“I don’t regret raising America,” England says. “He was so innocent-”
“So you’re a fucking paedophile now?” America asks, grinning with half-antipathy and half-amusement. “You miss when I was a kid ‘cause you got off on how innocent I was?”
“I never laid a hand on my child,” England says, unable to process what he’s being accused of. “I never had those thoughts about him. And that’s exactly what I mean- you’re too sickening to be the boy I remember. The way you speak to me is atrocious. The things you’re saying are dreadful.”
“I wasn’t innocent,” America says, and he’s grinning. “All through puberty I spent my time thinking about you. In loads of different ways...”
“Stop,” England says. “Stop, that’s not the boy I knew.”
“But it is, though,” America says. “You shouldn’t have been such a goddamn tease.”
America had always been so awkward at the dinner table, flopping down in his seat and trying to draw attention away from himself. But it can’t possibly have been because of... what this imposter is suggesting. England is torn, unable to work out whether he’s being informed with fact or fiction. “Cease these lies immediately.”
“They’re not lies,” America replies, and he almost looks hurt. “I’ve wanted you ever since my first wet dream and I know you want me, too.” He veers across the table, places a hand on England’s knee and the other in England’s hair. “I won’t tell anyone, if you’re worried about what people will think.”
England can’t move, too horrified to do anything except speak in a repetitive pattern. “Get out. Leave me alone. Don’t come back. Get out. Leave me alone. Don’t come back...”The world turns. An axis, a slope, a constant dance across the stars and the sky and the empty space.
An isolated planet in a lonely galaxy. 6th April 1917. They’re reunited against each other’s will.
“Great Britain,” England says, unable to look America in the eye, “is grateful for your decision to assist us in the War to End War.”
Such a useless paradox. There’s been enough of those in England’s life already.
“I’m not doing this for you,” America replies. At least he’s honest. At least he’s sincere. “I’m doing this so Germany stays the fuck away from Mexico. I couldn’t care less what happens to you.”
Honesty is painful.
“Nevertheless.” England coughs, raises an oily hand to his lips to cover it up. Bacteria in a trench somewhere in France, or maybe Belgium. “Nevertheless, I’m glad you didn’t decide to assist Germany- that you expressed an interest in Allied forces rather than the Central Powers.”
“You’re,” America says, “still England. You’re always gonna be England. You’ll always be the guy that brought me up.”
It’s upsetting, then, that America hasn’t cared until now.
“If we go down,” England says, now able but refusing to meet America’s gaze, “then I’m thankful I went down with you. Because if I’d gone down with France, or Russia, or Italy, it wouldn’t be the same. I’d not be proud of my death. I’d just be... accepting of it.”
A gunshot, in the distance, and a scream of someone that could be German or could be British. England doesn’t know because he’s numbed to the death of his soldiers by now and soon America will be too.
“We’re not gonna die.” America laughs, takes England’s hand, tries to shake it or perhaps use the grip to pull England into an embrace. He’s not sure what he’s trying to do, but England lets him try it anyway. “I know I’m weak, England, but we’re still gonna win. The good guys always do.”
The good. Who’s to say who’s good and who’s bad? History can be interpreted and there is already so much death under the Empire’s belt.
“The United States are proud to call Britain an Ally.”
Here it is. Here’s the time for either forgiveness or resentment. Because this America is not England’s son, not anymore, and he remembers their relationship in a completely different way. But it comes down to interpretation yet again, and England knows that perhaps if he tries he could be something else to this America. He really could be something, and though he’s not sure what he has eternity to find out.
“Britain,” England says, with a weak smile and closed eyes, “is proud to call the United States an Ally.”
I COME BEARING NOTES. The Revolution ones are probably obvious but I'll just include them for the sake of people that might not know much about it.
1. (Section 1) Quoted is the Declaration of Independence, and King George III of the United Kingdom's attempt to make peace with America after the Revolution. America seriously hated George and branded him a tyrant, even though his rule was relatively peaceful in comparison to some British Kings/Queens- King Louis XVI of France, the main financer for the 13 Colonies in the Revolution, is regarded as being far worse. The upside is he bankrupted France by funding/assisting the American Revolution, and therefore it prevented him from declaring war on anyone else.
2. The setting of Colonial!America's demise is a reference to the final fight of the Revolution in Yorktown, Virginia, and the surrender of General Cornwallis. Quoted is the "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" speech by Patrick Henry, which I always thought was pretty badass.
3. The British Empire was still colonising after the Revolution- it also had European wars to fight and had decided to go around conquering the Caribbean for the lulz. The British Empire became more prosperous after the loss of America as it could turn its attentions elsewhere. Nice going, Alfred. XD
4. England helped Greece gain its independence from Turkey, mainly just to piss off Turkey.
5. The Chino-Japanese War, sometimes called the Sino-Japanese War, was over the control of the Korean Peninsula; China lost fairly quickly. Before this, Britain was involved in the South African Boer War, so it didn't really want to be dragged into an Eastern conflict.
6. 6th April 1917 was America's entry to World War I after British forces found out that German leaders were trying to charm Mexico into turning against the US. America's response was "HELL NO STAY AWAY FROM GODDAMN MEXICO" and charged in there like a shot even though it had a smaller military than Brazil, after staying neutral for as long as possible. The moral of the story is... don't charm Mexico.
Oh God, this was perfect, and painful, and everything I thought it would be and more.
Poor England, poor America. If they could just sit down and talk things through properly; if England could explain why he didn't see America as a son (though to be fair, Alfred went off on an alarming tangent fast, you can't blame Arthur for freaking out).
Re: Fill 6/6
anonymous
October 1 2011, 20:12:19 UTC
This was perfect, anon. A great take on a great prompt and a well loved respite to the usual pattern of Revolution-centric stories. England's pain was heartbreaking (the fact he wouldn't be parental to anyone else, his insistance on this America not being his boy and the fact that he uses "it" to refer to him) as was America's.
I wonder who is in the right, though. Or if both are, because this America has British America's memories and feelings but he's not the original British America? Did I get it right?
It saddens me that this is a complete fill ;_; I think this idea is amazing.
England's sadness and the emptiness resulting from the loss are very jarring, palpable and well written I feel so much hatred for the New America that emerged after the death of British America.
But New America' persistence and perseverance is so heartening and so genuine I couldn't help to falter, halfway, and start thinking that perhaps British America's death is England's delusion. Especially when New America pulled the scare on wanting to fuck England. Boy, that must have been pretty scary to England, and just cements his want for the two Americas to be different, but the seed of doubt is planted already.
The ending is bittersweet, melancholic, and scary to me. In England, there is a resolve to start anew with Non-British America, but due to the tangent NB America pulled in that 'you're the star of my wet dream, England' conversation, I encountered the first fic involving US and UK as main characters where I fervently hope this US and UK WONT end up together. Because I want England to hang on to the memory of that son he loves. A bit hard to explain, eh...
Overall, I've enjoyed reading it so much! A beautiful piece :)
that perhaps British America's death is England's delusion
I suppose it could be taken that way. Personally I wasn't entirely even sure myself when I was writing it, I just let what happened come naturally.
I encountered the first fic involving US and UK as main characters where I fervently hope this US and UK WONT end up together
Agreed. I am a massive USUK shipper, but I just think in this verse, England deserves a son rather than a rather sexually-charged copy of his original child, so I couldn't bring myself to put them together. It just wouldn't fit.
Re: Fill 6/6
anonymous
October 3 2011, 17:29:45 UTC
Wow, A!A. I'm floored. You established such an intense dynamic between England and the New America. The way England struggles against it. This is amazing.
Re: Fill 6/6
anonymous
October 29 2011, 00:49:59 UTC
Oh, poor England. Read this made me feel sick to my stomach. (In a good way!!) I just wanted America to shut up and back off. Of course, I can see how the situation looks from America's view, but he really wasn't going about it the right way and neither was England. At some point, I also started to wonder if New America was really the original America. Perhaps colonial!America had only died in England's heart/mind. It was interesting to see New America bring up that he'd been attracted to England before the Revolutionary War so I guess England's father/son relationship with colonial!America hadn't been as innocent and solid as he thought. Really, great story!
“So you’re a fucking paedophile now?” America asks, grinning with half-antipathy and half-amusement. “You miss when I was a kid ‘cause you got off on how innocent I was?”
“I never laid a hand on my child,” England says, unable to process what he’s being accused of. “I never had those thoughts about him. And that’s exactly what I mean- you’re too sickening to be the boy I remember. The way you speak to me is atrocious. The things you’re saying are dreadful.”
“I wasn’t innocent,” America says, and he’s grinning. “All through puberty I spent my time thinking about you. In loads of different ways...”
“Stop,” England says. “Stop, that’s not the boy I knew.”
“But it is, though,” America says. “You shouldn’t have been such a goddamn tease.”
America had always been so awkward at the dinner table, flopping down in his seat and trying to draw attention away from himself. But it can’t possibly have been because of... what this imposter is suggesting. England is torn, unable to work out whether he’s being informed with fact or fiction. “Cease these lies immediately.”
“They’re not lies,” America replies, and he almost looks hurt. “I’ve wanted you ever since my first wet dream and I know you want me, too.” He veers across the table, places a hand on England’s knee and the other in England’s hair. “I won’t tell anyone, if you’re worried about what people will think.”
England can’t move, too horrified to do anything except speak in a repetitive pattern. “Get out. Leave me alone. Don’t come back. Get out. Leave me alone. Don’t come back...”The world turns. An axis, a slope, a constant dance across the stars and the sky and the empty space.
An isolated planet in a lonely galaxy. 6th April 1917. They’re reunited against each other’s will.
“Great Britain,” England says, unable to look America in the eye, “is grateful for your decision to assist us in the War to End War.”
Such a useless paradox. There’s been enough of those in England’s life already.
“I’m not doing this for you,” America replies. At least he’s honest. At least he’s sincere. “I’m doing this so Germany stays the fuck away from Mexico. I couldn’t care less what happens to you.”
Honesty is painful.
“Nevertheless.” England coughs, raises an oily hand to his lips to cover it up. Bacteria in a trench somewhere in France, or maybe Belgium. “Nevertheless, I’m glad you didn’t decide to assist Germany- that you expressed an interest in Allied forces rather than the Central Powers.”
“You’re,” America says, “still England. You’re always gonna be England. You’ll always be the guy that brought me up.”
It’s upsetting, then, that America hasn’t cared until now.
“If we go down,” England says, now able but refusing to meet America’s gaze, “then I’m thankful I went down with you. Because if I’d gone down with France, or Russia, or Italy, it wouldn’t be the same. I’d not be proud of my death. I’d just be... accepting of it.”
A gunshot, in the distance, and a scream of someone that could be German or could be British. England doesn’t know because he’s numbed to the death of his soldiers by now and soon America will be too.
“We’re not gonna die.” America laughs, takes England’s hand, tries to shake it or perhaps use the grip to pull England into an embrace. He’s not sure what he’s trying to do, but England lets him try it anyway. “I know I’m weak, England, but we’re still gonna win. The good guys always do.”
The good. Who’s to say who’s good and who’s bad? History can be interpreted and there is already so much death under the Empire’s belt.
“The United States are proud to call Britain an Ally.”
Here it is. Here’s the time for either forgiveness or resentment. Because this America is not England’s son, not anymore, and he remembers their relationship in a completely different way. But it comes down to interpretation yet again, and England knows that perhaps if he tries he could be something else to this America. He really could be something, and though he’s not sure what he has eternity to find out.
“Britain,” England says, with a weak smile and closed eyes, “is proud to call the United States an Ally.”
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1. (Section 1) Quoted is the Declaration of Independence, and King George III of the United Kingdom's attempt to make peace with America after the Revolution. America seriously hated George and branded him a tyrant, even though his rule was relatively peaceful in comparison to some British Kings/Queens- King Louis XVI of France, the main financer for the 13 Colonies in the Revolution, is regarded as being far worse. The upside is he bankrupted France by funding/assisting the American Revolution, and therefore it prevented him from declaring war on anyone else.
2. The setting of Colonial!America's demise is a reference to the final fight of the Revolution in Yorktown, Virginia, and the surrender of General Cornwallis. Quoted is the "Give me Liberty, or give me Death!" speech by Patrick Henry, which I always thought was pretty badass.
3. The British Empire was still colonising after the Revolution- it also had European wars to fight and had decided to go around conquering the Caribbean for the lulz. The British Empire became more prosperous after the loss of America as it could turn its attentions elsewhere. Nice going, Alfred. XD
4. England helped Greece gain its independence from Turkey, mainly just to piss off Turkey.
5. The Chino-Japanese War, sometimes called the Sino-Japanese War, was over the control of the Korean Peninsula; China lost fairly quickly. Before this, Britain was involved in the South African Boer War, so it didn't really want to be dragged into an Eastern conflict.
6. 6th April 1917 was America's entry to World War I after British forces found out that German leaders were trying to charm Mexico into turning against the US. America's response was "HELL NO STAY AWAY FROM GODDAMN MEXICO" and charged in there like a shot even though it had a smaller military than Brazil, after staying neutral for as long as possible. The moral of the story is... don't charm Mexico.
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Poor England, poor America. If they could just sit down and talk things through properly; if England could explain why he didn't see America as a son (though to be fair, Alfred went off on an alarming tangent fast, you can't blame Arthur for freaking out).
Thanks so, so much for doing this.
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I wonder who is in the right, though. Or if both are, because this America has British America's memories and feelings but he's not the original British America? Did I get it right?
It saddens me that this is a complete fill ;_; I think this idea is amazing.
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Got it in one.
It saddens me that this is a complete fill ;_; I think this idea is amazing.
Truth be told, I adore this Universe, but I'm really not sure how I'd continue with it. Maybe I'll go back in the future, who knows.
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But New America' persistence and perseverance is so heartening and so genuine I couldn't help to falter, halfway, and start thinking that perhaps British America's death is England's delusion. Especially when New America pulled the scare on wanting to fuck England. Boy, that must have been pretty scary to England, and just cements his want for the two Americas to be different, but the seed of doubt is planted already.
The ending is bittersweet, melancholic, and scary to me. In England, there is a resolve to start anew with Non-British America, but due to the tangent NB America pulled in that 'you're the star of my wet dream, England'
conversation, I encountered the first fic involving US and UK as main characters where I fervently hope this US and UK WONT end up together. Because I want England to hang on to the memory of that son he loves. A bit hard to explain, eh...
Overall, I've enjoyed reading it so much! A beautiful piece :)
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that perhaps British America's death is England's delusion
I suppose it could be taken that way. Personally I wasn't entirely even sure myself when I was writing it, I just let what happened come naturally.
I encountered the first fic involving US and UK as main characters where I fervently hope this US and UK WONT end up together
Agreed. I am a massive USUK shipper, but I just think in this verse, England deserves a son rather than a rather sexually-charged copy of his original child, so I couldn't bring myself to put them together. It just wouldn't fit.
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I just wanted America to shut up and back off. Of course, I can see how the situation looks from America's view, but he really wasn't going about it the right way and neither was England. At some point, I also started to wonder if New America was really the original America. Perhaps colonial!America had only died in England's heart/mind. It was interesting to see New America bring up that he'd been attracted to England before the Revolutionary War so I guess England's father/son relationship with colonial!America hadn't been as innocent and solid as he thought.
Really, great story!
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