Comments: 37
katien22 [2011-05-15 07:08:45 +0000 UTC]
Aww. This is cute. c:
But... where's West Virginia?
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MorriganFearn In reply to katien22 [2011-05-15 15:28:24 +0000 UTC]
Argh, I forgot West Virginia! Oh goodness. I've had this up for months and I completely forgot that Virginia was another one of those Colonies/States that had territory that split from them eventually. I thought I was so clever for deciding not to do the Ohio territory that Massachusetts and New York claimed because it happened after the Revolution, but West Virginia was part of Virginia during the Revolution...
Thanks for pointing this out! I will try to make my West Virgina as cute as the rest. To the research mobile!
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katien22 In reply to MorriganFearn [2011-06-06 04:57:57 +0000 UTC]
Oh, hi! I totally forgot to respond to this for way too long.
Anyway, yeah. I just noticed because West Virginia's my home state. Still super adorbz, though. C:
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MorriganFearn In reply to Laisai [2011-02-12 17:03:27 +0000 UTC]
Oh yes. Massachusetts was scary back in the day. All of New England was worried that he'd try to take them over. He has had Maine, Ohio, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and pieces of New York and Pennsylvania in his house at one time or another. Rhode Island and Connecticut were there more amicably than the rest, but Massachusetts is one of those people who is a great friend, but a lousy landlord. New Hampshire slapping him all over the place from day one of his trying to claim her is the only thing that saved the rest of the colonies, probably.
Oooh, yay! I love name questions!
Lexington has to do with a childhood obsession with the TV show "Gargoyles," and my favorite character choosing to name himself after that street in NYC. Plus, that means New York can be called Lex, which has connections to Lex Luthor, one of my favorite villains of all time, so the name embodies both the dark and the light sides of New York, as well as being connected with colonial history, although not the town Lexington (Jas interjects: I so named him after my town).
You see, back when New York was New Amsterdam, the English and the Dutch got into competition over who was going to be the world sailing power, and part of this competition was a series of battles between the Massachusetts Bay Colony, and the New Amsterdam colony. The Brits in the Bay won, and renamed New Amsterdam. Which leveled out to Massachusetts naming New York (England did the renaming of the land, the Colony gets the humanity). When he was a Dutch possession, his human name was Alexander, which can get shortened to Lex in Dutch. Massachusetts took that, and because Massachusetts likes to rub New York's face in victories, he named him after a dinky town outside of Boston.
Massachusetts is less complicated, and actually a-historical. He was named after James (Jas) Hook, from J.M. Barrie's "Peter Pan." I imagine that Massachusetts piratey instincts really admire Captain Hook. The emphasis on "bad form" from the public school days makes sense, when you think about Massachusestts' history with English style boarding/prep schools. The dichotomy between the ready pirate, and English gentleman also reflects Massachusetts' own dichotomy between crazy liberalism and Puritanical values. It was also the name of the English King who was reigning when his colony was founded, I believe, but don't quote me on this one, I often get dates confused. Mostly it's the anachronistic "Peter Pan" reference.
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Laisai In reply to MorriganFearn [2011-03-03 19:01:47 +0000 UTC]
Oh lolz. Well, I know for a fact that the people in MA take the rivalry VERY seriously... it seems to be that the closer they live to Boston, the more they *hate* the Yankees xD
And it would make them very upset if the New Yorkers didn't care nearly as much ^_^
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MorriganFearn In reply to Laisai [2011-03-03 22:14:21 +0000 UTC]
Well, I think it's like this: If you're from NYC, nothing is better than the Yankees, and there are a lot of nasty Massachussan jokes, (although some of those jokes are about how scary people from Massachusetts are, as well as how clever and tricky they are, so there's some respect there) but they aren't as focused on /beating/ Massachusetts as Massachusetts is about beating New York.
But it's cute that Massachusetts cares what New York thinks about fighting him . I dub the pairing MANY. I suppose technically, it prolly should be NYMA, but that doesn't sound as good.
Jas: Wait! If you're doing this 'fan pairing' stuff, there's no way I'm on the bottom! I can take the sucker any day of the week! :evilgrin:
Lex: ... Get over it, Shorty.
Jas: You're a loser. I'm totally on top! Look at the historical evidence! In every real war we've had--
Lex: *pulls out a map* Point on this map where New York is in relation to Massachusetts. Your honor, I submit this geographic evidence, and rest my case.
Jas: *flips map upside down* Hahaha! Now I'm on top!
Lex: Only circumstantially.
Connecticut: I have the pictures from the New Year's party that could put this to rest.
Lex & Jas:
Jas: I thought that you made him delete those!
Lex: CN, you LIED to me!
Jas: New way to solve this! Whoever kills Connecticut first--
Lex: --wins.
Conneticut:
...
And now you probably know far more about what goes on in my mind than you ever really wanted to.
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MorriganFearn In reply to Laisai [2011-03-04 23:39:07 +0000 UTC]
I just wonder what happened at New Years that made they BOTH don't want to get out to the public at large. I suspect it began something like this:
Jas: I'm Irish!
Lex: You're drunk as one, 'nyway.
Jas: Ah, shut up ya Dutch b*st*rd.
Lex: Did my ears deceive me? I think you just pronounced an 'r' there.
Jas: Shut up before I bring out 1918 on your *ss.
Lex: Pfft. You'd need to go that far back to do anything.
Jas: Oh Leeeeeeexington, who's your boss again? Oh, that's right, the guy who named you! B*tch please.
Lex: Yeah right. *tries to shove and misses thanks to inebriation*
Jas: :muhaha: I win! *Victory dances*
Lex: *pushes Jas' shoulder, and MA falls on his back*
Jas: FOUL!
Lex: *steps lightly on Jas' stomach with one boot* Snooze you lose. Now, say 'Uncle'
Jas: Oh no, you don't! *begins to tickle back of knee. Tussle ensues. An odd amount of giggling tells everyone else at the party that everything is okay, and if left alone long enough the two states will probably end up doing something they both will regret*
I could go on and on about how these two interact.
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MorriganFearn In reply to Laisai [2011-03-08 06:03:21 +0000 UTC]
Alfred doesn't know how to control them half the time. It's like a bevy of younger cousins. He doesn't even have the authority that being a father would incur. Most of the time he's okay with them and vice versa, but when things get neurotic he just hopes that they don't try to take his power from him the way they did during the Civil War.
I get the feeling that Canada has a much better relationship with his provinces. Except maybe Alberta...
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Laisai In reply to MorriganFearn [2011-03-09 23:57:43 +0000 UTC]
Aww, poor Alfred! No wonder he's so big on being a *hero*...
And why Alberta? I'd've thought that Canada would have a worse relationship with Quebec, since he wants to move out and become his own country? Or maybe Albert being rich makes him snobby? XD
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Laisai In reply to MorriganFearn [2011-03-10 22:54:34 +0000 UTC]
I almost feel bad for Alfred... it seems like everyone patronises him
Well, I don't have any friends in Vancouver, but I do have a few in Calgary, and they *are* pretty religious, so I guess the whole "Bible belt" thing might be true.. xD
I'm from Montreal, so I'm more familiar with the whole Toronto vs. Montreal thing, and how Quebec is (almost) completely different from the rest of Canada. I've also heard that Quebecois tend to be um, not as insanely polite as the rest of Canada? Though I'm not sure how true that is... ^^"
Do you think you'll ever write a fanfic with the other states? I read your Maine one, and it was really great, though it was a little sad, and I felt really bad for her (Maine).
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MorriganFearn In reply to Laisai [2011-03-10 23:23:44 +0000 UTC]
Well, that's why he's gotten so good at ignoring sound advice, so, take that for what it is. Maybe that's why he only listens to Romano. South Italy may critically bawl him out all the time, but Romano doesn't do it in a way that implies that Alfred is incapable.
The Rest of Europe: You're doing it wrong, and you're to young and stupid to fix it.
America: Well, maybe I won't then! :angry pout:
China and Russia: *laugh*
Well, we have horrible stereotypes of how arrogant French Canadians are. As someone who has dealt with Quebecois tourists all I can say is that they're probably justified stereotypes. Or the nice ones stay home. My Quebec is arrogant, liable to complain when he doesn't like something, and independent, but he enjoys poking pretty much everyone around him. It's fun to see their reactions. If Canada is a stage manager, then Quebec is a social scientist. XD
Most of the time they'll just appear as cameos. I feel really bad flaunting my OCs, so I try not to do it (minus Aland and Faroes because they're better fleshed out than the states, who I originally invented as jokes). California, Maine, New York and Massachusetts have a bit of a serious role in an upcoming fanfic, but I'm only at the outline stages of that, and I NEED to find the time to finish Eight Men. It's grinding on my nerves that I haven't been able to finish Chapter seven.
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Laisai In reply to MorriganFearn [2011-03-14 01:49:38 +0000 UTC]
Well, I suppose if everyone's advice is that "you're too young and stupid to fix it", then it might be better for him to ignore it? Some sort of confidence is always important (though Alfred might have too much already...) ^^
I think you pretty much have Quebec down, lolz. XD But I think it's really the Quebecois that are arrogant... the Anglophone Canadians are just more outgoing than the (Canadian) stereotype? And both, believe it or not, really think that other cultures are cool (for the most part, though I'm not sure if the rest of Canada is like that too). At least, that's how it seems to me.
I think your OCs all seem pretty fleshed out, but I can't really write characters that well, so I wouldn't know. I'll be looking forward to that other fic then! And usually, if a story bothers me, I write down an outline and leave it for later so I feel like I can finish it any time, and don't have to worry as much Though, I write poetry, so that may be different... BTW, how many chapters are you planning to write total?
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MorriganFearn In reply to Laisai [2011-03-14 13:09:08 +0000 UTC]
I'm still evolving my idea of the states and provinces. Originally they were always "micro-nation sized," but now I'm at the point where they are micronation sized only when around their federated representation (i.e. Canada and America). Otherwise they have full power and representation as 'adults.' It helps make the distinction between power representation, and when states or provinces want to make a point about their rights and power they remain 'normal' sized. Therefore Quebec is adult all the time, lol. Canada is so not his boss.
Alfred: You know Mattie, at some point you should do something about him.
Matthew: Like what?
Alfred: I don't know, but when North and South Carolina started doing that to me, things got scary.
Matthew: He's always been like that since the Seven Years' War, though. There's almost nothing he can do.
Jean-Pierre: I can secede!
Alfred: SEE?! THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!
Matthew: *Pulls out hockey stick* You're not taking Montreal from me!
All of New England: Quick, somebody get the popcorn!
While we don't want Canada to get into a scuffle with Quebec, there would be some entertainment to be had, I think.
Eight Men is 8 chapters long. What's frustrating is that I've gotten hung up on Finland's part of Chapter 7. It's all outlined, I just don't feel capable of talking about the Winter War and my enduring love for SuFin at the same time as not being offensive. I've been writing parts of Chapter 8 rather than deal with Chapter 7 I thought that I had that bit of Chapter 7 ready for publication last week, but then I started revising it . I think I burned out writing so much, but I'm so close to the end...
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Laisai In reply to MorriganFearn [2011-03-19 01:18:57 +0000 UTC]
Sorry for the late reply RL's been hectic this week... I'm just glad it's over
Anyway, I think it's interesting how you think of the provinces/states as being "mini" sized when they have less authority... I always thought of them as teenagers (sort of like Hong Kong) who have to listen to their countries (I sort of feel bad for the states. And Russia's provinces).
I think Canada and Quebec's relationship would be absolutely hilarious, since it's about the one time Canada really seems to assert control over his provinces xD
It'd be *very* entertaining to watch them fight with each other... though, what do you think Quebec would fight with, since Canada's using a hockey stick? I think that if they had to use different, um, weapons, that Quebec would probably just use his fists. Him being so arrogant and all, I mean ^^
Well, I'm not sure what to say about writing... but it sounds like you're really putting loads of work behind this, so... just take your time? Lol I'm not too great with advice... Anyway, good luck! I think it'll turn out wonderful (and I don't think the Hetalia fandom seems as easily offended as most, so I wouldn't worry as much...^^)
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MorriganFearn In reply to Laisai [2011-03-21 15:55:50 +0000 UTC]
It's not as though I have deadlines by which I have to get a response or I no longer value your opinions, lol.
Diva!MF: Ah, the disrespect! I shall swoon!
Original Flavor!MF:
Originally it was because the concept of having very tiny states amused me. I thought it was funny, and they weren't serious characters, so it didn't matter. Then I started to flesh them out and the fact that they were small became a bit of a hindrance. So I started to think more seriously about them, and now there's this, which I like a lot, as it lets me talk about various power structures and the like. And the mini-sized only really works on the American continent, because the European nations' provinces/districts/principalities usually historically were their own kingdoms before being incorporated into nations. Cough. All of Germany has this. And I can't imagine Prussia wanting to swan around as a chibi for the rest of his life.
You see, I thought Quebec's used cutting remarks. To me, that seems to be all that you hear on the news ^^. But the fists work. Or he might use a deadly plate of poutine. Sorry, I don't know much about Quebecois cooking. I really should. I feel so uneducated.
It's a touchy subject though, once you get into the serious history writing. Particularly with the Nordic countries because there is such a mucked up history between them. Sweden's neutrality in this time period really has made all of the other Nordics feel pretty negatively about it over the years. And I want to write me some SuFin loving...
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Laisai In reply to MorriganFearn [2011-03-22 22:58:26 +0000 UTC]
Oh, that makes sense! Although, that would mean a LOT more "special people" in the Hetaliaverse... their world must be pretty chaotic! And now you've got me imagining a chibi Prussia walking around being commanded by Germany, which could either be very funny or very scary o_o So do you think Germany still lives with his other "brothers" then?
Lol, deadly poutine? It's not *that* bad... xD Anyway, I don't know that much about Quebecois food, either, so don't feel bad. I know more about (Canadian) candy. At any rate, there is no way you're uneducated. You just need to visit Quebec and eat a boatload of (Quebecois) food there ^^
>.< I really like SuFin too! I would hate it if they were mad at each other (especially Finland, who seems to be the "nicer" one.) Though, if the whole north is upset about Sweden being neutral and "helping" the Germans, I guess writing SuFin *would* be pretty hard. (They *did* sort of help the Germans, right? To avoid being invaded? My European history isn't so good... I know more about ancient empires and China xD)
Well, I hope you figure something out! And I'm sure that whatever you write, people will love anyway, since you're such a good writer and you can back all of what you write with really good facts
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MorriganFearn In reply to Laisai [2011-03-23 00:18:28 +0000 UTC]
Well, we already know that each of Japan's islands exist in Hetalia 'verse, as well as Prussia, who was a province within Germany after 1868. Germany has also mentioned his brothers Hesse and Saxony in cannon, just as England has mentioned Ireland, Scotland and Wales as his (evil, hex-sending) brothers. So there are a lot more special people running about than we generally see. After all, you have the 198 nations, and then the ungodly number of micronations, and now all of the provinces and states? That's still probably going to be under 2,000 people, versus a global population of more than 6 billion, and in a land mass of 149,840,000 square km. The chaos is probably managable.
Probably.
It was the only French Canadian food I could think of, though. That's pretty stupid of me. Although Canada has grown even more tempting now (I personally curse my East German roots XD).
Well, Sweden allowed Germany to buy iron from them, which helped oil the war machine, as they say, but they also tapped German phone lines, and gave the information they gleaned to the British and the Norwegians. On the other hand, they would not allow Norwegians (particularly the King and the cabinet) to flee into Sweden when Germany invaded. But, to counter that, they gave refuge to the entire population of Danish Jews when orders were passed around that the Jews in Denmark were to be exterminated. And, although they officially refused to help Finland in the Winter War, they sent over 4 times as many volunteers to the Finnish lines to fight the Russians. Sweden and WWII = COMPLICATED. To be honest, the top five countries for gray places in the history books about this time to me are:
1. Finland
2. Sweden
3. Switzerland
4. The Netherlands
5. Denmark
Annnd Norway follows realllllly closely in 6th place. With Lithuania in seventh, Bulgaria in eighth, Poland in ninth, and Russia in tenth. And to be honest, America and England might actually bump Russia out of the top ten "awkwardly positioned countries."
Anyway, Denmark and Norway give Sweden the side eye for having not fought the Germans, Norway especially. Denmark is more "eh, we had a bit of trouble getting started with the whole resistance thing, so we can see where you guys are coming from, even if we don't like it." Norway was just "you were neutral. You're dead to us," for a looooooong time. Finland give Sweden the side eye for not having fought the Russians, but it's not as critical because 1. there were a lot of Swedish volunteers, and 2. Finland ended up siding with Germany in order to defeat the Russians, which isn't really a friend winning move.
As to your last comments That's really flattering. You don't know how much.
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Laisai In reply to MorriganFearn [2011-03-30 01:28:47 +0000 UTC]
Haha, "probably"... I think that World Meetings would still be disaster areas, though, since it's a bunch of nations + really small space. Complete and utter chaos. o_o They don't ever seem able to agree on anything, or at least that's what Hetalia makes it look like ^^ It's almost like they *enjoy* arguing?
Well, if you ever visit Canada *coughMontrealcough*, try not go any time during Winter (Like, December-March) ^^ It'd be *very* cold and icy/slushy. The metro's really *really* warm, though... but it doesn't go everywhere, unfortunately. It's really nice in the summer though Maybe a little chilly? But it's usually not really very hot ^^ Oh, and if you ever go to Canada, get aero chocolate. It's chocolate with holes inside And maple candy. Because a visit to Canada is not complete without maple. ^^
O_O Suddenly, WWII history sounds *a lot* more complicated, politically... What I've been taught in school basically boils down to "America came at the last minute and saved the world from the evil Hitler peoples. And the Japanese." >< All this about Sweden and other parts of Europe during the war sounds much more interesting (even though it's confusing)!
So when you wrote, back in Chapter 1 of Eight Men, that Finland was part of the Axis, did you mean the fact that they sided with the Germans? It's funny, because I've always been taught that the Axis were only three countries. Are you including any country that sided with Germany as an Axis country?
Also, does it ever seem like Europe has a lot of wars? It seems to me that there was almost always some sort of war in Europe going on at any point in history...
Anyway, what's your favourite part of history to learn about? As in eras, wars, dynasties, etc. ? What I've learnt so far is mostly ancient history, and I want to learn more about history that's *slightly* more recent, so I'm just curious.
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MorriganFearn In reply to Laisai [2011-03-30 16:21:10 +0000 UTC]
They do enjoy arguing! Or at least, England, South Italy, and Turkey really like to argue, and between those three you can half the world arguing within the hour.
When I do end up in Montreal, I'm usually there during the winter, actually. I'm from VT, and when I take planes, I often end up in Montreal when the East Coast is snowed in, lol. It's not that bad in the winter. Admittedly, I'm usually fleeing southward But I like doing the touristy stuff like the Biodome during the summer. But I would never sully my tastebuds with Canadian maple syrup. Vermont maple only, b*tches *puts on sunglasses*. Plus, the bears might be able to smell the Canadian syrup on me, and then I'd get attacked for not being loyal .
It was incredibly complicated politically. The balancing acts that people were playing, primarily because of Russia and Germany, were mind boggling. Bulgaria's position is still my favorite. It managed to play the balancing game pretty well until 1944. [link] The only country to be at war with Russia, the US, the UK, AND Germany all at once. Fun days.
Finland was co-belligerant with Germany, Japan, and Italy after 1940. The Winter War that I keep coming back to in Eight Men is really important. In late '39 to early '40 there was not much else happening on the global stage. War had been declared, but the French and British were sort of dithering on what they wanted to do. Russia and Germany basically had control over Poland and Czechoslovakia and everything else that had been part of the Movoltav-Ribbentrop compact. The Nordics and BeNeLux countries were maintaining their neutrality. Austria had been joined to Germany, and Hungary was annoyed with this, but couldn't do much [link] And then Russia, having gotten back most of the old Empire, decided that it wanted Finland again, and invaded. So everyone watched that.
Germany watched very thoughtfully. The diplomatic relationship between Germany and Russia was, well, the Nazis weren't happy about it. Russia was a communist state. Facism and Nazism ideologically did not get along, and Soviet Russia was a bit of a machine. So Germany stayed neutral in the war while everyone and their brother (including Italy* and Japan**) clamored to help poor little Finland.
*I was just reading a translation of German Parliamentary business in January 1940, and they were debating whether 1. Germany could give arms to Finland. It went something like this (humorous paraphrasing ahead):
Person 1: Okey gaiz, little Finland is in real trouble, and it's so sad. LET'S HELP FINLAND!
Everyone Else: YEAH! RIGHT ON!
Dissenter 2: Um, guys, Finland is fighting the Soviet Union.
Person 1: Well, they always wuz sneaky bastards.
Everyone Else: Yeah! Dirty Commies! Finland's, like, practically Aryan. Sort of. CLOSE ENOUGH.
Dissenter 2: Yeah, but we're allies with the Soviets.
Everyone Else: Oh. Yeah, right. Oops. No help to Finland. At least obviously.
But the next order of business was Italy was asking if it could give arms to Finland. That one went much better. The Germans decided 'yes,' with full German support, because the tanks and weapons had been bought before the war started. Yes. Of course. Sometimes Germany can be reeeeeeally passive aggressive. Anyway, all I can say is that Himaruya had better make that cannon.
**Japan had a strong diplomatic relationship with Finland, and had been on very good terms with that country since the 1920s. Mostly because at the end of the Finnish Civil War Finland declared itself firmly anti-Russian, and Japan likes being anti-Russian. But also there were some arguments that Finland and Japan actually shared cultural ties thanks to Finland's position on the Baltic creating similar historical conditions to Japan's position in Asia. Japan really helped Finland in the Γ
land Crisis in the 1920s, for example.
Anyway, Finland was a nice door into Russia, and the Nazis were pretty interested in getting into Russia. So, after the Winter War, the Interim Peace with Russia and Finland was signed, and Germany began to cozy up to Finland. Sort of like leaving flowers on the door step, and then running before Russia could see. Russia kinda noticed. And Finland noticed as well. And Germany and Finland began to get into serious discussion of how to get the bits of Finland under Russian control. And then in 1941, Germany invaded Russia, Finland entered the war on Germany's side as a co-belligerant, and Russia switched sides to become an ally.
So, I was being factually incorrect in Chapter One, but I thought it was simpler to say that Finland was part of the Axis than go into co-belligerant status before I actually hit the Winter War and beyond (it did hold out the longest of Germany's allies. Only Japan surpassed it). There's only so much history argy-bargy that a brain can take before it explodes. And the Axis fluctuates, depending on your definition of what the Axis was. Most history classes talk about the big three fascist powers. But the Axis and co-belligerants actually ended up being a few more countries than that. Finland and Bulgaria are the notable non-occupied additions, and most historians count the German occupied governments such as Vichy France. You notice that I'm staying as far away from North Africa and the Balkans as possible, because things get really confusing for me when I end up south of Italy.
Yeah, Europe is almost constantly at war from the 1600s onward. Pretty much the 1800s between the Napoleonic and Austro-Prussian Wars was the calmest time, and that was because everyone was too busy with the social unrest and rioting that was happening at that time. There are tons of countries in Europe and four empires contending for power over a very small chunk of land. Europe was designed like a powder keg with a veneer of civility over it all.
Probably the late 1800s to 1900s, but I'm really fond of the 1600s. The Thirty Years' War really turned Europe upside down and inside out. So many shifts of power happened, and it's the beginning of 'modern' Europe. Trying to watch various powers pick up the pieces of the destruction that happened is fascinating. It's really the death of the Holy Roman Empire. Austria effectively lost control over the region (it isn't clear that Austria wanted control over it. The center of Europe was one bloody broken battle field for a century. Fixing that mess took money that the Hapsburgs could be using elsewhere). And when Austria lost control of the region, it broke up into independent kingdoms. On maps, the HRE still existed, but really it was a mess of German speaking states and principalities that were not united in anything, nor did the rulers swear anything to the Holy Roman Emperor. There was a sort of lip service paid, but basically it was every man for himself, and we all bow to the Swedish throne.
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Laisai In reply to MorriganFearn [2011-04-08 01:05:13 +0000 UTC]
Oh haha. I just know a lot of people who complain that it's cold here, and Montreal is colder than that, so... ^^ But VT's pretty up there in terms of cold, snowy winters and that's alright about the maple syrup, I wouldn't want the bears to maul you and at least I don't need to preach the awesomeness of maple syrup to you XD
That comic that you linked was pretty funny XD I think I need to go read more about WWII era Bulgaria now... All of that political balancing must've been very confusing and tiring for the Bulgarians! The Bulgarians sound pretty cool though, being at war with ALL those strong countries
Ohmygosh, your version of that meeting is HILARIOUS. It's funny to think of the Germans being THAT passive aggressive... I usually think of them as very straightforward, as in "I want this land. Let's invade it!" ...But maybe that's more Prussia? XD
It's interesting that Japan and Finland were that close and how anti-Russian Japan was I don't know that much about Japan, except what it's like right now (as in, in modern times).
Being a co-belligerent sounds... complicated. XD Poor Finland...
I just read about the Crimean War, and I thought it was pretty funny how England and France teamed up with the Ottoman Empire to fight the Russians, especially from a Hetalia viewpoint (Arthur & Francis actually working together-ish...) My dad (an Int'l Relations major) said that England and France hate each other mutually, but when there's a 3rd party involved (that they both hate), they'll team up to fight them. So it sounds like England and France are more of frenemies than the enemies that Denmark and Sweden are (or is it the same for them)?
Also, my dad said that the rest of Europe doesn't really view Russia as European ? As in, they're "Tartar on the inside" ? I was wondering if this was true, since my dad learnt all of this from a Chinese point of view... which is um, (slightly) biased. XD
Please excuse my um, scattered thoughts. I just studied math & science for about 2 hrs, and then the Middle East before that... loads different from Europe ><
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MorriganFearn In reply to Laisai [2011-04-08 23:24:10 +0000 UTC]
MAPLE RULEZ!
Bulgaria's history is complicated. It's near the Ottoman Empire and Greece, so you get a lot of the difficulties that nations stuck between feuding great powers experience. Check out the Netherlands, and Switzerland for other complicated balancing act examples. And then think about the personalities of those two countries. Bulgaria ain't got it easy, man.
It's definitely more Prussia's style. Germans are aggressive, but they tended to rely on at least some form of diplomacy to give them legitimacy after the First World War. If WWI had any lessons for Germany it was that you cannot look illegitimate when going about your war exercises.
Plus, this was the Soviet Union that they were talking about at the time. Germany was not popular and antagonizing that ally could have been a real problem for the Nazis until they felt secure in themselves of their movements.
Yeah. I'm not sure actually how anti-Russia Japan was during the time period, but they made reallllllly close diplomatic ties with all of the Western countries that Russia had to give independence to in WWI. To me that feels an awful lot like the Ottoman Empire refusing to recognize Russian, Prussian and Austrian sovereignty over the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It's really clear from governmental records that the Ottoman Empire did this just to spite Russia. Just in the way Denmark's trade relations with Russia got suspiciously friendlier whenever Russia invaded Sweden.
Well, Denmark and Sweden honestly have gotten it all out of their system by now. They are really tight as countries and now seem to have a joking dislike of each other, judging from Danish and Swedish television shows. They used to be just out and out enemies. Any time before 1812 that has had friendly relations or alliances they collapse into warfare really quickly. It's like two siblings that really destested each other growing up, but now that they are adults they've totally mellowed.
No, Russia is not European. Culturally Russians are considered to be slightly off bey most Europeans. Even Eastern Europeans find Russia odd and difficult to understand. So it's not European, though it often tries to get invited to European parties. Nor is it Asian. Russia is caught in a weird zone of being Russia, basically. It's really lonely in that house of his. Especially because all of the countries that used to be Russian, or Russia oriented have almost all switched their allegiance to the West, except for a few. And one of them *coughBelaruscough* Russia wants to be integrated with the West. Basically because Belarus' dictator manages to blame Russia for everything that is wrong with the country, netting Russia bad publicity, and then snuggles up to Russia's side whispering about how wonderful it was to be a totalitarian regime.
I'm cool with scattered thoughts. I love conversing with people back and forth.
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Laisai In reply to MorriganFearn [2011-04-17 02:06:29 +0000 UTC]
Now that you mention it, the Netherlands and Switzerland DO seem to have similar personalities... that's so odd, I've never noticed it before. I wonder if Bulgaria will act like them if he's ever introduced in canon?
But even when the Germans were pretty sure of themselves, they lost in Russia, right? Since they were delayed and had to fight in Russia during the winter, where the Russians had an advantage? I also heard that even if the Germans had taken over Moscow and St Petersburg, they wouldn't have won unless they'd also taken over Yekaterinburg? ...I'm not sure how accurate that is though, so, heh
Oh wow, really? It's funny how obvious some countries can be about how they feel towards another country... XD
So, in short, Sweden and Denmark are really like this: [link] ? Except they joke more?
Oh wow, that's odd, because I always thought Russia was part of Europe, since it *obviously* wasn't Asian XD I didn't realise that they're so different in culture... So even Eastern Europeans don't understand them? But how are they *that* different? o_O
And btw, how do you write fanfics? I've a whole week off, and I want to try writing something... ^^
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MorriganFearn In reply to Laisai [2011-04-17 20:47:16 +0000 UTC]
He has appeared in cannon, trying to beat up Italy with a stick for the heck of it. [link]
Germany: Argh! You're on our side! Why are you doing this?
Bulgaria: He just has one of those faces. I just /want/ to beat him up. Sorry.
The other appearance of him is an old picture [link] He seems to be a scheming sort, but much more cheerful than the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Yes, the Germans did loose. Basically, if you ever feel like participating in a war on a global scale the key to winning is NOT INVADING RUSSIA. The only country that has ever managed to flout this rule in the modern have been Poland and Sweden, and both Poland and Sweden have ended up suffering for it. Particularly Sweden (see the Great Northern War, where Russia's involvement, which completely crippled the Swedish Empire, was in retaliation for earlier invasions by the Swedes). It has tried so many times to take over Russia, and except for the Time of Troubles has failed.
Some of the people who have made the mistake of trying to invade Russia:
- Mongolia (this one actually worked out pretty well for Mongolia).
- Sweden
- Estonia and Latvia (as Livonia)
- Lithuania
- Poland
- Prussia
- The Ottoman Empire
- France (BIG MISTAKE)
- Germany (BIG MISTAKE)
I'm not as up on the Nazi invasion of the USSR as I should be. After the Winter War, Finland and Germany join forces, and attack the Russian lines in the Finnish land that Russia won as part of the settlement of the Interim Peace after the Winter War. Finnish Troops basically stopped pressing forward after they regained the land that that they lost in the Winter War, and let the Germans go on into Russia, so I loose track of what exactly happens to the Germans after that. Basically as I understand it, Germany forged too deeply into Russia, as the Russians retreated, burning everything behind them. This meant that the Germans didn't have any natural resources to supplement their supplies. Which became a real problem as winter set in, and the supply lines were cut off by both Russian Troops and by the weather. And then the Russians fell on the beleaguered Germans.
You think that's funny, look at the diplomatic relations between France and England's enemies. Trust me, it's a laugh riot.
Pretty much. Himaruya has shown them easily drinking together with the other Nordic countries in the modern day without tossing over the table and going at each other tooth and claw. But it's not an entirely amicable relationship.
It's hard to explain about Russia, but the culture is very much influenced by Asian culture, so it seems kind of alien to the rest of Europe. And while European history is all kinds of messed up, it isn't made of suck in the same way that Russian history is. Russia has also developed differently from the rest of Europe because it hasn't had the same kind of contact with the other European countries as the rest of Europe has.
[link] for a good explanation of the early part of Ivan's messed up history. I don't necessarily agree with all of Sister Annabelle's characterizations, but her history is very good, as is the art.
Well, I usually have an idea, and then I sit down and write it out. So, the first thing is to get an idea. It helps if this is really specific. For example: "I want to write about early America" is a medium okay idea.
You have narrowed it down to a time period, and a focusing character. Sort of. But you don't know what the plot is going to be, and you don't know what the main character will be, and you don't know how it's going to contribute to the Hetalia fandom. Tons of people write about early America. What makes your idea something that other people haven't read before?
So, who is the main character? Always start with this, since stories spin out of the experiences and reactions of the main character.
Example: Well, I want to write about my OC, New York.
And what is going to happen?
Example: New York integrating with the English Colonies just after the first Anglo-Dutch war. He is bullied badly by Massachusetts, but Pennsylvania supports him, and he comes to like living as New York, even having to deal with Massachusetts, and turns away from his past as New Netherland.
How does this contribute?
Well, almost no one writes about life in the colonies when it comes to the internal conflict and division amongst them, so I'm giving people a new perspective on Early America. It also will be a sweet story about friendship, and I don't think that there are enough friendship stories out there in the Hetalia fandom. Some people get tired of the romance aspect after all. Finally, I think my OCs are freaking awesome, and I want to show them off in an historical context.
See how answering that question helps cement a few more ideas about the story? It also might help, if you realize that there is something out there already that you might want to look at something else, unless you think that you have a new angle.
Since you write poetry, you'll probably be pretty good at narrowing your focus. I'd suggest starting off with one shots. They help get the momentum going for a multi-chapter, if you want to start writing a lot for the fandom, and allow you to get a grip on how you want to write a certain character. I really should have done a few one shots focusing just on Russia before starting Eight Men. Things would be much different if I had.
Anyway, for some basic writing help:
After you're done your story, read it over, preferably out loud, if you aren't too embarrassed. You can hear a lot of 'mistakes' (places where the dialogue is off, or the story skips over important details).
Also, try to get someone else to give it a once over, and ask for corrections and harsh criticism. It's painful, but useful. I always have to watch out for reptition in my sentence structures, because it gets really boring to read my love for subject verb object at the length which I normally write. I wouldn't have found out, if not for a good beta.
If you can't find a friend to read it over (much harder to find for fanfiction than regular fiction) copy all your text into Wordle. It generates a visual picture of what the most common words are. If you see certain verbs coming up a lot, it probably means that you're using them too much, and it sounds repetiative. It's time to think things over, and change them up a bit, basically.
Other than that, check for spelling errors and punctuation and so forth. It's not pleasant to read chat speak for a lot of people, while those who have no problem with chat speak don't have a problem with regular English, normally.
You probably knew this all all ready intuitively, but I hope that me writing it down helps to make the process more concrete.
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Laisai In reply to MorriganFearn [2011-04-22 01:52:08 +0000 UTC]
Oh, I'd forgotten about that picture of him in uniform! And he definitely does seem more friendly than Netherlands or Switzerland, especially in that strip... I feel bad for N. Italy though, if his face just makes others want to hit him. It sounds like he gets picked on a lot?
I never knew that other countries had invaded Russia and didn't lose. The only people I knew about were the Mongols, and it sounds like everyone lost against them (with the exception of the Middle East??) I didn't know about the Russians burning everything behind them, though, I thought it was mostly because they had the advantage of being in their homeland?
Anyway, I always thought that (generally) the Germans and the Russians had the scariest armies (not just during a period, but throughout European history) of Europe/Eurasia? I'm not too sure, though, but from what I've read so far, it seems sort of that way?
I'll be sure to check that out.^^ Any specific countries?
I guess the brothers analogy really really fits, then (: I can't really figure out though, what the relations between Norway and Finland are? I just realised that I haven't really seen/heard of them interacting very much...
Suddenly, I feel very bad for Russia. o_O They're also viewed sort of, um, oddly(?), or as not-so-great by the Chinese... and the Japanese don't seem to have liked them very much, and the Mongolians took them over... his history *does* seem to suck. A lot. No wonder he's so messed up in Hetalia... It's funny how some parts of it are so completely accurate. Has Russia ever taken over other countries, though? Like, other than a lot of Eastern Europe during the 19th/20th century?
Thank you SO MUCH for all your advice about writing fanfics! Unfortunately, though, my computer decided to break this week... So, I've just been reading about a lot of different parts of world history and seeing what gives me an idea (: But really, thank you so much!! Having it written down sort of step-by-step is a very big help! ^^
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MorriganFearn In reply to Laisai [2011-05-04 12:49:02 +0000 UTC]
I hope to see more Bulgaria. He seems awesome. And kind of adorable in his schemingness. I am Bulgaria and I haz a plan. Muhahahaha.
North Italy tends to be the area that people want to colonize. Romano has a whole bunch of MOUNTAINS (deserving of those capital letters) keeping everyone but Spain out. Clearly Romano needs to make a complaint to the Earth. "These mountains that you gave me are defective. I still have that tomato bastard at my door. And while we're at it, the potato bastard got awfully close in his last invasion." But when you get colonized a lot, while it means that people clearly want your resources, you really do tend to get picked on. After a while it becomes ingrained habit. Oh, there's North Italy. He's everyone's servant.
The Middle East and Lithuania. Back in the day Lithuania was bad ass. He still is, but for a few centuries, he was the lone pagan white knight of Eastern Europe, and totally awesome. While Sweden and Denmark were busy making so much noise (the transition from Vikings to Christian Knights just seemed to give Denmark and Sweden /more/ reason to fight, and Denmark was trying to usurp Norway's position as Ruler of the North at the time. Dem Nordics, can't live with them, and you can't get away from them, either.) that North and Central Europe was unlivable, Lithuania made Eastern Europe a bastion against Mongol invasion.
As for WWII, the 'scorched earth policy' is famous. The Russians had been doing it since the time of Napoleon. It was considered particularly bad in WWII, because the years of the war were also the years of some of the nastiest winters to date. Thousands of Russian farmers lost their livelihood and starved to death. On the other hand, keep in mind that they are fighting men who believe that the entire country is racially inferior and needs to be exterminated. So, sometimes the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. Although Russian history during this time, since it is Stalin in charge, seems to be one awful decision after another. You feel bad for Russia.
Onto the armies, the answer is that you have identified the two massive 'don't mess with them, you'll lose' powers. The difference is that the Russian armies through out history have generally meant the same people who all live in that big cold place. The Germanic armies, on the other hand, can mean variously the Swedes, the Danes (usually they aren't counted as Scandinavia is not part of the German territory, and has a very distinct culture, despite the fact that they are classified as Germanic people), the Swiss, the Austrians, the people from the area that we think of as Germany today, and the Prussian Army, depending on time period, and who is talking about them.
Mostly, it's how she deals with Lithuania, and his relationships with Poland and Russia. I like her Lithuania for the most part. He is kick ass, and he can save me from Mongol Hordes any day of the week, as far as I'm concerned, but there is some stuff that she puts in her author's notes that I disagree with.
Norway and Finland do not interact much historically because there has always been this large country called Sweden between them. Norway has kept most of their expansion in a seaward direction. Heading east in any big way has always been stopped by all of those Swedes. You have to keep in mind, while Denmark and Sweden hold the record for the most battles fought between countries, until about 1850, Norway and Sweden had the longest lasting contested border.
So, for a long while, Finland was part of Sweden, and therefore technically at war with Norway, but given geography, not actually involved. After Finland became Russia's property, Finland was diplomatically cut off from the rest of the Nordic countries, for the most part. Russia did not want his favorite pet going to live in someone else's house, after all.
On an Hetalian level, they seem to get along okay. For a country that is made of chatterbox, and another one that might say three whole sentences and be done for the rest of the week. I imagine that Norway finds Finland trying, but will tolerate him, because there are far more annoying nations out there. Finland, in his cheerful way, knows that Norway is reserved and basically made out of mountain side, considering how emotionally stunted he is, but Finland doesn't see that as any reason not to be friendly.
Russia is in need of much sympathy. Russia's expansion started in 1721, and mostly they expanded West, but also southward to the Ottoman Empire. My knowledge of history gets very fuzzy there. Both geographically and historically, I just don't know enough to feel comfortable outline the extent of the Russian Empire. However, it /was/ an Empire, with occupied lands and the like. They reached out Eastward enough to threaten taking over Japan at one point. And then Japan kicked Russian butt back to the mainland, thanks to its new navy.
Ooh, so you're planning to go history fic? I wrote down my process for researching on my lj, if you're interested. But I also will write with very little research done, if I've got an idea that I just /have/ to write. Also, if you're planning to write in one of my areas of interest, I can recommend books and/or websites.
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MorriganFearn In reply to Messenger-Of-Chaos [2010-12-29 21:09:08 +0000 UTC]
Thank you very much. North does wish that South didn't cling to him so, but she says the first to let go loses, so she's not letting go. Hopefully they'll come out well when colored.
~ MF
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MorriganFearn In reply to Dimentia44 [2010-12-23 03:27:20 +0000 UTC]
His. I'm a really androgynous artist, I guess ^^. But thanks. You guys get caught in the rivalry, too? Well, I suppose just about everyone does in this neck of the woods. Darn Massachusetts and New York still can't confine their fighting to their own houses. Wakes the neighbors, dern it! On the other hand this just gives me more fuel to the theory that Massachusetts spends his time trying to be a big brother to the rest of New England ('cept Maine, since she's everybody's big sis), and mess with their lives just 'cause. Poor Connecticut, caught between it all.
Thanks for the confirmation.
~ MF
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Fetch26291 [2010-12-20 21:50:28 +0000 UTC]
Delaware has a bit of Sweden in him (Delaware was once New Sweden). Just like New York still has a touch of Dutch, from being New Amsterdam.
Oh, and Massachusetts still argues with New York. It's just gone from arguments over land to arguments over sports teams.
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MorriganFearn In reply to Fetch26291 [2010-12-21 16:39:59 +0000 UTC]
Thanks for the info on Delaware! Hmm, that might be part of why everyone takes forever to get to know him. He learned the stoic Germanic death gaze young, and no one wants to mess with that.
And trust me, I know all about Massachusetts and New York. The rest of New England gets caught in the cross fire. I have another partially completed modern day sketch with Massachusetts planning to whack New York with his baseball bat while New York is busy keeping an eye on Vermont to see that it doesn't run off with any milk fee legislation.
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