#hhw day 2

[sketchytea]

A drizzling rain falls during Qingming,

Travellers on the road are full of melancholy.

May I ask where the nearest tavern lies?

The cowherd points in the distance to Xinghua Village.

- Qingming, Du Mu (Tang)

celebration - day 2 for @historical-hetalia-week

[faintvibes]

Historical Hetalia Day Two: 5000 BCE - 0

Day Two: 5000 BCE - 0 // Celebrations @historical-hetalia-week

My day two piece takes place in the Roman Republic, and this time features nyotalia! This one was a bit more of an experiment than the others, and so undoubtedly features more errors and timeline inconsistencies, but I'm taking those in stride :)

More about the process under the cut!!

So this is the image that's gone through the most revisions from concept to final idea. Originally, I wanted to focus on Prussia's early life, perhaps with Templar &/or Hospitaller (though Templar and nyo!Prussia are my day 7 piece, so if that interests you stay tuned!!), or something to do with the Baltic tribes in BCE, though I could never settle on something that pleased me...

Eventually, my idea drifted from them entirely, and to the Mediterranean. I have a tendency to speedrun writing/worldbuilding concepts (😅), so in the near month I spent considering this, my focus and ideas had shifted more to playing around with the Italy family. Specifically, I was curious about the relationship dynamics between Rome and her (in this instance) granddaughters. To memory, though I'm sure I'm not the most credible source on this, Rome shows a level of favouritism to North Italy- this is particularly interesting to me when tied into South Italy's Himaruya-approved name: Lovino, which could be connected to Rovino, which is from rovinare- which means to collpase/wreck. While we can't know when this name was adopted, the thought that Rome could've chosen it (or something along those lines) sure has some interesting connotations. Of course, the canon status of these names are easy to dispute, so it may not play into their canon relations at all!

(If you can't tell, I'm not here to play things exclusively by canon's playbook- though no hate if we differ on that front.)

Regardless, the idea of showing favouritism and uneven dynamics in the Italy family interested me, and various earlier sketches made this quite explicit. However, again, none of them really satisfied me, and I knew I wouldn't have fun fully drawing them out. So, though I kept this in mind, I started moving farther away from this as the main focus of the piece. Instead, I began leaning more towards family portraits- or something of that style. This brings me to the sketch that would become this illustration.

From here, the details came into play- and thus so does the inevitable inaccuracies. Ancient Rome has never really been my playground, so I'm unfamiliar with the rules. Some of my favourite books on historic fashion pay them some heed, but it is far from the focus. (And, at least in one, pretty much all of the Roman references are Roman recreations of Greek statues, so their credibility in regards to representing Roman fashion is questionable! And that's not mentioning all the French recreations of Roman dress, far after the Roman Empire's fall...) So while these were kept in mind, they weren't my main information sources this time 'round.

From James Laver's 'World of Art: Costume and Fashion', the following were referenced:

And from Panorama's 'A History of Fashion: Loincloths to Lycra' by Jacqueline Morley, David Salariya, etc:

(This one is directly where I took Rome's hair, veil and circlet from- though the rest have far less distinct influences on my piece)

Instead, the source I found most useful was 'How They Did it- Growing Up Roman' by Invicta on Youtube, and I will be scattering illustrations featured in the video amidst my explanation. While I'm unable to verify the sources of all these paintings, the video does itself credit a variety of sources:

Now, it's not specified when in Roman history these paintings are attempting to depict (or even if they are primary sources) nor the class of the people featured (though that, to a degree, can be interpreted) so, while I have used these to create my image, they may not entirely represent my desired vision. To research that to the desired degree would not be possible in such a short span of time (the extensive reworking and re-conceptualising process behind this piece left me with little time to actually complete it), so please bear with me, Roman historians.

The background is interpreted from this painting depicting the inside of a Roman estate:

The top left of the image is directly what I referenced for the background. As for the clothes of the characters...

Rome's was more of an attempt to mess around with the layering of Roman garments than based off anything in particular. Personally, I think it could be reworked in a future exploration of this period of fashion, but I'm glad to have attempted it- without that, I wouldn't be grated by how much it could be improved, because I wouldn't know!

As for North Italy, my main inspiration was a mix of these these lovely ladies (you may need to click on the images to properly see them):

I adored the colours on the second image, and took some inspiration from the shape of the other - though that's mainly hidden behind her grandmother! The addition of a flower crown (and the tree next to her where the flowers come from) is more drawn from lingering vestiges of the favouritism theme. Not only is Nth Italy's section in the image bigger than her older sister's, and she is behind Rome on the elder woman's right (emphasis on ROME'S right, NOT the right side of the illustration), implying a quite close connection. My idea behind the tree is that Rome went out of her way to get both girls a tree of their own in the garden. However, she got Nth Italy the tree that grows beautiful flowers in the spring, so that they can make flower crowns together. Sth Italy still got the tree as a gift, but not the extra level of thoughtfulness.

Talking about Sth Italy, let's move onto her clothes! She was mainly drawn from these women:

Again, adored the colours of the second image and liked the structure of the first outfit.

One other change to Sth Italy I'd like to point out is in regards to complexion. I'm aware he tends to be portrayed in canon as quite light-skinned (though I believe this is less the case in the manga?), however I've always been interested in his speculated Arabic and African roots. This ties into my headcanon about the forming of the two Italian siblings, which is detailed below. If you have no interest in that, here's your conclusion! I hope you found some interest in my ramblings :)

So, we know Nth and Sth Italy came to exist during Rome's rule- why? There are plenty of potential explanations, I'm sure, but I like to imagine it is because they originally represented the Roman territories of North Italy, and the Roman territories of South Italy respectively. Therefore, South Italy came to be either when the Italian peninsula was fully conquered by Rome in 264 BCE, or after they conquered Sicily in the First Punic War (in 212 BCE- though it was considered a province by 241 BCE). I choose the latter, which gives the opportunity for South Italy to be of Carthaginian (and thus Phoenician) heritage, giving a reason for their darker complexion. North Italy, I imagine, was born later on- for while Rome is said to have conquered the Italian peninsula in 264 BCE, this does not actually include the part of Italy where Venice would later be established- and so I don't count it as North Italy's birth year. Instead, I wait until the province of Cisalpine Gaul comes under Roman control by 191 BCE, which does include modern day Venice! This Gallic heritage is also where I get North Italy's fairer skin from- considering I make Rome more in between both of their grandchildren's skin tones.

And there is my explanation! If you made it this far, I greatly appreciate it!! Comment/reblog with an Italian flag if you'd like to show that ;)

Criticism/feedback is greatly welcomed, especially the aspects of Roman fashion I definitely want to learn more about! (Why did no one ever tell me the colours are so pretty?? Ough I want to wear them so bad)

[apersonwholikeslotus]

this is for @historical-hetalia-week day 2!

Pairings: (platonic) Germania x Scandia

Warnings: Abandonment mention

Notes: the context for this one is the Cimbrians are about to leave and Heinrich (Germania) is going with them; Astrid (Scandia) is not thrilled about it and doesn't know how to say goodbye. This is also a pt 1 of 2. Pt 2 will be posted tomorrow!

~~~~~~~~~~~

They had always been together. Astrid barely remembered the first few years of her life without Heinrich. They rarely went more than a few hours without seeing each other, and every decade or so they would spend a few weeks apart; that was it. Now he is leaving. 

Ten years. At most. No more than that, but no less than seven. 

Astrid wasn’t one to speak of age, she was barely fourteen, but he was twelve. Too young to be on his own. They had been ‘on their own’ since they were toddlers. Astrid recalled a mother, a personification like herself. But Heinrich had two human parents, they abandoned him when he was far too young to remember them. This was different though, completely by himself. He’ll be with his people, she had to constantly remind herself. 

He shoved something in his bag, looked around as if he couldn’t find something. Heinrich shook his head, and turned to her. “I’m ready to leave” 

Astrid hated those words, a whole group not many, enough, were leaving the next day. About a third of the village they were currently in, some others from surrounding villages, some more from a little farther south. He looked excited, by the gods she hated that he looked excited. Everyone leaving were siting terrible things, flooding and overpopulation, there's not enough here to take care of everyone anymore; and he looked excited to leave.

She had tried to reason with him for months now, 'you've heard of the empire to the south,' 'the Walhaz won't be happy with you encroaching on their land any more'. Anything but telling him she needed him; she wanted him to stay.

Heinrich sat down next to Astrid; he had been catching up in height for years. She knows next time she will see him, he will have passed her. Ten years wasn’t so long compared to how long they had lived: it was still far too long. 

They hadn’t talked about the fact that he was leaving, they both just knew it was inevitable. She wondered what it would be like to live alone. She had never been alone. Her mother got a promise from every tribe, one that would last to take care of her. Heinrich after a few decades of not aging had been dumped in the woods another human found him. Astrid was barely four, he must have been around two. Her mother added him to the promise the moment he was found, he wouldn't be alone either. And if all went wrong, they would still have each other. 

They had to say goodbye, she didn’t want to say goodbye, she didn’t know how to say goodbye. Heinrich was her best friend, he was all she had. How was she supposed to spend any time without him? 

“You won’t forget me? Will you?” Astrid asked it so quietly she thought he may not hear her. 

He laughed, it was half a scoff; “How am i supposed to forget you?” 

“Things happen.” it was all she could say, people seemed to forget their kind all the time. Who was to say it couldn’t happen between them, ten years was still quite a long time. She flopped backwards, laying on her back. Maybe this was all a dream, maybe if she closed her eyes and opened them again it would be morning. Astrid would roll over and Heinrich would be laying next to her still asleep. She would wake him up and he would complain, but get up anyway. They had things to do. He couldn’t sleep through his responsibilities, like how he can’t run away from them now. 

She sat back up, looking at him squarely, being immortal made everything go so slowly. Until you reached a moment like this, and suddenly the years melted into nothing. 

“If you have to go, take something to remind you to come home” 

“Take what?” Heinrich asked, tilted his head confused. 

“Take this” She took the pendant off, Heinrich didn’t protest as she put it around his neck. Thor’s hammer, “It will protect you.” 

His hand went to the new weight around his neck, the small piece of bronze resting just below his collar. Astrid never went anywhere without it, he wanted to give her something in return. Without a word of thanks, he went to his bag and dug around for a moment. Pulling out a small knife, runes carved into the hilt. He decided quickly he could do without it. 

“And now we’re even” he stated as he handed her the knife. She looked down at it, taken aback, it had belonged to someone in Heinrich’s family; His father, a brother, an uncle even. The knife was important to him, despite the rumors surrounding it. Many thought that Heinrichs family, not knowing what he was, were planning to kill him. Whoever was tasked with the job heard someone coming, dropped the knife and ran. He kept it as his only connection to a family he once had; one that might have loved him at first. 

“I can’t take this. I don’t need a reminder to come home, I’ll be right here” 

He shifted uncomfortably at the question, deciding on an answer; “Then use it as a reminder that I’ll be back” 

Astrid snorted a little, getting up and going to him. She hugged him, he didn’t really hug her back: not properly at least. They still hadn’t technically said goodbye. 

Instead she pushed him back to look him over, Heinrich looked far too old in her opinion.  smacked him lightly in the side of the head, “Lose my necklace and you’ll get it” 

He smiled, the gap in his teeth making him look young again: “Lose my knife and you’ll get it”

[chisatowo]

Materializes damn these new bndori covers huh dematerializes

[historical-hetalia-week]

2023 Prompt Announcement

Hello everyone and welcome to Historical Hetalia Week 2023! This year, the event will be held from February 20st to February 26th, 2023.

Prompts:

Day 1 (20.02): 10,000 BCE – 5000 BCE // Heirlooms

Day 2 (21.02): 5000 BCE – 0 // Celebrations

Day 3 (22.02): 0 – 1500 // Discovery

Day 4 (23.02): 1500 – 1800 // Ages (Ex: Iron Age, Gilded Age, Ming Dynasty)

Day 5 (24.02): 1800 – 1945 // Shadows

Day 6 (25.02): 1945 onwards // Reform

Day 7 (26.02): Free Day

Rules & Content Guidelines:

Your work must be tagged with the following: #historicalhetaliaweek and/or @ this blog, Day and prompt being fulfilled (i.e. #hhw day 1 & #prompt: 0-1500), proper tagging for any mature or triggering content (please see a non-exclusive list HERE)

The event prompts will be broken into time periods to encompass all of history. However, there will also be additional prompts provided for each day. Participants are required to fulfill at least one prompt for that day. Content made for the addition prompt must have a historical setting, but not necessarily the time period it is paired with.

Works including topics like genocide, ideologically sensitive issues, or recent tragedies will not be accepted. Works portraying topics like incest, pedophilia, rape, gore, and graphic violence will also not be accepted. If you are unsure if a work/idea conforms to this rule, our ask box is always open.

Additional Rules and Tagging Guidelines can be found HERE

If you have any questions about the prompts or any of the rules, please don’t hesitate to ask! Our ask box is always open and we are happy to clarify.

[maybenotmei]

platonic misaki okusawa hcs with a reader who social anxiety? fluff mainly nothing specifically

comfort!

ft. misaki okusawa

notes: heya anon, enjoy ^^ it's a little short, sorry!

＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿

￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣

need someone to talk in behalf of you? you have misaki!

misaki's okay with talking in behalf of you if you're genuinely anxious about doing so, she talks in behalf of hello happy world anyway... does she mind? not really, she's okay with it.

if you're sweet with (platonic) physical affection, she's ready any day to let you hug her when you feel horrible, or terrified. you two would sometimes stay that way for a while, she'll let you until you relax

if you also don't like loud noises, she'd advice you to stay away from hello happy world concerts because it's one of the farthest things from quiet. if you're good with it and want to attend but hate crowds at concerts, she'll advise you to either 1. watch a replay, or 2. stay backstage

she scolds the hhw members if they overwhelm you. if the members ask why, she'll simply say it's none of their business (if you don't want to explain why.) she never pushes things or crosses set boundaries

speaking of pushing things, if ever something bothered you she won't be the one to push the topic. sometimes your hangouts remain silent, but misaki's cool with that, it's better than the loudness in hello happy world.

misaki's not the type to push or bring someone out of their comfort zone without the other wanting to do so, but if you want to work with easing up around other people, she'll let you attend rehearsals. kanon quite enjoys your company, while the other Three Idiots™ are very loud and happy to see you. be careful

if you need someone, misaki's here.

just... don't hug michelle. you don't have that kind of permission

￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣￣

[0oolookitsme]

Fucking hell ,This is too much garmiiii and humidity!!!!

I don't wanna summer break to end 😭

LITERALYYYYYY!! BUT IT RAINED IN DELHI FOR 2 DAYS STRAIGHT (yesterday and today) SO YAYYYY!! I DON'T WANNA GO BACK TO SCHOOL EITHER! STILL CRAMMING OVER MY HHW AND THE SCHOOL'S OPENING IN LIKE 2 DAYS

[lesbiancervidologist]

Dino hhw in like 2 days lets go girls

[cbdinstock]

The Right Way to Dispose of Your Empty Vape Cartridge

Vaping or e-cigarettes are the new trends. They come in various shapes, sizes and designs that are fashionable. Even though they help in quitting the habit of smoking, disposing of vape cartridges empty can be a daunting task. This is because the household environment, wildlife and pets, all get seriously endangered by the cartridges that still contain nicotine solution. Wondering the right way to dispose of them? Furthermore, here is the guide to disposing of empty vape cartridges. 1. Rinse the Cartridge Wondering how to empty a vape pen? The most safest and convenient approach is by rinsing the cartridge. This means the withdrawal of the nicotine solution. It involves disposing of the filler material in the sink and thoroughly rinsing the cartridges under running water to remove all traces of nicotine. The cartridge should then be resealed by using the liquefier's original plug before being disposed of like any other piece of regular plastic waste. 2. Recycle the Cartridge E-cigarettes are unquestionably a more environmentally friendly option than traditional cigarettes. However, what makes these more practical and the best to use is the recyclable cartridges and batteries option provided by various retailers and manufacturers. The recycling process in exchange for reclaimed vapes is an incentive for free refills that is less expensive and easier than disposing of dangerous substances on your own. 3. Contact Relevant Authorities on Hazardous Waste Wondering how to empty a vape pen? Refillable bottles or cartridges are an option for a variety of vapours, and they typically range in size from 1-4 oz. (30-120 ml). On-demand, a wide variety of prefilled cartridges in a variety of forms, sizes, and colours are also offered with bigger accommodations. And for this reason, the disposal of these empty vape cartridges must be handled by a skilled Household Hazardous Waste Facility. This is because these flavoured nicotine cartridges, whether completely or partially loaded, are hazardous to health (HHW). These authorities handle the proper disposal of the used cartridges in a professional and responsible manner. So if you want your vape cartridge empty, get in touch with nearby local HHW authorities to occasionally take these empty vape cartridges with them for disposal. Tips for Safe Disposal of Empty Vape Cartridge Here are some pro tips to consider when disposing of an empty vape cartridge : ● Before disposing of the device, make sure to turn it off and take the rechargeable battery out. ● Store everything, especially rechargeable batteries, in a container that is sealed and is clearly marked "hazardous trash" and kept in a cool, temperature-controlled environment. ● Rechargeable batteries should never be thrown away. Instead, keep them in a different container from the hazardous waste. ● At least once every 90 days, deliver the tightly sealed container of used e-cigarettes to a nearby hazardous waste facility. ● Use extreme caution when handling items. As the liquid nicotine can accidentally poison someone through the skin. Vaping is a Growing Trend As responsible citizens, it is now our duty to properly dispose of our empty vape cartridges in order to protect the environment and the people close to us. Furthermore, you can also contact qualified suppliers or manufacturers to complete the task to the highest standards, leaving it in the hands of professionals who can handle it professionally.

[tryingtobes1rorybutfailing]

6/6/2022, Tuesday - Day 2

Me exams have been preponed and so much to do in so little time. Apart from the ongoing academic crisis, the weather was pretty good today and I was enjoying myself listening to old classics :)

🎧- kahin door jab din dhal jaaye by Mukesh

To-do

-> Record - thorax

-> Blood circulation

-> Revise mammary gland

-> Physiology home assignment (HHW)

-> Enzymes

-> Write up for Thursday

[cawe-sama]

@historical-hetalia-week day II, 500-1000

Young Hungary :)

Reference (blood oath wikipedia):

[sketchytea]

the new year lacked any signs of life

in early february, sprouting grass was a pleasant surprise

the white snow thought spring was late in coming

and purposely fluttered into the courtyard like flower petals

- spring snow, hanyu (tang)

day 2 for @historical-hetalia-week - 815 A.D.

[ifindus]

500-1000 - for the second day of @historical-hetalia-week !

This seemed like the perfect opportunity to touch upon this subject that I had mentioned earlier I wanted to make a post on! Gender identity during the Viking Age. I touched upon this when writing my bachelor last year and I found it incredibly interesting, and I hope some of you will as well ~

Gender identity is something that has been discussed a lot in recent studies of the later parts of the iron age; concerning the period before and leading up to the Viking age (sidenote: while this period is referred to as the Middle Ages in European history, it is in the Scandinavian countries categorized under the Iron Age period). Regarding the peoples that lived in Scandinavia in this period, the only evidence we have that can tell us about them as individuals are; some rune carvings, but mostly artifacts from their furnished burials. Traditionally it was common to assume that any types of weapons or objects related to what was during the 19th and 20th century viewed as “masculine activities” in these graves meant that there was a man buried there. Same with the traditionally “feminine artifacts” in women’s burials.

However, there is a lot of information that indicates this way of viewing the “Vikings” as not entirely correct. Firstly, we can find graves with artefacts that relates to both of these sides, so called opposites, aretfacts both associated with masculine and feminine activities, as well as graves with “masculine” objects where the skeleton has been analysed and revealed to be a woman, and vice versa.

This has led some archaeologists to come to the conclusion that gender in the Viking Age would be a more complex matter than what they originally thought it to be. Gender might have been perceived as independent from a person’s sex, and their roles in the society might have reflected that. It was also not uncommon (sidenote: not everyone was laid to rest in furnished burials or well-preserved burials, so this is with the remaining discovered material in mind; e.i. regarding class and social status) for them to cross the stereotypical, modern, western ideas of gender roles and their abilities.  

This being said, there is evidence that during the Viking Age it was common to regard men that practiced witchcraft, or seid, as being queer – and this again being a negative thing for them, while women in this area were evidently highly regarded in society. There are some theories that the ability to switch gender, or the ambiguity of it, was in itself a part of some ritual practice. Especially in relation to Odin and Loki of Norse mythology, who are often changing their form into that of another gender and are commonly practicing pagan rituals and seid. And there seem to be some direct relation between those pagan beliefs and the switching of gender or gender neutrality.

[sailorgreywolf-german]

Transition of Power

Summary: This is the second entry for @historical-hetalia-week . In the early middle ages the empire of Charlemagne collapses, leaving an open question as to the future of the young Holy Roman Empire. Saxony finds himself thrust into the position as mediator.

Characters: Saxony and Eastern Francia (both OCs), mentions of the Holy Roman Empire and Germania.

Year: 962 AD

Content Warning: Mentions of Character death and the grieving process.

Word Count: 1.6K

It was snowing outside the windows of the castle, but the cold was barely penetrating the walls. Winter had come to Aachen, blanketing the landscape in white. In a way, it felt fitting, since it was a time of dormancy and the errand that had brought Saxony this far West was meant to restore the life of an empire.

 Saxony pulled his outer coat more firmly over his shoulders. He was not cold. The heat of the fires roaring in the fireplaces was enough to make him comfortable, but he was doing it as an anxious gesture. He knew that he was about to have a difficult conversation. 

He could feel the gold embellishments beneath his hands, reminding him of his status. He should not feel as anxious as he did. He was the closest heir of his brother’s empire, and had been elevated to a position of power. 

He had told himself that he could be both caring and firm. He was speaking not just for his own interests, but those of all the German states, and he could not falter. By voting for his king, the others had placed the task at his feet. 

He turned towards the half-closed door, and still felt some hesitation at approaching. But the position he had just been granted meant that he could no longer avoid it. 

He approached the door and laid his hand against the wood. He took a deep breath and pushed it open. His eyes lighted upon a blonde woman with her head in her hands and a piece of heavy parchment in front of herself on the table. Saxony said, “Francia, you cannot keep avoiding this. We must speak.” 

It felt strange to address Germania’s widow, but he knew that he must. When she looked up, he could see that she had been crying by the redness in her face. He understood her anguish, but he had given her ample time to grieve. It had been years since Germania death, and the German principalities had lacked an emperor for long enough. There was simply no more time left to allow for her grief.

But she looked almost the same as when he had seen her years ago. She wore black, though her period of mourning was over, and there was a coronet placed on top of her golden hair. 

She seemed to recover her composure, and used one finger to wipe away the remainder of her tears. Francia sounded like she was trying to hold herself together as she said, “Have the electors voted?” 

If Saxony did not know her so well, he would have assumed that she was holding a strong front. But, he could hear the quiver in his voice. He nodded and said, “Yes, and the voting has concluded.” 

It had been a long process, but a necessary one. Saxony knew that she must be waiting for an answer. She seemed to swallow heavily like she was anxious about the outcome. She asked, “And will they uphold the will?” 

He knew that he recognized the document laid out in front of her. It was Germania’s last will, which had dictated what each of his sons should receive. And perhaps the most importantly: He had dictated who should inherit the title of Holy Roman emperor. In terms of technicality, it had been an imposition that he should not have included. The Germans had selected their own leaders since they had been tribes. No one had the power to dictate who should take the crown. No matter how much a king may wish that his son inherited the crown, the decision was always made by the electors. 

Saxony didn’t blame Germania for his decision to leave the will. He had been a dying man desperate to keep the crown in the family. The will had dictated that Saxony would take the crown after him. 

Saxony nodded and said, “They did.” 

It had surprised him that the electors had agreed the king of Saxony taking the title of emperor. His cousins had never had great faith in his abilities, but it seemed that Germania’s endorsement had been enough.

Though, he was certain that his king’s significant conquests had done much to convince them. No matter the weaknesses that may see in Saxony himself, they knew that his king was capable. Under the threat of external invasion, it should not have surprised him that it was possible to strongarm the German states into accepting an empire again. But, the consistent comments about his weaknesses had made him uncertain of this conclusion. 

Francia swallowed heavily and said, “I see. So, now you will take my child and put a crown on his head. Have you come to tell me that I must say my farewells?” 

There were tears welling in her eyes, try as she may to suppress them. Saxony felt like he did not understand the question at first. But he could see that she was seemingly bracing for the news that whoever took the role of the new German empire would take steps to secure Germania’s heir. 

Saxony shook his head as he drew closer, and said, “No, not at all.” 

He realized that standing above her as he was made him seem like someone who had come to demand something. He stepped closer and sat next to her. Her face did not change, and he tried to make his position clearer as he said, “Mathilde, I am not going to steal your son from you.” 

He said it in a way that he hoped would leave her with no questions about his sincerity. She turned her red, tearful eyes to meet his gaze. She said, “Now that you have the crown, you will insist that he live with you. Will you not?” 

Her lower lip was trembling as she asked, telling him that she feared his answer. Since he had become aware of Otto’s ambitions to become emperor of the Germans, Saxony had contemplated the question of what would happen with the young Holy Roman Empire. Germania’s will had clearly dictated that he should adopt the boy but had hardly been clear on how that should happen. It had been up to Saxony to decide how he would treat his nephew.

Saxony took hold of one of her hands gently. He said, vocalizing the plan he had ruminated on, “I want you both to come live with me. He has to be with me, but I have no intention of taking your son from you.” 

It had seemed like the inevitable conclusion to him. He would not wrest a young boy from his mother. The thought was repugnant. He added, “And do you truly believe I would be capable of raising a child on my own?” Francia’s sad stoicism finally broke and she chuckled. Her eyes were still wet, but her lips curled into a pleasant smile. She said, “You will need the help.” 

He felt like it was an encouraging sign. She squeezed his hand as she said, “I trust your good intentions, Christoph. I know you loved my husband.” 

He smiled to reassure her. The truth about whether he loved Germania was more complicated than he’d show her. But whatever his feelings towards his brother, his nephew deserved the most supportive environment that Saxony could construct. 

Before he could say anything else to reassure her, the smile fell from her face. She said, “He is just a child and all I wanted was for him to have time to be a child. I do not understand why my husband placed the burden of empire on his shoulders.” 

Saxony took a calming breath in through his nose. He had guessed at her reason for delaying the imperial process years ago, and he was sympathetic. Though the other states were thinking of this decision as kingdoms and Duchies hungry for the crown, but she was thinking of it as a mother who was worried that her son was going to thrust into complicated political battles. 

He met her eyes again as he said, “I cannot speak for my brother’s reasons. I imagine that he expected Maximilian to be older before this will had to be enacted.” 

He did not say that he thought it was irresponsible to place such a heavy burden on a young child. Francia would take no comfort in someone speaking ill of her late husband. And, as he had told himself many times, his disapproval did nothing to change the situation. He said, “But, he did make that decision. And I must make sure that there is an emperor. If there is no emperor, then there is no empire for Max to embody. I do not need to explain why we must avoid that.”

He did not say that the boy would fade if he had nothing to represent. That would be far too heavy to say to a mother. Francia understood perfectly and he could tell from the look on her face that she had not fully considered the implications of delaying. She said, “I know, but I wanted to give him a year or two more to be a child. He deserves that.” 

Saxony squeezed her hand, and gave her his answer, “And he will have many more years. I intend to treat him as such. He still has so much to learn before I expect him to wield any power.” 

He felt her hand tighten on his, like she was thanking him for thinking of young Holy Rome’s welfare. She said, with an air of finality, “I will live with you, and I want to have a say in his education. If he’s going to be educated, I want a say.” 

Saxony had no objection. He was certain that it would be valuable to have another opinion and that it would be better to have her input. He answered, “Of course. I will not make decisions about him without consulting you.” 

She smiled and said, “It seems that my fears were misplaced. Come with me and we’ll tell Max.”

[sailorgreywolf-legacy]

Sisterly Advice

Summary: For the second day of @historical-hetalia-week​. In the wake of the Classical Mayan collapse, questions of destiny hang in the balance. Toltec gives her sister some insight into the future.

Characters: Toltec, Aztec, and a very young Mexico.

Period: Late 10th century (900s)

Content Warning: Discussion of death and grief.

Word Count: 1.5K

The water in the bath was pleasantly warm, and the smile on little Mexica’s face told her that he was enjoying the feeling of it. Aztec took a cupped handful of water and gently poured it over the child’s dark hair. He continued to smile and babble happily. 

She could feel her own heart beat faster at the sight. For everything that had changed, he was still smiling the same way that he always had. Toltec, who was sitting nearby, just be the edge of the water, commented on the same thing, “He looks like he is still a happy baby.” 

Aztec ran her fingers softly through her son’s hair as she spoke, “I do not know that he completely understands what has happened. Perhaps it is better this way.” 

As she said it, the images crossed her mind again. Maya’s slow collapse as the illness took him. She could distinctly remember the slow wasting, and the way that the vitality had left his face. Through the whole process, she had done everything to keep Mexica’s young eyes from seeing the worst of it. She had felt like it would be the worst thing she could have thought of would be for him to live with those images in his mind. 

Toltec trailed the tips of her fingers along the surface of the water, sending out little ripples. They moved gracefully across the water until they ran into the erratic splashes that Mexica was causing with his little fists. She said, speaking pensively, “I do believe that he will forget. He may forget all the pain since he is so young.” 

Aztec ran her thumb softly over her sons face and contemplated his smile. It was strange to think that he would not know what had happened to his father. But it also had such an incredible bitterness, that the years of her marriage would not leave an impact in her son’s mind. She said, asking her sister a question she feared, “Will he remember his father at all?” 

Toltec was quiet for a moment. It seemed like she was weighing something heavy that she would rather not say. She finally said, “These are heavy questions to think about, and it will not do you good to contemplate it.” 

Aztec felt like it was a dodge, but she was not going to press. Her older sister had become an empire and her offer of an open door was a welcome opportunity. Though she wanted to pry into what her sister knew or foresaw, she knew that it was better not to pry. If Toltec thought it was best to tell her what the future held, then she would. 

Aztec finished rinsing her son’s hair and started to rinse the last of the soap from his skin. She said, looking at Toltec, “I hope that he remembers only the good. Such a young boy deserves to be happy.” She brushed his hair back one more time and said, “My little jaguar cub.” 

He smiled an adorable toothy smile back at her. His sunny little face gave her the impression that, for the time, there was little to worry about. She lifted him out of the water and said, “Will you take him for a moment?” 

She wanted to wash her own hair, but it was impossible to do so while she was holding her son. Toltec moved closer and took the boy in her arms and said, “Of course. Our little jaguar cub can always spend time with me.” She turned to him and said, “You love your aunt, don’t you?” He reached out and took her finger in his own tiny hand in response. 

Aztec dipped her head back so that she could wet her hair. She sank into the water and wished that she could stay there for a time. There were so many questions that still seemed like she would never resolve. There were many who had resented Maya and would not welcome his widow or his young heir.

Though, she did not need their welcome either. Once the grief had faded, she would start to train again until she was strong enough to shrug off all of their scorn. She ran her hands through her hair as she thought about it. 

But that still left the question of how to achieve a new start with a son who needed to be cared for. She also could not hesitate forever since he deserved something to inherit. Voicing her thoughts, she said, “What do you see for him? Will he grow into an empire like you?” 

As soon as she said it, she knew that it was too much to ask. Her sister had told her many times that she should not ask for such important answers. She expected to be told off again, as her sister often did. She kept her eye closed as she floated in the water so that she did not have to see the disappointed look on her sister’s face. 

She did not expect to hear her sister answer, “No, he will grow into an empire like you.” 

Aztec sat upright immediately, sending a wave of water over the edge of the bath. She said, “What do you mean by that? I do not have anything close to an empire. You are, and our mother was.” 

She stared at Toltec as she waited for an answer. She could feel the water running down the back of her neck as she waited. Toltec was still looking at baby Mexica, and playfully tugging her finger against his hold. She said, “My dearest little sister, you know that you are welcome here as long as you would like. I feel much safer with a warrior of your caliber by my side. But I do not pretend for a moment that I think it is your great ambition to stay here and protect me. Eventually you will want to build your own power.” 

Aztec chewed on her lower lip as she thought through what her sister had said. It was true that she was comfortable living in Tula with her sister, but she did not anticipate it to be her final destination. But all of that ambition did not mean that she would have the success of becoming an empire. 

She said, trying to get some clarification, “But an empire?”  Toltec was silent for a moment, and then said, more seriously, “When you are done with your bath, there is something I must tell you. It is important.” 

It took Aztec a few minutes to dress and join her sister. The promise of information on her future was enough to motivate her to move quickly. When she returned to Toltec, her sister was speaking quietly and sweetly to little Mexica. Aztec said, “You must tell me what you know. You cannot tell me that without explaining.” 

She hoped that she did not sound like she was demanding to know, but the promise was far too enticing. Toltec didn’t respond immediately, and instead took time to hand little Mexica to his mother. The boy immediately cuddled up against his mother’s chest; it seemed to be his favorite place in the world

Finally, she said, with the air of someone delivering very serious information, “I had a vision about the future, and I feel like you must hear about it.” 

Aztec tucked her son’s head against her shoulder. He seemed like he was beginning to get tired, like a prelude to a nap. She asked, anxious for the answer, “What did you see?” 

Toltec heard the anxiety in her voice and smiled encouragingly as she said, “It is good news. I saw you building a glittering city in a place that the gods have chosen for you.” 

Aztec smiled. It was incredibly good news to know that she would carve out a place in the world. She asked, unable to contain her curiosity, “Where will it be?” Toltec answered, “You know as well as I do that these things are rarely that clear. What I know is that you will know that you are in the right place when you see an eagle consuming a serpent on a cactus.” 

It sounded vague, but Aztec nodded and glanced at her son. Whatever came in her future, it would also impact his future. She stroked his hair and said, “I would like to seek out that place, but I feel like I should not leave until he is bigger. He’s still so young.” 

Toltec reached out and stroked Aztec’s hair lightly as she said, “You do not have to leave now. Not for a long time if you choose to but know that you both have a destiny beyond here.” 

She took a deep breath through her nose before adding, “But he will not grow quickly until you both have a place to represent. When you build your city, then he will grow into it.” 

Aztec nodded, and continued to stroke her son’s hair. She said simply, “Thank you for this.” In response, Toltec leaned forward and kissed her sister softly on the forehead.

[cooltrainererika]

Boris and the Christian Man

Hey! So this is a story from this compilation of stories I posted last time. https://cooltrainererika.tumblr.com/post/615855080665759744/alt-talia-a-compilation-of-one-shots

I was particularly proud of it from that compilation, so I decided to post it individually.

Thank you, @historical-hetalia-week!

Beyond the Danube, in the frontier regions of their land, there were stationed thousands of hired troops from the great empire to the south, acting as his family's and their people's bodyguards against invasions that may come.

It was here Boris happened to be playing that day, sneaking off from his mother to speak to the settlements of the mysterious, foreign men. She had always told him to never speak to them, for their words supposedly coated daggers forged out of nothing but deception. She would never tell Boris why they were so bad, she just told him to never speak to them, or that it was "an adult matter", which annoyed him even more. She always said that. It was so annoying!

"Would you like to hear about our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?"

It was in one of the little villages the guards were stationed in, after he was finished playing with the village children and they soon realized his fine, noble clothing, and therefore likely pagan origins, he was asked this question.

He blinked.

"I think I've heard Roman Empire talk about him. He's your god or something right?"

"I see you do know already. Well... not quite. But he was sent down upon by the Lord to our mortal realm to bring us salvation."

His ears perked.

"He sounds super interesting!"

"Would you like to hear more, child?"

"Yeah!"

He sat down, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"You're very receptive for a pagan, especially one so young.

Boris puffed out his cheeks.

"What is that supposed to mean?!"

"Well, you are pagan, right?"

"Tengri isn't fake! Momma says he smites people who say that!"

"Could you at least hear me out?"

"Fine..."

His dark hair was ruffled by calloused hands.

"How old are you, boy? What is your name?"

"Boris! I'm-"

He caught himself.

"...I'm four! Though I'm actually really important, you know! I'm not just any nobleman. I can't tell you why though. But momma is a really important person and knows the Khan himself and stuff!"

So there Boris sat, on a large rock, as the man told him all about the exploits of the Heavenly Father, the Hebrews, Jesus Christs' sacrifice...

"...BORIS!!"

Until a familiar, sharp voice interrupted them.

Boris jumped. There, absolutely livid, thundering towards him, was his mother, the personification of the Bulgarian Empire herself.

She almost shoved the man away from him while grabbing him by the arm, her grip painful on his young skin.

"OW! Mom!"

"That will be enough. We're going, Boris."

"Mom!"

"We're leaving!"

The little boy sulked as his mother dragged him away to her waiting horse.

"I've told you to not listen to a word those damned Christians say."

"Why can't I listen to the nice man? Besides, you accepted dad's weird spirits and stuff!"

"Your father and his kin are my subjects. Those men have a high possibility of being foreign agents. You can never trust Rome. Faith is their weapon; what they say is to denounce the true gods, merely so they can bring others under their influence. Don't believe a word said in Greek outside of official matters, do you understand?"

Boris pouted.

"Come on! I was just curious!"

"Do you want to be controlled by them?"

"I mean, all our other neighbors seem to be converting, I want to know what it's all about."

"This is final. I don't want to see you speaking to Christians again. Do you understand?"

Boris glanced back, where the man stood, still staring at him, his fellow villagers watching them leave.

"Fine..."

Her tight grip on his arm stayed the entire returning trip.