All The Time In The World

[pyrrhiccomedy]

Title: All The Time In The World
Originally posted: Here, for ghostofthemotif for her reverse request post. Thanks to lilichen for bravely providing me with some French profanity. *grins*
Length: 2500 words.
Characters/Pairings: England/France.
Premise: Here's the prompt - "England/France. The two nations discuss whether or not they believe a 'united world without borders' would result in their deaths, or if they'd be freed from their responsibilities and able to lead a normal life. Wishes for their future, fears for their countries, and grudgingly comforting words would be nice inserts." I did my best!
Time period: Modern.
Smuttiness: 1/10
Funnyness: 3/10
Wrist slashiness: 2/10
Lolhistoryness: 2/10
Violence: 0/10
Would I like it?: It's basically a rambly, philosophical conversation between a couple of cranky old married people. It's also my first time writing for this pairing--I hope I did all right.

---

He didn't know how a thousand years of war with France had turned into more than a century of cooperation--or how a century of cooperation had turned into knowing how he liked his sodding eggs for breakfast.

"Sit down, Angleterre, before you break something." France swept him away from the counter to a sunlit corner of the room laid out already with honey, tea and crumpets.

France liked his eggs 'not prepared by England.'

England huffed and folded himself down at the sunwarmed breakfast table.

"Such a rude child," France went on. England watched as France took over his station at the stove, changed the temperature for the gas burner, and sloshed England's half-finished attempt at eggs machiavellian into the sink. "I'm sure it's all your influence. Do you know what he said to me, at the G8? That he was looking forward to when, in his words, 'this whole EU thing really goes official,'" France's upper lip curled, "And he only had to deal with one of us."

"What do you mean, my influence?" England protested. "The only one I'm rude to is you." He picked up a crumpet, warm and spongy and crisp on top, and flexed it a little in his hand. He always made sure to bring these, when he stayed at France's house. Otherwise, it'd be croissants and brie for breakfast every morning, or something, and England would rather die.

"Only in your opinion," France replied. Their eyes met briefly over the counter, and neither of them smiled, because neither of them had to. He went on, "He said we're all 'too much to keep track of,' 'he's busy, you know'--he said we're not much different from his states, and it would be so convenient if he could 'deal with us all at once.'"

"America's iron grip on the nuances of foreign policy has always been his most salient virtue." England reached for the honey.

"I said to him, yes, just like your states, aside from the thousands of years of history which make us distinct and separate us--"

"Still not separated far enough," England added.

"I reminded him of that, too; how you don't even think of yourself as European."

"Yes? And what did he say?"

"He said 'if you can fly there in an hour from Paris, it's Europe.'" France flipped something steaming in the pan onto a plate, tossed his hair, and came out from the wide and well-appointed kitchen to join England at the breakfast table. England didn't even recognize what he was eating, and he was far too proud to ask to try it. And France would make him ask.

He took a bite from his crumpet with great deliberation. "You should have reminded him that there are parts of his country from which one can fly in an hour to Russia, if that's all it takes to be culturally interchangeable."

"I should," France agreed, "If I did not bruise so easily."

A little pause while they both imagined one of America's face-heel turns, from 'I'm trying to be diplomatic, honest' to someone getting laid out with a mouthful of broken teeth.

France shrugged it away. "You could do it, Angleterre; no one would notice if your teeth were made any worse. And a pretty bruise might even improve your general appearance."

England swatted France's hand away and claimed the table salt. "Oh, sod off."

---

"You know, it does get me thinking." England stretched back in his chair once they finished their meal. France glanced up from perusing some gossip magazine. "Our politicians do like to talk about 'a united world without borders;' do you think anything will ever come of it?"

France looked blank for a few seconds. "Oh…this is about that thing America said?"

"Mm. I can't imagine someone like us ever emerging to represent the EU, but…"

"Neither can I," France murmured. "Although, perhaps I wouldn't mind; fewer tedious meetings I would have to attend."

"It's not as if it's unprecedented," England reflected, "Established nations banding together and giving way to some overarching entity. Just last month I had a lovely chat with United Arab Emirates. Have you seen the plans for that new tower he's building?"

"Perhaps, but consider your brothers." France flicked his magazine onto the table. "You've represented all of them for years, and you all persist just the same as you always have."

"Unfortunately," England sighed.

"It takes more to make one of us than the legal fact of a country. They need that…ah, how did you put it, once? That touch of destiny."

"But it does happen," England repeated.

France threw away a lazy smile and shrugged away a lock of hair. "Don't tell me you're worried about waking up some morning as part of some--how do you imagine it, cheri? Some monster out of America's terrible movies, stitched together from various parts of all of us? Perhaps Germany's volume, Italy's good sense, Austria's efficiency, Spain's resolve, your appalling fashion sense…my God, suddenly I see why you might be worried--"

"Very droll," England grumbled. "And what part would you play in this Frankenstein?"

"I will not participate," France demurred. "But I will be happy to offer it advice on how it could improve itself."

"Oh, do we just get to opt out? In that case, I'll keep my fashion sense, and your monster can go about naked, for all I care."

"I'm sure all the others feel the same. So I wouldn't worry."

England made a vague sound in the back of his throat and sipped at his tea. France looked out the window. England watched France's profile over his teacup while France's attention was away. Ten o'clock sunlight fell across him and bathed him in a soft luster. It was…greasy, really; not a glow at all--France just needed a shower. And a shave; and the way the first two buttons on his shirt hung open was certainly no way to present oneself when there were guests in the house, and--

"Like what you see, Angleterre?" France smiled, his chin propped in his hand, still gazing out over the garden.

"Certainly not." England crossed his legs.

He suspected for a while that France was only concentrating on looking photogenic in the sunlight, but then the other nation let out a little sigh and suggested, "It would take a very long time."

"--Sorry?" England's eyes flickered up from the triangle of radiant skin exposed below France's collar.

"For our people to forget us--and think of themselves as something else." He folded his arm down on the table.

"…I'm sorry, I don't follow…"

"Your 'united world without borders.'" France glanced his way. "We would have to become very nearly culturally indistinguishable, don't you think? My people are French. They have been French for as long as there have been nations in Europe."

"Likewise." England scratched the side of his nose. "That is, English, but--"

"There are so many things that make us distinct. History, prejudice, culture…"

"Good taste," England added. "Notions of decency."

"--Language…your language really does make a horrible sound, rosbif--"

"Yes, yes…"

"Compared to French, you know, in which you can say va te faire foutre, enculé or ma saucisse est dans la bouche de ta maman and make it sound like poetry--"

"I beg your pardon--"

"And cuisine; French cuisine is, after all, the best in the world, while yours," he sighed. "What you do to food is a crime. I mean it. It is a crime, and you should be punished."

"Did you just say your sausage was in my mother's--"

"I would say you should be sent to prison, but there you might actually find the cuisine to be an improvement. Maybe shot--"

England finally noticed the edge in France's voice. He peered at him. "Is this something you've worried about?"

"My people are French," he repeated.

A thin grey tension stretched the air between them. England extended his legs before him and laced his fingers in his lap. France propped his chin up again and looked determinedly out the window.

"I'm sure I would never have brought it up, if I'd known it was a real concern," he said at last.

France shrugged. "You aren't as involved in the EU as I am. It's impossible not to think about it, when you can see this unification, drawing us closer every day. Those boundaries between us blurring..."

"So all of these laws of yours, to, ah, protect your language and culture from outside--"

"I'm not the only one with those laws." That a touch sharply. "There are many of us concerned about safeguarding our identities."

"I thought you were just being petty," England mused. France flashed him a grimace of a smile and rubbed the side of his jaw against his shoulder. "But…come now. Even if the nations of Europe should be, as you say, drawn together--or the nations of the whole world, for that matter--there's nothing so very disastrous in that, is there? Falling under the auspices of some wider state? Moving into Germany's basement seems to have had no effect on Prussia other than to free up more time for him to be wanker--"

"But you see less and less of him lately." There was no mistaking the anxiety in France's voice, now. England wasn't sure what to make of it. "He doesn't like to associate with us as much. Where do you think he goes?"

"I…suppose he's getting drunk and picking fights, as usual--"

"Is that a fitting pastime for a nation?" France demanded. He turned in his chair to face England, his arms folded before him.

"--You're asking me?"

France flicked his fingers through the air. "You still do other things, Angleterre…occasionally," he allowed. "That is what it means to be a nation, no? We set trends, liaise with our leaders, attend conferences and meetings--"

"So many meetings…" England exhaled.

"--Take part in the occasional war, when there is nothing better to do…would you really be content to spend every day at the pub?" He overenunciated that last word.

England thought about it. It…didn't sound so bad, honestly, but he thought somewhere in there he could see France's point.

"Prussia, Romano, the others like them…I pity them," France finished. "And what if they become too like their fellow states? When there is nothing left for them to represent? How long will it be, do you think, before we look around and realize that no one has seen Prussia in decades? And that none of us any longer expect to?"

That sat between them for a little while. England chewed on his lip. France's fingers twitched on his napkin.

England chuffed. "You know, it used to be that the only danger of inconsequentiality we ever faced would come from war--civil war, or conquest. But you propose that all this peace may make us obsolete."

France looked down at the table, at his perfect fingernails. His hair fell before his eyes. "It was from fighting each other that we first defined ourselves," he observed.

England twitched him a tiny smile that went unseen. "So it was. But surely you don't prescribe more war?"

"Of course not." France sniffed and looked up, waggled his hand carelessly. "After the last one, I think we've all learned our lesson."

"Well, then…"

"I just wonder how much longer I will be France, and you will be England." A quiet, guarded glance. "Or how long who we are will even matter."

England watched himself as he reached out and patted France's hand. "You're an existential bastard, aren't you," he sighed.

A wince of a smile. "You'll have to indulge me, mon ami." His fingers steepled and laced into England's.

England studied their interwoven hands and said slowly, "I should think…that so long as you care who you are, and how active you are in that role, then things will stay the way they are." France didn't relax, but he watched England without objection. England knew them, all of France's little tells of anxiety: from his eyes, to his mouth, to his hands. England had learned to read France's hands before England had learned to read. "The very fact that our cultural independence is important to us, protects us from relinquishing it."

"But, if this is inevitable…" France tightened their fingers together.

England smiled. "Well, perhaps I'll just have to learn to cook at last."

France gave a soft laugh, but said, "I'm serious."

"I know you are, and you really do worry about the damndest things, but…so am I. After all, if we were all like Prussia and Romano…that wouldn't be such a bad thing, would it? We might finally have time to--to get to know each other, I suppose--"

"I think we all know each other more than well enough--" France started.

"--Not…just getting to know each other for how we might use it against one another, I mean…purely for enjoyment. That is, without the--concern of protecting our interests, simply…simply because we have an interest…in how..." England stopped, flushed, tugged to get his hand away, and muttered, "Bloody hell, would you listen to me go on…"

France held firm, and his smile finally crept into his eyes. "I am, Angleterre. …Thank you."

England rubbed his eyes. "If you repeat one sodding word of this…"

France laughed and raised England's hand to his lips, kissed it. It only made England flush deeper, damn them both. "I promise. And what's more: if a united world ever does free up a great deal of time for both of us--I promise I will try to teach you how to cook. Try," he repeated.

"Well," England managed, and he had pinkened to the tips of his ears, but it wasn't…altogether terrible. He cleared his throat. "Well. Are we quite finished with this metaphysical waste of time, then? Because--"

"I know." France let him go. "You have a meeting with the prime minister at noon. You'd best go and prepare."

"Quite, yes." England tossed his napkin onto the table and stood. Their eyes met for a moment.

Perhaps one day, we won't always be rushing off like this.

Neither of them said it, but they both betrayed an involuntary little smile.

England snorted. "As if I'd ever become indistinguishable from the likes of you."

"I don't know why I even thought of it," France chuckled, and picked up his magazine. "Not even the inexorable pressure of history could turn a lump of coal like you into a diamond." He tossed back his hair.

"Coal is actually useful," England informed him. "All diamonds do is sparkle about doing nothing."

"But doing it beautifully, cheri."

England took his leave, and France did not see him to the door. But England allowed himself to look back, once, and he saw France's smile still lingering around the edges. He wished he had time to go back and kiss it--even if that meant kissing the pretentious git it was attached to.

One day.

Perhaps.

Comments

[wizzard890.livejournal.com]

Oh.

I don't even...Give me a sec. Gotta find some way to get my brain back in working order.

'Kay.

This was entirely, irrevocably beautiful. Like. Technically, it was lovely, description and dialogue and such, but...what's got me flipping my shit here is what they were talking about.

I've always been fascinated with how the nations toe the line between being human and Something Else, and how--with or without their consent--that line has blurred through the centuries. And here we have two of the oldest, two of the most world-weary, and even all that experience doesn't keep them from feeling the existential equivalent of their hearts dropping into their stomachs. But I feel like their shared past has lent them a sense of peace that would be lacking in other nations. Losing touch with their nationhood is a horrible thought, but if they gain one another in return...Well, there are worse consolation prizes.

God.

I think I want to marry you a little bit. ♥

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so glad you liked it!

I think I want to marry you a little bit. ♥

Baby, I keep saying, I've got the bouquet, I can rent a tux, let's do this.

[twistedsheets10.livejournal.com]

♥♥♥

(why do I not have a France/England icon?)

Oh, they are so married. And very lovely. And oh God yes. France. France has always been more anxious about his national identity (England tends to be more "hmm." about it, being multi-cultural and the UK in a way). I love how you brought that about, and how England comforted him. ♥

You wrote them very well; you could somehow feel how old they are, really, and how inhuman yet human at the same time.

(P.S.: This would mean: write moar of these two)

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

France has always been more anxious about his national identity (England tends to be more "hmm." about it, being multi-cultural and the UK in a way).

Yeah, that's what I was thinking when I started writing this--England's not exactly unconcerned about it, not anywhere near the extent America is (who's all "what cultural identity? Man, if somebody else has a better idea, cram it in here and let's see if it works!"), but I really liked the idea of England being supportive to very-touchy-in-this-respect France.

(P.S.: This would mean: write moar of these two)

I think I'd like to! It was a lot of fun.

England managed, and he had pinkened to the tips of hears: Should that be ears?

Eep! You're so right. Fixed! Thank you. =D

[mcelligots-pool.livejournal.com]

This <3

I had no idea you wrote Fruk *w* What a plesant surprise!

My lousy week suddenly seems alot better XD Oh France, we could never forget you >w

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

I had no idea you wrote Fruk *w* What a plesant surprise!

This was my first go at it! It was a lot of fun, though, I think I'd like to write more. _{Where's that FrUK comm, anyway...}

[sakru909.livejournal.com]

For your first time writing this paring, you certainly write it perfectly. The whole thing is really well written, adding to my memories.

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much! That's really nice to hear! =D

[applejuicerain.livejournal.com]

Loved it.

I'm so brain dead I can't think of a good way to express it 8D

I keep trying but I can't. I might come back when I think of a better comment.

+memory

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! =D

[ghostofthemotif.livejournal.com]

...Oh. Oh my. This was perfectly, indescribably what I wanted. I read it three times, and then had to walk away to think about how I wanted to respond, and then came back and read it again. Not only did you address the issue exquisitely, but you got them SO IN CHARACTER. There were so many lines in this that I just adored.

Among them:

"You should have reminded him that there are parts of his country from which one can fly in an hour to Russia, if that's all it takes to be culturally interchangeable." (That made me squee, and the snippishness that followed was so cute) <333

"I will not participate," France demurred. "But I will be happy to offer it advice on how it could improve itself." (I think that could be a brief summary of his character, right there)

He suspected for a while that France was only concentrating on looking photogenic in the sunlight... (HE SO DOES THAT!!!)

"Prussia, Romano, the others like them…I pity them," France finished. "And what if they become too like their fellow states? When there is nothing left for them to represent? How long will it be, do you think, before we look around and realize that no one has seen Prussia in decades? And that none of us any longer expect to?" (This punched me in the gut. Seriously. This gave the metaphysics that jolt of emotion that made it seem real.)

And as for that One Day. Perhaps. at the end... England you better turn that perhaps into a definitely D< Because that last scene is just WAY to sweet and perfect for there not to be smoochies in the future.

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU. You are amazing <3 This completely floored me. Great work with this pairing too. I hope you get inspired to do more with them.

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

Oh, good! Your opinion was the one that really mattered, here. =D

(That made me squee, and the snippishness that followed was so cute) <333

I may be totally incapable of letting a story go by without hinting at R/A, but at least I knew you'd appreciate it, too. XD

Thank you so much for such a cool prompt! It was a lot of fun, and I finally had an excuse to write FrUK. I hope I get the chance to do it again. =D

[ladyrandomness.livejournal.com]

OhmygodyouwroteFrUK. WITH PHILOSOPHER!FRANCE. You have no idea how long I've been waiting for a fic like this. Wonderfully done as usual, and the bickering is just so them. I loved the part about the sausage. XD The little bit about Prussia wasting his life away made me wibble though, because he used to be so influential in Europe too.

Why do I not have a FrUK icon. D:

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

! I'm so glad you liked it! And here I was thinking nobody wanted to read a fic like this and it'd be all "oh god Pyrrhic what is with all the pseudointellectual stuff lately, go back to writing about alien invasions and porn."

The little bit about Prussia wasting his life away made me wibble though, because he used to be so influential in Europe too.

I knooow, poor Prussia. ;_; And you'd know he'd feel even worse about it if he knew the other nations pitied him.

Why do I not have a FrUK icon. D:

I might have to get one, too

[trriblstng-strm.livejournal.com]

I love this pairing. I love you when know when is watching. I love that you have contributed to the fruk community. I would love if you contributed more, more, mooooooore.
England and France, they are the others most cherished enemy. what the fruk indeed, and you captured and bottled it. <3

sorry, another victim of your zombie quality of brain slurpin.
I be the zombie now.

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

I would love if you contributed more, more, mooooooore.

Hahaha, I'd like to! It kind of depends on what people ask for. =D

sorry, another victim of your zombie quality of brain slurpin. I be the zombie now.

... D=

*scared*

[mad-bomber75.livejournal.com]

I love you so much for writing FrUk and so beautifully too *o* I always enjoy writing the snark between these two and I looove reading how others write them as well X3

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

Thank you--it was a lot of fun! They're a very different speed from any of the other pairings I've tried--there's just so much history between them. =D

[minuiko.livejournal.com]

England's voice in the opening line is perfect.

France talking dirty and claiming it as poetic, and England being slow in translating- so cute.

Of course I spazzed at that little mention of America being an hour's flight from Russia (insert Tina Fey's Palin's "I can see Russia from my house!"). I really wish France would say that to America with Russia in earshot and see how he takes it.

I'm just gonna say that I really appreciate how sophisticated your characters' conversations are, able to be read on different levels with varying depths of emotion displayed throughout.

France's last analogy there -- that England is coal, France is diamond, history is pressure-- is gold right there. Mostly the history part. Beautiful, beautiful use of language.

You win for mentioning Prussia <3.

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

I really wish France would say that to America with Russia in earshot and see how he takes it.

I think Russia and America would very studiously avoid eye contact. I moreover think they probably know where to find every out of the way hotel in Anchorage and Vladivostok. XD

I'm just gonna say that I really appreciate how sophisticated your characters' conversations are, able to be read on different levels with varying depths of emotion displayed throughout.

Thank you! I figure, you know, even if the countries usually act like rowdy brats, once in a blue moon they might actually have a deep conversation about something that isn't immediately politically relevant. XD I CAN DREAM, ANYWAY.

[awww-applesauce.livejournal.com]

The way you wrote them was beautiful. I can't think of any other words to express what I feel right now.

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

Thank you, that's wonderful to hear. =D

[lupis-ashes.livejournal.com]

I think you might have just broke my brain in the best way just now. I adore worried!France, and I don't usually have a care about how he comes about, but this was just perfect. And the fact that it was England comforting him. *fanflail*

You've balanced sadness, fluff, humour and comfort so well.

That part with Prussia (and Romano), it hit me pretty hard. Though I couldn't help but lol at the combined monster; crossing Germany, Veneziano, Spain and England? Why is that so scary a thought? XD

Either way... Awesome work. I'm going to go read it again and I hope to see more England/France from you in the future~

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

Though I couldn't help but lol at the combined monster; crossing Germany, Veneziano, Spain and England? Why is that so scary a thought? XD

EU-tan is a very, very frightening prospect. XD

I'm really glad you enjoyed it--thank you for reading!

[rainy-fantasy.livejournal.com]

Wow this was so lovely! This was your first time writing France/UK? It sounds like you've been writing it since the day you were born!!

I loved every word of it. Every little fidget, glance, smile, stare, and so on was drenched in their individual characters. Their discussion was very interesting as well, especially with their point of views, once again, sounding very in-character.

This was wonderful, and as a fellow France/UK writer, I have to say I've been thoroughly inspired. It kind of made me pause for a minute and re-analyze their relationship. I mean, they don't fight or curse every second they're with each other. This was really nice as I seem to keep on saying. A really great idea written really, really well. :)

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

This was your first time writing France/UK?

Ah, well, I've written both of them in separate fics a number of times, but--yes, this is the first time I'd ever written them as a pairing. =D

It kind of made me pause for a minute and re-analyze their relationship.

Oh, gosh, that's just about the nicest compliment to hear! I'm so delighted this story might have given you a new perspective on these two. =D

I'm so glad you liked it!

[hi-no-neko.livejournal.com]

First but hopefully not last. This is so nicely . . . them.

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

I love that icon.

[tauruschick12.livejournal.com]

Prussia lives in Germany's basement

what.

Hmmm. I have no fear of France and England disappearing, because their national identity is too tough. Observe: Israel, who didn't have an actual country for quite a while, but do to a tough identity survived. (Or, at least, I think he/she did. We haven't seen him/her yet, after all, in the comic.)

S.Italy/N.Italy/Prussia are probably in the most danger of actual death, due to a lack of national and a very mixed identity. But, would they mix 'Frankenstein-like' or would only one of them die randomly, or would the one who mixed the most survive and the other die?

(Actually, I have an old over-complicated plot bunny where N.Italy dies, and a molding of nations has Germany end up with a half-Italian land and half-Germany land kid; it was just one big excuse to write Daddy!Germany.)

Otherwise, I think the only way a country could die is either

1. They do the whole mixed thing.
2. Like Greece or Egypt, who 'evolve' through time periods by having kids.
3. Like Rome or Germania, who 'die' but whose countries get turned into a sort of expy.

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

Prussia lives in Germany's basement

I swear to God I'm pretty sure that's canon. Doesn't it say somewhere that Prussia 'had to go and live with Russia for a while, but now he's moved in with Germany' or something? Like, on the Prussia character synopsis?

But, would they mix 'Frankenstein-like' or would only one of them die randomly, or would the one who mixed the most survive and the other die?

Dunno! You should write a fic about it. XD

[miershyk.livejournal.com]

I really love how you wrote them, with Francis' way of thinking, and Arthur's. It does make one think about the boundaries of nations. Or a cluster of nations being under a larger unit, like the EU. Worried about losing their identity, which I believe is also not just something only France worries about, but other nations too. The anxiety of being assimilated into other culture, so much that their own is lost and so mixed up.

Some mightn't mind the inter-cultural thing, the more the better, making it unique. It's really interesting to read about such different views and opinions from this two. Cause from where I'm from, there is always the sense of wanting to mix together with other cultures, yet also keep one's own identity at the same time, and also wonder just how much has changed and is truly yours.

Nonetheless love this! You should write more FrUK. ^^

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

Worried about losing their identity, which I believe is also not just something only France worries about, but other nations too.

Oh, of course--like France said, he's not the only one with laws to safeguard his culture.

I'm glad you enjoyed the story! Thank you for reading. =D

[insomniel.livejournal.com]

Awww... I really loved this, so thoughtful and lovely and so very much them. You are seriously one of my favorite writers in this fandom, I wish you would never stop. Or well, at least write more fruk? Please?

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

*Blush* Um, th-thank you, you're very sweet to say! I would definitely like to write more FrUK, if anyone asks for it. =D

[animedutchess.livejournal.com]

Crumpets. *gag* T-they get all soggy and weird when you put butter on them...I felt sick after eating one. Although, that might be because my evil Grandma's the one who gave them to us. I'm convinced; England really DOES have bad taste.

...*whistle* That was quite the story. I'm not a FrUK fangirl, but I loved the subtle interaction, the pacing...it also raises an interesting question. What would happen to 'national identity' if the whole world was united?

I personally think world peace, world unification, wouldn't be possible unless people embraced the differences of culture in the world, and were allowed to keep their pride in their nation...even though pride leads to war...

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

Crumpets. *gag*

*Shudder* I totally agree with you. I have British in-laws, and just...ughh!! Don't put that in your mouth, British people, what is wrong with you? D=

I'm so glad this fic has gotten so many people thinking! It's definitely an interesting issue, and I've always really enjoyed the whole metaphysics of Hetalia angle. =D

[starstray.livejournal.com]

Y'know I was veering away from the fruking a little from lack of material ('s true, the community's not very active and rather discreet, some might say TOO discreet) but...

THIS, THIS ♥♥♥

I will spare you the fangirling (like England, my mind was concentrated on the triangle of skin at France's collarbone) and since other people have already mentioned everything else I love about this I will go away quietly now and doodle.

Also, thirding or fourthing or nthing the "please write more" pleas.

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

('s true, the community's not very active and rather discreet, some might say TOO discreet)

Gosh, really? I hear people talking about FrUK all the time, so I figured...although I guess my usual corner of the fandom is populated by Russia/America shippers, so we're already biased towards rivalry/love-hate pairings and cheerfully splitting up US/UK. XD

I'm so glad you enjoyed it, I'd definitely like to contribute more!

[meg-inatree.livejournal.com]

Lord.

This.

... This is just beautiful and perfect, and so them and oh god I can't think of words good enough for it. So I'll simply say;

I loved it.

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

Thank you! ♥ I'm really surprised something this dorky and um, not sexy has struck a chord like this. XD

[musubi7.livejournal.com]

Agh, pfft, pyrrihic...how do you do it? I shower thee with praise. *showers, showers*

One of the more fascinating facets of the Hetalia fandom is when authors start delving into what exactly the Nations are. And the way you have it written is right up there with my favorites. Aside from the awesome philosophy behind this piece, your characterizations, like always, are spot on and amazing. You and history_blitz write France and England so well.

Not only do you bring up philosophy of what the Nations are, you bring in the wonderful, controversial idea of national identity. Which, I guess for Americans is something that we're kinda like, "huh?" about since we're this huge melting pot of....oh, shoot, what's the phrase, "give us your tired, poor...something like that..." that line that's etched on Lady Liberty. eh, w/e. It's very, very interesting, specially since I just finished reading America Alone by Mark Steyn.

*continues to shower with praise*

The best line, I thought, "What you do to food is a crime. I mean it. It is a crime, and you should be punished."

I laughed and got soda on my screen. *wipes off*

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

Agh, pfft, pyrrihic...how do you do it? I shower thee with praise. *showers, showers*

*drip, drip*

Which, I guess for Americans is something that we're kinda like, "huh?"

Yeah, I was thinking about that, when I was writing this--how this is just not an issue that would make sense to America at all. Like, preserve his cultural identity? WHAT cultural identity? Man, if somebody else has an idea, stick it in the pot, we'll see how it goes! America is more an attitude than any particular collection of traditions, ethnicities, or beliefs. We're just like "Are you ready to work hard? Can you at least hum a couple bars of the Star Spangled Banner? Do you believe IN AMERICA?! Great, then you're an American for all we care, here's your flag."

[dmajor7th.livejournal.com]

Oh...!

Everything about this fic left me with variations of the ' :D ' and the ' :) ' Expressions through out.

The richness, asides from the actual content of the conversation, comes from all the tiny details you include about their movements, settings and thought patterns. Oh this was too adorable, and I was actually laughing through all of it.

<3

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

Oh, yay, I'm so glad! I thought this was really sweet, too. They're kind of just precious together.

♥!

[erueru-2d.livejournal.com]

This is absolutely brilliant. I don't know what else to say. Pure delight. I loved it. And by now I know that my favourite writer in this fandom is you. Definitely you.

He wished he had time to go back and kiss it--even if that meant kissing the pretentious git it was attached to.
This.
And coal and diamonds.
England/France have risen up to the second place in my personal ranking. Instantly.

You should have reminded him that there are parts of his country from which one can fly in an hour to Russia, if that's all it takes to be culturally interchangeable.
*giggles* You know, I remember a russian song about this - like 'hey, America, we're almost neighbours, one can fly in a five minutes from our shore to yours, la-la-la'.

Poor Prussia. Well, at least after the 1th of April we know he has blog and writes hilarious stuff about nations in it. That's better than fighting and getting drunk, I guess. xD

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

*Blush*

England/France have risen up to the second place in my personal ranking. Instantly.

It kind of seems like a logical move for Russia/America shippers, doesn't it? *Grins* It's like, oh, here's another love/hate rivalry!pairing, and these two have been at it for even longer! And they've currently got a way happier ending, too. I'm just like, hey, this feels kind of nicely familiar! XD

*giggles* You know, I remember a russian song about this - like 'hey, America, we're almost neighbours, one can fly in a five minutes from our shore to yours, la-la-la'. (There's something very intimidating about cultural interchange in that song, though.)

You know that saying, "good fences make good neighbors?" Somehow I'm suddenly reminded of that. XD

[rotifora.livejournal.com]

Oh this was lovely!
I knew you had an inner FrUk somewhere biding its time. :)
*reads it again*

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I'm really glad you like it! (Yeah, I'm totally interested in writing more, now. I guess the bug bit me at last.)

[littleduchess.livejournal.com]

This is wonderful. I love seeing you write this pairing. The concerns and the different approaches to them are so spot on. England is the original bastard/magpie nation (hell, even tea is not originally british) and France is absolutely concerned with preservation. I love when canon coincides with such huge, interesting issues, and I love the way you've done this.
The banter is so comfortable and knowing. You've really encapsulated that relationship were they've hated and tried to kill and loved each other and now they are at peace and not sure what's next.

The thing with Prussia was so sad, and kudos for France bringing it up.

That said, 'ma saucisse' is beautiful. :D

[pyrrhiccomedy.livejournal.com]

! That's right, you speak French, don't you? Can I totally make you be my French translator from now on? I had to make a desperate 11th hour friends list appeal for French naughty language. Lilichen did her best, but I think I embarrassed her terribly. XD

I'm really glad you liked it! I was happy I was able to work in France's concerns about preservation and England's "oh, whatever, let's just go get a drink" attitude about same--otherwise it would've felt like I was forcing them to have this conversation in a vacuum, and that's never cool.