[identity profile] sir-hellsing.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] ship_manifesto
Title: Love Thy Enemy.
Author: Thess.
Fandom: Hellsing.
Couple: Integral Fairbrooks Wingates Hellsing and Alexander Anderson.
Spoilers: Manga (from volume 1 to volume 8, chapter 4).
Notes: I don’t have the Dark Horse edition of the Manga, only the Norma one (Spanish one), the fantranslation and the Japanese raw chapters. I thank to [livejournal.com profile] dreadnot for edit this. My apologies for the delay.


“I am leaving now. But these days are not safe for a woman to walk alone in the darkness of the night. Do you think you chaps could walk me home?”
“Yes, ma’am… We’ll accompany you back.”
“WHAT!”

(Integral, Anderson and Section XIII in volume 6, chapter 6).

Before beginning it’s necessary to clear up I am only considering Manga because the interaction between these two was minimal in the Anime and not meaningful. Also, despite the fact that most of this pairing’s shippers are aware of is that while it would never become canon, it’s fun to play with the dynamics that already exist in the Manga, but it’s doubtful they would be seriously romantic. Now meet our happy couple:

Royal Protestant Knight

Sir Integral Fairbrooks Wingates Hellsing is a prodigy for her years. Descendant of Abraham van Helsing (of Dracula fame), she lost her mother at an early age and her father when she was only thirteen. At that age she inherited Arthur Hellsing’s seat on the Round Table (the Twelve Conventions consists of a secret society of politicians, nobles and military officers who control the British Empire from the shadows), being the only female of the ranks, in addition to her duty as leader of the Hellsing Organisation with the mission to protect the protestant lands from the menace of the undead.

Before Integral was knighted (a few days after her father’s funeral), her uncle Richard decided he was better fit for the role and hired men to help him to kill the girl. Frightened but determinate to survive, little Integral fled towards the basement where her father once told her she would find someone to aid her. Expecting a knight in shining armour, the girl’s hopes abated when she found a corpse instead. A corpse of a vampire her family had been experimenting on for decades. Cornered, she snapped a reproach at her traitorous uncle, who then shot her in the shoulder spilled her blood on the floor and the corpse. In the following minutes the cadaver came back to life, lapped at the spilled blood and shredded her attackers. Horrified, Integral watched the vampire draw closer to her and… kneel, recognising her as his Master before stopping the trajectory a bullet fired by her uncle towards her. Picking up a fallen pistol, the thirteen-year old Integral Hellsing shot at Richard, killing him. The rest is history…

Integral as a child seemed mousy and insecure most of the times (this is in the Manga, Anime one is a tad different), studious and a bit of a romantic (the knight in shining armour concept) but she also displayed unlikely characteristics such as her willingness to cuddle with a corpse, her determination and her courage to stand up to her uncle when she deemed his actions wrong even in the dire circumstances. Also, she displayed the seeds of cold judgement needed to end a life that will develop through the Manga.

The series starts when she’s twenty-three and progresses until she’s twenty-four, we see adult Integral as a cold, in control woman with strategic skills and a commanding presence. She wears suits, she smokes cigars, she imposes herself without trying, she dislikes losing control (perhaps because of how she acted as a child?) and certainly has little experience dealing with crises at first (she freaks out during the Valentine Brothers’ attack and when Alucard turned Seras Victoria into a vampire). But as the story progresses, she develops her steely personality and leadership skills so much that in volume six, where her city is destroyed and Nazis have invaded, Integral still displays a serene attitude.

Her relationship with the Catholics in the manga is less extreme than in the Anime. When Anderson was rumoured to be sent to the North of Ireland, she was concerned for Seras’ and Alucard’s welfare, and for a possible holy war, rather than bashing her rivals. She was able to put her pride aside to work with Iscariot many times as long they served her purposes. This is perhaps because Abraham van Helsing, her ancestor, was Catholic himself. The religion doesn’t play a great role in her here. Personally, I see her treating her Protestantism as a part of British tradition she must honour, instead of a matter of real devotion.

Judas Priest

Father Alexander Anderson’s past is unknown. We know little things about him such as his age (sixty, but he looks younger), he is one of the best agents of Iscariot (Section XIII is a military force of the Vatican to fight the enemies of the Holy See, including terrorists, undead and heretics), he runs an orphanage for boys and likes to read a lot (his room is a mess filled with books). Also that he’s not completely human but a regenerator, a weapon of God able to heal wounds and pull out bayonets from the ‘fourth dimension,’ not to mention vanishing using bible pages and warding off zones to purify them with the same bible pages.

Anderson is a fanatic religious who hates heretics, undead and anything that rubs him wrong. His first clash with Hellsing was in the North of Ireland where he, Alucard, Seras and Integral were almost even in power. He swore to kill them all and he will most likely fulfil his promise one day.

Anderson is very complex. He can act completely normal, even tender when speaking of his orphans, then be a rabid psycho at the sight of his foes, craving to fight with them. Also, it’s proved that he has sparse control over his instincts, in volume four, he stopped himself after punching Alucard (whom he was supposed to help) and told him and his group to get out before he lost control. He is also able to pause a fight when innocents are trapped in the crossfire (such as the one of the museum) or even be gentlemanly (with Integral). It’s possible his mood swings are the consequence of the experimentation he was subject to many years ago.

Another important issue to mention is that Anderson isn’t a mindless follower, quite the contrary, he cannot be controlled unless he allows himself to obey and his leader should be worthy of that honour. He proves in volume six, seven and eight that he is Judas at heart for the sake of his doctrine, betraying his orders and even Maxwell to death for the sake of the Protestants and for what he sees as right.


The Sin

Integral’s and Anderson’s first meeting in volume one was less than pleasant. She fired at and destroyed his bayonets before he could harm Seras Victoria further and he in return killed her bodyguards and almost ended her life (she was quick to stop his blades with her sword). If it wasn’t for Alucard’s appearance, Anderson would have probably destroyed both women. Aside from this brief fight and starting hatred there’s a line that no one pays attention to, and which isn’t important until volume six, Anderson notes (even admires?) that Integral goes to the frontlines. Anderson knows Integral can risk herself for her subordinates.

Next meeting was in volume two in the Imperial War Museum. Enrico Maxwell called Anderson to show off his own ‘pet’ to Integral because she had Alucard. Both go fight-happy and eager to spar against both Maxwell’s and Hellsing’s orders. Seras interrupted, guiding elderly Japanese tourists between them and both, the vampire and the paladin, left. Integral witnessed of Anderson’s sudden change of mood as he happily mentioned bringing his orphans to the museum. She also commented to Maxwell about his problems controlling the Paladin. Again, this is foreshadowing, rather than immediately important. Integral now is aware Anderson isn’t completely Enrico’s lapdog and has a sane side.

Their next encounter (volume six) is far more memorable. Integral was alone, bleeding and armed only with a sword facing an army of vampires in the midst of her destroyed city. She told her attackers she would fight and not surrender. Anderson jumped to her aid, shielding her and destroying her would be assassin. He next declared his admiration for her courage. She inspired his newfound willingness to fight despite the fact that he was ordered not to (and reminded by his companions). Anderson also told his fellow Iscariots that Integral was their true antagonist and only they were worthy to defeat her, no one else (before that he was obsessed with killing Alucard). He didn’t seem to notice the army behind him, focused only on the stunned Integral, until a Nazi interrupted his speech. His reaction was quite amusing: he turned around and snapped that the dead shouldn’t speak and proceeds to kick Nazi arse with his Iscariot squad.

After this was over, Section XIII were given new orders to hold Integral as a prisoner. She didn’t cooperate, turning around and walking away, as she pointed out that her men needed her and stated that she was returning to headquarters, they could shoot her if they wanted. Integral not only ordered Heinkel to light her cigar but also sought Anderson’s support in letting her go when his Iscariots were speaking about tying her and dragging her against her will. Anderson was horrified by this concept and told everyone they are fools, such a lady shouldn’t be treated that way, that they aren’t rapists. Smug now that Anderson was on her side, Integral requested to be escorted home and Anderson agreed, forcing the reluctant Section XIII to protect her during the trip. He stated that Maxwell’s deeds were suspicious and escorting Integral was the right thing to do.

In volume seven therewas barely any interaction being focused in Pip and Seras mostly, but the last chapter showed both Anderson and Integral angry for Maxwell’s massacre of the civilians of London, while the rest of the Section XIII still wanted to hold Integral as prisoner until Seras arrived and shielded her. Anderson, who before volume six, wanted nothing but to fill Seras with bayonets, now stops Heinkel from firing on Integral’s defender even when he noted she was now a true vampire.

In volume eight, Anderson went psycho to fight Alucard without success until chapter four, where something interesting happened. Anderson helped to kill Enrico Maxwell, throwing a bayonet through the glass that shielded him from Dracula’s (Alucard’s) minions. It’s important to point out that Enrico was working under the Pope’s orders, thus Anderson not only betrayed Maxwell but the Vatican itself.


The Confession

I have to admit the first time I read an AAxI fic I thought it was good yet crazy for the ship. Before volume six, I was more into AndersonxSeras or AlucardxAnderson for Anderson couple, and IntegralxSeras/AlucardxIntegral/IntegralxMaxwell for Integral ones. Volume six was a break from this to me, and an opportunity to look at the intense dynamics of the two. The most important attraction of this pairing is the blurred line between enemies and friends. Anderson and Integral are neither; they respect each other, maybe hate each other, but at the same time rely on each other for something. Anderson saw Integral as an inspiration to fight, to go against his orders and follow her because it’s the right thing. She’s the leader he would like to have, in my opinion. Integral is not bothered by his sudden change; she is smug and enjoys giving him orders, another conquest for Hellsing. The story of her family has been all about using the enemy for their own ends.

Another pro is the future possibilities. Anderson betrayed the Vatican, he will be punished for that. Integral has a debt with Anderson and he was never a conventional priest (he considers himself damned and sinful, in fact he must sin). So whether if he remains a clergyman or not, there’s nothing that avoids a possible sexual or romantic relationship. Anderson is not only a warrior, but a gentleman and good with the children when he wants to. Integral used to be a romantic girl who dreamed about a knight in shining armour, maybe she’ll settle for a Paladin?

A new angle no one has yet written about it’s the fact that Integral is an orphan and her ancestor was Catholic. It’s possible Anderson will show her sympathy for his weakness with orphan children and blame her heretic father for the Anglicanism, maybe even try to convert her? There’s another struggle to write about, specially considering Anderson's hateful reaction to Alucard: the vampire would be the first thing to go.

IntegralxAnderson speaks of changes of the alliance that has an impact in canon: Enrico’s death, Integral’s safety. It’s not easy to create romance, but once there’s respect and clearly tension with an intensity to match the relationship between Integral and Alucard in the Anime, it’s too attractive to not explore.

The main obstacle is Dracula/Alucard - while she doesn’t display blatant interest on him, he does in her, which may play a role in future volumes of the Manga and should be handled very carefully in any story.


The Absolution

[livejournal.com profile] integraanderson. A community for the lovers of the pairing.

Misc author's fanfiction:

- Til Your Death Do Us Part by shadeshark. The first AAxI fanfiction, Anime based. 'K' rating.
- Let's Try This Again. by Dreadnot. More friendship than romance between the two characters. 'K.'
- Sui Generis by Sensoo. AAxIxS ficlet in which Integral is a vampire. T.
- Kicking the Habit by [livejournal.com profile] insomniac_od. Funny fic, one side AAxI and another Integral pairing.
- Losing His Soul by kelles. Smut story with the AndersonxIntegralxAlucard threesome. Rated R.
- Farce of the Dragon by kelles. Pairings: AlucardxIntegral, PipxSeras, Dark WalterxSeras and AndersonxIntegral. Rated NC-17.
- Fallen Angel by kelles. AndersonxIntegralxSeras smut and hinted AlucardxIntegralxSeras. Rated R.
- Weakest Moments by kelles. Rated T.
- Change of Heart by kelles. Slight AAxI. K+
- Crimes of War. by kelles. T.
- Trouble by Sabine LaGrande. Short funny AAxI drabble. K+.
- Forgiveness by [livejournal.com profile] sabinelagrande. PG, slight AAxI.
- Triptych by Charis M. A poetic ficlet with the AAxIxA threesome. T.

My fanfiction:

- Coming to an End. More friendship than romance. K+.
- The Female of the Species. Mostly AlucardxIntegral and PipxSeras (with hinted foursome) but has a AAxI moment in chapter four and one sided interest. T.
- Exodus. Centers in HeinkelxAnderson but it's hinted one sided AAxI on Alex's side. T.
- Kissing Judas. Centers in AAxI and has other pairings as PipxSeras, YumixAlucard, HeinkelxDark Walter and one sided AlucardxIntegral. T.

Date: 2005-04-06 08:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] angelcide.livejournal.com
Wonderfully stated!

I'm adding this to my memories, that ok?

Date: 2005-04-06 10:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kitsunelover.livejournal.com
Nice, very thorough handling of the topic. I'll definitely be checking out those recs.

Although, I'd like to know on what authority you state that "he will most likely fulfil his promise one day." It seems rather a pessimistic outlook, and I know I'd certainly prefer the exact opposite happening. (I don't hate him but my affection for Seras, Integra, and Alucard outweighs my like for him.) ^^;;

Date: 2005-04-07 03:13 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ironpuncher2.livejournal.com
Anderson is my absolute favorite Hellsing character, but I haven't read all of the series yet, so I have to tak your word on the facts past volume 5. But so far I like what you said, especially 'The story of her family has been all about using the enemy for their own ends.' <--brilliant; I never thought of that before. I'll be chacking out those recs as soon as I get my grimy little hands on volume 6 =D

Date: 2005-04-08 10:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] marisamoonlight.livejournal.com
That was perfect, Thess. I do love Kissing Judas.

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