The Castle that (Union) Jack Built. [1/?]
anonymous
February 23 2010, 14:30:10 UTC
Death’s pale fingers were knocking at her door, she knew. She could hear them, tapping against the hard wood. And she did not hate it, no. Her dear Albert was waiting, where Death would take her. She missed him so, oh so much.
But she had her people, and they still lived. As Arthur had said once, so long ago when she was mourning and torn apart inside; “if you cannot live for yourself, live for your people”.
Death was getting impatient. She knew what she had to do.
“Mary, go fetch Lord Kirkland, would you?” she called to the handmaid, setting aside a sealed document. “I need to have a word with him…”
----
"I hate these clothes." hissed South Africa to India, shuffling about in the restrictive binds of her corset. India nodded, looking similarly pained, balancing Pakistan on one hip.
"So stuffy!" whined Australia, trying to pull his necktie down. Canada smacked lightly at his hands and corrected it.
"You have to wear them, or England will be angry." he said in hushed tones. "We don't want that; this is an important visit. Now go find your sister; she's run off with Kenya again." Australia frowned, looking more like a child than the teen he was growing to be, but did as told, grumbling about New Zealand always getting more freedom.
Jamaica itched at the lace around her neck. "Pretty extravagant clothes for slaves." she grumbled. Barbados grabbed her hand before she could rip it off.
"We're not-" Canada started, but was silenced by the glares from the black Nations.
"You're not, white boy." Uganda glared, folding his arms. The suit he'd been forced into really didn't suit him. Wales and Scotland entered then, actually looking at home in the formal wear.
"Has anyone seen Ireland?" asked Wales, holding a sulky looking Malta by the hand. Scotland scoffed.
"With China, probably tryin' another escape." His dark red hair was combed and slicked back. It made his impressive eyebrows even more prominent. "Cannae say if they'll make it far. B'sides which, Hong Kong's not goin' anywhere, so they'll prob'ly turn back."
Sure enough, a frustrated looking China strode through the door into the front room next, followed by Hong Kong, who was growing taller every year. Ireland came in next, similarly forced into her best dress, her vibrant red hair up in a bun.
"He's coming soon, the car's pulled up outside." she muttered irritably. "Honduras, get here, your shirt's untucked. Shetland, I know you're tired, but wake up before he comes in. I'm not dealing with his fussy poncy arse today." She glanced around the room. "Where's Australia and New Zealand?"
"I sent Australia off to find her earlier, but-" Canada piped up, but Ireland just threw her hands up in the air.
"Men! I despair of them!" and she stormed out of the room, probably to find them. The tall mansion windows saw England stepping out of the cab of the car, and then offering his hand to his queen. She was aging, slightly unsteady but resolute to stand alone, as many elderly tended to be.
Re: The Castle that (Union) Jack Built. [1/?]
anonymous
February 24 2010, 13:58:27 UTC
I absolutely love this!!! Little Malta made me go awww, and fem!Ireland sounds hot! *weak for redheads* I will be eternally amused by the fact that Scotland ends up being in character in fics much more than canon characters; that is, people, no matter the author, tend to write him very similar all the time, lol. Even in looks. I like him! ^^
I didn't even know Honduras had been British! It was after Spanish rule, then?
Oh, and let me say that Australia's protest NZ getting more freedom, and specially the black nations part, was my favourite ^^ (I wonder what they think of America, ex-colony who used to be one of them, actually having slavery in his home now, of his own free willXD)
Re: The Castle that (Union) Jack Built. [1/?]
anonymous
February 25 2010, 17:28:58 UTC
(I wonder what they think of America, ex-colony who used to be one of them, actually having slavery in his home now, of his own free willXD)
I think the black nations would be more concerned with their own status within the empire, namely how their black majority populations were under the heels of the ruling white minority and treated as fourth class (non)citizens (at best). Not exactly a situation of unicorns and rainbows, huh?
Re: The Castle that (Union) Jack Built. [1/?]
anonymous
June 30 2011, 05:51:39 UTC
/I wonder what they think of America, ex-colony who used to be one of them, actually having slavery in his home now, of his own free will?/ Well, by 1900 slavery had technically been banned in America for a few decades, so even if they cared what he was doing that wouldn't probably be relevant. If anyone did think about about America, my guess would be that it would be a brief moment of envy for someone not obliged to to play showpiece for a dying old woman most of them probably don't particularly like.
But she had her people, and they still lived. As Arthur had said once, so long ago when she was mourning and torn apart inside; “if you cannot live for yourself, live for your people”.
Death was getting impatient. She knew what she had to do.
“Mary, go fetch Lord Kirkland, would you?” she called to the handmaid, setting aside a sealed document. “I need to have a word with him…”
----
"I hate these clothes." hissed South Africa to India, shuffling about in the restrictive binds of her corset. India nodded, looking similarly pained, balancing Pakistan on one hip.
"So stuffy!" whined Australia, trying to pull his necktie down. Canada smacked lightly at his hands and corrected it.
"You have to wear them, or England will be angry." he said in hushed tones. "We don't want that; this is an important visit. Now go find your sister; she's run off with Kenya again." Australia frowned, looking more like a child than the teen he was growing to be, but did as told, grumbling about New Zealand always getting more freedom.
Jamaica itched at the lace around her neck. "Pretty extravagant clothes for slaves." she grumbled. Barbados grabbed her hand before she could rip it off.
"We're not-" Canada started, but was silenced by the glares from the black Nations.
"You're not, white boy." Uganda glared, folding his arms. The suit he'd been forced into really didn't suit him. Wales and Scotland entered then, actually looking at home in the formal wear.
"Has anyone seen Ireland?" asked Wales, holding a sulky looking Malta by the hand. Scotland scoffed.
"With China, probably tryin' another escape." His dark red hair was combed and slicked back. It made his impressive eyebrows even more prominent. "Cannae say if they'll make it far. B'sides which, Hong Kong's not goin' anywhere, so they'll prob'ly turn back."
Sure enough, a frustrated looking China strode through the door into the front room next, followed by Hong Kong, who was growing taller every year. Ireland came in next, similarly forced into her best dress, her vibrant red hair up in a bun.
"He's coming soon, the car's pulled up outside." she muttered irritably. "Honduras, get here, your shirt's untucked. Shetland, I know you're tired, but wake up before he comes in. I'm not dealing with his fussy poncy arse today." She glanced around the room. "Where's Australia and New Zealand?"
"I sent Australia off to find her earlier, but-" Canada piped up, but Ireland just threw her hands up in the air.
"Men! I despair of them!" and she stormed out of the room, probably to find them. The tall mansion windows saw England stepping out of the cab of the car, and then offering his hand to his queen. She was aging, slightly unsteady but resolute to stand alone, as many elderly tended to be.
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I will be eternally amused by the fact that Scotland ends up being in character in fics much more than canon characters; that is, people, no matter the author, tend to write him very similar all the time, lol. Even in looks. I like him! ^^
I didn't even know Honduras had been British! It was after Spanish rule, then?
Oh, and let me say that Australia's protest NZ getting more freedom, and specially the black nations part, was my favourite ^^ (I wonder what they think of America, ex-colony who used to be one of them, actually having slavery in his home now, of his own free willXD)
Reply
I think the black nations would be more concerned with their own status within the empire, namely how their black majority populations were under the heels of the ruling white minority and treated as fourth class (non)citizens (at best). Not exactly a situation of unicorns and rainbows, huh?
Reply
Well, by 1900 slavery had technically been banned in America for a few decades, so even if they cared what he was doing that wouldn't probably be relevant.
If anyone did think about about America, my guess would be that it would be a brief moment of envy for someone not obliged to to play showpiece for a dying old woman most of them probably don't particularly like.
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