And Then The Roses Drowned - 1.2/many
anonymous
March 31 2011, 03:05:20 UTC
Alfred lay in a stupor in Hungary's warm embrace, his brain swimming from heartache and alcohol. Great Britain, the entire island, had been inundated with rapid flooding for six days. Six days of rain, of landslides, of never-ending clouds, of people clinging to what's left of their homes, sopping wet, not even a penny to their names, waiting to be rescued from land that had been a stronghold for thousands of years.
And neither Arthur, nor his elder brother, Logan, had been heard from since right before the storms. Alfred tossed the last words he had spoken to Arthur around in his mind over and over, recalling the look on his beau's face, the way his mouth twitched as he pretended not to be amused by Alfred's terrible jokes. The last sentence, their last exchange-- Alfred's breath hitched in his throat and he bit his lower lip.
"Alright, I'm going to bed now, you git."
"You're no fun. It's so early!
"It's early for you, perhaps. I'm five hours ahead, it's 1 a.m., I am going to sleep." Arthur turned away from his monitor to pull his shirt over his head and pull on a nightshirt, and he turned back, and saw the dejected gaze of his lover on the screen, dying sunlight filtering through the windows in the background.
Arthur sat back down at his computer and gently touched the computer screen, and Alfred followed suit.
"I'll see you very soon, my love."
"Goodnight, sweetheart."
"Goodnight."
"...We just heard something," a solemn voice said, pulling Alfred out of his memories. Roderich had been playing something softly at the piano and he stopped immediately.
Ludwig was standing in the doorway, wearing rubber boots that reached his knees and a dark green rain slicker that made his pallid complexion even paler. He licked his lips and looked around the room, and all of the nations who were there waited with baited breath. Ludwig had been in England until he got back-- whatever it was he had to tell them, he couldn't tell them on the phone.
Matthew slid his hand into Alfred's and squeezed his fingers.
"We finally made it to Arthur's house," Ludwig said, and the small crowd of nations that were in the doorway behind him filtered into the room. Some of them were also wearing raincoats and boots, and looked downtrodden. That couldn't mean anything good. Elizabeta tightened her grip in Alfred, still holding his head to her chest, although he was facing Ludwig.
Ludwig glanced around the room, and, while holding the door, took a deep, trembling breath.
"The house was destroyed. Completely. The second floor was leveled straight onto the first... everything inside. Gone." There was a heavy silence. Francis bumped into the door and wiggled his way into the room, his normally well-kept hair pulled back hastily, mud sticking to his face. It seemed as if the entire world were holding their breaths, waiting to hear.
"...we found all of Arthur's things," Ludwig explained. "His passport, his I.D., his government I.D.... his cellphone, his keys. Everything."
"His cars were even still there," France said with a sigh. "Every single one of them."
"What does that mean?" Lichtenstein squeaked from the corner of the room. She was holding onto the body of the piano so tightly it seemed like her fingers would dig right into the polished wood.
"That means he never left his house. He was in that house when the storms hit." Alfred could feel his entire body trembling beyond his control. He didn't realize how tightly he was gripping Canada until he heard a contained whimper from beside him, and saw Matthew's eyes dotted with tears. His hand was white. Ludwig looked around the room, then he turned to the floor, shoulders heaving.
Don't say it, Alfred willed at Ludwig. Please, God, Ludwig, don't say it.
Re: And Then The Roses Drowned - 1.2/many
anonymous
March 31 2011, 03:05:52 UTC
The air in the room shifted. It seemed as if time stood still. The nations who had been with Ludwig in England all looked at each other-- they already knew. They had seen the destruction with their own eyes. The rest of the room was completely frozen, until Lichtenstein broke the spell. She was still gripping the piano as hard as she could, and she suddenly fell forward into it, nearly hitting the floor as Vash caught her. She collapsed onto her knees, her knuckles white, staring up at Ludwig.
As if on cue, the other Europeans followed suit in similar reactions. Roderich, who had stood up when they entered, slumped back down onto the piano bench, sitting next to Prussia, who, for the first time, had nothing to say. Finland was near them, sitting on the floor, and he was the first to break. He began to cry. It wasn't sobs or hysterics, just simple, fat tears welling into the corners of his eyes and sliding down his cheeks onto his shirt. Sweden rushed across the room in a heartbeat, crouching down and wrapping Tino into a crushing embrace.
Eyes traveled around the room as the silence was replaced by haggard breaths. Ludwig's gaze eventually fell into the corner where Elizabeta was crouched, holding Alfred in her arms. Other nations starting pouring into the room, people who had been in other rooms, on computers and talking on phones, to hear the news.
"What's happening--"
"We heard there was news--" The room bustled with tears and questions and chaos, but all Ludwig could watch was Elizabeta, kneeling in the corner, Alfred's head pressed against her chest, stroking his hair and murmuring to him gently. Matthew was sitting on Alfred's other side, his knees to his chest, staring at the ceiling, lips moving in a silent prayer.
Even though he couldn't see them from where he was standing, he saw the ravines that the tears made against his rosy cheeks.
Alfred sobbed himself unconscious.
--
God damn word limit.
I have no idea where this is even going! Hooray! I hope OP and others enjoy! More sadness to be had later on!
Re: And Then The Roses Drowned - 1.2/many
anonymous
March 31 2011, 03:34:58 UTC
....Believe me when I say I screamed out loud when I read, "We believe Arthur's dead."
I supressed the urge to cry with Alfred...my heart is hurting, even though I know Arthur and Logan will be okay in the end. Oh...my god ARTHUR...-wails-
Re: And Then The Roses Drowned - 1.2/many
anonymous
March 31 2011, 04:10:04 UTC
When I was first reading this, I thought you were going to make this an AU, since most of the time, when they are nations, they are called by their nation names not their humans name. It wasn't until I read the "nation" word that I figure out that this isn't an AU XD well, awesome job =D Can't wait to read more
Re: And Then The Roses Drowned - 1.2/many
anonymous
March 31 2011, 04:50:05 UTC
Random anon here. I was thinking of filling this but I'm so, so glad that you did because BY GOD this is brilliant. I just... GAH. It's so painful because while we know (as per the request) that Arthur is still alive, the other nations don't know and this is so so painful, especially Alfred's reactions. Painful but beautiful and I'm looking forward to reading more :)
My god, anon, I have tears in my eyes and I am doing my best to ignore my bottom lip trembling. But when Ludwig said that they think Arthur is dead and the reactions of the nations afterwards, that made me get all choked up ;A;
Alfred sobbed himself in unconsciousness. Alfred, oh Alfred. I just want to cuddle him so bad.
This fill is going to break my heart 10x over, and I want to read more so bad. This is truly a wonderful start; I really can’t wait to read more. You’ve made me happy but heartbroken at the same time XD Wonderful work~
Re: And Then The Roses Drowned - 1.2/many
anonymous
March 31 2011, 06:30:19 UTC
Drama, I like it! Points for the (unexpected) America-Hungary interaction and I hope poor Wales is safe, helping the others to search for his brothers.
Author!non here
anonymous
March 31 2011, 11:44:16 UTC
...how did I forget COMPLETELY about Wales. (I actually have family that lives there.) I'll be sure to mention him in the next part so my fail doesn't shine so brightly ^_^;;
Welsh!Anon Reports
anonymous
March 31 2011, 16:16:18 UTC
Welsh Anon here. If floods are the natural disaster you're going with then I believe Wales would become a bunch of small islands. South Wales anyway. The south is so hilly and full of valleys that it couldn't be completely submerged. The north is flatter and therefore would dissapear most.
Re: And Then The Roses Drowned - 1.2/many
anonymous
March 31 2011, 13:17:21 UTC
Another anon who was maybe thinking about filling this but am so glad I didn't because now I have this heartbreaking brilliant fill to read! The reactions of the different nations were really good, not just the usual ones that you would assume but you included some of the other European nations like Liechtenstein and Finland!
And neither Arthur, nor his elder brother, Logan, had been heard from since right before the storms. Alfred tossed the last words he had spoken to Arthur around in his mind over and over, recalling the look on his beau's face, the way his mouth twitched as he pretended not to be amused by Alfred's terrible jokes. The last sentence, their last exchange-- Alfred's breath hitched in his throat and he bit his lower lip.
"Alright, I'm going to bed now, you git."
"You're no fun. It's so early!
"It's early for you, perhaps. I'm five hours ahead, it's 1 a.m., I am going to sleep." Arthur turned away from his monitor to pull his shirt over his head and pull on a nightshirt, and he turned back, and saw the dejected gaze of his lover on the screen, dying sunlight filtering through the windows in the background.
Arthur sat back down at his computer and gently touched the computer screen, and Alfred followed suit.
"I'll see you very soon, my love."
"Goodnight, sweetheart."
"Goodnight."
"...We just heard something," a solemn voice said, pulling Alfred out of his memories. Roderich had been playing something softly at the piano and he stopped immediately.
Ludwig was standing in the doorway, wearing rubber boots that reached his knees and a dark green rain slicker that made his pallid complexion even paler. He licked his lips and looked around the room, and all of the nations who were there waited with baited breath. Ludwig had been in England until he got back-- whatever it was he had to tell them, he couldn't tell them on the phone.
Matthew slid his hand into Alfred's and squeezed his fingers.
"We finally made it to Arthur's house," Ludwig said, and the small crowd of nations that were in the doorway behind him filtered into the room. Some of them were also wearing raincoats and boots, and looked downtrodden. That couldn't mean anything good. Elizabeta tightened her grip in Alfred, still holding his head to her chest, although he was facing Ludwig.
Ludwig glanced around the room, and, while holding the door, took a deep, trembling breath.
"The house was destroyed. Completely. The second floor was leveled straight onto the first... everything inside. Gone." There was a heavy silence. Francis bumped into the door and wiggled his way into the room, his normally well-kept hair pulled back hastily, mud sticking to his face. It seemed as if the entire world were holding their breaths, waiting to hear.
"...we found all of Arthur's things," Ludwig explained. "His passport, his I.D., his government I.D.... his cellphone, his keys. Everything."
"His cars were even still there," France said with a sigh. "Every single one of them."
"What does that mean?" Lichtenstein squeaked from the corner of the room. She was holding onto the body of the piano so tightly it seemed like her fingers would dig right into the polished wood.
"That means he never left his house. He was in that house when the storms hit." Alfred could feel his entire body trembling beyond his control. He didn't realize how tightly he was gripping Canada until he heard a contained whimper from beside him, and saw Matthew's eyes dotted with tears. His hand was white. Ludwig looked around the room, then he turned to the floor, shoulders heaving.
Don't say it, Alfred willed at Ludwig. Please, God, Ludwig, don't say it.
"...We think that Arthur is dead."
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The air in the room shifted. It seemed as if time stood still. The nations who had been with Ludwig in England all looked at each other-- they already knew. They had seen the destruction with their own eyes. The rest of the room was completely frozen, until Lichtenstein broke the spell. She was still gripping the piano as hard as she could, and she suddenly fell forward into it, nearly hitting the floor as Vash caught her. She collapsed onto her knees, her knuckles white, staring up at Ludwig.
As if on cue, the other Europeans followed suit in similar reactions. Roderich, who had stood up when they entered, slumped back down onto the piano bench, sitting next to Prussia, who, for the first time, had nothing to say. Finland was near them, sitting on the floor, and he was the first to break. He began to cry. It wasn't sobs or hysterics, just simple, fat tears welling into the corners of his eyes and sliding down his cheeks onto his shirt. Sweden rushed across the room in a heartbeat, crouching down and wrapping Tino into a crushing embrace.
Eyes traveled around the room as the silence was replaced by haggard breaths. Ludwig's gaze eventually fell into the corner where Elizabeta was crouched, holding Alfred in her arms. Other nations starting pouring into the room, people who had been in other rooms, on computers and talking on phones, to hear the news.
"What's happening--"
"We heard there was news--" The room bustled with tears and questions and chaos, but all Ludwig could watch was Elizabeta, kneeling in the corner, Alfred's head pressed against her chest, stroking his hair and murmuring to him gently. Matthew was sitting on Alfred's other side, his knees to his chest, staring at the ceiling, lips moving in a silent prayer.
Even though he couldn't see them from where he was standing, he saw the ravines that the tears made against his rosy cheeks.
Alfred sobbed himself unconscious.
--
God damn word limit.
I have no idea where this is even going! Hooray! I hope OP and others enjoy! More sadness to be had later on!
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I supressed the urge to cry with Alfred...my heart is hurting, even though I know Arthur and Logan will be okay in the end. Oh...my god ARTHUR...-wails-
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I'm
This.
ASDj;
Gah.
Hi. So. Um. Please continue. I'm so on edge. Just... completely tense and this thing needs to be updated pleasepleaseplease??
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It wasn't until I read the "nation" word that I figure out that this isn't an AU XD
well, awesome job =D
Can't wait to read more
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Alfred sobbed himself in unconsciousness. Alfred, oh Alfred. I just want to cuddle him so bad.
This fill is going to break my heart 10x over, and I want to read more so bad. This is truly a wonderful start; I really can’t wait to read more. You’ve made me happy but heartbroken at the same time XD Wonderful work~
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And thanks for the comment! *Blush*
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Hope that gives you some ideas.
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I was just about to make the same remark. XD
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And that last line killed me. Oh Alfred.
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I love the emotions you convey! I can't wait for an update!
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