Auferstanden aus Ruinen (4/5)
anonymous
March 18 2009, 10:14:36 UTC
“Come with me to Italy.”
Gilbert snarls like an animal. “Fuck, no. Why the hell should I?” he snaps, grip on his brother now almost painful. Ludwig takes a slow breath, ever composed.
“Feliciano wants to meet you.” Feliciano, the noisy Italian. “I want…I want you to make this trip. It will do you good.”
“Like a brick to the face it will,” he spits before he winds his fingers deep into Ludwig’s sleeve. “We’re staying here. We’ll go to the Ostsee and get a Strandkorb and watch some naked girls on the FKK beach. That’s a billion times better thanfucking Italy.”
Germany tries to pull away, but Prussia’s not going to let him leave that easily. Germany raises his voice slightly. “…It’s not. Please.”
Prussia imitates him, mouth twisted in sarcasm. Even he knows this is rapidly descending into childishness, but Gilbert likes the sound of that, because when they were children he always got his way.
Germany pulls his arm off of him, eyes narrowed in anger. “It’s not. You think lying around here in your house is going to help you, Gilbert? Well, it’s not. This…ghost-house is nowhere as good as ‘fucking Italy’.”
A predatory grin. “-Because you’d know a lot about that, wouldn’t you, Ludwig?”
Prussia almost regrets it. He almost regrets saying it when he sees his brother’s face flush in rage and embarrassment, when he grabs his older brother by the hair and shoves his face down into the pillows and storms off. Gilbert rolls onto his back again and brings his hand up to eye level.
He can still feel Germany’s warmth when he brushes it against his lips.
-
The two of them stare at each other, eyes taking in their military uniforms, the formidable difference in height and their shared perpetual scowl. It takes Prussia a whole 3 seconds to decide that he hates the man in front of him.
“Do you damn potato-bastards spawn in pond scum or something?”
Prussia grins toothily. Well, at least his hatred is mutual.
They end up eating (because it’s what all Italians do), but Gilbert sits rigidly in his seat and glowers, because even if Germany can make him come, he can’t make him enjoy himself. Instead of watching as his brother and his friend sitting side by side, he picks fights with South Italy with well placed insults. They spit and rage and give each other the cold shoulder, almost as if they’d both rather fight than sit and accept the sight before them- and when North Italy tries to feed Germany a mouthful of pasta, despite the other county’s protests, they try all the louder.
Because Gilbert knows what Ludwig has in his pocket. And although it’ll take years for Ludwig to build up the courage, he’s seen it nonetheless and Feliciano will wait for him. Gilbert can’t take that chance.
-
Lovino pours himself another glass of wine and flops down onto the couch. Feliciano stands in the light of the doorway and watches. He takes a step forward.
“Do you…I think soccer tomorrow would be fun, hmm~ Lovino? But I’m too tired today. Vee- do you think soccer’s a good ide-”
“-You’re going to leave me, aren’t you?”
Something between them wilts. Lovino thinks he feels it die.
“…I won’t, Lovino. You know I would never do that.”
He snorts. His brother’s voice draws closer.
“Lovino came back from Spain’s house. He loves me, and I love Lovino. You know I wouldn’t.”
South Italy drains his glass, then closes his eyes.
Auferstanden aus Ruinen (5/5)
anonymous
March 18 2009, 10:43:08 UTC
Prussia wakes his brother with a hand over his mouth. Ludwig is up in a moment, eyes wild and staring, voice muffled against his hand, one arm straining to pull it off. Gilbert doesn’t wait. When his hand is gone he replaces it with his mouth and pushes down with his body as hard as he can, pressing chest against chest and tongue against teeth. He does all he can, and he bites the lips on his own, grabs Ludwig’s hips and pushes again, and the feeling is wonderful and breathtaking and hollow.
Then, there’s a fist in his stomach and he falls backwards, coughing. Neither of them says anything, but their gasps fill the darkness around them. Germany is scared stunning, and he is smaller than Ivan but still punches hard.
Finally, he takes a breath. “You really love him?” Prussia swallows his pride and looks down at his brother. He’s slightly red, hair all out of place, cross on his bare chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. He’s beautiful and familiar and foreign all at once, but most of all he is beautiful. There’s an ache in his chest as he watches him, a kind of weight in his throat and in his bones. “You love that good-for-nothing pasta-eater?”
It’s funny, Prussia thinks again, that the two of them have lived together for so long and yet still are. Gilbert’s seen it happen countless times. Countries joining, breaking, rejoining. In modern Europe, everyone is someone else. It happens all the time.
Looking at Germany, Prussia needs to kiss him, to fuck him, to hold him and never let go. He needs to become one with him; Prussia doesn’t care if Germany wakes up in the morning and there is no Prussia, so long as his brother is taller and that little bit prouder and his hair is just that touch blonder. If Gilbert is somewhere inside of him. But it hasn’t happened.
“…Yes. I do.”
They’re meant to be the same fucking country, for fuck’s sake, but for some reason, somehow, Germany is still two halves of a whole, and Prussia is still the East, and Ludwig is still the West. Ludwig still has higher living standards and holidays on Italian beaches, and Gilbert still can’t find enough jobs and thinks about his Ostalgie. As much as Gilbert loves his brother, he is still not the same person.
He nods, words failing him but refusing to look away. So the two brothers stare at each other for long minutes, searching for something in their gazes and finding something else. Finally, they both lie down side by side in the bed, Ludwig on the left, Gilbert on the right, and go to sleep.
He never forgets the distance between them tonight.
-
Germany, Russia, Italy and the concept of togetherness.
Did you know?
The Russian occupation zone was north-west Germany, almost perfectly coinciding with the state of former Prussia.
Dresden, bombed in war, was considered one of the most beautiful cities in Germany Under the Soviet rule Germany's architecture suffered from lack of upkeep and dirty industrial practices.
In 1948, Russia left the rest of the Allied Forces due to differences in policy regarding the reconstruction of Germany. The Deutsche Demokratische Republik was formed.
In the DDR the Stasi secret police would bug the houses of possible insurgents and could detain citizens. Under German rule psychological torture was mainstream.
The Berlin Wall was begun in 1961. It was torn down in 1989. In 1991 the DDR was absolved.
After the reunification 'Prussia' suffered economically and the quality of living is still lower in these regions. Ostalgie, a nostalia for the good old East times, has a bit of a cult movement, not least visible in Ampelmanner shops in Berlin.
Turks represent the largest ethnic minority in Germany. There are also many Italian workers who come to Germany for the summer.
Ampelmanner are the DDR style pedestrian traffic lights. Google for more details: much cuter than normal ones, and sort of cult figure.
Kraut- cabbage momochyka- russian for "Mummy" Doner- Turkish kebabs, now a common snack food in Germany due to immigrant influence. Kaffe und Kuchen- coffee and cake Ostsee- Germany's eastern coastline Strandkorb- like a deckchair FKK- a German nudist movement
Re: Auferstanden aus Ruinen (5/5)
anonymous
March 18 2009, 11:18:42 UTC
Oh, oh, oh. This, God, THIS. So while Germany/Italy is my OTP and I love those two to bits, and yet, Prussia/Germany is my guilty pleasure. Wrote it once as well.
I love your Prussia and Romano. Just, they are so wonderfully foul-tempered and love their brothers (even if they will never admit it) and while Romano has Spain, Prussia has...practically nothing. Not territory or a name, just a relic of the past. ;_;
The first part is chilling, the Baltic brothers, Belarus--just being there, Russia and the comparison to a mother, and Prussia's wangst. And then the reunion scene which breaks heart--just as the Berlin Wall building one. The beauty perhaps lies in the fact that...Germany probably doesn't even realize it. He's always been a rather one-track mind guy with a very uncomplicated thought-process. The extent of Prussia's...what to call it, heartache, perhaps. Or unrequited love, maybe? Or the fear of being forgotten by his precious brother.
The last line is a killer, dear anon. *faps* I enjoyed it very, very much. This meme needs more Gilbert and more Gilbert/Ludwig!
Re: Auferstanden aus Ruinen (5/5)
anonymous
March 18 2009, 12:26:01 UTC
That was spectacular and heartbreakingly bitter-sweet, anon. ♥ Usually in fics, Prussia tries to retain his 'self' and not be absorbed by Germany, which, judging from his character, would be the obvious choice, but I just love how he desperately tries to be one with Ludwig here in the end and can't.
Also, the "I don't like them" bit - wow. It is said that anti-foreign sentiments are stronger in the East, and I loved how you incorporated this in this fic (the "stain" imagery is both wonderfully provoking and dangerous).
Long story short, it's high-quality fic like this that keeps me addicted to this meme. *pulls hat*
Re: Auferstanden aus Ruinen (5/5)
anonymous
March 18 2009, 16:21:56 UTC
Fuck. That was mindblowingly gorgeous, anon, both the writing and the execution and the characterization. I agree with the folks upthread that it was refreshing and interesting to see a Prussia willing to give up his individuality--I really enjoyed how you showed his development during and through the years of Soviet occupation. Not enough fics touch on that period of time.
And his relationships with the Baltics! I especially loved the rationale for why they hadn't been outright absorbed. Talking to Poland, indeed. XD His interactions with Germany were amazing, and the Italy brothers. ;;; Lovino. D: Lovino and Prussia fighting to keep from having to notice the Germany/Italy going on under their noses was also awesome, because they so would.
I was so happy to see another Germanycest fic, but there really needs to be more Germany brothers on this meme period. D: <3 Thanks for giving us such a great piece, writernon. (And I looked up Ampelmanner and LMFAO THEY'RE ADORABLE)
Re: Auferstanden aus Ruinen (5/5)
anonymous
March 18 2009, 16:25:03 UTC
*bawls her fucking eyes out*
Oh, anon, this is so terribly heartbreaking. The scenes with Russia were so eerie and horrifying and perfect - so often in this meme Russia just turns sort of generic brutal and boring but this had chills running up my spine and me whimpering for fucked-up lost defiant Prussia. I love him so much and he's so wonderful and pained here, oh god this is gorgeous.
And can't even express my love for this properly, for the hotness (and sweetness) of Gil's dreams and the terrible pangs of his reminiscences and Lovino's worries too and Prussia seeing everything that's going to happen, eventually, and not wanting to believe it, the subtle reflections how countries merge (and don't) -
God, every single thing about this is just wonderful and heartwrenching and perfect, oh my god.
I wanted something like this so badly but this is so much better than I imagined it. *worships you*
OP wants to marry you
anonymous
March 18 2009, 19:37:57 UTC
Wow... just wow. I don't know what to say that hadn't already been said by others. >.< Curse you, school! I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for filling my request. This was much better than I thought it would be. You did a wonderful job. :3
Re: Auferstanden aus Ruinen (5/5)
anonymous
March 18 2009, 21:52:55 UTC
Anon, this was...fuck. I loved it. I think I'd never read a characterization of Prussia I could say with all honesty that I felt was this great. Heck, everything about this was great. You did great job, as the other anons have already said in better ways.
Re: Auferstanden aus Ruinen (5/5)
anonymous
March 19 2009, 02:26:02 UTC
Oh, ouch-- that was simply fantastic. As all the others above have said, your characterization of Prussia here is simply fantastic. I love the way you managed to treat all these different time periods-- there's a lovely sense of breadth here.
Gilbert snarls like an animal. “Fuck, no. Why the hell should I?” he snaps, grip on his brother now almost painful. Ludwig takes a slow breath, ever composed.
“Feliciano wants to meet you.” Feliciano, the noisy Italian. “I want…I want you to make this trip. It will do you good.”
“Like a brick to the face it will,” he spits before he winds his fingers deep into Ludwig’s sleeve. “We’re staying here. We’ll go to the Ostsee and get a Strandkorb and watch some naked girls on the FKK beach. That’s a billion times better thanfucking Italy.”
Germany tries to pull away, but Prussia’s not going to let him leave that easily. Germany raises his voice slightly. “…It’s not. Please.”
Prussia imitates him, mouth twisted in sarcasm. Even he knows this is rapidly descending into childishness, but Gilbert likes the sound of that, because when they were children he always got his way.
Germany pulls his arm off of him, eyes narrowed in anger. “It’s not. You think lying around here in your house is going to help you, Gilbert? Well, it’s not. This…ghost-house is nowhere as good as ‘fucking Italy’.”
A predatory grin. “-Because you’d know a lot about that, wouldn’t you, Ludwig?”
Prussia almost regrets it. He almost regrets saying it when he sees his brother’s face flush in rage and embarrassment, when he grabs his older brother by the hair and shoves his face down into the pillows and storms off. Gilbert rolls onto his back again and brings his hand up to eye level.
He can still feel Germany’s warmth when he brushes it against his lips.
-
The two of them stare at each other, eyes taking in their military uniforms, the formidable difference in height and their shared perpetual scowl. It takes Prussia a whole 3 seconds to decide that he hates the man in front of him.
“Do you damn potato-bastards spawn in pond scum or something?”
Prussia grins toothily. Well, at least his hatred is mutual.
They end up eating (because it’s what all Italians do), but Gilbert sits rigidly in his seat and glowers, because even if Germany can make him come, he can’t make him enjoy himself. Instead of watching as his brother and his friend sitting side by side, he picks fights with South Italy with well placed insults. They spit and rage and give each other the cold shoulder, almost as if they’d both rather fight than sit and accept the sight before them- and when North Italy tries to feed Germany a mouthful of pasta, despite the other county’s protests, they try all the louder.
Because Gilbert knows what Ludwig has in his pocket. And although it’ll take years for Ludwig to build up the courage, he’s seen it nonetheless and Feliciano will wait for him. Gilbert can’t take that chance.
-
Lovino pours himself another glass of wine and flops down onto the couch. Feliciano stands in the light of the doorway and watches. He takes a step forward.
“Do you…I think soccer tomorrow would be fun, hmm~ Lovino? But I’m too tired today. Vee- do you think soccer’s a good ide-”
“-You’re going to leave me, aren’t you?”
Something between them wilts. Lovino thinks he feels it die.
“…I won’t, Lovino. You know I would never do that.”
He snorts. His brother’s voice draws closer.
“Lovino came back from Spain’s house. He loves me, and I love Lovino. You know I wouldn’t.”
South Italy drains his glass, then closes his eyes.
“…Soccer sounds good.”
-
Reply
Then, there’s a fist in his stomach and he falls backwards, coughing. Neither of them says anything, but their gasps fill the darkness around them. Germany is scared stunning, and he is smaller than Ivan but still punches hard.
Finally, he takes a breath. “You really love him?” Prussia swallows his pride and looks down at his brother. He’s slightly red, hair all out of place, cross on his bare chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. He’s beautiful and familiar and foreign all at once, but most of all he is beautiful. There’s an ache in his chest as he watches him, a kind of weight in his throat and in his bones. “You love that good-for-nothing pasta-eater?”
It’s funny, Prussia thinks again, that the two of them have lived together for so long and yet still are. Gilbert’s seen it happen countless times. Countries joining, breaking, rejoining. In modern Europe, everyone is someone else. It happens all the time.
Looking at Germany, Prussia needs to kiss him, to fuck him, to hold him and never let go. He needs to become one with him; Prussia doesn’t care if Germany wakes up in the morning and there is no Prussia, so long as his brother is taller and that little bit prouder and his hair is just that touch blonder. If Gilbert is somewhere inside of him. But it hasn’t happened.
“…Yes. I do.”
They’re meant to be the same fucking country, for fuck’s sake, but for some reason, somehow, Germany is still two halves of a whole, and Prussia is still the East, and Ludwig is still the West. Ludwig still has higher living standards and holidays on Italian beaches, and Gilbert still can’t find enough jobs and thinks about his Ostalgie. As much as Gilbert loves his brother, he is still not the same person.
He nods, words failing him but refusing to look away. So the two brothers stare at each other for long minutes, searching for something in their gazes and finding something else. Finally, they both lie down side by side in the bed, Ludwig on the left, Gilbert on the right, and go to sleep.
He never forgets the distance between them tonight.
-
Germany, Russia, Italy and the concept of togetherness.
Did you know?
The Russian occupation zone was north-west Germany, almost perfectly coinciding with the state of former Prussia.
Dresden, bombed in war, was considered one of the most beautiful cities in Germany Under the Soviet rule Germany's architecture suffered from lack of upkeep and dirty industrial practices.
In 1948, Russia left the rest of the Allied Forces due to differences in policy regarding the reconstruction of Germany. The Deutsche Demokratische Republik was formed.
In the DDR the Stasi secret police would bug the houses of possible insurgents and could detain citizens. Under German rule psychological torture was mainstream.
The Berlin Wall was begun in 1961. It was torn down in 1989. In 1991 the DDR was absolved.
After the reunification 'Prussia' suffered economically and the quality of living is still lower in these regions. Ostalgie, a nostalia for the good old East times, has a bit of a cult movement, not least visible in Ampelmanner shops in Berlin.
Turks represent the largest ethnic minority in Germany. There are also many Italian workers who come to Germany for the summer.
Ampelmanner are the DDR style pedestrian traffic lights. Google for more details: much cuter than normal ones, and sort of cult figure.
Kraut- cabbage
momochyka- russian for "Mummy"
Doner- Turkish kebabs, now a common snack food in Germany due to immigrant influence.
Kaffe und Kuchen- coffee and cake
Ostsee- Germany's eastern coastline
Strandkorb- like a deckchair
FKK- a German nudist movement
Reply
I love your Prussia and Romano. Just, they are so wonderfully foul-tempered and love their brothers (even if they will never admit it) and while Romano has Spain, Prussia has...practically nothing. Not territory or a name, just a relic of the past. ;_;
The first part is chilling, the Baltic brothers, Belarus--just being there, Russia and the comparison to a mother, and Prussia's wangst. And then the reunion scene which breaks heart--just as the Berlin Wall building one. The beauty perhaps lies in the fact that...Germany probably doesn't even realize it. He's always been a rather one-track mind guy with a very uncomplicated thought-process. The extent of Prussia's...what to call it, heartache, perhaps. Or unrequited love, maybe? Or the fear of being forgotten by his precious brother.
The last line is a killer, dear anon. *faps* I enjoyed it very, very much. This meme needs more Gilbert and more Gilbert/Ludwig!
Reply
Also, the "I don't like them" bit - wow. It is said that anti-foreign sentiments are stronger in the East, and I loved how you incorporated this in this fic (the "stain" imagery is both wonderfully provoking and dangerous).
Long story short, it's high-quality fic like this that keeps me addicted to this meme. *pulls hat*
Reply
And his relationships with the Baltics! I especially loved the rationale for why they hadn't been outright absorbed. Talking to Poland, indeed. XD His interactions with Germany were amazing, and the Italy brothers. ;;; Lovino. D: Lovino and Prussia fighting to keep from having to notice the Germany/Italy going on under their noses was also awesome, because they so would.
I was so happy to see another Germanycest fic, but there really needs to be more Germany brothers on this meme period. D: <3 Thanks for giving us such a great piece, writernon. (And I looked up Ampelmanner and LMFAO THEY'RE ADORABLE)
Reply
Oh, anon, this is so terribly heartbreaking. The scenes with Russia were so eerie and horrifying and perfect - so often in this meme Russia just turns sort of generic brutal and boring but this had chills running up my spine and me whimpering for fucked-up lost defiant Prussia. I love him so much and he's so wonderful and pained here, oh god this is gorgeous.
And can't even express my love for this properly, for the hotness (and sweetness) of Gil's dreams and the terrible pangs of his reminiscences and Lovino's worries too and Prussia seeing everything that's going to happen, eventually, and not wanting to believe it, the subtle reflections how countries merge (and don't) -
God, every single thing about this is just wonderful and heartwrenching and perfect, oh my god.
I wanted something like this so badly but this is so much better than I imagined it. *worships you*
Reply
Thanks for the read anon
Reply
Reply
Thanks, Anon. You made my day.
Reply
Reply
heh
Words cannot describe how much I love this fill.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment