Holland Twins: "So, Why Doesn't Pap Actually Like You? You Got Great Weather And Great Food, What Gives?

“Mm... Let me be worried for you. That’s what friends do for each other. They worry.”

Carmen tapped her nails on the wooden table in the kitchen, glancing between the clock on the wall and her red fingernails.

“Please. You’re going to make yourself sick, & I know from experience how you get when you’re sick.”

“My darling. You need to relax. You’re overworking yourself. Come home...”

            ❛   and that, carmen, is what one might consider an exaggeration.   ❜   he points out, smirking into his phone at the jest. at least he could see the value in light humour.   ❛   i think you’ll find i’m very relaxed. i do appreciate the concern, but i assure you, i’m fine.   ❜

“Not if you think you have a few tucked away in your basement.” Carmen cracked her knuckles before rolling up the sleeves of hed jacket. “If he is home, one of us will just distract him. If need be, even tie him up and shove him into the closet.”

@resolduende

“I don’t think I have a bow or arrow. I’ve never had to use that weapon… Oh!” She snapped her fingers. “We could try a spear! I think I still have one of those! You can use your strong arms to throw it up and see what happens!”

“Hm, I don’t think that works the same. I’m not good at throwing spears… Sadly.” Where could they get a bow and arrow? “We could snoop around my brother’s weaponry hah.” No don’t. 

Now it was Carmen’s turn to rethink the short conversation. She too had misheard the comment and thought of it as an insult. But it was too late. The Spaniard was too deep in the situation to get out of it, and that’s final.

Carmen set the bag up on a counter and started to pull out little tins, a note attached to each of them. “Just a little something for each of you. What better way to try and get on your family’s good side than by little treats?” She gave the twins a smile before handing each of them a tin. “Don’t eat them all at once. Or do. It’s your choice.”

Daan stared at the Spanish lady with wide eyes and a jaw that would not stop dropped, until he finally was able to say something. “Isn’t that where whores stay?” That earned him a punch in his shoulder from his twin.

“You dumbass, that’s a brothel, not a hostel! Haha, are you gonna annoy the shit out of Pap?”

@resolduende​

Carmen raised an eyebrow. Of course Daan would say something like that. She had gotten used to at least 90% of the Dutch children spouting insults at her. Actually, she was used to most of her former colonies hating her.

She pursed her lips a bit and pushed her sunglasses on top of her head. “If you’re going to insult me, be more creative about it. I’ve heard hostel/brother jokes as many times as you and your siblings have insulted me.” She wasn’t about to let them get to her. Not today.

“Besides, only good children get treats. And most of these are saved for your Papa.”

Daan stared at the Spanish lady with wide eyes and a jaw that would not stop dropped, until he finally was able to say something. “Isn’t that where whores stay?” That earned him a punch in his shoulder from his twin.

“You dumbass, that’s a brothel, not a hostel! Haha, are you gonna annoy the shit out of Pap?”

@resolduende​

[ I really fucking wish I lived in Europe ]

In an earlier post, I talked about the lesser known sides of Spain. This post will focus on the more obvious, yet ironically ignored, positive aspects of his character. Spain has never been a plain character. The problem is that his personality is often watered down, either as a result of the anime or people choosing to selectively represent certain aspects of his personality.

That said, let’s go over some examples.

He’s not a cheerful ditz all the time: 

Ex: He didn’t take chibi Romano’s constant complaining without any resistance. On several occasions, Spain’s shown to be calling him an idiot.

Ex: He’s an emotional or “violent” drunk. It depends on which translation you have, but it pretty much conveys the same thing.

My translation is a bit different from the one above:

“As long as you keep him away from booze, and don’t get on his bad side, you should be fine.”

Ex: Prior to the strip, teenage Romano had a huge obsession with fantasizing about/ role-playing the medieval chivalric romance novels that he read. In comes Prussia, recklessly spouting out keywords that seem to trigger Romano’s obsession again, much to the latter’s dismay. Mother hen Spain quickly swoops in to give a deadly warning.

Ex: He melancholically looks back on his and France’s rough childhoods.

Ex: When the topic of discussions falls to what each nation is known for, Spain laments over being known for cows and tomatoes.

He’s more than capable of reading the atmosphere: 

Ex: His reaction to America after the Stock Market crashes in 1939.

Ex: He’s heartbroken when Veneziano chooses Austria over him during the Austrian War of Succession. The scene alludes to the fact that Spain was deeply saddened in the years following his divorce from Austria. Likewise, the way Spain revs up his cheery attitude in light of being rejected seems to be more of a defense mechanism, a guarded mask of emotions, than it is of his true personality.

I say this because Romano finds Spain weeping in the next panel.

Ex: He solemnly hints to Chibitalia of what’s to become of him right before he and his brother are both conquered.

His optimism is not out of sheer stupidity: 

It’s more like it’s a desperate sort of optimism. The way that Spain convinces himself to push forward with a smile is eventually internalized until he himself doesn’t even realize that what he’s doing is unrealistic and naive. As mentioned above, it’s also a coping mechanism.

Nonetheless, there are moments where he shows a deep awareness of his economic/ political situation.

Ex:There’s a clear recognition that he’s lost his international standing due to poverty.

Ex: Once again, his [desperate] optimism shines through in how he copes with his weakened economy. He sings songs, and acts happy…

…but he’s more than aware of how deep and serious his money problems are. He’s literally clinging to Germany, albeit for exaggerated humorous effect.

He may have a laid-back personality…

…but once he gets worked up about something, his passion replaces his typical lazing around.

Ex: He fought to have olive oil continually be marketed as a staple product of the EU.

Again, with Spain, it seems that the happiness he forces onto himself allows him to get too carried away in what he does (e.g., over-manufacturing and then causing a property bubble).

That’s why he comes off as naïve and a bit air-headed. You could even argue that it’s a slight dissociation from reality to help minimize any anxiety that he feels.

His constant smiling is also a play on the fact that the sun never set in the Spanish Empire.

He’s selfless:

Ex: Despite all the complaining and constant belittling that he had to endure with Romano, Spain still saves him from Turkey.

Ex: Spain spent all his money on improving Romano’s wardrobe. [Please note that Romano was too young to realize this]. Meanwhile, his own clothes were in tatters.

Ex: When Romano immigrates to America, Spain is the first person he calls. Their relationship is noted to be much deeper than the one Romano shares with Veneziano.

Immediately, Spain’s mother hen mode gets switched on as he asks Romano how he’s been and if he’s been eating well.

He also lets Romano know how proud he is of him working and taking responsibility for himself for once.

That said, it wouldn’t make sense for a character predicated on a stereotype of passion to be flat and static. He’s anything but.

she let out a quiet scoff, rolling her eyes. ❝ oh ye of little faith. i don’t pay full price for anything. i’m too broke for that! ❞ she pointed to the box & smiled. ❝ but i saw it in a pawn shop when i was in Switzerland & got it for you. i hope you like it. ❞

resolduende

the Spaniard nodded, holding up a small box to the way taller man. ❝ i give gifts to all my family. even if one of them reproduces like a rabbit. ❞ her eyes flashed before she laughed a little. oh please don’t murder her. she enjoys life. ❝ this one’s yours. i couldn’t remember if you were the type to have gold or silver stored away in case of an international economy collapse. so i got you some silver. ❞

Tim flashed her an unamused glance. “You do remember I was a kid myself when I got most of them?” But he didn’t actually comment further on it, he was too interested what was in that small box. “Gold, actually. Gold doesn’t lose value when economies differ.” He muttered as he opened the box to reveal a silver watch, with an adjustable strap. His eyebrows raised in surprise as he raised his head as well to look back at her. “Did you… pay full price for this?”

A sketch/wip thingy 6: Drawing S.pain is a lot of fun!

“I like walking when the streets are empty.”

“It’s a good time to do some thinking and looking at things nearby. But the question is do you walk during the day or night?”

Send my muse an erotic dream.

|| Reading a term paper in their underwear?    Flirting with the new Boss? Giraffe Ballerinas?    Sexy, subliminal or just downright weird!

   Bonus points if another muse is mentioned!