#Historical tragedy

[thatpacifictheatregirlie]

@hetalia-rarepairweek

Uh...uh....yeah. Maybe AmeBela isn’t the rarest of rarepairs but it’s cute. Also BelaHun.

Day Six Hetalia Rarepair Week (I may or may not have worked ahead)

Magical and Fantasy | Ghost

(also historical, idk)

Disclaimer:

This fic does not seek to belittle, mock, or ridicule the Challenger Disaster in any way, shape, or form. While the event integral part of this fic, the people involved deserve more than a 6000 word Hetalia fanfiction shipping the nations of America and Belarus. There is a singular named mention of a person involved in the event, however that is all. This fic aims to build off of the relationship between Alfred and Natalia, and the affect a single person's dreams can have throughout time. Descriptions of this event are not graphic, however if you cannot read due to this, then you may find another fic to read, I don't mind.

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Hetalia: Axis Powers Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Major Character Death Relationships: America/Belarus (Hetalia), Belarus/Hungary (Hetalia), Belarus & Australia (Hetalia) Characters: America (Hetalia), Belarus (Hetalia), Ukraine (Hetalia), Hungary (Hetalia), Australia (Hetalia), Kazakhstan (Hetalia), Female Canada (Hetalia), Female South Korea (Hetalia), Liechtenstein (Hetalia), Switzerland (Hetalia), Canada (Hetalia) Additional Tags: Space Shuttle Challenger Disaster, Historical, Historical Hetalia, Alternate Universe - Human, Alternate Universe - Ghosts, alternate universe - astronauts, Death, referenced character death, Historical Accuracy, I spent way too much time on this, Hetalia Rarepair Week 2023, cursing, Swear Words Series: Part 1 of Hetalia Rarepair Week 2023 Summary:

When Natalia was young, she would sit in front of the old television that her father had managed to bring back, her older sister diligently translating the English broadcasts into Russian. A man, blond hair and bright smile, was chosen to board the Challenger and set off to outer space. Fate was cruel, but if Alfred couldn't make it to the stars then Natalia decided she would do it for him, for her idol, so his memory could live on.

Of course, the ghost on the International Space Station may have thrown a bit of a wrench in her plans, but that was beside the point, right?

[alwaysbewoke]

On March 5th, 1959, 69 African American boys, ages 13 to 17, were padlocked in their dormitory for the night at the Negro Boys Industrial School in Wrightsville. Around 4 a.m., a fire mysteriously ignited, forcing the boys to fight and claw their way out of the burning building. The old, run-down, & low-funded facility, just 15 minutes south of Little Rock, housed 69 teens from ages 13-17. Most were either homeless or incarcerated for petty crimes such as doing pranks. 48 boys managed to escape the fire. The doors were locked from the outside and fire mysteriously ignited on a cold, wet morning, following earlier thunderstorms in the same area of rural Pulaski County. The horrific event brought attention to the deplorable conditions in which the boys lived. The boys all slept in a space barely big enough for them to move around & theyre one foot apart from one another & their bathroom was a bucket at the corner where they had to defecate in. In an ironic twist, the land in which the school stood is now the Arkansas Department of Correction Facility Wrightsville Unit. In 2019 a plaque was finally placed after 60 years.

PURE EVIL!!! MY GOD!!

[royaltea000]

Two young knights

[hedgehog-moss]

I was reading a book of musical anecdotes written by un pernicieux rosbif an Englishman not very long after the last Napoleonic Wars and you can tell relations between our two countries were still somewhat tense 😔

At one point he goes on and on for a whole page about how gorgeous the Paris Opera is, "sumptuous", "magnificent", the interior décor is "one of the finest in the world", "a chandelier of the grandest order", and the painted ceiling!, and the blue velvet in the boxes!, and you're like "he's saying nice things? about us? 🥺" — then he concludes with:

"the opera in Paris is top-tier in every respect except if you want to listen to good opera"

[valhalla-awaitsfor-us]

I hope that no one takes the posts that I reblogged as meaning that I don't care about what happened on 9/11 in the USA. I remember being 3 years old and watching television and not understanding what was happening but crying when I saw so much suffering.

However, I do believe that it is important to give MUCH more visibility to the military coup in Chile than what the media gives it on this date (Both happened on the same day, different years). It is worrying how the entire world only talks about what happened in the USA while many, including the gringos themselves, do not even know what their own government did not only in Chile but throughout Latin America. The millions of dead and missing people that affect us to this day. Look for Operation Condor if want to know what happened here not that long ago.

"Never forget" seems like a phrase only applicable to the United States and the rest of the "first world", while the crimes committed here by their imperialist governments seem irrelevant in their school history books.

[hoomanbeaning]

"... afraid she was no longer there, and eager to see her, the lover turned his eyes. in an instant she dropped back, and he, unhappy man, stretching out his arms to hold her and be held, clutched at nothing but the receding air. dying a second time, now, there was no complaint to her husband (what, then, could she complain of, except that she had been loved?) ..."

ovid's metamorphoses / orpheus and eurydice

[dandelionsandderivatives]

While I was languishing on the bed of illness last week, I spent a lot of time reading up on American Girl Doll lore. Dear followers, you may see a lot of American Girl content in the following weeks. I say this not to apologize, but to entice.

[aestheticemi01]

Truly is a very, very heartbreaking day…400 years worth of history gone up in flames. 💔

The old Stock Exchange building in Copenhagen 1620-2024…

[empireofpearls-if]

Embark on a captivating journey as you assume the identity of Birbal, a brilliant prodigy, and immerse yourself in the enigmatic realm of the Mughal Empire. Behold a world thrown into chaos following the demise of Emperor Humayun, as a mere 14-year-old Akbar inherits the illustrious throne. Your choices shall shape the destiny of this young monarch, as you aid him in becoming the legendary emperor he's destined to be, or plunge the empire into turmoil by orchestrating a web of subversion and deceit. The power to shape an empire lies within your hands.

Amidst a cast of colorful characters, tread cautiously as you determine which souls can be deemed trustworthy, while remaining ever vigilant for those who may, with a swift and treacherous strike, plunge a dagger deep into your unsuspecting back. In this enthralling tale of loyalty and betrayal, the art of discerning friend from foe becomes your most vital survival skill. Make allies, face challenges and uncover hidden secrets. Just as internal conflict reaches a boiling point, the walls of the royal palace begin to tremble, beckoning you take a stance. Whose side will you embrace?

Empire of Pearls: A Mughal Tale is an interactive story inspired by historical events. It is set at the beginning of Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar's reign as the youngest-ever Mughal Emperor where you play as his most trusted advisor and friend, Birbal. This reimagined work is entirely text-based and your choices help shape Birbal's personality, skills, relationship with others, and of course the fate of the Empire.

Content warning: This game explores dark themes such as abuse, bullying, manipulation, use of drugs and alcohol, blood, gore, violence etc. and is strictly rated 18+. Besides that more in depth warnings will be provided before each chapter and certain trigger points can be turned off completely at the start of the game.

Demo | Character Appearances | Tags | FAQ |

Play as male or female and choose your real name and sexuality.

Customize your appearance and personality.

Choose one of three different backgrounds that will impact your reputation and relationships:

A noble possessing a remarkable talent, invited to join the court by Emperor Humayun himself; a child of a maid serving a powerful military commander, hired on the recommendation of the commander or a street urchin caught stealing from the royal palace, rewarded with a place in the elite circle owing to the incredible feat.

Romance any of the five different love interests or not. Friendship is always an option.

Be a part of an elite group of courtiers serving none other than Emperor Akbar and shape the fate of the Empire.

Abu'l-Fath Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar (he/him) 💕 : The newly crowned young emperor. Friendly and affable, the ruler has a tendency to be a bit impulsive at times. Despite his age he has been preparing for this role for years and doesn't seem at all nervous to be the new monarch. Akbar can be a powerful friend and an equally dangerous foe. How he perceives you vary depending on your background. A year younger than Birbal.

...........

Bairam Khan (he/him): A military commander and the most trusted ally of the throne until the death of Emperor Humayun. Since then he has been promoted to commander-in-chief, if that wasn't all he also happens to be Akbar's guardian, chief mentor and advisor. Bairam knows his way around the empire but can you actually trust this man?

...........

Ruqaiya Sultan Begum (she/her) 💕: An aloof but fiercely loyal woman and Akbar's first wife. Being cousins, neither of them ever saw each other as anything but friends. But Ruqaiya also hides a big secret, one that has her loathing herself. Will you able to form a deep enough connection to assist her in embracing her true self and breaking free from her constraints? A year younger than Birbal.

...........

Salima Sultan Begum (she/her): A strong and intelligible woman and Akbar's second wife. She feels heavily undervalued and undermined by the court which causes her to constantly act out and push the boundaries of what is acceptable for a woman. Though she sees Akbar as a friend, anything more than that with anyone is unfathomable to her. Two years younger than Birbal.

...........

Mahira Khan Mughal (she/her) 💕: A softspoken and timid young woman sold as a political pawn by her own father to become Akbar's third wife. Mahira longs for companionship and understanding which she can't find in the palace but you can fill that void in her life by secretly courting her or by providing the friendship she desperately craves. Two years younger than Birbal.

...........

Arslan Khan (he/him)💕: The son of Bairam Khan and another young prodigy, seemingly possessing supernatural powers and later becoming known as the legendary Mulla Do-Pyaza. With a mixture of rivalry and occasional bullying, he views Birbal as a formidable adversary. Arslan, driven by an insatiable desire for his father's approval, harbors a volatile temper that ignites at the mere mention of insults hurled towards his family. Peering beyond the myth, can you uncover the man within? A year older than Birbal.

...........

Nadeem/Nadia Mirza (opposite gender of Birbal) 💕: Birbal's betrothed and distant cousin of Akbar. A noble with a secret lover, N only accepted the marriage offer because it was arranged by commander-in-chief Bairam Khan himself and it was made obvious that refusal would not bear good consequences for their family. Can you form a connection with your betrothed despite the rocky start? Two years older than Birbal.

[unicornsaures]

historical lams sketch for the soul

[wolframpant]

"But at least he is still here. Yes, still here. And they've all gone, every one of them."

[chiropteracupola]

there's something so interesting about writing specifically in the genre of horror and tragedy on ao3, a space where the convention is to describe your story via its tropes rather than its genre.

if it's going to end miserably, you often know at the outset in a way that isn't quite like many other ways of experiencing a story, and that's Interesting!

much like the concept of fic itself, you're entering the story knowing the characters and a general plan of the setting, even if the writer's dropped you entirely in medias res and let you read from someplace in the middle. but that worry is already built at the outset, a ratcheting line of checkmarks to be ticked as you read forwards.

...now, I wonder if there's any way to purposefully leverage that to build Dread in the reader's mind even before you begin your tale...

[patcaps]

all the people wanting queer trauma porn who would’ve bet money on cap killing himself because he’s gay owe me £1000 btw. you fucking freaks

[flightlessangelwings]

It’s my birthday

[brother-emperors]

Do you think there s any parallels to Brutus and Cleopatra, after they each have to bury Cassius and Mark Anthony?

oh for sure! I've written a little about the narrative comparisons between the two pairs with regards to HBO Rome.

I have less thoughts about antony and cleopatra in a historical kind of way, but it is interesting that they're like. a decayed narrative parallel to brutus and cassius in the greater theater of history (ends of an era). cassius and antony (gladiators, baby!) both commit suicide, but antony's suicide gets real fucked up: he's straight up denied a clean end to his own life. on the other hand, cleopatra and brutus are such hard opposites to each other, both in politic and reception, that it's difficult to find themes that work for them both the way that antony and cassius have, without discussing much broader subjects like transitional time periods.

but in a way. cleopatra and antony also fulfill the statesman-gladiator pairing. so. there might be something there.

[navree]

today's e-pistulae email, also known as the "cicero immediately teaches us about dramatic irony" email.

no no marcus, it is both here and there. especially for you.