DC AU fanfic: Uncle Sam
Aug. 21st, 2008 10:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sylph_ficsTitle: We Hold These Truths
Word Count: 404
Fandom: DC comics
Character: Uncle Sam
Notes: First in a series, but hopefully entirely acceptable as a stand-alone.
All you really need to know is who Uncle Sam is, though mild familiarity with his incarnations would help.
The Heartland, 1974
Practically since the end of the second World War, he'd been dying. Second, when the first had been the 'War to End All Wars'.
Dying slow and painful of an inner rot that seemed as though it had no cure.
And it was the choices made in his name that were killing him.
Dying of loss of obligation to duty and to honor in the people he was to serve.
Choices made to ignore the right path, and take the convenient one were killing him; choices to turn on the promises of equality and liberty he'd been created from to try to preserve a shame already dead.
Choices that chose the path of tyranny, when he was because of men who refused to bow to a tyrant--
He hadn't had the strength to truly manifest since the early days of the post-war boom, since those who had gained power had refused to release it as they ought, found others to paint with the brush of villainy, and that had been allowed.
He'd only been able to watch, choking and failing as his people let corruption and greed and fear blind them to what was happening to them, among them.
There was strength growing in the South again, but those who fought there for their freedom saw him as the force holding them down and barred him from their strength with that same force of will.
He tried, for the boys that believed in him, believed he would be there beside them, and sometimes he almost could, slipping through the deep jungle with the skill of the Minute-Man he had once been to give aid to them for their faith and their oaths, but he had such little strength in this filthy war...
America was falling slowly... and as she fell, Uncle Sam was dying with her.
But he wasn't dead yet.
And there were still men and women that believed. As long as there was still one, he might be only a ghost, but he would be.
No matter how weak... he would find the way. There was someone that would call to him, that would have the strength of love of country of his first body, and would have the knowing of this new world strong enough for him to understand it. He just had to hold on until that someone was ready.
Word Count: 404
Fandom: DC comics
Character: Uncle Sam
Notes: First in a series, but hopefully entirely acceptable as a stand-alone.
All you really need to know is who Uncle Sam is, though mild familiarity with his incarnations would help.
The Heartland, 1974
Practically since the end of the second World War, he'd been dying. Second, when the first had been the 'War to End All Wars'.
Dying slow and painful of an inner rot that seemed as though it had no cure.
And it was the choices made in his name that were killing him.
Dying of loss of obligation to duty and to honor in the people he was to serve.
Choices made to ignore the right path, and take the convenient one were killing him; choices to turn on the promises of equality and liberty he'd been created from to try to preserve a shame already dead.
Choices that chose the path of tyranny, when he was because of men who refused to bow to a tyrant--
He hadn't had the strength to truly manifest since the early days of the post-war boom, since those who had gained power had refused to release it as they ought, found others to paint with the brush of villainy, and that had been allowed.
He'd only been able to watch, choking and failing as his people let corruption and greed and fear blind them to what was happening to them, among them.
There was strength growing in the South again, but those who fought there for their freedom saw him as the force holding them down and barred him from their strength with that same force of will.
He tried, for the boys that believed in him, believed he would be there beside them, and sometimes he almost could, slipping through the deep jungle with the skill of the Minute-Man he had once been to give aid to them for their faith and their oaths, but he had such little strength in this filthy war...
America was falling slowly... and as she fell, Uncle Sam was dying with her.
But he wasn't dead yet.
And there were still men and women that believed. As long as there was still one, he might be only a ghost, but he would be.
No matter how weak... he would find the way. There was someone that would call to him, that would have the strength of love of country of his first body, and would have the knowing of this new world strong enough for him to understand it. He just had to hold on until that someone was ready.
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no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 04:04 am (UTC)Can't wait to see more.
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Date: 2008-08-22 04:16 am (UTC)We'll see how quickly I get the next piece.
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Date: 2008-08-22 04:08 am (UTC)I would write you poetry, but you did it for me.
That is *amazing* I love it. I ADORE IT!
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Date: 2008-08-22 04:17 am (UTC)You really, REALLY need to find the 1997 two-part mini that Steve Darnell and Alex Ross did.
SO. MUCH.
thanks again, hon.
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Date: 2008-08-22 04:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 04:18 am (UTC)And I am just glad I found the canon.
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Date: 2008-08-22 04:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 03:37 pm (UTC)(But in this world there's a Slade and. Well. Yes. :D)
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Date: 2008-08-22 04:29 am (UTC)Characters that embody ideals are always fascinating.
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Date: 2008-08-22 04:34 am (UTC)Aren't they, though?
I am MADLY in love with Uncle Sam right now.
And it's not often Alex Ross does that for me. But god, I am so in love at the moment. Though that's mostly Steve's doing, I suppose, he did the script.
If this series keeps going, it is going to turn into another massive AU, but... I want it to, so badly.
posting, Ma'am.
Date: 2008-08-22 05:05 am (UTC)He has left us in the field, dying by the sword.
And are our fates sealed? Has our spirit’s blood been poured?
As Truth goes crawling on.
I had seen him in the eyes of the dying boys at last,
I knew it was him as the fatal dies were cast,
I have seen him in the fire, burning like the past
And I hear him in the crying of every bugles blast
The spirit struggles on.
The spirits flares are flashing, even in defeat,
searching, seeking always for a man who won’t retreat.
A man whose heart is loyal, marching to the beat
A man whose spirit’s full of scorching flaming heat
The flame still burning on.
Glory, glory, we’ve let the spirit die,
Glory, glory, we’ve killed him with our lies,
Glory, glory, we’ve let the spirit die,
The spirit goes fighting on.
Re: posting, Ma'am.
Date: 2008-08-22 10:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 07:31 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-22 01:45 pm (UTC)There is probably at some point going to be a long post of "Uncle Sam <3", but thank you!!Katarik, praise her, is using her free day to write it. Hallelujah.
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Date: 2008-08-22 10:18 pm (UTC)I really really really need to read the canon.
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Date: 2008-08-23 11:10 pm (UTC)And thank you so much.
If you find a torrent anywhere, let me know!
no subject
Date: 2008-08-26 10:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-26 11:42 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-23 01:49 am (UTC)It's a simultaneously heartwrenching and heartwarming tale for anyone who still loves America (I don't mean the "kill everyone who disagrees with you" fake love, I mean the "fight for the ideals it was built on" real love) and hasn't given up on the hope that it can be the great nation it promised to be. Great work.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-23 11:12 pm (UTC)I got a little distracted the real world. Shame on me.
I meant it to be both of those, so I am utterly and completely grateful that it worked.
I love my country. He just makes me weep sometimes.
You've got to read the canon, man. You've just got to.