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konstantyaTitle: This Is the Way the World Ends
Fandom: Hetalia
Genre: Drama, angst.
Characters: Austria, Prussia, bits of the Allies. Implied AustriaxHungary.
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 1,500, excluding notes
Summary: The Great War draws to a close. Austria learns that there are some things he simply cannot take in stride.
Period: 1918, 1919.
Part of the Edelweiss Arc.
They see the three Germanic nations together, one right after the other. A ceasefire has been declared, and the Allied and Central Powers have begun to work toward an armistice, and tentatively, official peace. Austria stands in pensive silence outside the French tent. Germany sits nearby, apparently giving the barren ground a thorough inspection.
Soon, Prussia emerges, puffs out a bitter laugh of a breath. “You’re next, Specs.”
Austria composes himself with dignified resignation. His steps are steady. His back, straight. He will not shame himself by acting weak, even in a tent full of enemies who have proven themselves stronger.
England looks worse for wear, but still official. France sits, leg propped, with a pair of crutches to the side of his make-shift chair, and seems to alternate between angry and self-satisfied. America—the new kid—has somehow become the de facto spokesman of the Allies, and more importantly, of peace. He radiates a strange sort of idealism that Austria finds both comforting and annoying. Then again, America has not been fighting this war as long as the rest of them have, and after all, someone needs to have an optimistic outlook on the future, he supposes.
Others occupy the fringes of the tent. Russia, he notices, is absent, but that is no surprise.
America is all mediating business, and begins. “For sake of clarification, we understand you want peace.”
“Yes,” Austria says.
America nods, pushes his glasses up. “As I’m sure you’re aware, quite a few nations in your house have been clamoring for independence.”
Austria nods back, calmly. Bohemia has been raising quite a fuss, as has Croatia. And Poland, at this point, he would be glad to get rid of. (Austria is quite sick of returning to Vienna to find his foyer pink.)
America takes a brisk breath, clasps his hands behind his back. “You understand we plan to support them.” It is not a question.
Austria breathes carefully due to a healing bullet wound in his side. He nods again. It was to be expected. His government is fairly in shambles. Reorder is necessary. If territorial losses mean an end to this godforsaken war, so be it. He has prepared himself for defeat, at this point, and will accept it with grace.
“We’ll also be seeing to the separation of you and Hungary,” he adds.
Austria blinks. “Separation?” he repeats, softly, his tongue almost tripping over the word.
France is smug. America is clueless. England is a bit more tactful, and a fellow empire besides, and for those reasons alone, Austria focuses his attention on him.
A random thought enters his head: For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
“Hungary,” England begins carefully, “…has requested a divorce, so that she may also be an independent state. We only thought it fair, considering the support being given to the other nations under your joint rule.”
It isn’t fair at all, Austria thinks, numbly. It’s true their relationship has suffered because of the war—their last couple meetings have ended in arguments—but that was what their marriage was for in the first place: They compromised and reconciled in 1867; they would compromise and reconcile in 1918.
For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
“The details’ll be discussed in the treaties, obviously, but that’s the way it’s looking,” America says.
Austria inhales, slowly. “I see,” he murmurs, and wonders if he’s lying.
He does not hear what America says next. He is barely aware of passing Germany on his way out, and is so disjointed, he actually settles right next to Prussia, who is leaning against some crates, smoking his irritation away.
For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
“So what’s your proposed execution?” Prussia asks. He sports wounds of his own, most notably a bandage around his head that obscures one eye.
Austria opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. He tries again, but only a little bit of air pushes out of his throat. He goes to loosen the collar of his uniform, and his hands, he realizes, are shaking.
For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
“Well,” Prussia says, looking back to the charred horizon. “I guess that settles it. You really did love her.”
Austria jerks his eyes toward him, but the other nation’s expression is uncharacteristically blank. Prussia digs in the inside of his jacket and offers a crumpled cigarette. Austria takes it because he has no idea what else to do.
“I—I don’t smoke,” he chokes out, just barely.
“Doesn’t matter. It’ll give you something to do with your hands besides wringing them.” Even Prussia is too tired to put much effort into his insults, too tired to rage at their inevitable defeat. Austria can’t even accept what that defeat means.
For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
Prussia hands him a lighter with feigned indifference. Austria holds the cigarette in one hand and fumbles unsuccessfully at the flint wheel with the other. His thumb refuses to work. His knees are on the verge of joining the strike.
For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
Prussia rolls his eyes. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Here,” he says, and plucks the lighter from the other country’s hand before he drops it. He takes the cigarette, practically shoves it between Austria’s pale lips, and grudgingly does him the favor of lighting it.
“Breathe,” he says, and for some insane reason, Austria thinks this a dandy idea, and does so.
He hacks smoke, coughs so badly he half-doubles over, and has just enough time to hiss at the pain in his wounded side before hacking again. Prussia laughs a mad, hoarse laugh at his expense, and Austria thinks, at least someone can find humor in this situation.
Out of what must surely be masochism, Austria tries inhaling smoke again, with much the same results. And a third time. He finds concentrating on suppressing his cough reflex is preferable to concentrating on future treaty terms. The unbearable taste of tobacco is preferable to the unbearable tightness in his chest.
For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
Austria takes a long, ragged drag, and manages only one little puff of a cough. “This is vile,” he finally complains, but does not stop.
Prussia grins, and lights up another. A pile of ash and cigarette butts is growing slowly, but surely, around his feet. “Sure is.”
Austria tilts his head back against the crates for support, and inhales, and exhales, and inhales, and exhales, until the cigarette is spent, and he gestures for another. This one he manages to light on his own.
For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
“Fuck,” Prussia mutters.
Austria feels like dying, and breathes smoke as if it could kill him.
It is almost a year later, in September of 1919, that Austria finds himself in the city of Saint-Germain-en-Laye to again meet with the Allies. A treaty has been drawn up. He was not consulted on the terms, and he has little choice but to agree to them. Austria cynically wonders why they even bother with the formality of asking him to sign it.
“Do you mind if I smoke?” he asks before reading. France looks mildly surprised by the question and then perhaps a little more lecherous than usual. England shrugs to indicate he doesn’t care. America is not present.
He blames Prussia for the habit. Prussia lets him, even though they both know it isn’t his fault, not really. The simple fact is, Austria blames almost everyone and everything these days. Including himself. Perhaps especially himself. Official responsibility has fallen on Germany’s shoulders, but Austria cannot forget that it was he who impetuously started the damned war that brought them all to this.
He has not spoken to Hungary.
He lights a cigarette with practiced ease. He finds he needs them now, to calm his nerves. Music, alone, is not quite enough anymore. The world has changed with this past war, and Austria has changed with it.
So it is official, then. He will now be the Republic of Austria, dreary and inelegant as that sounds. His empire is gone, along with his wife, and he is fairly cursed to be independent—especially from Germany, who was kind enough to invite him to live in Berlin, so that he wouldn’t have to be alone in Vienna. That is all there is to it.
Upon him reaching the last page, England prompts, “If you could just sign right there…” His demeanor is serious, but not altogether unkind.
Austria stubs his cigarette out and breathes a plume of smoke. “Yes,” he simply says, and reaches for the pen. He hesitates, just for a moment, before forcing his hand to write the name that has been forced upon the rest of him. Republik Österreich. He sets the pen down and his ring finger—bare for months already—feels newly heavy with the absence of his wedding band.
Austria reaches into his jacket for another cigarette.
-----
Historical notes:
Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, if you’re interested.
Four hundred years: I use the Battle of Mohács (which took place in 1526) to mark the beginning of Hungary's tenure in Austria's house, first as his maid, and then later, as his wife.
A/N: Head-canon says Austria started smoking after WWI, and I got curious about the details. It’s probably not as historically accurate as I generally like historical things to be, but hey, creative license once in a while. Also: I like bitter, broken-hearted Austria and tired, superficially-malicious Prussia. (Probably a little more than I should, poor things. XD)
Oh, and uh...Happy New Year?Though it's hardly an uplifting fic befitting the general optimism of the new year...^^'
Fandom: Hetalia
Genre: Drama, angst.
Characters: Austria, Prussia, bits of the Allies. Implied AustriaxHungary.
Rating: PG-13
Word count: 1,500, excluding notes
Summary: The Great War draws to a close. Austria learns that there are some things he simply cannot take in stride.
Period: 1918, 1919.
Part of the Edelweiss Arc.
- This Is the Way the World Ends -
They see the three Germanic nations together, one right after the other. A ceasefire has been declared, and the Allied and Central Powers have begun to work toward an armistice, and tentatively, official peace. Austria stands in pensive silence outside the French tent. Germany sits nearby, apparently giving the barren ground a thorough inspection.
Soon, Prussia emerges, puffs out a bitter laugh of a breath. “You’re next, Specs.”
Austria composes himself with dignified resignation. His steps are steady. His back, straight. He will not shame himself by acting weak, even in a tent full of enemies who have proven themselves stronger.
England looks worse for wear, but still official. France sits, leg propped, with a pair of crutches to the side of his make-shift chair, and seems to alternate between angry and self-satisfied. America—the new kid—has somehow become the de facto spokesman of the Allies, and more importantly, of peace. He radiates a strange sort of idealism that Austria finds both comforting and annoying. Then again, America has not been fighting this war as long as the rest of them have, and after all, someone needs to have an optimistic outlook on the future, he supposes.
Others occupy the fringes of the tent. Russia, he notices, is absent, but that is no surprise.
America is all mediating business, and begins. “For sake of clarification, we understand you want peace.”
“Yes,” Austria says.
America nods, pushes his glasses up. “As I’m sure you’re aware, quite a few nations in your house have been clamoring for independence.”
Austria nods back, calmly. Bohemia has been raising quite a fuss, as has Croatia. And Poland, at this point, he would be glad to get rid of. (Austria is quite sick of returning to Vienna to find his foyer pink.)
America takes a brisk breath, clasps his hands behind his back. “You understand we plan to support them.” It is not a question.
Austria breathes carefully due to a healing bullet wound in his side. He nods again. It was to be expected. His government is fairly in shambles. Reorder is necessary. If territorial losses mean an end to this godforsaken war, so be it. He has prepared himself for defeat, at this point, and will accept it with grace.
“We’ll also be seeing to the separation of you and Hungary,” he adds.
Austria blinks. “Separation?” he repeats, softly, his tongue almost tripping over the word.
France is smug. America is clueless. England is a bit more tactful, and a fellow empire besides, and for those reasons alone, Austria focuses his attention on him.
A random thought enters his head: For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
“Hungary,” England begins carefully, “…has requested a divorce, so that she may also be an independent state. We only thought it fair, considering the support being given to the other nations under your joint rule.”
It isn’t fair at all, Austria thinks, numbly. It’s true their relationship has suffered because of the war—their last couple meetings have ended in arguments—but that was what their marriage was for in the first place: They compromised and reconciled in 1867; they would compromise and reconcile in 1918.
For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
“The details’ll be discussed in the treaties, obviously, but that’s the way it’s looking,” America says.
Austria inhales, slowly. “I see,” he murmurs, and wonders if he’s lying.
He does not hear what America says next. He is barely aware of passing Germany on his way out, and is so disjointed, he actually settles right next to Prussia, who is leaning against some crates, smoking his irritation away.
For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
“So what’s your proposed execution?” Prussia asks. He sports wounds of his own, most notably a bandage around his head that obscures one eye.
Austria opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. He tries again, but only a little bit of air pushes out of his throat. He goes to loosen the collar of his uniform, and his hands, he realizes, are shaking.
For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
“Well,” Prussia says, looking back to the charred horizon. “I guess that settles it. You really did love her.”
Austria jerks his eyes toward him, but the other nation’s expression is uncharacteristically blank. Prussia digs in the inside of his jacket and offers a crumpled cigarette. Austria takes it because he has no idea what else to do.
“I—I don’t smoke,” he chokes out, just barely.
“Doesn’t matter. It’ll give you something to do with your hands besides wringing them.” Even Prussia is too tired to put much effort into his insults, too tired to rage at their inevitable defeat. Austria can’t even accept what that defeat means.
For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
Prussia hands him a lighter with feigned indifference. Austria holds the cigarette in one hand and fumbles unsuccessfully at the flint wheel with the other. His thumb refuses to work. His knees are on the verge of joining the strike.
For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
Prussia rolls his eyes. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Here,” he says, and plucks the lighter from the other country’s hand before he drops it. He takes the cigarette, practically shoves it between Austria’s pale lips, and grudgingly does him the favor of lighting it.
“Breathe,” he says, and for some insane reason, Austria thinks this a dandy idea, and does so.
He hacks smoke, coughs so badly he half-doubles over, and has just enough time to hiss at the pain in his wounded side before hacking again. Prussia laughs a mad, hoarse laugh at his expense, and Austria thinks, at least someone can find humor in this situation.
Out of what must surely be masochism, Austria tries inhaling smoke again, with much the same results. And a third time. He finds concentrating on suppressing his cough reflex is preferable to concentrating on future treaty terms. The unbearable taste of tobacco is preferable to the unbearable tightness in his chest.
For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
Austria takes a long, ragged drag, and manages only one little puff of a cough. “This is vile,” he finally complains, but does not stop.
Prussia grins, and lights up another. A pile of ash and cigarette butts is growing slowly, but surely, around his feet. “Sure is.”
Austria tilts his head back against the crates for support, and inhales, and exhales, and inhales, and exhales, until the cigarette is spent, and he gestures for another. This one he manages to light on his own.
For four hundred years, he has shared his house with her.
“Fuck,” Prussia mutters.
Austria feels like dying, and breathes smoke as if it could kill him.
---
It is almost a year later, in September of 1919, that Austria finds himself in the city of Saint-Germain-en-Laye to again meet with the Allies. A treaty has been drawn up. He was not consulted on the terms, and he has little choice but to agree to them. Austria cynically wonders why they even bother with the formality of asking him to sign it.
“Do you mind if I smoke?” he asks before reading. France looks mildly surprised by the question and then perhaps a little more lecherous than usual. England shrugs to indicate he doesn’t care. America is not present.
He blames Prussia for the habit. Prussia lets him, even though they both know it isn’t his fault, not really. The simple fact is, Austria blames almost everyone and everything these days. Including himself. Perhaps especially himself. Official responsibility has fallen on Germany’s shoulders, but Austria cannot forget that it was he who impetuously started the damned war that brought them all to this.
He has not spoken to Hungary.
He lights a cigarette with practiced ease. He finds he needs them now, to calm his nerves. Music, alone, is not quite enough anymore. The world has changed with this past war, and Austria has changed with it.
So it is official, then. He will now be the Republic of Austria, dreary and inelegant as that sounds. His empire is gone, along with his wife, and he is fairly cursed to be independent—especially from Germany, who was kind enough to invite him to live in Berlin, so that he wouldn’t have to be alone in Vienna. That is all there is to it.
Upon him reaching the last page, England prompts, “If you could just sign right there…” His demeanor is serious, but not altogether unkind.
Austria stubs his cigarette out and breathes a plume of smoke. “Yes,” he simply says, and reaches for the pen. He hesitates, just for a moment, before forcing his hand to write the name that has been forced upon the rest of him. Republik Österreich. He sets the pen down and his ring finger—bare for months already—feels newly heavy with the absence of his wedding band.
Austria reaches into his jacket for another cigarette.
-----
Historical notes:
Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, if you’re interested.
Four hundred years: I use the Battle of Mohács (which took place in 1526) to mark the beginning of Hungary's tenure in Austria's house, first as his maid, and then later, as his wife.
A/N: Head-canon says Austria started smoking after WWI, and I got curious about the details. It’s probably not as historically accurate as I generally like historical things to be, but hey, creative license once in a while. Also: I like bitter, broken-hearted Austria and tired, superficially-malicious Prussia. (Probably a little more than I should, poor things. XD)
Oh, and uh...Happy New Year?
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no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 02:16 am (UTC)I love this. :'DD All the serious countries, America, oh, Austria. Ggghhh I feel so bad for him. This is great! Your portrayal of the characters is really interesting, and I like the impact Hungary had even if she wasn't actually there. And Austria smoking, omg. Lovely headcanon there. <3 Awesome job!
no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 02:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 04:31 pm (UTC)I really really like this bit...it's pretty much my headcanon Austria still beats himself over all that. And his relationship Hungary and Prussia. *Sniffles* Depressing stuff, but written in an awesomely depressing manner, ya' know?
no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 05:13 pm (UTC)Thanks for reading!
no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 04:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-02 05:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 01:11 am (UTC)Other than the smoking (which fits rather nicely) this fits my own headcanon for how Austria felt about the end of the Great War so well. The loneliness and resignation are palatable in here.
So yes, this is just my way of saying I loved it.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 02:59 am (UTC)Anyway, I ramble. Thank you for reading, and thank you for the lovely words. ^_^ (And PS: Your wibbly Austria icon in turn makes me want to wibble.)
no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 03:06 am (UTC)You're quite welcome, i don't get enough chances to use it, because damn it, wibbling is not dignified at all. :>
no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 03:26 am (UTC)And yeah, as adorable an image as it is, Austria would probably shoot himself before wibbling in public
or at all. XDno subject
Date: 2010-01-03 03:35 am (UTC)He would voluntarily go without cake for a month before wibbling in public. He might after everyone else was gone. Maybe.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 04:30 am (UTC)I know what you mean about thinking about the dynamics too much. I've done that with Austria/Hungary (because it's less perfect fluff to me and more of a rocky, bittersweet love/hate relationship), and I'm really starting to do it with the Austria/Prussia/Hungary dynamics.
I think Prussia would be more prone to starting fights (whether serious or not) when drunk. And might be a little trigger-happy: ("Yo, West! Let me shoot this apple off your head! C'mon, it'll be awesome!") Though if France was around...I'm sure he could manage to get Prussia naked without much effort. XD
no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 04:44 am (UTC)I also love love Austria/Prussia/Hungary and all those fun little dynamics and bumps. (I also love that it spells out the acronym APH, but that's me being a dork.)
Prussia would definitely be more... Prussia-ish when drunk. More of all those things that makes him grate on Austria's nerves and want to kick him out of his house. Again. Haha oh god drunk!Prussia with a gun would be scary. And this is France, he tries to get everyone naked.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 07:17 am (UTC)An armed, drunk!Prussia sounds utterly amazing. And utterly terrifying. But the main point here is amazing. XD And true about France, but I can see him convincing drunk!Prussia easier than most.
Scenario:
France: I'll fight you, so long as we can fight naked.
drunk!Prussia: Okay, you're on! *Promptly starts stripping*
France: ^3^
(Oh, France. Sometimes I think I really need to write you.)
Gah. Discussion. I so love it.no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 08:56 am (UTC)Aaaanyway, I would comment more and be more coherent, but I have to go to bed now. So I'll edit this in the morning. XD Since I'm really enjoying this discussion.
no subject
Date: 2010-01-03 06:09 pm (UTC)But it's so true--Austria gets so little love, it seems. Meanwhile, I can't yet manage to drop him long enough to focus on other characters (like Poland, and Russia, and France...) DX
no subject
Date: 2010-01-04 04:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-05 02:40 am (UTC)Well done, well done!
And I agree with the above comment Austria needs so much more love in the fandom he's so amazing and under-appreciated and fast become my favorite character in the series...
no subject
Date: 2010-01-05 05:50 am (UTC)And oh my! A rec! You've made me all blushy. =^^= I'm so glad you enjoyed it so much, and thank you for the lovely comments!
no subject
Date: 2010-01-08 04:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-01-08 05:59 am (UTC)And smoker!Austria is dreadfully attractive, admittedly. XDno subject
Date: 2010-01-08 02:32 pm (UTC)See? This kind of thing is exactly why everyone smokes in my head-canon! Sometimes it's just necessary.
Again, I loved the repetition - a perfect way to show that Austria just can't wrap his head around the consequences of the end of the war. Prussia was perfect (but he's awesome so that's no surprise *wry smirk*).
I think that my favourite part of this story might have been England's odd mutual understanding with Austria. That was - hrm, unexpectedly in-character for him. What I mean is that, obviously, England would understand (though not everyone would've picked up on that particular detail). He's not the kind of character that would go out of his way to be kind (despite that understanding) but he's certainly not about to be unkind either.
I liked the quiet nod to America's idealism as well. Contrasting him with the rest of the European powers was a nice image.
*tips hat*
-T. pirate
no subject
Date: 2010-01-08 06:30 pm (UTC)YES. And it was the end of WWI. I think just about everyone could be characterized as smoking, if only a little bit here and there. Well, except for Germany. XD
I think the war really did mature America. I definitely think he's more worldly after it, perhaps a bit disillusioned, even, though definitely not to the extent of the European nations. And being the optimistic, things'll-get-better sort of guy he is, I can see him fairly falling in love with the Wilsonian idealism of the time.
I secretly want to write a 1920's America, all older because of WWI and living it up in the jazz age, and maybe having a fling with Rudolph Valentino.But shhhh. ^_~
no subject
Date: 2010-04-14 11:06 pm (UTC)I. Love. How you wrote Roderich. Spot on and beautiful.
no subject
Date: 2010-04-15 03:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-12-08 03:39 pm (UTC)Prussia's voice is wonderful. “I guess that settles it. You really did love her.” Prussia! Not helping! But at the same time he is; his tactlessness is bracing.
Austria is quite sick of returning to Vienna to find his foyer pink.
OH POLAND. I love the flash of humor in the darkness.
no subject
Date: 2010-12-08 07:43 pm (UTC)That's something I find very fascinating about Prussia, I guess--he's a jackass, sure, but there's also something very sincere about him. Or something. Jerk with a heart of gold, emphasis on the jerk, perhaps? XD
Thank you for the comment! ^^