[fanfic] longest holiday: past forward / white ribbon
took me this long orz
when i anticipate/im involved in events, i tend to disappear loonger than usual ;u;
Title: Longest Holiday - Past Forward / White Ribbon (2/3)
Author: silentside
Genre: Humor/Drama
Characters: OC!PH (Ma.Salome), America and mentions of other Iggy's spawns.
Warning: Unbetad dribble :| Some spoilers for an ongoing title of the same title / political events, heavy ameripiri dramu OTL
Part One (here) - Piri with Moe!President and JitteryFanboy!America
Summary: Exactly a year after Typhoon Ketsana struck and devastated her home, Maria briefly reflects on the events that followed the year before: the generosity of the international community and the briefly chaotic (and yet strangely hilarious) 'foreign relations' that ensued after. A year now to the present, she found herself braving another dilemma that have strained her ties with her asian siblings and the rest of the world.
One forgives but never forgets and as the wounds slowly heals, she reluctantly accompanies her boss for a crucial week-long trip to America for the US-ASEAN Summit. To her, it is another awkward reunion with the confident and ever enthusiastic Alfred F. Jones.
--
12:30 nn
"Yo, Sally!" Alfred called out, skipping steps so he can catch up with the petite nation. Maria Salome is furious and he does not know what he did or say to make her furious to begin with. After her president left for the summit, she accused him of being insensitive and acting like nothing had happened. Nothing had...wait what? He is pretty damn sure he didn't say anything to offend her this time. A little too enthusiastic when he met her boss, yes. He shouldn't have that 3rd cup of espresso that morning.
But still is not a reason enough for her to get angry. Another impending eruption in her region perhaps? But she have dealt with that last year! She was not exactly pleased with the international media coverage it got: People from other nations came in droves so they can stand NEAR the slow steady flowing lava and perhaps even get a rock as a souvenir from the place. It did wonders to boost her tourism, but certainly not the one she is aiming for. Residents have to seek refuge and spend their Christmas in relocation camps.
Last year's holiday season is not exactly smooth sailing for Philippines. And Alfred knows how she looked forward to it every year---it was the longest known Christmas celebration in the whole world.
That still brings to the question: what the hell did he said this time?
She spun around, stormed out of his presence and headed furiously towards the row of elevators at the end of the lobby not saying not a single word. Stopping in front of one of the elevators, she glanced briefly at the blond gasping figure heading steadily towards her direction.
Oh god he is so stubborn.
Maria pressed the 'up' button repeatedly.
"Wait up! Sally!" he called out, slowing down as he approached near. Standing a head and a half-shorter than the nation super power, she managed to still intimidate him with a quick hard glare. Alfred's pacific bright blues merely stared back at her as he made his 'whoah' stance and backed off a little. He really does not have a single clue what she is talking about earlier.
"Don't do this to me, Sally--"
"Maria. Please stop calling me that!"
"Yeah, Maria..what's wrong, babe? What did I say this time?"
*ding*
"It's not what you said this time..."
*ding*
He lifted both brows, pausing briefly. "Then--something I said before?" he sighed, "Look Maria, I wouldn't know what's bothering you unless you tell me. That's what allies are for. If you need aid, I'm your man. I mean, my media will get that covered for y---"
Oh..
Media coverage...
Ohhhh..
His eyes widened and he started sputtering, wordlessly that is, when he came quickly into the conclusion what Maria was very upset about. The elevator finally opened and she went inside.
"Sally!" her brow twitched, how many times does she have to repeat herself? She dislikes that nickname.
Alfred followed in quickly the minute it was about to close in front of him, cramming himself among disgruntled passengers, squirming his way to Maria, who is now fervently wishing that now its a good time for the ground to swallow her up. Soon enough, he was standing in front of her--uncomfortably close to that, as the elevator is already packed like sardines.
"Look," he breathed, "I got nothing against you. It's just...we are taking precautions. After all, it's a matter of international security. If your administ--"
She looked up at him defiantly, the intensity of her gaze can almost burn through the blazer he is wearing. "could have known it any better?--you made it sound that I didn't try to do anything to prevent the tragedy, America." she continued, addressing him formally--which by experience, Alfred knows spells trouble.
"Worst country in the world right now!"
"Whoah! That's so taken out of context! What I said was--"
"Your media said the same thing last November!"
He can see several pairs of eyes staring at him right now. Scratching his head sheepishly, Alfred breaks to an uneasy laugh and quickly glanced at the alighted buttons. Maria's staying at the 20th--the floor just alighted to the 12th and they will be there shortly, but for now it seems to take forever. He needs to say something.
"Umm...complicated foreign relations?"
They merely shook their heads.
*ding*
There is no else left but two of them by the time it reached the 16th floor. She moved at the farthest corner at the elevator, eyeing the lighting numbers with great scrutiny.
"You have to learn not to take things hard, Philippines." he finally spoke, his tone much softer. An irony because his words aren't. "It's not meant to be a personal attack. You know that. We are still allies....right?"
She tilted her head low, rubbing her eyes with the back of her palm.
*ding*
"Yeah...allies."
Is she crying?
Maria sniffed.
*ding*
"Hey..."
She swatted his hand lightly before it can reach her shoulder. "I'm okay...it's been a rough month...just don't..."
"He won't ban you forever. I mean, Hongkong." He started, "Rumors have it that he haven't come out of his house after he got furious with you but...I heard Yao have already sent his delegates to your place...too bad your boss can't attend to it immediately."
"Alfred..."
"Uh...but of course he wanted to, but pressing duties calls first, right? You need your financial aid. Just like when Hong Kong's Chief Executive is calling up your boss and everybody assumes he is ignoring him, but when he really--"
She quickly looked at him, her expression unreadable.
Oh shi--- he is talking too much. Way too much. He have to keep a mental note that she, even after a little more than a century, is still not used to his straight-forwardness.
"Oh jeez, I'm sorry!"
"Hero..."
*ding*
The elevator opened to the 20th floor.
He was gaping, watching as Maria took a deep breath and headed out of the elevator. He quickly followed her. "Wait, what? You are not...mad at me?"
To which she responded by elbowing him hard on the stomach. Alfred made an 'uff' sound and backed off a little as she stomped forward, muttering something in her local language about 'private space' before slowing down to the the third room at their right.
"I'm still mad at you," she frowned, side glancing at the tall blond beside her, who is grumbling and rubbing his abdomen. "And I know you well and probably a little too much---"
He is starting to like the sound of her words, "Yeah~?"
"That you talk way too much when you really feel bad about something!" she finished, earning a surprised looked from the American. It was something he did not expect, he probably anticipated for her to cry and break down in welcoming his arms--but she DIDN'T and she felt that her words bruised his ego a little. America = crushed ego. It was priceless. She can't help but smile a little. But it was not a warm welcoming smile, It was bitter.
"--and I keep forgiving you, you...idiot"
"Maria, You are saying something about a hero..."
"My boss." she didn't let him finish. "If he is my previous boss, he could have hid himself from your media--you know and probably get a spokeperson to face everyone and let him with the dirt. But he didn't. He faced everyone and admitted what happened that day was a critical failure--the rescue attempt was a botched, everyone was unprepared, the media...we weren't able to control the media. It cost a lot of lives, to that--Hong Kong is still not talking to me. But my president is trying his best to make amends and temper all the hate and hurt that is being hurled to him and to his administration during the crisis."
He can hear her voice break. She avoided his gaze, that blue gaze as clear as the afternoon skies..
"At the same time, he is trying to save me, America. Like you said, my welfare is his top priority."
"Maria---"
"Damn it, Alfred...every nation can call us names...criticize us, hurt us..."
Avoid Philippines...The worst country to travel right now...
He took a step forward, reaching out one hand on her right shoulder. She allowed him to touch her this time.
"But he never, ever---turned his back to any of them, Kuya. He faced them. Every single one of them. To me, that...that's a real hero."
So it hurts when everyone else thought....
That you are not trying...
When all they see is the mistake...that fatal flaw
But not the effort that comes after...
I can see it now...
Maria...
Wordlessly, he quickly pulled her close to him. Pressing her form against his chest, he felt her tremble.
"I'm sorry...I didn't realize how much it hurts you, my Philippines."
.
.
.
WHAT IS THIS.
First I wrote our prez so moe and now I wrote a tense amerixpiri chapter WTF. ARGH. damnitrihannalsshnggh.
I'm planning to write this chapter on an time-by-time format (12 nn - scene, 1:30 pm - mex appears, spain on a replicated galleon etc ahem spoiler) but that didn't happen obviously 8|
If it did, even my powers to blend drama with comedy like a splendid adobo won't work for srs. It's supposed to be comedy...but idek I just can't ;____;
OTL ooh boy please stay up to planned chapter 3 plox. Matthieu will still make a flashback appearance D:
Random trivia: I realized this is the exact date I uploaded 'mi unica hija' segment of Longest Holiday 8D and here I thought I won't write Yandere!Antonio much but I like making goofy characters heavily disturbed in real historical context um yeah.
updating my fanfic archive list as well, which is well go -> here :D
when i anticipate/im involved in events, i tend to disappear loonger than usual ;u;
Title: Longest Holiday - Past Forward / White Ribbon (2/3)
Author: silentside
Genre: Humor/Drama
Characters: OC!PH (Ma.Salome), America and mentions of other Iggy's spawns.
Warning: Unbetad dribble :| Some spoilers for an ongoing title of the same title / political events, heavy ameripiri dramu OTL
Part One (here) - Piri with Moe!President and JitteryFanboy!America
Summary: Exactly a year after Typhoon Ketsana struck and devastated her home, Maria briefly reflects on the events that followed the year before: the generosity of the international community and the briefly chaotic (and yet strangely hilarious) 'foreign relations' that ensued after. A year now to the present, she found herself braving another dilemma that have strained her ties with her asian siblings and the rest of the world.
One forgives but never forgets and as the wounds slowly heals, she reluctantly accompanies her boss for a crucial week-long trip to America for the US-ASEAN Summit. To her, it is another awkward reunion with the confident and ever enthusiastic Alfred F. Jones.
--
12:30 nn
"Yo, Sally!" Alfred called out, skipping steps so he can catch up with the petite nation. Maria Salome is furious and he does not know what he did or say to make her furious to begin with. After her president left for the summit, she accused him of being insensitive and acting like nothing had happened. Nothing had...wait what? He is pretty damn sure he didn't say anything to offend her this time. A little too enthusiastic when he met her boss, yes. He shouldn't have that 3rd cup of espresso that morning.
But still is not a reason enough for her to get angry. Another impending eruption in her region perhaps? But she have dealt with that last year! She was not exactly pleased with the international media coverage it got: People from other nations came in droves so they can stand NEAR the slow steady flowing lava and perhaps even get a rock as a souvenir from the place. It did wonders to boost her tourism, but certainly not the one she is aiming for. Residents have to seek refuge and spend their Christmas in relocation camps.
Last year's holiday season is not exactly smooth sailing for Philippines. And Alfred knows how she looked forward to it every year---it was the longest known Christmas celebration in the whole world.
That still brings to the question: what the hell did he said this time?
She spun around, stormed out of his presence and headed furiously towards the row of elevators at the end of the lobby not saying not a single word. Stopping in front of one of the elevators, she glanced briefly at the blond gasping figure heading steadily towards her direction.
Oh god he is so stubborn.
Maria pressed the 'up' button repeatedly.
"Wait up! Sally!" he called out, slowing down as he approached near. Standing a head and a half-shorter than the nation super power, she managed to still intimidate him with a quick hard glare. Alfred's pacific bright blues merely stared back at her as he made his 'whoah' stance and backed off a little. He really does not have a single clue what she is talking about earlier.
"Don't do this to me, Sally--"
"Maria. Please stop calling me that!"
"Yeah, Maria..what's wrong, babe? What did I say this time?"
*ding*
"It's not what you said this time..."
*ding*
He lifted both brows, pausing briefly. "Then--something I said before?" he sighed, "Look Maria, I wouldn't know what's bothering you unless you tell me. That's what allies are for. If you need aid, I'm your man. I mean, my media will get that covered for y---"
Oh..
Media coverage...
Ohhhh..
His eyes widened and he started sputtering, wordlessly that is, when he came quickly into the conclusion what Maria was very upset about. The elevator finally opened and she went inside.
"Sally!" her brow twitched, how many times does she have to repeat herself? She dislikes that nickname.
Alfred followed in quickly the minute it was about to close in front of him, cramming himself among disgruntled passengers, squirming his way to Maria, who is now fervently wishing that now its a good time for the ground to swallow her up. Soon enough, he was standing in front of her--uncomfortably close to that, as the elevator is already packed like sardines.
"Look," he breathed, "I got nothing against you. It's just...we are taking precautions. After all, it's a matter of international security. If your administ--"
She looked up at him defiantly, the intensity of her gaze can almost burn through the blazer he is wearing. "could have known it any better?--you made it sound that I didn't try to do anything to prevent the tragedy, America." she continued, addressing him formally--which by experience, Alfred knows spells trouble.
"Worst country in the world right now!"
"Whoah! That's so taken out of context! What I said was--"
"Your media said the same thing last November!"
He can see several pairs of eyes staring at him right now. Scratching his head sheepishly, Alfred breaks to an uneasy laugh and quickly glanced at the alighted buttons. Maria's staying at the 20th--the floor just alighted to the 12th and they will be there shortly, but for now it seems to take forever. He needs to say something.
"Umm...complicated foreign relations?"
They merely shook their heads.
*ding*
There is no else left but two of them by the time it reached the 16th floor. She moved at the farthest corner at the elevator, eyeing the lighting numbers with great scrutiny.
"You have to learn not to take things hard, Philippines." he finally spoke, his tone much softer. An irony because his words aren't. "It's not meant to be a personal attack. You know that. We are still allies....right?"
She tilted her head low, rubbing her eyes with the back of her palm.
*ding*
"Yeah...allies."
Is she crying?
Maria sniffed.
*ding*
"Hey..."
She swatted his hand lightly before it can reach her shoulder. "I'm okay...it's been a rough month...just don't..."
"He won't ban you forever. I mean, Hongkong." He started, "Rumors have it that he haven't come out of his house after he got furious with you but...I heard Yao have already sent his delegates to your place...too bad your boss can't attend to it immediately."
"Alfred..."
"Uh...but of course he wanted to, but pressing duties calls first, right? You need your financial aid. Just like when Hong Kong's Chief Executive is calling up your boss and everybody assumes he is ignoring him, but when he really--"
She quickly looked at him, her expression unreadable.
Oh shi--- he is talking too much. Way too much. He have to keep a mental note that she, even after a little more than a century, is still not used to his straight-forwardness.
"Oh jeez, I'm sorry!"
"Hero..."
*ding*
The elevator opened to the 20th floor.
He was gaping, watching as Maria took a deep breath and headed out of the elevator. He quickly followed her. "Wait, what? You are not...mad at me?"
To which she responded by elbowing him hard on the stomach. Alfred made an 'uff' sound and backed off a little as she stomped forward, muttering something in her local language about 'private space' before slowing down to the the third room at their right.
"I'm still mad at you," she frowned, side glancing at the tall blond beside her, who is grumbling and rubbing his abdomen. "And I know you well and probably a little too much---"
He is starting to like the sound of her words, "Yeah~?"
"That you talk way too much when you really feel bad about something!" she finished, earning a surprised looked from the American. It was something he did not expect, he probably anticipated for her to cry and break down in welcoming his arms--but she DIDN'T and she felt that her words bruised his ego a little. America = crushed ego. It was priceless. She can't help but smile a little. But it was not a warm welcoming smile, It was bitter.
"--and I keep forgiving you, you...idiot"
"Maria, You are saying something about a hero..."
"My boss." she didn't let him finish. "If he is my previous boss, he could have hid himself from your media--you know and probably get a spokeperson to face everyone and let him with the dirt. But he didn't. He faced everyone and admitted what happened that day was a critical failure--the rescue attempt was a botched, everyone was unprepared, the media...we weren't able to control the media. It cost a lot of lives, to that--Hong Kong is still not talking to me. But my president is trying his best to make amends and temper all the hate and hurt that is being hurled to him and to his administration during the crisis."
He can hear her voice break. She avoided his gaze, that blue gaze as clear as the afternoon skies..
"At the same time, he is trying to save me, America. Like you said, my welfare is his top priority."
"Maria---"
"Damn it, Alfred...every nation can call us names...criticize us, hurt us..."
Avoid Philippines...The worst country to travel right now...
He took a step forward, reaching out one hand on her right shoulder. She allowed him to touch her this time.
"But he never, ever---turned his back to any of them, Kuya. He faced them. Every single one of them. To me, that...that's a real hero."
So it hurts when everyone else thought....
That you are not trying...
When all they see is the mistake...that fatal flaw
But not the effort that comes after...
I can see it now...
Maria...
Wordlessly, he quickly pulled her close to him. Pressing her form against his chest, he felt her tremble.
"I'm sorry...I didn't realize how much it hurts you, my Philippines."
.
.
.
WHAT IS THIS.
First I wrote our prez so moe and now I wrote a tense amerixpiri chapter WTF. ARGH. damnitrihannalsshnggh.
I'm planning to write this chapter on an time-by-time format (12 nn - scene, 1:30 pm - mex appears, spain on a replicated galleon etc ahem spoiler) but that didn't happen obviously 8|
If it did, even my powers to blend drama with comedy like a splendid adobo won't work for srs. It's supposed to be comedy...but idek I just can't ;____;
OTL ooh boy please stay up to planned chapter 3 plox. Matthieu will still make a flashback appearance D:
Random trivia: I realized this is the exact date I uploaded 'mi unica hija' segment of Longest Holiday 8D and here I thought I won't write Yandere!Antonio much but I like making goofy characters heavily disturbed in real historical context um yeah.
updating my fanfic archive list as well, which is well go -> here :D