forum Pheasant Brook (O/O with Icarus!)

Started December 12, 2019 by @GoblinKing

tune

Wilhelm continued to flip through the pages of his book. He listened to Connor’s humming, although his attention went back to reading once the his roommate had stopped.

Connor kept sketching, his pencil scratching across the paper with that soft whisper of lead on paper, those soft sounds that told the tale of the sketch even if you couldn't see him drawing it.

To Wilhelm, the sounds of the sketch became simple white noise that was nothing short of calming. He loved that noise, and he always had. Wilhelm had half a mind to ask Connor what he was drawing, but the boy seemed too concentrated to disturb.

Connor shifted in his bed, holding the sketchbook farther away from his face to test that the drawing's perspective still held out from a different distance. Then he set it down again, and resumed his sketching. His lower lip was caught between his teeth.

Wilhelm tilted his head, seeing Connor out of his peripherals. “What’re you doing?” He looked over curiously, placing his book face-down in his lap.

"Testing the perspective." Connor replied, looking over at Wilhelm for a moment. "Ah'm makin' sure tha' the perspective still holds true if the drawin' is closer or further away."

“Oh. That makes sense.” Wilhelm nodded, clasping his hands together on top of his book. “If I may ask, what are you drawing?”

Connor held it up. It seemed to be a city street, likely from London. "Ah need ta get better at drawin' city streets." he replied.

“You’re doing well, though. From what I can see here, at least. What city is it?” Wilhelm tilted his head, squinting a bit to better see the sketch.

"London." Connor replied. "Where m' uncle lives, an' where ah've spend most o' my life."

“Oh, London! I’ve never been.” Wilhelm shrugged, picking his book back up. “You’ll have to show me that drawing when you’re done, yeah? It looks very good so far.”

Connor nodded. "Yeah. It's a decent place ta live." he replied with a quick smile. "An' ah'll show yeh, if'n yeh want, then." he started to sketch again.

Wilhelm nodded, once more beginning to read. He hated that he couldn’t make notes in this book, given that it was from the library. He had half a mind to pull out a sheet of paper and note things down on that, but he knew that he would lose either the paper or the context for it, whichever came first.

Connor kept sketching quietly. Well, quiet except for the sounds his pencil made. He cocked his head a little bit, and his neck let out a cracking sound.

Wilhelm flinched a bit at the noise, honestly feeling the crack his own neck. “God, that sounded painful..”

Connor laughed. "Nah, it was fine." he replied, and looked up at Wilhelm with a smile.

(these two would be on opposite sides in WW2…)

(honestly, they were in WW1. wilhelm is not well-liked outside of his friend group, since he’s kinda on enemy territory here, even if the war is over)

Wilhelm rubbed the back of his neck, turning the page. He didn’t look over at Connor, assuming that Connor wasn’t looking at him either. “I’ll take your word for that, but that sounded bad enough to make my own neck hurt.” He laughed softly.

(well yeah, that's true too)

Connor looked back down at his sketchbook, letting out a soft laugh as well. "It did nae hurt much." he replied, shaking his head a little bit. Part of him wanted to ask what Germany was like…but he knew that that might be a bit of a touchy subject.

(i could rant forever about how the treaty of versailles fucked germany over, lmao)

Wilhelm set his book down again, stretching his arms and shoulders. He stood up, trying to make his bed without having to move everything. He was partially considering getting dressed, but another part of him just wanted to sit in bed all day. Wilhelm had half a mind to ask about London, although he knew that it could be a sore topic for Connor.

(honestly same. like England and America and all that were supposedly the good guys, but you look at it and what the French and English did to Germany was seriously fucked up)

Connor let out a soft hum, and continued to sketch. His red curls fell into his face a little bit.

(right?? honestly, germany gets so much shit for starting WWI, but when you really look at it, there were so many different little sparks, like imperialism in africa and i don’t know, extreme nationalistic views?? germany got fucking wrecked for?? no reason?? like they were literally forced into signing the treaty)

Wilhelm began to get dressed, back turned to Connor once again. As he finished, he walked to the window again, gazing out at the scenery down below. The sky wasn’t quite dark enough for his reflection to be clear yet, so he was merely looking at the trees and greenery below.

(yes!!! and then WW2 happened because Germany was literally so desperate for someone, anyone to save them from the mess, and Hitler stepped forward and promised them a bright and shiny future. like???? i know hitler did terrible things, but to the German people, he was their hero because he saved them. and people are like "why did they ever vote for Hitler" like…bitch???? you would have too, in their shoes)

Connor happened to glance up as Wilhelm was changing, and quickly looked away again, eyes fixed to his sketchbook. He hummed softly as he did.

(YES!!! and THATS the tea! germany’s economy was in the shits, they had no military, so when somebody comes around and promises to fix it, wouldn’t you be hopeful?? obviously that doesn’t excuse his actions, nor the fact that people stood by while he committed atrocities, but if you want to look at why people supported hitler then look at WHY people supported hitler)

Wilhelm smiled a bit at the humming, still adjusting some of the buttons on his shirt as he watched outside. “This may be a sore subject, especially from me, of all people, but what was London like?”

(YES EXACTLY!! im so tired of all of germany being villainized for one guy's actions!!)

Connor blinked, looking up again. "Hm? Oh. London is…" he shrugged. "The weather is quite like this, most o' the time, an' the streets are a little cramped, especially on holidays. It's a big place, too."

(oh my god YES. not to the same degree, obviously, but that’s kinda like someone using Trump as their basis for what every american is like, it’s just not true!)

Wilhelm nodded, trying to fix his hair blind. “I figured as much. I think I’m still on the fence about whether I like big places or not, honestly.” He laughed softly, sitting back down on his bed.

(YESS EXACTLY! I mean…Trump isn't the worst American ever, but I'd agree that he's definitely not the best lmao)
(Also i gtg to bed soonish)

Connor nodded. "Uhm. What's Germany like?" he asked slowly, biting his lip. "Obviously yeh dinnae have ta answer if yeh don't want to."

(while that’s true, but they’re both in the highest positions of power, so it felt more equivalent, lmao)
(okay, gn!)

Wilhelm paused at the question and he thought for a moment. “It’s.. it’s pretty, depending on where you are. Some is bombed to all hell, and our economy’s dead, and we have lost a ridiculous amount of land, and we have no military to defend ourse-“ He stopped himself, realizing the growing passion and volatility in his voice. Wilhelm cleared his throat slightly. “Sorry about that. Germany’s beautiful, especially the mountains. Very pretty.”

(yeah lmao)

Connor just blinked slowly. "Yer allowed ta be upset, Wilhelm." He said simply. "Ah know tha'…tha' th' treaty of Versailles was hard on her country. Ah dinnae…" He wasn't quite sure what to say. Because yeah, his father was dead because of the war, but Connor didn't…blame the common folk of Germany. Maybe the army, yes, the military, but not the people, and not Wilhelm either.

“I know I am.” Wilhelm rubbed his temples, crossing his ankles. “And trust me, I know just how hard the Treaty is on us. But that isn’t what you asked.” Wilhelm knew exactly what he felt about the topic, and exactly what he wanted to say, although it definitely wouldn’t have been appropriate for the conversation. He blamed the other world powers, to be sure, maybe not the people, not Connor, but the country itself. “I’m just.. tired of it all.”

Connor nodded a little bit. "Yeah." he replied softly. He looked over at Wilhelm, sighing softly. "Ah'm tired o' it to. But…" he trailed off. "Ah dinnae know what ta say, though." he shook his head slightly.