I COME WITH FANFIC!
This is one of my writings for the aph_fluffathon. I hope you guys enjoy it!
Title: Of Thrift Stores and Joy
Author:rosetteroulette
Rating/Warnings: G-PG for a Vietnamese swear
Pairing(s): Taiwan/Vietnam
Prompt: Any pairing playing dress up in a thrift store.
Summary: Vietnam is puzzled by Taiwan's insistence that they hang out in a thrift store.
---
The cashier glanced in their direction, greeting them both with a smile and a nod.
Taiwan skipped over to a rack full of old plush toys as Vietnam stayed behind. She took the store in.
This was…odd.
Earlier, Taiwan had dragged her out of her hotel - both being in America for a World Conference - and pulled her into a local thrift store.
“We can get some really cute stuff here!” she proclaimed. “Plus I could pick up some vintage clothes. I’m really in the mood for that.” Then she grinned, booping Vietnam on the nose. “And hey!” she continued. “We can get you in some pretty clothes too!”
Vietnam, having used up all her strength trying to crawl back to her nice room, couldn’t say no.
And so there they were, Taiwan studying a sequined gown as Vietnam stood frowning.
While she wasn’t as fashion-conscious as her companion, Vietnam still preferred not to buy from a thrift store. There was no clue where any of the items came from, and with her economy doing well, she didn’t need to go to one anyway. Why was Taiwan suddenly fascinated by them?
“Er, Taiwan,” she called. The other girl turned to her, her eyes shining with excitement, guilting her.
“I just want to spend more time with you, Vietnam!” she admitted a week prior. “We need to hang out more, and besides, you need more happiness in your life.” When the older nation argued that she was quite happy, thank you very much, Taiwan had smiled and patted her hair. “Maybe, but you have such a sweet smile, and I barely see it. I’d love to make you smile myself.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Never mind.”
As soon as she turned, she felt a hand yank her by the shoulder - honestly, when did the younger girl become so strong? - and was suddenly face to face with a scarlet turtleneck. It had a brooch still on it, one shaped like a lotus and colored gold with lilac paint on the petals.
“Try it on!” She pushed Vietnam into a changing room, shutting the door on her face.
Vietnam scowled. She was going to have to discuss with Taiwan on how she should handle herself. China must not have taught her many manners.
She felt the rough, knitted fabric of the shirt. It was a nice shirt; she knew it would warm her up during winter, and she didn’t think it would itch when she wore it. And she did need to go shopping for new clothes soon; some of hers were fading or becoming too tight on her.
Hmm. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea, going to a thrift store. She smiled. If she could get some pretty clothes that weren’t available in shops in her own nation, it wasn’t a bad idea at all.
She heaved the new-to-her top on, looked at her reflection in the changing room mirror, and -
It was too loose.
“Dụ!” she muttered under her breath, almost ready to tear it off.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. “Hey, open up!” Taiwan.
She followed order. “Couldn’t you go into another room?” Vietnam asked, frustration very evident in her voice. The younger girl stumbled in, almost tripping on the several garments she was holding between her arm and her armpit. Vietnam raised an eyebrow.
“Might as well save space for the other customers, right?” Taiwan answered, noticing her bemusement. Vietnam was about to retort, what other customers?, when Taiwan laid a gown against her body. It was silky and pink, and looked like it was a Halloween costume from the year before. A cheaply made costume.
“I’m going to turn you into a princess,” she announced as she heaved it over Vietnam’s head, right over the previous shirt.
“Hey!” she yelped in surprise, but didn’t bother to stop her. After knowing with a girl like her after all this time, she always had to prepare herself for some spontaneity.
Unlike the turtleneck, the princess costume did fit her perfectly - though it didn’t stop her from flushing at the thought of the other nations seeing her like this. Please don’t have a camera on you, she thought, as Taiwan then wrapped a faux-feathered boa around her neck that clashed with her outfit, then a tiny crown (most likely belonging to a fashion doll) on her head.
“Done and done!” she announced. “Look how pretty you are!”
Vietnam sighed. “I think you need to relax at home - clearly all that paperwork’s gotten to your head.”
She flinched when she felt her arm get pinched. “Hmph, how rude!” Taiwan exclaimed. Her smile, however, betrayed her.
She then brought up another dress - a wedding gown with a rather large stain on its front.
Already Vietnam began guarding herself. “Taiwan, get serious!” she said with her arms protecting her chest, but then the other girl surprised her by putting it on herself, her flowery hair accessories coming out of place. She then put on a necklace with huge beads while not bothering to untuck her hair from underneath them.
“What are you up to - ?” Vietnam began, but Taiwan continued on, wrapping a multicolored scarf around her forehead and adding yellow kitchen gloves to her hands. Grabbing her purse, she pulled out a jar of cream blush out and applied some of it on her cheeks, two big pink circles of it.
Finally, she grinned. “Well, what do you think?” she asked.
Vietnam stared at her.
“Oh!” Taiwan then yanked something from behind her. “Totally forgot this!” A headband with cat ears was placed on her head. She then looked over at her triumphantly.
“You’re my princess, and I’m your bride, ready to save you from dastardly villains!” She struck a pose like someone from one of Japan’s cartoons.
Vietnam continued staring.
“So, what do you think? We look like quite the duo, right?”
You’re crazy. Why are you a nation? YOU NEED HELP. Vietnam was about to reveal her thoughts out loud when she suddenly caught sight of the both of them in the changing room’s mirror.
The doll crown that currently was tangled in her hair. The blush spots on Taiwan’s face that made her look some sort of anthropomorphized Pikachu. The sight of the scarlet turtleneck peeking out from under her own princess dress.
They looked ridiculous. They looked terrible.
And for some reason, maybe from a combination of stress and a lack of sleep, as well as just the sight of it all - laughs suddenly came out of her as she tried to hold them back. Tears were forming on the corners of her eyes, she was laughing so hard.
“Yay!” Taiwan cheered, throwing up her arms in the air. Running over to hug her, she said, “I knew I could do it!”
“Do - do what?” Vietnam asked, trying to recover.
“Make you smile! And wow, I got even more than that.” The younger girl smiled. “I wish I brought my cell with me. I have to keep this moment ingrained in my mind,” she finished dramatically.
Vietnam wiped her tears away. Thank goodness for that!
“And now I can finally get rid of these clothes,” Taiwan said, wrinkling her nose. She began undressing, throwing her clothes on the floor.
Fully calm now, Vietnam followed suit. “You mean you weren’t serious about these?” she teased, pointing to her gown resting on the floor.
“Of course not! You don’t actually think I dress like that, do you?”
There was silence.
“Rude!” Taiwan pouted.
Vietnam shook her head with a smile. She then helped to wipe the blush from her cheeks.
~
After getting back into the clothes they came in with, the two wandered around the store again. Taiwan looked over at her companion and the blouse she tried on and asked, “So, how did it fit?”
Vietnam sighed. “It was too loose.” I really did want it, too....
She was ready to put it back onto a rack when Taiwan suddenly grabbed her by the arm. Eyes widened, Vietnam looked at her questioningly.
“I can fix it, you know.” She pointed to the turtleneck. “Teacher taught me how to sew.”
The other woman hmph’d. “I’ve made my own clothes for years. I can sew perfectly well.”
“I’m sure you can. But I can add some more to it. It’ll look even better!”
Vietnam looked at her friend. She figured she was right; she knew Taiwan would fix up her own clothes after buying them from a store, adding frills or lace wherever she pleased. She nodded.
“Goody!” Taiwan replied. “Now then,” she started, pulling out a sleeveless ebony dress from a rack. “How do you think this would look on me?”
Picturing it in her head, Vietnam answered, “Gorgeous.”
---
NOTES
đụ - a Vietnamese swear word equivalent to the English word "fuck"
Also, "Teacher" refers to China. :)
Title: Of Thrift Stores and Joy
Author:rosetteroulette
Rating/Warnings: G-PG for a Vietnamese swear
Pairing(s): Taiwan/Vietnam
Prompt: Any pairing playing dress up in a thrift store.
Summary: Vietnam is puzzled by Taiwan's insistence that they hang out in a thrift store.
---
The cashier glanced in their direction, greeting them both with a smile and a nod.
Taiwan skipped over to a rack full of old plush toys as Vietnam stayed behind. She took the store in.
This was…odd.
Earlier, Taiwan had dragged her out of her hotel - both being in America for a World Conference - and pulled her into a local thrift store.
“We can get some really cute stuff here!” she proclaimed. “Plus I could pick up some vintage clothes. I’m really in the mood for that.” Then she grinned, booping Vietnam on the nose. “And hey!” she continued. “We can get you in some pretty clothes too!”
Vietnam, having used up all her strength trying to crawl back to her nice room, couldn’t say no.
And so there they were, Taiwan studying a sequined gown as Vietnam stood frowning.
While she wasn’t as fashion-conscious as her companion, Vietnam still preferred not to buy from a thrift store. There was no clue where any of the items came from, and with her economy doing well, she didn’t need to go to one anyway. Why was Taiwan suddenly fascinated by them?
“Er, Taiwan,” she called. The other girl turned to her, her eyes shining with excitement, guilting her.
“I just want to spend more time with you, Vietnam!” she admitted a week prior. “We need to hang out more, and besides, you need more happiness in your life.” When the older nation argued that she was quite happy, thank you very much, Taiwan had smiled and patted her hair. “Maybe, but you have such a sweet smile, and I barely see it. I’d love to make you smile myself.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “Never mind.”
As soon as she turned, she felt a hand yank her by the shoulder - honestly, when did the younger girl become so strong? - and was suddenly face to face with a scarlet turtleneck. It had a brooch still on it, one shaped like a lotus and colored gold with lilac paint on the petals.
“Try it on!” She pushed Vietnam into a changing room, shutting the door on her face.
Vietnam scowled. She was going to have to discuss with Taiwan on how she should handle herself. China must not have taught her many manners.
She felt the rough, knitted fabric of the shirt. It was a nice shirt; she knew it would warm her up during winter, and she didn’t think it would itch when she wore it. And she did need to go shopping for new clothes soon; some of hers were fading or becoming too tight on her.
Hmm. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea, going to a thrift store. She smiled. If she could get some pretty clothes that weren’t available in shops in her own nation, it wasn’t a bad idea at all.
She heaved the new-to-her top on, looked at her reflection in the changing room mirror, and -
It was too loose.
“Dụ!” she muttered under her breath, almost ready to tear it off.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. “Hey, open up!” Taiwan.
She followed order. “Couldn’t you go into another room?” Vietnam asked, frustration very evident in her voice. The younger girl stumbled in, almost tripping on the several garments she was holding between her arm and her armpit. Vietnam raised an eyebrow.
“Might as well save space for the other customers, right?” Taiwan answered, noticing her bemusement. Vietnam was about to retort, what other customers?, when Taiwan laid a gown against her body. It was silky and pink, and looked like it was a Halloween costume from the year before. A cheaply made costume.
“I’m going to turn you into a princess,” she announced as she heaved it over Vietnam’s head, right over the previous shirt.
“Hey!” she yelped in surprise, but didn’t bother to stop her. After knowing with a girl like her after all this time, she always had to prepare herself for some spontaneity.
Unlike the turtleneck, the princess costume did fit her perfectly - though it didn’t stop her from flushing at the thought of the other nations seeing her like this. Please don’t have a camera on you, she thought, as Taiwan then wrapped a faux-feathered boa around her neck that clashed with her outfit, then a tiny crown (most likely belonging to a fashion doll) on her head.
“Done and done!” she announced. “Look how pretty you are!”
Vietnam sighed. “I think you need to relax at home - clearly all that paperwork’s gotten to your head.”
She flinched when she felt her arm get pinched. “Hmph, how rude!” Taiwan exclaimed. Her smile, however, betrayed her.
She then brought up another dress - a wedding gown with a rather large stain on its front.
Already Vietnam began guarding herself. “Taiwan, get serious!” she said with her arms protecting her chest, but then the other girl surprised her by putting it on herself, her flowery hair accessories coming out of place. She then put on a necklace with huge beads while not bothering to untuck her hair from underneath them.
“What are you up to - ?” Vietnam began, but Taiwan continued on, wrapping a multicolored scarf around her forehead and adding yellow kitchen gloves to her hands. Grabbing her purse, she pulled out a jar of cream blush out and applied some of it on her cheeks, two big pink circles of it.
Finally, she grinned. “Well, what do you think?” she asked.
Vietnam stared at her.
“Oh!” Taiwan then yanked something from behind her. “Totally forgot this!” A headband with cat ears was placed on her head. She then looked over at her triumphantly.
“You’re my princess, and I’m your bride, ready to save you from dastardly villains!” She struck a pose like someone from one of Japan’s cartoons.
Vietnam continued staring.
“So, what do you think? We look like quite the duo, right?”
You’re crazy. Why are you a nation? YOU NEED HELP. Vietnam was about to reveal her thoughts out loud when she suddenly caught sight of the both of them in the changing room’s mirror.
The doll crown that currently was tangled in her hair. The blush spots on Taiwan’s face that made her look some sort of anthropomorphized Pikachu. The sight of the scarlet turtleneck peeking out from under her own princess dress.
They looked ridiculous. They looked terrible.
And for some reason, maybe from a combination of stress and a lack of sleep, as well as just the sight of it all - laughs suddenly came out of her as she tried to hold them back. Tears were forming on the corners of her eyes, she was laughing so hard.
“Yay!” Taiwan cheered, throwing up her arms in the air. Running over to hug her, she said, “I knew I could do it!”
“Do - do what?” Vietnam asked, trying to recover.
“Make you smile! And wow, I got even more than that.” The younger girl smiled. “I wish I brought my cell with me. I have to keep this moment ingrained in my mind,” she finished dramatically.
Vietnam wiped her tears away. Thank goodness for that!
“And now I can finally get rid of these clothes,” Taiwan said, wrinkling her nose. She began undressing, throwing her clothes on the floor.
Fully calm now, Vietnam followed suit. “You mean you weren’t serious about these?” she teased, pointing to her gown resting on the floor.
“Of course not! You don’t actually think I dress like that, do you?”
There was silence.
“Rude!” Taiwan pouted.
Vietnam shook her head with a smile. She then helped to wipe the blush from her cheeks.
~
After getting back into the clothes they came in with, the two wandered around the store again. Taiwan looked over at her companion and the blouse she tried on and asked, “So, how did it fit?”
Vietnam sighed. “It was too loose.” I really did want it, too....
She was ready to put it back onto a rack when Taiwan suddenly grabbed her by the arm. Eyes widened, Vietnam looked at her questioningly.
“I can fix it, you know.” She pointed to the turtleneck. “Teacher taught me how to sew.”
The other woman hmph’d. “I’ve made my own clothes for years. I can sew perfectly well.”
“I’m sure you can. But I can add some more to it. It’ll look even better!”
Vietnam looked at her friend. She figured she was right; she knew Taiwan would fix up her own clothes after buying them from a store, adding frills or lace wherever she pleased. She nodded.
“Goody!” Taiwan replied. “Now then,” she started, pulling out a sleeveless ebony dress from a rack. “How do you think this would look on me?”
Picturing it in her head, Vietnam answered, “Gorgeous.”
---
NOTES
đụ - a Vietnamese swear word equivalent to the English word "fuck"
Also, "Teacher" refers to China. :)