~Water Reeds~

Introductions of a Water Reed


21st of March, 1909

Meek brown eyes rose from a small curtsy-like gesture to gaze at him shyly. He saw her lips offer a polite toothless smile and the blush that spread across her cheeks. Arthur dipped into a bow- common courtesy.

In a cheery rumble he heard his father speak, "Miss Eleanor Reed, daughter of Patrick Reed. Miss Reed, this is my son Arthur."

"It's very nice to meet you." She inclined her head again with her greeting, eyes averted to the floor and her flush becoming more prominent.

"The pleasure is mine." Arthur returned the salutation distractedly; his eyes were no longer on the girl before him.

Mr Kirkland, seemingly ignorant to his son's disinterest, began babbling eagerly, "You know the Reeds son? They own the publishing company who recently had a big boom in sales. They were even in the papers because of it!"

Arthur hummed a noise of agreement. There hadn't been anything to agree with though. His gaze was elsewhere. His attention was elsewhere.

Miss Reed picked at her dress worriedly- most unladylike. She looked between father and son, one bored and one ecstatic. She felt rather awkward.
In an attempt to draw his interest back the girl stumbled over her words, "Ah-um...This is quite the magnificent party!"

"Yes, quite. If you will excuse me." Arthur had begun to move before he had even finished his reply. He slipped away from the conversation, treading purposefully through the crowds of the rich and influential. His eyes were fixed on a point- a man- at the opposite end of the hall. He was by the food. Arthur could barely suppress a snort. Well of course he would be by the food.

With swift steps he approached the man's broad back and leaned dangerously close to his ear to whisper. "Don't think I wouldn't notice you taking your picking from the deserts."

The man jumped, snapping to attention. "I-I was just checking their suitability for the guests sir! I wasn't doing anything bad! Honest to God, I would never ever-oh...Arthur! Why'd you go sneaking up on me like that? I haven't even got to try the chocolate ones yet!"

Arthur's expression was that of a wry little smirk. He was always deeply amused when teasing Alfred. That mortified look on his face- perfect.

"I'll have you know my father paid good money for this food." He said in a ostensibly stern tone, though Alfred could hear the laughter hidden behind the solemnity.

"All these rich folk haven't even touched the food. I should know; I've been manning this area all evening-"

"I'm sure you have..." Arthur muttered tetchily, though his eyes crinkled affectionately.

Alfred continued, choosing to ignore the jibe, "-and by eating I'm doing you a favour. Nobody else would be eating it otherwise. It would go to waste!"

"Hmm, yes. You have made a valid point." Arthur found it hard not to grin. "But I hope you remember that this food is most definitely off limits to servants. If my father finds out you'll most likely be punished."

Alfred's face slips back into alarm. "You wouldn't do that! Would you?" His tone turned doubtful when he saw Arthur's sly mask of severity. "H-hey, Iggy...you wouldn't, right?"

Arthur didn't falter. Alfred panicked. "No! Please don't! I'll do anything! Just don't tell him; I'll be out on the street!"

"Well, I suppose my father doesn't have to hear of this discrepancy. I on the other hand cannot overlook this. I'm afraid the task of punishment falls to me."


Like it? Yay or nay?

Chapters will probably be short like this to start with and get longer in the more intense areas. I don't know if I'll have any other actual Hetalia characters apart from England and America yet.

But really the one thing I want to tell you about this fic is to not take it at face value. This is not some ordinary USUK...but I'm not revealing anything! Ask no questions and you shall receive no answers.

Don't have your mind set on a certain ending because I have a lot of twists in plot and drama llama attacks planned.