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'Post-War Miracles (The Rising Sun Remix)'. Hetalia. Japan, Germany, America. PG13.
Parts of this remix were written months ago in the comment section of the original fic because sometimes I get carried away when I write comments. Also, what is it about fic deadlines that makes you more productive on fics with no deadlines?
Post-War Miracles (The Rising Sun Remix)
Hetalia. Japan/Germany, Japan/America-ish. 1341 words. PG13.
Japan and Germany after the war. A remix of![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
zempasuchil's 高度経済成長 / Wirtschaftswunder from Japan's POV.
The conversation is subdued and polite, but this suits Japan. During dinner Germany asks about Korea, and Japan asks about France, but neither would ever shame the other nor their own powers of observation by asking, "How are you?"
Germany predictably bristles when the phone rings. There was once a time when Japan would've reached across the table to gentle him with a touch, but Japan knows better now.
“What does he want with you?” Germany demands, and subsequently falls into the despondent nostalgia that Japan has learned to expect from him. Germany is a nation of great ambition, which so easily slips into passion, and there is a dark history between Germany and America that Japan has only begun to understand. Japan is only a small part of it. The end of the war has reiterated what he has always fought so hard to defy and still can’t quite believe: that he is only handfuls of dirt thrown at the sea, and just as easily dissipated.
A new start is being forced upon him. He is drifting from Germany's embrace and into America's out of necessity, and Japan thinks that when it comes down to it, surely Germany must understand.
+
America calls it baseball and Japan calls it a waste of time, but of course he would never say that to his face. Still, the game seems to mean something to America, so Japan does his best.
“Japan steps up to the plate,” America narrates exuberantly from the pitcher’s mound. (He is curiously fond of doing this.) “America winds up for the pitch! He pulls back! You can feel the tension in the air, folks!”
America throws.
America announces, “America thr-!“
Japan hits the ball with a ringing THWACK and it sails into the sky. They watch it disappear, America with an expression of astonishment and Japan with one of determination, gritting his teeth as the wounds on his hands throb.
“Run to first base, man!” America yells at a motionless Japan, and starts running after the ball. “Run to first base! No no, that’s third base!”
By the time America comes back with the ball, Japan has been standing patiently on first base for a long time. America concedes an admiring shake of his head.
“You’re full of surprises, you know,” says America.
“Did I score?” asks Japan.
“No,” America replies, and grins, “but keep up what you’re doing and who knows what the future may bring, huh?”
+
Japan stands before the mirror and forces himself to account for every scar, every inch of skin that has been reddened and blackened by radiation.
He must know himself. He must know who he is again, rediscover what he is in this new world order. Perhaps the best place to start is from the bottom. It is only when you lose everything when you are free to be anything.
He hisses, sucking air through his teeth as he changes his bandages. Japan peels off layer after layer, revealing the disfigurement beneath like he really is the monster that everyone says he is. He takes a minute to assess his reflection, turning this way and that. Japan wonders about Germany’s wounds, whether they hurt as badly, whether they hold him back as much. Whether he and Germany can still call themselves whole.
Japan wraps new bandages around his wrists until all you see is white cotton where scars should be.
Tonight he dons the clothes of his enemies, piece by piece: trousers, shirt, blazer. Each article of clothing covers up a little more of himself. It would have felt like betrayal if Japan didn't know that it’s just survival. It’s just adaptation. The world belongs to his enemies now, so he must become the enemy and learn their game. (Is enemy even the right word anymore? Japan thinks of the energetic idealism with which America said, “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you everything I know and we’ll be good friends, I’m sure of it.” America’s smile was as vibrant as the burns on Japan’s skin, but they don’t talk about that, not yet. Scars can wait. History can wait. It has always waited, and much of it is waiting still.)
The starched linen is rough against Japan’s skin, and the wool of his trousers is scratchy, but he puts them on and supposes that this will do for now.
He adjusts his tie. Japan smiles warily at the mirror, and his reflection smiles back.
It is almost seven, and Japan is never late.
+
Germany answers the door, and Japan takes note of Germany's glance at his suit. There is no surprise, no acknowledgment, and really, Japan wasn't sure what he had expected anyway. Perhaps Japan was only assuming discomfort because it’s what he feels himself.
"Come in," Germany says, and Japan does.
Germany is more irritable this time for one reason or another. There is something of resentment to his manner, but Japan isn't sure at whom it is directed. At Japan? America? Germany himself? Still, Japan will not apologize for his own success, so he falls to complimenting Germany instead. Soothing bruised egos - a familiar and necessary business in these times. Japan wonders if this is what America thinks he is doing, soothing egos, and at the same time emphasizing the surety of defeat. There is no more need to fight, says the undertone. There is nothing left to fight with.
America and Japan are inscrutable to each other, and the first steps in their post-war relationship have been clumsy and unsure, full of optimism on America's part and reticence on Japan's. They are both determined to find common ground. Sometimes it’s all you can do to grit your teeth and grin and bear it.
"America is punitive," Germany is saying.
America is necessary, and the sooner they accept this, the better.
When they are two beers and a sake in, Japan finally points out, “Our hands are not exactly clean of blood either, Doitsu-san.”
“No,” Germany agrees, and Japan doesn’t reply. Nothing more is said on the matter, at least not tonight, and history waits some more.
It is waiting still.
+
America asked, “You’re thinking of them, aren’t you? Of Germany and Italy?”
Japan asked, cautious, “Why do you say that?”
“Lucky guess. But you can’t be living in the past, you know. There’s no time for that, not when there’s so much of the future to deal with.”
It’s not that Japan lives in the past, but that his past is living in his present, alongside him and around him. He knows Germany feels similarly. History returns to the present in the form of myth, internalized as self. Japan and Germany carry each other within themselves half a world away.
“You’re thinking of him, aren’t you?” Germany demands of him now. “You’re thinking of America?”
“No,” Japan lies, and pours them both another drink.
+
There is a difference between ambition and passion, but it's easy to confuse the two. It's easy to reach out thinking they are only acting in self-interest, but the convenient lie of "We are one" can become a dangerous thing. Japan and Germany are separated by oceans and continents, but once upon a time, they thought their lands would bleed across the world until their borders touched, so that they could lie next to each other, as promised.
Japan’s words to Germany now aren’t a promise but they sound like one. As Germany shifts closer and closer, Japan tenses, anticipates, remembers. He is reminded of those wordless nights and days on the island - Germany beside him, the future ahead of him, power in his hand like so much sand.
The kiss is not unexpected; it is disarmingly familiar. They haven’t done this in a while and their weakened condition makes them clumsy, but Japan closes his eyes and imagines the sunlight on the island, the memory of which is now so far away from this room and this night.
“Doitsu,” Japan breathes against Germany’s lips, and pulls him close.
Post-War Miracles (The Rising Sun Remix)
Hetalia. Japan/Germany, Japan/America-ish. 1341 words. PG13.
Japan and Germany after the war. A remix of
zempasuchil's 高度経済成長 / Wirtschaftswunder from Japan's POV.The conversation is subdued and polite, but this suits Japan. During dinner Germany asks about Korea, and Japan asks about France, but neither would ever shame the other nor their own powers of observation by asking, "How are you?"
Germany predictably bristles when the phone rings. There was once a time when Japan would've reached across the table to gentle him with a touch, but Japan knows better now.
“What does he want with you?” Germany demands, and subsequently falls into the despondent nostalgia that Japan has learned to expect from him. Germany is a nation of great ambition, which so easily slips into passion, and there is a dark history between Germany and America that Japan has only begun to understand. Japan is only a small part of it. The end of the war has reiterated what he has always fought so hard to defy and still can’t quite believe: that he is only handfuls of dirt thrown at the sea, and just as easily dissipated.
A new start is being forced upon him. He is drifting from Germany's embrace and into America's out of necessity, and Japan thinks that when it comes down to it, surely Germany must understand.
+
America calls it baseball and Japan calls it a waste of time, but of course he would never say that to his face. Still, the game seems to mean something to America, so Japan does his best.
“Japan steps up to the plate,” America narrates exuberantly from the pitcher’s mound. (He is curiously fond of doing this.) “America winds up for the pitch! He pulls back! You can feel the tension in the air, folks!”
America throws.
America announces, “America thr-!“
Japan hits the ball with a ringing THWACK and it sails into the sky. They watch it disappear, America with an expression of astonishment and Japan with one of determination, gritting his teeth as the wounds on his hands throb.
“Run to first base, man!” America yells at a motionless Japan, and starts running after the ball. “Run to first base! No no, that’s third base!”
By the time America comes back with the ball, Japan has been standing patiently on first base for a long time. America concedes an admiring shake of his head.
“You’re full of surprises, you know,” says America.
“Did I score?” asks Japan.
“No,” America replies, and grins, “but keep up what you’re doing and who knows what the future may bring, huh?”
+
Japan stands before the mirror and forces himself to account for every scar, every inch of skin that has been reddened and blackened by radiation.
He must know himself. He must know who he is again, rediscover what he is in this new world order. Perhaps the best place to start is from the bottom. It is only when you lose everything when you are free to be anything.
He hisses, sucking air through his teeth as he changes his bandages. Japan peels off layer after layer, revealing the disfigurement beneath like he really is the monster that everyone says he is. He takes a minute to assess his reflection, turning this way and that. Japan wonders about Germany’s wounds, whether they hurt as badly, whether they hold him back as much. Whether he and Germany can still call themselves whole.
Japan wraps new bandages around his wrists until all you see is white cotton where scars should be.
Tonight he dons the clothes of his enemies, piece by piece: trousers, shirt, blazer. Each article of clothing covers up a little more of himself. It would have felt like betrayal if Japan didn't know that it’s just survival. It’s just adaptation. The world belongs to his enemies now, so he must become the enemy and learn their game. (Is enemy even the right word anymore? Japan thinks of the energetic idealism with which America said, “Don’t worry, I’ll teach you everything I know and we’ll be good friends, I’m sure of it.” America’s smile was as vibrant as the burns on Japan’s skin, but they don’t talk about that, not yet. Scars can wait. History can wait. It has always waited, and much of it is waiting still.)
The starched linen is rough against Japan’s skin, and the wool of his trousers is scratchy, but he puts them on and supposes that this will do for now.
He adjusts his tie. Japan smiles warily at the mirror, and his reflection smiles back.
It is almost seven, and Japan is never late.
+
Germany answers the door, and Japan takes note of Germany's glance at his suit. There is no surprise, no acknowledgment, and really, Japan wasn't sure what he had expected anyway. Perhaps Japan was only assuming discomfort because it’s what he feels himself.
"Come in," Germany says, and Japan does.
Germany is more irritable this time for one reason or another. There is something of resentment to his manner, but Japan isn't sure at whom it is directed. At Japan? America? Germany himself? Still, Japan will not apologize for his own success, so he falls to complimenting Germany instead. Soothing bruised egos - a familiar and necessary business in these times. Japan wonders if this is what America thinks he is doing, soothing egos, and at the same time emphasizing the surety of defeat. There is no more need to fight, says the undertone. There is nothing left to fight with.
America and Japan are inscrutable to each other, and the first steps in their post-war relationship have been clumsy and unsure, full of optimism on America's part and reticence on Japan's. They are both determined to find common ground. Sometimes it’s all you can do to grit your teeth and grin and bear it.
"America is punitive," Germany is saying.
America is necessary, and the sooner they accept this, the better.
When they are two beers and a sake in, Japan finally points out, “Our hands are not exactly clean of blood either, Doitsu-san.”
“No,” Germany agrees, and Japan doesn’t reply. Nothing more is said on the matter, at least not tonight, and history waits some more.
It is waiting still.
+
America asked, “You’re thinking of them, aren’t you? Of Germany and Italy?”
Japan asked, cautious, “Why do you say that?”
“Lucky guess. But you can’t be living in the past, you know. There’s no time for that, not when there’s so much of the future to deal with.”
It’s not that Japan lives in the past, but that his past is living in his present, alongside him and around him. He knows Germany feels similarly. History returns to the present in the form of myth, internalized as self. Japan and Germany carry each other within themselves half a world away.
“You’re thinking of him, aren’t you?” Germany demands of him now. “You’re thinking of America?”
“No,” Japan lies, and pours them both another drink.
+
There is a difference between ambition and passion, but it's easy to confuse the two. It's easy to reach out thinking they are only acting in self-interest, but the convenient lie of "We are one" can become a dangerous thing. Japan and Germany are separated by oceans and continents, but once upon a time, they thought their lands would bleed across the world until their borders touched, so that they could lie next to each other, as promised.
Japan’s words to Germany now aren’t a promise but they sound like one. As Germany shifts closer and closer, Japan tenses, anticipates, remembers. He is reminded of those wordless nights and days on the island - Germany beside him, the future ahead of him, power in his hand like so much sand.
The kiss is not unexpected; it is disarmingly familiar. They haven’t done this in a while and their weakened condition makes them clumsy, but Japan closes his eyes and imagines the sunlight on the island, the memory of which is now so far away from this room and this night.
“Doitsu,” Japan breathes against Germany’s lips, and pulls him close.
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I love this line SO MUCH. And then, and then, power in his hand like so much sand. the land is only so much dirt, except, not really.
Japan not knowing how to play baseball but being freaking amazing is awesome. Also beautifully foreshadowing America's awe for Japanese baseball players such as Ichiro, woo go Ms! Your America is brilliant, by the way - perfect combination of both working and playing hard, being the winner but wanting so much for everyone to be winners too just like him.
Japan in front of the mirrorrrr :((((((( not knowing if he and Germany can call themselves whole, donning the clothes of the enemy not being an act of betrayal but survival. because when you're at the bottom the only direction to go is up, even if before you would've called it down.
The idea of this being still during a period where history is being figured out, comprehended, summed up, formulated, but not really history yet - the past but too close to be history - it really comes through. there's a lot of weird inertia and newness. I like that a lot.
HE POURS THEM BOTH ANOTHER DRINK. Three's a crowd, eh, Japan? oh past that stays with you, oh mythologyyyyy <333
the convenient lie of "We are one" can become a dangerous thing.
foreshadowing the Cold War much. becoming one with Russia!
so that they could lie next to each other, as promised.
This is suddenly so very very sad how this is not true, how distant they are from each other :(
BASICALLY I LOVE THIS AND YOU AND YES <3333333333
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because when you're at the bottom the only direction to go is up, even if before you would've called it down.
yessssss. lol did you notice how I totally ripped off 'Fight Club' for this line. ANYWAY. Yeah, totally not a 2D spectrum here. Just because you're moving away from victory, it does not mean you are moving towards defeat. It is not a line!
I had to throw in that thing about absent history because I didn't want Germany and Japan to get away with the atrocities THEY'VE done too. Like, someday they'll deal with the holocaust and the comfort women (OR WILL THEY? HAVE THEY REALLY?) but right now everything is just such a shitstorm and there's a lot of taking the shears of progress to the overgrown shrub of uncomfortable history. AND THEY'RE STILL DOING THAT NOW and the victims of history just wait and wait, and the snipped branches on the ground are swept away.
lol I didn't even mean to foreshadow the Cold War but YOU ARE RIGHT, SIR. \o/
I LOVE YOU TOO, MY SWEET PANZER <3333
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oh uh I never saw Fight Club, so I totally did not notice. heh! Yeah pretty much there is more than one way to skin a cat, which is to say, more than one way to be successful.
TRUE. their atrocities shouldn't be passed over - that's the thing about Hetalia canon that makes me uncomfortable, is that it's dealing with war in a light abstract way :/ which is kind of a relief, yeah, but also after a point you get certain things neglected and certain things belittled and rargh. bad. but yeah, history still being written - and erased, you know the scandal with Okinawa in the history books where Japan erases the part where Japanese troops go convince the Okinawans that they're gonna get got by the invaders so they'd better off themselves and their families. like this was in history books before and then recently it was removed. fucking yikes.
EVERYTHING FORESHADOWS THE COLD WARjust kiddiiiing. maybe.MY SWEET PANZER
MAKES ME THINK OF
MY SWEET BABOO
OH PEANUTS XD
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WHAT. I never knew that about Okinawa. D:
Word on being neglected and belittled. What is also interesting about Hetalia is seeing national stereotypes through a Japanese POV. I mean granted, one dude making a manga/anime does not constitute 'JAPAN' but I usually see the west appropriating the east instead of the other way around like this one. Like the manga I read that was supposed to be about Americans in America but occasionally the characters bow, in a crack way.
lol I had to google 'my sweet baboo'. oh Peanuts indeed XD
Anyway. So I was browsing through more Hetalia communities and omg
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That's been the most interesting part for me. The episode where America gets fat was funny, as is incredibly creepy bipolar Russia. The thing that weirds me out but shouldn't is when they have the characters sing the ending song but it's still in Japanese, and when they say "I am (name)" they say their name in Japanese! this language thing, what, argh.
THAT COMM LOOKS SO GREAT. and that fic would be so adorable and hilarious! It looks like the perfect place to work out my angst about nations that want self-determination but don't have it - like the Basque region and Catalunya in Spain.
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Have you seen
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What are protectorates?
I would love Alaska and Hawaii hanging out and being mocky XD
England/King Arthur exists, I swear I've seen it at least once. Actually it was a little bizarre and I got weirded out, but it has SUCH POTENTIAL. oh peter/narnia - I do not know if I could call anything truly Peter/Narnia unless it's up to
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Does this call for a Hetalia/Merlin crossover? Or what about a fusion of sorts, where Narnia is a person who tries to woo all the Pevensies.
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Anthropomorphized Narnia would explain more clearly why Susan dumped it, I think. 'Cos essentially Narnia would be that selfish boyfriend/girlfriend who, after reeling you in with beauty and awesomeness, would demand that you solve all its problems but still plays you hot and cold. And doesn't return your phone calls. But when NARNIA calls, you have to drop everything and go tend to his/her wailings! Susan, you can do better.
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Peter and Edmund and Lucy will go back to Narnia again and again. they want to solve its problems, because they love it, and they need each other, but yeah. hot and cold. or maybe Aslan isn't the same as Narnia and he manipulates the two of you together and apart, together and apart. but Susan's reaction is plenty like a fed-up or jilted girlfriend's. Lipstick and nylons - she's changed! She doesn't want to go out hunting with Narnia anymore. She's civilized now and can depend on reliable England. (Wait, what? yes omg, Narnia/Susan/England love triangle! where Narnia is you know the idealized fantasy promised land England but Susan needs England-England's stability.)
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omg Aslan is like the anti-yenta. And the dragon's all, "You're terrible at this match-making," but Aslan's like, "I'm not match-making, I'm PROSELYTIZING. KEEP UP, GEEZ."
DJASKLJDASKLJDAS NARNIA/SUSAN/ENGLAND OT3 ZOMG. My head just exploded. Susan just needs time apart, and Narnia says, "Come back when you're ready," but Susan doesn't know if she'll ever be ready for that anymore. She's tired of her emotions being held hostage! But the thing is that her emotions are still being held hostage anyway, sometimes. Sometimes she remembers.
"No one can make you feel the way I made you feel," says Narnia, and she can't figure out if it's a lament or a threat or a plea. She can't figure Narnia out anymore. Maybe she doesn't need to feel what Narnia made her feel anymore; she knows the consequences.
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Narnia's "come back when you're ready" is more like "come back when you are who I want you to be," which is just too much for Susan. She's tired of Narnia being so demanding and would really just like to rest sometimes. England understands that not every day can be hunting and feasting and that growing up is part of life.
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"come back when you are who I want you to be,"
zomg, yes. But what he wants her to be is not what she needs to be. England's a little dull, but if she's honest with herself, she's a little dull too. Everyone's a little dull, it's how it is. (Right? Right??)
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Yes! England is dull and she is dull and That's Okay.
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yeahhhh, pretty unconvincing. But interesting? Parts of it were mildly convincing, and at least the things he notices, I'm remembering Last Battle particularly, are pretty interesting.
I am working on reading through your solsfic, btw, and will have it to you soon - if not tonight then early tomorrow. I like it a lot, but of course you knew that :D
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I just rewatched Prince Caspian drunk and it was the fucking shit, 'cos my boy was there and so was his brother for a time, and when I was explaining how Caspian had been kicked out by Miraz, the boy was like, "HELP HELP I'VE FALLEN OFF MY KINGSHIP AND I CAN'T GET UP" AND I LOST IT, I completely lost it.
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BUT IT IS AMAZING AND I LOVE IT
<333
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Thank you for taking a chance XD <33
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Seriously, the very last part, was absolutely woah, AHH I can't think of any words *melts*
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