[FANFIC] A Hundred (1-20)
A hundred fifty-word stories all related to Russia from APH in some way, that is.
The list of themes for the 100 themes challenge can be found here .
Be aware that I pair Russia with literally everyone in here. This will be updated...sometimes.
Some of these are cute, some are gory, some are depressing, and most are political.
1. Introduction
That they should be introduced to each other like this is terribly embarassing.
He stammers an apology, feeling silly and inadequate next to this rail-thin, graceful creature covered in embroidered silk from collar to ankles.
"I think I will have to keep an eye on you, Rossija." China says.
2. Love
Do you think that there is no heart in my chest and no soul behind my eyes?
Do you think me incapable of love?
As long as I have any breath left in me, I will love.
I destroy those who I love, and I love those who destroy me.
3. Light
There is light.
It shows everything for what it is.
It shows that his people's shoulders strain and their knees buckle and they curse him, themselves, fate. It shows their malnutrition. It shows that they do not have anything left.
Does it show the thoughts of revolution in their heads?
4. Dark
There is darkness.
Every crevice is filled with it, and it blocks everything out. No keyhole, no window, no crack in the wall to let in a sliver of light. Nothing.
It has an upside.
He does not have to close his eyes to pretend he is in a palace.
5. Seeking Solace
There are walls of books all around him, dusty curtains blocking out the world, the smell of paper and leather. He curls up in front of the fireplace with an old volume, seeking comfort in his own thoughts written down, as bitter-sweet poetry.
Thoughts he didn't know he had.
6. Break Away
Something is crumbling, being torn away and apart by too many hands, all over him, breaking off bits and pieces and claiming (reclaiming?) them as their own.
It hurts, but the pain makes him feel free, he is free again.
He is breaking away even as he is broken apart.
7. Heaven
Russia has lost his Heaven.
If he does not believe in it, he will never reach it.
But if he doesn't believe in it, what does he care that it is gone?
What does he care for a delusion, something made to control malleable minds?
Hell is gone as well.
8. Innocence
It is gone, gone, gone and will never return, and if he clutches onto flowers and ruffles and laces and thin white limbs, it's not because he wants to destroy their innocence, he only wants to reclaim a little piece of his own that he has lost an eternity ago.
9. Drive
The engine sputters and dies for the third time today. It's barely even noon.
The road stretches before him - he'll just have to push. He's thankful for his gloves when he sets both palms flat against the rear window.
Maybe I really ought to have heating installed in the glass.
10. Breathe Again
The air feels colder than ever, his coat is missing and the wind cuts, sharp, but there's something around him, humming like electricity, millions of minds that are his, all his.
That means he's still alive.
He is breathing again - while their hearts are still beating, hope is not lost.
11. Memory
There are times when he forgets everything around him, only the next second matters, only the next breath. The past is as unclear as the future has always been, and there is only fog surrounding him and filling his mind. It is highly unpleasant.
However - perfect memory is far worse.
12. Insanity
You call me mad. Just because I think your flesh a canvas to my paintbrush.
Just because I like to see those I love, destroyed. A symphony of broken fingers and torn skin and trickling, dripping, spilling red.
Da. I must clearly be insane to understand the beauty of imperfection.
13. Misfortune
He cannot remember when he was last lucky. His every step is haunted by misfortune.
Superstitions do not matter, he is unlucky either way.
"Thirteen roses for you, Amerika."
The silly child looks afraid. He snatches a rose, tears it to shreds.
Russia pales.
No-one is immune to superstition.
14. Smile
He can feel his eyes start to burn even as the corners of his mouth curve upwards. If he smiles a little wider, maybe no-one will notice the terror in his gaze, and maybe then they will stay, for once.
Smile. Just keep on smiling.
Because you cannot scream.
15. Silence
Silence, stillness. Every word, every thought, has finally been swallowed by the snow.
His blue lips will not move for centuries to come, but still his chest rises and falls.
Around the isolating ocean of white, the world lies in shards, burning.
Am I the only one who is left?
16. Questioning
"I would like to know..." he murmurs into the mess of wheat-golden hair that's spilled on his shoulder, "I would like to know why you keep coming back for more if you hate me so much."
America's reply is muffled, but it sounds suspiciously like "Fuck if I know."
17. Blood
He swallows, greedy mouthfuls of red that are sweet for the sugar, salty for the sea, bitter for the pollutants, irony for ore - and so very rich.
He can feel-hear-see-smell-taste the blood, it's everywhere, and if it hurts America to lose it, he isn't showing it.
18. Rainbow
The cut-crystal glass breaks the light, a rainbow dancing on his lady's skin where heavy fabric doesn't cover it.
"You will learn to enjoy champagne, and you will learn to endure powder."
Her voice is determined.
He raises his own glass.
"I will try my very best, your majesty."
19. Gray
There used to be oceans of color, of a single color, defining him. This color spelled his name and set a sign and let everyone know. It meant justice and injustice and fights and change. It was his new way.
That ended twenty years ago. Now, there is only gray.
20. Fortitude
It is a weight he has to bear.
"Be brave. I know you can. You have to."
His mother's words. Her last.
That was hundreds of years ago. But he can still hear it, softly, in the thrumming of his pulse and the wind's whisper.
For you, I will be.
----
Explanations:
1: Somewhen in the 1600s, then-teenage Russia attacked China and later had to apologize for it. How embarrassing.
9: The Russian car Lada is famous for...not working.
13: While 13 is the American bad-luck number, giving someone an even number of flowers is considered a super-bad omen in Russia.
18: Russia's lady is - of course - Catherine the Great. She civilized him *g*
The list of themes for the 100 themes challenge can be found here .
Be aware that I pair Russia with literally everyone in here. This will be updated...sometimes.
Some of these are cute, some are gory, some are depressing, and most are political.
1. Introduction
That they should be introduced to each other like this is terribly embarassing.
He stammers an apology, feeling silly and inadequate next to this rail-thin, graceful creature covered in embroidered silk from collar to ankles.
"I think I will have to keep an eye on you, Rossija." China says.
2. Love
Do you think that there is no heart in my chest and no soul behind my eyes?
Do you think me incapable of love?
As long as I have any breath left in me, I will love.
I destroy those who I love, and I love those who destroy me.
3. Light
There is light.
It shows everything for what it is.
It shows that his people's shoulders strain and their knees buckle and they curse him, themselves, fate. It shows their malnutrition. It shows that they do not have anything left.
Does it show the thoughts of revolution in their heads?
4. Dark
There is darkness.
Every crevice is filled with it, and it blocks everything out. No keyhole, no window, no crack in the wall to let in a sliver of light. Nothing.
It has an upside.
He does not have to close his eyes to pretend he is in a palace.
5. Seeking Solace
There are walls of books all around him, dusty curtains blocking out the world, the smell of paper and leather. He curls up in front of the fireplace with an old volume, seeking comfort in his own thoughts written down, as bitter-sweet poetry.
Thoughts he didn't know he had.
6. Break Away
Something is crumbling, being torn away and apart by too many hands, all over him, breaking off bits and pieces and claiming (reclaiming?) them as their own.
It hurts, but the pain makes him feel free, he is free again.
He is breaking away even as he is broken apart.
7. Heaven
Russia has lost his Heaven.
If he does not believe in it, he will never reach it.
But if he doesn't believe in it, what does he care that it is gone?
What does he care for a delusion, something made to control malleable minds?
Hell is gone as well.
8. Innocence
It is gone, gone, gone and will never return, and if he clutches onto flowers and ruffles and laces and thin white limbs, it's not because he wants to destroy their innocence, he only wants to reclaim a little piece of his own that he has lost an eternity ago.
9. Drive
The engine sputters and dies for the third time today. It's barely even noon.
The road stretches before him - he'll just have to push. He's thankful for his gloves when he sets both palms flat against the rear window.
Maybe I really ought to have heating installed in the glass.
10. Breathe Again
The air feels colder than ever, his coat is missing and the wind cuts, sharp, but there's something around him, humming like electricity, millions of minds that are his, all his.
That means he's still alive.
He is breathing again - while their hearts are still beating, hope is not lost.
11. Memory
There are times when he forgets everything around him, only the next second matters, only the next breath. The past is as unclear as the future has always been, and there is only fog surrounding him and filling his mind. It is highly unpleasant.
However - perfect memory is far worse.
12. Insanity
You call me mad. Just because I think your flesh a canvas to my paintbrush.
Just because I like to see those I love, destroyed. A symphony of broken fingers and torn skin and trickling, dripping, spilling red.
Da. I must clearly be insane to understand the beauty of imperfection.
13. Misfortune
He cannot remember when he was last lucky. His every step is haunted by misfortune.
Superstitions do not matter, he is unlucky either way.
"Thirteen roses for you, Amerika."
The silly child looks afraid. He snatches a rose, tears it to shreds.
Russia pales.
No-one is immune to superstition.
14. Smile
He can feel his eyes start to burn even as the corners of his mouth curve upwards. If he smiles a little wider, maybe no-one will notice the terror in his gaze, and maybe then they will stay, for once.
Smile. Just keep on smiling.
Because you cannot scream.
15. Silence
Silence, stillness. Every word, every thought, has finally been swallowed by the snow.
His blue lips will not move for centuries to come, but still his chest rises and falls.
Around the isolating ocean of white, the world lies in shards, burning.
Am I the only one who is left?
16. Questioning
"I would like to know..." he murmurs into the mess of wheat-golden hair that's spilled on his shoulder, "I would like to know why you keep coming back for more if you hate me so much."
America's reply is muffled, but it sounds suspiciously like "Fuck if I know."
17. Blood
He swallows, greedy mouthfuls of red that are sweet for the sugar, salty for the sea, bitter for the pollutants, irony for ore - and so very rich.
He can feel-hear-see-smell-taste the blood, it's everywhere, and if it hurts America to lose it, he isn't showing it.
18. Rainbow
The cut-crystal glass breaks the light, a rainbow dancing on his lady's skin where heavy fabric doesn't cover it.
"You will learn to enjoy champagne, and you will learn to endure powder."
Her voice is determined.
He raises his own glass.
"I will try my very best, your majesty."
19. Gray
There used to be oceans of color, of a single color, defining him. This color spelled his name and set a sign and let everyone know. It meant justice and injustice and fights and change. It was his new way.
That ended twenty years ago. Now, there is only gray.
20. Fortitude
It is a weight he has to bear.
"Be brave. I know you can. You have to."
His mother's words. Her last.
That was hundreds of years ago. But he can still hear it, softly, in the thrumming of his pulse and the wind's whisper.
For you, I will be.
----
Explanations:
1: Somewhen in the 1600s, then-teenage Russia attacked China and later had to apologize for it. How embarrassing.
9: The Russian car Lada is famous for...not working.
13: While 13 is the American bad-luck number, giving someone an even number of flowers is considered a super-bad omen in Russia.
18: Russia's lady is - of course - Catherine the Great. She civilized him *g*