as to having him close up her correspondence for her and have it dispatched.
“Shall I finish and post this, mother?” asked Phillip as he picked up the pounce pot and unstoppered it.
“Finish it, but don’t post it. We can hand it off to them when they arrive,” his mother said, still standing near the map.
“It’s true then?” he asked, feeling like she’d used this moment to help facilitate the point to him about why this was happening.
Phillip lightly shook out pounce powder all over the document. He held it above the collection tray so that the possibility of reusing the pounce was possible. Though he knew his mother wouldn’t. She’d likely toss it and use new powder.
But there was no reason to not at least practice being economical.
Or so Phillip believed.
“Yes, dear. It is,” his mother said with a heavy sigh. “To be fair, I felt like you and Kathryn were a better match. You were both rather sweet on one another.”
Nodding his head, Phillip closed up the pounce pot and set it aside. Kathryn and he had gotten along quite well.
They’d grown up knowing they’d be married and had shared a great deal with one another.
She’d even been his first kiss when they were but ten years aloud.
Later on that followed along with a great deal of “exploring” that they really shouldn’t have been doing.
“How… is Kathryn?” Phillip asked while holding up the document. Touching the tip of his pinky to the ink of one particular spot he found it to be almost completely dry. There was just a hint of tackiness to the ink.
“Oh, she’s fine. Last I heard they found a very nice man for her to marry. The son of an earl with a small estate,” his mother said. “They had their ceremony last month.”
“I see,” Phillip said, feeling like his heart was in his throat. He hadn’t even known Kathryn was already married off, let alone already living her with her spouse.
“Given the situation, and what was available to us, I feel like this opportunity was a masterful stroke of luck for us. To the point that… honestly I can hardly believe it.”
The soft clump of his mother’s boots heading back his way made him look down to her desk, rather than at her.
“I understand, mother.”
“Ah… I’m sure you do. In fact, I don’t doubt you do at all. I just wish it wasn’t this way. I can’t imagine We’ll get to see much of you after this.
“Their main estate is a week away on a fast horse. Practically the other side of the country.”
A warm hand was laid down to the back of his head.
“I’m going to miss you, my Phillip. Phill. My son,” murmured his mother, her finger tips likely moving through his hair.
His mother wasn’t great with showing emotions. In fact she was pretty stoic if he had to put a term to it.
The fact that she was touching him while admitting her feelings made him rather nervous.
“I came… to ask who it was I was marrying? Aunt Elizabeth didn’t say,” Phillip said deciding to put his all into this marriage. He needed it to work out for his mother, if no one else.
“I swear… my sister was always a problem. Reminds me of Louise sometimes. If she doesn’t get her act together, it’s likely Tiffany is going to move her out of the main family and into a position similar to Elizabeth’s.”
Oh, that’d be… different. Tiffany and Louise never really got along.
I could see her doing something like that.
“And your wife to be… her name is Alice. She’s third in line to inherit. It’s likely her estate will end up rather large even with being down two rungs,” his mother said, her hand now smoothing his hair down against the back of his head. “I met her several times last year while I was on campaign. She was there with her mother and two sisters.
“She’s a year older than you but will be a good fit for you, I believe. Very intelligent, very kind. I imagine she’ll end up managing the mercantile side of their family.
“They may only be have a family title of Count, but their power, prestige, and money easily equate them to what was the duchy of Harkal.”
Mercantile.
Mercantile? Well. Better than… better than marrying into a warrior family, I suppose. Not a whole lot I can do there with that one.
I’ll need to start studying as quickly as possible to figure out what kind goods they produce.
Their… their imports and exports and… and what their taxes are and-
Phillip let out a slow shuddering breath.
He knew the day would come when he’d leave his home. Where he’d spent his whole life. But it didn’t mean he was ready for it.
Whether it was Kathryn or this Alice, he likely wouldn’t have been ready either way.
But with Kathryn, I’d at least know my wife. Know the family.
I don’t even know what Alice looks like, let alone the sound of her voice, or how she likes her breakfast.
“Oh my boy,” his mother said, her arms wrapping him up around the shoulders and drawing him into a hug.
Her hard and muscles form was a reminder that while his mother dealt in trade, and handily swam with the merchant families as if she were born for it, she’d originally earned her prestige through the military.
And continued to serve the queen in that capacity as needed.
Unable to fight his mother off even if he tried, Phillip just let himself be hugged, and found he was hugging her back tightly in return.
He didn’t want to leave home.
Comments
William D. Arand
I mean, yes? Its a woman's world. He's expected to be meek and subservient
Bsreads
I'll be honest the first chapter almost turned me off. He just seems to meek and subservient. Especially when his mother mentions the new family and his first thought is what he can learn for them. The rest though seems to pick up pretty good.
actually quite like the idea of role reversal in novels. another author i like a lot, Eric Vall, made a new serie called Making Monster Girls which take place in a universe where men are nothing more than slave, cheap labor and breeding stock since women develloped magical powers centuries prior to the book. the way men are treated in that serie was quite... eye opening about the dangers of sexism and superiority complex. in the end, if you like it, publish it! hell, you could EASILY even relate this is the supreme-verse as a Joke world by Amelia juste like the sex planet. you dont even need to connect the MC to the team but simply drop hints like number 42 and stuff
Mattmon
SO long as it's the Male who ends up with multiple females
Steven Alexander
I think the average difference in height between men and women is about 4.5 inches. So if that was reversed women would be an average of 4.5 inches taller. Guards are picked for intimidation as well as ability, so they would likely be even bigger. As to the difference in feeling, think about all the places and times of day that a guy doesn’t worry about walking through, but that a young girl or woman has to; then wonder how that would be … reversed.
Steven Alexander
There are few authors that have written books that I cannot put down. I am amazed that I haven’t been able to put down ANY of your books once I started reading. This story, although different, doesn’t seem to change that trend. Ultimately it’s the quality of the writing that matters. But it doesn’t hurt to reach for something new. I have read a few reversal type stories. I think the strangest was a sex mage anthology where women become mind reading – mind controllers with telekinesis. And they get their power from human male lust. https://www.literotica.com/stories/memberpage.php?uid=1082173&page=submissions Many species have females as the dominant one because of size, so REVERSAL isn’t a stretch. The spotted hyena is a mammalian example. I look forward to this new direction in your repertoire.
Winston Smith
Also, about the 5'6 thing. If everyone around you is similar or a couple inches either way, but with the female guards coming in at 6 and a half feet, I think the guy would feel very small.
Winston Smith
Haha, well at least you can see yourself in the MCs shoes. :) Yeah, for me the current corporate politics are brutal and I can see the comparison. I work for a very large professional service firm and everything is run by females or people so afraid of crossing them that it is really difficult to interact with coworkers sometimes. Bunch of soft, emotional people everywhere. Having been in the military surrounded by men dealing with these people now can sometimes harder than my hardest days in the military, just different. Like dying soul rather than broken back different.
William D. Arand
Fair enough. I would imagine you're quite the feminist in real life then. Their struggle in business is pretty glaringly bad in some sectors. I wrote most of this story off everything I've seen in real life corporate politics today. It's rather eye opening when you see it in Director and VP meetings. And before you ask, I can't name the company, but it's a Telecom. Side note i'm 5'6. lol. I don't consider myself "diminutive" but I can see what you mean by it.
Winston Smith
I'm just not a fan of the role reversal. To there own you know. I've read through chapter 4 and the writing is definitely great as usual. I don't even care about MC's being super cool jacked alphas, I'm pretty flexible. I'm just not a fan of the males being considered lesser to females. Equal is great, but I'm too personally stubborn to see myself in such a society. Also, I'm not a fan of the dimunitive physical side. Don't need my MC to be 7 ft, but 5'6 just feels like a small person. I had a really hard time with the Heartstone Saga because of that hang up. To close on a non negative note, I really can see the quality of the writing in the story.
William D. Arand
Why?
Winston Smith
Yeah, if this makes it to being published I will not be buying. Good to try new stuff and it seems like people on here are into it, but I doubt many will be as friendly in their Amazon reviews.
Phallusar
This is like a less regressive version of A Brother's Price, where most males are miscarriages and a man usually marries all the sisters in a family. Definitely recommend.
Kenneth Steinagel
I like it so far and look forward to more. 🙂
Mike Durie
I would be happy to read more of this, seen this premis before interesting to see where it goes.
Devon
Pass. The super-english-ness is fine, but the rest isn't interesting.
I am enjoying the first chapter of this story. I am guessing when you posted about it being an experiment you were really enjoy, that was after you had written several chapters. I think it would be interesting to have you make a note for when we all catch up to where you were at in the story, to see if folks opinions have changed. I will tell you that I am quite impressed by the depth of this new world you fit into a single chapter. For example: - Caste system of folks, commoners and nobles. - Based upon English version of nobles (tea, queen comments, etc.) - Family organized at the noble level, arranged marriages, feat of arms top merchants. - Set the standards of behavior for what gets you tossed out of a family. - The value of men vs. woman. - The money system is still based upon coins still, with cooper being enough for some loving. - The MC has very good social skills, is smart when it comes to business and deals/politics. - The MC has a way with those around him, that makes them help him out without asking. I could go on, but then you would be blushing and we would both get embarrassed. Simply this, so far, is looking to be another damn fine story, no matter what name you put on it. ** Any chance if you do decide on using a different pen name we can submit ideas or vote on it? **
William D. Arand
Yeah, I'd say you're definitely hard triggered from something. This is pretty tame as far as "what you have to do by society rules" duder. :)
Dennis Palsson
I don't like it. It's not the gender role reversal. If the MC was female I'd still not like it. It's the 'society is forcing me to do this but I don't want to' set up that I don't like. Any time a gender or race is fighting against society, that concept seems to end up taking priority over telling a good story, or having a relatable MC. I mean, I'll buy the 1st in any series of yours, based entirely off past works, but it could go horribly wrong (for me anyways). My ENTIRELY unasked for advice is ease up on the 'MC has to do what he's told' aspect. But It's only one chapter, maybe I'm just reacting from bad experiences with ridged gender roles in books, specifically gender reversals. Meh, we'll see.
Ready to buy ...
Reversal can refer to more then gender roles. Too early for speculation, but like the vibe so far.
Paul Sneddon
I like it and am looking forward to the rest of it honestly. Should be interesting.
James Hervey
I like it so far. I can't wait for more
Hellnhavoc
I'm interested. I like the style of writing. You will of course get the "beta males" response by a few. I'm assuming this is what it would be like to be a male in an amazon warrior culture. Hoping you continue on with the experiment.
Lowe K. Lyesmith
Authors blurb actually read as if they were giddy to follow this idea. It's great so far!
PatronTurtle
Very English style etiquette, courting, and nobility, but with reversed genders. All women described so far are giants and stronger than MC. Only female guards. Sounds like we're heading towards political drama from the wife perspective unless something pushes the genre to the side.
Id be interested to see more, caught my attention so far.
Darwin Baide
I’m very intrigued, just the intro caught my attention a lot but i see what you mean with the third pen name. I do like the story though so i say definitely keep exploring it to see if you like it
I like it. I'd be very interested to read more.
Trav3lingman
Ok you have my attention. Maybe do at least 5 chapters on patreon before you throw in the towel? Doesn't feel like an experiment. Feels like a story I personally would like to see unfold.
Skoll
I personally enjoyed this. I would like to see the story continue. It also begs the question of how the plotline will play out. What will be the main character's goal? What is the world like? Like some others have mentioned, it appears strongly matriarchal in nature, with a very complete reversal of medieval gender roles, including what appears to be common physique. Is that just in the area the main character lives, or everywhere? It appears to have (possibly) a touch of supernatural, if you examine the talk of professions.
mitchell kaiser
I was just thinking about how you would do a story like this or a female protagonist. I’m glad you’re giving this a shot! This story looks super promising!
Dwight Brown
Great chapter! Maybe a female warrior God.
Darkserra
Quite interesting. I wonder where this could go?
P M
Reading it made me realize why I like your stories. I like the way you let the story take the reader places instead of telling the reader where to go.
Interesting so far
Jaymes Wiles
Yep, I’ll read the next chapter.
Caleb Jamison
I am curious to see where this goes. I'd likely give it a shot just off this.
FatManJiuJitsu
Looks interesting so far.
Jake Minor
I enjoyed the chapter and I am definitely curious at what comes next.
Timithy klesick
Good so far. Ill hold my oppinion untill the next chapter. But i like what i read.
James Breaux
Like it so far
Drew Risch
Maybe I’m wrong, it just seems like the MC is very passive and the women seem militaristic and in charge, while the males get married off like girls in noble families used to. Opposite from what you’d normal see in gender roles for a medieval-ish setting.
William D. Arand
Is it?
Drew Risch
I’m not 100% but I’m getting matriarchal vibes off this, is that the case? Reversed-ish gender roles?
