Re: What's in a Song 3/5
anonymous
July 20 2009, 10:47:39 UTC
Most likely 1945. One in ten of his people were dead. One in ten of Lithuania's people were dead. One in ten of Latvia's... How could he go enjoy the beautiful things his people created when he couldn't protect them? How could he go to the ballet when he felt them starving?
And a sinking realization dawned on Ivan. He didn't leave his house much; not because he was hiding from the other countries, not because he was hiding from memories, but because he was hiding from his own people. The people who made him who he was. The people he so desperately wanted to love him, knowing all too well... Well, at least this explains the alcoholism.
Inwardly, he scoffs at himself. He is a proud country, not as powerful as he once was but still, there is no need to mope... Which is exactly what he has been doing since 1991. Ivan groans, he has backed himself into a mental corner. This must be one of those 'game over,' moments. He decides, for once, that he is happy that his memory is foggy between 1945-1991. He doesn't want to know what he had failed and destroyed and-
Medals? The competition is over already? Maybe he should leave before the crowd...
“Please stand for the national anthem of the Russian Federation.”
Ivan smiles. Of course my people won. They are definitely the best figure skaters in the world, da?
Ivan wonders if it would be disrespectful to leave during his own national anthem. Which, come to think of it, he hasn't heard in... Fifteen years? Not since the USSR feel apart, anyways. He wonders if that is normal for a nation. He stays, curiosity getting the better of him, as he rises to hear whatever his anthem is.
There is silence, followed by the blast of fanfare. And panic grips him. He waits for that terrible first line.
Soyuz nerushimy respublik svobodnykh Unbreakable union of free born republics
But it doesn't come. The music is the same... but the lyrics are different. The anthem is blasted without vocals through the loud speakers, but the tiny girl next to him provides the lyrics.
B-beloved? Sacred? These were not words that Ivan would have used to describe himself. And, as he looks around, he sees that small group of his people.
Moguchaya volya, velikaya slava- A mighty will, a great glory- Tvoyo dostoyanye na vse vremena! Your possession for all future ages!
And they are singing, and they are dancing, and they are waving the flag of the Russian Federation, which is also being hoist to the ceiling. (Ivan notes how it is placed above Alfred's beloved stars and stripes.) And... They are all just so proud to be... Russian... Ivan panics for a moment as his throat starts to constrict, worrying he might be having a stroke. But this feeling is vaguely familiar. His eyes start to hurt and he remembers what it is.
Slav'sya, Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye, Glory to you, our free Fatherland, Bratskikh narodov soyuz vekovoy, Age-old union of fraternal peoples, Predkami dannaya mudrost narodnaya! Ancestor-given wisdom of the people! Slav'sya, strana! My gordimsya toboy! Glory to you, our country! We are proud of you!
Re: What's in a Song 5/5
anonymous
July 20 2009, 10:56:12 UTC
Ivan doesn't know exactly when he started crying. It was probably around the 'Fatherland,' part. Or maybe it was watching the beautiful Russian women below blinking back tears as she accepts her medal, and stands for her national anthem. Whenever it was, snot is running down his chin and he is finding it hard to stand by the end.
We are proud of you!
All these years he secluded himself from his people, afraid they hated him. Afraid they saw him as a failure. Unaware that no matter how he tried to detach from his people, they remained loyal to him. Even as they suffered and fought and died, they still cared for him. They still cared for Russia, in only the way a Russian truly can.
And, for the first time in a long time, Ivan Braginsky isn't just Ivan Braginsky. He truly is Russia.
Re: What's in a Song 5/5
anonymous
July 20 2009, 11:05:00 UTC
D'awwww, Russia! T^T *wants to give him a hug*
Unrelatedly, the Russian national anthem is beautiful, from a strictly musical point of view. The new, non-creepy, de-Sovietized lyrics make it even better. Honestly, I wish my national anthem was as awesome as Russia's.
ho damn anon is fast
anonymous
July 20 2009, 11:10:00 UTC
I hadn't even finished posting the last comment. xD Russia's anthem is almost as great as Prussia's. Almost. Russia secretly wants everyone to love him but you aren't supposed to know that.
Re: What's in a Song 5/5
anonymous
July 20 2009, 11:34:24 UTC
;A; This is beautiful! Anon tears up a little at the national anthem. It makes me think about my own national anthem, which of course isn't as awesome as Russia's.
Love how you wrote Ivan's thoughts. I would love to pick out some of my fav but it'll probably end up quoting all of Ivan's sentences.
When the little girl commented about Ivan's physique, and he towards hers, I smiled. I don't know why but that scene just warmed my heart.
This? Is exactly what I was looking for. I'll admit it, I cried along with Ivan.
This is one of the reasons why I love Hetalia so much; it makes people feel close to a country other than the one they're from. I have a copy of the Russian national anthem on my iPod, and I feel close to tears every time I listen to it.
But back to the fill. This is so wonderful. Ivan wanting to duck while talking to the Italian woman made me giggle, and the little girl singing so happily and not realizing she's singing to the man next to her and aaaaaaaaa aaaaaa <3 <3 <3 God. I keep going back to part one so I can read the thing all over again. Very heartwarming and well-written.
Thank you, writer!anon. I honestly and truly love you.
And a sinking realization dawned on Ivan. He didn't leave his house much; not because he was hiding from the other countries, not because he was hiding from memories, but because he was hiding from his own people. The people who made him who he was. The people he so desperately wanted to love him, knowing all too well... Well, at least this explains the alcoholism.
Inwardly, he scoffs at himself. He is a proud country, not as powerful as he once was but still, there is no need to mope... Which is exactly what he has been doing since 1991. Ivan groans, he has backed himself into a mental corner. This must be one of those 'game over,' moments. He decides, for once, that he is happy that his memory is foggy between 1945-1991. He doesn't want to know what he had failed and destroyed and-
Medals? The competition is over already? Maybe he should leave before the crowd...
“Please stand for the national anthem of the Russian Federation.”
Ivan smiles. Of course my people won. They are definitely the best figure skaters in the world, da?
Ivan wonders if it would be disrespectful to leave during his own national anthem. Which, come to think of it, he hasn't heard in... Fifteen years? Not since the USSR feel apart, anyways. He wonders if that is normal for a nation. He stays, curiosity getting the better of him, as he rises to hear whatever his anthem is.
There is silence, followed by the blast of fanfare. And panic grips him. He waits for that terrible first line.
Soyuz nerushimy respublik svobodnykh
Unbreakable union of free born republics
But it doesn't come. The music is the same... but the lyrics are different. The anthem is blasted without vocals through the loud speakers, but the tiny girl next to him provides the lyrics.
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Russia- our sacred state,
Rossiya- lyubimaya nasha strana.
Russia- our beloved country.
B-beloved? Sacred? These were not words that Ivan would have used to describe himself. And, as he looks around, he sees that small group of his people.
Moguchaya volya, velikaya slava-
A mighty will, a great glory-
Tvoyo dostoyanye na vse vremena!
Your possession for all future ages!
And they are singing, and they are dancing, and they are waving the flag of the Russian Federation, which is also being hoist to the ceiling. (Ivan notes how it is placed above Alfred's beloved stars and stripes.) And... They are all just so proud to be... Russian... Ivan panics for a moment as his throat starts to constrict, worrying he might be having a stroke. But this feeling is vaguely familiar. His eyes start to hurt and he remembers what it is.
Slav'sya, Otechestvo nashe svobodnoye,
Glory to you, our free Fatherland,
Bratskikh narodov soyuz vekovoy,
Age-old union of fraternal peoples,
Predkami dannaya mudrost narodnaya!
Ancestor-given wisdom of the people!
Slav'sya, strana! My gordimsya toboy!
Glory to you, our country! We are proud of you!
Reply
We are proud of you!
All these years he secluded himself from his people, afraid they hated him. Afraid they saw him as a failure. Unaware that no matter how he tried to detach from his people, they remained loyal to him. Even as they suffered and fought and died, they still cared for him. They still cared for Russia, in only the way a Russian truly can.
And, for the first time in a long time, Ivan Braginsky isn't just Ivan Braginsky. He truly is Russia.
Reply
Unrelatedly, the Russian national anthem is beautiful, from a strictly musical point of view. The new, non-creepy, de-Sovietized lyrics make it even better. Honestly, I wish my national anthem was as awesome as Russia's.
Reply
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The ice skating performance described in the story can be seen here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxAcG1_Pfd8
The anthem is played as the winners accept their medals over here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nNJ7aAYwTI&NR=1
And the full anthem of the Russian Federation is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMZfXN1UOpw
Man, I feel like a nerd.♥ Hope you liked it.
oh god im going to jail for treason for feeling so patriotic for a country that isn't mine
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Love how you wrote Ivan's thoughts. I would love to pick out some of my fav but it'll probably end up quoting all of Ivan's sentences.
When the little girl commented about Ivan's physique, and he towards hers, I smiled. I don't know why but that scene just warmed my heart.
The Romanov children. >~< I feel for them...
The last sentence there... <33333333333
Bravo, author!anon... Bravo!!!
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This is one of the reasons why I love Hetalia so much; it makes people feel close to a country other than the one they're from. I have a copy of the Russian national anthem on my iPod, and I feel close to tears every time I listen to it.
But back to the fill. This is so wonderful. Ivan wanting to duck while talking to the Italian woman made me giggle, and the little girl singing so happily and not realizing she's singing to the man next to her and aaaaaaaaa
aaaaaa <3 <3 <3
God. I keep going back to part one so I can read the thing all over again. Very heartwarming and well-written.
Thank you, writer!anon. I honestly and truly love you.
reCaptcha: moments The
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