#soldierboynamedern

[daniellecountessofderby]

@soldierboynamedern continued from here [X]

“Thank you” he smiled. It was a small, shy smile, something that his face had forgotten to make and still, there it was, a small act of kindness and hope. “I´m Ernst” he stretched his hand.

“There is no need to thank me. It is just a common courtesy, no matter who we are.” She smiled back. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Ernst, I’m Danielle.” She replied, gently shaking his hand. 

[verbundet]

“Ernest, for Christ’s sake, it’s only a glass of Germany’s GREATEST ale. Don’t be such a BABY and drink it.”

@soldierboynamedern | random starter

[chvxnov-blog]

@soldierboynamedern // starter call

Chvanov’s boot tip hit the side of the body — German, soft flesh underneath a dusty uniform. He prods it; not gently, not rough either. Prods it again and says nothing as he switches boot for gun barrel which he uses as a cane to overturn the other. He finally catches a glimpse of his face, probably early twenties, which means nothing to him. Age is not what he is searching them for. They sometimes fake death. That’s the important part. They fake it or outlive it.

The soft grinding of loose concrete debris underfoot has moved over to the corner of the building. That left him momentarily alone but not without a call away from the rest of the four Russians. That was reassuring, though he didn’t need any reassurance. He wasn’t afraid, or worried as much as he was bored and disgusted, continuing on with what was now basic routine of shouldering the rifle and dropping down next to the body to pat it down for anything of use. Simple things before the bodies were collected to be rolled outside into the snow because no one wants to stay on a place that would stink of death in the next few days.

[dutyhxnorcountry]

@soldierboynamedern

With an aggravated sigh, he slammed his boot into the tree stump with a dull thud, trying to knock some of the dirt clumps off.  It was more than just dirt on his shoes that was annoying him but being on patrol, he really couldn’t think about that right now.  When a branch snapped off to their left, everyone straightened, on alert.  “Who goes there!”

[dutyhxnorcountry]

@soldierboynamedern cont.

It was not often that the Germans would hold a conversation with the Americans. They were enemies first and speakers of different languages second. Ernst could understand bits and pieces because he knew an English boy when he was little. Jack`s father was English, his mother was German and before the brown uniforms started changing the Reich, Jack would be a start on the playground, teaching them all the language of his beloved father. Ernst was good at it, without even trying, without actually caring whether he was or wasn`t good.

The girl had ginger hair and that probably why she looked so much like the officer. He was asking him whether he had children. ‘Yes,’ he answered, unsure whether he was even allowed to say so. He had never seen his daughter.  ‘Her name?’ Ernst asked, still thinking that the girl in the soldier`s arms was his.

The baby in his arms was so tiny he wondered how old she was.  He also couldn’t help but worry about her if the medic couldn’t save her mother; he couldn’t keep her in the middle of a war zone.  At the man’s answer, he smiled, glancing up.  “Oh, how many?”  He was so young that it couldn’t be more than one or two.  It was surreal, holding a conversation as flippant as they were with a German soldier, but he needed to do more than just hold the child.  At the question, he frowned for a moment.  “I don’t know.  Her mother wasn’t able to tell us.”

[daniellecountessofderby]

@soldierboynamedern continued from here [x]

The girl standing in front of him was nice-looking. He did not know whether to be happy or not, after all, if she was ugly and old maybe it would be easier. He did not know, he did not know anything anymore. Everything happened so fast He remembered himself being in a brand new uniform, people parading on the streets, celebrating him as a hero, people throwing flowers at him, Elisabeth throwing a bouquet at the people standing behind her. Bombs, shootings, blood, screams, mud, rain, cold. That terribly cold that stops your blood. A baby picture.

And then, two men came, a bag over his head, his legs barely touching the ground, interrogation over and over again, a verdict without a court, shipment to the UK, sickness, strange language. Everything happened so fast. Without any logic or order. He was here and his future wife was in front of him. Future wife. How did it even make sense? Wasn´t he already married? And where was she? Maybe it was just a weird dream, maybe he will wake up any minute. But the person in front of him was so real and then she spoke and her voice felt so heavy as if it was a nail in a grave as if until she opened her mouth, there was still a chance to wake up but once she pronounced her name… he knew it was true.

“Ernst Graeber” he said a bit too loudly, his hand trained to salute was jerking, he almost put it to his head, his voice used to yell back jawohl.

Danielle didn’t really know what to do or say. This was not a situation at either of them wanted to be in. They had both had different lives before now, lived in two very different worlds. Now that was expected to suddenly be thrown together somehow. She had heard stories of what had really happened out in Germany and the thought of it made her sick that people could do that to other human beings. 

For a moment she didn’t respond. All she could do was feel sympathy for the man stood before her. She couldn’t speak German and English had probably been forced upon him. Still, she wasn’t allowed to express such sympathy, even though she felt it. How on earth was this going to work? They didn’t even know each other and yet again, that was another thing that either of them had a choice about. “Nice to meet you...” She tried to smile, hoping that he realised she meant him no harm.

[daniellecountessofderby]

He was not supposed to speak German now as it was forbidden so he had a couple of sentenced preprepared so that he could ask for the basics. One of these sentences was “You don’t have to worry, I’m never going to touch you.” He could only hope his "bride" understood him and did not tell on him to the authorities otherwise who knew where he would end up. So little was to be told. The Germans were to pay in all kind of reparations. To make them suffer as they did make suffer others.

Danielle had had little choice in this. It was the system now to try and make the world a better place once more. Still, she didn’t believe that one person could be blamed for the sins of the many. That didn’t mean she wasn’t nervous though, she definitely was. There was to be a small meeting of her and he future husband that the system had picked for her. She didn’t really know what to expect from it really. “Hi... I’m Danielle.” She muttered nervously.

[apurekindness]

~ When you get this, please respond with five things that make you happy~! Then, send to the last ten people in your notifications anonymously. You never know who might benefit from spreading positivity~!

@soldierboynamedern 

1. My best friend @aroseofyork 2. Kittens and puppies!3. Days at the beach hut in the summer4. Writing and reading5. My job (usually XD)