Okay, so anon saw this request, went and watched the movie again, and then wrote this. It's actually Marko Ramius/Lithuania rather than Sean Connery, so I hope that's okay, but we can imagine, right? It would not leave me alone. ^_^ Enjoy! _________________________________________________
One of the things that Lithuania hates most about living with Russia is how little he is able to get back to his own home, to see his own land and people (for he still thinks of them as his, no matter what Russia says).
They are still recovering from the war, of course, and his people seem subdued, even fearful, for Russia’s men patrol the streets here too, and Lithuania is very glad that he is here (for once) with permission from that nation, so he need not fear being caught and…corrected.
Whatever his other troubles, or those of his people, it does feel good to walk the streets of Vilnius again.
All too soon, though, it is time to leave again, to head east, back into Russia’s cold embrace. Lithuania knows that if he lingers he will not be able to bear it, so he leaves very early one morning, and is well out of Vilnius by the time the sun begins to rise, shining weakly through the obscuring mist.
As he passes along the Neris River, though, Lithuania pauses a moment to watch the small boat drifting at anchor there, an older man quietly, patiently explaining to a young boy (his grandson?) the subtleties of fishing.
/Life does go on,/ Lithuania thinks, /even if only in the little things./
Somehow, the sight heartens him, and he continues on with his back a little straighter.
---
Many years go by before Lithuania sees that boy (now a man grown) again, and he is grateful for the chance, unexpected as it is. His name is Marko Ramius, and he is a rising star in the Soviet Navy, specializing in their best attack submarines.
Though they do not meet face to face, Lithuania does manage to catch infrequent glimpses of him. He sees a proud man, dedicated to his work, to the Soviet Union.
Lithuania smiles, a little sadly, and silently wishes him well.
---
More years pass, and now even Russia himself speaks of Marko Ramius with delight and pride. Now he is the star of the Soviet submarine fleet, and has begun to teach others in his turn. He tests all of Russia’s best and newest submarines, raising the standards for all of them.
Standards that will, according to Russia, make it all the easier to keep America’s navy at bay, and perhaps even to one day be rid of them altogether.
Lithuania smiles and nods as he is supposed to, when Russia speaks of these things. To himself, he wishes Ramius well, but still does not feel the pride that he thinks maybe he ought to. After all, Ramius is one of his people.
---
Lithuania does feel happy for this man when he weds, and even manages to sneak into the very far back of the ceremony for a few moments. He doesn’t need more than that to see that Ramius and his Russian bride are madly in love with each other.
He smiles, one that is almost free of the sadness and despair that plague him so much these days. He wishes them a long and happy life together.
---
He manages to come, too, to the funeral.
Such a tragedy, the people around him murmur. She was much too young to die.
Drunk surgeon, others whisper, disgraceful, of course, but what can you do?
Ramius says nothing, sheds no tears. He stands still as death next to the grave, long after the ceremony has ended and the others have gone.
_________________________________________________
One of the things that Lithuania hates most about living with Russia is how little he is able to get back to his own home, to see his own land and people (for he still thinks of them as his, no matter what Russia says).
They are still recovering from the war, of course, and his people seem subdued, even fearful, for Russia’s men patrol the streets here too, and Lithuania is very glad that he is here (for once) with permission from that nation, so he need not fear being caught and…corrected.
Whatever his other troubles, or those of his people, it does feel good to walk the streets of Vilnius again.
All too soon, though, it is time to leave again, to head east, back into Russia’s cold embrace. Lithuania knows that if he lingers he will not be able to bear it, so he leaves very early one morning, and is well out of Vilnius by the time the sun begins to rise, shining weakly through the obscuring mist.
As he passes along the Neris River, though, Lithuania pauses a moment to watch the small boat drifting at anchor there, an older man quietly, patiently explaining to a young boy (his grandson?) the subtleties of fishing.
/Life does go on,/ Lithuania thinks, /even if only in the little things./
Somehow, the sight heartens him, and he continues on with his back a little straighter.
---
Many years go by before Lithuania sees that boy (now a man grown) again, and he is grateful for the chance, unexpected as it is. His name is Marko Ramius, and he is a rising star in the Soviet Navy, specializing in their best attack submarines.
Though they do not meet face to face, Lithuania does manage to catch infrequent glimpses of him. He sees a proud man, dedicated to his work, to the Soviet Union.
Lithuania smiles, a little sadly, and silently wishes him well.
---
More years pass, and now even Russia himself speaks of Marko Ramius with delight and pride. Now he is the star of the Soviet submarine fleet, and has begun to teach others in his turn. He tests all of Russia’s best and newest submarines, raising the standards for all of them.
Standards that will, according to Russia, make it all the easier to keep America’s navy at bay, and perhaps even to one day be rid of them altogether.
Lithuania smiles and nods as he is supposed to, when Russia speaks of these things. To himself, he wishes Ramius well, but still does not feel the pride that he thinks maybe he ought to. After all, Ramius is one of his people.
---
Lithuania does feel happy for this man when he weds, and even manages to sneak into the very far back of the ceremony for a few moments. He doesn’t need more than that to see that Ramius and his Russian bride are madly in love with each other.
He smiles, one that is almost free of the sadness and despair that plague him so much these days. He wishes them a long and happy life together.
---
He manages to come, too, to the funeral.
Such a tragedy, the people around him murmur. She was much too young to die.
Drunk surgeon, others whisper, disgraceful, of course, but what can you do?
Ramius says nothing, sheds no tears. He stands still as death next to the grave, long after the ceremony has ended and the others have gone.
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