I can't not see it...

...in the Art Nouveau Tarot Deck that I mentioned before there are some really lovely illustrations full of leaves and flowers and flowing fabric. The deck itself is 90% pretty ladies but every now and again there is a dude thrown in there, and that dude is King Triton. 

Not really. 

But pretty much.

See?

Under da sea. 

He's a hell of a lot less fatherly, but that up there is King Triton. I mean, he's got everything from the white beard and crown to the scepter and tail-like fabric. He's an angrier, more mythic King Triton which is an accomplishment since King Triton is already pretty good at both of those things. 

"I am about to make your life miserable."

I have never looked at so many pictures of him in my LIFE as I just did to find that. I also never realized quite how cut he is... LOOK AT HIS SIX PACK AND MASSIVE ARMS. I hope that he never intends to take those decorative man cuffs off, because there is no way that they're getting off of his huge, meaty hands.

OH HAY LOOK. I ended up talking about mermaids again. Who'da thunk it. At least it was a man... maid this time. 

I am the Queen of Swords. And don't you forget it.

I've always thought that tarot cards were awesome, even though I don't fully understand them. That being said, I know someone who sort of does. So I forced him to read them for me (under pain of death), and this little lady was my significator:

The Queen of Swords

 

This is the magical Art Nouveau deck Queen of Swords, as well as 

the old school Rider deck version of her.

...which I guess makes sense. All I know is that she looks like she could maim you if you messed with her and that I love her. As for what she actually means, I have to rely on the wisdom of others, mainly that she is 

• insightful 
• precise
• witty
• stoic
• seeing with clarity
• upholding high standards 
• cynicism
• honorable
• perfectionism
• mentoring
• sarcastic 

Bam... that seems about right. So the Queen of Swords I shall be.

I should also mention that I did not make the art for either of the above pictures. Antonella Castelli illustrated the Art Nouveau Tarot Deck, while the Rider Waite Smith Deck was illustrated by Pamela Coleman Smith. Wouldn't it have been cool if I had illustrated them? Maybe I will... one day. 

Anyway, all of the art in the Art Nouveau deck is lovely, though I may be biased because I love art nouveau. In it, I find the Queen's whole 'ho hum' attitude while holding such huge sword hysterical - she is tolerating the person looking at her with a half smile and head tilt, but you can just tell that she will CUT YOU if you rub her the wrong way. The Rider version is a little more hardcore and mannish in appearance, but she also seems like she is totally willing to let you to plead your case before she cuts you. Her crown has butterflies on it for cripes sake. How bad could she be? 

P.S. "She wields the sword of justice, don't ya know?"  

- My tarot friend. Word for word. Win.