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hetalia-has-a-secretary · 4 years ago

Note

Allies + Canada and Axis + Prussia walking in on their toddler singing Disney songs while wearing a costume that matches that certain Disney movie (like for example Germany walks in on them singing I’ll make a man out of you and the toddler is dressed like Mulan, you decide the song the toddler sings that fits which country and who they’re dressed up as)

QwQ omg my favorite Disney princess is 100% The girl from brave! (I'm kicking myself for forgetting her name...) And you know this prompt is gonna be super cheesy lmao and I'm stretching it across general kid movies!

Dad!Allies and Dad!Axis catching their child dressed up as their favorite Character!

Allies-

America:

He could hear Monster's Inc. playing for about, the fourth time today

The only difference this time was he could hear his kid going "Rawr!" Every five seconds.

The man got curious and just about busted a gut from restraining his laughter.

His kid had Purple colored paper taped all over them. It was hard to tell but they were dressed up as Boo!

This gave him an idea!

Running up to this spare attic he found a purple blanket and an unused mop and some googly eyes.

Walking back to his kid he helped them get on his make shift Boo outfit, and the kid was ELATED about it. No more paper cuts for them!

The best part was when he asked them why they dressed up as Boo, they told him it was because Boo was brave, and wasn't scared of monsters, just like their dad!

Cue their kid getting America a box of tissues while he cried on the floor.

England:

He wasn't a fan of American movies, but his kid was, so what his kid wanted, was what they got.

It... It was Shrek.

At first England kind of disliked the movie, but the more he watched it with his kid, the more he liked art the interpretations of the fairy tale characters.

And this was an extremely special moment for england.

Around the fifth time watching it he saw his kid point to one of the characters and say "That's not what tinker bell looks like!"

England had immediately spit out his tea, and started questioning his kid about it.

This was how he learned that his child had the same ability to see fairytale creatures as he does!

Soon enough he had his kid running around grabbing different blankets and scarfs to try and recreate what she really looked like!

Now he has a child sized Tinkerbell running around, Tinkerbell herself chasing after them playfully.

France:

He has the whole Disney collection from start to finish, and it's terrifying.

His kid is also badly addicted. But especially to Little Mermaid.

The thing is, France has his child completely spoiled, and has a bunch of maids around the place. One of which loves nothing more than sewing together cute outfits for the kid.

It's not that France doesn't have the time, oh no, this was the kids idea, and their idea only.

One day, after a grueling work day, he's in his room, trying to rest. His kid comes in wearing a trench coat.

France is courious as to why, and his mood is immediately lifted as the small child acts out a shortened play of The Little Mermaid, all costumes included.

It was amazing how well they moved with all the clothes they were wearing, and taking them on and off again as quickly as possible.

By the end France had given them a standing ovation, and they both happily napped on his bed due to the amount of physical exhaustion.

You can 100% catch France bragging about his little star to the other countries when he gets the chance!

China:

China's rubbed off on his child with several things.

One of those things is his love for old culture and reminiscing memories.

so surprise! Mulan is 100% a movie in the house... Except his kid has become brutality obsessed with the dragon.

One day China's fancy res shirts goes missing, and he finds it on his child while they were watching Mulan.

Mimicking everything Mushu does.

China has to hold his hand over his mouth as his kid eventually trips over the long shirt and starts saying things like "This is disrespectful to dragons!" And "If this shirt has a cow, it is now dishonored!"

Eventually china, very shyly, dresses up as Mulan while his kid isn't watching.

The kid proceeds to act like they're meeting a princess at Disney, not recognizing their own father.

Russia:

Unlike him, his kid really, REALLY loves the snow.

It's something that he hopes his child grows out of because he's heard them sing 'let it go' about 50 times.

It was very cute at first. Now he wants to beat the CD with his pipe (and then America for gifting them the movie).

But then the SECOND on came out.

Now his child parades around as Elsa, hitting high sqeaky notes, and following around the cat.

Cat is having more fun then the kid to be honest.

Russia was about to try and distract his kid until they asks him to play dress up with them

The sparkle in their eyes made him immediately say yes.

They wanted him to be Christoph, and when he asked them why he just about cried.

"Your cool, funny, nice, and you have the same nose!"

That's it. That broke him, he's trying not to cry

Has never knitted a dress so fast in his life, and has a very similar outfit to Christoph as well, so the two of them are parading around the house with their cat trailing behind them. His own little knitted Olaf costume on!

Canada:

Canada's kid can be rebellious at best, but seeing them dressed up as maleficent almost made him choke.

Is his kid turning into a villain!?

Nope. Turns out they just thought she was really cool, and felt bad that she wasn't invited to the child's birthday, or whatever.

And to be honest, yeah, that's kind of cruel.

Canada had bought the Sleeping Beauty film via America's suggestion, and wasn't dissapointed.

And now it was totally worth it since his kid was going through their "I have one outfit and no matter how many times my horns won't fit through the car door, I refuse to take them off" phase.

He enjoyed watching his kid act out a happier ending dressed as the Disney villain. And even snuck a few pictures of them prancing around and singing.

It brought tears to his eyes knowing that no matter what, his kid can see the good in anyone, and maybe one day that will come in handy!

Axis-

Germany:

I need to make it immediately clear, that Germany and China now officially plan playdates for their Mulan obsessed children.

Except Germany's kid is obsessed with Li Shang, and the "let's get down to business" song.

He's so proud of his kid not being afraid to show their little clumsy moves in order to show people they mean business.

Even if he can't take them seriously when they are this small and cute.

It starts out when they wanted to be a character from Mulan on Halloween, not yet seen the movie, but all that was left was a mock up Li Shang costume.

It was game over.

The kid would sing to his German shepherds as if they were their shoulders and bark dog commands.

Germany is a proud father now.

And the playdates I mentioned earlier? Oh yeah it's twice as cute when you have a tiny red dragon going "I HAVE TINY ARMS I CAN NIT BE MAN!"

Italy:

Beauty and the beast.

Italy's kid adores Bell, and has memorized every line, and dance.

One point gave him a heart attack catching them climbing a latter.

The best part is, Italy kept his chibi outfit from when he lived under Austria's rules. Which was at some point died blue, but now he has a tiny Bell running around more than gleefully.

Italy even joins in with him, and honestly it's the cutest thing.

Surprisingly his kid is really good with singing, and this is their new favorite hobby now.

Italy is also really emotional over the fact his kid wasn't scared of Beast either. His little tike is going to be a brave one, Italy is going to make sure of it!

Japan:

Yeah, Disney movies don't exist in his house, but Studio Ghibli 1000% does.

His kid is obsessed with Ponyo!

One day Japan was really concerned over how quiet his kid was being until he found them in the koi pond, trying to talk to the fishes, and heard him name them Ponyo 1-5.

His heart dank because he wanted to tell them the fish had no clue what they were saying, but at the same time.

Kawaii overload.

Small child talking to the koi, and enjoying the water, and muddy rain puddles? Oh yeah. That's adorable.

Eventually he makes them a fish outfit and it's a good thing it was mostly foam because the first thing his kid did was splash around in the puddles.

Japan filmed it.

He's planning on embarrassing his kid when they turn 16.

It's payback for not letting him watch the movie with them earlier.

Prussia:

Oh no. His kid has become obsessed with Rapunzel.

"how is that an issue?"

Well when your kid developed some of your impulse control issues, you will find them trying to crawl out of a window to escape their unlawful step mother/Prussia.

He was extremely confused about it at first as well. Untill his kid said, something something RAPUNZEL!

Then it clicked, and he was able to laugh about it.

Prussia hasn't seen the movie himself, and when he watches it he thinks Rapunzel is so quirky and super AWESOME! Especially because his kid now has a bunch of yarn on their head.

Not gonna lie, they both dress up as Rapunzel and try and fight each other with the long wigs.

Which is a sight to see first thing in the morning. Just ask Germany.

I know I didn't answer the prompt exactly, but I couldn't resist making some wholesome content! Also-

HER NAME IS MERIDA I JUST REMEMBERED IT LIKE, 3 DAYS AFTER THE FIRST DRAFT! THE CHICK FROM BRAVE IS MERIDA!!!

#hetalia #hetalia russia #hetalia american #hetalia england #hetalia france #hetalia china #hetalia canada #hetalia germany #hetalia italy #hetalia japan #hetalia prussia #hows that for a tag list #hws #hetalia world starts

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thatsamericano · 4 years ago

Text

Take My Hand, Take My Whole Life Too

Pairings/Characters: America/Romano. Background Gerita, and Seborga and Prussia are there too. Very brief appearances from Denmark and Lithuania in the video, as well as a ton of other characters who don’t get lines.

Rating: Teen, but only for cursing. Very fluffy, and no warnings to speak of.

Word Count: 2518

Summary: America sends Romano a special video for his birthday. He isn’t Elvis Presley, but it’s the best rendition of the song Romano’s ever heard.

A/N: I wanted to post something fluffy for Romano’s birthday. This will be up on AO3 soon.

It had been a nice, quiet birthday for Romano so far. Feli’s macho potato had dropped by to spend the day with him, and Prussia had tagged along too. Savino was glad Gilbert and Marcello were here, because otherwise he would’ve been stuck third-wheeling the sappiest couple in the world on his own birthday. Spain and Belgium had said they would arrive in a couple hours, which Romano was looking forward to as well. Most of the people who had sent his little brother a happy birthday message had remembered to send one to him too. America had sent them both silly e-cards, and the gifts he’d sent had arrived a week early and would be unwrapped along with all the others after they frosted the cake.

Romano was not lonely, especially not for someone who would’ve had to fly across a whole ocean to see him. He only threw a spatula at Germany’s head when he leaned in to kiss Feli right after he put the cake in the oven because the sight of the potato bastard kissing his little brother grossed him out to no end.

Feliciano pouted at him. “Fratello, that wasn’t very nice of you.”

“I had to stop you two before I lost my appetite. I want to actually be able to eat a slice of cake later!”

Germany muttered something under his breath, and Seborga giggled while Prussia ruffled his hair. “Relax, Savi. It’s your birthday.”

Romano shoved Gilbert’s hand away. “I’m relaxing just fine, damn it.” He walked over to the counter to check his phone, which had received a few new messages since he and Feli had started making their joint birthday cake.

As he was reading a message from New Zealand (who seemed to be confused by the time difference and hoped their message had arrived on time), a new text popped up on his phone. From America.

“Huh, that’s weird.”

“What’s weird?” Marcello asked.

“America sent me a link to a Youtube video.” Alfred liked to upload a lot of strange things on Youtube, including cooking videos with his twin, recordings of him prank calling England, and the occasional stunt that would’ve turned Savino’s hair gray if he’d aged like a human. Seriously, what the fuck had possessed him to surf down a staircase on a fucking ironing board?

The message before the link was cryptic as hell. Happy bday. Here’s an extra present for you. 😉 Hope you enjoy.🎶 Knowing America, Romano wouldn’t have been too surprised if he’d opened up the link and seen that one Rick Astley song the idiota still thought was funny to send to people. But Feli immediately got excited about it.

“Oh, he finally sent you the video! I thought he’d do that a month ago!”

Prussia smirked as Feli rushed over to them. “Nah, Al had always planned to upload it today.”

Germany came over with a subtle hint of a smile on his face, like he knew what all this was about too. At least Marcello still looked baffled as he leaned over to get a look at Savino’s phone.

“What the fuck are you assholes up to?” Savino didn’t like this feeling. He didn’t like that everyone except his baby brother had been plotting something behind his back.

“It isn’t bad, Romano,” Germany promised. “Just open the link and you’ll see.”

Romano didn’t trust Germany further than he could throw him, and the guy was way too heavy for him to even lift. But if Germany thought it was okay, it probably wasn’t a video involving the kinds of ridiculous shenanigans America liked to film, and it certainly was nowhere near as heart-attack inducing as some of the videos he’d seen Fredo post (especially if Prussia or Denmark were egging him on). Savino squinted at Ludwig suspiciously before he clicked on the link.

It wasn’t Rick Astley. The video started with a black screen. “No, Gil, you’re supposed to press the red button!” The voice sounded like Denmark.

“Magnus, I pressed the red button!” That was Prussia.

“Guys, maybe we could use my iPhone instead?” America asked. His voice sounded uncharacteristically strained and nervous. “The quality won’t be as good, but at this point Vinny’s probably given up anyway.”

Suddenly, the image of a white dress shirt with a navy tie (and an inexplicable ukulele) appeared on the screen. The camera zoomed out a little, and he could see Alfred smiling at him in a crowded bar with many nations Romano knew well, and many who were only acquaintances. Denmark rushed past him, but Romano could scarcely take his eyes off America. He was wearing the same outfit he’d seen him in on the day of the last world meeting he’d attended a couple months ago in Berlin, and he was cradling a ukulele in his arms. His warm smile, as always, made Romano’s heart skip a beat. But there was a hint of anxiety in his crystal blue eyes, and that made Romano wish he was there to talk to America and help him with whatever seemed to be bothering him.

“Hey, Vinny! Right now it’s still January, but by the time I upload this video, it will be your birthday, so happy birthday, dude! I hope you’re having a good day with your brothers.” He chuckled. “You guys will probably need a huge cake if you’re gonna blow out all your birthday candles.”

Romano rolled his eyes. “That’s what numbered candles are for, idiota,” he murmured.

“Anyway, I know I’m not the best singer in the world—” Prussia snickered from behind the camera and America glared at him sharply before relaxing back into the smile he’d had on his face before. “But I’ve been practicing this song a lot, so hopefully you’ll like it.”

Romano wondered which song it was. If it was the Italian version of “Happy Birthday,” America wouldn’t need a ukulele, and this video would not be three and a half minutes in length.

America started strumming the ukulele, and it wasn’t the “Happy Birthday” song. Savino vaguely recognized the melody, and apparently Feliciano knew what the song was, because he was bouncing next to him and muffling squeals behind his hand. Savino was tempted to smack him, but that would involve looking away from his phone.

Then, America started to sing in a shaky but surprisingly clear voice, staring straight at the camera. “Wise men say, only fools rush in…”

Marcello gasped. “He didn’t!”

“Oh, he totally did,” Prussia replied smugly.

Savino was too emotional to talk. He teared up as Alfred continued with the next line. “But I can’t help falling in love with you.” Fredo’s voice was full of sincerity, like he actually meant it, like he actually loved him. For so long, Romano had assumed his feelings for America were completely one-sided, that he would have to ignore them as much as possible, vainly hope they might disappear, and move on with his life as best he could. But clearly, he had been wrong, and the proof was that America was serenading him with a love song. On his birthday.

America started walking backwards with his ukulele, and Prussia’s camera followed him. At the end of the first verse, he’d reached a booth with Spain, Portugal, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. They all held up signs wishing him a happy birthday in various languages as they sang the last line together. Spain waved and Belgium winked at the camera, and America grinned as he kept walking through the bar.

He briefly stopped by other groups of people to allow them to hold up signs wishing Romano a happy birthday as he sang. Russia, his sisters, and Canada. Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Poland. Hungary, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein. China, Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, and South Korea. France, Monaco, all the UK countries, and Ireland. Australia, New Zealand, Seychelles, and Kenya. Greece, Turkey, and Egypt. All the Nordics too. It was the sweetest, most romantic thing anyone had ever done for Romano. America must have gone to so much effort to orchestrate something like this, to gather so many countries together in one bar in Berlin and convince them to go along with his plan. Savino smiled as he kept watching the video. Maybe Alfred wasn’t as good a singer as Elvis Presley or any of the many people who had covered this song, but his performance was heartfelt, and Savino loved every second of it.

Near the end, all of the countries sang the line “For I can’t help falling in love with you” together and held up their happy birthday signs. The bartender and some confused humans sang along with them. Savino laughed as Alfred chuckled sheepishly in the video, cheeks turning pink because this was an unusually public spectacle, even for him.

Alfred repeated the final chorus and sang with just him and the ukulele, as he had begun the song. “Take my hand, take my whole life too.” His eyes were shining with tears, and not the happy kind Savino had been shedding since the second line of the song. “For I can’t help falling in love with you.” He repeated the final line then took a deep breath.

“So, yeah. That uhh… wasn’t just a song.” America glanced off to the side. “I’ve kinda been hopelessly in love with you for a while.”

“About 90 years, give or take!” a tipsy voice shouted from off camera. It sounded just like Lithuania, the few times he’d had a little too much to drink at a speakeasy back when he, America, and Romano all lived together. Romano remembered those days fondly.

America hunched his shoulders with a pained look on his face. “Yeah. What Tolys said. You mean a lot to me, Vinny, both as a friend and possibly more, if you want that. If you just wanna stay friends, that’s cool. I hope you liked the song. Happy birthday.”

The screen abruptly cut to black, and the video ended. Savino wiped his eyes and looked up at Feliciano. “This is… this is why we had to fly back right away, isn’t it? Our boss didn’t call you.”

Feli shook his head. “I lied. America asked me to lie so he could surprise you with that video.”

“I can’t believe he did that for me.” Part of Savino felt like he didn’t deserve it, but a much bigger part of him was too selfish to care about what he did or didn’t deserve. He just wanted to be happy. “I wish he was here,” Romano confessed quietly. “I wish I could tell him I feel the same way.” And he wanted to kiss away every tear that idiota had ever cried over him, which was long overdue.

Savino ignored his little brothers cooing over what he had just said and tried not to bristle at the fact that even Germany seemed to think it was adorable. Prussia, weirdly enough, was too busy texting on his phone to join in on the overbearing fawning.

Gilbert chuckled at something on his phone. “Alfred’s a lot closer than you think. He decided to skip the Saint Paddy’s Day parade this year.” He grinned up at Romano, who instantly got the message. Alfred wasn’t celebrating with his Irish-American citizens. He was here in Italy, and it wouldn’t take much effort for Romano to find him.

He sprinted to his front door and flung it open. Alfred, who had been standing with his back to the front door, turned around to face him. “Vinny, I…”

Savino was too impatient to let him get another word out. He tugged on the collar of his emerald green t-shirt and sealed their mouths together. Alfred made a muffled sound of surprise and started kissing him a couple seconds later. He wrapped an arm around his waist, and Savino could feel that he was holding something wrapped in cellophane in his hand. He didn’t give a fuck what it was. He didn’t give a fuck about anything except the fact that Alfred was grinning against his mouth as he reluctantly pulled away for air.

Alfred’s face was flushed, and he had to reach up to fix his glasses. “Wow. This t-shirt never worked before.”

Savino glanced down at the shirt, which read “Kiss Me, I’m Irish!” (of course it did) and snorted. “I didn’t kiss you because of a fucking t-shirt logo. I kissed you because I watched that birthday video you sent me, which was the most adorable goddamn thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”

“So you liked the song, huh?”

“I loved the song. And I love you too, Fredo.”

He heard sniffling, and it couldn’t have been Alfred, who was beaming at him like every prayer he’d ever uttered had been answered just by Savino saying those words to him. And the sniffling noise was coming from behind him. At least one person had followed Romano to the front door, but Romano had been too focused on America to notice.

Romano tensed up as America laughed and put an arm around his shoulder. “Germany, are you crying, dude?”

“I… I’m verklempt. That was a beautiful moment.” Savino glanced over and saw that Germany wasn’t the only one. Veneziano, Seborga, and Prussia were all standing in the entryway, and they all looked misty-eyed.

Romano groaned and turned to bury his face in America’s ridiculous t-shirt. “Seriously, did you come out here to fucking spy on us?! What the hell is wrong with you?!” America squeezed his arm around him in a silent gesture of support. He could probably tell how embarrassed Romano was.

“Well, you were the one who decided to run out the front door suddenly,” Marcello said teasingly. “You can’t blame us for wanting to see what was going on.”

Veneziano piled on. “It’s nice of you to visit us on our birthday, America. You can come inside if you want, or you can stay out here and kiss Savi some more.”

Romano growled and turned to shoot vicious glares at both of his brothers, but America didn’t seem bothered at all. “As tempting as it sounds to stand here and kiss Vinny all day, I think I’ll come inside.” He dropped his arm from around Savino’s shoulders and presented him with the floral bouquet he somehow hadn’t noticed earlier in his mad dash to the door. “These are for you.”

“Grazie.” Savino smiled as he bent his head to sniff the bouquet of red roses mixed with white lilies. The symbolism wasn’t lost on him.

“Anything for you,” America whispered, too quietly for the others to hear. He pressed a kiss to Savino’s cheek, grabbed his wheeled suitcase, and dangled out his free hand as they headed into the house behind the others.

Romano grabbed America’s hand and laced their fingers together. This was the best birthday he’d ever had, and it was due in no small part to the fact America was holding his hand right now and smiling like he was the one who had received everything he ever wanted.

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erzherzog-von-edelstein · 4 years ago

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Since I did mention that I might do it, here is 1.5K words of the RusPru version of what I would have done with that prompt:

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There was a cool wind blowing through Leningrad, bringing the chill of winter with it. The last vestiges of the pleasant summer were fading, and the wind seemed to blow the last warmth from the air. Once the weather turned towards winter, it was only a matter of time before the true cold set in.

Russia had already closed the windows firmly against it, sealing off his own intimate world behind thick red curtains. The only light in the room was coming from small lamps, giving it a warm glow.

The thick blankets that Russia had added to the bed were tangled around his legs. He could have pulled them back up if he had chosen, but he was warm enough without them, especially because there was an albino body pressed against his chest.

The figure so intently snuggled against him was the reason for all the disorder. Prussia was curled up against him like a large and affectionate cat. He seemed half asleep, with his eyes occasionally closing for seconds at a time.

Russia stroked his hair softly, and said, “Aw, my poor rabbit is exhausted.”

He was intentionally soft, almost mocking, because he knew Prussia would react to it. His pride was still learning to like the pet name. Though Russia could see the way that name raised goosebumps on the pale flesh when he whispered it in his ear.

The mocking statement got Prussia to turn his eyes to him sleepily. Russia was almost certain that the look on his face was adoring, mixed with a kind of sullen indignation that he found quite amusing. He waned to imagine that it was both love mixed with Prussia’s pride.

Prussia replied, “I’ll have you know that I have excellent stamina. If I am a little tired, it’s your fault.”

He gave Russia a smirk, one that was deeply attractive. His pride could not contend with too much wounding for the night. Though there was no shame in admitting that he was pleasantly exhausted by their activities.

Russia replied, “I have no regrets about that. I enjoyed myself, and I certainly enjoyed you.”

Prussia chuckled and laid his head against Russia’s chest. There was a moment of long silence, which made Russia think that his vocal lover had succumbed to sleep.

Then Prussia started speaking again, his voice sounding far more serious, “I was just thinking for a moment.”

He sounded like whatever he was thinking about was weighing heavily on him. Russia had noticed that these moments happened sometimes, when all facade would fall away and Prussia would reveal himself to be deeply thoughtful. It was possible to tell that his whole demeanor shifted when he was mulling over something of importance.

Russia ran his thumb along the albino’s hairline as he asked, “And what are you thinking about?”

He was fascinated to see the way that the man’s mind seemed to work in real time. Before he had seen the schemes once they were fully formed, and then they were brilliant. It felt incredibly intimate to see him thinking so intently, like he was watching something private. It made Russia deeply intrigued to know what was going on in his mind.

Prussia seemed to contemplate the question for a moment before turning his gaze resolutely back to Russia. He said, “I want to ask you something personal.” Russia was amused, and he responded immediately, “You may ask me anything, my rabbit.”

He wasn’t certain what the man was about to ask, but he welcomed it. There was very little that he would be willing to refuse his lover. Prussia finally said, “Do you ever think about the Romanovs?”

The question surprised Russia. He had not thought that anyone would ask him about his former royal family after all of these years. It felt like the world had moved on so quickly, and no one had ever bothered to ask about his feelings on the matter.

If anyone else had asked him, he would have immediately denied any regret about it. There were many who would ask the same question to test his loyalties. However, he was certain that Prussia did not mean it that way.

Prussia also quickly clarified, “I don’t mean the monarchy. I know that socialism is the future. You don’t have to tell me again. But do you ever think about them as people?”

There was a cheeky nod to their own political connection in the statement. Russia thought he understood the question, since it was an echo of thoughts he had in the wake of the Revolution. He had sometimes dwelt on the fate of the Romanovs and thought of the dynasty he had once known.

He nodded and said, “Yes, I used to. I don’t miss their rule, but I admit it was strange after the Revolution.”

He did not regret his decision in the slightest, nor did he miss having to deal with Nicholas. His last tsar had been a miserable, arrogant failure.

Prussia rested his chin against his hand where it was resting on Russia’s chest. The tiredness was seemingly gone entirely. He looked positively impish.

He said, “I used to think about Wilhelm so often. I imagined him in Holland with his dogs and all those fucking tulips.”

He seemed like he was being vulnerable, even under the mischievous facade. It would take some vulnerability to admit that he had thought about his worst king, the one who had been responsible for the first great war in Europe.

Prussia continued, “I don’t miss him. He was a fool from the beginning to the end. He spent all that time thinking that someone was going to give him the throne back like he had ever done anything to deserve it.”

Russia couldn’t say that there had ever been a chance for any of the Romanovs to live quietly in exile. Nor had he ever particularly thought about them once he was busy with reconsolidating the empire. The business of the civil war had given him little time to dwell on anything.

But, he could give at least an answer. He stroked his lover’s hair while he spoke, “I don’t regret what happened to Nicholas. He brought me to the brink of destruction, and I did what I had to. But, little Anya haunted me.”

He had known the rumors had been wrong even when he first started to hear them. But, he had sometimes wished that they could have been, and an innocent had been spared. He had always known that it was a fool’s hope. It was a wish made by the heart and fervently denied by the mind.

Prussia leaned into Russia’s hand, in a sign of subtle appreciation for the touch. He said, “I only miss the good ones, the very few kings who made things better.”

Russia could agree to that. He did sometimes miss Peter the Great, even though the man had been notoriously volatile. If asked, Russia would never have denied that his tsar was prone to fits of rage. But with that aside, Peter had been an important part of his growth as a country.

He also missed Catherine’s even leadership, though no one had managed to equal her since her reign.

He looked at Prussia and said, “It is only natural to miss them. But I remember that for every exceptional monarch, there were more who were cruel or incompetent.”

The albino gave him a charming smile and said, “Oh, I know, Vanya. I have no desire to bring back the monarchy.”

It was not a question that anyone had asked, and given that they were tangled up together in a Soviet city, there was no reason to doubt his loyalty. But, Russia raised a mocking eyebrow and said, “I would hope not. That would give me so much work to do.”

The albino laid a soft kiss on his chest and said, “You know I’m all yours. I gave you my loyalty body and mind”

Russia repressed the urge to ask for another round. Something about Prussia being affectionate while pledging his loyalty was deeply intoxicating. He was such a good little soldier, so adept at taking a role when it was given to him. Russia found his obedience deeply sensual.

But, he controlled himself, since he should be satiated with the night already. He said, “It is time to leave all of the dead in the past. They are gone now, and we are here.”

Prussia looked like he was listening intently, like this had put to rest the questions in his mind.

Russia continued, “And I would not change what I’ve done. Do you know why?”

The albino shook his head, but there was a mischievous glint in his eye that said he was doing so just to hear the answer. Russia provided it, “Because now I have you, and I have wanted you for so very long.”

With that, he pulled Prussia into a deep kiss. Prussia offered a muffled moan as the kiss deepened. There was no resistance, only a single sound of pleasure.

When the he pulled away from the kiss, undeniably red in the cheeks and breathless, Prussia said, “You win. No more talk about the past tonight.”

#hws prussia #hws russia #hws ruspru #ruspru #posting shippy stuff at midnight is normal right?#I really should be asleep

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thiswaycomessomethingwicked · 4 years ago

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I have a silly Napoleon ask for you: if he suddenly woke up in the present day what do you think he would a)like most about it b) like least about it c)get unreasonably addicted to d)decide to do for a living

hahah I’ve answered a similar one before here and here.��

Most Like About It: A lot, I think. Central heating. Guys, he’d fucking love central heating.

In general, he’d love most technological advances. Cars, planes, trains etc. like he’d be very into that. “Bertrand we’re going to ride the TGV all day every day. Look at how fast we are going! This is genius.”

“Bertrand WE ARE IN THE SKY. This is AMAZING. We are going from Paris to Rome in a matter of HOURS. HOURS BERTRAND. WE DON’T HAVE TO CROSS MOUNTAINS.” (sorry just assuming this is exile Napoleon who woke up in modern day.)

Public transit in general - the metro, buses - anything that makes life more efficient for people. Dishwasher, washers/dryers, modern electricity, laptops, printers, ball point pens etc.

I suspect he’d be a big supporter of public health care and all the advances made on vaccines and medicine in general. 100% would hate anti-vaxxers. Pro-modern glasses (he’d get himself a pair asap. Then they’d explain contacts to him and I think he’d be like “WAIT NO, I WANT THOSE.” He would not be into lasik, I suspect).

Modern hygiene! Razors, tooth brushes, floss, moisturizer - general daily body care he’d probably be keen on. (All that stuff we take for granted.) Though maybe not all of it, he was quite traditional in certain things (his penchant for older fashion, par exemple). Maybe he’d keep the old straight razor shaving approach. But modern dentistry would be a huge improvement and I can’t see him being against it. Especially as someone who had a tooth extracted in the early 19th century.

‘Oh they give you pain killers now? Fantastic.’

‘Sir, we just numb the area where we are doing the work.’

‘So it doesn’t impede my awareness? Amazing. Please, fix all my teeth right now.’

He’d also support the greater access to education that exists, especially compared to his day. Also, streaming services. He would binge so many things. ‘Bertrand we are watching every thing this very soothing sounding British naturalist made about planet earth. Holy shit look at that they’re under water! They’re at the bottom of the ocean! Bertrand look at this. if only Josephine were here. She’d be so excited.’

Pro-zoom/Microsoft teams/facetime etc. 100%. ‘If I had this instead of people relying on my bad handwriting ...’

Oh, he’d like the EU as a concept. Except he would be very disappointed that France wasn’t at the helm. I think France’s position globally would disappoint him, overall. But yeah, the broad principles espoused by the concept of the European Union would appeal to him.

Brexit though. Lol. I think he’d enjoy watching England shoot itself in the foot. But if you asked him for his opinion, as in “do you think the UK should do this” he would answer no. They should remain.

He would like globalization, trade agreements, things like NAFTA, CETA etc. Supporter of big government. Reduction of religion in public sphere. Though would he be pro-banning visual manifestations of faith? (i.e. Hijab etc.) I don’t know. I doubt it. Simply because he was very focused on religion in government, so if churches aren’t involved in decision making, what citizens get up to on their own is their business (so long as you don’t cause problems). But I don’t know, he might be pro-it, because he was also into assimilation and creating a broad sense of a French culture. I could see him really going either way on it. It’d probably come down to whatever he thought would garner the most public support as a political move (since a lot of his more liberal moves as a leader were tied to understanding that marginalized communities would gun hard for him if he helped them).

He would be pro-mask wearing for COVID because he wasn’t a fucking idiot and lived in a time when pandemics were still a real going concern.

He would also probably like how comfortable modern clothing is. I don’t think he’d like how cheap and made-to-wear-out that most brands are, but he’d like the over all philosophy. Like Napoleon would dig t-shirts. Lounge wear. The fact that jeans have some stretch in them. That sort of thing.

Least Like: I think he’d be very wary of the internet. For many reasons. For the lack of government control (Napoleon “What is a free press? never heard of her” Bonaparte). But also, because of the misinformation problems. The side effects many of us are now bearing witness to, and experiencing the ramifications of.

He would dislike the whole fake news nonsense. Oh this man was a master spin-doctor, very good at twisting a narrative around to suit him, but he still did have respect for and a firm belief in basic facts. Especially fake news that usurped the sound advise of scientists and doctors (i.e. COVID nonsense).

Free press, I think he would be wary of it. Mostly from a government control perspective. Like as a day-to-day citizen, since he wouldn’t be anyone in power in this hypothetical, I think he’d value it. He would do that disassocative thing he did when he talked about things in the abstract. That cold, calculating way he would position himself in a situation and be like “Ah yes, these are the things that need to be tamped down if you want control of a populace as a monarch”. Then he had his more liberal, call-back-to-that-misspent-jacobin-youth moments where his views shifted.

I suppose it would also depend what age this hypothetical Napoleon is. He softened a lot in retirement exile. Napoleon at the height of his power, thirty-odd years old, different man to fifty year old Napoleon.

Would not be into women in politics. He’d be like ‘Why is there a woman in charge of Germany? Also what happened to the Habsburgs? Where’s Prussia? Silesia? What the FuCk is happening in the Balkans? I’m very confused about Europe’s current geographic layout. ...Corsica...still doing you, I see.’

He’d dislike Trump and his cronies. As I wrote before: “ I think Napoleon would find Trump disgusting on a personal level. Uneducated, incapable of holding a real conversation, gauche, anti-intellectual, anti-fact-based discussion, anti-science, anti-art etc. He’d also feel that Trump is disgracing the position of President and that he is unworthy of leadership. Napoleon would also find Trump physically repulsive as he could be a wee bit shallow in some of his assessments (though, very early modern to 19th century to assume your physical appearance is a manifestation of your interiority).”

Steve Bannon’s fiddling with finances? Napoleon would find that repulsive. Mitch Mcconnell disgracing his office by fucking around with constitutional loop holes? Napoleon would think it a disgrace.

He had a lot of respect for America’s experiment with democracy. Like, quite a lot of respect. So I think he’d be vastly disappointed in not only the person occupying the white house, but also a lot of the apathy in voting that is going around. (Yes, this coming from a [mostly] absolutest monarch, too.) But Napoleon valued and respected the notion of civic duty. If you live in a democracy, you have a duty to participate. To opt out is to shirk that duty which he would find insulting and distasteful. Because, I would argue, he was very much a believer in people doing right by their fellow citizens.

Get unreasonably addicted to: MODERN BATHS. HE WOULD NEVER LEAVE THE BATHTUB. THEY CAN HAVE JETS AND EVERYTHING BERTRAND THIS IS GREAT.

Also central heating. Saunas. Jacuzzis. He was like a wee lizard seeking warmth at all times.

I think he’d be into driving. I don’t know if he would be good at it. Don’t let Napoleon take the wheel, guys. But if someone else was driving he’d be that person “go faster. you’re driving like my grandmother.” And gods, he’d do dumb shit like drive like a maniac around the arc de triumph six times in a row because he’s an adrenaline junkie and a risk-taker (it’s that bored ADD brain of his). The autobahn would be his dream.

I think he’d be super into epic fantasy series. Like the big sweeping ones like Lord of the Rings. I think less so GRRM because GRRM is unrealistic and Napoleon is pedantic. Especially about politics and war. Exhibit A: consider Napoleon’s very detailed nitpicking of Virgil on his inaccurate rendition of Troy from a military perspective. Therefore, I suspect GRRM’s lack of accuracy in how society works, how war works, how politics works, all the plot holes and illogical character decisions, would drive him up the wall. Napoleon liked Homer because he could tell Homer had been to war. And you can tell Tolkien has been to war. Also LOTR hits all those notes of high-hearted emotion and big sweeping scenes that Napoleon so liked in Ossian and the Illiad etc.

All this to say, overall, as a genre, I think those big, sweeping fantasies with lots of plot, politics, intrigue, soaring battles, great heights of emotion - he’d love that. It would hit all of his buttons for what he liked in fiction. Lots of emotion, lots of action, lots of big scenes, lots of crazy shenanigans. This can also be applied to Sci-fi. I think he’d be a big nerd on that too. But the science would have to make sense.

I think he’d be into Star Trek, particularly Picard, if only for the philosophical aspects of it. He liked those sorts of questions and hypotheticals. So I think he’d binge all of The Next Generation (among other seasons).

Do for a living: Teach? God knows. This is Napoleon from 18-something who just woke up? He could be paid for consultant work for historians and film crews and the like, I guess. Just to tell them how accurate stuff is. Of course, be wary, this is Napoleon I Am A Spin Doctor Bonaparte.

I think he could lean into writing histories - particularly the classics, early French and European history - that sort of thing, where he already has a strong background in it and it wouldn’t require him basically learning an entirely new trade. Like, will Napoleon ever fully be a natural with computers and cell phones? Probably not. Could he be like your old school Professor emeritus who still churns out papers and does 90% of it the old fashioned by-hand way? Yes. And Napoleon had a bunch of histories planned on St. Helena that he wanted to write, so I think he could do that.

As this is literally Napoleon Bonaparte he’d get a book deal in seconds. There’d be a bidding war over it.

Thank you for the ask! This was very amusing :D

#napoleon #napoleon was his own shitpost #napoleon bonaparte #napoleonic #napoleon in the modern day #ask #reply #anon

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mysticalmusicwhispers · 5 years ago

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APH College AU Headcanons: Germany

AU headcanons for Ludwig! (Next is Japan, then there’s going to be no more order at all to them). Also, I’m apparently putting general behavior headcanons in here that could also apply to canon but whatever, it’s fine.

GERMANY/LUDWIG BEILSCHMIDT

- Engineering major! (I feel like he could also study architecture but canon was like “It’s heaven when the Germans are engineers” so...) - Super Organized™ - His room is so orderly, the sheets are always made and his desk has everything in its place, no unfinished snack bags and messy stacks of paper. You could probably map out his room in an architectural layout drawing and it would look like a real design. Nothing is misplaced. - Perhaps like minimalism, which makes him a tad annoyed sometimes at the classical style that Italy loves a lot (but Feli’s sweet so it’s fine) - A++++ with the occasional A, panics a little when he gets into the B range - Dislikes English/analysis assignments, and as he’s writing an essay on idk Shakespeare or something, he’ll just constantly be questioning the assignment. “The lavender flower really have no significance; what if Shakespeare just wrote it in because it was his favorite flower???” - All the sports teams, but especially Soccer™ (or football, whatever) - Also, goes CRAZY about the FIFA World Cups, and any other football/soccer tourney. Both he and Prussia are pretty much wild the whole time it goes on; they both have favorite teams they are passionate about and there’s a lot of football discourse for a couple weeks.

- Good work schedule, manages to get up near dawn for a run every day; unless it’s raining, and then he’ll spend the time catching up, or more likely, getting ahead. - Emails his professors often with clarification questions. They appreciate his detail and commitment, but sometimes wish he’d just use common sense and infer - He’s not usually the Extra™ student, more like the quiet one who’s always consistent, doesn’t ask too many questions, and isn’t really noticed until he achieves Legend Status because he aced an assignment that had an average of 78. - Not a lot of people knew he and Prussia were brothers until one of them let it slip, since they’re so unlike each other. - A cup of coffee and some biscuits every morning; he runs to a local supermarket for saltine crackers because he doesn’t really like school food - Probably was asked to become a tutor at some point, and took up the job reluctantly. He teaches people one on one in the library, mostly in math and science (any sort of math, mostly chemistry and physics for science). Prussia tells him regularly he should charge a fee, but Ludwig is not very keen to the idea, even if he gets lots of headaches from uncooperative students. - Healthy Eating. He’ll eat school food sometimes, doesn’t mind it too much, but goes to restaurants or a friend’s apartment for food equally often. - Rule Follower. But he still feels really conflicted about ratting someone out for cheating and things like that, not because they’ll get a better grade than him but because it’s just morally wrong. He might try to send subtle signals to his professor but tries not to flat out betray people. - Takes good notes. Except he’s annoyed when the professor speaks faster than he can write it down, but his memory is really good, so he remembers most of what he didn’t get to write down. - Serious and rigid, a little off-putting from afar, but if you talk to him he’s just a little uncomfortable/awkward, not trying consciously to be aloof. It’s just the aura he unintentionally gives off that makes him seem unapproachable. - Lowkey really admired by a lot of people for his grades, but just a few close friends - His laugh is really warm and his friends can tease it out of him actually quite often, especially if he’s a bit exhausted or has had something to drink - Gets more of a frustrated, slow-simmering anger that just quietly builds up until he can’t take it anymore. As he gets more and more stressed because of schoolwork or something, it takes less and less to tick him off until he just kind of snaps when someone does something stupid/annoying, such as Prussia coming in yelling “Hey, Luddy, you want to (insert stupid action here)?” And then he shouts really loudly. - Overall a good handle on college, knows where he wants to go and how to get there - He’s been dragged to a couple of clubs unwillingly but is probably only in like one (or student council or something, if that’s still a thing in college)

#musings #headcanon musings #aph germany headcanons #aph germany #hws germany #aph #hws #hetalia #aph headcanons #hetalia headcanons #aph college au #hetalia college au #hws college au #hws headcanons #aph germany college au #college au musings

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the-observant-frisbeetarian · 5 years ago

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George deValier (2015 profile)

since: 05-02-10, id: 2348750, Profile Updated: 06-02-13

country: 🇦🇺 Australia

Author has written 17 stories for Hetalia - Axis Powers.

If I lose the light of the sun, I will write by candlelight, moonlight, no light. If I lose paper and ink, I will write in blood on forgotten walls. I will write always. I will capture nights all over the world and bring them to you. – Henry Rollins

Hi! I’m George. One day, I will be a professor of history, who wears tweed suits and lives in a library. Right now, I am a graduate student, who wears jeans and t-shirts and… um… lives in a library.

Reviews and PMs.

I don’t demand or even expect reviews. They do, however, make me happy. So if you are kind enough to leave one after reading, please know that even though I may not reply, I read every single one, and I am incredibly grateful - your few words of praise have brightened a moment of my day. :-)

If you send me a Private Message and don’t receive a response immediately, please know that I am not deliberately ignoring you. I find it a little difficult to keep up with replying to PMs; if I haven’t responded to your message in at least three months, it’s usually because I’ve, er, lost it. Feel free to send me another one calling me a giant prat and demanding a response.

Fanart and Translations.

I am perfectly okay (quite ecstatically happy, actually) with people doing whatever they like with my fics – whether that be translations, fanart, cosplay, AMVs, whatever. You do not need to ask permission - I will always say yes. All I ask is three things. One: please credit me as the author (and a link to the original story would be fantastic). Two: please let me know so that I can check it out and thank you profusely! And three: something I hate to have to mention, but please never do anything to make money out of these works. Obviously, Hetalia does not belong to me – it belongs to the amazing Hidekaz Himaruya, who is incredibly awesome for giving us such fantastic characters to play with. :-D

MY STORIES

THE VERAVERSE

The Veraverse is a Hetalia World War Two AU, of fics involving different characters and pairings, all living within the same time period and all interconnected in some way. As each story in the series is named after and loosely based on the lyrics of a wartime song sung by Vera Lynn, I flippantly dubbed it the ‘Veraverse.’ The name has sort of stuck, however. I have posted a list of character's birth dates here: http://george-de-valier.deviantart.com/art/Hetalia-Veraverse-Birth-Dates-340315828

This series is, at its core, about the power of love over war. It's about the real reasons people fight, and the real reasons they survive. It's about finding something beautiful in the midst of something ugly and evil. But overall, although I hope there is more to these stories than just romance, they are essentially about love.

Don’t expect every fic to be updated quickly. These stories intertwine, and will be published simultaneously, and it may be a while between chapters for each specific story. Most can be read separately, however a few will require that you read at least one other story in the series to make sense of it (e.g. ‘My Echo’ does not make much sense unless you also read ‘Lily of the Lamplight.’) Rest assured, they will all be completed.

We'll Meet Again Alfred Jones/Arthur Kirkland (America/England)

Complete - Thirteen Chapters

‘We’ll Meet Again’ is about love arriving when you least expect it, and how it can transform loneliness.

Keep Smiling Through Alfred Jones/Arthur Kirkland (America/England)

Complete – One Shot

Just a little mini-sequel to ‘We’ll Meet Again’ about a brief moment in Alfred and Arthur’s lives.

Auf Wiedersehen, Sweetheart Ludwig Beilschmidt/Feliciano Vargas (Germany/Italy)

Complete - Eighteen chapters

‘Auf Wiedersehen, Sweetheart’ is about love being blind, proving stronger than hate, and lasting longer than war.

Bésame Mucho Antonio Fernandez Carriedo/Lovino Vargas (Spain/Romano)

In Progress – Fourteen chapters

‘Bésame Mucho’ is essentially about love overcoming fear.

Lily of the Lamplight Gilbert Beilschmidt/Roderich Edelstein (Prussia/Austria)

In Progress – Eighteen Chapters

‘Lily of the Lamplight’ is about selflessness, survival, and how love can change you for the better.

My Echo Unrequited Vash Zwingli/Roderich Edelstein (Switzerland/Austria)

In Progress – Six Chapters

‘My Echo’ is about how true love is selfless – even if it is unreturned.

Jealousy Ivan Braginski/Yao Wang (Russia/China)

In Progress – Six Chapters

‘Jealousy’ is a little different to the other stories in this series. It is about control, madness, and how love has the power to destroy as well as to save.

Something to Remember You By Sadik Adnan/Gupta Muhammad Hassan (Turkey/Egypt)

In Progress – Three Chapters

‘Something to Remember You By’ is about losing love, and yourself with it.

UPCOMING VERAVERSE FICS

Somewhere in France With You Francis Bonnefoy/Matthew Williams (France/Canada)

Darling, where better to meet again than the most beautiful city in the world?

It's a Lovely Day Tomorrow

Toris Laurinaitis/Feliks Łukasiewicz (Lithuania/Poland)

Art. Music. Passion. Destruction. Young, wild love, in the streets of Berlin, on the eve of war.

When I Grow Too Old to Dream Berwald Oxenstierna/Tino Väinämöinen (Sweden/Finland)

“What would you do if I just… took this tree? Claimed it for Finland?”

“I’d let ye take it.”

“This lake?”

“Ye can have it.”

“This entire forest?”

“’t’s yours.”

“Would you let me take your whole country, Berwald?”

“Yes. And you? What’f I just… took this rock?”

“You can’t have that rock. That’s a Finnish rock.”

You’ll Never Know

Elizaveta Héderváry/ Lili Zwingli (Hungary/Liechtenstein)

“But who knows? Maybe you'll meet a charming little Swiss girl with plaits and a basket who likes to yodel on mountaintops."

Elizaveta always hated it when Gilbert was right.

When the Lights go on Again

Eduard Von Bock/Raivis Galante (Estonia/Latvia)

"I will stay with him through this darkness. I will give my soul to keep it from him. And I swear, whatever I must do, that Raivis Galante will live to see the lights go on again.”

Room Five-Hundred-and-Four

Herakles Karpusi/Kiku Honda (Greece/Japan)

“Life's most important conversations take place in bars. Perhaps in places not too dissimilar from this - perhaps between people not so different from ourselves. Bars, after all, are where people meet, and where they rejoice; where they forget, and where they say goodbye. They are the crossroads of life."

"You sound like a philosopher. Though your name suggests a hero."

Faraway Places

Bad Friends Trio (France, Prussia, and Spain)

“Ah, those were the days, huh, Gil? Remember the time you tried to take on the entire Parisian police force?”

“Or the time you knocked yourself out running from that bull in Pamplona?”

“Or that time Francis tried to seduce your grandfather?!”

“Francis what?”

“Oh, look at that, I’ve finished my drink.”

Autumn Leaves

Augustus Roma Vargas (Ancient Rome)

But I miss you most of all, my darling, when autumn leaves start to fall.

OTHER FICS

THE MAPLEVERSE

This is a currently small modern AU, set in modern day Canada.

La Patisserie de la Rose Francis Bonnefoy/Matthew Williams (France/Canada)

Complete – Six Chapters

A birthday present for Claudia, aka ThisCouldTheoreticallyBeSparta

An essentially fluffy Franada with lots of cameos and cake and general silliness. I like to think this story is about friendship as much as it is about love. It's also about seeing something in someone that no one else can - not even themselves.

Libelle Hall Gilbert Beilschmidt/Roderich Edelstein (Prussia/Austria)

In Progress – Three Chapters

A Gift for Kay, aka Kay the Beta

‘Libelle Hall’ is about change, and about love growing from self-realisation. It’s also an examination of Gilbert and Roderich’s characters, and how they aren’t that different from each other, after all. And it’s a gift for my beta Kay, because she loves PruAus, and she’s awesome.

Of Ponies and Edelweiss Gilbert Beilschmidt/Roderich Edelstein (Prussia/Austria)

Complete – One Shot

A Valentines’ Day present for Claudia

Just a fluffy, romantic little fic for Valentines’ Day. Well, as romantic as Gilbert gets, anyway.

ONGOING MULTI-CHAPTERS

Catch Perfect Berwald Oxenstierna/Tino Väinämöinen (Sweden/Finland)

In Progress – Twelve Chapters

‘Catch Perfect’ is basically proof that I can’t even write crack without some semblance of plot and angst. I am still writing this, just ever so slowly.

The Tiger and the Dragon Ivan Braginski/Yao Wang (Russia/China)

In Progress – Seventeen Chapters

I first posted this story almost three years ago. Last year I started re-publishing it, mainly to fix up the writing quality and some plot points. Yes, it’s melodramatic; yes, it’s a bit cliché. Basically, if this were a published novel, it would be the type to have GAY EROTIC ROMANCE in tacky writing across the cover. But really, what the hell, it’s fun. :-D

COMPLETED ONE SHOTS

Stay With You Germany/Italy

A rare story with the characters as nations, and my very first posted fanfiction. I had just discovered Hetalia when I wrote this, and loved the random humour of it, but also wondered what it could be like if it was a more serious take on the Second World War. Also, it has always been blatantly obvious to me that Germany and Italy are in love with each other. Like, duh.

Gallipoli Australia and New Zealand

Another nation story from me, about a conflict embedded in the consciousness of every Australian. We haven’t been given much to go on with Australia’s characterisation, so I went with my gut instinct – he’s anti-authority, he’s an easily broken optimist, and he cares deeply about his men. Gallipoli shattered the romantic idea of war for this country. I think it would have shattered Australia, too.

Sleep, Little Bird Berwald Oxenstierna/Tino Väinämöinen (Sweden/Finland) and Peter (Sealand)

There is not much I can really say about this one, except sorry. Oh, and that it’s not in the same universe as ‘Catch Perfect.’ I wouldn’t do that. ;-)

LINKS!

http://george-de-valier.deviantart.com (deactivated account) - Where I fave and comment on the wonderful artwork that people have drawn for my stories. I adore fan art, so please tell me if you have drawn any! If I happen to come across art for my stories that I haven’t been told about, be warned, I WILL proceed to fave and comment on it anyway. :-)

www.youtube.com/user/ykwyh26 - My lovely and talented beta Kay’s YouTube site, where you can hear all the songs from my Veraverse stories.

VIDEOS

I am incredibly flattered that the amazingly talented Alyss Lane has written a gorgeous song based on ‘Auf Wiedersehen, Sweetheart.’ It is called ‘Auf Wiedersehen,’ performed by Willow, and you can hear this beautiful song here – www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N8T4oIppS0

The following are awesome AMVs for my fics, made by some very talented artists.

The Veraverse

Sanctuary, by Insomniac3Ltd

www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfvTV5b9Zwk (unavailable)

We'll Meet Again

We’ll Meet Again, by Shokora15

www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4COUwq9yzA

Wild Horses, by SirenShadow95

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaiMnawL3hM

Auf Wiedersehen, Sweetheart

Stereo Love, by snobo52

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH8-zY-3qiI

If I Die Young, by NightmareCCL

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkoVnwzwLlU

Stay, by PastaWithWurst

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i61AAOfNm4 (unavailable)

Auf Wiedersehen, Sweetheart, by Sydney Amber

www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM9anzT81tM

Home, by Sanity4Fire

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjPTML1vjXA (unavailable)

Auf Wiedersehen, Sweetheart, by ShiroBaraLuv123

www.youtube.com/watch?v=qltINwf-ZkU (unavailable)

Bésame Mucho

Fear, by ykwyh26

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua5Ak4O9P88

Slow Dancing in a Burning Room, by Kayleigh Turgeon

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pDaLTw5wIs (unavailable)

The Only Exception, by InuLoverNr1Hitomi

www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pt_sHtZfIw

Don’t Tell Me You Love Me If You Don’t Mean It, by AnnoyingGirl1234

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkcTKOAN8Y8 (unavailable)

Lily of the Lamplight

Lili Marlene, by xxEmoxxChibixx

www.youtube.com/watch?v=otYq31Qnct8

Sleep, Little Bird

Sleep, by Hetaliagirl96

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tOCsWjpNsk (unavailable)

La Patisserie de la Rose

Take Me Home, by Ahogemako

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwsX1rJ2CDo

Something to Remember You By

Lullabies, by Lanie P

www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnRXhe2cdZw

STORIES WRITTEN FOR ME

These are all fantastic. Please check them out, you won’t be disappointed!

Mi Piachi perché Mi Piaci, by ThisCouldTheoreticallyBeSparta

(GerIta, Spamano, PruAus, BelgHun and teeny mentions of Franada, Netherlands/Australia, UsUk)

A wonderful birthday present of fluffy GerIta goodness from my wonderful friend Claudia.

www.fanfiction.net/s/7601790/1/Mi_Piaci_perche_Mi_Piaci

Maple Street, by fubibliophile

(Canada and America)

A really cool, atmospheric one shot from the very sweet fubibliophile.

www.fanfiction.net/s/7796628/1/Maple_Street

Chapter Four of Hetalia Fairy Tales, by Kitty-Kat Allie

(GiriPan)

An incredibly sweet GiriPan fairy tale from a wonderful author and a lovely person.

www.fanfiction.net/s/7730679/4/Hetalia_Fairy_Tales

1. Something To Remember You By » reviews

VV AU. 1914. Constantinople, Turkey. On the eve of war, street dweller Sadik Adnan's way of life and existence is called into question by the strange, beautiful Egyptian imam, Gupta Muhammad Hassan.

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: M - English - Romance/Tragedy - Chapters: 1 - Words: 4,732 - Reviews: 73 - Published: 5-30-13 - Turkey & Egypt

2. Lily of the Lamplight » reviews

WW2 AU. Austrian musician Roderich and German soldier Gilbert are forced into an army prison unit and a fight for survival on the Russian Front. But in the midst of blood and death and hell on earth, how long can they fight their desire for each other?

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: M - English - Romance/Angst - Chapters: 4 - Words: 27,329 - Reviews: 557 - Updated: 5-21-13 - Published: 11-20-11 - Prussia & Austria

3. Libelle Hall » reviews

Modern AU. When Roderich Edelstein – student, musician, and reluctant activist – attempts to save a local music hall from destruction, he is not prepared for the conflicting emotions evoked in him by arrogant demolition worker Gilbert Beilschmidt. Gift fic for Kay the Beta.

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: T - English - Romance/Friendship - Chapters: 2 - Words: 8,900 - Reviews: 174 - Updated: 5-6-13 - Published: 2-20-13 - Prussia & Austria

4. Jealousy » reviews

WW2 AU. Insane Russian Commander Ivan Braginski is the terror of his battalion and his enemies alike. He controls the lives of thousands - but it is the memory of one that controls his own. Tie-in to 'Lily of the Lamplight.'

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: M - English - Romance/Tragedy - Chapters: 1 - Words: 3,077 - Reviews: 80 - Published: 11-29-12 - Russia & China

5. The Tiger and the Dragon » reviews

Human AU. Awkward, average chef Yao Wang is sick of being thought of as boring and predictable. When he meets the enigmatic and slightly unnerving Ivan Braginski, Yao is immediately captivated. As he falls deeper it becomes apparent just how dangerous Ivan really is… but Ivan is just as smitten, and Yao may be too in love to care about the consequences…

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 4 - Words: 12,967 - Reviews: 155 - Updated: 11-15-12 - Published: 8-25-12 - Russia & China

6. My Echo » reviews

WW2 AU. Captain Vash Zwingli is a soldier in someone else's war; a man mad enough to lead where others will not. He treads a fine line between life and death, between sanity and madness, in a constant battle to forget. But when Vash's past confronts him in the worst place on earth, will it finally tip him over the edge – or give him a chance for redemption? Unrequited SwissAus.

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: M - English - Angst/Drama - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,378 - Reviews: 73 - Published: 11-15-12 - Switzerland

7. La Patisserie de la Rose » reviews

AU. Accountant Matthew Williams is used to being unnoticed, ignored, and forgotten. That is until pastry chef Francis Bonnefoy appears like a burst of colour in his dull, grey life. Gift fic for TCTBS.

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: M - English - Romance - Chapters: 6 - Words: 35,111 - Reviews: 573 - Updated: 10-10-12 - Published: 12-9-11 - France & Canada - Complete

8. Catch Perfect » reviews

AU. When Berwald loses everything he is forced to move into a share house with an insane Dane, a sociopathic Norwegian, an unfathomable Icelander and a perfect Finn who makes it all worth putting up with.

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: T - English - Romance/Friendship - Chapters: 8 - Words: 36,538 - Reviews: 582 - Updated: 9-22-12 - Published: 10-10-10 - Sweden & Finland

9. Blue, White, Red » reviews

Human AU. 1777; The American Revolutionary War. Three times, American rebel Alfred Jones meets British soldier Arthur Kirkland. One blue; one white; one red.

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: M - English - Angst/Romance - Chapters: 3 - Words: 5,981 - Reviews: 369 - Updated: 9-20-12 - Published: 8-26-12 - America & England/Britain - Complete

10. Auf Wiedersehen, Sweetheart » reviews

WW2 AU. Feliciano Vargas is a passionate, if slightly scared, Italian resistance member. Falling in love with a German fighter pilot was the last thing he expected... and it will test his national loyalty, and his heart, to their limits.

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: M - English - Romance/Angst - Chapters: 18 - Words: 104,322 - Reviews: 3246 - Updated: 8-11-12 - Published: 12-18-10 - Germany & N. Italy - Complete

11. Keep Smiling Through » reviews

'We'll Meet Again' mini-sequel. Keep smiling through, just like you always do; 'til the blue skies drive the dark clouds far away! USUK

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: K - English - Romance - Chapters: 1 - Words: 2,376 - Reviews: 172 - Published: 6-28-12 - America & England/Britain - Complete

12. Bésame Mucho » reviews

WW2 AU. Lovino Vargas only ever wanted something exciting to happen in his boring, everyday Italian village existence. He never expected war, Resistance, love, passion, treason, or a cheerful, confusing, irritatingly attractive Spanish freedom fighter.

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: M - English - Romance/Angst - Chapters: 5 - Words: 39,037 - Reviews: 817 - Updated: 5-30-12 - Published: 8-1-11 - Spain & S. Italy/Romano

13. Of Ponies and Edelweiss » reviews

Gilbert Beilschmidt is not, generally speaking, a romantic man. Which makes his behaviour this particular Valentine's Day a little odd for Roderich to understand… Gift fic for TCTBS; spin-off of 'La Patisserie de la Rose.'

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: T - English - Romance - Chapters: 1 - Words: 4,143 - Reviews: 130 - Published: 2-14-12 - Prussia & Austria - Complete

14. Sleep, Little Bird » reviews

Human AU. Tino, Berwald and Peter are the perfect family. Things like this don't happen to people like them. But when they do, how are they supposed to accept it?

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: T - English - Family/Tragedy - Chapters: 1 - Words: 4,169 - Reviews: 294 - Published: 9-26-11 - Finland & Sweden - Complete

15. Gallipoli » reviews

Gallipoli, April 25, 1915. Australia is a young nation with plenty to prove. And war is where nations prove themselves.

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: T - English - Drama/Angst - Chapters: 1 - Words: 4,966 - Reviews: 48 - Published: 4-28-11 - Australia - Complete

16. We'll Meet Again » reviews

WW2 AU. London pub owner Arthur Kirkland is driven to distraction by loud, brash American fighter pilot Alfred Jones. Unable to stop it, Arthur finds himself falling for Alfred's charms... just as the pilot is preparing to leave for war.

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: M - English - Romance/Angst - Chapters: 13 - Words: 43,415 - Reviews: 1376 - Updated: 1-20-11 - Published: 7-18-10 - America & England/Britain - Complete

17. Stay With You » reviews

Germany lies defeated and alone in the aftermath of the Battle of Berlin... but not everyone has abandoned him.

Hetalia - Axis Powers - Rated: T - English - Angst/Romance - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,325 - Reviews: 66 - Published: 5-4-10 - Germany & N. Italy - Complete

THANK YOU MARVINHERE FOR FINDING THIS!

#George deValier #George devalier profile #George devalier profile transcript #George devalier summaries

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inkstaineddove · 5 years ago

Text

Dancing With the Devil

Ships: AusHun, PruHun; PruAus of some king if you squint

Characters: Austria, Prussia, Hungary, Maria Theresa, Frederick the Great, Britain; mentioned Russia and France

Summary: To bring some joy back to Vienna after the Second Silesian War and win more allies, Austria and Maria Theresa decide to throw a ball. They also convince themselves that inviting Prussia will lead to only his humiliation, but he has a plan of his own.

April 1746, Vienna.

Humiliated. Austria had been humiliated by an upstart kingdom taking control of one of his richest provinces. Ever since the ink on the treaty dried where he was forced to recognize this coup by Prussia, he’d been working furiously to secure some sort of alliance with the others. Britain, that traitor, couldn’t be counted on. He harrumphed, scribbling out letters to France and Russia. Unscrupulous bastards, how he loathed that he must turn to them. But, he supposed, beggars can’t be choosers…

“Can’t you see I’m in the middle of something?” He snapped, hearing the door to his office open. He didn’t remove his eyes from his work.

A soft clicking of the tongue. “Now, Roderich. Is that the way to properly greet your sovereign?” Maria Theresa glided into the room, smiling faintly. “You can’t let the barbarians steal your manners too.”

He stood, bowed, and kissed her hand. A quick rectification. “My apologies, your majesty. I assumed you were someone else.” He moved to sit again only once she had, intently following royal protocol now. “I’m sure you share my frustrations.”

“Naturally. Which is why I believe we need something to look forward to, to bring some joy back into these halls.” She sighed dramatically. “These last eight years have been marred by misery. We’re to throw a ball next month. I miss dancing and we can show the ambassadors that we haven’t been hampered in the slightest by recent events.”

“Well, if it’s for diplomatic purposes then I can hardly be opposed to it.” Roderich would be lying if he pretended that the concept upset him completely. He’d been out campaigning for so long that he missed most of the ball seasons over the last few years. It would be nice to don the clothes an aristocrat and catch up on the latest gossip with his equals instead of galloping around the countryside with undisciplined commoners. “I suppose you want me to get working on a guest list now?”

“That’s why I’m here. I wished to help you craft this one.” She waited for him to ready himself with a fresh piece of paper. “The Russian and French delegations are a must and they need to be given all the works. Showing the Swedes a proper respect would be advisable as well. If you find it won’t be too hard on you, I would like the Spaniards to come.” She noticed him roll his eyes and chuckled. “I’m trying to be courteous. Oh, right! The Saxons should be welcomed. As should the Bavarians and any of the smaller states you think could provide us with something beneficial.”

“Is that all? No Britain?”

She tapped a finger to her chin, mulling it over. “Send them an invitation a little less than a day before. Shows them our displeasure but isn’t too unreasonable. Now, that’s all squared away. There was something you were telling me.”

“I was?” Roderich slipped the paper in the top drawer of his desk. He racked his mind for whatever she meant. “Would you please tell me what, exactly, I was saying?”

“Before he invaded Bohemia, you were filling me in on all the others of your kind. Letting me know all the gossip and news surrounding them.” Maria Theresa fiddled with one of her rings, reminding Austria of when she was a child. “You filled me in on everyone else in the empire except our little nuisance.”

“I told you everything there is to know about Brandenburg. He’s not a complicated character.” He knew exactly who she was angling for, but he would play the fool. He’d spent too much of his thoughts on that damn creature, he was haunted by him every waking moment now. But his queen was giving him such a look, it became impossible to keep his resolve. Austria sighed, defeated. “What do you care to know about Prussia?”

“Oh, stop playing like this! I want to know everything there is!” She noticed his pained expression and laughed. “Come on, Roderich dear. Wouldn’t it be a joy to use everything we have against him? We’re working the presses hard to print out every nasty rumor about his king. Why not go after both of them?”

There was something he could go along with. In fact, Roderich was willing to wager that it might actually be enjoyable. This was a war he could easily win. He made himself comfortable in his chair, a smile breaking free. “What isn’t there to say about him? He’s vile, he’s garish, and completely uncouth. Ever since we were children his only concern has been killing things – bugs, pagans, heretics. Now, lucky me, he wants to kill Austrians.” He licked his lips, remembering a juicy tidbit. “His crusading is rather humorous considering how often he was sent to the pyre. He’s always looked demonic. If you spend your days around zealots with that appearance, you get what you asked for.” He smiled wistfully. “He did make good cinder though.”

“Roderich, that makes him pitiable.” Maria Theresa wrinkled her nose, imagining the smell of burning flesh. “Please, talk about anything else.”

“My apologies, I got lost in the good times.” He noticed her horrified look. “He’s still alive! And we were children then! If you knew how often many times he shot my eye out with arrows or gutted me with his sword, he wouldn’t seem so sympathetic. It was a different period. Now we…still impale each other. Some things never change, do they?”

“Roderich!”

“Right, right! Not what you want to know!” He tapped his fingers on his desk, trying to remember anything else interesting. He realized he was stuck too far in the past. There was something she would get a kick out of. “Ridiculous, how could I possibly forget? Not like they’ve had much time to see each other recently. Maybe this war wasn’t all for nothing.” He smiled wide, enjoying the imminent implosion. “He and Erzsébet have relations. Been happening for a century now.”

“With our Erzsébet? With Hungary?” He watched her upset grow until it completely overtook her. “That scoundrel! How dare he!” She smacked him in the arm. “And you only tell me this now! Eight years I’ve been on the throne and now, now, is the opportune moment! Why the delay?”

“Don’t assault me! We were in the middle of a crisis! I figured my personal life could wait till after.” Austria straightened his jacket. “This isn’t something I’m exactly proud of, your highness. It’s bad enough that every time I see Britain or France they feel it’s of vital importance to mention. I try not to let it consume more of my waking days than necessary.” He quickly shushed the voice in his head reminding him that his conscience spent a great deal of time plotting against this whole matter already.

“Great, so George and Louis knew all about this before me. My dignity is a joke to everyone in Europe, isn’t it?” She clutched a hand to her chest, wincing in agony. “My poor heart. How many more of these crushing humiliations will I be subjected to? I won’t last much longer at this rate.”

That familiar vein in his forehead twitched. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, trying to calm down. Snapping at his sovereign would result in nothing good. Calming breaths. “You worry too much. They would be foolish to consider any of this a reflection on you.” The unspoken ending was that, if anything, it would be a reflection on him. He grimaced considering that. “We can use this to our advantage if we’re smart.”

Maria Theresa’s composure returned. “You’re right. It shouldn’t be too difficult to dissuade Erzsébet from that ruffian. I remember being a young woman. Men like that – so wild and unrestrained – always weasel their way into your affections. They present something new and exciting. Then they leave, casting you aside for whatever cheap thrill they can find in some whore’s bed while you’re left picking up the pieces of your shattered self-esteem.” She spoke with surprising emotion. Waving away whatever phantom memories lingered, she smiled at Roderich. “She will realize that a man like you or my dear Francis is much better. Polite, predictable, so willing to listen. A good partner mustn’t challenge you in such a way as a man like that does.”

“You underestimate her. They’re equally culpable. Don’t let her con your generosity.” This was the opposite of comforting. He slumped in his chair, chuckling bitterly. “No wonder she runs around with him. How your majesty describes Gilbert makes me want to fall in love with him! There’s likely a much more polite way of telling me I never had a chance!” That familiar pulsation in his forehead again. “I’m sorry, but please don’t try and console me further.”

“For a man to be predictable is a good thing! Let the women have all the passion and the spirit and the spunk! If the men could keep to themselves, I wouldn’t be working with an empty treasury.” She imagined Frederick, the man causing all her troubles, groveling before her. It provided her second wind. “Now, quit this self-pity and think! What’s this Prussia character like in a suit?”

“Rather like a donkey. You can dress it up all you like, but it’s still a jackass in the end.” Austria paused, seeing where she was going. “Are you really going to invite him? He would try to sabotage the whole thing!”

“It’s certainly a possibility. He could also – and I believe this is most likely since I trust he’s as incompetent as you say – make a complete fool of himself before everyone. Doing so would guarantee us all the allies we possibly need and remind our dear Erzsébet that her little…thing is beneath her breed. Make him the first invitation we send out.”

Austria quickly wrote one, not caring if it wasn’t his best penmanship. Such efforts would be wasted on Prussia. He noticed a streak of brown hair disappearing past the door. “I trust your judgement if you’ll trust mine.” He cleared his throat. “Magyar!” Hungary stepped into the room. He slipped the envelope into her hands. “A favor. Would you be so kind as to deliver this to Berlin or wherever your paramour lays his head?”

Hungary glanced between her queen and her superior, distrust eating at her. “This is too easy. What’s the catch?”

“There is none. Can’t I do something nice for you?” He waved her away. “Go, enjoy what time you two have left together.”

“Don’t enjoy yourself too much!” Maria Theresa warned, her voice stern.

Hungary’s suspicion grew. But what could she do? She didn’t trust either of them as far as she could throw them, but she had no evidence of their plot. She would have to bide her time. Curtsying, she shuffled out the door and began mentally planning what to wear for her arrival.

---

Sanssouci Palace, Potsdam.

Frederick strolled through his palace, his eyes fixed on the letters gripped in his hand. War was over. Now, it was time to govern and flex his muscles domestically. He passed through the Marble Hall. He had been cooped up inside for too long. Some fresh air in the gardens was needed. Out of the corner of his eye, he noted two figures. “Gilbert, strange woman.” He turned back on his heel. “For the last time, Gilbert, stop bringing your whores here.”

“She’s not a prostitute, this is Erzsébet.” Gilbert aimed a forced grin at his king.

“I’m aware that they all have names. Run along, dear. He doesn’t pay very well.” She refused to budge. Frederick sighed. “Must you always bring home the stubborn ones?”

“She’s Hungary!” Prussia hissed through gritted teeth. He couldn’t recall ever being so embarrassed.

“Then give her some food and send her-” Frederick blinked slowly. A crisis had to be averted. He politely bowed. “My sincerest apologies. Despite never shutting up about you, this moron never bothered to give me a portrait.” Forcing back his irritation, he slipped into an easy smile. “What brings you here? I hope you don’t bring any declarations of war.”

Hungary’s last couple of hours had been stressful. She had no idea what the greater ploy Austria and Maria Theresa were up to and why she needed to play messenger in it. Nor was she overjoyed at her warm welcome by Prussia’s disrespectful king. She needed something to provide her some entertainment. She handed him the envelope she’d been tasked to deliver. “Why, I haven’t the slightest idea. It could be anything.” She met the king’s gaze. “You understand how grudges work. This was really all I came for. I’ll be on my way.”

Gilbert scrambled alongside her. “Do you really have to leave so soon? Why all the rush? You’ll get back to Vienna late. You don’t want to spend the night here, that’s fine. The old man snores. There’s plenty of space in my home for the two of us.” He took her hand in his before the door, pleading with his eyes. “At least let me walk you out.”

The ends of her mouth curled up in a smile. “There’s no need. It’s a rather dainty palace, isn’t it? I promise I won’t get lost. You be good.” She shot a look at Frederick. “And you. Do us a favor and stay out of Bohemia.” In a flurry of skirts, she was gone as quickly as she arrived.

Now alone, Gilbert released his consternation. “Fritz, next time, just fucking shoot me. If you really care about me, spare me the agony.” He ran his hands through his hair, groaning. “I can sabotage myself without your help.”

“Why are you blaming me? Whenever I’ve wanted to know what that woman looks like you’ve only told me bullshit like ‘more beautiful than Helena of Troy.’ Which is wonderful, but it doesn’t help me pick her out in a crowd!”

“Who else would I be staring at like this?” Gilbert’s expression shifted into that of a lovelorn fool. His eyes softened; a wide grin lit up his face. He looked idiotic in that charming way lovers do. He dropped the act as soon as it appeared, dismissing it with an eye roll. “That whole routine might’ve set me back fifty years.”

Despite knowing about Gilbert’s kind his whole life, being reminded of their immortality never disturbed Frederick less. “Does it matter? Time is meaningless to you lot.” He shook his head. He didn’t have time for this. He had a treasury to refurbish and a new province to integrate. “I can’t be bothered with all this now. This damn envelope could hold our death sentences and we’re bickering like a bunch of old maids.” He opened it and tossed the card aside after reading its contents. “It’s a fucking invitation to some ball. Who gives a damn?”

Gilbert snatched it out the air and skimmed it over. He thought he recognized Roderich’s handwriting but disregarded it. Didn’t all those pompous aristocrats write the same? “It could be fun. Who doesn’t love dressing up and dancing the whole night away?”

The king began heading for the gardens again. Fresh air. Fresh air would clear away this whole mess. “Well, if my memory serves me correctly you don’t. You’ve always been adamant about how much you loathe these events.” He shot Gilbert a look over his shoulder before chortling. “I get it. You’re only looking to get some pussy. Have some more dignity than this. You know as well as I do this is likely some little ploy to humiliate you, and me by extension.”

Gilbert’s cheeks turned bright red. “That’s not the only reason! We could get…alliances out of this! It could improve our diplomatic situation! I’m not walking into anything!” He held open the door to the gardens for them both. “Fritz, you’ve got to trust my instincts! I know exactly what I’m doing. I’ve been doing this for centuries.”

“Your instinct is the reason why I’m so afraid. You’re incredibly reckless and prone to bouts of what I can only assume are insanity. You’ll ruin whatever good name we have left. That’s why I can’t allow you to go.” Sitting down at the table, he examined his papers, ignoring Prussia’s exaggerated pout. “Stop pushing out your lip that far. You look like a grotesque duck.”

Change of tactics. “Isn’t that Italian here? Wouldn’t it be so much easier to have your fun with Algarotti if you sent me and a few delegates off to Vienna for a weekend next month?” Gilbert rested his chin on his hands. His eyes carried such faux innocence. “Didn’t seem like too many men were sneaking into your tent late at night these last eight years.”

Frederick glared at him over the letters. “Is this really the game you want to play at?” Seeing his smirk, the king scowled. “Whatever. I don’t have time for this. You can go, but you will have chaperones and I will appoint them. I don’t want any minister going that finds your whole act adorable. It’ll lead us straight into another war!”

“I promise, I won’t let you down, Fritz!” Gilbert puffed his chest out and stood straight. “You can trust me.”

“No, you will. At least, have it be funny when you do. I want some amusement before the Austrians invade.”

---

June 1786, Vienna.

The ball was gorgeous. Everyone was looking their best, the orchestra never sounded so sweet, and the food was first-class. All the finest luxuries in the world brought together. The guests were thrumming to-and-fro, enjoying the conversations amongst themselves.

Gilbert loathed it. He stood at the bar, filling his drink as quickly as he could empty it. The strongest drink he could get his hands on was watered-down scotch. It was a disgrace. He scanned the crowd again. What was the point in being here if he couldn’t find her? Wasn’t that the whole meaning of his trip?

A tap on his shoulder. “I’m no one to judge, but how do you expect to gain any allies chatting up the bartender?” Arthur smiled wide. “Seems so unlike you to linger so far away from the center of the action.” He nodded at the bartender, who refilled his glass of brandy. “Hard to stun the crowd from the sidelines.”

“Why would I want to waste my talents on a bunch of stiffs? They’re not going to appreciate my work. Now, if you don’t mind.” Gilbert began peering around the Briton. “I’m waiting for someone. Francis has to be around here somewhere. Hang around him instead.”

So that’s why Gilbert was here. Everything made sense. An impish grin broke out across his face. The night would provide him with some good entertainment. “Erzsébet’s welcoming guests with Roderich and her majesty. I could take you over and introduce you as I’ve already paid my respects.” He tugged Gilbert’s sleeve, dragging him through the throngs of people. “Come along, let’s get this started!”

“I don’t need a wingman.” Gilbert straightened his jacket, huffing. “Seriously, you can run along now.”

“Please and miss out completely? I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Prussia rolled his eyes. With friends like that, who needed enemies? Arriving before Austria and Maria Theresa, he bowed. “Roddy, I forgot what you looked like without a uniform. Much more natural than seeing you posturing with a gun.” He attempted to kiss Maria Theresa’s hand, but she jerked it away. “I take it that your majesty knows who I am already. On behalf of his Prussian majesty, we sincerely thank you for the kindness of this invitation and everything it represents.” He looked back at Britain, who gave him a thumbs up. He’d nailed it, there would be no war declared.

As if to undo any good work he’d managed, Hungary materialized besides the queen. “That Russian delegation can talk your ear off. Next time, please don’t sacrifice me to them. I don’t want to hear about the intimate details of their personal dramas.” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him. She gave a subtle wink and smirk to Prussia. “Oh, Gil. How rude, I didn’t see you there. I’m so glad you came.”

Restraint. He needed to practice restraint. He was in the presence of important company. There could be no mistakes. Then he saw Roderich. Roderich, standing there looking intemperate, grinding his teeth, glaring as if begging his foe on. Gilbert was overcome. He forgot himself. Erzsébet was too beautiful and Roderich too irritating to deny himself such sweet joys. Gilbert took her hand in his and kissed it. “I had to. I didn’t want to miss seeing such a beauty.” His lips trailed up her arm, holding eye-contact with Roderich the whole time. “How could I stay away?”

Austria opened his mouth to speak, but Hungary beat him to it. “Daring tonight, aren’t we?” After speaking loud enough for all surrounding parties to hear, she leaned in close to Prussia’s ear. “If you get war declared on you for anything you do tonight, remember that I actually like this queen. I don’t think you can afford to be this reckless in front of her.” She gently, yet firmly, pushed him away.

Point noted. Flustered, Gilbert took a step back. “Right. Well, it was nice to see everyone. I’ll be…somewhere else.” He spared one last dejected look at Erzsébet before scampering off with Arthur on his heels.

“I’m impressed. What on earth did you say to him?” Roderich moved besides her, reflexively putting a hand on the small of her back. Realizing neither of them liked the gesture, he removed it.

“I told him I would meet him in the gardens later if he wouldn’t be so obvious.” She laughed at his frustration. “Don’t be so glum. I’m still upset about Silesia. I promise, it’ll be hate sex this time.”

“How comforting.” Austria moved to take his place besides Maria Theresa. “Now you understand what I’ve been dealing with. Everything is personal with him. None of the other states give me this much trouble. Why can’t he be more like Bavaria?”

Maria Theresa looked much more crestfallen. She cradled his face in her hand, unable to meet his gaze. “You poor man, what a terrible situation.” She peered up at him through her eyelashes. “You’re a cuckold.”

He forced his eyes shut. What a disaster. The promise of the whole night was disintegrating before his very eyes. “Your majesty isn’t helping.”

“You’re not helping yourself either! Standing around, looking so shocked at everything. Have some life, impress her, show everyone that you’re not passive in affairs of the heart.” She waved her hands away from her. “Do anything but stand around here and talk to me!”

“Why do I want her to fall in love with me?” Seeing the fire in his queen’s eyes, Roderich quieted his protestations and took his place besides his wife. “I’m being held here against my will.”

“Aren’t we both? Don’t feel too special.” They shared a conspiratorial look before breaking into giggles.

The orchestra began a new piece. Roderich caught himself humming. It was one of his favorites. He held out his arm. “Would you grant me the honor of a dance?”

“It is only fair to give your date at least one. Especially when he’s such a fantastic dancer.” She let him lead her to the floor. They began twirling around, hitting all the marks in time. She envied how naturally this all came to him. “It’s not fair for you to be so talented.”

“So kind of you to think so. You’d be disappointed to know that it’s less talent and more centuries of being forced into the role of a gentleman. Though, it is a natural fit.” He gained some contentment from her easy laugh. There was almost something enjoyable in this. “See, Erzsébet, it isn’t all bad. The lady protests too much.”

“You would think I complain too much about anything. There could be a freeze and you would think I’m ridiculous for bemoaning the chill. I’ve been quiet recently. No major rebellions. Be thankful.” She closed her eyes, getting lost in the music. “Please, be quiet. If you don’t talk then I can pretend that I enjoy your company.”

A simple enough request. Besides, the dancefloor was no place to settle differences. Roderich complied, happy for the momentary respite in their relationship. He could imagine this as normal for them, this peace with no screaming matches. No threats of violence against each other or their people. That they were any ordinary married couple who tolerated each other just enough to not end in scandal. The very idea thrilled him.

The very idea was interrupted by their Prussian scandal. Gilbert tapped Roderich’s soldier, a lupine smile on his face. “May I cut in? I couldn’t resist.”

Erzsébet moved to take his hand. She was met with air. She found Roderich and Gilbert in an embrace, the former looking incredibly determined while the latter was exasperated. “It would be rude of me to deny you, wouldn’t it?” Roderich nodded at Erzsébet. “Don’t wait up.”

“What are you doing? Let me lead!” Gilbert hissed. The fight for dominance began immediately. He winced, feeling Roderich’s heel dig into his toes. “That’s my foot. You be the woman, you’re the feminine one!”

“Why would I take orders from you? You’re used to being subordinate, follow my lead.” Roderich yanked them the opposite direction Gilbert was taking them. “I know exactly where I’m putting my feet.” For good measure, he stepped on Gilbert’s foot again.

Prussia bit his lip, forcing himself not to yelp in pain. He wouldn’t give the other man the satisfaction. His nails dug into Austria’s lower back, finding pleasure in his pain. “Why are you doing this? Let me have my dance, it doesn’t take anything away from you. You never let me have what I want.”

Austria couldn’t force back his laugh. It was maniacal. “Really? That’s funny, that kingdom you’ve got says differently about my generosity. If anything, I’ve been too accommodating to you. Silly me, thinking compassion would civilize you.” He sneered. If he gripped Prussia’s hand tight enough, maybe he could manage to break a few fingers. Wouldn’t that be a sight? “You’re a brute. You don’t deserve what you’ve got.”

“You’re going to talk to me about deserve? You, Little Master, born with a golden spoon and so hell-bent on his divine authority? You’ve never worked for anything in your life.” Prussia snarled, all teeth. “Unless you count laying down beneath Spain and taking whatever he gave as work.” He twisted Roderich around. “This way!”

“You stay out of my marriages!” Austria’s face was red with indignation and embarrassment. “What happens in my bedroom is of none of your concern!”

“You’re right it’s not. But what doesn’t happen is and I know there’s been a whole lot of nothing in there.” He put a hand on Austria’s cheek. Prussia’s eyes were swimming with sickening contempt. “I’ve never understood why everyone’s so desperate to marry you. You can hardly fulfill your spousal duties and then you wonder why some vagrant like me can come in and take them over. It’s a shame, really.” He winked. “Wouldn’t change it for a thing.”

“You’re pathetic. Are you that jealous of everything I have that you’ll never be satisfied? I would pity you if you weren’t so loathsome.” He smacked Prussia’s hand away. “Your inferiority must eat you alive. Anything you could ever want, I hold it so firmly in my grasp. How do you handle it?” He looked the Prussian up-and-down. “Obviously, you don’t. What man in full control of himself would go to such lengths to humiliate himself in such ways at every given opportunity?” They were dancing on the edge of a cliff and, oddly enough, Roderich couldn’t bother to care. His mind, his whole being, was completely focused on eradicating this blight. If he went down too, fine. Such would be the price.

“Because you can’t resist me either. Sure, I may look like a fool to everyone, but I’m not alone.” Prussia’s breath stung hot against Austria’s ear. It sent a shiver down his spine. “You live to roll around in the mud with me. Face it, Roddy, you’d be lost without me.”

Hungary shoved them apart, breaking the spell of their mutual madness. Her voice was hushed. “A few things. Do you two do that often because, for some odd reason, that was incredibly arousing. Amazing. I’m blushing.” They shot her a look. Her cheeks burned a deeper shade of red. “Never mind. Maybe this you’ll find important: you two were very loud. Everyone heard and now they’re staring.”

The two men dared to look away from her. She was right. All eyes were on them. Roderich met the gaze of an incredibly upset Maria Theresa. His mouth suddenly became very dry. “Gilbert, I think we’re in trouble.”

Gilbert, for his part, had made eye-contact with the minister who was supposed to be his chaperone tonight. Podewils looked ready to unleash his full wrath. “You don’t say.”

The three of them were ushered into one of the nearby rooms. While they waited for the queen and minister to arrive, Hungary took it upon herself to lecture them. “What were you two thinking! What compelled you to revert back to children!” She shook her head. “Forget children, a whole pack of toddlers would’ve behaved better! I’m ashamed of you both!”

Gilbert was slumped on the sofa, his head buried in his hands. “This wouldn’t have happened if he let go of his pride and didn’t jump in between us! But no, little Roddy always has to show me up.” He cast a pitiful glare at his cousin. “Do you feel like a big man now?”

Roderich had his back to them as he stared outside the window. “Are you seriously blaming me? If you knew how to conduct yourself in front of polite society, none of this would’ve occurred! Instead, you’re the one who must constantly show he’s no slouch! That he can do whatever he wants, that he can work with the adults!” He turned around now, a cold fire burning in his eyes. “You can’t, Gilbert! You don’t have the pedigree to operate at these strata! Get these delusions of competition out of your mind, embrace your place in life and then you’ll find yourself much happier.”

“Right because it was fine for you to grab the laurels of power, but anyone else who wants it obviously can’t handle it. You should be thankful that-”

Maria Theresa burst into the room. “Silence! Both of you, shut up! For the love of God, stop talking!” She narrowed her sights on Prussia first. “How dare you! You vile little creature. We kindly invite you into our palace, into our capital, and you show us this kind of disrespect? Have you no self-restraint? No understanding of how to manage yourself amongst men? I shouldn’t be surprised. You invite a beast, he’ll behave like a beast.”

Roderich forgot himself. He sneered at Gilbert. “See? It’s apparent to everyone that you are the most wretched creature on the planet. Why bother carrying on at this rate?”

Maria Theresa’s rage turned on him. She began striding towards Roderich. “And you. I’ve never been more humiliated in my life! How foolish of me to ever put my faith in you. You were such a good man, Roderich. So intelligent, so capable, so dependable. Was my trust misplaced? How ridiculous it seems now, to believe you were ever capable of behaving in an acceptable manner.” She had him backed against a wall. “I look at you and I want to be angry, but how can I be? How can the strong be angry at the weak? Roderich, I know now you’re a weak man.”

Podewils cleared his throat, reminding everyone of his presence. “Your majesty, you have my deepest and most sincere apologies for tonight’s mishap. I can assure you that his Prussian majesty does not endorse the conduct of this most insolent and moronic man who should frankly be ashamed of the dishonor he’s brought on his own people!”

The queen rolled her eyes. “Oh, quit it monsieur. I’m not declaring war.” Her eyes narrowed, settling on a subdued Roderich. “If I was, I’d have to declare it on my own people first.” She huffed, straightening up. “Frankly, I want to forget this whole matter as soon as I possibly can. This night has been a complete wash for all of us involved. All I want is for you and that, that thing to leave Vienna as soon as humanly possible. Now, if you don’t mind,” she left the room in a flurry, slamming the door shut behind her.

All the wind returned to Gilbert’s sails. He rose and clapped Roderich on the back. “All’s well that ends well, Roddy. I ruin your little party and I face no repercussions. I say that’s a good resolution for us both.” He quirked his head to the side. “What’s up with your eye? Did you always have that twitch?”

“Get off me!” Roderich shoved him away. His breathing was ragged. “Why must everything revolve around you? Why must you always hijack everyone’s attention and steal away whatever remnants of my dignity remain from our last incident? You are no better than any other vermin, I’ve got half a mind to-” He cut himself off, a moment a clarity cutting through the haze. He straightened his jacket out, striding for the door. “You’re a plague among Europe and now I’m suddenly seen as a victim. I’ve got all the most important diplomats outside. Why am I continuing to tussle with you? What worth do you have for me?” Hand on the doorknob, he cast one last look at a surprised Gilbert. “Enjoy your victories while they last, Preussen.”

Unconcerned, Gilbert slid over to Erzsébet and snaked an arm around her waist. “Now that we’re away from prying eyes, I never got to properly tell you how gorgeous you look tonight. If I’m remembering correctly, didn’t you promise me a stroll through the gardens? I think the roses are in bloom.” He kissed her hand, holding her gaze the whole time. “A quick one. Before I have to leave.”

She was smiling, but it lacked any real warmth. “The moments passed, Gil.” She clutched her hand to her chest, appraising him. “We’re not exactly friends right now, are we? Do you have any idea how many men of mine you murdered after your ridiculous incursion?”

“Not at all, but I remember seeing you leading them in battle. You know what that does to me.” A smile like a wolf. She thought him depraved. “A little animosity can help to spice things up. You should know that from living with him so long.”

“How’s this for animosity?” She dug her heel into his foot, putting all her weight into it. For good measure, she twisted it in, sending a shock of pain up Gilbert’s spine. He’d never seen her so spiteful. It drove him wild. “You should be satisfied from humiliating Roderich in such a way and, if that’s not enough,” her lips brushed against his ear. He felt his heart beating through his chest. “Use your hand.” He watched her exit the room, silently begging her to stay.

Instead, the only touch he received was Podewils yanking at his elbow. “We’re leaving now. Before you can manage to worm your way into further trouble.”

Glum, he let himself be dragged along. “Relax, Heinrich. All my trouble left with her.” Sighing, he tried to muster up some fake cheer. He managed to genuinely find some. “What are we worrying for? The old man said I’d be fine as long as whatever happens is funny.” He snickered. “And, admit it, this whole mess is hysterical.” If he could laugh at Austria’s expense, didn’t that count for something? Who cared how it ended for him, as long as that prick was sufficiently embarrassed, he could rest easily at night. Yes, that was all that mattered, forget his tattered dignity and what he couldn’t have. Austrian suffering was the most beautiful reward of them all.

#aph prussia #hws prussia #aph austria #hws austria #aph hungary #hws hungary #APH Old Fritz #hws old fritz #aph maria theresa #hws maria theresa #hetalia #aph #hws #aph fanfic #hws fanfic #hetalia fanfic #hetalia fanfiction #historical hetalia

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trainsinanime · 5 years ago

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History of Berlin’s railway system

Berlin is an interesting city to me. While some European capitals, like Paris or Vienna, clearly express a more or less well executed plan, and others like London just seem to sort of happened, Berlin has a history of grandiose plans that never get fully realised because funding runs out or the political situation changes drastically, until the next big plan comes along. This continues even to this day. A good example of that is the railroads of Berlin, a topic that I find interesting but that is never really described as a big picture thing anywhere.

The modern day scenario seems simple at first: There is a central railway station, and then a lot of minor ones. But if you look into it, you realise that this central station looks nothing like the historic terminal stations elsewhere, or that the center of the subway map is not the central station, but instead regional railway station Friedrichstraße. And the map is splattered with subway and S-Bahn stations like “Nordbahnhof”, “Anhalter Bahnhof”, “Görlitzer Bahnhof” and so on that are all named after some major station (“Bahnhof” in german), but the major station is nowhere to be found. So what gives?

Historically, Berlin’s railway situation started out very similar to that of e.g. Paris or London: Lots of different railway companies built their own lines into the city, each with their own major railway station. These stations were generally known after the cities or regions they served: Hamburger Bahnhof was the station for trains to Hamburg, same with Görlitzer Bahnhof, Dresdener Bahnhof and so on. The Anhalter Bahnhof served the historic region Anhalt, nowadays part of the state of Sachsen-Anhalt. The Stettiner Bahnhof (Stettin station) was renamed after World War 2 to Nordbahnhof (North station) because the town of Stettin had then become part of Poland as Szczecin; similarly the Schlesischer Bahnhof (Silesian station) was renamed to Ostbahnhof (East station) for the same reason. Finally the Lehrter Bahnhof served Hannover, but is named after the railway town of Lehrte just outside of Hannover because that’s where the line from Berlin met another pre-existing line. And just for clarity, the line leading to each station is named after the station, i.e. the line to the Lehrter Bahnhof is the Lehrter Bahn (Lehrte Line), the one to the Ostbahnhof (East Station) is the Ostbahn (East Line) and so on.

Unlike Paris or London, the independence of the different railway companies did not last long; the state of Prussia, of which Berlin was a part and arguably the center, bought all major lines during the second half of the 19th century. Later, in 1924, the federal Deutsche Reichsbahn took over from the Prussian state. While the lines did remain fairly independent, larger projects were now centrally planned, and as stations got upgraded, many got merged. For example, the Anhalter Bahnhof absorbed the duties of the Dresdener Bahnhof and became the prime station for any trains going south; meanwhile, the Lehrter Bahnhof swallowed the Hamburger Bahnhof, which remained as a freight-only station, and thus took over all trains going west.

All the terminal stations that weren’t connected were terribly inconvenient, of course. Passengers could walk between them or take a carriage ride (not that they’d be happy about it), but for freight this wasn’t as easy. The first attempt to solve this was the Verbindungsbahn, “connection line”, which connected several stations at street level, essentially as a tram, but running main line locomotives and cars. Since those have much weaker brakes than trams, this mean that speeds were slow, but accidents were also still frequent. The whole thing was a nuisance and shut down relatively quickly.

The second attempt was much larger: The “Ringbahn”, the circle line, connected all the stations as a big circle. It was meant primarily for freight, so it did not pass near the station buildings, but rather several kilometres away from them. That way trains could access the ends of the associated freight yards. While it was meant for freight, suburban trains were also offered and proved very popular. They still run today, as lines S41 (clockwise) and S42 (counter-clockwise). You can stay on these trains basically indefinitely as they orbit Berlin at exactly one round per hour.

The Ringbahn, in short the Ring among friends, was a roaring success, for freight. For long-distance passengers, it was kind of useless. That’s where the second line comes in, the Stadtbahn, which roughly translates to City Line.

(A note about terminology here: Stadtbahn is also the German term used for what is called light rail in English, i.e. tram systems that are a bit subway-like. Thankfully Berlin doesn’t have that, just a normal subway and a normal tram. Also note that Berlin’s suburban railway system is called S-Bahn; nobody knows whether it derives from Stadtbahn or not, but the S-Bahn covers more than just the Stadtbahn and the Stadtbahn carries trains that are not S-Bahn. Sorry for the confusion, I didn’t invent these terms.)

The Stadtbahn connected many major stations on a west-east line. It technically starts in Spandau and ends at Ostbahnhof (where it becomes the Ostbahn), but for practical points and purposes it’s best to think of it as a line that runs more or less straight through the Ring in east-west direction. The parts where it crosses the Ring are creatively called Westkreuz (West Cross) and Ostkreuz (East Cross), respectively. The Stadtbahn carried both suburban trains and some long-distance trains, though most still ended in their respective terminal stations. Thus, the problem was solved for east-west lines; people could take a through train or use the suburban trains to quickly transfer between stations. However, the line did not connect the Nordbahnhof (North station) and the very important Anhalter Bahnhof (for trains going south).

This problem got solved in the 1920s by constructing the Nord-Süd-Tunnel (North-South-Tunnel). This one only carries the suburban trains, which had by now been electrified and renamed to S-Bahn, to better compete with the U-Bahn, the subway network. Since the S-Bahn uses subway-like technology, the Nord-Süd-Tunnel seems very much like a subway line when you’re in it. The differences are mostly about who is responsible (the government-owned railway company instead of the city subway company) and service patterns (S-Bahn trains run not quite as often, but far wider out into the suburbs).

The Nord-Süd-Tunnel primarily connected the Nordbahnhof and Anhalter Bahnhof, but also ran further north and south than either. Thus it created a new line that bisected the Ring in North-South direction. The stations where this line crosses the Ring are nowadays Südkreuz (South cross) and, you guessed it… Gesundbrunnen. Yeah, they tried renaming it to Nordkreuz (North cross), but the locals preferred the old name. The Nord-Süd-Tunnel and the Stadtbahn cross at the station Friedrichstraße; as far as I know there have never been any plans to rename it to “central cross” even though it would make sense.

So at the end of the 1920s, we have terminal stations, we have a Ring that used to be outside of the city but is very much becoming inside it as the city grows, and we have an east-west and a north-south connection between the terminal stations, where the east-west one can also be used for through trains. North-South not so much, but because there is nothing interesting between Berlin and the Baltic sea in North direction, there isn’t really that much demand for it anyway. (Dear readers from Rostock: You know I’m right.)

The main problem now is that the Ring is getting a bit too crowded with all the freight trains, not all of which want to go to Berlin anyway. Construction starts on a new line, the Güteraußenring (Outer Freight Ring), to form at least a partial outer circle for freight trains that want to avoid the busy fiddly bits of inner Berlin.

And then Germany goes ahead and starts a war.

German railways are a crucial part of the worst war in human history, handling essentially all the logistics for it. People talk a lot about the Autobahn motorway network that Hitler took credit for, but the war logistics were all about railways. That includes the Holocaust, in which people were carried to the death camps by train.

When the war was over, bombing and the fighting had reduced much of Berlin to rubble. Most of the railway network was damaged, although a lot was brought back rather quickly. The fundamental design of Berlin’s network was still the pre-war state, with all the same stations and lines, although now lacking roofs on the stations and with much lower capacity. The railways still remained more important than ever, especially for all the displaced persons seeking new homes.

At the same time, the Allieds divided Germany into four sectors, which soon evolved into what we colloquially know as West Germany (American, British and French sectors) and East Germany (Soviet sector). Berlin was fully surrounded by the soviet sector, but got a special status where it was split into (the same) four sectors as well. That later devolved into the division of a western part of Berlin and an eastern part of Berlin, as the Cold War began in earnest.

(Aside: Especially in Germany, the Cold War was in part full of pettiness on either side, and there was a time when it was a political statement whether you said Westberlin or Berlin (West). Let’s not get into this, the post is way too long as it is already; nowadays you’re free to use whatever you like.)

One of the last things all four Allied powers could agree on before the cold war started in earnest was that the railroad of the Soviet sector should operate the railroads in all of Berlin, presumably mostly for practical purposes since it was not possible to reach Berlin except by passing through the Soviet sector anyway. (Well, except by plane, which is another important part of Berlin’s post-war history that I can’t go into here right now)

The division of Berlin happened along the lines of pre-existing local administrative boundaries. Of course, commute routes and all sorts of infrastructure had habitually crossed these lines before, so the division soon began to hurt severely. That was kind of the point; Berlin had been split into sectors precisely because the Allieds did not want a functional powerful Germany and german government any time soon again.

For the railroads, the split was particularly problematic. Almost all major stations lay either entirely or partially in the western sector, or the lines to it ran through the western sector. The one exception was the Ostbahnhof (East station), which lies entirely within the Soviet sector.

This was a problem for the newly created GDR (East German) government, which sought to control and stop traffic over the new inner-german border. As a result, all the big terminal stations got closed down in the early 1950s, except for the Ostbahnhof, which essentially became East Berlin’s single main station. For now, the Stadtbahn, Nord-Süd-Tunnel and Ringbahn still existed and ran basically like before. They all crossed sector boundaries, but they were indispensable for traffic to and from East Berlin; there was just no way around them.

So the next step was to build a way around them. The Außenring (Outer Circle) was built between 1951 and 1961, using parts of the Güteraußenring (Freight Outer Circle) that had been started before the war, but replanned so it clearly avoided any western territory. All lines leading into Berlin got massive junctions where they met this new outer circle, which allowed diverting the trains to the Outer Circle instead. Some also allowed diverting trains from the Outer Circle to West Berlin, but most didn’t. For a good example, look at Hohen Neuendorf, a suburb just outside of Berlin (and thus fully in the soviet sector), which contains a massive loop arrangement that allows trains from the North (via the Nordbahn) to continue in either direction along the circle, but does not allow trains on the circle to continue south into (West) Berlin. The single track that leads south nowadays, for the S-Bahn, was actually cut and only restored in the 1990s.

With this project finished, the GDR government did not depend on West Berlin for rail travel anymore, so the very same year, they started building the Berlin Wall. The division between the East and West was complete and seemed final.

Railway lines into West Berlin still existed, though. The Nord-Süd-Tunnel, which crossed the sector border dozens of times, became limited to people from West Berlin only; station exits in East Berlin were closed, and stations that only had exits in East Berlin were closed entirely, with armed guards on the platforms that the trains were only allowed to pass at slow speeds. The (inner) Ring remained for suburban trains that could only run half of it now on either side, and for some freight. Some of the lines to the old terminal stations also remained as freight lines. The Hamburger Bahnhof, for example, became a container freight terminal in the 1980s. Finally, the Stadtbahn became the main line connecting West Berlin to West Germany via rail. Its central station became the previously unremarkable Zoologischer Garten, or Zoo in short, the largest regional station along the line. The “international” trains that officially connected East Germany with West Germany started and ended in Friedrichstraße, the first station of the Stadtbahn that was entirely in the East, which gained massive border control facilities.

And that was basically it for four decades. Railways in the West of Berlin slowly atrophied; since the railways were operated by the East and all ticket money went there, every Berliner saw it as their patriotic duty to avoid it where possible and instead take the subway, and for longer distances, prefer travel by coach or flying, made dirt cheap thanks to West German subsidies.

In the East, the railways remained dominant and important, but lack of money meant very little was actually being built. The outer circle became an important line for suburban trains, which became known as “Sputniks” - just like the satellite, they orbited West Berlin. The main station was the Ostbahnhof, which even got the name “Hauptbahnhof” in the 1980s but then lost it again in the 1990s. Through trains often instead stopped in the local station Berlin Lichtenberg, which lies on a line connecting the inner to the outer circle and thus allowed trains from all direction to all directions.

And then, to everybody’s surprise, the Wall fell.

The first few years after the Wall fell were mostly hectic attempts to get any meaningful service up and running again, and closing the gaps that the wall had made. The Stadtbahn, Nord-Süd-Tunnel and finally the Ring all got reconnected one by one. Long-distance trains mainly used the Stadtbahn, stopping in Zoo for the West and Ostbahnhof for the East. But both were small, and trains to North or South needed to take huge detours via the Außenring. With Berlin set to grow massively in a reunified Germany, it was time to go big or go home, and to completely rethink how the Berlin’s railway system, which had been gutted forty years prior, worked.

Thus was born the Hauptbahnhof, a term that gets translated to English as either central station, main station or not at all, depending on how the translator is feeling on any given day.

This new central, most important station of Berlin was a massive undertaking. The station sits on the space of the former Lehrter Bahnhof. This space right in the middle of the reunified Berlin was essentially empty, occupied only by abandoned railway tracks on the West side, and the Wall and its associated Death Strip on the East side. The station is located right on the Stadtbahn, offering it great East-West connectivity. For North-South connectivity, they couldn’t use the existing Nord-Süd-Tunnel, which was too small for regular trains, so they built a second North-South route with its own tunnel, specifically for long-distance trains. These tracks intersect with the Stadtbahn at the Hauptbahnhof, where they form the lower level of the station. The new north-south-tracks cross the Ring at the same locations, Gesundbrunnen und Südkreuz. Specifically around Gesundbrunnen there are major track works (which extend all the way to the next stations in all directions) that also allow trains in East-West-Directions to be routed onto the lower North-South tracks, which allows keeping the Stadtbahn free, as there is much more East-West than North-South traffic.

And that’s basically where we’re at right now: One central station for both east-west and north-south traffic, with two circles to funnel trains from all directions to whatever tracks you prefer, and an extensive suburban rail network.

But of course Berlin is never finished. Some of the pain points that people are trying to address right now:

First, the central station could be built because it is in the middle of nowhere, but the problem is that now it is in the middle of nowhere; a station that can essentially only be reached by rail. Since it was built at a new North-South-Tunnel, you can’t access the old North-South-Tunnel from here, so for the first few years almost everyone who arrived here looked around, then immediately boarded a suburban train to go one station further, to Friedrichstraße, because that was the station from which you could actually get to places.

It’s gotten somewhat better due to more development around the station, and due to a tram line opening there. The history of the subway line U55 is again too long for this already massive post, but basically the central station will finally get a useful subway connection by the end of this year (2020).

The next big plan is to build essentially a third North-South-Tunnel for the S-Bahn suburban trains, which will first run from the Ring to the central station, then back to the old Nord-Süd-Tunnel for a bit, before then continuing west along the Tiergartentunnel again. The project is known as S21 - no relation to the one in Stuttgart, except for the fact that it’s also massively behind schedule, over budget, and nobody knows whether it’ll ever be finished.

Another problem is that several of the radial lines into Berlin got cut behind the Außenring. A good example is the Dresdener Bahn from Dresden: It runs normally from Dresden to the Außenring, but there, it ends. The line does continue, but at the moment only for S-Bahn trains, so long-distance trains need to continue along the Außenring until they reach the Anhalter Bahn, which allows them to continue into the city. A similar example exists at the North end with the Nordbahn (around Hohen Neuendorf which I mentioned before). These will need to be restored at some point; the Dresdener Bahn in particular because it will also be the main rail access to Berlin’s new airport, which is another fun story in and of itself.

Beyond that, no major changes seem on the horizon right now. There are more plans, but they all focus on mkaing things better for regional trains, reopening S-Bahn lines, new regional stations at existing junctions, and more subway and tram lines. But the major spine of the network looks like it has finally reached a steady state that is a good foundation for all future work.

Of course, this is Berlin, so who knows how things will look in a couple of decades.

#berlin #railway #railroad #history #germany #sbahn #i read a post saying please write long posts explaining your particular fields of interest #next thing i knew i had written 4000 words #i know this will get no notes but i had fun writing it and sometimes that's enough

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alifeasvivid · 6 years ago

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A tarot interpretation of Hetalia cardverse because why not?

What follows are not only my own interpretations of the cards, but also the characters... so... headcanons of headcanons. LOL Though I do actually study and read tarot.

The whole cardverse thing in Hetalia is pretty interesting in the context of tarot. A lot of people probably already know this, but the suits in a deck of cards correspond to the minor arcana of a typical Rider-Waite tarot deck. This is the deck around which most modern variations are based.

A typical tarot deck has 78 cards: the 21 Major Arcana (The Fool, The Lovers, Death, The Hanged Man, etc.) and 56 Minor Arcana, which are the suits ace through 10 and then the Page (or Prince or Princess or what have you, this one varies a lot), the Knight, the Queen, and the King. They are the court cards and when they turn up in a reading they usually represent an actual person.

The suits of tarot correspond to the suits of playing cards as follows:

Clubs = Wands = spirituality, essence and the soul, element: fire Hearts = Cups = emotions and relationships, element: water Diamonds = Pentacles = financial, physical, worldly matters, element: earth Spades = Swords = thought, communication, suffering* element: air

(long post is long)

*seriously, Swords is the suit which has the most overtly negative cards. A lot of readers struggle with it.

The Court Cards usually have their own elemental correspondences which combine with the suit element, useful for understanding the card itself:

The King: Earth The Queen: Water The Knight: Fire The Page: Air

Obviously, the King and Queen roles are the same in both decks. For this, the Jacks will correspond to the tarot Knights.

I’m only going to use the original twelve poker chip concept art thingies and I’m going to skip Prussia, Sealand, and Austria cuz.... I don’t wanna be up ALL night and... it’s my dumb post and no one asked for this so I’ll do what I want P:

So here we go: (I’m going to refer to all the characters by their human names beacuse I want to be clear I’m not making statements about actual countries.)

Ivan: the King of Wands - Earth of fire. Extremely appropriate for Ivan, actually. The King of Wands is deliberate and direct action; control; an agent of change; intense willpower and creative energy, but stubborn and sometimes critical. This King is authoritative, but kind, fair, and willing to listen... just not always easy to convince or persuade. Ludwig: the King of Cups - Earth of water. Such an odd choice at first glance, you might think. I did. Ludwig is not very *romantic* but that might actually be the point. The King of Cups is the collected, compassionate, emotionally mature sovereign who places a high value on mercy over justice. Whatever is done, it must be done for the common good. Kiku: the Queen of Cups - Water of water. And we all thought “why isn’t Italy the queen of hearts!?!” but the Queen of Cups is highly intuitive and the most adept of the court cards at “reading the atmosphere.” Where the Queen of Pentacles is a nurturing caregiver, this Queen is a healer and peacekeeper. Wise, emotionally secure, and in tune with the natural flow of life. Feliciano: the Knight of Cups - Fire of water. So why wasn’t Feli chosen to be the queen? I don’t know how much Hima knows about tarot, but this choice is spot on. The Knight of Cups is the chivalrous knight of courtly love. This Knight is impulsive and often naive, but sincere and always willing to do anything for the cause of beauty and love. Francis: the King of Pentacles - Earth of earth. Another one that made me scratch my head at first. The King of Pentacles is refined, has exceptional and subtle taste and enjoys the finer things in life. This King is a successful provider to those who must be provided for. There is a love of a life well-lived here, rather than the incessant need to accumulate wealth. Vash: the Knight of Pentacles - Fire of earth. So this is probably the only one more accurate than Feli (not that I think adherence to tarot was the goal with these designs). The character representing the country known for its banking system and attention to detail is the Knight of Pentacles, a card representing empire building, wealth accumulation, and attention to detail. Alfred: the King of Swords - Earth of air. Dedicated to equality, the King of Swords applies logic to all situations and loves technology in praxis rather than for its own sake. Mentally sharp, balanced, and intelligent, this King sees through to the heart of any problem and how to solve it though sometimes the emotional or relational cost is left by the wayside. Arthur: the Queen of Swords - Water of air. Also an appropriate one. This Queen’s nature is intentionally mercurial, but don’t think for a second that your true nature is hidden. The King of Swords sees through problems, the Queen of Swords sees through people. With a mind as fast as lightning, this Queen is easily adaptive, effortlessly charming, often merciless, and lethal if necessary. Yao: the Knight of Swords - Fire of air. Another one which is not immediately obvious. The Knight of Swords is one of action, quick thinking, and the skillful art of creation through destruction. This Knight understands that to build something new, something old must be torn down. The Knight of Swords is impulsive, but that recklessness is based in deep, innate wisdom.

That was fun! I’m actually rather surprised by how many adhere to the tarot so well to the point that I think maybe Hima does know about it? I hope this was at least interesting to some people. It’d be cool to see how this might effect the characters in a fic or something... as if I don’t have enough WIP’s. P: Ah well. I have to have at least 5 current ones to maintain my immortality.

#hetalia #meta post #this was just for fun #cardverse

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wavemaker9 · 6 years ago

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tfw you take four days struggling to decide between a bunch of ideas for Day 5: Myths/Legends or AU Day and then end up getting a brand new idea and finishing the fic in just a few hours on the fifth day

Title: Gold Digger Characters: (Superpower AU) Spain (Antonio), Prussia (Gilbert)

“Sit down,” Gilbert snaps the moment he sees the other start to move, voice firm and sharp and with a force the brunet doesn’t think he’s heard from him in all the time they’ve known each other.

Toni hesitates, but finally follows the order, sinking back into the seat. He’s careful, mainly about his hands and where he places them- or rather doesn’t. He doesn’t use the arm rest to help ease him back, or set the other on the spot of cushion next to his leg. He just keeps his arms in front of himself, letting them settle and interlock fingers in his lap. “Gilbert, I should just-.”

“No,” Gil cuts off, staring hard at the other. “You don’t get to leave,” he says. He forces himself to release the fists his hands have started to curl into, but only really so he can cross his arms over his chest instead. “You don’t get to lie to me this whole time and then start to turn my damn sofa into gold and then try to leave without a word, Toni.”

There’s a wince that comes onto the tanned face, shoulders lifting slightly as his head sinks down a bit. Green eyes stare off, locking with a spot on the floor on the far side of the room, until Gilbert tells Toni to look at him, and he sighs and glances back up at the other. It’s a weird feeling for him to be so at a loss for words, and he struggles to find something to say to calm the other down before offering up, “I wasn’t lying the whole time.” He recognizes in the other’s face that it’s the wrong thing to say, and Gilbert recognizes that Toni recognizes this, so he doesn’t waste time to say as much.

Instead he fights the urge to curl fingers again, forcing out a sharp exhale. Then he moves over, to the other side of the couch, sinking onto a seat as well. He avoids the middle spot, where the portion meant for resting heads has started to turn from a dark gray-blue in color to a metallic gold. In his mind, Toni sees the need to skip over the spot, but in his heart, he feels that extra space between them just a little.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Gilbert asks after a few beats of silence. His shoulders finally sink a bit, his arms unfolding from each other and settling hands on the cushion. His voice is slow and gains an earnestness to it when he insists, “You could have told me.”

Antonio’s eyes shut for a moment, lip twitching up into a skeptical sort of smile. It’s instinctive and only lasts for a second before easing back towards the slight frown held before. “How would I know that?”

“Because you know me,” Gilbert shoots back, disbelief of his own building up in his voice, sounding almost incredulous of such a question being asked. He has to fight off the want to just laugh at the very idea. “Toni, we’ve known each other for years. We’ve been dating for a full fucking year and you think I’m going to start hating you because you can turn parts of my furniture metallic?” He can’t resist the urge anymore, this quick laugh bubbling up out of his throat. He turns to look away for a few seconds, shaking his head at the other before turning back. “I mean it’s kinda rude and inconvenient as fuck, sure, but like. ...For real?”

There’s something that flips in the Spaniard at that reaction, and he blinks a little in surprise at it. Despite the other’s previous words, it’s only a response so flippant as that that actually seems to sink a very real consideration into his chest that maybe Gilbert might actually be alright to know about this.

Sure enough, to further press the point, Gil continues speaking. “Toni, bro, come on. We’ve talked about mutants before. When have I ever said anything to give you the idea that I wasn’t totally cool with them? I run- you’ve read my blog, right? Or was that a lie, too?” He knows it isn’t, they’ve talked about articles from it enough, but he can’t resist the comment anyway, and it at least gets a quick little laugh out of the other. “The only thing I do on there is talk about how cool some of the mutants in this city are.” When it’s pointed out to him that he talks badly of others, he has to keep from settling his face in his hands. “Because they’re supervillains, dude. You’re not a supervillain, right?” And then before there’s even time for Antonio to open his mouth or move his head, he suddenly leans in, repeating, “Right? Now that’d be a dealbreaker.”

Antonio chuckles as he shakes his head, feeling a cautious amount of relief flooding his chest as Gilbert continues to care more about his not being honest about his superpowers than the superpowers themselves. “No, no, no, don’t worry. I try to stay out of the super business altogether, to be honest.” He lets out a soft breath, gaze drifting forward again, and adds that he doesn’t really like using his powers, so he tries to avoid situations that would make him.

“Then you’re fine!” Gilbert declares quickly, waving a hand to dismiss even the very concept of anything else being true. His hand drops, then, and he falls silent for a moment, before taking another breath and reaching his hand forward to take one of the other’s. “Hey, seriously, can we agree no more secre-?” Pale fingers touch tanned ones and Antonio flinches in surprise, drawn from where he’d been staring off and instinctively withdrawing his hand for a moment. Gil’s words stop short, looking back at the other in confusion, though he’s met with a similar look in return, as if Toni is trying and failing to figure him out. “You… really thought I wasn’t going to take this well, huh?”

Antonio registers the vague disbelief in the other’s voice and immediately apologizes, reaching for Gilbert’s hand and squeezing it tightly, almost a little too much so, in his own. “It’s just… I turned something to gold in front of you two minutes ago and you don’t even hesitate or nothing to grab my hand again. The same hand, even. ...Given my track record with people knowing what I can do, that don’t totally make sense to me.” He flashes a smile over to Gilbert, small and uncertain. It’s a rare look for his grin and it does not suit him. “I’m glad! I am, but…. I did have my doubts. There are people who talk about how cool lions are… or bears or sharks or any number of creatures. But if they suddenly found out one was living in their home with them, sleeping in their bed, it’d be a different story.”

Gilbert’s expression slips into a frown, and he scoots closer to the other on the couch. “You’re not a lion, though, Toni,” he points out, voice somehow mixing sympathy and a feeling of stating the obvious into the same tone without sounding awkward. His other hand lifts, resting on a sunken shoulder. “Or any of those other things, either.”

“Some people in this city would think I’m worse-.”

“Well I’m not one of them,” Gilbert counters instantly, voice firm again, though thankfully not to the level of frustration it’d had before. “We’ve been dating for a year now, Toni. If you can’t trust me when I say I don’t hate-.”

Those sunken shoulders lift now, rolling in a vague sort of shrug as Antonio’s head tilts from one side to the other. “That ain’t just it,” he interrupts, adding that he’s dealt with others that didn’t hate his powers, either. “Believe me, you find out a lot of people are willing to make exceptions on a no-mutant policy when that mutant can turn things into solid gold. I’ve had too many relatives and other guardians in the past who wanted me to earn my place in their family once they knew what I could do.”

A breath escapes him, coming out far easier than it should given how he’s actually feeling. He turns to look at the other, making eye contact and pushing another faint grin onto his face in an attempt to ignore the ache and fear the memories threaten to stir up. “I just didn’t want things to change between us. We don’t exactly live luxuriously and I worried that even if you weren’t angry or scared at what I was, maybe you’d feel mad or betrayed or something that I wasn’t doing more with what I can do.” His hand pulls Gilbert’s up to his lips, pressing a light kiss to the pale skin. “I love being with you just as we are and I didn’t want my powers getting in the way of that.”

“Well,” Gilbert begins, leaning in again. The hand holding Toni’s squeezes once more and the other slides along the top of Toni’s back, so that he rests in a half hug of the other man. “Consider this my confirmation that they don’t have to, okay? It’s cool that you can turn things into gold, sure.” He glances to his side where the spot of transmuted fabric stands out. “Again, love if you didn’t do it to my shit anymore, but... relationships’re full of compromises so-.”

He’s pleased when he gets the desired reaction at the line, a small fit of laughter that he can feel help ease some of the tension in those shoulders. His own smile broadens in response, proud that he can still make the other laugh at just about anything when he wants to. As the laughter starts to die down, Toni speaks up, apologizing again and trying to explain himself. He nods to the television they’d been watching, now turned off, admitting some of the news stories about mutants in the city always make him anxious, and when he’s stressed and not paying attention, his powers can creep into an active state without him always noticing.

Gil waves it off, though, reassuring the other that it’s not that big of a deal in the end anyway, before returning back to his original point. “Seriously, though. I’m not going to kick you out and I’m sure as fuck not going to- I dunno, make you earn your worth to me or whatever shit you’re worried about.” He drops his head down a bit to get a better look at the other’s face, reddish eyes meeting with green and mouth below them settling into a softer smile when they do. “Yeah, I’d love to have more money; most people would. But not as much as I love you.” It takes a moment, but then comes the smile and nod in response from Toni, accepting the words Gilbert says. It’s truly a relief to see him finally acknowledge the fact.

“I’ll try to remember that- and also be more careful -in the future,” Toni agrees, leaning his body over to press against Gil’s a little playfully. “Thank you,” he adds after a few moments, then, more emphatically, “Thank you.”

Gil laughs, pulling his hand free from the grip to make another gesture of waving off the concern. “Yeah, yeah, of course. I mean- I get it, but also, like... I still can’t believe you actually thought I was going to take this badly or something.”

Toni’s gaze shifts to the other, smile growing on his face as he suddenly feels very lucky in this moment. “Yeah, I guess me neither,” he finally answers, reaching his hands forward for Gil’s sides, tugging the other into a kiss.

After a few moments, Toni pushes Gil to sit fully against the back of the sofa, starting to lean further into the kiss. He stops sharply though when Gilbert’s immediate reaction is one of pain, and it hardly takes half a push from the pale hand that moves to his chest to get him to scoot back. When given space to do so, Gil leans forward as well, other hand coming up to rub at a now sore spot on the back of his head. Red eyes look to the spot he was pressed up against, green eyes following the gaze, and seeing the spot of golden metal still remaining embedded in the fabric.

Gilbert’s attention shifts back to Toni, only a beat going by before asking, “Your powers wouldn’t happen to also cover un-golding things, would they?”

The embarrassed grin that spreads wide onto tanned lips, accompanied by a quick and nervous chuckle, answers before the words even need to. “Er- not really, no.”

#ignore this #aphrarepairweek2018 #yay story time #amusing muse musings #hey you au #au superpower edition #the boss kid #hey what's the name for prussia and spain?#pruspa?#gonna go with pruspa #misskhep

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greed-the-dorkalicious · 7 years ago

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For old times’ sake, here are some of my favorite pieces of bad Hetalia anime official art, in no particular order:

This. This fucking thing. What the hell is going on here? Why are they throwing tomatoes at each other in a back alley? Why does it look like this whole scene is covered in blood? What is happening to Spain’s arm? Why are Spain and Prussia wearing T-shirts but France is wearing the world’s ugliest blouse? Is that bird supposed to be a design on Prussia’s shirt, or is it just like, kind of hovering in front of the camera with really bad composition? Either way this picture is vaguely terrifying. Also, as usual, everyone except Prussia has the default Studio DEEN “Open mouth, staring directly ahead of them like an MMD model someone didn’t finish posing” expression. Look at that. What is France looking at? What is Spain looking at? Presumably he’s about to throw a tomato at Prussia, but he’s not looking at Prussia, he’s looking somewhere in the distance up in the air between France and Prussia. I feel like you could literally cut and paste Spain and France’s heads onto other pieces of official art from this era and they’d be the exact same drawing.

I hate this entire image. It’s hideous and everyone’s faces look wrong. Also, why is it entirely in ugly shades of brown? I hate it. I don’t like looking at this image. I hope whoever drew it feels remorse. (Also shoutout to France and Germany’s soulless glazed over eyes there)

Ignoring Austria’s owl neck, the ugly attempt at some sort of painting filter, the nonsensical wrinkles on everyone’s clothes, and whatever the fuck is going on with Roman’s face, just... Prussia has six fingers on his right hand here. SIX.

What the FUCK is Romano doing. Who eats kebabs like that? Why is he eating those dango so aggressively he’s literally about to fall over? Why does he look like he’s going to kill me? Also, why are Spain’s eyes so far apart? Other than that this one looks nice tho.

First of all, the way Spain is just kind of barely touching Romano’s head is really weird. Secondly, everyone’s hands look weird, especially England’s left hand. Third, they’re all doing the Studio DEEN “stick your pelvis out and lean your legs off to the side for unexplained reasons” thing that I still don’t get. Fourth, either Spain and England are kneeling, or those kids have really fucking long legs. And finally, LOOK AT AMERICA’S BROKEN NECK AND SOULLESS STARE. JESUS FUCKING CHRIST. THIS IS THE WORST FAMILY PHOTO IN THE HISTORY OF EVER.

I hate this stupid fucking hyperrealistic chocolate fish. I just do. I don’t understand what’s going on in this picture. Help

THIS IS BY FAR ONE OF THE BEST. LOOK AT THIS. EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IS HILARIOUSLY UGLY. WHY ARE THEY HOLDING RANDOM PLANTS. WHY ARE THEY DRESSED LIKE THAT. WHO PICKED THESE FUCKING COLORS. IT LOOKS LIKE A PROMOTIONAL IMAGE FOR A SOAP OPERA FROM THE 70S. HOLY FUCKING SHIT I DIE

First of all Japan’s neck, then we have the really weird perspective on America’s hand, but most importantly LOOK AT THOSE FUCKING CHIBIS IN THE BACKGROUND. Look at the perspective grid, and compare them to the size of the trees, etc. THEY MUST BE FUCKING, LIKE, ACTUAL HUMAN PERSON SIZE. AND THAT’S TERRIFYING. WHY ARE THEY EVEN THERE I DON’T UNDERSTAND THEY RUIN THE ENTIRE PICTURE

#Long post #I could go on for aaaages about Hetalia anime art it's a beautiful disaster

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perlumi-delirium · 7 years ago

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Through the eyes of others we dream

Rusliet Secret Santa for @probably--somebody !! :D (sorry for being a bit late, I took longer than excpected to proofread the fic ><)

I got kinda carried away with the fic I wanted to write ^^’ It proved to be an interesting challenge, since it has been a long time since I last wrote Hetalia fanfiction, and even then, it was so Lithuania and Russia centered that I had barely written the pov of another character. I tried to give the fic a cheerful edge that is mostly lacking in my other fics, and I hope you will like it !! Please forgive the messiness of the writing, and I’m sorry for the mistakes I left, I have trouble catching them all ^^’ I hope you will like it <3

Hungary hugs Poland as he walks into the meeting room. She smells of flowers and firewood, and her hand is calloused as she runs it along Poland's cheek, her eyes searching for signs of weariness.

« How are you ? »

Her voice is soft but strong, and Poland is happy to know that he no longer has to lie to her. They all spent decades lying to each other, and now, finally, he can answer truthfully.

« I'm fine ! » He smiles and really, he is fine. Better than he has felt in centuries, probably. Hungary's eyes narrow, wondering if she should trust him, but he must look decently cheerful, because she soon beams, and only tightens the hug.

« How are you ? » Poland then asks, his fingers smoothing over the back of her suit. It is strange, he thinks, that Hungary smells like home to him. (A lot of them do, though he won't admit it easily. But it happens, when you share centuries after centuries with the same people.)

She offers him a sincere smile, and lets out a small laugh. « As great as I can be when I got woken up at three in the morning by Prussia trying to sneak into the house to play a prank on Austria ! »

Poland raises a brow, barely containing the bubble of laugh that blooms in his throat. « May I ask why he decided it was a good idea ? »

Hungary rolls her eyes, her voice dramatically loud as she exclaims. « As if I know ! But I think Franc is no stranger to this -Germany told me he had been over at his house for a few days. Surely they schemed up a prank together. »

At Hungary's tone, a few countries turned their attention towards the two of them, and Poland struggles not to start laughing. He feels Spain's eyes on them, and Veneziano's too.

A quick glance at his watch tells him the meeting is about to start. Oh well -he still has the time to ask Hungary one last question :

« How did Austria react ? »

At this, Hungary sighs. « He slept like a baby the whole night. Nothing woke him up -not even when Prussia lost his balance and crashed right into the cupboard. And I assure you that the pans crashing on the ground made a furious noise. »

Poland almost whistles, not knowing if he should admire Austria for not letting anything or anyone trouble his sleep, or cringe because no one but a fool lets his guard so down at night. (But then again, times have changed. For the better, probably, and Poland sleeps better at night too.)

« Oh my, it seems Prussia really overdid himself this time. » France chuckles, and Hungary playfully smacks his shoulder.

« Say you didn't have a part in this, I dare you ! »

France shoots her a bright smile, and winks at Poland who starts thinking he might combust if he has to keep from laughing any longer. He discreetly puts a hand over his mouth to hide his smile as he watches France lie through his teeth. His barely contained laughter has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that France called him just the day before to exchange some gossips and chat a bit -call during which France had made clear what Prussia's intentions for the night were. No, absolutely not.

Things truly have changed, Poland thinks.

Gone are the times where they would fight relentlessly -even though their actions didn't matter, because no matter what, they weren't the one who made History. Their people did.

Now they have meetings and mock fights and harmless pranks. (They all vividly remember a not too ancient April Fools...)

It is a strange thought, but not an unwelcome one. They are all way more lively since they dropped the act.

Poland finds his place at the meeting table and sits down -the seat right next to him is still empty ; it is rare, because Lithuania often arrives early. Poland takes out his phone, to see if his friend left him a message, but no. He does have a few notifications from game apps, though. A quick glance at the room tells him he shouldn't worry, and he opens an app. The meeting isn't going to start anytime soon, anyway. Not with half the people missing and the ones who are there obviously engrossed in something else entirely.

From the corner of his eye, Poland notices France and Hungary still talking, though their friendly tone indicates that they probably dropped the argument to have a chat instead. Farther, England is leaning against a wall, looking as sour as always. Ah, well, not really actually. His frown seems to be at least a little less pronounced. Well, not too surprising given that Veneziano is currently greeting him. It's difficult to look too angry when Veneziano is around. Poland chuckles and takes a picture, immediately sending it to America. -Okay, it's not like England is smiling, but like, this is probably the most relaxed they are going to see him for months to come, and America will definitely like the picture :England's eyebrows look super off, like torn between the perpetual frown and a more relaxed expression.

The only ones seated except Poland are, without any surprise, Germany and Austria. Germany sits straight in his chair, awkwardly looking around the room, clearly not daring to raise his voice just yet. As for Austria, he has closed his eyes, and his fingers drums absently against the wood of the table, not in a idle way but like he was playing the piano.

Poland smiles then takes another picture. Behind his serious looks, Austria is easily distracted.

In the midst of the carefree chatter, Poland notices two persons walking into the room, and he perks up. Liet is here !

He almost waves, but with Lithuania is Russia, and Poland feels himself shy away. From where he is, he can't clearly see Lithuania's features, but he can tell he is tense. Russia and him walk machinely, not talking to each other -they're not even looking at each other, Poland notices as they come closer. On the contrary, they purposefuly avert their eyes. It is only when Lithuania goes to greet Germany, and probably excuses himself for his tardiness, that Russia looks up. Even from the distance, Poland feels his longing for Lithuania, and honestly, what the hell is going on with these two ?

A hand clasps firmly over his shoulder, and Poland would have squeaked in surprise had he not recognized France's perfume.

« Trouble in paradise ? »

France's voice is teasing, but there is a careful edge to it. Poland pulls a face. « I have no clue what's happening. »

A thoughtful hum tells him France has no more answer than him. Of course he was the first one to take notice of the strange atmosphere between Lithuania and Russia. Poland manges to smile through the worry that begin to gnaw at his insides.

« I see you're still quick to notice that kind of thing. »

France winks at him, sounding very pleased with himself. « Of course, mon cher ! Love is my speciality ; my capital isn't nicknamed the city of love for nothing ! It is only natural that I am quick to notice such troubles. »

Poland snorts, and he bites his cheek to resist criticizing Paris, just to annoy France -mind you, the ctiy is beautiful, but France always looks so offended when one mentions the dubious property of certain districts, or the grey weather, that it is never not funny to let out a comment.

For once though, he doesn't give in to his want to playfully mock his friend.

« Yeah, well, just noticing it isn't going to help » Poland sighs. « What we need is to resolve whatever mess they put themselves in. I don't like to see Liet troubled. »

France merely nods. He takes the seat to Poland's right side, and runs his hand through his hair, silently searching for something to say.

Poland glances towards Russia : he is talking to Ukraine, but his eyes wander off to Lithuania from time to time. Poland doubts Lithuania is so taken by his conversation with Germany he hasn't noticed Russia's attitude. So Liet is deliberately ignoring him. Great. Now he definitely looks forward dealing with the whole thing.

France pats him on the shoulder.

« Well, it does seem like the lovebirds are experiencing a little cold in their relationship. »

« Yeah, and no one but them knows why, so helping them is going to be exceedingly diffiuclt and annoying and I don't want to deal with that. » Poland groans as he rests his cheek against the table. He loves Liet, and he trust his friend in his relationships choices, but love troubles are something he prefers to avoid. Seriously, it is way funnier to watch it in like, a TV show, than to deal with it in the reality. If Liet is actually angry at Russia for whatever reason, Poland hopes that he won't isolate himself like he tends to, and shrugs his friends off while saying that's everything is a-okay.

« Liet's usual way of dealing with problems suck. » Poland mutters under his breath. Now he feels a headache coming, and it's not helped by the constant noise around him.

Meeting, what meeting ? He should have stayed in bed this morning. He could have had another cup of tea, taken more time to bathe, and peacefully played the piano instead of having all this noise as backgroung music.

« I think, » France says after some time (god, they truly have all forgotten about the meeting right.) « that the situation is not as hopeless as it is. »

Poland wants to argue that he never said anything about the situation being hopeless, but he lets France to his romantic phrasing. With him, a tricky situation becomes a moutain to overcome, and a water drop an ocean. Though he had some time to get used to it, Poland still snickers at his use of some expressions. Because who except France would dramatically speak about a hopeless situation that can only be overcome by the memory of first love...

Wait. That is really what France is saying right now. Poland blinks and looks at him like he might have gone mad.

« First love », he repeats, slightly aghast. France nods and sighs dreamily.

« Yes, first love ! Their relationship probably lacks the youthful fire it used to have -we just have to remind them of how beautiful it was, to enter this relationship ! How every kiss felt as fresh as new, how every touch sent a shiver down their spine- »

Poland reflectively clasps a hand over France's mouth. If he wants to be perfectly honest, he doesn't know what he wants at this precise moment, but it is certainely not France spewing poetry about his best friend and his lover. That, and he definitely doesn't want France's speech to attract attention.

« Are you talking about love ? »

Aaaand check. Hungary smiles brightly, Japan to her side. Both of them overheard the conversation and want in. Hungary is alreay giggling, ready to give as much advice as the situation needs, while the so quiet Japan discreetly fumbles with a notebook, ready to take notes about whatever gossip they may share.

« Huh » Poland eloquently says. Hungary sits on the table, right between France and Poland -Japan stands still, completing their small circle.

Now we definitely don't look suspicious at all, Poland dryly thinks. America must not have arrived yet, or else he would have yelled « conspiracy !! » at them.

« Yes, we were indeed talking about love » France hums. « It seems Lithuania and Russia are currently experiencing some love troubles, so Poland and I took it upon us to discuss the situation to find solutions. »

How can France make it sounds so altruistic ? If anything, they're prying into their friends' love life. But Hungary doesn't seem bothered by the idea of meddling into the issue, and gives France a thumbs up for his initiative.

Great, there's no escaping this now. Poland nervously looks around, hoping they won't attract anymore attention. Fortunately Lithuania doesn't seem to have noticed them yet.

« I see, it's a good idea ! If we can get them to remember their fondest memories they'll definitely be more enclined to hear each other out ! »

« Yes ! That is why I think we need to set up things a bit : we should try to get them to reenact the moment they got together. Ah, well, I mean, it can and should be subtle, of course ! But if we put enough details to remind them of the day they confessed...

-they might feel as they did back then ! That's a great idea ! »

There's no hope left for France and Hungary, they've arrived to the point they finish each other's sentences. Japan still hasn't said a word, but he dutifully writes down everything in his notebook. Poland is sure he has started doodling... what ? Sketches of what the scene will look like ?

« And this is where we need you, Poland ! » Hungary says. Why the hell did he ever want to be involved in this mess already ? Ah, yes, for Liet. Do it for Liet.

« I'm not sure I follow » he stutters.

This is getting way too complicated for his tastes, and honestly he'd rather just ask Liet what the problem is instead of making vain speculations.

« Pologne ! » France takes Poland's hand into his own. « Sois un amour, tell us how Lithuania and Russia got together. We need it for the plan. »

Oh no. Never. He's never solding his best friend's secrets in such a vile way.

« It's a no, » he grumbles, before a thought comes to his mind. Wait a minute... He sends a panicked look to the others.

« Liet never told me how his relationship with Russia started. »

The answer causes an uproar : France and Hungary look at each other in disbelief, while Japan mutters « what a plot twist » under his breath. The pained exclamations of France and Hungary, who admittedly are not the quietest conspiracy masterminds, attract some more nations. Latvia, Estonia and Ukraine soon come closer, all curious to see what the ruckus is about.

So they're really doing it huh. Discussing their friend's love life when they stand a few meters from them. Great. (Okay, the part of Poland that loves gossips is currently pleased, but he feel like he should disagree with everything that is going to be said for the principle.)

« Well, if Poland of all people don't know how they got together, this is going to be difficult... »

That was Estonia's voice. Next to him, Latvia nods wisely, before adding : « Or maybe we could guess how exactly they got together ? I mean, we've known them for centuries now, it shouldn't be impossible... Like, who confessed to who would be a good start ? »

« Ten euros betting on Lithuania » France immediately says, slamming his hand on the table to mark his point.

« Seconded » Estonia nods.

Ukraine shakes her head.

« I think Russia was the one who made it clear he had feelings first. » When she notices all the looks are on her, she explains. « I mean, Russia has never been too great at hiding his feelings for too long, I'm sure he made the first step... »

« She has a point ! » Hungary agrees. Then, just to spite France, she slams her hand on the table too. « Twenty euros on Russia. »

Poland lets out a sigh. The whole situation is pretty baffling. He definitely hadn't planned he'd be betting on his best friend's love life while getting up this morning, that's for sure. He glances at Japan, who still hasn't said a thing about everything, and hopes he will calm the game and calls the bet off. Unfortunately, when Japan finally decides to speak up, it is only to agree with the others.

« If you want I can make a list of who is betting on what. »

The idea is met with applause, and Poland groans. Okay, if they're really going down this road, then he wants in. There's no getting out of this, so he might as well enjoy the situation as long as he can.

« I'm sure Liet was the one who confessed. Maybe Russia made it clear he was interested before, but I think the one who started their relationship was Liet. He's definitely the type to take lead in this kind of situation. »

Silence falls for a few moments after Poland's intervention, everyone pondering what has just been said. Both parties have a point. Suddenly Estonia gasps :

« But what if they confessed at the exact same time ? »

Latvia pats him on the shoulder, shaking his head. « Yeah well it's too complicated so we're letting that option aside. »

« Now now », France singsongs. « What is important is to determine how it happened. What season ? Where exactly ? How long had they been longing for each other ? »

« I bet it was something really romantic » Estonia says. « Russia is a bit scary sometimes, but at heart he is a big softie... mostly. »

« I think it wouldn't be too far of a stretch to say that it probably happened at Russia's house. »

Poland nods at Hungay's words. Yes, he thinks so too. He drums his fingers against the table -he hasn't moved from his place, content to be at the edge of the circle -he still doesn't like much being the center of attention during times like this. So he keeps quiet and listens to everyone's guess at how Liet and Russia's relationship started.

France bets on something romantic and unplanned ; a strained conversation about something else entirely during which they both let the masks fall and realize they can't hide their feelings anymore -with Lithuania being the one to tell Russia about his feelings first.

For Ukraine, it took place in Russia's garden, during summer. Russia loves flowers, so the place holds a lot of meaning for him. She wonders thoughfully whether they were walking, or if they just sat on a bench, until Russia spoke up.

Japan nods politely at everyone's speculations. When they ask him how he thinks it happened, he squints at something he wrote in his notebook, before ominously saying : « I'm not sure, but there was a maid dress involved somewhere. » Thanks Japan for this precious input.

Hungary thinks it happened during winter as a snowstorm raged outside. « During winter we all search for human warmth » she says wisely.

Poland listens without saying a word. He likes all the explanations. They cheerfully discuss it, and though they do joke a little, it lacks any mockery. It is all good humored speculations. But a part of him knows that it is not how it happened. They talk of snowstorms that would freeze hearts if they didn't confess on the spot ; of quiet longings that deliberately come to an end at the best moment ; of sudden recklessness, a need to know, no matter if it will succeed or fail.

And, truly, all these options are pretty and romantic and great. But they lack heart, in a way Poland can't quite define.

« Do you want to add something, Poland ? »

He opens his mouth, but no sound comes out. His giddiness is still here, but he feels like he is lacking a core element of their relationship. The speculations are fun, but he knows they won't find the answer.

Liet is fierce, but shy sometimes. And Russia may be intimidating, but he needs time to say important things -he is not as autoritary as some believe him to be.

Poland closes his eyes for a few seconds. He thinks of his best friend, and no, a sudden reveal wouldn't suit him. He recalls all the moments he saw, the quiet glimpses he got of their relationship. It is a miracle in itself that it is working ; but somehow they do make it work.

He thinks of Lithuania brushing his fingers against Russia's as they walk next to one another, of Russia tucking a strand of Lithuania's hair behind his ear in an affectionate gesture.

This kind of love doesn't happen overnight. But have they always been conscious of it ? Poland begs to disagree. He knows he missed a lot of important moments of Liet's life, while they were apart. But now that Lithuania can proudly walk in Russia's house like he blongs there, not because he needs to but because he wants to, he wonders if they have finally reached an equilibrium.

With familiarity comes love, and tenderness, he knows it.

So maybe that is how it happened, something so mundane as that. It was a cold but bright morning, and Lithuania thought of Russia, and his heart skipped a beat, because, oh, that is what it was all along. And maybe Russia understood one day why he liked to look at Lithuania so much. Maybe the day they reached an equilibrium, they understood. Familiarity led them to understund, simply. No words needed, no actions either. Just the quiet realization that they may share more than they thought.

Yes, Poland quite likes this option. He smiles and opens his mouth once again to tell the other what he thinks, when a voice interrupts them.

« May I know what this is all about ? Also, France, this is my seat. »

Lithuania looks midly annoyed. Behind him, Germany seems about to raise his voice. A quick glance to his watch tells Poland the meeting should have started nearly half an hour ago. Whoops.

The countries scatter in a swirl of laugh and noise, each regaining their place at the table.

« What were you talking about ? » Lithuania asks Poland as he sits down.

France chuckles and pats Lithuania's shoulder as he goes. « Your love life. I hope you two lovebirds will soon make up~ »

Lithuania watches bewildered as France walks away, still laughing. He sends Poland an uncomprehensive look. « Really ? »

« It's more complicated than you think » Poland shrugs. He barely contains his want to laugh at Lithuania's wide open eyes. He looks so lost that Poland can't help but want to enlighten him a bit. « When you arrived with Russia, it seemed like you two were on bad terms at the moment. So France, Hungary and, ah, quite a bit of us decided to meddle with your love life ? We only wanted to help I swear !! »

But instead of being annoyed at the fact the others are always searching for bits of gossip, Lithuania smiles weakly. « Oh. Well, we weren't actually... fighting. »

Now it's Poland's turn not to understand a thing. « What ? » he exclaims loudly, not caring about keeping his voice down. The meeting still hasn't started anyway. « But... I was getting so worried ! Like, I thought something had happened, I don't like seeing you like that ! I thought you... »

I was worried you'd isolate yourself again if something was truly wrong, is what he doesn't say. His worry must show though, because Lithuania immediately stutters, embarrassed to have caused his friend to worry :

« That's, I'm sorry I made you think that ! I... I just had a minor disagreement with Russia this morning, and we decided not to talk of it till the meeting was over, since we were already late. »

That explains why Lithuania decided to purposefully avoid Russia's eyes. Poland still feels a bit confused.

« What was this argument about ? »

« We don't agree on whether or not we should allow the dog in our room... »

At the word dog, Germany, who was within earshot, comes up to them. Japan quietly follows, and soon, all the countries are assembled around the two of them for a totally different reason. It seems they all have something to say on the subject, and the meeting is once more forgotten -even by Germany this time.

Finally, Poland notices Russia from the corner of his eyes. He looks slightly distressed, not so much because of the conversation, but he keeps sending looks at Lithuania.

« I wouldn't let my dog on my bed, it would get hair everywhere ! »

« France, you don't even have a dog. I think it'd be fine, I mean, dogs are cuddly and soft ! They can keep you warm ! »

« I don't think warmth is the issue Spain... »

« Sweden and I sometimes allow Hanatamago on the bed ! She gets afraid of storms ! »

Russia uses the incessant chatter to sneak around until he is close enough to Lithuania. He offers a small smile, that Lithuania hesitantely returns.

« Well, this is why I thought we'd better not talk about it in front of others. Everything takes... unforeseen proportions with them. »

And indeed, everyone has started making the argument about their own thing. Poland hears a few of them deep into yet another dog vs cats argument (Ponies are better than both anyway). Russia nods at Lithuania.

« I know, but since the meeting didn't seem to be starting, I thought we might have time to settle the argument. »

Poland sighs in relief and takes out his phone. Well, finally, it was nothing serious between Russia and Liet, they all got worked up for nothing. He settles on playing games until the meeting actually starts, letting the chitchating become an almost pleasant background audio.

« Hey » Poland says. He is sitting on his couch, Lithuania next to him. Liet is reading a book, and doesn't seem too enclined to chat. He still raises his eyes from the book, to show Poland he is listening.

« You remember how this other day the others and I ended up making assumptions about your love life ? »

Lithuania has a small smile, and closes his book. « Of course I remember. »

« You ever settled that argument with Russia by the way ? »

Lithuania nods, and snorts. « Yes. I think he was a bit jealous, afraid I'd give the dog too much attention if we let him sleep with us. But Russia had a point though. She sleeps in our room now, but not on the bed. »

Poland moves closer to Lithuania, until he can rest his head against his friend's shoulder. « That's great. I'm glad you sorted this out. »

« What were you talking about when you all thought that, ah, we were arguing ? »

« We made bets about who we thought confessed first, and somehow ended up wondering how exactly you ended up together. It was Hungary's idea, or France's, I don't remember. I think they thought that if we could lead you to like, reenact the day you first got together, you'd somehow understand fighting each other was stupid because you love each other ? Something like that. »

At that, Lithuania laughs, a little surprised. Well, he can't say his friends aren't ready to do anything for them. It is a little bewildering that this is the first answer that came to their mind, though.

« Hey, Liet, it actually got me thinking, you know. I... you never told me how your relationship started. »

Lithuania blinks, licks his lips nervously. « There's a reason for that, actually. »

Poland moves from his comfortable position to be at eyes lever with Lithuania. There are a lot of things that flashes through Lithuania's eyes. Love, of course, and a bit of pride. And something Poland doesn't recognize, like a bit of sadness stranded amidst all this love.

He feels his heart constricting, and puts a reassuring hand on Lithuania's shoulder. « You don't have to tell me if you don't want to, I understand. »

Lithuania merely shakes his head.

« It's not that. You know, Russia and I made a promise that day. »

Poland nods politely, waiting for Lithuania to explain.

« I know it's a foolish thing, but we promised to never talk of that day. Not to each other, and not to anyone. »

Poland's eyes widen. What kind of promise is that ? He feels once again that the puzzle lacks a piece, that he cannot possibly understand the link Lithuania and Russia share.

« Why » he whispers in a breath. How can you want to forget such a day, to never mention it again ? He doesn't say.

Lithuania seems to understand his surprise, and it is with knowing eyes and a smile torn between mirth and hopeless optimism that he speaks.

« Of course we can't forget about that day. But, even if it is foolish, even if it is vain, we decided to act like it never existed. Like things were always the way they are now.

Because things that don't have a start can't possibly come to an end, right ? »

#rusliet #rusliet scret santa 2017 #hetalia #aph lithuania #aph russia #aph poland #aph france #aph hungary #not tagging the others bc it'd be too long and they're less present ^^'#oh!! there are a few french petnames in the fic that i didn't translate... they should be easy to guess in context but #i can give a trad if you want :D #perl draws #perl writes #aaaah this was fun to write!!!#it's almost 5k words whoops #i hope i respected the prompt it's a bit messy ^^'#but i'm super glad i got to participate in this!!!!#fun fact : when i started working on this the title was in French and i thought it worked better but hey this isn't a fic about france #(still looked prettier in french)#(aaaah everything about this is so messy i'm starting to get nervous)#(i'm gonna go hibernate and will come out of my cave in three months bye and thanks)

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