Not that it matters, but who is that in the photos?

 

After not knowing for a long time, I've identified the photo's subject as Swedish fitness model Pauline Nordin. Yes, she's very fit. Obviously, if I thought her physique detracted from her attractiveness, I wouldn't have portrayed her as an exemplar for the character sketch. I find nothing wrong with bending or stretching certain gender stereotypes while still looking beautiful doing it.

 

It's probably not at all obvious from the picture, but Ms. Nordin actually stands just 5'2" in height. Besides being fascinating, I think it would be a hoot to include in the characterization. Because "short" people kicking ass . . . well, now I'm getting ahead of myself.

 

 

What's the attraction?

 

Beauty is still in the eye of the beholder. On some level, there is something attractive in viewing a woman who is visibly strong but who doesn't look like a man. That is not a judgment of others. It is an assessment of the circumstances at hand.

 

 

What's the angle?

 

Start with seven words: barely restrained, glorious war-frenzy and bloodlust. Okay, that might put far too fine a point on it. Still, having left behind the days of choosing from among the worthy war dead and striking down the enemies of Wotan or wielding sword or mace on behalf of a stern but just warrior god, a gal still has to make a living in the hectic 21st century. But whether engaged in police work, serving in the armed forces, or working as a private detective, mercenary, vigilante, enforcer, or bodyguard, it's not so much the job description that changes as it is the job title.

 

 

Where are the stories going?

 

Humor: It takes different classes of supernatural beings different amounts of time and effort to adjust to the peculiarities of the modern era. There was a certain simplicity to ancient times, if only because it was generally necessary and even close to socially acceptable to bash one's problems over the head with a club, or to cleave them into pieces with some variety of edged weapon. Of course, since weaponry has become more potent over time, the urge to "follow the old ways" can be comic, as can its barely-avoided effects.

 

There is an adage: "When you only have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail." Well, when you have firearms, every problem looks like a target. It could just be me, but being the person who has to help another person control the urge to bust a cap in the ass of anyone who so much as looks at her cross-eyed just strikes me as hilarious.

 

Conflict: Of course, the above premise can have consequences when someone actually pulls the trigger, justified or not. Nor does the event happen in a vacuum – there is bound to be a lead-up, and a dénoument. And one never knows when honest-to-"God" evil might actually rear its head.

 

Casual: All that pent-up everything has to go somewhere, right? A bar visit (that ends in a brawl), a dance club sojourn (that ends with a riot), or a street race (that ends with a car crash). What could possibly go wrong?