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nordipalooza2015-05-25 05:31 am
nordipaloozamod) wrote in nordipalooza2015-05-25 05:31 am
Entry tags:
[Fanfiction] Optimism
Title: Optimism
Author/Artist: Seasonalparadox (seasonalparadox.tumblr.com)
Prompt: Norway, Finland - Optimism - Kalmar Union or 1600s
Other characters: Mentions of Iceland
Rating: G to T
Content notes: Background violence, mostly, but nothing graphic. No foul language either.
Summary: It is a tense situation for everyone in the Kalmar Union right now, but the opinions of two different nations differ greatly.
The fireplace crackled as its filled the dimly lit room with heat. A teenage boy, no older than 17, sat slumped in a large, red chair. A couple of books were carefully stacked next to an untouched glass of wine. Another thick book opened on the boy’s lap, but his dull blue eyes reflected the flickering orange light in front of him. His face was pensive and his posture slouched in relaxation, but the dark circles under his eyes and the slightly sallow complexion of his face told a different story.
The environment had remained constant for a while, until another boy slipped in the room, quietly closing the door after he had entered. The violet eyes of the newcomer stared at the scene for a moment, before shaking his head and urgently stating, “Iceland is asleep, Norway. We need to talk.”
The other boy-Norway-showed no response for a moment. A moment passed. Then he grabbed his book, heaved himself up straighter, and sat back down, staring at the book. The other boy shuffled awkwardly, violet eyes glancing at the door in nervousness for a moment. Seeing no reply, he turned, only to be interrupted by a voice stating, “There is nothing to discuss, Finland.”
“But there is something to discuss and you know it!” Finland exclaimed, although his voice was carefully set at a low volume. “You’ve heard the rumors. You’ve seen Denmark and Sweden fight. This can’t go on any longer. Why must you remain so blind despite all this?”
At that last question, Norway snapped his book closed and stood up, turning to face Finland, who had flinched at the sound.
His stance remained tall and proud. His face remained blank. However, there was a forced calmness to his voice as he quietly replied, “I am not blind, Finland. But tell me, how do you plan to solve this…dilemma?”
“I don’t know,” Finland muttered quietly, staring into the fire. A wave of guilt washed over him, as he realized that he had snapped too quickly. But the situation had been eating away at him for a while now, and he had wanted someone to talk to be for a long time. “But I do know that the Kalmar Union is a dying mess. It’s not going to last much longer. Besides, don’t you want your autonomy?” He paused for a moment, contemplating his next words. They were well-meant, for the sake of both Norway and his little brother. “Don’t you want to help Iceland as well?”
Norway bristled slightly at the implications of that remark Finland made, but then closed his eyes and let out a sigh. “You should know as much as anyone that the future of Norway and Iceland are my first priorities. But I choose to believe that the Union will last. Sweden and Denmark need to sort out their differences, that is all. The five of us have gotten through thick and thin. I refuse to believe that will change now.”
“You and your blind belief.” Finland grumbled. He didn’t understand why Norway thought it would last, nor why he was being unusually upbeat about their current situation. He looked at Norway again. “Do you honestly think that Sweden will stand for this oppression? He’s just as stubborn as Denmark when he wishes to be, you know.”
“….Denmark has an established position in Europe. Sweden needs that standing, doesn’t he? We all do.” Norway replied hesitantly. Maybe Finland was making sense. The Union had a decent run, maybe it was time to give it-
No. Norway refused to think that it was at a fragile state. The union was still safe. He shook his head, adding, “Even Sweden’s stubbornness cannot outweigh his love for his people. Our people come first.”
“The problem is that Sweden’s people want to leave this union.” Finland pointed out. “They can’t stand it. Sweden’s verbal arguments with Denmark was only the beginning. His people are crying for the blood of the Danish government and he’s only reflecting their wishes.” Finland’s voice trailed off as he saw the despondence he felt reflected in Norway’s eyes. The light from the fire no longer warm; instead, the cold light of of the dancing flames made both of their faces seem haggard and sickly.
The silence broke once more by a furious wave of voices from outside a room. Two livid voices tore through the roar of the fire–and the stares of of the two boys.
Norway pursed his lips. Finland raised an eyebrow, as if asking, Well?
Norway closed his eyes and turned away from Finland, staring at the ground once more. “This is the most ideal option for us, Fin,” he started, his tone gentle but firm. “It’s not too bad. We have food, we’re warm–”
“But we’re like livestock, waiting to be slaughtered,” Finland cut in, his voice curt. His normally warm and earnest violet eyes had gone cold. “We lack the freedom of being a nation. We’re underlings, subordinate states. We-”
“You’ve been listening too much to Mister Sweden again, Finland,” Norway interjected sharply. He looked up again to see Finland’s eyes widen in shock, then flash in a blaze of anger. When Finland spoke again, a note of bitterness in his voice.
“I never thought The Viking King would be so pathetic.”
“You know nothing, Finland. You’ve always been an underling. How would you ever know the taste of freedom?”
“I thought that you would be as bold as you once were, Norway!”
“You naive fool, times have changed!”
“I will knock some sense into you, Norway, if it’s the last thing I do!”
“You’re the one who needs sense. Just let everything run it’s course!”
“At what price?”
“There will be a price if you keep rebelling!”
Finland froze at Norway’s last statement. Suddenly, he grabbed the collar of Norway’s clothes and held him clothes. Norway gasped in surprise at not only Finland’s hidden strength, but also the force of being pulled forward at the neck. Their noses were barely touching. He whispered, “There may be a price for rebellion, but the price will be worth getting out of this poisoned union!”
Norway blinked in shock for a moment. Then, he let out a low, derisive laugh. “Look at us,” he sneered. “Aren’t we just like Denmark and Sweden? Going at each other like maddened brutes?”
Finland quickly dropped Norway and took a couple steps back, violet eyes horrified at the deed he had just done. Eventually, the shock faded into a look of resignation. He murmured, “Sweden and I will be leaving the Kalmar Union, sooner or later. Will you choose to join us, or will you choose to die with the union?”
“You act like the union is dead,” Norway spat. However, he stood up, the worst of the anger fading. “It’s not going to die.”
Finland stared at Norway again. Incredulous violet eyes met imperturbable blue eyes. Shaking his head, Finland replied, “Then you will fall, unless you break your loyalty to Den-”
“This is not about Denmark, and you know it,” Norway stated flatly. “I truly think that the five us together is what makes us strongest.” As he said those words, the voices outside grew even louder, clashing with insults and provocations.
Finland turned away, retorting, “Then we have nothing left to say.” He began walking towards the door.
“Wait.” Norway said, a bit forcefully. There was something about Finland’s attitude that had seemed off..
Finland turned once more, his eyes tired.
“Since-” he began, but was cut off by Finland.
“Since when did you become such an optimistic person?”
Norway stared for a moment. “I’m not, you are the optimistic one.”
An amused and bitter smile played on Finland’s lips.
“Not anymore.”
“…”
“Now you’re the optimistic fool that can’t see how our friendship has burned away. Good night, Norway.”
Finland turned and left the room. Norway turned to the fireplace, watching as the flames slowly died down from lack of fuel.
As the door closed, Norway could hear the first chair being thrown that night.
Author/Artist: Seasonalparadox (seasonalparadox.tumblr.com)
Prompt: Norway, Finland - Optimism - Kalmar Union or 1600s
Other characters: Mentions of Iceland
Rating: G to T
Content notes: Background violence, mostly, but nothing graphic. No foul language either.
Summary: It is a tense situation for everyone in the Kalmar Union right now, but the opinions of two different nations differ greatly.
The fireplace crackled as its filled the dimly lit room with heat. A teenage boy, no older than 17, sat slumped in a large, red chair. A couple of books were carefully stacked next to an untouched glass of wine. Another thick book opened on the boy’s lap, but his dull blue eyes reflected the flickering orange light in front of him. His face was pensive and his posture slouched in relaxation, but the dark circles under his eyes and the slightly sallow complexion of his face told a different story.
The environment had remained constant for a while, until another boy slipped in the room, quietly closing the door after he had entered. The violet eyes of the newcomer stared at the scene for a moment, before shaking his head and urgently stating, “Iceland is asleep, Norway. We need to talk.”
The other boy-Norway-showed no response for a moment. A moment passed. Then he grabbed his book, heaved himself up straighter, and sat back down, staring at the book. The other boy shuffled awkwardly, violet eyes glancing at the door in nervousness for a moment. Seeing no reply, he turned, only to be interrupted by a voice stating, “There is nothing to discuss, Finland.”
“But there is something to discuss and you know it!” Finland exclaimed, although his voice was carefully set at a low volume. “You’ve heard the rumors. You’ve seen Denmark and Sweden fight. This can’t go on any longer. Why must you remain so blind despite all this?”
At that last question, Norway snapped his book closed and stood up, turning to face Finland, who had flinched at the sound.
His stance remained tall and proud. His face remained blank. However, there was a forced calmness to his voice as he quietly replied, “I am not blind, Finland. But tell me, how do you plan to solve this…dilemma?”
“I don’t know,” Finland muttered quietly, staring into the fire. A wave of guilt washed over him, as he realized that he had snapped too quickly. But the situation had been eating away at him for a while now, and he had wanted someone to talk to be for a long time. “But I do know that the Kalmar Union is a dying mess. It’s not going to last much longer. Besides, don’t you want your autonomy?” He paused for a moment, contemplating his next words. They were well-meant, for the sake of both Norway and his little brother. “Don’t you want to help Iceland as well?”
Norway bristled slightly at the implications of that remark Finland made, but then closed his eyes and let out a sigh. “You should know as much as anyone that the future of Norway and Iceland are my first priorities. But I choose to believe that the Union will last. Sweden and Denmark need to sort out their differences, that is all. The five of us have gotten through thick and thin. I refuse to believe that will change now.”
“You and your blind belief.” Finland grumbled. He didn’t understand why Norway thought it would last, nor why he was being unusually upbeat about their current situation. He looked at Norway again. “Do you honestly think that Sweden will stand for this oppression? He’s just as stubborn as Denmark when he wishes to be, you know.”
“….Denmark has an established position in Europe. Sweden needs that standing, doesn’t he? We all do.” Norway replied hesitantly. Maybe Finland was making sense. The Union had a decent run, maybe it was time to give it-
No. Norway refused to think that it was at a fragile state. The union was still safe. He shook his head, adding, “Even Sweden’s stubbornness cannot outweigh his love for his people. Our people come first.”
“The problem is that Sweden’s people want to leave this union.” Finland pointed out. “They can’t stand it. Sweden’s verbal arguments with Denmark was only the beginning. His people are crying for the blood of the Danish government and he’s only reflecting their wishes.” Finland’s voice trailed off as he saw the despondence he felt reflected in Norway’s eyes. The light from the fire no longer warm; instead, the cold light of of the dancing flames made both of their faces seem haggard and sickly.
The silence broke once more by a furious wave of voices from outside a room. Two livid voices tore through the roar of the fire–and the stares of of the two boys.
Norway pursed his lips. Finland raised an eyebrow, as if asking, Well?
Norway closed his eyes and turned away from Finland, staring at the ground once more. “This is the most ideal option for us, Fin,” he started, his tone gentle but firm. “It’s not too bad. We have food, we’re warm–”
“But we’re like livestock, waiting to be slaughtered,” Finland cut in, his voice curt. His normally warm and earnest violet eyes had gone cold. “We lack the freedom of being a nation. We’re underlings, subordinate states. We-”
“You’ve been listening too much to Mister Sweden again, Finland,” Norway interjected sharply. He looked up again to see Finland’s eyes widen in shock, then flash in a blaze of anger. When Finland spoke again, a note of bitterness in his voice.
“I never thought The Viking King would be so pathetic.”
“You know nothing, Finland. You’ve always been an underling. How would you ever know the taste of freedom?”
“I thought that you would be as bold as you once were, Norway!”
“You naive fool, times have changed!”
“I will knock some sense into you, Norway, if it’s the last thing I do!”
“You’re the one who needs sense. Just let everything run it’s course!”
“At what price?”
“There will be a price if you keep rebelling!”
Finland froze at Norway’s last statement. Suddenly, he grabbed the collar of Norway’s clothes and held him clothes. Norway gasped in surprise at not only Finland’s hidden strength, but also the force of being pulled forward at the neck. Their noses were barely touching. He whispered, “There may be a price for rebellion, but the price will be worth getting out of this poisoned union!”
Norway blinked in shock for a moment. Then, he let out a low, derisive laugh. “Look at us,” he sneered. “Aren’t we just like Denmark and Sweden? Going at each other like maddened brutes?”
Finland quickly dropped Norway and took a couple steps back, violet eyes horrified at the deed he had just done. Eventually, the shock faded into a look of resignation. He murmured, “Sweden and I will be leaving the Kalmar Union, sooner or later. Will you choose to join us, or will you choose to die with the union?”
“You act like the union is dead,” Norway spat. However, he stood up, the worst of the anger fading. “It’s not going to die.”
Finland stared at Norway again. Incredulous violet eyes met imperturbable blue eyes. Shaking his head, Finland replied, “Then you will fall, unless you break your loyalty to Den-”
“This is not about Denmark, and you know it,” Norway stated flatly. “I truly think that the five us together is what makes us strongest.” As he said those words, the voices outside grew even louder, clashing with insults and provocations.
Finland turned away, retorting, “Then we have nothing left to say.” He began walking towards the door.
“Wait.” Norway said, a bit forcefully. There was something about Finland’s attitude that had seemed off..
Finland turned once more, his eyes tired.
“Since-” he began, but was cut off by Finland.
“Since when did you become such an optimistic person?”
Norway stared for a moment. “I’m not, you are the optimistic one.”
An amused and bitter smile played on Finland’s lips.
“Not anymore.”
“…”
“Now you’re the optimistic fool that can’t see how our friendship has burned away. Good night, Norway.”
Finland turned and left the room. Norway turned to the fireplace, watching as the flames slowly died down from lack of fuel.
As the door closed, Norway could hear the first chair being thrown that night.
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(Anonymous) 2015-07-19 02:35 pm (UTC)(link)~Seasonal Paradox