Reparations [1/1]
anonymous
February 10 2010, 05:09:22 UTC
[Microfill. Please, someone with more ideas, pick this up ...]
*
America waited politely until England had finished laughing, clutching his sides and almost tumbling out of the chair. It was a very nice, modern office chair, the kind with a control console, and it didn't suit England at all; he belonged in something uphoulstered and antique. Which was only reasonable, as it had been America's chair until seventeen weeks ago.
"I'm serious," he said. His head hurt. "I want to put things right between us. If - if you never wanted to be friends again, I'd understand that, but maybe - I hoped - " His voice was quavering, cracking. He focused out the corner of his eye on the window; it was only showing the weather report and the All-Clear right now, and the London skyline was visible through it. "Maybe this would help you forgive me. I know liberty is more important than money but money is, well, it's all I can give you right now."
England was silent. America held it about four seconds before he sneaked a look at his old friend's face. The expression he saw hovered on the edge of annoyance.
"America," England finally said. "You gave me liberty. Four months ago, if you haven't noticed. So it's over. It's all over. I don't want to deal with the American Empire ever again."
America took a deep breath, offered a hand to England. Forced a smile. Heroes always smile, even when their heart is cracking into a thousand little pieces. "F - farewell, then." And his voice isn't supposed to crack either. "It's been g - good knowing you and I'll, I'll miss you, oh god - " He can't stop a sob. So this is it?
But suddenly there were arms wrapped around him.
"Lucky thing the American Empire's been dissolved, then, isn't it?" says a gruff voice in his ear. "And I can deal with the Second American republic on equal terms. I'm not going to cut you off, boy. Certainly not for a spot of empire fever. I'm the last nation in the world in a position to hate you for it." America risked a look up, and England was watching him with unabashed fondness. He sniffled and tried to make himself smile, and England brushed the tears away with his thumb.
His heart swelled with joy. "You mean it?"
"Of course. We're square for all the stuff I did to you before the Revolution. It's your tricentennial next year, isn't it? Keep your money. Call it a birthday gift."
America grinned. "You know, I think that even tops Lady Liberty."
Reparations [2/1]
anonymous
February 11 2010, 09:14:34 UTC
[When I wrote that it felt off somehow. Upon reflection, and reading the snippet below, that was because it was England, he was in a bad position to resent American imperialism, and therefore it turned cute. Have some mild angst to make up for it.]
*
"Washington. The state," Canada clarified at America's shocked look. "Not the city. You can keep the city."
"You're taking a whole state? Whoa, now, that's not exactly fungible goods." He fidgeted. His suit itched and it felt completely out of place. "What are - we're talking my citizens here. What if they don't want to be Canadians?"
"Also Oregon and Alaska. Maybe Northern California, too, we're still taking polls." He tossed his pad at America's lap and leaned back on the park bench. "But there's the numbers so far. About forty percent of Washington residents support joining Canada. Another thirty want to secede completely. I'm not going to make them change their language and I'm not going to keep them from moving if they want to be American so badly. In fact, we should probably keep the customs union, and the live-and-work clause." He smiled, as if he wasn't talking about carving off chunks of America's land as reparations.
"Dammit, Canada. I know I owe you, but this - this is ridiculous. What do you want my states for? I thought you liked me." And maybe that was a little pathetic, but - He was giving up empire voluntarily, he was paying everyone back as best as he could, it wasn't like - Canada shouldn't be treating with him like a conquered enemy. His stoumach twisted into a tight little knot.
"I do," his brother said. He brushed a stray strand of hair off America's glasses. "If I didn't like you, I wouldn't be so nice about declawing you."
"Europe put you up to this, huh?" He couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice. His hands were shaking. Washington. It wasn't his favorite state, and neither was Alaska, but they were his and now they weren't going to be anymore.
Canada sighed. "Be glad it's me. Europe would say you're being a jackass about it, they don't whimper when they get provinces carved off, except they'd be lying through their teeth, they do whimper. And when it happens to somebody else they cheer. It's kind of sick. They wanted to give Texas back to Mexico, you know. But I talked them into this instead, since it would be easier on your citizens." He looked away. The trees kept rustling and the birds kept chittering, oblivious to the drama. "I should be asking for a lot more. You overthrew my government, America. You were very kind about it, but still." He rubbed absently at his wrist, and America winced involuntarily as he remembered. He'd told them to be as polite to Canada as they could, but still. There was no way for conquest to be polite.
"I just overthrew mine too," he offered, weak and quavery. He still ached with it.
"Yes. Which is why nobody is going to demand we take it out of your hide in flesh instead of money and land." Canada looked back. He was smiling, although it looked a bit forced. "You know, I'd say you need to grow up, but . . . oh, hell. That's not it. You were strongarming everybody for decades before it went formal. It's a sickness, and I don't think Nations can be strong without getting imperalistic, is what I'm trying to say. Nobody blames you. But we have to make you weak. I want to make sure you're still you when we're done."
America closed his eyes. "With liberty and justice for all," he whispered, and forced a smile onto his lips. He understood. He did. It still hurt, but he could deal with that. "At least it's you. You'll look after them. And we should really - The customs union is a great idea. And the live-and-work clause. We should keep working together."
"I don't think we could avoid that, eh?" Canada half-shrugged. He didn't look happy, but at least he didn't look betrayed.
Re: Reparations [2/1]
anonymous
February 16 2010, 12:28:19 UTC
The snippy commenter from below here to tell you that while I actually thought the the first part here was cute, if not cute enough to say anything about it all the time I though the request itself needed a dose of reality, this part does deserve a comment. I really do think it caught onto the part of the scenario that I personally found fascinating: that it had consequences, and that America faced them and accepted them, and that the world was perhaps not much of a happier place for it (that part about Europe, oh, it's spot on). I'm glad that you wrote this.
Re: Reparations [2/1]
anonymous
July 12 2010, 10:09:23 UTC
As long as we're going for a reality check here...
unfortunatly, pessimist!anon thinks that America would probably go insane and fire all missiles before facing and accepting that kind of ultimate defeat. Or at least *certain* states would go ballistic.
Re: Reparations [2/1]
anonymous
July 12 2010, 10:31:52 UTC
Or, you know what, maybe not. Depends how in the world the country got in such a position. Frankly, if the government/populace got to the, "hey, lets take over Canada!" stage...we'd probably already be insane (collectively)
yay for arguing with yourself *is same anon as above*!
Re: Reparations [2/1]
anonymous
July 12 2010, 10:33:13 UTC
Or, you know what, maybe not. Depends how in the world the country got in such a position. Frankly, if the government/populace got to the, "hey, let's take over Canada!" stage...we'd probably already be insane (collectively)
yay for arguing with yourself *is same anon as above*!
*
America waited politely until England had finished laughing, clutching his sides and almost tumbling out of the chair. It was a very nice, modern office chair, the kind with a control console, and it didn't suit England at all; he belonged in something uphoulstered and antique. Which was only reasonable, as it had been America's chair until seventeen weeks ago.
"I'm serious," he said. His head hurt. "I want to put things right between us. If - if you never wanted to be friends again, I'd understand that, but maybe - I hoped - " His voice was quavering, cracking. He focused out the corner of his eye on the window; it was only showing the weather report and the All-Clear right now, and the London skyline was visible through it. "Maybe this would help you forgive me. I know liberty is more important than money but money is, well, it's all I can give you right now."
England was silent. America held it about four seconds before he sneaked a look at his old friend's face. The expression he saw hovered on the edge of annoyance.
"America," England finally said. "You gave me liberty. Four months ago, if you haven't noticed. So it's over. It's all over. I don't want to deal with the American Empire ever again."
America took a deep breath, offered a hand to England. Forced a smile. Heroes always smile, even when their heart is cracking into a thousand little pieces. "F - farewell, then." And his voice isn't supposed to crack either. "It's been g - good knowing you and I'll, I'll miss you, oh god - " He can't stop a sob. So this is it?
But suddenly there were arms wrapped around him.
"Lucky thing the American Empire's been dissolved, then, isn't it?" says a gruff voice in his ear. "And I can deal with the Second American republic on equal terms. I'm not going to cut you off, boy. Certainly not for a spot of empire fever. I'm the last nation in the world in a position to hate you for it." America risked a look up, and England was watching him with unabashed fondness. He sniffled and tried to make himself smile, and England brushed the tears away with his thumb.
His heart swelled with joy. "You mean it?"
"Of course. We're square for all the stuff I did to you before the Revolution. It's your tricentennial next year, isn't it? Keep your money. Call it a birthday gift."
America grinned. "You know, I think that even tops Lady Liberty."
They didn't move apart for a very long while.
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<3 to you, author!non.
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*
"Washington. The state," Canada clarified at America's shocked look. "Not the city. You can keep the city."
"You're taking a whole state? Whoa, now, that's not exactly fungible goods." He fidgeted. His suit itched and it felt completely out of place. "What are - we're talking my citizens here. What if they don't want to be Canadians?"
"Also Oregon and Alaska. Maybe Northern California, too, we're still taking polls." He tossed his pad at America's lap and leaned back on the park bench. "But there's the numbers so far. About forty percent of Washington residents support joining Canada. Another thirty want to secede completely. I'm not going to make them change their language and I'm not going to keep them from moving if they want to be American so badly. In fact, we should probably keep the customs union, and the live-and-work clause." He smiled, as if he wasn't talking about carving off chunks of America's land as reparations.
"Dammit, Canada. I know I owe you, but this - this is ridiculous. What do you want my states for? I thought you liked me." And maybe that was a little pathetic, but - He was giving up empire voluntarily, he was paying everyone back as best as he could, it wasn't like - Canada shouldn't be treating with him like a conquered enemy. His stoumach twisted into a tight little knot.
"I do," his brother said. He brushed a stray strand of hair off America's glasses. "If I didn't like you, I wouldn't be so nice about declawing you."
"Europe put you up to this, huh?" He couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice. His hands were shaking. Washington. It wasn't his favorite state, and neither was Alaska, but they were his and now they weren't going to be anymore.
Canada sighed. "Be glad it's me. Europe would say you're being a jackass about it, they don't whimper when they get provinces carved off, except they'd be lying through their teeth, they do whimper. And when it happens to somebody else they cheer. It's kind of sick. They wanted to give Texas back to Mexico, you know. But I talked them into this instead, since it would be easier on your citizens." He looked away. The trees kept rustling and the birds kept chittering, oblivious to the drama. "I should be asking for a lot more. You overthrew my government, America. You were very kind about it, but still." He rubbed absently at his wrist, and America winced involuntarily as he remembered. He'd told them to be as polite to Canada as they could, but still. There was no way for conquest to be polite.
"I just overthrew mine too," he offered, weak and quavery. He still ached with it.
"Yes. Which is why nobody is going to demand we take it out of your hide in flesh instead of money and land." Canada looked back. He was smiling, although it looked a bit forced. "You know, I'd say you need to grow up, but . . . oh, hell. That's not it. You were strongarming everybody for decades before it went formal. It's a sickness, and I don't think Nations can be strong without getting imperalistic, is what I'm trying to say. Nobody blames you. But we have to make you weak. I want to make sure you're still you when we're done."
America closed his eyes. "With liberty and justice for all," he whispered, and forced a smile onto his lips. He understood. He did. It still hurt, but he could deal with that. "At least it's you. You'll look after them. And we should really - The customs union is a great idea. And the live-and-work clause. We should keep working together."
"I don't think we could avoid that, eh?" Canada half-shrugged. He didn't look happy, but at least he didn't look betrayed.
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Great job!
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unfortunatly, pessimist!anon thinks that America would probably go insane and fire all missiles before facing and accepting that kind of ultimate defeat. Or at least *certain* states would go ballistic.
Reply
yay for arguing with yourself *is same anon as above*!
Reply
yay for arguing with yourself *is same anon as above*!
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