Lying in that Sound, Tonight - part 11

[stardropdream]

Title: Lying in that Sound, Tonight - part 11 (of 15)
Series: Axis Powers Hetalia
Characters: Arthur (England), Alfred (USA), major historical figures (and the occasional unnamed citizens and mentions of other nations)
Pairing: Eventual Arthur/Alfred
Rating: PG-13 overall (for language, violence, and war)
Warning: This is a WWII fic and deals

Comments

[satancat]

Return of the cigarettes

[satancat]

*gasp* haha I feel like a creeper now. First comment 8D

[buddha_loves_me]

Ahaha, there really isn't... much to it, other than the fact that everybody smoked during the time period? And cigarettes were heavily rationed during wartime, so it's considered a luxury for the British to be able to smoke. Whereas they just kind of are... part of US culture/mindset/whatever. There isn't tooooo much special meaning you can put into them other than that, really.

I'm glad you enjoyed the moment. ♥ I also really like moments like that, and with these two... it's really a big step forward (at least in the context of naming in this setting - I know in other branches of fandom the human name has no special connection beyond just an easy way to address yourself among non-nations).

Thank you so much for reading, as always (and sorry for the late reply fff /is slow).

[buddha_loves_me]

Haha, well... I'm about ten pages away from finishing this fic? (Obviously the remaining chapters are only in their rough stages - I need to go back, rewrite things, add in the notes, etc etc). So hopefully there won't be toooo much anticipation, since hopefully I can bump these chapters up to weekly updates as opposed to every two weeks (or so...).

I'm so, so happy you like Arthur in this. I've really had a blast writing him, and I'm glad that his personality comes through so strongly despite the story never being from his POV.

And I totally agree. I've always been interested in British history - and especially this time period. So after I got into Hetalia I knew that I'd absolutely have to write a story from this time period... and I'm glad that I finally can, and I'm so, so glad that there's a fandom where that's possible. And I'm so glad that you think I'm doing it justice baw thank you ;_;Sob, I adore Winant. Writing him and researching him has made me just... fall in such love with him. He really is an amazing figure in

[celen]

Oh, you. ♥

I love the mix of emotions in this chapter. It's hopeful and happy and anxious and angry and confused, all at the same time. Alfred's denial of self-examination, the haunting why do you care at the end, the fireworks, everything was perfect. Especially the end: the short descriptions of Alfred and his observations, the comparisons, all of it was somehow picturesque. I could see the fireworks above the hill, Alfred sitting there alone. If I could paint, I'd paint a picture of that, with the buildings on fire across the horizon (or appearing as such, when the fireworks light them red).

Your characterization of Arthur still leaves me amazed and out of words. And now, your characterization of Alfred starts to do the same. :)

♥!

[buddha_loves_me]

Haha, I can never avoid an opportunity to explore self-denial and conflicting emotions. Hopefully my writing doesn't become too heavy-handed as a result, but I'm glad that the strange myriad of emotions works in this chapter.

fff I wish I could paint. I have so many images in my head - either for this fic or otherwise - and sometimes I feel like words aren't an adequate way to describe what I'm picturing. But I'm glad that the scene with the fireworks came through strongly, I was certainly doing my best to paint a mental picture there.

And glad that you like Alfred's characterization! I always feel a bit iffy with him (I feel much stronger writing Arthur), so I'm glad that I could do his character at least some justice.

Thank you so much for reading.

[creatatrixa]

this fic is amazing.
it's just so quietly intense and you capture the feeling of the time period so well, it's just as much about the events as the characters(something that isn't in many fics), and the gradual progression of alfred and arthur's relationship is, like everything else, perfect.
(the footnotes are quite appreciated, there's always interesting facts in there that i didn't know before)

[buddha_loves_me]

I'm so glad you like it. ♥ Thank you so much...

I'm glad that I can do the time period justice. As I've said above, I really admired this time period long before I ever got into Hetalia, so I'm glad that I could capture at least some of the spirit. It's amazing to think that it was less than one hundred years ago and yet seems so foreign. I realize that in some ways it's really been romanticized, but, at the same time, even through research... it seems so remarkably far-away from any experience modern day has ever known.

Glad you appreciate the footnotes. I have waaaay too much fun writing them - especially when I can add in a context that would be otherwise missed in the narrative itself.

Thank you so much for reading.

[briaranise]

I'm not sure if I've commented before, but I have to say that each chapter that you post up only makes this story more and more amazing. I love your inclusion of historical quotes and incidents. It's obvious that you put a lot of effort into this, and your attention to detail and the slow build-up towards when the relationship between Arthur and Alfred will finally peak is just... I have no words to express just how wonderful it is. Your writing is lovely and I'm always excited to see a new chapter <3

[buddha_loves_me]

fff thank you so, so much for your kind words. I'm so glad that you like this story - the emotional and the historical. I definitely set out with the intention of interweaving the two, so hopefully I've succeeded at least somewhat.

Just. I have no words in return. Thank you so much for reading, and I'm so happy that you enjoyed it! I'll work hard to get the next chapter up soon.