Lost Time [2a/?]
anonymous
April 16 2010, 04:22:42 UTC
While I was reading everyone’s comments, I was suddenly struck by the irony of the fact that I started working on this fill in British Colombia. Aiya… Anyway, thank you, anons (and Original!Author-sama) for the encouraging comments. At this rate, maybe I’ll grow some self confidence. I hope no one minds the way I flip between names constantly…
So, without further ado, it’s freaking out time~ (because bottling things up leads to this kind of stuff, and I imagine he never really dealt with it. At all.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There was a long moment where nobody moved. Matthew stared in horror at Alfred, Alfred watched his brother with worried confusion and Arthur propped himself up on his elbows to look rabidly back and forth between the brothers, trying to figure out what the bloody hell was happening.
Slowly, Alfred came around the couch and moved past England towards his twin. After a moment of brief irritation with Alfred for ignoring him altogether, Arthur slowly peeled himself off the floor for the second time and edged slowly around the corner.
As Arthur peered back into the room, something bumped against his leg, causing him to start violently. Biting back curses, he looked down and found Matthew’s bear sitting at his feet.
Kumajirou reached out a fuzzy white paw to tug insistently at the leg of England’s trousers.
“Come.” The little white bear whispered, tugging again at England’s trousers.
With one more glance back into the familiar living room -Alfred was kneeling next to Matthew, looking uncertain- Arthur sighed and followed Matthew’s bear up the stairs.
== ==
Colombia pressed his back against the walls that formed the corner of his -used to be Alfred’s- living room wall, knees drawn up to his chest and hands knotted in his hair.
The spectre knelt beside him. He was vaguely aware of the United Kingdom sliding awkwardly out of the room. And then the spectre spoke.
“M-Mattie?”
Matthew couldn’t look at the spectre of his brother. He squeezed his eyes closed and wondered distantly if he was actually asleep and this was some kind of horrible dream. Because that wouldn’t have been new. He’d seen Alfred in dreams before.
They always, always ended in blood, tears and screaming.
Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he wasn’t asleep.
“Matt, buddy, what’s wrong? Is this… Did I do something..? I don’t…”
He knew it wasn’t a dream when the spectre timidly touched his arm.
Spectres weren’t supposed to be solid.
Colombia slowly looked the not-spectre in the eye.
== ==
Alfred jumped slightly when Matthew slowly turned his head to look him in the eye. The violet in his eyes was… darker than Alfred remembered it being. And that darker-than-he-remembered violet was filled with something caught between fear, confusion and hurt. Alfred didn’t like it.
So he’d be damned if he didn’t fix it. “What’s wrong…?” He asked again, unconsciously tightening his grip on his twin’s arm.
“How?” Alfred blinked.
“Um… How what?”
“How… are you… here?” The words sounded forced. Alfred blinked again.
“Um. Well. I was in London, and I think I might’ve maybe kinda totally screwed up one of Iggy’s weird magic things, and…” He trialed off when the confusion and the fear went out of Matthew’s eyes. Not the hurt, though. The hurt stayed, even when Matthew closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall.
Temporarily satisfied that whatever had caused his brother to panic enough to attack England was somehow dealt with for the time being, Alfred turned his attentions inward, to a strange nagging feeling in the back of his mind and the pit of his stomach that was slowly getting more insistent.
Lost Time [2b/?]
anonymous
April 16 2010, 04:23:50 UTC
Kumajirou led Arthur to a small room like a study at the top of the stairs. The miniature polar bear waddled to a stop in front of a small cabinet under an ancient portrait that Arthur recognized. Himself, as well as much younger version of Matthew and Alfred, from when they were both still little colonies.
Kumajirou made an impatient sound that would be threatening if he was bigger -and Arthur reminded himself that the little ball of white fuzz can be bigger if he wants to- and England came closer to peer through the glass.
Inside the glass case are some old toy soldiers, a very familiar stuffed rabbit and…
A jar containing a blue coat with holes in it that is bloodstained.
Arthur swallows hard and steps back, looking down at Kumajirou. He points a shaking finger toward the bloody blue coat. “Is that… Alfred’s…?” He asked slowly.
And suddenly it hits him why this house has felt familiar since he slammed into the living room floor. This is Virginia. This is Alfred’s house. But…
“Kumajirou, where’s Alfred?” England was afraid to hear the answer.
Matthew’s bear looks at him and simply says “Bang.”
== ==
Colombia doesn’t know if it feels better or worse knowing that this Alfred sitting next to him isn’t some kind of haunting, but rather misplaced by some accident of the magical variety. Matthew was beginning to understand that this wasn’t his Alfred, and probably not his England either. Which made everything better and worse at the same time, because this Alfred had no idea he was dead in this world -two hundred years, the back of Colombia’s mind whispers- and this Alfred doesn’t have any reason to hate him and maybe this England isn’t a royal jerk and…
“Mattie, why can’t I feel my people…?”
Oh. That hadn’t occurred to him. He opened his eyes to see this other Alfred’s eyes wide with terror and shifted forward onto his knees.
“It’s okay, it’s alright.” He said as he took hold of his not-quite-twin’s shoulders. “It’s alright.”
But this Alfred doesn’t calm down. Instead he asks, “Where are they? I should be able to feel them, right?” A pause. And then his voice takes on a hysterical tone. “Are… Are they gone? Are my people…? Did they…?!”
Colombia doesn’t think before he answers.
“Don’t worry, Al! I’ve taken good care of them, I swear.”
== ==
Arthur almost picked up the bear and shook him. Almost. Instead he paled and gasped out, “He’s dead…?” Kumajirou didn’t respond, didn’t have to, simply looked at England intently. “Oh dear God. Who…?”
Kumajirou looked at him even more intently and said it again.
“Bang.”
Ho snap! I kept wanting Al to refer to Matt as ‘Canada’ when he was narrating. But that would have confused even me. So… >.>;; Also, I abused the word ‘spectre’. Also also, I totally wrote up until Kuma-chan leads Arthur off in my math class. XD Also also also, I failed out of that math class. Orz
Lost Time - Part Two Notes
anonymous
April 16 2010, 04:25:12 UTC
First: An explanation of the comment about Kuma-chan getting bigger. In my head, Kumajirou is most definitely not a normal polar bear. He’s some kind of aboriginal magic thing, like a Totem or a Guide or something similar, and most of the time he stays the size of a teddy beat because that takes less energy and is less obvious and stuff. But when he (or Canada) is REALLY ROYALLY PISSED, he goes all full-blown polar bear on you and will kill you dead. Yeah. So, Arthur doesn’t wanna piss the thing off, just in case.
I have no idea why this was such a bitch to type out. It was all there in my head, but it DID NOT want to come out AT ALL. Jeez. And then it changed shape a bunch of times before settling into what we have here. I blame the fact that for the last three days, it’s SNOWED. FUCK MATT, I HATE THE WEATHER SOMETIMES. But today was warm~~
Yes, I do realize that Colombia!Mattie’s little shrine thing was probably on the first floor in the original. Pretend he ended up moving it for some reason. It makes sense in my head. Something to do with bottling thing up, I think. OTL
Question for all you people: Do you want me to give you the names of some of the songs on the inspirational playlist for this? Cuz I know that I, personally, am a music nerd love to know what the author is listening to. And just in case someone wants, here are a few. Simple Plan -> Perfect world Rise Against -> The Good Left Undone Ayumi Hamasaki -> Together When… All of which came on while I was working on this. My iPod hates me. orz
On a more relevant note: Francis wants in on the angsty. Do I let him, or not? But if he gets in, Prussia’s gonna want in, and I have NO IDEA what I’d do with him… Long notes are long.
My continual stalking of this fill has not been in vain! (waters author!anon's self-confidence, to make it grow faster)
Another lovely chapter, well worth the wait! I always thought that Mattie's acceptance of Alfred's not-dead-ness would be the hardest thing to pull off, but you did it wonderfully! And I love, love, love how you've used Kumajiro here~! My heart broke the same moment that Arthur's did, I swear.
Bringing Francis in would be extra-awsome. As for Prussia, why not give him a "damage control" role similiar to Kuamjiro? Because of all these characters, he's the one with the weakest emotional connection to Alfred, so he'd be able to stand back and keep them all sane.
Will this world's Arthur make an appearance, too? (Loving the angst so much, I can't even tell you...)
Not familiar with modern music myself, but I YouTubed the Simple Plan song, 'cause I like them. Appropriate choice.
Author!Anon is slightly embarassed by the love
anonymous
April 16 2010, 06:01:27 UTC
And by slightly embarassed, I mean I look like a freakin tomato. I checked. *flustered*
I wish I knew where half this stuff comes from. Honestly, this fill is writting itself. Francis pretty much came streaking in without my permission, and Gilbert felt left out and joined the party. -.-;; And OF COURSE this world's Arthur is gonna show up! I have to hit him with SOMETHING. *already has that plotted*
Part of me is sorry to tell you the angst is going to get much, much worse. Because a plot point I am not happy about AT ALL but damn, it makes SENSE popped up shortly after I got part one up and I feel terrible about it. *massive guilt trip* There's gonna be LOTS of appologizing from over here when it starts. ...Actually, it's started already. You just don't know it yet. T^T I'msorry!
So what Kuma-chan is doing is called damage control? XD You know a fill has gotten away from you when the freaking BEAR does things without explaining them to you. Oh look, Prussia just decided what he's gonna do with himself. So, including Prussia it is! Dammit, the character count is rising.
That song breaks me in so many ways. But I love it none the less. It's such a kick in the teeth. ...Actually, most of the songs on that playlist are, in one way or another...
Re: Lost Time - Part Two Notes
anonymous
April 16 2010, 20:25:53 UTC
I foresee a showdown between the two Arthurs. Gonna suck for both of them, but I only feel sorry for one. Also feeling kind of bad for looking forward to it.
Francis? Why not?
I've been stalking this fill too. It's got a lot of potential, and I'm a sucker for angst.
And well... If you like angst... Hang around, I guess. Because assuming I don't fail massively... You'll get more angst. *twitch*
Your captcha just set off my equivalent of the 'sinking feeling', which is, unfortunately rather painful. *writhes* I really hate that thing sometimes.
Re: Lost Time - Part Two Notes
anonymous
April 17 2010, 04:14:50 UTC
I love this story! And I loved Grey Skies Over London! And I love you, Author!
Author sounds like Arthur but Columbia does not love Arthur and I love Columbia and this story is going to break my heart I just know it. Don't cry, Mattie. I love you, Mattie : [
Captcha says "reside Nixon," good try Captcha but somehow I don't think Columbia voted for Nixon!
Yeah... Colombia probably didn't vote for Nixon... Assuming I'm thinking of the right president... I can't even keep track of the various Prime Ministers and I live in Canada. OTL Massive politics fail.
So, without further ado, it’s freaking out time~ (because bottling things up leads to this kind of stuff, and I imagine he never really dealt with it. At all.)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There was a long moment where nobody moved. Matthew stared in horror at Alfred, Alfred watched his brother with worried confusion and Arthur propped himself up on his elbows to look rabidly back and forth between the brothers, trying to figure out what the bloody hell was happening.
Slowly, Alfred came around the couch and moved past England towards his twin. After a moment of brief irritation with Alfred for ignoring him altogether, Arthur slowly peeled himself off the floor for the second time and edged slowly around the corner.
As Arthur peered back into the room, something bumped against his leg, causing him to start violently. Biting back curses, he looked down and found Matthew’s bear sitting at his feet.
Kumajirou reached out a fuzzy white paw to tug insistently at the leg of England’s trousers.
“Come.” The little white bear whispered, tugging again at England’s trousers.
With one more glance back into the familiar living room -Alfred was kneeling next to Matthew, looking uncertain- Arthur sighed and followed Matthew’s bear up the stairs.
==
==
Colombia pressed his back against the walls that formed the corner of his -used to be Alfred’s- living room wall, knees drawn up to his chest and hands knotted in his hair.
The spectre knelt beside him.
He was vaguely aware of the United Kingdom sliding awkwardly out of the room.
And then the spectre spoke.
“M-Mattie?”
Matthew couldn’t look at the spectre of his brother. He squeezed his eyes closed and wondered distantly if he was actually asleep and this was some kind of horrible dream. Because that wouldn’t have been new. He’d seen Alfred in dreams before.
They always, always ended in blood, tears and screaming.
Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew he wasn’t asleep.
“Matt, buddy, what’s wrong? Is this… Did I do something..? I don’t…”
He knew it wasn’t a dream when the spectre timidly touched his arm.
Spectres weren’t supposed to be solid.
Colombia slowly looked the not-spectre in the eye.
==
==
Alfred jumped slightly when Matthew slowly turned his head to look him in the eye. The violet in his eyes was… darker than Alfred remembered it being. And that darker-than-he-remembered violet was filled with something caught between fear, confusion and hurt. Alfred didn’t like it.
So he’d be damned if he didn’t fix it. “What’s wrong…?” He asked again, unconsciously tightening his grip on his twin’s arm.
“How?” Alfred blinked.
“Um… How what?”
“How… are you… here?” The words sounded forced. Alfred blinked again.
“Um. Well. I was in London, and I think I might’ve maybe kinda totally screwed up one of Iggy’s weird magic things, and…” He trialed off when the confusion and the fear went out of Matthew’s eyes. Not the hurt, though. The hurt stayed, even when Matthew closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the wall.
Temporarily satisfied that whatever had caused his brother to panic enough to attack England was somehow dealt with for the time being, Alfred turned his attentions inward, to a strange nagging feeling in the back of his mind and the pit of his stomach that was slowly getting more insistent.
He paused. His eyes widened.
“Mattie, why can’t I feel my people…?”
Reply
Kumajirou made an impatient sound that would be threatening if he was bigger -and Arthur reminded himself that the little ball of white fuzz can be bigger if he wants to- and England came closer to peer through the glass.
Inside the glass case are some old toy soldiers, a very familiar stuffed rabbit and…
A jar containing a blue coat with holes in it that is bloodstained.
Arthur swallows hard and steps back, looking down at Kumajirou. He points a shaking finger toward the bloody blue coat. “Is that… Alfred’s…?” He asked slowly.
And suddenly it hits him why this house has felt familiar since he slammed into the living room floor. This is Virginia. This is Alfred’s house. But…
“Kumajirou, where’s Alfred?” England was afraid to hear the answer.
Matthew’s bear looks at him and simply says “Bang.”
==
==
Colombia doesn’t know if it feels better or worse knowing that this Alfred sitting next to him isn’t some kind of haunting, but rather misplaced by some accident of the magical variety. Matthew was beginning to understand that this wasn’t his Alfred, and probably not his England either. Which made everything better and worse at the same time, because this Alfred had no idea he was dead in this world -two hundred years, the back of Colombia’s mind whispers- and this Alfred doesn’t have any reason to hate him and maybe this England isn’t a royal jerk and…
“Mattie, why can’t I feel my people…?”
Oh. That hadn’t occurred to him. He opened his eyes to see this other Alfred’s eyes wide with terror and shifted forward onto his knees.
“It’s okay, it’s alright.” He said as he took hold of his not-quite-twin’s shoulders. “It’s alright.”
But this Alfred doesn’t calm down. Instead he asks, “Where are they? I should be able to feel them, right?” A pause. And then his voice takes on a hysterical tone. “Are… Are they gone? Are my people…? Did they…?!”
Colombia doesn’t think before he answers.
“Don’t worry, Al! I’ve taken good care of them, I swear.”
==
==
Arthur almost picked up the bear and shook him. Almost. Instead he paled and gasped out, “He’s dead…?” Kumajirou didn’t respond, didn’t have to, simply looked at England intently. “Oh dear God. Who…?”
Kumajirou looked at him even more intently and said it again.
“Bang.”
Ho snap!
I kept wanting Al to refer to Matt as ‘Canada’ when he was narrating. But that would have confused even me. So… >.>;;
Also, I abused the word ‘spectre’.
Also also, I totally wrote up until Kuma-chan leads Arthur off in my math class. XD
Also also also, I failed out of that math class. Orz
Reply
I have no idea why this was such a bitch to type out. It was all there in my head, but it DID NOT want to come out AT ALL. Jeez. And then it changed shape a bunch of times before settling into what we have here. I blame the fact that for the last three days, it’s SNOWED. FUCK MATT, I HATE THE WEATHER SOMETIMES. But today was warm~~
Yes, I do realize that Colombia!Mattie’s little shrine thing was probably on the first floor in the original. Pretend he ended up moving it for some reason. It makes sense in my head. Something to do with bottling thing up, I think. OTL
Question for all you people: Do you want me to give you the names of some of the songs on the inspirational playlist for this? Cuz I know that I, personally, am a music nerd love to know what the author is listening to. And just in case someone wants, here are a few.
Simple Plan -> Perfect world
Rise Against -> The Good Left Undone
Ayumi Hamasaki -> Together When…
All of which came on while I was working on this. My iPod hates me. orz
On a more relevant note: Francis wants in on the angsty. Do I let him, or not? But if he gets in, Prussia’s gonna want in, and I have NO IDEA what I’d do with him…
Long notes are long.
Reply
Another lovely chapter, well worth the wait! I always thought that Mattie's acceptance of Alfred's not-dead-ness would be the hardest thing to pull off, but you did it wonderfully! And I love, love, love how you've used Kumajiro here~! My heart broke the same moment that Arthur's did, I swear.
Bringing Francis in would be extra-awsome. As for Prussia, why not give him a "damage control" role similiar to Kuamjiro? Because of all these characters, he's the one with the weakest emotional connection to Alfred, so he'd be able to stand back and keep them all sane.
Will this world's Arthur make an appearance, too? (Loving the angst so much, I can't even tell you...)
Not familiar with modern music myself, but I YouTubed the Simple Plan song, 'cause I like them. Appropriate choice.
Reply
I wish I knew where half this stuff comes from. Honestly, this fill is writting itself. Francis pretty much came streaking in without my permission, and Gilbert felt left out and joined the party. -.-;; And OF COURSE this world's Arthur is gonna show up! I have to hit him with SOMETHING. *already has that plotted*
Part of me is sorry to tell you the angst is going to get much, much worse. Because a plot point I am not happy about AT ALL but damn, it makes SENSE popped up shortly after I got part one up and I feel terrible about it. *massive guilt trip* There's gonna be LOTS of appologizing from over here when it starts. ...Actually, it's started already. You just don't know it yet. T^T I'msorry!
So what Kuma-chan is doing is called damage control? XD You know a fill has gotten away from you when the freaking BEAR does things without explaining them to you. Oh look, Prussia just decided what he's gonna do with himself. So, including Prussia it is! Dammit, the character count is rising.
That song breaks me in so many ways. But I love it none the less. It's such a kick in the teeth. ...Actually, most of the songs on that playlist are, in one way or another...
Reply
Francis? Why not?
I've been stalking this fill too. It's got a lot of potential, and I'm a sucker for angst.
ReCAPTCA: "manacles concern" Bawwwww.
Reply
And well... If you like angst... Hang around, I guess. Because assuming I don't fail massively... You'll get more angst. *twitch*
Your captcha just set off my equivalent of the 'sinking feeling', which is, unfortunately rather painful. *writhes* I really hate that thing sometimes.
Reply
Author sounds like Arthur but Columbia does not love Arthur and I love Columbia and this story is going to break my heart I just know it. Don't cry, Mattie. I love you, Mattie : [
Captcha says "reside Nixon," good try Captcha but somehow I don't think Columbia voted for Nixon!
Reply
Yeah... Colombia probably didn't vote for Nixon... Assuming I'm thinking of the right president... I can't even keep track of the various Prime Ministers and I live in Canada. OTL Massive politics fail.
Reply
-runs off- AND OH MAI GOSH, I LOVE THIS CROSSOVER THING. Ayumi Hamasaki is cool too.
(LOL @ Captcha: flutes/psychological... Er whut?)
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