Arthur Kirkland

Player's Name: J-chan
Contact info: Skype: j-chanoftheGods
DW: Character Journal: OfficerofSpade

Character: England/Arthur Kirkland
Canon: Axis Powers/World Series Hetalia
Version: Non in particular. Both manga and anime tend to cover the same general points.
Canon Point: Modern-Day History (with a cut-off point around 2011)
Age: A couple thousand year; appears to be in early 30's. As a Nation, Arthur ages at a much slower rate, physical maturation depending on his country. Mental maturation is a bit more developed, with awareness of all the time that has passed.
Gender: Male



History: http://hetalia.kitawiki.net/index.php?title=England
It's also worth noting that any 'history' he follows includes any history of the physical country of England.

Personality: When describing the inner workings of a Nation, things can become convoluted and twisted. Nothing is ever as simple or clear-cut as it seems. And when describing England, a Nation known under many different personas through the years, things can only become more complicated in trying to pick out true feelings underneath the mask of power and control that he wears. In truth, the only control he truly has is in the form of the floodgates used to pull all of it back behind an ideal face for the public, the people, and his work.

England has moved through several personas in his life. His early ages were one of no emotional worry - not to say he isn't emotional. England by his base nature has plenty of emotions and attachments. The problem is getting him to show them. It's where he builds into the thought process of an Empire - a persona he's found difficult to shake off. Underneath that is pain, hurt - things he's afraid to show as a sort of weakness. But he masks it with a certain brutish dismissal, anger, anything to replace a shaky need with a confident denial, trying to prove he's too strong to feel, pretend he's less human than he really is, under the power of a Nation.

England as a young Nation was powerless to the devices of others, bullied by his older 'siblings', chasing him further and further into himself when he would show a certain search of affection, only being taken advantage of as the weaker one, the youngest, 'fresh meat'. He's learned to simply stop trying. Not only that, but he's learned to hold a grudge. In the later years of his Empirical rule, bitterness overshadowed any of those brighter emotions, simply making a need to have them know he did not care, could live without them, could hurt them just as easily as he'd been hurt.

In a more modern representation, England has lost that power, that ability to use strength to make his point. Instead, he does it through other means - isolation, bitter tongues. England views himself nowadays as 'The Gentleman' - which when viewed in a certain way, can be seen as a passive-aggressive extension to the Empire, a Gentleman being encouraged to 'express the greater opinion', and 'keep a stiff upper lip'. He does like to pretend, though, that it cloaks the Renegade of his youth, when in reality, it simply gives him a better shield behind which he can throw his sharp-tongued attacks. England in modern-days does no pillaging, and has exchanged a sword for a well-tailored coat. To an extent, he is almost ashamed of those days, blustering to prevent them from being brought up. He has particular aversion to those dear to him receiving that knowledge, at one point even working himself into a state at avoiding America being told. It's a wishy-washy situation, much like the gentleman himself. He holds a sense of pride and victory over his glory days, but also a shame and secretivity, preferring people to know him as he is. Perhaps it's a symptom merely of being a Nation, and having so much history to hold on to. He can pretend it does not exist to some extent, but cannot let go of it without letting go of what he really is. He can merely continue the charade.

All in all, he has, in summary, simmered down - he keeps high spirit and gruffness, yet it's become that of an old man, slightly weary. He's also, in his maturation, come to the point where company is something he can longer deny needing. Yet his skills in making bonds have not been improved, deterring him, and sometimes even leading to a complete depressive shutdown of determination. He becomes too afraid of rejection that he prefers to shut away entirely, pretend he has no use of others. His aggression clashes with his dignity and need. Rather than a battle, he holds more value these days in a friend.

Fears: England has a fear of exposure - being seen for what he really is, below the composed facade that he puts together. He prefers people to not see bared emotions - this is in turn connected to another fear of abandonment and rejection, from people that he cares about. He reacts rather poorly to the rejection his brothers gave him when young. No doubt the phobia was only cultivated when in turn abandoned by the colony he cared for and put so much devotion to.

Weaknesses: England has a bit of a dependency upon alcohol. He's an incomprehensible, violent, emotional mess of a drunk who will either become volatile or emotionally bare when under the influence, facing the aftermath with shame and flustered denial. This desperation to hide his emotions is also connected to his long history with the ‘Splendid Isolation’ - having trouble expressing his true feelings, and desire for company, he can often shut himself away when he really doesn’t wish to deal with anything else. It's a poor coping mechanism that he defends vehemently. It also comes into effect in reference to the Fourth of July - deep scars created by America’s leave for independence that still affect England. When approaching the anniversary, he often feels ill the week beforehand, being put down and out for the count. It's something he never really tries to fight, instead wallowing in the self-pity. In more physcial weaknesses, despite being an Island Nation, the pirate never really seemed to feel the need to learn how to swim. He'll flail and drown if he should end up overboard with no one to save him.

Mundane Strengths/Abilities: Being a Nation, England has a connection and bond with his people, usually able to keep a good sense of record on their names and families. He is also heavily versed with magic, having grown up with the 'Good Neighbors' and an incredibly overall magical history with his land. He can use this to cast spells, curses, summonings, etc. The drinking mentioned above is a two-sided ordeal; he's developed a reputation for becoming quite a challenge to fight when drunk. When sober, however, he's a bit well-versed with weapons through the ages and wars, including being fairly good with either a gun or a sword.

Sensitivity/Magical Ability: England can see being of both magical and supernatural origin, ranging from faeries and kappa to ghosts. He can also clearly communicate with them - assuming of course that they're open to speaking. He's very receptive to the interaction otherwise, seeming to prefer the company of the mystical and passed to that of most whom are living. Again, his connection with this allows him to do spells and curses, and summon creatures.

Supply List: None

Game Transfers: Should all standards be met to qualify for the Game Transfer, England will be regaining the memories of two games past. He first spent a year within Ruby City, which was his most memorable time. In arriving, his experience was to be shunned by fellow Nations, particularly siblings, that had already arrived and held bitter feelings towards his appearance. He ended up making tighter kinship with a city resident by the name of Theta, which actually affected him most. She originally occupied an Alternate form of England, viewing her home with a sense of deep patriotism that turned into an Idolization once learning her housemate was in fact and embodiment of the home she missed so. Her dedication intially led to him appointing her as his temporary Leader, to help maintain political interactions between the other Nations. But this soon led to a mixed association as his 'Queen', and an overtly-romanticized dedication to her that he inwardly compared to his beloved Monarchs of the past. Their relationship turned into a complicated affair, torn between their mutual romantic inclincations, and his personal knowledge and pained reminder that she was mortal. They wavered in and out, eventually reaching a painful seperation when he hurt her feelings. She disappeared from the City before any sort of closure could be made, and he's held it in regret the way only a Nation can do.
One of the Nations that made a proactive effort to keep England involved was America, with whom he also balanced the start of a relationship - though this was all shattered to pieces during a City Fear Event. England, giving in to some more desperate desires and fearful emotions, ended up performing an 'invasion' against America, a fellow resident. The following weeks entailed a refusal to accept the consequences and truth only drove him farther from his fellow Nations. He in turn drew closer to Theta, who blindly accepted his assertion that what he did was justified. Yet he continued a back-and-forth, eventually hating what he saw in what the event had done to America, and wanting forgiveness, even if he wasn't yet willing to offer forth the proper apologies. Though the conflict continued, the past start of a connection were still present, and Enland ended up forming a romantic relationship with America, only to have his feelings conflicted upon each other when Theta returned home, before he could truly assure her of his reasons for not being with her. It became a bit of a crutch as England dealt with the ordeals and seperation from Theta.
This, alas, was torn apart when England was rapidly shifted to yet another Game - a City named Prolecto - only tearing more into his emotions. The largest heartbreak was moving on without his America, though instead meeting with two of his alternate selves. England thus spent the next three months in contemplation and twisted emotions, at some point forcing himself into the role of 'tortured romantic'. He did also in this time grow a somewhat close dependence with his fellow Nation, France, a surprising twist considering their rivalry. But in this time, the other Nation took him in on his 'down days', lifting him up, supporting him, and generally being a beacon. In England's attempts to improve his own character, it had been a necessary thing.

Sample RP post: It's not often England is overtaken with the need to get out - when he does, it's taken very seriously. A deep breath inhales the smell of a rain-washed London, through the second floor window of his home, fingers slow to fasten the button of his coat. The maid has already been called to take the day off. There's a bustle of morning on the streets that is just barely beginning, and he knows a lovely little shop that won't require a reservation this morning, knows his usual, will let him keep to himself, the hosts all too familiar. Lovely young girl, he likes the way she smiles, even when he does not. She calls him Mister Kirkland, and he couldn't be more fond of her, expressing it in tips. He's looking forward to going, even as he hides it behind a well-mannered expression. He grabs the umbrella by the door, just in case - there's a feeling in his bones that says it's going to rain again.

Quiet days like this are what make him want to socialize. As England closes the gate to his yard, there's a civil nod from one of the neighbor's walking their dog - fine man, three kids, good family. They've never spoken past casual formalities. England nods back before beginning his own brisk pace down the road. And it's that rare, dwelling feeling of a perfect day. There's no meetings, no work, no idiots bursting into his home. It's the sort of day where he could spend the entire day out on the town, come back home and clean. It's the sort of day he has entirely to himself. And that's simply the most blissful thing he can think of.

Alone is a funny sort of words - Arthur has felt it. Isolated from the world, finding no need to trust others, and yet unable to take entire solace in that. But this, this sort of 'alone' - it's different. It's peaceful. It's a bubble of space that includes more than himself. He greets the people he's familiar with by no more than a nod and a wave, perhaps a 'hello'. And when they pass, he is alone again. But it's a filled sort of solitude. Some sentimental part believes they might have their part in building it. But, again, that too is put away behind a gruff (perhaps slightly softened expression). He has today to himself, and the whole town. He looks forward to sitting at a Tea Shop window, with a hot cup, watching them all pass by, their names flashing by, while they never take notice of him. Alone, spectator to all that passes by.

He exhales to himself - he twitches his lips upward into an expression that could perhaps be interpreted as blissful, and that disappears by the next greeting. Mister Arthur Kirkland is, of course, a strange man like that. But there's a cycle of fondness that passes between him and his people, even when unaware. After all, that is the sort of relationship only he can maintain, handing off the umbrella to the girl at the front of the shop, not at all aware of the returned fancy she has of the gentleman she catches cursing when he thinks no one sees him spill the sugar. Alone, in his own little space - and it's shielded by the way she and others let him go about.

For how else could a Nation live without it's peooke to support it?