The Heros Are All Dead: MISSION 2 [3j/?]
anonymous
February 2 2010, 11:47:40 UTC
The vampire fell away, his form melting into ash as it slowly disappeared, before a stiff breeze caught it, and blew it around the square a bit like dirt on a dry summer day. Francis took some in his hand, and let it go slowly on the wind, scattering it so the man could not be resurrected.
“I hope you find peace in death,” Francis whispered.
Alfred watched the ashes float away, feeling saddened and relieved. It was over. For now, at least.
***
“What will you do now, Francis?”
Alfred looked over at the Nation as Arthur finished up the last of the sealing ritual, placing the protective seal over France to keep the Regent out, just as he had done back home in Britain. Francis merely shrugged, and his long blond hair, pulled back half-heartily in a blue ribbon, was tossed about in the brisk wind. The sky was blue and dotted with lazy, fluffy white clouds. A beautiful day over Paris.
“I cannot stay here, not when the Rébellion needs me,” Francis said. “And I cannot keep up my charade with the Régent, not now that he most likely knows the truth.” He looked out into the distance, as if he was thinking. “I think, perhaps, I will go with you two.”
Arthur sputtered. “Not on your life, frog!”
Francis laughed lightly as he draped an arm over Arthur’s shoulders. “Oh come now, Angleterre! You need me! I am a vital asset to you!”
“I’d rather die!” Arthur howled angrily.
The two Nations then proceeded to race down the streets of Paris: Arthur chasing Francis the whole way, throwing insults and whatever else he could lay his hands on, the Frenchman laughing all the while. Alfred watched them disappear into the crowds, smiling. Little by little, life was returning to the world. Maybe it wasn’t life as he knew it, but it was life.
And that was all the hope he needed to keep going.
The Heros Are All Dead: DM'S NOTES FOR MISSION 2 PART 1
anonymous
February 2 2010, 12:28:44 UTC
Thanks for being so patient, everyone! I had a dry spell in terms of writing there for a bit, but I'm back, and this part is now done! Look forward to new stuff in the next month or so! Now for the notes:
Scotland's Cooking: Worse than England's. Tru fax.
Walk 500 Miles: Yes, I shamelessly used that Proclaimers song. I'm lame like that.
The Chunnel: The Channel Tunnel, known colloquially as the Chunnel, is a 50.5-kilometre (31.4 mi) undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent near Dover in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point it is 75 metres (250 ft) deep. At 37.9 kilometres (23.5 mi), the Channel Tunnel has the longest undersea portion of any tunnel in the world although the Seikan Tunnel in Japan is both longer overall, at 53.85 kilometres (33.46 mi) and deeper, at 240 metres (790 ft) below sea level. The tunnel carries high-speed Eurostar passenger trains, Eurotunnel Shuttle roll-on/roll-off vehicle transport-the largest in the world-and international rail freight trains. The tunnel connects end-to-end with the LGV Nord and Channel Tunnel Rail Link high-speed railway lines. In 1996 the American Society of Civil Engineers identified the tunnel as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
Song In The Trees: Francis uses the Song of Courage here, and again later in the last fight for this chapter. It boosts attack power, and dispels the status ailment fear.
Vampires: Though never spoken, it is implied that the vampires roaming the streets are the remnants of the civilians that Francis was forced to give the Regent and his General as payment for being allowed to keep his country in tact.
Drawn to Alfred's Blood: Alfred, not being of this world, reeks of power, and lesser creatures are drawn to it like a magnet. He reflects the power he holds in his world, not the state of America in that world (or lack thereof).
Notre Dame and Jeanne: Notre Dame Cathedral is one of France's oldest cathedrals, and was the sight of many things, including Jeanne d'Ark's partial sainthood. (It was there that she was officially declared 'blessed') France holds Jeanne very dear to him, and therefore wear her Sainthood metal around his neck. Jeanne is a saint who supports martyrdom, just as a note I found interesting.
Sleeping on Pews: Having done so myself, I can honestly say this is not the most comfortable of things to do.
Interdimentional Travel: Another clever nudge at Doctor Who
Hunchbacks Who Ring Bells: The Hunchback of Notre Dame references here. I read a few fics about Alfred and Francis and Notre Dame and whatnot already on this meme. I thought it'd be a cute reference.
The Watchdog of France: The General assigned to bully Francis into line is, of course, Lestat de Lioncourt from The Vampire Chronicles series by Anne Rice. I read a simply delicious ficlet on this meme somewhere that was FrancexLestat. Needless to say, I wanted to reference it. (This meme needs more FrancexLestat!)
Avenue des Champs-Élysées: Paris' most famous street, and the home to most of its prime fashion boutiques, this street is outrageously expensive to rent a spot on. It's usually teaming with crowds, so to find it deserted is not only eerie, but just plain wrong.
France's Blood: Headcannon dictates that the blood of a Nation is the blood of all of its people, so to drain a Nation (no easy feat) would be like draining the blood of every single person in the Nation. Yikes.
Mon Enfant: France calls Lestat this because he still sees him as one of his citizens, despite everything that has happened. It means 'my child' in French.
Alchemised Silver: Silver that has been purified using alchemy, and refined so that it is stronger than steel. This fabled metal is often said to be used to defeat demons and the like.
Seigneur: 'Lord' in French. France uses the title because, before he died, Lestat would have been a noble.
The Heros Are All Dead: DM'S NOTES FOR MISSION 2 PART 2
anonymous
February 2 2010, 12:35:48 UTC
Lestat's Pain: The exchange between Lestat and France is a reference to the same fic as before. (I swear I'll find it and link it someday)
Enchant Weapon: Francis uses the Enchant Weapon spell on Alfred's gun, giving it the holy property, and allowing it to actually damage Lestat.
Song of Courage: As previously mentioned, this song boosts attack, and eliminated the fear status ailment. France, in case you haven't guessed, is a bard, and thus uses songs to buff allies and de-buff enemies.
Scattering the Ashes: Vampires can return to live unless their ashes are scattered. Francis is releasing Lestat here, and praying he will find peace in the afterlife. (Despite he has no place in either heaven or hell)
Magical Centerpoint I couldn't decide if it should be the Eiffel Tower or the Arc d'Triumph. It could be either one, or another place entirely. After all, it is where the magic is the strongest.
“I hope you find peace in death,” Francis whispered.
Alfred watched the ashes float away, feeling saddened and relieved. It was over. For now, at least.
***
“What will you do now, Francis?”
Alfred looked over at the Nation as Arthur finished up the last of the sealing ritual, placing the protective seal over France to keep the Regent out, just as he had done back home in Britain. Francis merely shrugged, and his long blond hair, pulled back half-heartily in a blue ribbon, was tossed about in the brisk wind. The sky was blue and dotted with lazy, fluffy white clouds. A beautiful day over Paris.
“I cannot stay here, not when the Rébellion needs me,” Francis said. “And I cannot keep up my charade with the Régent, not now that he most likely knows the truth.” He looked out into the distance, as if he was thinking. “I think, perhaps, I will go with you two.”
Arthur sputtered. “Not on your life, frog!”
Francis laughed lightly as he draped an arm over Arthur’s shoulders. “Oh come now, Angleterre! You need me! I am a vital asset to you!”
“I’d rather die!” Arthur howled angrily.
The two Nations then proceeded to race down the streets of Paris: Arthur chasing Francis the whole way, throwing insults and whatever else he could lay his hands on, the Frenchman laughing all the while. Alfred watched them disappear into the crowds, smiling. Little by little, life was returning to the world. Maybe it wasn’t life as he knew it, but it was life.
And that was all the hope he needed to keep going.
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Now for the notes:
Scotland's Cooking: Worse than England's. Tru fax.
Walk 500 Miles: Yes, I shamelessly used that Proclaimers song. I'm lame like that.
The Chunnel: The Channel Tunnel, known colloquially as the Chunnel, is a 50.5-kilometre (31.4 mi) undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent near Dover in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point it is 75 metres (250 ft) deep. At 37.9 kilometres (23.5 mi), the Channel Tunnel has the longest undersea portion of any tunnel in the world although the Seikan Tunnel in Japan is both longer overall, at 53.85 kilometres (33.46 mi) and deeper, at 240 metres (790 ft) below sea level. The tunnel carries high-speed Eurostar passenger trains, Eurotunnel Shuttle roll-on/roll-off vehicle transport-the largest in the world-and international rail freight trains. The tunnel connects end-to-end with the LGV Nord and Channel Tunnel Rail Link high-speed railway lines. In 1996 the American Society of Civil Engineers identified the tunnel as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
Song In The Trees: Francis uses the Song of Courage here, and again later in the last fight for this chapter. It boosts attack power, and dispels the status ailment fear.
Vampires: Though never spoken, it is implied that the vampires roaming the streets are the remnants of the civilians that Francis was forced to give the Regent and his General as payment for being allowed to keep his country in tact.
Drawn to Alfred's Blood: Alfred, not being of this world, reeks of power, and lesser creatures are drawn to it like a magnet. He reflects the power he holds in his world, not the state of America in that world (or lack thereof).
Notre Dame and Jeanne: Notre Dame Cathedral is one of France's oldest cathedrals, and was the sight of many things, including Jeanne d'Ark's partial sainthood. (It was there that she was officially declared 'blessed') France holds Jeanne very dear to him, and therefore wear her Sainthood metal around his neck. Jeanne is a saint who supports martyrdom, just as a note I found interesting.
Sleeping on Pews: Having done so myself, I can honestly say this is not the most comfortable of things to do.
Interdimentional Travel: Another clever nudge at Doctor Who
Hunchbacks Who Ring Bells: The Hunchback of Notre Dame references here. I read a few fics about Alfred and Francis and Notre Dame and whatnot already on this meme. I thought it'd be a cute reference.
The Watchdog of France: The General assigned to bully Francis into line is, of course, Lestat de Lioncourt from The Vampire Chronicles series by Anne Rice. I read a simply delicious ficlet on this meme somewhere that was FrancexLestat. Needless to say, I wanted to reference it. (This meme needs more FrancexLestat!)
Avenue des Champs-Élysées: Paris' most famous street, and the home to most of its prime fashion boutiques, this street is outrageously expensive to rent a spot on. It's usually teaming with crowds, so to find it deserted is not only eerie, but just plain wrong.
France's Blood: Headcannon dictates that the blood of a Nation is the blood of all of its people, so to drain a Nation (no easy feat) would be like draining the blood of every single person in the Nation. Yikes.
Mon Enfant: France calls Lestat this because he still sees him as one of his citizens, despite everything that has happened. It means 'my child' in French.
Alchemised Silver: Silver that has been purified using alchemy, and refined so that it is stronger than steel. This fabled metal is often said to be used to defeat demons and the like.
Seigneur: 'Lord' in French. France uses the title because, before he died, Lestat would have been a noble.
Reply
Enchant Weapon: Francis uses the Enchant Weapon spell on Alfred's gun, giving it the holy property, and allowing it to actually damage Lestat.
Song of Courage: As previously mentioned, this song boosts attack, and eliminated the fear status ailment. France, in case you haven't guessed, is a bard, and thus uses songs to buff allies and de-buff enemies.
Scattering the Ashes: Vampires can return to live unless their ashes are scattered. Francis is releasing Lestat here, and praying he will find peace in the afterlife. (Despite he has no place in either heaven or hell)
Magical Centerpoint I couldn't decide if it should be the Eiffel Tower or the Arc d'Triumph. It could be either one, or another place entirely. After all, it is where the magic is the strongest.
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Can't wait till the next installment!
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