Reichsapfel [Part 1a/1]
anonymous
December 28 2010, 01:14:22 UTC
I, as the bloody idiot that I am, didn't think of the option of redownloading the file from my mail to my beta. So, here it is, sooner than expected! author!anon apologizes for the fail in this fic. Also, this turned out completely different from what you had in mind, OP, but I hope it's still okay.
He watched as Prussia stood by the window, watching his little bird fly away. He kind of had a lonely expression on his face.
And the Empire had never felt so much like a failure.
The little blond couldn’t bring himself to move from his spot on the settee, his eyes glued to his brother’s white head. His little brother.
If only he could have stood proudly behind him and enclosed him in strong arms, could have made him feel safe - but he couldn’t do that. The little Empire, the never aging Empire, the one who didn’t bind but was bound, by all the nations strong enough to support him. Prussia had been, for a long time, the elder brother in their family, bowing under him like the strongest knight bowed before a weak old king: fond, protecting, observing. Not held by respect or fear but by loyalty and pity.
What a king, the Empire snorted, what an Emperor indeed.
The sound didn’t get Gil- Prussia’s attention; the albino just kept on looking for any sign of his beloved little bird, a speck of yellow in the gray, rainy day.
He has long since lost the right to call Prussia by anything other than his nation’s name. He had watched throughout the years, watched Prussia’s birth, at a time when he was young and oh so promising, ready to be a shining example for the child that lay wrapped in layers and layers of protective sheets; watched his growth while he himself began to feel miffed and afraid that his beloved little brother would outgrow him, watched his extraordinary rise while he became an old man in a child’s body: weary, fearful, and without hope. He was an Empire in title only, and nothing his brother did or Austria said in his well-phrased sentences could convince him otherwise.
But they both forgot that while it was true that he was powerless, it didn’t mean he was blind. He had seen the way Prussia slowly took over his remaining power and would soon take his title (and that meant taking his life, and Prussia could pretend as much as he wanted that he didn’t know about it, the Empire saw his soul fading, and Prussia’s sad glance when he looked at his big, no, little brother said he saw it, too); had seen the way Austria gradually took charge of his affairs, and in return let him reside in his home; as if it was self-evident that the Holy Roman Empire would never build one on his own, and in a way, the Empire pondered, it was true, he wouldn’t. Prussia and Austria already sensed it; and he saw it clearly, his own impending doom.
The little blond felt a giant ache in a chest that seemed entirely too tiny to encompass the raging hot madness inside him. Hot tears pricked at his eyes and a low sob escaped from his shivering lips.
That did catch Gilbert’s attention. Through the tears he saw the albino stiffen, ears going red in awkwardness; but still he didn’t move, only continued staring almost angrily into the sky beyond the open window; but that was okay, they had never been men of words, but of blood and iron.
The little Empire went on stifling his sobs, pressing his little fist into his mouth and biting down to mute the sounds and maybe to stop himself from calling out his brother’s name in a yearning, childish voice that begged to break free from his thoughts-
--A hand ruffled his hair. A rough, awkward hand, a hand that fought too much and pitied too little - and the Empire never was more joyous, even if the shame pierced sharply through his heart.
Gilbert handed him one of Austria’s embroidered handkerchiefs and looked away in embarrassment as the small one wiped his face. When his eyes were clearer, the Empire noticed that Gilbird had returned and once again sat snugly between its master’s hair locks, tiny feet wrapped around something that looked like a little ball. They both seemed to be waiting for something.
Reichsapfel [Part 1b/1]
anonymous
December 28 2010, 01:25:00 UTC
“Damn it, birdie, would you please hurry the fuck up, this is-” The small blonde strained to hear more, but his brother was mumbling, voice too low to catch. He didn’t notice the bird take off again until it was sitting on his head. It released what it had been holding and he felt the little object tumble off his head and land on the cushion beside him.
It was a little apple, still green, very possibly the first apple of the arriving spring and undoubtedly so sour that it would make his stomach churn. He looked at his elder brother questioningly and, he had to admit, suspiciously.
“Gilbert?” His voice was still raw, though it had regained some of its strength. His brother was already walking away, ears still nearly as red as his eyes.
“No.”
“But…”
“No.” … Germania’s men were really not too good with words.
“It’s still sour!”
Gilbert paused momentarily before holding up his thumb. “Sauer macht lustig!” he shouted, before quickening his pace and disappearing around the corner.
The bird flew a last round around the blonde’s head before chirping loudly and disappearing after Gilbert.
The Empire stared at the apple. He weighed it measuringly, awkwardly changed it from one hand to the other, and at last held it still on his lap. The little apple stared brightly back from its spot between his palms.
Well. He supposed he could hold on a bit longer.
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Notes:
“Reichsapfel”: This is the German word for the orb that symbolizes the power of an Emperor (in this case, the Emperor of the HRE). My dictionaries only name “globus cruciger” as an “English” translation, but that didn’t fit. Also: Anyone who speaks a little German will see that “Reichsapfel” means something like “Apple of the Empire”-…. well… hence the end of the story o.o Yay for references nobody understands! *fail!non is major fail*
“Sauer macht lustig”: German saying for which I didn’t find an English wording. It means something like “Sour things make you happy/cheer you up” and dates back to the time of the plague, when the lemon first appeared in the European region. The fruit was believed to cure many things, even the plague. The nearest equivalent I found would be in this case “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”, but that is not really the meaning which I wanted Gilbert to convey.
First English fanfic ever, so HUGE thanks to my beta (I don't know, is it allowed to post betas' names?) Well, anyway: You know who you are! Also, first post to the community, so... uhh... excuse the fail? Please? ö.ö
Re: Reichsapfel [Part 1b/1]
anonymous
December 28 2010, 04:59:48 UTC
Awww! This is beautiful, authornon! The mental image of Prussia blushing, giving a thumbs-up, and shouting "sauer macht lustig"... totally cracking up over here. And thank you so much for writing this in English! It's the only language I read, so I consider it a massive gift ^_^
Re: Reichsapfel [Part 1b/1]
anonymous
December 28 2010, 10:18:46 UTC
Thanks so much! I'm glad you liked it :D
Yeah, I wanted to try out writing fics in English as I'm German and, well yes, that's what came out. I'm so glad I showed it to a beta! Can't believe how much I messed up with the tenses *is shot*
...very pleased! I didn't think I'd get a fill but you came through for me! Thanks so much, anon! I loved the awkward affection between them; it's so them♥ The bittersweetness just made it even better. Thanks so much, anon!
author!non is...
anonymous
December 28 2010, 10:27:42 UTC
...really glad you liked it even though it probably wasn't what you wanted! author!non is really new at these things, so that engouraged me a great deal :D
And thanks SO much for the nice compliments, you make me blush over here *hugs* o//.//o
Re: Reichsapfel [Part 1b/1]
anonymous
December 28 2010, 22:58:51 UTC
Thanks so much!
Wow, now that's really a compliment! I didn't think this little thing would be worthy of remembering xD I'm really glad someone sees them in a similar way to me. My headcanon is normally really messed up, as my friends like to tell me <.<
He watched as Prussia stood by the window, watching his little bird fly away. He kind of had a lonely expression on his face.
And the Empire had never felt so much like a failure.
The little blond couldn’t bring himself to move from his spot on the settee, his eyes glued to his brother’s white head. His little brother.
If only he could have stood proudly behind him and enclosed him in strong arms, could have made him feel safe - but he couldn’t do that. The little Empire, the never aging Empire, the one who didn’t bind but was bound, by all the nations strong enough to support him. Prussia had been, for a long time, the elder brother in their family, bowing under him like the strongest knight bowed before a weak old king: fond, protecting, observing. Not held by respect or fear but by loyalty and pity.
What a king, the Empire snorted, what an Emperor indeed.
The sound didn’t get Gil- Prussia’s attention; the albino just kept on looking for any sign of his beloved little bird, a speck of yellow in the gray, rainy day.
He has long since lost the right to call Prussia by anything other than his nation’s name. He had watched throughout the years, watched Prussia’s birth, at a time when he was young and oh so promising, ready to be a shining example for the child that lay wrapped in layers and layers of protective sheets; watched his growth while he himself began to feel miffed and afraid that his beloved little brother would outgrow him, watched his extraordinary rise while he became an old man in a child’s body: weary, fearful, and without hope. He was an Empire in title only, and nothing his brother did or Austria said in his well-phrased sentences could convince him otherwise.
But they both forgot that while it was true that he was powerless, it didn’t mean he was blind. He had seen the way Prussia slowly took over his remaining power and would soon take his title (and that meant taking his life, and Prussia could pretend as much as he wanted that he didn’t know about it, the Empire saw his soul fading, and Prussia’s sad glance when he looked at his big, no, little brother said he saw it, too); had seen the way Austria gradually took charge of his affairs, and in return let him reside in his home; as if it was self-evident that the Holy Roman Empire would never build one on his own, and in a way, the Empire pondered, it was true, he wouldn’t. Prussia and Austria already sensed it; and he saw it clearly, his own impending doom.
The little blond felt a giant ache in a chest that seemed entirely too tiny to encompass the raging hot madness inside him. Hot tears pricked at his eyes and a low sob escaped from his shivering lips.
That did catch Gilbert’s attention. Through the tears he saw the albino stiffen, ears going red in awkwardness; but still he didn’t move, only continued staring almost angrily into the sky beyond the open window; but that was okay, they had never been men of words, but of blood and iron.
The little Empire went on stifling his sobs, pressing his little fist into his mouth and biting down to mute the sounds and maybe to stop himself from calling out his brother’s name in a yearning, childish voice that begged to break free from his thoughts-
--A hand ruffled his hair. A rough, awkward hand, a hand that fought too much and pitied too little - and the Empire never was more joyous, even if the shame pierced sharply through his heart.
Gilbert handed him one of Austria’s embroidered handkerchiefs and looked away in embarrassment as the small one wiped his face. When his eyes were clearer, the Empire noticed that Gilbird had returned and once again sat snugly between its master’s hair locks, tiny feet wrapped around something that looked like a little ball.
They both seemed to be waiting for something.
The Empire blinked. Prussia blushed.
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It was a little apple, still green, very possibly the first apple of the arriving spring and undoubtedly so sour that it would make his stomach churn. He looked at his elder brother questioningly and, he had to admit, suspiciously.
“Gilbert?” His voice was still raw, though it had regained some of its strength. His brother was already walking away, ears still nearly as red as his eyes.
“No.”
“But…”
“No.” … Germania’s men were really not too good with words.
“It’s still sour!”
Gilbert paused momentarily before holding up his thumb.
“Sauer macht lustig!” he shouted, before quickening his pace and disappearing around the corner.
The bird flew a last round around the blonde’s head before chirping loudly and disappearing after Gilbert.
The Empire stared at the apple. He weighed it measuringly, awkwardly changed it from one hand to the other, and at last held it still on his lap. The little apple stared brightly back from its spot between his palms.
Well. He supposed he could hold on a bit longer.
----------
Notes:
“Reichsapfel”: This is the German word for the orb that symbolizes the power of an Emperor (in this case, the Emperor of the HRE). My dictionaries only name “globus cruciger” as an “English” translation, but that didn’t fit. Also: Anyone who speaks a little German will see that “Reichsapfel” means something like “Apple of the Empire”-…. well… hence the end of the story o.o Yay for references nobody understands! *fail!non is major fail*
“Sauer macht lustig”: German saying for which I didn’t find an English wording. It means something like “Sour things make you happy/cheer you up” and dates back to the time of the plague, when the lemon first appeared in the European region. The fruit was believed to cure many things, even the plague. The nearest equivalent I found would be in this case “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”, but that is not really the meaning which I wanted Gilbert to convey.
First English fanfic ever, so HUGE thanks to my beta (I don't know, is it allowed to post betas' names?) Well, anyway: You know who you are!
Also, first post to the community, so... uhh... excuse the fail? Please? ö.ö
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Yeah, I wanted to try out writing fics in English as I'm German and, well yes, that's what came out. I'm so glad I showed it to a beta! Can't believe how much I messed up with the tenses *is shot*
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And thanks SO much for the nice compliments, you make me blush over here *hugs* o//.//o
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And your characterization and headcanon is so much like my own that I will remember this for sure.
:)
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Wow, now that's really a compliment! I didn't think this little thing would be worthy of remembering xD I'm really glad someone sees them in a similar way to me. My headcanon is normally really messed up, as my friends like to tell me <.<
Anyway, thaaaaaanks :)
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I'm glad you found it okay, anon, and I really appreciate you leaving a comment :)
Wow, late reply is late. also Captcha: become Law? No, tardiness and idiocy should definitely NOT become law, captcha, just FYI ~.~
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