Lithuania has lingered, feeling this man’s grief, so deep it echoes in his own heart, and is only a little surprised when Ramius looks up, meeting his eyes.
There is anger in those dark eyes, such as Lithuania has not seen for a long time, rage beyond anything he himself still has the capacity to feel.
Underneath that, though, there is something else too. There is honor. Honor, Lithuania feels sure, that was imparted to this man when he was still a boy, sitting with his grandfather on the Neris River, during quiet, mist-shrouded mornings.
Lithuania lets his own sorrow show briefly, and bows to Ramius before turning and walking away.
He doesn’t know what will happen to this man, this one of his own. But he does feel sure that, whatever it is, Ramius will not regret it.
Lithuania wishes him well.
---
It is 1984, and Russia paces like a caged bear, his violet eyes even less sane than usual, waiting for word from the fleet. Lithuania huddles in a corner of the office with Latvia and Estonia, trying to shield them as much as possible from whatever the fallout of Russia’s rage might be.
They have just had word that Marko Ramius, the star of the Soviet Fleet, has taken his latest command, the nuclear submarine Red October…and defected to the United States of America.
Lithuania keeps his mind blank, utterly blank of all but obeying Russia’s every whim over the next days as both the Soviet and American Navies deploy to try and find the Red October. There is something, some emotion, hovering in him, buried deep, but he refuses to know what it is.
Not yet, something whispers to him, not yet.
Two days, three days, four…and then finally it all comes to a head in the Atlantic, off America’s northern coast, and the results are…remarkably uncertain.
Russia is given to understand by America that the Red October was sunk, destroyed by a torpedo when its captain and officers (having evacuated the crew due to a reactor malfunction) took hostile action against an American aircraft carrier and submarine. Since this is better than the Red October falling into America’s hands, and in line with the story that Ramius had gone mad and meant to attack the US, Russia can do nothing but nod and smile with frighteningly calm acceptance.
The calm is gone hours later, and Lithuania bears the brunt of Russia’s rage at losing his new, silent weapon against America. The smaller nation steels himself to bear it, as he has for so many years now, and lets the apologies and protestations of loyalty spill automatically from his lips.
At last, he is dismissed, and he takes himself off to his room, curling up on the thin mattress under thin blankets, the pain long since familiar and easily ignored.
Now, that something from days before whispers to him, now.
Because, whatever America says, and whatever Russia believes, Lithuania knows in his heart that Ramius is alive.
And so it is now, here in the darkness and quiet of his room, that Lithuania allows himself to remember a misty morning near Vilnius, and lets the tears slip down his cheeks, and thinks that his countryman will be in good hands with America. And at last, he lets that emotion that has been dormant in his heart for so many years well up and spill over into yet more tears.
Because now, Lithuania is proud of Marko Ramius. _____________________________________________________________ Hope you liked! :)
I haven't watched the movie either (not a James Bond fan.) But I loved this story. It made me want to watch the movie. You did an excellent job anon. Words fail to describe how good this was and how much it makes me hurt for poor Lithuania.
Ah, it isn't a James Bond story - "The Hunt for Red October" is a book by Tom Clancy. Both the book and the movie version are quite good. Thank you so much! This is my first time writing Lithuania, actually. ^_^;
Ah, that makes more sense. XD It is a pretty strong connection for most people, I guess. (I actually haven't seen any of his bond movies, only the stuff he's done more recently. ^_^;)
OP here; I loved this. You made it fit and flow beautifully, and the ending is perfect. I'm surprised that this is your first time writing Lithuania, tbh! You've got his voice down pat.
Oh good, I'm glad you liked it! I seriously saw the request and was topped by the plot bunny thirty seconds later. |D I like Lithuania a lot, so I'm glad I got him right!
There is anger in those dark eyes, such as Lithuania has not seen for a long time, rage beyond anything he himself still has the capacity to feel.
Underneath that, though, there is something else too. There is honor. Honor, Lithuania feels sure, that was imparted to this man when he was still a boy, sitting with his grandfather on the Neris River, during quiet, mist-shrouded mornings.
Lithuania lets his own sorrow show briefly, and bows to Ramius before turning and walking away.
He doesn’t know what will happen to this man, this one of his own. But he does feel sure that, whatever it is, Ramius will not regret it.
Lithuania wishes him well.
---
It is 1984, and Russia paces like a caged bear, his violet eyes even less sane than usual, waiting for word from the fleet. Lithuania huddles in a corner of the office with Latvia and Estonia, trying to shield them as much as possible from whatever the fallout of Russia’s rage might be.
They have just had word that Marko Ramius, the star of the Soviet Fleet, has taken his latest command, the nuclear submarine Red October…and defected to the United States of America.
Lithuania keeps his mind blank, utterly blank of all but obeying Russia’s every whim over the next days as both the Soviet and American Navies deploy to try and find the Red October. There is something, some emotion, hovering in him, buried deep, but he refuses to know what it is.
Not yet, something whispers to him, not yet.
Two days, three days, four…and then finally it all comes to a head in the Atlantic, off America’s northern coast, and the results are…remarkably uncertain.
Russia is given to understand by America that the Red October was sunk, destroyed by a torpedo when its captain and officers (having evacuated the crew due to a reactor malfunction) took hostile action against an American aircraft carrier and submarine. Since this is better than the Red October falling into America’s hands, and in line with the story that Ramius had gone mad and meant to attack the US, Russia can do nothing but nod and smile with frighteningly calm acceptance.
The calm is gone hours later, and Lithuania bears the brunt of Russia’s rage at losing his new, silent weapon against America. The smaller nation steels himself to bear it, as he has for so many years now, and lets the apologies and protestations of loyalty spill automatically from his lips.
At last, he is dismissed, and he takes himself off to his room, curling up on the thin mattress under thin blankets, the pain long since familiar and easily ignored.
Now, that something from days before whispers to him, now.
Because, whatever America says, and whatever Russia believes, Lithuania knows in his heart that Ramius is alive.
And so it is now, here in the darkness and quiet of his room, that Lithuania allows himself to remember a misty morning near Vilnius, and lets the tears slip down his cheeks, and thinks that his countryman will be in good hands with America. And at last, he lets that emotion that has been dormant in his heart for so many years well up and spill over into yet more tears.
Because now, Lithuania is proud of Marko Ramius.
_____________________________________________________________
Hope you liked! :)
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Thank you so much for writing this!
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You're welcome, and thank you for requesting! ^_^
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