At Least We're in This Together (Prologue 2/2)
anonymous
December 27 2010, 06:28:43 UTC
“R-Romana…” Antonio turned, a placating smile on his lips for the scowling, pig-tailed girl sitting at the dining room table.
This earned him another crayon to the head. “I’m ‘ungry! Food now!” Romana shrieked, banging her small fists on the wooden surface.
“Romana,” Antonio tried to remember what Roderica had told him about handling her. Be firm. “The pasta will be-“
He barely dodged the next barrage of crayons, and he would have been proud of his baby girl’s good aim if she hadn’t been directing them to his eye. There was a light ringing sound, as if metal had been hit, and then a wet splash.
Muttering an epithet that shouldn’t have seen the light of day, Antonio sprinted to his tomato sauce and desperately began fishing around for the crayon, that had landed in the pot, before it melted.
Meanwhile, Feliciano, who had been sniffling in his ear the entire time, found the relative peace to be a good time to restart his needy protests. “I … I …”
“’UNGRY!”
“Si, please be just a little …”
“I-I wan’ …”
“No!”
“Romana! If you throw one more-“
“I WANT MY MOMMY!” Feliciano took in one deep breath, and then began screaming for all he was worth. The strange thing was that he didn’t kic, or flail about like Romana would have. Rather, he just grew limp, opened his mouth, and put all of his energy in crying his little heart out.
Romana, evidently deciding that she was not getting enough attention, began wailing as well, pitting her considerable lung power against her brother’s. In their cacophonic competition, the only real loser was Antonio as he, near tears himself, dragged himself to the kitchen phone and began steadily dialing his ex-wife’s number.
**
“I’ve made your favorite, Mattieu, Soufflé au Fromage.”
“Thank you Papa.”
“Mattieu,” Francis sighed, wiping his mouth and placing his cloth napkin beside his plate. “Is there something wrong?”
The blonde boy looked so far away on the other side of the table, his head drooping as he stared at his untouched plate. He didn’t even seem alert enough to push his food around with a fork. “No, Papa.”
Awkwardly, Francis cleared his throat. He wished he could reach across the space separating them to take his son’s hand, but lately, Mattieu had been shying away from his touch. “How is school?”
“School is fine, Papa. May I please be excused?”
“Yes.” Francis sighed, watching his too-solemn five-year-old slip down from his chair and tap quietly out of the dining room. Alone, Francis sighed again, deeply and rubbed his aching eyes. “Jeanne …” He whispered the name, but in the quiet room the sound of it still made him wince. “Jeanne, our boy is …”
Then Francis gave a short laugh, because he was talking to a dead woman, and no matter how lovely she had been, she was never going to answer.
No one saw that fail title fail Roderica and Romana are real names BTW. Would OP/Readers like Alfred himself, or genderbent?
More love!
anonymous
December 27 2010, 07:37:37 UTC
OP wasn't expecting this so soon! Quite good so far, the characterization is spot-on. As the anon above said, Jeanne being Frances wife is tragic as well as amazing.
I have no preference on Alfred's gender. It usually depends on how he fits into the story, but I'm not sure if you'd be willing to give spoilers.
Re: At Least We're in This Together (Prologue 2/2)
anonymous
December 27 2010, 15:38:51 UTC
D'AWWWWW. This is so cute, I really look forward to reading more! ♥ It took me a moment to realise that was Fem!Poland whom Gilbo knocked up, lol. XD;;; And I would prefer Alfred as himself, but it's really up to you, Author!Anon. :)
The Hapsburg fangirl in me rejoices at the mention of past Spain x fem!Roddy. ♥ And wishes they could have a happy ending. Ignore me. :X
Re: At Least We're in This Together (Prologue 2/2)
anonymous
December 27 2010, 18:02:26 UTC
Oh, this is so many types of heart breaking and adorable all at once. Poor little Mattie, his mommy's dead, little Ludwig's momma didn't want him and poor Antonio! You'll be okay amigo.
and not OP would really, really prefer boy!Alfred, she loves Matt and Al's interaction as boys way more than anything she's ever read where one is a girl.
Re: At Least We're in This Together (Prologue 2/2)
anonymous
December 27 2010, 19:55:44 UTC
Poor Mattie and Francis! And Spain! Stuck with twins, and Prussia... oh dear. Does this mean that Alfred and Matthew aren't twins? Did they get separated somehow? I can't wait for the next part!
The fact that you made /GILBERT/ the jerk off, womanizer and NOT France is amazing. People forget that he is also a romantic man.
Oh and the Spain/Austria is a nice historical touch anon!
I hope you make Alfred himself. We already have one girl boy pair and one single child so why not a pair with the same gender too? Besides it will be hilarious to watch the only girl boss around the boys XD I have a feeling she may get along a bit well with Matthew if she has the same inferiority complex as Lovi does in canon
Re: At Least We're in This Together (Prologue 2/2)
anonymous
December 28 2010, 21:25:26 UTC
Very cute! I love how you delineated the three situations, because they fit the characters really well: Gilbert's is a one night stand from when he was part of...a band? WhateverXD. And it's Feliks', lol, it's even fitting for Ludwig's ascendant.
Antonio as a divorced man with twins? Lol. Great idea to change South Italy's genderXD. I hope Roderica makes an appearance, I can't wait to see what you have in store for us there. Romana as an attention-catcher and Feli as a mommy's boy are awesomeXD
And Francis! *sobs* Man, the end made me tear up; I love OP for adding the mourning widower thing, because it's beautiful. The way I picture Jeanne, she totally fits as Matt's mother, some of the sweetness and softer sides of him at least. Did she die recently, or it's been years? What's up with Matt? I wanna know, author anon, update soon!
I vote for boy!Al. But how will he make an appearance? Is he Matt's friend at school or something? Or is Arthur going to move next door and hopefully brighten Francis' life or something?
“R-Romana…” Antonio turned, a placating smile on his lips for the scowling, pig-tailed girl sitting at the dining room table.
This earned him another crayon to the head. “I’m ‘ungry! Food now!” Romana shrieked, banging her small fists on the wooden surface.
“Romana,” Antonio tried to remember what Roderica had told him about handling her. Be firm. “The pasta will be-“
He barely dodged the next barrage of crayons, and he would have been proud of his baby girl’s good aim if she hadn’t been directing them to his eye. There was a light ringing sound, as if metal had been hit, and then a wet splash.
Muttering an epithet that shouldn’t have seen the light of day, Antonio sprinted to his tomato sauce and desperately began fishing around for the crayon, that had landed in the pot, before it melted.
Meanwhile, Feliciano, who had been sniffling in his ear the entire time, found the relative peace to be a good time to restart his needy protests. “I … I …”
“’UNGRY!”
“Si, please be just a little …”
“I-I wan’ …”
“No!”
“Romana! If you throw one more-“
“I WANT MY MOMMY!” Feliciano took in one deep breath, and then began screaming for all he was worth. The strange thing was that he didn’t kic, or flail about like Romana would have. Rather, he just grew limp, opened his mouth, and put all of his energy in crying his little heart out.
Romana, evidently deciding that she was not getting enough attention, began wailing as well, pitting her considerable lung power against her brother’s. In their cacophonic competition, the only real loser was Antonio as he, near tears himself, dragged himself to the kitchen phone and began steadily dialing his ex-wife’s number.
**
“I’ve made your favorite, Mattieu, Soufflé au Fromage.”
“Thank you Papa.”
“Mattieu,” Francis sighed, wiping his mouth and placing his cloth napkin beside his plate. “Is there something wrong?”
The blonde boy looked so far away on the other side of the table, his head drooping as he stared at his untouched plate. He didn’t even seem alert enough to push his food around with a fork. “No, Papa.”
Awkwardly, Francis cleared his throat. He wished he could reach across the space separating them to take his son’s hand, but lately, Mattieu had been shying away from his touch. “How is school?”
“School is fine, Papa. May I please be excused?”
“Yes.” Francis sighed, watching his too-solemn five-year-old slip down from his chair and tap quietly out of the dining room. Alone, Francis sighed again, deeply and rubbed his aching eyes. “Jeanne …” He whispered the name, but in the quiet room the sound of it still made him wince. “Jeanne, our boy is …”
Then Francis gave a short laugh, because he was talking to a dead woman, and no matter how lovely she had been, she was never going to answer.
No one saw that fail title fail Roderica and Romana are real names BTW. Would OP/Readers like Alfred himself, or genderbent?
Reply
"And that’s not even my name!" My favorite line. XD Oh Gilbert.
Not OP, but I vote for boy Alfred. :)
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Loving this so far, author!anon.
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I have no preference on Alfred's gender. It usually depends on how he fits into the story, but I'm not sure if you'd be willing to give spoilers.
Also, I love LietPol. Is dat sum Fem!Poland
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I wouldn't have this fill any other way <3
No preference for America, genderbent or male is totally fine.
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I'd prefer a boy!Alfred <3
/two cents
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I NEED MOAARRR. MOAAARR.
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The Hapsburg fangirl in me rejoices at the mention of past Spain x fem!Roddy. ♥ And wishes they could have a happy ending. Ignore me. :X
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and not OP would really, really prefer boy!Alfred, she loves Matt and Al's interaction as boys way more than anything she's ever read where one is a girl.
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I can't wait for the next part!
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Oh and the Spain/Austria is a nice historical touch anon!
I hope you make Alfred himself. We already have one girl boy pair and one single child so why not a pair with the same gender too? Besides it will be hilarious to watch the only girl boss around the boys XD I have a feeling she may get along a bit well with Matthew if she has the same inferiority complex as Lovi does in canon
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oh Jeanne DD:
I like Alfred as Alfred himself :D
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Antonio as a divorced man with twins? Lol. Great idea to change South Italy's genderXD. I hope Roderica makes an appearance, I can't wait to see what you have in store for us there. Romana as an attention-catcher and Feli as a mommy's boy are awesomeXD
And Francis! *sobs*
Man, the end made me tear up; I love OP for adding the mourning widower thing, because it's beautiful. The way I picture Jeanne, she totally fits as Matt's mother, some of the sweetness and softer sides of him at least. Did she die recently, or it's been years? What's up with Matt? I wanna know, author anon, update soon!
I vote for boy!Al. But how will he make an appearance? Is he Matt's friend at school or something? Or is Arthur going to move next door and hopefully brighten Francis' life or something?
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