Post by Germany on Sept 29, 2010 5:37:25 GMT -5
A/N: Your post looked awesome both ways, but I do like the change. It seems like...a better place to leave off, for want of a better way to phrase that? ^^
I think this post fully returned my writing groove - the words just started flowing again.
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Much to Ludwig’s relief, the apology seemed to satisfy his nation kin. Holding the cup out behind the man’s back and wrapping an arm around his neck for added support, he leaned forward and rested his head on his shoulder, watching the scenery pass slowly behind them.
So, Prussia borrows her cup and I’m the one who has to give it back? And he’s carrying me? Ludwig couldn’t think of the right word for what he was feeling right then, but somehow being carried towards this lady, cup and all, felt so embarrassing, and shameful. It was like…like he was some weakling who needed extra help.
Nothing could be further from the truth. He may be young and small, but he was more than capable of keeping up with adults on his own. Not that he had a chance to prove it being carried away in the arms of a big, strong knight like some baby kitten. Die Frau was going to laugh herself sick, and who could blame her?
Remarkably, Prussia seemed to be reading his mind. As they moved beneath the deepening shade of the trees, the fiery-gold hues of dying sunlight, the gently-rustling leaves overhead, the sweet scent of apples, and the relaxing gurgle of nearby water providing the perfect ambiance, the white-haired nation proceeded to tell him that he had once been given menial tasks too, and that he had also been angry about them. He even repeated the commands of his masters, his face twitching and his voice changing hilariously as he mimicked the way they had looked and sounded.
He wasn’t kidding about the tasks being beneath him, either. Taking care of old ladies, cleaning bandages…lame. There was no glory or honor in any of that, and saddling a knight-in-training — even a child knight-in-training — with such easy, petty little chores that any baby or granny in the land could do was not only an insult, but a tragically enormous waste of time and potential-knight-power. The Hochmeisters must not have liked Prussia very much — or had much faith in him — if they were having him do all of that. As a kid with a destiny ahead of him he should have been spending every waking hour training and learning important stuff, like how to how to handle a sword, ride a horse, fight various monsters, and resist evil enchantments. There shouldn’t have been any time for cleaning up other people’s messes and helping old women carry their groceries or whatever.
Though the voice imitations and funny faces drew a small chuckle from him, beneath the surface Ludwig was still shaky about where his big brother/parental figure was heading with all of this.
“What would an awesome knight like me, like you, have business cleaning dirty laundry?”
That’s what I want to know. The proto-nation averted his eyes to the ground, a sinking feeling beginning to weigh his hopes down. It looked like this cup task was slated to be the first of many in a series of trivial, boring tasks Prussia had in store for him. All because you had to do it when you were a kid. he thought with a flair of indignity, That’s not fair. Just because you had to do something doesn’t mean you have to make me do it.
Maybe the awesome Prussia wasn’t so awesome after all.
The Prussian’s next words both confused and disheartened him: he did all that when he already was a knight? More, when he was a knight and only a knight, not even a nation?
Ludwig opened his mouth to ask him just what he meant by that, but he was too late, for the Prussian was already merrily chatting up a storm again, no doubt overjoyed with the prospect of a little slave boy to do his laundry for him. "Who cares about a cup? It's just a cup."
I know. A small, worried frown creased the corners of Ludwig’s mouth.
“But I’ll let you in on a little secret.”
Startled by words he had not expected to hear, the boy lifted his head a bit. He felt Prussia’s head move, and warm breath tickled his ear. “It's not about the cup. It's about what you do with the cup." Prussia turned his head back.
Blue eyes blinked with mild surprise. What I do with the cup? I’m going to give it to die Frau, aren’t I?
It seemed so simple on the surface, yet the way the knight had said that in such a serious, wise tone told Ludwig that there was more to it than that. He took a few moments thinking about it. What I do with the cup…I’ll be giving the cup. That’s it, giving. Is giving what it’s about then?
It seemed so odd; giving hardly fit in with Ludwig’s notion of being a knight, except for the parts where the knights gave a present to some of the ladies they rescued, or perhaps their lords. It was a small detail, but one which made him think. If Prussia was placing this much importance on the issue, well, there had to be a reason.
“Giving.” he announced strongly, proud to have figured it out, “I’ll be giving the cup. That’s important, isn’t it? But why? And why do knights have to do such boring, everyday things like washing people’s laundry and cleaning things?” He watched as a little brown-gray mouse, frightened by their sudden approach, abandoned the fallen apple it had been nibbling on and made a mad dash for a dense stand of high grass, disappearing fully within. “And Prussia?” his voice was quieter now, less certain. “I’m confused. What’s the difference between a knight and a nation? Both do great things that no ordinary person could do and are loved by all, right? Both have bosses.” He paused, another possibility presenting itself to him. “Or do you have to be a knight first before you can be a true nation?”
He held the cup out in front of his face. Stared almost as though mesmerized into the faintly-reflective metal that glittered beautifully — but only for a moment — with red, gold, and orange lights whenever the light struck it just right.
Then he became aware of the slightly distorted image of a child’s face staring back at him. So that’s what I look like…kind of.
I think this post fully returned my writing groove - the words just started flowing again.
_________________________________________________
Much to Ludwig’s relief, the apology seemed to satisfy his nation kin. Holding the cup out behind the man’s back and wrapping an arm around his neck for added support, he leaned forward and rested his head on his shoulder, watching the scenery pass slowly behind them.
So, Prussia borrows her cup and I’m the one who has to give it back? And he’s carrying me? Ludwig couldn’t think of the right word for what he was feeling right then, but somehow being carried towards this lady, cup and all, felt so embarrassing, and shameful. It was like…like he was some weakling who needed extra help.
Nothing could be further from the truth. He may be young and small, but he was more than capable of keeping up with adults on his own. Not that he had a chance to prove it being carried away in the arms of a big, strong knight like some baby kitten. Die Frau was going to laugh herself sick, and who could blame her?
Remarkably, Prussia seemed to be reading his mind. As they moved beneath the deepening shade of the trees, the fiery-gold hues of dying sunlight, the gently-rustling leaves overhead, the sweet scent of apples, and the relaxing gurgle of nearby water providing the perfect ambiance, the white-haired nation proceeded to tell him that he had once been given menial tasks too, and that he had also been angry about them. He even repeated the commands of his masters, his face twitching and his voice changing hilariously as he mimicked the way they had looked and sounded.
He wasn’t kidding about the tasks being beneath him, either. Taking care of old ladies, cleaning bandages…lame. There was no glory or honor in any of that, and saddling a knight-in-training — even a child knight-in-training — with such easy, petty little chores that any baby or granny in the land could do was not only an insult, but a tragically enormous waste of time and potential-knight-power. The Hochmeisters must not have liked Prussia very much — or had much faith in him — if they were having him do all of that. As a kid with a destiny ahead of him he should have been spending every waking hour training and learning important stuff, like how to how to handle a sword, ride a horse, fight various monsters, and resist evil enchantments. There shouldn’t have been any time for cleaning up other people’s messes and helping old women carry their groceries or whatever.
Though the voice imitations and funny faces drew a small chuckle from him, beneath the surface Ludwig was still shaky about where his big brother/parental figure was heading with all of this.
“What would an awesome knight like me, like you, have business cleaning dirty laundry?”
That’s what I want to know. The proto-nation averted his eyes to the ground, a sinking feeling beginning to weigh his hopes down. It looked like this cup task was slated to be the first of many in a series of trivial, boring tasks Prussia had in store for him. All because you had to do it when you were a kid. he thought with a flair of indignity, That’s not fair. Just because you had to do something doesn’t mean you have to make me do it.
Maybe the awesome Prussia wasn’t so awesome after all.
The Prussian’s next words both confused and disheartened him: he did all that when he already was a knight? More, when he was a knight and only a knight, not even a nation?
Ludwig opened his mouth to ask him just what he meant by that, but he was too late, for the Prussian was already merrily chatting up a storm again, no doubt overjoyed with the prospect of a little slave boy to do his laundry for him. "Who cares about a cup? It's just a cup."
I know. A small, worried frown creased the corners of Ludwig’s mouth.
“But I’ll let you in on a little secret.”
Startled by words he had not expected to hear, the boy lifted his head a bit. He felt Prussia’s head move, and warm breath tickled his ear. “It's not about the cup. It's about what you do with the cup." Prussia turned his head back.
Blue eyes blinked with mild surprise. What I do with the cup? I’m going to give it to die Frau, aren’t I?
It seemed so simple on the surface, yet the way the knight had said that in such a serious, wise tone told Ludwig that there was more to it than that. He took a few moments thinking about it. What I do with the cup…I’ll be giving the cup. That’s it, giving. Is giving what it’s about then?
It seemed so odd; giving hardly fit in with Ludwig’s notion of being a knight, except for the parts where the knights gave a present to some of the ladies they rescued, or perhaps their lords. It was a small detail, but one which made him think. If Prussia was placing this much importance on the issue, well, there had to be a reason.
“Giving.” he announced strongly, proud to have figured it out, “I’ll be giving the cup. That’s important, isn’t it? But why? And why do knights have to do such boring, everyday things like washing people’s laundry and cleaning things?” He watched as a little brown-gray mouse, frightened by their sudden approach, abandoned the fallen apple it had been nibbling on and made a mad dash for a dense stand of high grass, disappearing fully within. “And Prussia?” his voice was quieter now, less certain. “I’m confused. What’s the difference between a knight and a nation? Both do great things that no ordinary person could do and are loved by all, right? Both have bosses.” He paused, another possibility presenting itself to him. “Or do you have to be a knight first before you can be a true nation?”
He held the cup out in front of his face. Stared almost as though mesmerized into the faintly-reflective metal that glittered beautifully — but only for a moment — with red, gold, and orange lights whenever the light struck it just right.
Then he became aware of the slightly distorted image of a child’s face staring back at him. So that’s what I look like…kind of.