65 - Nothing To Fear

[chosen_end_post]

Title: Nothing To Fear
Characters: Russia/America, brief appearances by Poland and Prussia.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: 1983 - The United States and the Soviet Union have their closest brush with nuclear war since the Cuban Missile Crisis. America notices after the fact.

TCE is co-written by wizzard890 and pyrrhiccomedy.

Comments

[lokichan2004]

This was one of the first things on my flist, but I saved it for last~

I really loved this chapter; it ties what Reagan said to how Russia reacted perfectly. Has Russia been afraid of America the whole time? Because the way America's been throughout the whole cold war part of this story makes me think that he was wary around Russia at times, but that he still trusted him enough that he knew Russia wouldn't nuke him. Russia's reaction here makes me think he's always been somewhat afraid that America would bomb him first, but has been doing a bang-up job hiding it.

I feel like I'm analyzing this wrong and misjudging what you guys meant, but that's how I interpreted this chapter.

[pyrrhiccomedy]

You're not misjudging anything! I think a worthwhile question to ask is--given his history, why wouldn't Russia think America might strike first?

And hell, wasn't American propaganda full of the suggestion that Russia might strike first? Why would things over there be any different?

[fujiappletan]

first
FUCK YES
POLAND
i love
i love poland
his interaction with prussia was great XD
laughed my ass off prussia and his OPERA and now i am curious on what hungary did but anyway

america
america i don't think you quite get it
but that's ok
probably

i was
pretty much screaming and by pretty much i mean i hope i did not wake my neighbors up because
Russia flinched, in the corners of his eyes. "France was my best friend," he mumbled. "And I burned my land to ashes to keep it out of his hands."
THIS. THIS. RUSSIA. I CAN'T. IT. RUSSIA YOU ARE MY FAVOURITE CHARACTER FOREVER ;_________;
&you two must be sick of hearing this but
I LOVE YOU
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH
these two this chapter are just
tired
poor boys D:

(when reading about the cold war it always makes me surprise surprise BAWL on how. fucking. hard. everyone on both sides would just TRY THEIR DAMN BEST to not fuck up. and they didn't. srsly if this shit was happening now the world would be in ashes.)

[wizzard890]

first
FUCK YES
POLAND
i love

POLAND DIGS YOUR LOVE. XD He is so spectacular to have around, we seriously get so excited when he shows up in one of the chapters.

THIS. THIS. RUSSIA. I CAN'T. IT. RUSSIA YOU ARE MY FAVOURITE CHARACTER FOREVER

France and Russia never don't break my heart. And I have always, always wanted to see a really in-depth tackling of their story, during Napoleon's invasion. It just...meant so much, to both of them.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH

YOU ARE SO SWEET. Loves to you too! ♥

[fujiappletan]

I WOULD DIE IF SOMEONE WROTE THAT FIC
OUT OF OF SHEER
FUCKING HAPPINESS
good god it'd be depressing

i love napoleon so much and i love france/russia dammit even though just ;a; at them and and and the drama and sensuality because it is france
WITH RUSSIA

i want

/rambles
/wrong ship OH WELL IDC

/kisses!!

[pyrrhiccomedy]

/wrong ship OH WELL IDC

WE LOVE THEM TOO, SO MUCH, dude we probably would have written a 75-chapter epic about France and Russia just as happily as America and Russia. XD

[erueru_2d]

What a beautifully tense chapter! ♥ I enjoyed it immensely.

First of all, Poland. Oh, Poland. ♥ Why is he so breathtakingly amazing in TCE? He's my favorite character after Russia and America, seriously! It's like he's the one who rules the house: he knows what everybody's doing, he's clever, attentive and confident... I wonder if he knows about Russia's relationship with America? Oh, but Prussia knows so of course he does, too... does he?

"Practice to kill me."Ow. That was the moment when I was, like "Oh my God, America, wasn't it like throwing plastic knives at your lover's portrait on the wall?" But then I instantly reminded myself that they have decided to keep these things businesslike. I can't quite imagine the emotional mechanisms of keeping it businesslike, though. I guess, in my metaphor it would be like closing your eyes while throwing things or something

[pyrrhiccomedy]

I wonder if he knows about Russia's relationship with America? Oh, but Prussia knows so of course he does, too... does he?

I am 100% sure that Poland knows and does not care. Lithuania knows, too. Not sure about the others. It's not exactly a secret, and Russia and America aren't very good at being discreet. (Especially America. >_>)

I can't quite imagine the emotional mechanisms of keeping it businesslike, though. I guess, in my metaphor it would be like closing your eyes while throwing things or something.

God, I know, right? "Okay, I'm going to practice killing you, but it's nothing personal." "..."

Not to mention that I find America's naivety (or whatever it is) absolutely bewildering here. I mean, we all are humans and we all are naturally afraid of such things.

I wish I could explain it, but I find the real nation of America's naivete about this absolutely bewildering. Then and now. There's still this "bwuh? REALLY? o_o" response from some Americans when you tell them "Guess what, the Russians were afraid that we would nuke

[erueru_2d]

I wish I could explain it, but I find the real nation of America's naivete about this absolutely bewildering. Then and now. There's still this "bwuh? REALLY? o_o" response from some Americans when you tell them "Guess what, the Russians were afraid that we would nuke them, too!"

Once upon a time, a Swiss developmental psychologist Jean Piaget asked a little boy: "Do you have a brother?"
"Yes, I do. His name is Paul," boy answered.
"Does Paul have a brother?"
"No."
This phenomenon is called egocentrism, which is not exactly naivete.

And then you fly planes straight at his airspace to freak him out. It works.

Holy shit, that is... It's probably a good thing that I was born in Perestroika.

[pyrrhiccomedy]

This phenomenon is called egocentrism, which is not exactly naivete.

You're right, I hadn't ever thought of it in that light before. How dismally like America.

I also have a feeling that, since America successfully freaked him out so many times, Russia, who is still in Afghanistan and is going through economic crisis, had started to rapidly lose his will to keep up with these games. I'm not sure, though.

Good insight.

[puddingcat]

POLSKAAAAAA!

Yeah, what everyone else has said about him :) Knowing exactly how Prussia would invade and still not putting frogs in his bed! And oh, Liet & his ulcers!

[wizzard890]

Poland is far too familiar with Prussia's modes of attack. He knows exactly what to look for.

And God, poor Lithuania is going to be eating through a straw for weeks! D=

[puddingcat]

Polska putting frogs in Prussia's bed should be canon.

At least Lithuanian food has enough potatoes to keep Liet going.

[alatherna]

The R/A part here is awesome as always but...

That slap.

Oh, Poland ♥
Sometimes I wonder if this means he has balls of steel or is just stupid... I think a little bit of both...

Either way, no one is slapping others as fabulous as Poland ♥

... he took over a R/A fanfiction once again, sneaky little bastard XDDDDDD

[pyrrhiccomedy]

Sometimes I wonder if this means he has balls of steel or is just stupid... I think a little bit of both...

I...I think 'stupid' is a bit harsh... XD But like...balls of steel yes, and...he doesn't exactly...think about the potential getting-his-ass-kicked when he decides to do things. All things, in all situations. It's...it's sort of admirable? XD In a..."honey please reconsider" kind of way?

But hey, America took it like a man!