Some Mers And Not Mers

Lithuania

Name: Toris Laurinaitis House: Hufflepuff Age: 16 Year: 6th Blood Status: Muggle-born Patronus: Badger Hobbies: Quidditch and Care of Magical Creatures Anything Extra: Ever since Toris found out he was a wizard he dived head first into the wizarding world. He’s fascinated with it all. The idea of quidditch astounds him to this day. His best friend is Felix a Pure-blood he’s constantly having to fact check whatever he says because he gets kicks out of telling him something that’s completely wrong. He’s Team captain and a Beater for Hufflepuff.

This could be a bit of a stretch, but I still think what I’m about to interpret engages the material in an interesting way. You can take it with however many grains of salt that you wish. Remember that there can always be both a figurative and literal element of what characters and objects symbolize – it’s not mutually exclusive.

Before I get into what America’s pets represent, it’s important to explain why America can see aliens, but not ghosts. This often confuses a lot of people, but if you refer to the strips, an implicit but nonetheless consistent logic is used.

England can see ghosts and fantastical creatures because approximately 70% of his people believe in them. At least, this is the figure provided in the strips, I can’t attest to how accurate that is. What’s most important is that this is used in the reasoning behind why Hima characterizes England to possess these abilities.

Since 23% of Americans believe in ghosts, America is unable to see them. Although, admittedly, this does seem to change as the strips become more recent along the timeline. [I’ll get into this in another post].

Similarly, because Americans do not believe in the fantastical with the small exception of Halloween, this is the only time where America is able to see magical creatures and ghosts.

Now, given that UFO’s are only “typically seen” in the US, it would follow that Americans possess stronger beliefs in aliens than they do with the supernatural. This would explain why America is friends with Tony, meanwhile England – whose people don’t possess such a high belief in aliens – is skeptical of Tony.

So…what do America’s pets potentially represent?

It’s not an uncommon trope for authors to make surrounding objects, people, or pets represent aspects of a character’s mind.

America’s Pet Whale: 

In that case, while America did go whale-hunting in Japan for commercial purposes, the whale he later befriends and adopts could also stand for his gluttony.

This meaning doesn’t only limit itself to America’s gorging appetite either.

It can also stand for America’s expansion and befriending of other nations at the expense of leaving England behind and turning his back on him.

Ex: When England hears that America is attempting to befriend a whale, he shyly offers to become his friend.

You can only guess what happens next.

Tony: 

If pets, or rather, familiars, represent the inner framework of a character’s mind, then Tony, as a being of space, could also be equated to America’s own headspace.

In other words, Tony seems to embody America’s old grudge towards England.

Notice how when Tony and England first meet, Tony calls England a “F***ing limey.” 

Meanwhile, America stands there uselessly and is unable to read the situation…

…or rather, what if he is purposefully repressing and keeping his emotions in check, only for Tony to be the one to express them?

Alternatively, Tony could be reading America’s emotions without the latter realizing this. It’s not entirely impossible given that aliens in popular culture often have telepathy or some other kind of mind-reading power. In that regard, maybe Tony has read America’s mind/memories, and is reacting with hostility towards England because of this…

Consider the whole response now: England asks Tony about his home planet.

“Not going back! F***ing Limey!” could likewise be interpreted as America’s vehement opposition to the mere thought of being under England’s rule again. It almost seems as if Tony’s acting as America’s unconscious mouthpiece…asides from the death threat.

We see this again when England visits America and complains that there’s a ghost [it’s actually France] in his house.

Notice the difference in reactions between America and Tony. America laughs it off, while Tony appears to taunt and belittle England for being easily frightened as if he were a small child.

On the other hand, Tony has been seen to end his sentences with “bubu” so this could just be a misspelling. 

More on America’s Emotions: 

I’ve also noticed that America’s pets reciprocate his affection for other nations.

Ex: They are exceptionally fond of Lithuania.

Ex: When Lithuania falls back under Russia’s control during the Great Depression, America seems both worried and sad to see him go.

In sum, while America’s pets are real, there does seem to be some evidence substantiating the possibility of them also representing aspects of his inner psyche.

HIS SMILE.

HIS SMILE.

HIS SMILE.

HIS SMILE.

HIS SMILE.

あめりか50州全部描いたよ The fifty states of America drawn

Pixiv ID: 51245955 Member: そよご★擬人化ア21ab 

YAY! 800 FOLLOWERS! THANKS GUYS!

For today I’ll upload the first ten, then later bit by bit upload the rest XD I will be uploading in batches of ten at a time, thought the fifth and last part will have 11 pictures.

Also tell me if i messed something up XD

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

I think it’s become obvious by now that almost every single nation embodies a good balance between likeable and dislikeable traits. As such, it’s important to lay out some essential characteristics if we’re to understand who England is as a person, his motivations, his faults, and his highpoints.

While England can be invariably cruel and pessimistic – especially towards America– this stems from a latent insecurity that he keeps within himself. He pre-emptively spites others to protect himself from the rejection he’s historically experienced. In modern strips, his temper has calmed considerably, and this spitefulness has transformed more into sarcastic banter and blunt teasing.

Nonetheless, what this post will account for is why England’s loneliness caused him to have such a volatile temperament, not to mention poor relationships with others.

The following character notes are of utmost importance in preventing England’s personality from being misinterpreted. [x]

He’s quite bad at expressing himself. He himself knows that people often misunderstand him, he uses this fact for self-depreciating jokes. 

He could easily be the most pitiful one in this webcomic. 

His temper was quite stormy during the decades after America’s independence. 

Put another way: England’s historical isolation caused him to develop a poor sense of self-worth. To compensate for this, he worked hard to improve his nation and external image of himself. Meanwhile, the insecurity remained even as he emerged as a world superpower. Because he was so used to being teased and berated, England treated others in a similar manner, only for this to work to his own detriment.

Arrogance and boastfulness quickly got the best of him. He fell hard and even deeper into isolation after the American Revolution. His violent temper towards America is a manifestation of his strong fear of rejection. What you’ll see is that England is deeply considerate of others and wants to befriend them, but unfortunately closes up and defensively makes scathing remarks to protect his fragile self-image.

With all that said, let’s tie this back to the strips and go through some examples.

We know that having America as a ward helped ease England’s temper. He even admits to this.

What’s important to point out here is that this was during a time when America was England’s primary ally.

England escaped the alienating atmosphere of Europe by visiting America. America’s unconditional love was England’s security blanket. 

This security blanket was lost after the Revolution, thus explaining why England’s temper explodes in the following years. He was all alone again.

England wants to be friends with America, but has trouble overcoming his loneliness. His crippling fear of rejection is often the cause.

In fact, England can be quite shy at times. If anything, it proves how skeptical he is to open himself up to others, let alone make the effort to get them to see him for who he really is.

He embarrassedly offers to be America’s friend when he realizes that the latter doesn’t have any, only to defensively fall back on anger when America rejects him.

It’s a cruel cycle of desiring to be close to another person, opening himself up, and either 1) rudely spiting them, inciting rejection or 2) politely engaging them as a ‘gentleman’, only for this to incite rejection as well.

His anger is a shell – it’s a tough habit to break, even though he woefully recognizes how problematic it is in impacting how others perceive him.

The fact that he doesn’t expect positive reactions from others is chiefly illustrated with how embarrassed he gets when he does receive praise.

Nonetheless, England keeps trying to mend things with America to the extent that these efforts are excessively nosy.

He’s skeptical that Lithuania will be treated well in America’s house, and takes it upon himself to visit them. Curiosity is a form of caring, however skewed and counterproductive as it may be.

Point is, England’s covertly reaching out to America here, likely because he knows firsthand what it’s like to be directly rejected by the latter. It’s the next best thing he can do.

As touched on above, it’s not just America that England’s isolated from. He’s not referred to as the Black Sheep of Europe for nothing, after all.

During the Splendid Isolation Period, and having experienced many political rejections as a result of tensions with Russia, he desperately tries to convince himself that being alone isn’t all that bad.

Eventually, he’s able to successfully form an alliance with Japan. Of particular emphasis is the strip’s title: 

“The anglo-Japanese alliance between two lonely people.”

I really don’t think it can get more explicit than that.

Further, this alienation among the other nations is a repetitive theme in the series. England’s often left out of excursions and activities.

One example that best demonstrates this is when Italy, Germany, and Japan take it upon themselves to interview other nations about their Christmas traditions. The whole strip entails England hiding in the background, fidgeting nervously as he waits to be interviewed, only to be forgotten about.

Interestingly, it’s Japan who remembers to interview England at the last minute. The two share an implicit, but undeniably deep understanding of each other.

Another way that England compensates for his loneliness is by turning to the supernatural – his fairie friends. America thinks he’s crazy, but what he doesn’t realize is that England likely summons these friends to mitigate his loneliness, and therefore prevent himself from going mad.

The imagery of a child-like imagination is later used to describe England’s love of and desire to live in a world entirely made up of fantasy. He lives in his mind because it’s safe. Similarly, he talks to his [real] fairie friends because he knows that they’re safe too; they won’t ever reject him.

I’ve brought this up before, but I think this is a good note to end on. During the Anglo-Japanese alliance arc, which focuses on the subject of loneliness, why is it that England is given the Kappa’s Miracle Cure?

It’s a medicine said to cure any illness…

…but what illness is there to cure if you’re an immortal being that will automatically recover from illness anyway?

It seems to me that the cure was intended for something less tangible, yet just as hard to cure:

Heartsickness and accompanying feelings of loneliness.

The Assignment

      Room 612 was cursed it had to be Arthur could think of no other explanation why his superior’s office with the best intentions manage to become steadily dreadful every time he step foot init. It was untidy, stacks of papers took the place of where people should, majority of the floor space, on his boss’s chair, the neon green chesterfield sofa, which was a blessing because it was most uncomfortable. Tea cups and new paper clippings had conquered the mahogany desk. Each wall donned various hideous post modern paintings that pulse or spun endlessly making even casual on lookers dizzy.

Arthur was marveling at the newest addition of wall to wall windows behind Mr. Hutchinson’s work space. Someone clearly thought that it was too hard to see at the dirty mismanaged brick back of the local muggle halfway house with the previous two uneven windows that inhabited a year earlier. When Mr. Abdul large heavy set man dress in blue robes busted in. A assortment of enchanted colored files trailing behind while permission slips and formal requests buzzes about like a swarming files being sign and initial by a bewitched quill he parted the the chaos with his free hand to better see his subordinate . “Ah! Mr. Kirkland! Your here already? I thought we wouldn’t be seeing you for at least another day or two. How was your trip?” “Chilly and wet It’s been ages since I’ve traveled this far by broom I forgot how cold flying can be and how brutal English winters are. ” Mr. Abdul eyed Arthur’s wardrobe a ratty decade out of fashion dark blue green robe litter with moth holes matched of with a proper witch’s hat in the same condition. “Well of course good grief man where’s your coat?” “I don’t have one I chucked mine years ago didn’t have much use for it. Thankfully I’d saved this or I would of freeze in my thobe.” “Ah well you better invest in a proper one it’s cold in New York.” “New York? I thought you wanted to see me about the Manzar case because I just would like to say Monhobi was compromised and we where given bad intelligence by those blokes in foreign affairs-” Abdul put up a hand to stop him. “I know Thomas’s report made crystal clear. All in all we where quite impress on how you where able to handle that disaster. So impressed that we think you would be a splendid fit for your new assignment in New York.” “What is it?” “How much British news are you able to get in Aub Dubai?” The change in subject threw Arthur “Not much I can’t spare my owls to spending a day or more having it fly all the way to England and back just for the paper.” “I figured as much well long story short the Magical Congress has a right mess on their hands by this fellow here” Mr. Abdul snatched a red file from the parade behind him and presented it’s contents. 

Arthur gaped at the head shot, He knew the man in the photograph he hadn’t changed much from their last encounter. Same short blonde haircut, square glasses, near prefect teeth the only real difference was that he had traded the reminding of his baby fat for laugh lines. They where highlighted as the photo looped his smile. Arthur fumed internally at the fact that he was still handsome. Abdul began explaining “This is Alfred Jones, age  28, Muggle born, leader of both Wizarding Awareness and the Magic Rights movement. Two campaigns that are hell bent on exposing our world to Muggles and integrate the two. For years Mr. Jones has been a manageable nuisance but over the last few months he’s tripled his number in supporters. Over half of them wizards and witches themselves. Public displays of witchcraft are becoming rampant. Frighten ignorant Muggles are terrorizing the magic population. Muggles are occupying once wizard only spaces upsetting the locals It’s gotten to a tipping point, that the Magical Congress has ask the Ministry for assistance.” “So your outsourcing me to the yanks to help with damage control.” “Yes but your task isn’t damage control its to nip it at its source we want you to complete a full sweep on Mr.Jones.” Arthur was puzzled “A sweep sir? This man clearly needs to be locked up you need a Auror not a Obliviator .” “Would love to but we can’t Mr. Jones hasn’t actually broken any laws.” “What? But you just said that-” “Mr. Jones isn’t the one doing any magic, his supporters are. Can’t really he had his wand destroyed some time in his teens. All he does is talk, protest, march, and raise awareness of the magical community.” “That still breeches the Statute of Wizarding Secrecy.” “True but the secrecy is a international law and we know how difficult that is to enforce. Americans have freedom of speech as a fundamental right and it would greatly harm national relations of our two countries at the mere hint of censorship. Not to mention that there’s a heated debate within Congress about if Mr. Jones can be even be classified as a citizen of the wizarding sovereign which has open the a flood gates about magical citizenship. Mr. Jones is such a high profile case now that if we to act unjustly it very likely he’ll become a martyr for the cause enraging and strengthening his base.” Arthur felt slightly overwhelmed himself and he wasn’t even part of the congress “That is quite the mess.” “But! he is a threat if not the threat of exposure to the wizarding world and dealing with such threats is a Obliviator job, your job. So get some rest buy a cozy coat and arrive at this address by Thursday morning. All the details you need are in here.” He handed over the red file to him "Make us proud Kirkland!“ And Arthur was promptly shooed out of his office. ——-Author Note——-

I was in the mood do some writing this week I decide too so mess around with HP AU. I don’t know if I will continue writing takes me forever and a half (it’s embarrassing how long I spent on this tiny piece) 

Also I’m sure the grammar sucks and there are all kinds of errors. I don’t have a beta nor really wanted to bother with one I just wanted to write.

Several transparents of Aph Romano for the Annons!

Hetalia World ☆ Stars - Chapter 280 Original Translation: y4nderenka // donamoeba Scanlation: jammerlea Please link back to our Tumblr when using translated images on other sites.

Tino you…

that’s the sound of my heart breaking