[fanfic] the kingdom of butterflies
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Title: the kingdom of butterflies
Author: sonofon
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Taiwan, America, China, France, mention of: Netherlands, Portugal, Spain; America/Taiwan, China/Taiwan, tiny tiny bit of France/Taiwan
Rating: PG
Warning: history, in fragments. Also keep in mind: real life relations do not necessarily reflect the anthropomorphications' attitudes towards each other one hundred percent. ;A;
Summary: Taiwan-centric; she looks towards the future and remembers the past, in seven parts.
Notes: This is mainly set post-1949, though there are a few allusions to before that date.
-
(but see: time waits for no one.)
-
i.
It would a bit harsh to say Taiwan hates the past. She merely hates the idea of dwelling on what she can't fix, she hates reminding herself of mistakes made, opportunities lost, love forgotten. And yet, that does not mean she hates it. There is a difference.
There's this very insistent trait in Taiwan. She is a determined girl who works hard and wants to be recognized as someone more than The Nation Who Makes Acer Computers And Has A Brawling Parliament With Really Bad Timing. She likes clothes and looking nice and she likes eating too and one day, she'd like to establish diplomatic relations with more Nations because it's a bit lonely at times and she enjoys friends. Her bosses have, by tradition, told her that this is impossible to do. They always add at this point in time.
After all, it's difficult to accomplish goals when her identity is so uncertain that she never has a complete grasp of herself. Taiwan goes by several names, and she's told each time that it is only for a matter of time. A matter of time is a vague expression. She knows and then she doesn't know; nor, for that matter, do a lot of other nations. America tells her a lot of things when they spend time together, and she pretends to believe for his sake. America's an awfully nice guy, she thinks, and most of the things he says aren't meant to hurt her, but he is a very powerful Nation and it's not a surprise that he has an agenda. So when his hand is on her hip and her shirt is unbuttoned to be tossed aside, Taiwan doesn't take it too personally that America isn't saying her name-he's asking about strait relations, he wants, needs to know how many missiles she has pointed at China's house. China, as in the People's Republic of China. (That hurts a bit. She's been conditioned. He's been briefed.) And anyway afterward, when her body feels a little sore but mostly tired and her head is spinning to the rhythmic chimes of the cicadas outside, he helps her with little things around the house, dusting objects he never noticed before, messily rearranging the pot of flowers Taiwan changes every season. America finds it utterly fascinating that she finds him so fascinating.
"It's very nice to see you," she tells him when he leaves, and means it. "Please bring these pineapple cakes back home with you. I recall you rather took a liking to them."
And America beams, kisses her forehead, says, "Thank you," and means it.
ii.
This year, she's met China once so far, and that was to celebrate the inauguration of the World Expo, held in Shanghai. China's proud; he doesn't want to let that on, but he is happy and content and it has nothing to do with the propaganda. It reminds Taiwan of the Olympics from two years ago and China was really, truly proud then. This time, he's that same kind of happy again and he is optimistic. Looking at him, one wouldn't guess the kind of life he's had to live. He looks handsome and his uniform is crisp and new.
She is coldly courteous to him and he accepts her calculated nod as they take their places around the round table in a designated room for distinguished visitors. (She will warm up to him in time, as she always does.) In front of them is a gigantic screen showing the Opening Ceremony.
"Beautiful," Taiwan allows. "An amazing spectacle."
"I-everyone-we've all been working very hard for this moment. I can only hope that the rest of the world agree."
"I don't see how they would not."
China has his mouth slightly open before shutting it closed but the transition is awkward. Taiwan's known him long enough that he had meant to say something-probably disparaging-about Westerners.
So she says, instead: "The pavilions are all well done. But the greatest one is yours; China. Zhong Guo." Taiwan's Mandarin remains slightly accented, even now, some kind of weird Fujian and Shandong influence all mixed together and it shows. China doesn't speak Taiwan's languages, not officially at least. He remembers a few phrases and his mishaps are obvious. Taiwan only smiles.
There are moments when Taiwan suspects she sees something in his eyes, but China's not the China he used to be, China is stronger now; and he's gracious, humble, very steadfast as he has always been. They share a drink of tea, they speak very informally when there is no one to listen over them, and they make their way to China's pavilion, then to Taiwan's which is right across the walkway.
iii.
Once, she was told her name was no longer just Taiwan. "The Republic of China isn't me," she insists, "I'm Taiwan. Taiwan."
"Your government is now the Republic of China, the one and only China," she's told. "But you haven't been yourself for years, didn't you realize?"
No, suppose she hadn't realize. She's lived with Japan and before that, China, and a very long time ago, Portugal and Spain and Netherlands. It is difficult to remember a time she was wholly in control of herself, when she thinks about it.
She looks at them today, those Europeans, and they still look very much the same, from far away. She thinks Netherlands has a few wrinkles and Spain and Portugal really hasn't been the usual for some time now. Japan treats her well, but when he touches her, she immediately tells him and he's wary enough to not go further. Then there's China. Well, she doesn't mind China, but everyone at her house has a differing opinion. It just depends on who is in power. Taiwan is smart to not say anything.
iv.
(For reasons unknown to her, Taiwan has always had a very good memory of this conversation from 1949:
"The Nationalists have lost. Chiang Kai-shek has fled. They are coming to you."
"Oh." She's brushing her hair when he comes to tell her.
"I thought-I thought you ought to know." Breathing hard and out of breath; he'd rushed, that meant.
"Oh." Still brushing, her hair gets caught.
"I suppose this means we won't see each other for a long while." The visit isn't long and he does not stay for the night and actually he leaves rather sheepishly, like a husband who'd been caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
She sighs, and pours him one last cup of tea.
China smirks, one of sarcastic mirth, and he takes her hand into his calloused one and places it over where his heart would roughly be. "Who would've thought? Do you remember the time when we went fishing by a busy river and later we fried the fish we caught and then we made a fire outside in the night sky and sang with the local villagers and there were stars and they were bright and shining?"
"I do. And then you kissed me and told me the story about the cowherd and the weaver girl and I almost cried for them but I didn't."
"Who would've thought it'd end like this?"
She remembers that especially well: who would've thought? It's very ironic and beautiful all at the same time.)
v.
And it's true. They do not see each other for many years, all for political reasons, and ever since 1971, she hasn't been inside the United Nations which is a pity because the building has always struck her as being aesthetically pleasing. That it is China who takes her place strikes at something inside her but she can't really describe what it means, so she tries to forget and eventually, she does.
She concentrates on her economy, strengthens her infrastructure, and doesn't think of the past. It's better this way.
vi.
"Do you know," she says to America, "both of our bosses graduated from Harvard Law School?" Taiwan is feeling jet-lagged and America is always hungry so they make dinner for themselves in the White House kitchen. It is two in the morning.
"I know."
"It's difficult for me to imagine, being a Nation and so old," Taiwan says, "but apparently it is very strenuous, though enriching, to go through school."
"I suppose it is. I wouldn't know."
"I'd like to enroll one day. It could be useful, one never knows. Maybe I will take a class of my own history."
America laughs; it begins as a hiccup of a laugh but soon delves into full-blown chortling and Taiwan wonders if it really is as funny as America makes it out to be. They finish eating and are still hungry so they scavenge the kitchen and they discover a carton of milk from 1989, Swiss cheese, and some of France's wine. They dump out the milk, split the cheese, and drink most of the wine. At four when the world is dark and hollow, they run outside, hand in hand, and lay outside on the lawn and stare up at the skies and Taiwan learns, for the first in a long time, what it means to feel lonely while completely in love.
vii.
"Bread," Taiwan begins, making sure she has France's complete attention, "made with locally produced millet wine, dried lichi, and rose petals. It is Wu Pao-Chun's masterpiece." France's eyes widen at the mention of rose petals; she knew that'd interest him. "I thought you would like that addition."
"Your baker deserves the win he received today," France phrases his words well. Ever since the beginning of the afternoon he has been making subtle movements to stand closer to her, and she lets him. "That, and all of his support. This is a very big accomplishment, no? A truly great accomplishment."
"Oh, yes. A baker's life is very hard. He must wake up every morning early to prepare the ingredients he set aside the night before. He must be diligent and realize that what he is doing is an art. Everything is an art, even something as simple as bread-making can be an art. Come to my house and I will show you his bakery shop. It would be an honor."
France looks impressed, and now wraps his arm around her waist. "One day, we will make the time."
"And we have all the time in the world."
-
AND NOW FOR A SCARY AMOUNT OF NOTES:
THEN YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN JOINING aph_ficgames, A NEW COMMUNITY THAT'S BOUND TO BE FULL OF FUN AS YOU TEAM UP WITH OTHER WRITERS AND COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER FOR THE ULTIMATE PRIZE. SO JOIN TODAY.
IF IT MEANS ANYTHING, I'M CO-MODDING THERE WHILE I'M SUPPOSED TO BE APPLYING FOR COLLEGE and you can blame m_nemonica for this ILU SO YEAH. OUR INTRO-POST IS OVER HERE.
AND THAT WAS MY PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT TO ALL YOU LOVELY PEOPLE
Title: the kingdom of butterflies
Author: sonofon
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Taiwan, America, China, France, mention of: Netherlands, Portugal, Spain; America/Taiwan, China/Taiwan, tiny tiny bit of France/Taiwan
Rating: PG
Warning: history, in fragments. Also keep in mind: real life relations do not necessarily reflect the anthropomorphications' attitudes towards each other one hundred percent. ;A;
Summary: Taiwan-centric; she looks towards the future and remembers the past, in seven parts.
Notes: This is mainly set post-1949, though there are a few allusions to before that date.
-
(but see: time waits for no one.)
-
i.
It would a bit harsh to say Taiwan hates the past. She merely hates the idea of dwelling on what she can't fix, she hates reminding herself of mistakes made, opportunities lost, love forgotten. And yet, that does not mean she hates it. There is a difference.
There's this very insistent trait in Taiwan. She is a determined girl who works hard and wants to be recognized as someone more than The Nation Who Makes Acer Computers And Has A Brawling Parliament With Really Bad Timing. She likes clothes and looking nice and she likes eating too and one day, she'd like to establish diplomatic relations with more Nations because it's a bit lonely at times and she enjoys friends. Her bosses have, by tradition, told her that this is impossible to do. They always add at this point in time.
After all, it's difficult to accomplish goals when her identity is so uncertain that she never has a complete grasp of herself. Taiwan goes by several names, and she's told each time that it is only for a matter of time. A matter of time is a vague expression. She knows and then she doesn't know; nor, for that matter, do a lot of other nations. America tells her a lot of things when they spend time together, and she pretends to believe for his sake. America's an awfully nice guy, she thinks, and most of the things he says aren't meant to hurt her, but he is a very powerful Nation and it's not a surprise that he has an agenda. So when his hand is on her hip and her shirt is unbuttoned to be tossed aside, Taiwan doesn't take it too personally that America isn't saying her name-he's asking about strait relations, he wants, needs to know how many missiles she has pointed at China's house. China, as in the People's Republic of China. (That hurts a bit. She's been conditioned. He's been briefed.) And anyway afterward, when her body feels a little sore but mostly tired and her head is spinning to the rhythmic chimes of the cicadas outside, he helps her with little things around the house, dusting objects he never noticed before, messily rearranging the pot of flowers Taiwan changes every season. America finds it utterly fascinating that she finds him so fascinating.
"It's very nice to see you," she tells him when he leaves, and means it. "Please bring these pineapple cakes back home with you. I recall you rather took a liking to them."
And America beams, kisses her forehead, says, "Thank you," and means it.
ii.
This year, she's met China once so far, and that was to celebrate the inauguration of the World Expo, held in Shanghai. China's proud; he doesn't want to let that on, but he is happy and content and it has nothing to do with the propaganda. It reminds Taiwan of the Olympics from two years ago and China was really, truly proud then. This time, he's that same kind of happy again and he is optimistic. Looking at him, one wouldn't guess the kind of life he's had to live. He looks handsome and his uniform is crisp and new.
She is coldly courteous to him and he accepts her calculated nod as they take their places around the round table in a designated room for distinguished visitors. (She will warm up to him in time, as she always does.) In front of them is a gigantic screen showing the Opening Ceremony.
"Beautiful," Taiwan allows. "An amazing spectacle."
"I-everyone-we've all been working very hard for this moment. I can only hope that the rest of the world agree."
"I don't see how they would not."
China has his mouth slightly open before shutting it closed but the transition is awkward. Taiwan's known him long enough that he had meant to say something-probably disparaging-about Westerners.
So she says, instead: "The pavilions are all well done. But the greatest one is yours; China. Zhong Guo." Taiwan's Mandarin remains slightly accented, even now, some kind of weird Fujian and Shandong influence all mixed together and it shows. China doesn't speak Taiwan's languages, not officially at least. He remembers a few phrases and his mishaps are obvious. Taiwan only smiles.
There are moments when Taiwan suspects she sees something in his eyes, but China's not the China he used to be, China is stronger now; and he's gracious, humble, very steadfast as he has always been. They share a drink of tea, they speak very informally when there is no one to listen over them, and they make their way to China's pavilion, then to Taiwan's which is right across the walkway.
iii.
Once, she was told her name was no longer just Taiwan. "The Republic of China isn't me," she insists, "I'm Taiwan. Taiwan."
"Your government is now the Republic of China, the one and only China," she's told. "But you haven't been yourself for years, didn't you realize?"
No, suppose she hadn't realize. She's lived with Japan and before that, China, and a very long time ago, Portugal and Spain and Netherlands. It is difficult to remember a time she was wholly in control of herself, when she thinks about it.
She looks at them today, those Europeans, and they still look very much the same, from far away. She thinks Netherlands has a few wrinkles and Spain and Portugal really hasn't been the usual for some time now. Japan treats her well, but when he touches her, she immediately tells him and he's wary enough to not go further. Then there's China. Well, she doesn't mind China, but everyone at her house has a differing opinion. It just depends on who is in power. Taiwan is smart to not say anything.
iv.
(For reasons unknown to her, Taiwan has always had a very good memory of this conversation from 1949:
"The Nationalists have lost. Chiang Kai-shek has fled. They are coming to you."
"Oh." She's brushing her hair when he comes to tell her.
"I thought-I thought you ought to know." Breathing hard and out of breath; he'd rushed, that meant.
"Oh." Still brushing, her hair gets caught.
"I suppose this means we won't see each other for a long while." The visit isn't long and he does not stay for the night and actually he leaves rather sheepishly, like a husband who'd been caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.
She sighs, and pours him one last cup of tea.
China smirks, one of sarcastic mirth, and he takes her hand into his calloused one and places it over where his heart would roughly be. "Who would've thought? Do you remember the time when we went fishing by a busy river and later we fried the fish we caught and then we made a fire outside in the night sky and sang with the local villagers and there were stars and they were bright and shining?"
"I do. And then you kissed me and told me the story about the cowherd and the weaver girl and I almost cried for them but I didn't."
"Who would've thought it'd end like this?"
She remembers that especially well: who would've thought? It's very ironic and beautiful all at the same time.)
v.
And it's true. They do not see each other for many years, all for political reasons, and ever since 1971, she hasn't been inside the United Nations which is a pity because the building has always struck her as being aesthetically pleasing. That it is China who takes her place strikes at something inside her but she can't really describe what it means, so she tries to forget and eventually, she does.
She concentrates on her economy, strengthens her infrastructure, and doesn't think of the past. It's better this way.
vi.
"Do you know," she says to America, "both of our bosses graduated from Harvard Law School?" Taiwan is feeling jet-lagged and America is always hungry so they make dinner for themselves in the White House kitchen. It is two in the morning.
"I know."
"It's difficult for me to imagine, being a Nation and so old," Taiwan says, "but apparently it is very strenuous, though enriching, to go through school."
"I suppose it is. I wouldn't know."
"I'd like to enroll one day. It could be useful, one never knows. Maybe I will take a class of my own history."
America laughs; it begins as a hiccup of a laugh but soon delves into full-blown chortling and Taiwan wonders if it really is as funny as America makes it out to be. They finish eating and are still hungry so they scavenge the kitchen and they discover a carton of milk from 1989, Swiss cheese, and some of France's wine. They dump out the milk, split the cheese, and drink most of the wine. At four when the world is dark and hollow, they run outside, hand in hand, and lay outside on the lawn and stare up at the skies and Taiwan learns, for the first in a long time, what it means to feel lonely while completely in love.
vii.
"Bread," Taiwan begins, making sure she has France's complete attention, "made with locally produced millet wine, dried lichi, and rose petals. It is Wu Pao-Chun's masterpiece." France's eyes widen at the mention of rose petals; she knew that'd interest him. "I thought you would like that addition."
"Your baker deserves the win he received today," France phrases his words well. Ever since the beginning of the afternoon he has been making subtle movements to stand closer to her, and she lets him. "That, and all of his support. This is a very big accomplishment, no? A truly great accomplishment."
"Oh, yes. A baker's life is very hard. He must wake up every morning early to prepare the ingredients he set aside the night before. He must be diligent and realize that what he is doing is an art. Everything is an art, even something as simple as bread-making can be an art. Come to my house and I will show you his bakery shop. It would be an honor."
France looks impressed, and now wraps his arm around her waist. "One day, we will make the time."
"And we have all the time in the world."
-
AND NOW FOR A SCARY AMOUNT OF NOTES:
- The Nation Who Makes Acer Computers And Has A Brawling Parliament. Acer is based in Taiwan. As for their parliament ... yes, brawls are quite regular occurrences. OTL Women are not afraid to use their high-heels, politicians wear different colored vests to designate which party they belong to so they don't accidentally punch their own side. YES THIS IS TAIWAN GETS ON CNN. IT'S SAD.
- Taiwan goes by several names. It's really really complicated. Taiwan is the commonly used name of the geographical and cultural entity but its political body is the Republic of China, on which 99% of its landmass is Taiwan; this has been the case since 1949. However, Taiwan is not its own country and has never formally declared its independence. For sporting events and such, Taiwan goes by the name Chinese Taipei.
- pineapple cakes. A very delicious Taiwanese specialty.
- inauguration of the World Expo, held in Shanghai. The World Expo in Shanghai is taking place from May 1 2010 to October 31 2010, and it's basically a giant exhibition where each nation has its own pavilion to showcase its culture and history. WHY IS NO ONE MAKING FANWORKS OF THIS I TELL YOU THERE'S SO MUCH STUFF TO WORK WITH. Also, the Taiwan pavilion is the closest one to China's, interpret that how you will.
- Once, she was told her name was no longer just Taiwan. While Taiwan is still Taiwan, yes, it also became the base of the Republic of China after 1949, whereas before, Taiwan was only a province of the Republic of China (because the Republic of China used to consist of Taiwan, mainland China, etc.). And after Japan gave up Taiwan to the Republic of China (ROC) after WWII, the ROC soon lost hold of its power in mainland China because it lost the Chinese Civil War to the Chinese Communists. The ROC was the Kuomintang (Nationalists) government, by the way.
- Your government is now the Republic of China, the one and only China. Ever since the ROC relocated its government to the island of Taiwan, they and mainland China (which became the People's Republic of China) have been in a long long battle over Who Is The Real China. From 1949-1971, China was the Republic of China. Post-1971, it's been the People's Republic of China. It is more confusing than it sounds, and applying it to Hetalia only makes it a hundred-fold worse. ;w;
- She's lived with Japan and before that, China, and a very long time ago, Portugal and Spain and Netherlands. Yeah, a lot of outside influence for the Taiwanese. Today, only about 2% of the population are Taiwanese aborigines. The rest of the 98% are of Han Chinese ethnicity.
- but everyone at her house has a differing opinion. The two main opposing parties in Taiwan differ in their approach towards China. The Kuomintang favor eventual reconciliation with China, while the Democratic Progressive Party want Taiwanese independence. This makes for a lot of headaches.
- The Nationalists have lost. Chiang Kai-shek has fled. They are coming to you. After the Nationalists' loss to the Communists in the Chinese Civil War, some two million Nationalists fled China with Chiang Kai-Shek, the leader of the Nationalists. The people were mainly soldiers, intellectuals, and business elite, all of whom would have most definitely faced persecution had they remained in China.
- the story about the cowherd and the weaver girl. There are several variations to this story, but it essentially tells the story of two lovers who can only meet once a year due to various unfortunate circumstances and since the late 1990s, it's been a kind of Chinese Valentine's Day. The date changes every year depending on the lunar calendar.
- ever since 1971, she hasn't been inside the United Nations. Up until 1971, Taiwan, as the Republic of China, was recognized as China and so sat upon the United Nations Security Council as one of the five permanent members. After 1971, the Republic of China was recognized as the real China (and this is mostly thanks to Nixon and his visit to Communist China) and Taiwan was effectively booted out of the United Nations.
- so she tries to forget and eventually, she does. Taiwan has tried to apply for readmission to the United Nation, but as doing so would mean acknowledging Taiwan as an independent sovereign state, obviously it's never happened. In 2009, after applying every year for seventeen years, Taiwan did not submit an application for membership.
- both of our bosses graduated from Harvard Law School. This would imply that this conversation is taking place sometime after the American 2008 Presidential election, as the bosses being alluded to are Barack Obama of the United States, and Ma Ying-Jeou of Taiwan. Obama graduated with a J.D. in 1991 and Ma with a S.J.D. in 1981.
- bread ... made with locally produced millet wine, dried lichi, and rose petals. This bread was one of the many creations of the Taiwanese baker Wu Pao-Chun, the winner of the Boulangerie World Cup 2010 (a bread-making contest) which took place in Paris, France.
- If you feel like I've made an error, was confusing in my explanation and/or interpretation, feel free to ask me for clarification and I will do my best in explaining it to you properly! ♥
