Just like last year, here's a post with all the information you'd need to access for the event, all in once handy place! -> https://norfinweek.carrd.co/
Linking in the AO3 version in case it's easier to read.
@norfin-week
Shit. I almost forgot to add the recommended listening.
• I also recommend listening to Woodland Folk by Ella Roberts while reading!
There’s a story that the nearby village knows well; a story that has been passed down from generation to generation. The story of two men, Tino and Sigurd, who lived near the river. They had fallen in love and built a house together, promising their lives to one another. And for many years, they did. But war came, and they were split up in the coming battles.
Tino returned home, but found it empty, and believed that Sigurd had been lost. He took his skills that he’d found on the battlefield and got work as a Hunter, tracking and killing monsters and beasts that caused people distress and harm. He abandoned his home and all the dreams he’d built with his partner, in favor of something he believed he would be doing for the rest of his days.
But Sigurd also lived, and came back to an empty home. He, however, waited. He had the hope that perhaps Tino had lost, and he used it to get through many lonely days and nights. For years, he kept their home and the land and waited for Tino to return -- until his hope finally faded into disrepair.
He refused to leave all their hard work, all the memories of the two of them, everything they had built together. Instead, he went to the woods to find the fae and ask a favor. He begged and bargained until they took him back to the river.
For a moment, Sigurd feared that they’d misunderstood or he’d worded himself incorrectly as he followed their instructions and stepped into the river, felt himself get swept under. But instead of losing himself, he became the water. He could move and churn as freely as the rushing water; there was no real way for him to determine where it started and where he ended.
One may think that that would be the end of the tale, but Sigurd’s bargaining hadn’t left him emotionless. Whether he was aware of it or not, he tormented the village. In rages, the river would rise and swell, flooding the village when they were the least prepared for it. When he was sad and withdrawn, the river seemed to be lower and wouldn’t provide the water needed for crops. The villagers tried to appease the river sprite, but nothing worked.
It was these woes that eventually brought Tino home. The villagers asked for him to rid their town of the sprite, as it did nothing but harm to them. Tino thought it would hurt, to return to a place that he had once regarded with such fondness. He listened to the people, and followed the river back to his old home, dismayed to find it in such disrepair…
When the time came to face the sprite, he was surprised at the familiar face he found in the waters, the cry that seemed to come from all around him -- a cry of both joy and rage. You came home.
I thought you were dead. Tino found himself wading into the water, searching for his lover in a sort of desperation that he hadn’t known since he’d left an empty house so many years ago…
Though there is much debate on exactly what came next, the local legends all agree that neither left their home after that. The waters of the river are steady, and none of the villagers dare wander up that way any longer. They say that on warm summer nights, the river seems louder and villagers talk about how they see a man near the shores, dancing with the fae and fireflies.
Tino and Sigurd, they say, still care for their home and enjoy the place that they had first loved.
I'm sorryWhat does the Nature mean exactly. I think I like the concept but not quite clear what what it means.
all of the prompts are open-ended, and they exist purely as concepts. nature could mean the forest, or some kind of outdoor activity, or you could interpret it as human-nature. it's entirely up to your own creativity.
The prompt voting is here! Click on these 2 sentences to access the Google Form. The voting ends on January 16th, so please vote sometime this week if you have interest in participating.
Also! NorFin week will be from Monday, February 6th to Sunday, February 12th! I haven’t gotten around to making the promo graphic yet but hopefully it’ll be here when we know the final 7 prompts.😩
basically the same rules but with a fresh coat of paint on them.
please tag all submissions with #norfinweek2023 and @ this blog so we see it faster! if we can't see your post then we can't share it.
you may submit any medium of creative work that you wish to. it could be an edit, a fanfic, a drawing, photography... have fun with it!
there is no pressure to spend 5+ hours creating your submission. we take anything so long as it fits our rules.
all submissions must be a healthy portrayal of norfin (no cheating on anyone) and norfin-centric.
we accept any version or AU of norfin. yes to 2Ps, nyotalia, and so on.
your submissions for each day you participate may be connected if you wish.
we accept late submissions for an entire month because... we get it. in fact the whole week thing is just a suggestion.
NOTE: every participant is allowed to have one submission that doesn't follow any of the weeks prompts. this is to encourage participation and creativity!
Since last year was a modest success (fitting in my opinion!), we are looking to see if anyone would be interested in participating in NorFin Week 2023!
It would likely be hosted January or February and go by our regular, relaxed rules, such as having a free pass to draw the pair with any prompt you want.
If you are interested at all, please reblog or comment on this post so we can hear you!
(p.s. this year would be co-hosted by @tolyys if we get things moving 🤭)
sorry for the silence! i just want to talk a bit about the deadline of this event.
the week technically ended January 20th / February 1st but that wasn’t enough time for me and a friend or two (deadlines just are not great with us), so i will be pushing the new deadline to February 16th so we have more time to finish some entries up.
im sorry things seem to have ended a bit anti-climatically here but i promise that wasn’t the end! stick around for at least a little more norfin content in your future. :)
"Hold me close and realize that I will never leave you alone in the darkness."
day 5 - magic
NOTE: okay- another self-indulgent AU where in I just want Finland to be somewhat of someone that can see things and control an element while Norway is someone that grew up seeing things and may not even be human as a whole which is a funny idea personally and woah- I should really start writing for NorFin- I adore them so much. Like gosh <3 I feel really soft whenever I think about them now and gosh just- them ,,,,
@norfin-week hi bestie ^^ thank you for making the week again! I enjoyed the prompts and I'm really grateful for being given to the opportunity to write more for other hetalia ships aha- XD
LINK: ❄☃🏔
Timo has always been special. Or at least that’s what his friend has been telling him. There was something different about Timo in a way that none other can explain and a lot tried to explain what was off about Timo. He tried to ignore the way others whispered and pointed fingers at him, weird they call him. He doesn’t mind the names really, he’s used to it.
Devil’s child. The elders would call him, a dark look passing through their eyes at the sight of him walking home. Wary the one blessed by the night or else he might do something that will bring death to our village.
He ignores it. It wasn’t that important to him- the way the village looked at him and acted like he’s the one causing the current misfortune happening in the vicinity. It’s not even part of his book of problems. He has better things to think about and worry about, one of which was the ailing health of his grandmother. His precious grandmother who raised him all by herself and repetitively told him that those old croons in the village are worth nothing.
“You’re magical.” She says to him every night, brushing his hair back before pressing a kiss on the top of his head. “You’re magical. Repeat it with me Timo.”
It was due to her insistence that it was quite easier for Timo to ignore the rumors and the side glances of everyone in the village. He’s magical and it’s not because he can see things that no other can see (though he does think that’s mostly the reason his grandmother insisted he is) or because he can control water simply by willing it to help him. He’s magical because he’s Timo. He’s Timo and he’s quite proud that he is.
However, not a lot of people share that sentiment at all. People- children rather- who are not fond of him tend to push him into corners where he just lets him do whatever they want. It is still strung when he finds himself alone, no friend to reach out to. No shoulder to lean on and cry on when it gets too much. Timo doesn’t dare tell his grandmother about this, too scared of what she might do if she finds out that he was being treated like this by his own peers. It was another thing if it was the adults but if it’s the adults and the children? Then he can only fear that she might get angry, rousing the hate that the village has pointed at him and turn it against her.
He refuses to let that happen. Ever.
Maybe that’s the reason why he ended up in the forest around the village most of the time, walking across the small streams he finds and wasting his time instead of going home earlier than he usually does. A simple lie to his grandmother to assure her that he was hanging out with friends- human friends at least- and not going outside the village boundaries and into the dangerous lands of the forest. It was better than the needless worry he knew would come if she found out.
There’s a lot of things that he hides from her, a part of him feeling guilty really that he’s hiding it while the louder and more abrasive part of him scoffs. Pulling on his mind’s ear and telling him to listen well- they’re doing this to make sure she’s going to be okay in case he ends up getting in trouble again. Not that he necessarily put himself into trouble.
It’s trouble that comes to him, knocking politely on the door and bursting in nevertheless Timo opens the door or not. Creating chaos and getting him into… well… trouble!
Just recently, Timo had to stand outside a classroom after being blamed for something that he didn’t do. The memory makes his thighs and legs ache for how many hours he stood out, eyes looking longingly outside the window where he can see people walking and sitting down in the school’s courtyard. It was painful, standing for so long that even days after, Timo still feels the strain on his limbs.
Plop plop!
He looks down at his hand, a small fish made out of water flops in and out of his hand. Wetting his shirt with it's motions and making droplets flying everywhere. Ah… Let’s not dwell in dark things, Timo comforts himself, there are more things better to focus on-
Like making sure that this fish wouldn’t end up flopping on land and bursting. What a morbid thought, he thinks. An explosion of water, though not visceral unpleasant- the thought of losing a friend is.
“Excuse me. Sorry, was a bit distracted.” Timo laughs, running one hand against the fin of the fish. Trying to see the damage it sustained from flopping around. He felt around for something off- fixing scratches and adding more water just to make sure that it wouldn’t end up breaking if he leaves it out in the open.
He waited for a few of it’s friends, the familiar warmth of something spreading through his fingertips and making his ears ring softly. The presence of familiarity and otherness curling across his wrists while he hears the giggles and laughs of spirits that begin to reveal themselves in front of him. One takes its place beside him, draping him with flowers and vines that it created out of thin air- a motion of affection that he has realized after a few moments where he ends up stumbling on the ground when he explores the forest.
“Ti-mo.” One mutters, nearer to the stream and peeking at him through a rock. He smiles softly, waving it over to see what’s wrong. “Ti-mo!”
“Yes?” He asks, raising his hands to release the fish in the air. Watching it peacefully drift about in circles around him and the small gathering of forest spirits near him now. “Is there something wrong?”
“Timo!” Oh, are they just repeating his name? He tilts his head, laughing.
“Yes yes. I’m Timo.” He reassures them, leaning backwards against his arm. There is just something about the forest that he can’t help but feel right at home in. “Timo is my name though I don’t know what it’s short for. Nana said it was short for something.” He shrugs, sharing small tidbits of his home life.
From an early stage, he realizes that the spirits don't really talk that much. Incapable of human speech but it doesn’t mean that they can’t communicate. They were more of beings bringing gifts rather than words, always there to comfort him with a brush of wind against his cheek and a warm hug around his leg from one particular small spirit. They always welcome him in the forest, letting him explore and learn about their kind and in return, all that they ask him for help.
“Timoooooooooo!” One of them wails, waving its hands in the sky to curl them around Timo’s wrist.
“Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees?” He tries not to laugh when he brings his wrist where the spirit was attached to in the air, watching it dangle and hold on for life. “I’m not going anywhere yet, why does everyone of you feel more clingy than usual?”
Usually, they wouldn’t end up hoarding around him. Not this close and more than trying to press themselves onto him- it looks like they were afraid of him leaving though it was quite early yet than the usual time he tends to go home. It was just the early morning of the day- he left home earlier than usual to make sure that he might be able to check up a spirit’s wing that came to him the day before.
“That might be because of me.” A cold and rather monotone voice tells him from behind and Timo dares not scream, only releasing a small eep from the sudden cold air that surrounded him. Ice fragments appearing on the ground that crawls up to his leg that he immediately picked up the spirit that was clinging on his feet. “Are you the human protector of this forest?”
“Wah?” He turns around, trying to see who he was looking at or at least talking to- he can only assume that the being that he was talking to is a spirit but what he saw was something that made him blink rather stupidly.
A human- or at least Timo thinks that they look like a human- standing underneath the shades of the trees near the stream. His eyes were purple, a soft warm purple despite the frost that surrounds him. Their hair a light color that reminds Timo of snowflakes drifting in the wind underneath the sun but there was something… otherworldly about the being, though it’s not due to the fact that they were dressed rather oddly compared to what Timo is used to seeing.
It was something else. It wasn’t because of the frost that grows with every footstep the being took closer to him. It wasn’t also because of the fact that their ears were slightly pointed or the way their fangs peek through their thin lips.
It was… there was something. Something that made Timo only stare up at them in awe. His next words accidentally spilled sooner than he realized that he said it out loud rather than let it stay in his mind.
"The cooking shall commence!" Denmark said in his best sports announcer voice as Iceland recorded his crazy family have a baking competition.
Sweden and Denmark on one team, Finland and Norway on the other.
The thing was, in said family only Iceland could actually bake, the rest tried and tended to fail miserably.
So they were having a contest due to an argument that Denmark and Finland had on who was the worst cook out of all of them.
Iceland silently pondered his life decisions as the 2 hours to bake started.
As for teamwork Norway and Finland had it in the bag, working like clockwork, Denmark and Sweden however, worked more like "That one group in every class project".
"WE SHOULD MAKE A DANISH!"
"How about we make cinnamon rolls instead?"
"Naaaah, those are boring" the spiky haired Dane whined.
While this was going on, Finland and Norway had already decided to make butter cookies, why you may ask. Because why not.
By the time the two taller nations came to an agreement on making a hybrid cinnamon-Danish. The other two had already got The beginning of their batter made.
Just as the other two finally got their shit together Finland took a little bit of batter and put it on Norway's nose. Who then proceeded to lick it and realized that they had used unsalted butter.
"FINLAND GET THE SALT!"
Finland rushed around trying to find said salt and dumped way to much into the baking, they both thought it was fine but it was very, very salty.
Iceland mentally faceplamed.
The hybrid pastry was going very badly for Denmark and Sweden, it was overly sweet, had much too much cinnamon and was almost drowning in jam. While Finland and Norway had created an incredibly salty cookie that had no sugar and that Finland coated in melted liquorice because why not.
Overall it was a dumpster fire.
And Iceland had to taste test it.
He first went for Denmark and Sweden's, to find that it wasn't all that bad, sure it would have probably given him diabetes if he wasn't a nation but at least it was mildly edible.
He then went over to the monstrosity that was whatever the other two had made.
Iceland nearly died.
"DID YOU NOT PUT ANY SUGAR IN THIS?!"
"YES WE DID!" Finland yelled
"ARE YOU SURE THAT WASN'T SALT BECAUSE THAT'S ALL I CAN TASTE!"
Both of them had a look of realization on their faces and Finland's mouth was in an "o"
"THE WINNER IS DENMARK AND SWEDEN!"
They both hugged eachother really tight since they had no clue how they won but they did.
Finland and Norway looked disappointed but they gave each other a tender hug as the camera was still rolling and Iceland had left to presumably clean his mouth with mouthwash.
Norway turned off the camera and who knows what happened next.
• they bake as a couples activity, though when they're baking for company or holidays then nor takes over since he can actually be trusted in the kitchen.
• nor has also quickly learned fin is a shit taste-tester since he wouldn't know quality if it kicked him in the balls. so when he cooks independent he cooks Independent.
• they like to bake at night. the energy is just alive and they can stay in their pjs and blast music and get tipsy if they want to.
• this is usually enacted by fin getting up due to cravings and nor already being awake anyway. as if he's gonna say no to making cookies at 3 am. he's ride-or-die but he understands these wants well...
• they both have a pretty big sweet tooth, but a salt tooth as well? licorice and caramel are winners to them.
• fin likes his candies but nor swings more in the way of pastries. they still enjoy both, but their preferences compliment their lifestyles better:
• fin will snack on sweets as he works or listens in on meetings, and they make great travel snacks for hikes and walking the dog. lördagsgodis is definitely present in their home as well, but only as an excuse to make a date night out of sharing sweets.
• nor likes to have a cinnamon bun with his coffee, or cookies when he's reading. he prefers to eat when he's settled down, so it's easier to give messier or complex dishes his full attention. eating should be an experience TM
• this being said, nor is a certified food theif. he claims not to be interested in fin's snacks, but he'll poke at them in the cupboards anyways. or when they're in fin's hands. or he'll steal directly off fin's plate. his property is their property.
• sweets are nor's comfort device, not being great with words in dire situations, and if fin is upset he'll probably fix him some tea and pastry, or just get out a pint of ice cream if it's that bad. it shouldn't be as effective as it is...
• nors favorite flavors are peach, mint, and butter 🥸 and fins favorite flavors are cloudberry, cinammon, and strawberry
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