[Part 12] The Appliance of Charm (UKUS) [1/21]
anonymous
February 19 2012, 23:22:23 UTC
Original Prompt: Seduction Via Coffee Maker - LINK Notes: I apologize for any bastardization of British slang, my horrible abuse of run-on sentences and Alfred's internal monologues. That being said, I hope someone enjoys this.
- I -
To all the peons in the lower ranks of Kirkland Publishing, Arthur Kirkland, resident tyrant and technical president, was a shadowy figure of mystery at best. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that the entirety of their lives at work, and even outside work at times, was governed and ruled by this man. There was very little that they did or said that didn't reach his ears and everything they accomplished was to please him and him alone. Sure their department managers might give them assignments, tell them what to do and manage their accomplishments and fuckups, but it was clear to all that Mr. Kirkland was the true puppet master of everything that went on within the company.
And rightly so. It was his company, after all.
At the same time, almost no one had actually seen the man, let alone spoken
( ... )
Re: The Appliance of Charm (UKUS) [3b/21]
anonymous
February 20 2012, 14:07:45 UTC
This is very cute so far, and I like your Arthur and his attitude. Alfred must be very charming indeed. I really look forward to seeing more!
A little note of critique? Your writing is good enough that you don't need the epithets (the American, the Spaniard, the English Gentleman, etc.). Once we know what nationality they are you never need mention it again (unless it's dialogue). I offer this because mostly your writing is clever and a pleasure to read.
Re: The Appliance of Charm (UKUS) [3b/21]
anonymous
February 21 2012, 17:04:25 UTC
As always, I'm forever alone with my opinions - and indeed, I hate to disagree, but to me the characters are horribly out of character. They all feel so... washed out to fit in the trying-to-be-sarcastic dialogue that it ends up being quite painful to read.
Re: The Appliance of Charm (UKUS) [3b/21]
anonymous
February 21 2012, 18:30:23 UTC
RAEG!
lol no, really I just was gonna say: of course you're allowed to have your own opinion.
I may disagree with you, but y'know. Mature adults and all that.
imo they aren't ooc so much as toned-down for a real world AU, aka not larger-than-life embodiments of stereotypes. And when I read a real-world AU, that's just what I like.
Re: The Appliance of Charm (UKUS) [3b/21]
anonymous
February 21 2012, 20:55:58 UTC
imo they aren't ooc so much as toned-down for a real world AU, aka not larger-than-life embodiments of stereotypes. And when I read a real-world AU, that's just what I like.
This! The characters, as they are in canon, are not functional in the real world because they are not human. The level of violence England shows, for example, would get his pale ass in jail in a second. America would make someone punch them in a second.
Like you, when I read Human AUs, I want to see the characters' unique traits but in a human context. And I think this fic does that in an awesome way.
But as you said, mature adults and everyone has an opinion :)
Re: The Appliance of Charm (UKUS) [3b/21]
anonymous
February 22 2012, 05:04:24 UTC
Agreed! You can't have the same characterization from a cartoon/silly webstrip as in Dark!Hetalia and explore the Holocaust, for instance.
I also have headcanon that they are more serious/real when around normal humans--when it's just the nation-tans, they behave less like real people. Sort of like old stories of faerie wars, where none of the fae could die unless there was a real human along with them.
The Appliance of Charm (UKUS) [4b/21]
anonymous
February 22 2012, 00:03:07 UTC
“I wanted to talk to you about the coffee machine I requested on Tuesday,” Alfred said then, ignoring the implication that his services and opinions were no longer needed. In his personal opinion, they were always needed.
“If I remember correctly, that discussion ended on Tuesday,” Arthur said.
Alfred thought You're getting old, so don't worry about your memory going, might not be the most diplomatic thing to say at the moment, and that Arthur probably wouldn't appreciate Alfred bringing up his age.
(And besides, Arthur wasn't that old, and even if he was, he was still pretty attractive for an old guy and trying to explain his thought process usually made things worse so he should probably just quit while he was ahead
( ... )
The Appliance of Charm (UKUS) [5/21]
anonymous
February 22 2012, 00:05:36 UTC
- V -
Alfred had thought Arthur would appreciate him being direct about wanting a coffee machine. The man was, after all, more than a little enthusiastic about office protocol. But perhaps Alfred had misjudged him. Perhaps a more subtle, slow seduction into the idea of coffee would appeal more to his tea-loving boss, especially given his appreciation for epic romance novels. (He kept a pile in the bottom left drawer of his desk that he thought no one knew about, but Alfred had caught a glimpse one day when he was organizing and all he had to say was wow. He was pretty sure some of those had naughty scenes in them.)
But back to the matter at hand; Alfred was after a more delicate way to convince Arthur to let him buy a coffee machine, a series of convincing arguments that weren't actually arguments so much as suggestions. Alfred didn't normally do subtle, but he had charm in spades and if it meant finally getting his coffee machine, he would simply have to get creative
( ... )
The Appliance of Charm (UKUS) [6b/21]
anonymous
February 22 2012, 00:11:25 UTC
“I'm perfectly happy and I most certainly do not have a frowny face,” Arthur argued, back against the elevator wall, arms crossed and face, well - what could Alfred say? It was rather frowny, despite the man's argument
( ... )
Re: The Appliance of Charm (UKUS) [6b/21]
anonymous
February 22 2012, 05:20:14 UTC
Wow, what a lovely fic I managed to stumble across. Arthur's sarcasm is adorable. People who employ sarcasm effectively and very well are high on my list of admiration. Greatly look forward to reading more~
Notes: I apologize for any bastardization of British slang, my horrible abuse of run-on sentences and Alfred's internal monologues. That being said, I hope someone enjoys this.
- I -
To all the peons in the lower ranks of Kirkland Publishing, Arthur Kirkland, resident tyrant and technical president, was a shadowy figure of mystery at best. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that the entirety of their lives at work, and even outside work at times, was governed and ruled by this man. There was very little that they did or said that didn't reach his ears and everything they accomplished was to please him and him alone. Sure their department managers might give them assignments, tell them what to do and manage their accomplishments and fuckups, but it was clear to all that Mr. Kirkland was the true puppet master of everything that went on within the company.
And rightly so. It was his company, after all.
At the same time, almost no one had actually seen the man, let alone spoken ( ... )
Reply
A little note of critique? Your writing is good enough that you don't need the epithets (the American, the Spaniard, the English Gentleman, etc.). Once we know what nationality they are you never need mention it again (unless it's dialogue). I offer this because mostly your writing is clever and a pleasure to read.
Reply
Reply
My opinion. I hope I don't get RAEG'd over it.
Reply
lol no, really I just was gonna say: of course you're allowed to have your own opinion.
I may disagree with you, but y'know. Mature adults and all that.
imo they aren't ooc so much as toned-down for a real world AU, aka not larger-than-life embodiments of stereotypes. And when I read a real-world AU, that's just what I like.
But I can see why someone else might not like it.
*gives alone!anon a cookie*
Reply
This! The characters, as they are in canon, are not functional in the real world because they are not human. The level of violence England shows, for example, would get his pale ass in jail in a second. America would make someone punch them in a second.
Like you, when I read Human AUs, I want to see the characters' unique traits but in a human context. And I think this fic does that in an awesome way.
But as you said, mature adults and everyone has an opinion :)
Reply
I also have headcanon that they are more serious/real when around normal humans--when it's just the nation-tans, they behave less like real people. Sort of like old stories of faerie wars, where none of the fae could die unless there was a real human along with them.
Reply
Reply
“If I remember correctly, that discussion ended on Tuesday,” Arthur said.
Alfred thought You're getting old, so don't worry about your memory going, might not be the most diplomatic thing to say at the moment, and that Arthur probably wouldn't appreciate Alfred bringing up his age.
(And besides, Arthur wasn't that old, and even if he was, he was still pretty attractive for an old guy and trying to explain his thought process usually made things worse so he should probably just quit while he was ahead ( ... )
Reply
Alfred had thought Arthur would appreciate him being direct about wanting a coffee machine. The man was, after all, more than a little enthusiastic about office protocol. But perhaps Alfred had misjudged him. Perhaps a more subtle, slow seduction into the idea of coffee would appeal more to his tea-loving boss, especially given his appreciation for epic romance novels. (He kept a pile in the bottom left drawer of his desk that he thought no one knew about, but Alfred had caught a glimpse one day when he was organizing and all he had to say was wow. He was pretty sure some of those had naughty scenes in them.)
But back to the matter at hand; Alfred was after a more delicate way to convince Arthur to let him buy a coffee machine, a series of convincing arguments that weren't actually arguments so much as suggestions. Alfred didn't normally do subtle, but he had charm in spades and if it meant finally getting his coffee machine, he would simply have to get creative ( ... )
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