Fill: Ring A Ring O'Roses 3/3
anonymous
December 10 2010, 12:13:11 UTC
"I'm scared of rats okay?" England snapped out, keeping his head turned away from America.
"No shit." America's deadpan reply caused England to swivel his head around and glare fiercely at America, who held his hands up in a peacemaking gesture. "Look England, I was just pointing out what just happened, that wasn't just a fear, that was a phobia. Seeing that rat sent you catatonic, ordinary fears just don't do that to you."
"I don't have a phobia. It's a petty, ridiculous fear and I have no business having it." England defended his reasoning even though most of his argument stemmed from his irrational side which was still wrapping itself in the shame and humiliation of someone else witnessing him breaking down. America gaped at him for a moment before looking at him curiously.
"Hey England, everyone has stuff that scares them." He said in a quiet voice, stepping closer so he was able to wrap England in a loose hug, while still being able to look down into England's face. "Stuff scares me too sometimes."
"You, the almighty hero?" England said scornfully, even though he was curious about where this was going. He felt more than saw America nodding.
"Yeah. I'm terrified of horror movies and ghosts and that weird stuff which you have that has the slogan 'Love it or Hate it'," England was about to say something like that none of those things were quite the same level of embarrassment that England was feeling at the moment but America continued talking, "I'm terrified that I'm going to get fat and won't be strong enough to be a hero anymore. During the Second World War, I was terrified that Germany might actually win and take you away and twist you into something evil like he was. In that whole big mess with Russia, I was terrified that he would actually launch the bomb which would mean that I would have to launch a bomb back. They might have been Communists but I never wanted that much blood on my hands again. When I saw what had happened, after Japan, the pictures and the descriptions, I couldn't stop washing my hands. I rubbed them raw after the fifty-fifth wash." America laughed, but it was strangely watery and England felt his eyes burn in sympathy. But crying would be almost as embarrassing as his earlier display so he just blinked rapidly until his vision cleared.
Sometimes England guessed America's mood and sometimes he came nowhere close. But this was America letting him in and maybe it was time to repay that trust as well.
"It was 1348 and the biggest plague ever known spread across Europe...." England continued to talk as America listened avidly. America's fears might not have been exactly what England had experienced but it was close enough. England could appreciate America's effort and know that America would not laugh at him for remembering the terror of the Black Death.
I think it went a little different to how OP wanted but I hope they like it anyway. Quickest thing that I ever wrote and I actually waited until it wasn't two in the morning to post it. Black Death/bubonic plague - started in Italy, spread to France and then to England in 1348. Wiped out 30-40% of England’s population at the time (5-6 million) and helped to bring an end to the feudal system and people started to question religion. Joanna was King Edward III’s favourite daughter. She travelled to France to get married, caught the Plague and died. People were absolutely terrified of the Plague, they did not know how it was spread so the victims were avoided by everyone including their own family members. When they were ill and then died, a red cross was painted across their door. Title: Ring a ring o’roses is a nursery rhyme which is commonly thought to be about the plague, but most likely the most recent outbreak in London in 1665 rather than the first outbreak in 1348.
^___^ That was lovely authornon. I liked how you made America bring up at least one fear that wasn't silly (though I loled a bit at the marmite one). And the way you had snatches of flashbacks interspersed with America's calls was a nice effect; it simulated the whirl of confusion and terror pretty well. I've never heard that version of the nursery rhyme; it's different from the one I grew up with... Thanks for the awesome fill, anon!
Author Anon
anonymous
December 30 2010, 23:30:11 UTC
To me America is partly silly and partly serious so his fears should really represent that as well. I think I read the marmite fear on the Hetalia wikia actually, it might just have been that he didn't like Marmite and my sleep-addled brain translated it to fear of marmite.
The plague must have been terrifying, not knowing how it was being spread or why it was coming after you. Apparently loads of people lost faith in the Church afterwards. But I'm glad the flashback effect worked.
According to wikipedia there's loads of different versions of the rhyme. The one I used is the one common in the UK, the other one I've heard is the 'ashes, ashes' one which is common in the US.
I'm glad you liked it OP.
Other Anons: Thanks so much for your comments, I do appreciate all of them but don't want to reply individually to save comment space.
"No shit." America's deadpan reply caused England to swivel his head around and glare fiercely at America, who held his hands up in a peacemaking gesture. "Look England, I was just pointing out what just happened, that wasn't just a fear, that was a phobia. Seeing that rat sent you catatonic, ordinary fears just don't do that to you."
"I don't have a phobia. It's a petty, ridiculous fear and I have no business having it." England defended his reasoning even though most of his argument stemmed from his irrational side which was still wrapping itself in the shame and humiliation of someone else witnessing him breaking down. America gaped at him for a moment before looking at him curiously.
"Hey England, everyone has stuff that scares them." He said in a quiet voice, stepping closer so he was able to wrap England in a loose hug, while still being able to look down into England's face. "Stuff scares me too sometimes."
"You, the almighty hero?" England said scornfully, even though he was curious about where this was going. He felt more than saw America nodding.
"Yeah. I'm terrified of horror movies and ghosts and that weird stuff which you have that has the slogan 'Love it or Hate it'," England was about to say something like that none of those things were quite the same level of embarrassment that England was feeling at the moment but America continued talking, "I'm terrified that I'm going to get fat and won't be strong enough to be a hero anymore. During the Second World War, I was terrified that Germany might actually win and take you away and twist you into something evil like he was. In that whole big mess with Russia, I was terrified that he would actually launch the bomb which would mean that I would have to launch a bomb back. They might have been Communists but I never wanted that much blood on my hands again. When I saw what had happened, after Japan, the pictures and the descriptions, I couldn't stop washing my hands. I rubbed them raw after the fifty-fifth wash." America laughed, but it was strangely watery and England felt his eyes burn in sympathy. But crying would be almost as embarrassing as his earlier display so he just blinked rapidly until his vision cleared.
Sometimes England guessed America's mood and sometimes he came nowhere close. But this was America letting him in and maybe it was time to repay that trust as well.
"It was 1348 and the biggest plague ever known spread across Europe...." England continued to talk as America listened avidly. America's fears might not have been exactly what England had experienced but it was close enough. England could appreciate America's effort and know that America would not laugh at him for remembering the terror of the Black Death.
I think it went a little different to how OP wanted but I hope they like it anyway. Quickest thing that I ever wrote and I actually waited until it wasn't two in the morning to post it.
Black Death/bubonic plague - started in Italy, spread to France and then to England in 1348. Wiped out 30-40% of England’s population at the time (5-6 million) and helped to bring an end to the feudal system and people started to question religion.
Joanna was King Edward III’s favourite daughter. She travelled to France to get married, caught the Plague and died.
People were absolutely terrified of the Plague, they did not know how it was spread so the victims were avoided by everyone including their own family members. When they were ill and then died, a red cross was painted across their door.
Title: Ring a ring o’roses is a nursery rhyme which is commonly thought to be about the plague, but most likely the most recent outbreak in London in 1665 rather than the first outbreak in 1348.
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Thanks for the awesome fill, anon!
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The plague must have been terrifying, not knowing how it was being spread or why it was coming after you. Apparently loads of people lost faith in the Church afterwards. But I'm glad the flashback effect worked.
According to wikipedia there's loads of different versions of the rhyme. The one I used is the one common in the UK, the other one I've heard is the 'ashes, ashes' one which is common in the US.
I'm glad you liked it OP.
Other Anons: Thanks so much for your comments, I do appreciate all of them but don't want to reply individually to save comment space.
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Absolutely beautifully written... Have my babies, Author!Anon? XD
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