- ACT 0 : Prologue -
"Come here, dear Hungary, I want to braid your hair," Ukraine called with a smile, holding out a hand to the brown-haired maiden. The female Soviet's smile widened as the latter complied and sat on the carpeted floor in front of her, her legs folded beneath her skirt. Comfortably seated in the couch, Ukraine's deft fingers expertly separated Hungary's long hair into three, before beginning her work.
"Is that a French braid?" Belarus asked, eyeing her older sister who worked on Hungary's hair. The blonde female plopped herself next to Ukraine and folded her arms as she eyed them both.
"Why, yes, yes it is," Ukraine replied cheerfully, her fingers swiftly entwining the brown hair. "How clever of you to notice that."
"Don't treat me like a child!" Belarus scowled. "Of course I'd recognise a French braid."
Ukraine laughed merrily. "I'm sorry, Bela dear. But why would you have asked if you knew what I was doing?"
"Because you're doing it wrong. And don't call me Bela," the younger female Soviet insisted. "The way you're doing it, it looks like a hairy scorpion's tail."
"Isn't that what a French braid looks like?"
"No! It's supposed to be elegant! Hungary, she's making you look weird!"
The two female Nations stopped short when their third female companion failed to give any sort of response. Hungary appeared to be deep in thought, her eyes staring into the distance, her lips pursed together. Come to think of it, Ukraine and Belarus would say that she looked somewhat glum.
Not one to leave her work unfinished, Ukraine continued the braiding, but said, "Hungary dear? Is there something wrong?"
"Yes," Belarus got off the couch and joined Hungary on the floor, "You're quieter than usual. In fact, I've never seen you quiet for more than a minute, unless you're on one of those stalking of yours."
"It's not stalking! It's called observing!" Hungary finally protested, jerking her head to face Belarus, only to yelp in pain as Ukraine tugged on her hair, reminding her that she wasn't finished yet.
"Whatever," Belarus rolled her eyes. "You're always going off on your own for hours, hiding in the trees or behind a wall, just watching the other male Nations. Lord, why don't you just go up and introduce yourself while you're at it." She got up and walked over to the giant globe resting on a desk, spinning it round and round absentmindedly, not quite sure why she was irritated.
"Belarus is right, Hungary," Ukraine said, neatly tying a bow at the end of the braid. "You grew up so secluded, the other Nations don't know anything about you. I find it strange that you had the initiative to come to us, but not to the men. I would've thought that a woman who rode wild stallions wouldn't be shy to meet the opposite gender!"
"I'm not shy," Hungary said firmly, fiddling with her newly done braid. She liked the fact that Ukraine always used black ribbons for her hair; it complimented her tomboyish nature without compromising her femininity, even if she had little of it. "Why should I bother interacting with the men when they won't respect me?"
Ukraine raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that? The other male Nations of course would respe–"
"No, Ukraine. They won't see me as their equal," Hungary interrupted with a frown gracing her pretty features.
A dry laugh came from Belarus. "Of course they wouldn't. Who needs respect when you can rule them with fear?" And her eyes twinkled with menace.
"Oh Belarus," Ukraine sighed, and folded her hands on her lap. "Doesn't it bother you at all that nearly everyone else is afraid of you? Even our dear mighty brother quakes when he hears you coming."
"As he should!" Belarus shot back with a huff. "Refusing to become one with me, even when I insisted… I was very displeased!" The longhaired blonde walked over to her sister with her hands on her hips. "Not everyone can be pleasantly charming like you, Sister. You make it too easy for the males."
"I don't mind," the older Soviet shrugged. "Apparently it works. Russia adores me." Her sweet smile just seemed to aggravate Belarus even more. The longhaired blonde certainly looks very intimidating when infuriated; her eyes narrowed dangerously, her hands are tightly clenched into fists, her entire body shook slightly, and she appeared to grow a few inches taller. Her usually pale face became tinted with red.
But Hungary wasn't worried. As always, Belarus's shoulders would start to slump a little, and she folded her arms before looking away. While she was hot-tempered to anyone else, Belarus admired her older sister far too much to stay angry. Ukraine had anticipated this too, and remained calm as ever, patting the spot next to her as a signal for her younger sister to sit with her. Belarus scowled but sat down anyway, softening as Ukraine stroked her hair affectionately.
"I went a little too far there, I'm sorry," Ukraine cooed, to which a soft huff replied. She turned to Hungary, who couldn't help but smile at the sisterly love between the two. No matter how good of a friend she was to them, Hungary knew it could never match the bond Ukraine and Belarus had as sisters. A tiny twinge of envy pulled at her heartstrings, but she crushed it.
"Anyway, don't think we've forgotten about you, Hungary," Ukraine began. "What's this about being an equal to the males?"
Hungary stared at the globe Belarus was at before. "I mean, I want the other Nations to treat me as though I'm worth their time, as though what I have to say is worth listening to."
Ukraine frowned for the first time of the day. "You're not the type to have an inferiority complex. It's just not like you."
"I don't have low self-esteem," Hungary replied haughtily. "I'm quite proud of my country's culture and my people, of course, but I have no significant place in the politics regarding the global community as a whole." She walked over to the globe and placed a hand on it.
"You and Belarus have nothing to worry about being left out, or not being valued; Russia will see to it as he's a super power. But I…I won't be able to prove myself to the world, prove what I'm worth." Hungary's eyes lowered as she turned the globe over to where her country was. She fingered the spot lovingly.
"How will Hungary show herself to the world? How will she convince the world to take her seriously?"
She turned the globe slightly, until the entire of Europe came into perfect view. And then, she faced Ukraine and Belarus again; this time, with a grim yet somewhat confident smile on her face. Ukraine raised an eyebrow while Belarus shot her a questioning look.
"For my debut to the world," Hungary declared, placing a fist on her palm, "I shall apply for membership to the Gentlemen Alliance!"
"EXCUSE ME?" Belarus stood up suddenly, looking utterly scandalised. Even Ukraine appeared stunned at what Hungary was suggesting. The brown-haired maiden paused to consider what she had just said, but nodded eventually, to confirm that she was not going to change her mind.
"Did Sister braid your hair too tightly that you're unable to think straight?" Belarus snorted. "You know very well why you can't become a member to the Gentlemen Alliance. It's because you don't qualify for one very important criterion; you're not a gentleman. A MAN, specifically."
Hungary glared at Belarus. "It wouldn't matter. They don't know I'm a woman anyway. As Ukraine said before, no other Nation besides the two of you have met me before. All they know is that the Nation of Hungary kills time by riding wild horses in the woods and the marshes. For all we know, they would've thought I am a man!"
"They will know once they see what's on your chest," Belarus shot back, standing up from the couch to meet Hungary's eye level. "Not to mention your mannerisms. You may be horrible at being a proper lady sometimes, but you don't act completely like a man either. They'll see right through you in a glance!"
Hungary pursed her lips. "I've been watching them. I've learnt their ways. I won't fail."
Belarus made a sound of disbelief. "Oh please. I highly doubt that."
"You–"
"Enough, both of you." Ukraine stood up as well, her voice filled with seriousness. Belarus flinched a little at her older sister's no-nonsense expression. Even though Ukraine was all smiles most of the time, she was still a Soviet, and Soviets weren't to be messed with when they're serious.
Ukraine took Hungary's hands into hers. "My dear, are you sure of this?" she eyed the brown-haired maiden. "No woman has ever been accepted into the Gentlemen Alliance. It's exclusive. Even if I myself were to demand membership, even Russia would disagree."
Hungary bit her lip, and forced herself not to break eye contact with Ukraine. As a Soviet, Ukraine's gaze was unnerving, but Hungary knew it was a test; if she could not hold her stand against a fellow maiden Nation, how could she succeed in surviving amongst the males? She swallowed, and nodded.
"I…I am sure," she said, with her head held up high. "I will be accepted into the Gentlemen Alliance, and I will prove myself to be their equal."
"Then it's all set." To Hungary's and Belarus's astonishment, Ukraine's serious expression split into an excited smile. "We shall aid you in this quest of yours!"
"Wait, Sister, who is this 'we'!" Belarus scoffed. "How could you agree to such an absurd idea? Hungary will be humiliated in the eyes of the world if she's exposed!"
"Ah, but she won't," Ukraine winked at her bewildered sister. "I've always wanted to do something this crazy to that silly boys' club of theirs. If anyone can infiltrate their ranks, it's Hungary. And with our help, she won't fail."
When Belarus didn't appear convinced, she teased, "Oh come now, Bela dear, you're just upset you didn't think of it yourself."
"T-That's untrue!" Belarus protested. "And don't call me Bela!"
Hungary couldn't help but smile in amusement. Ukraine giggled. "Oh Bela dear, think how fun it'd be! A woman in the Gentlemen Alliance! I know you want to see it happen. Think of it, Hungary will be able to inform us what really goes on there!"
Belarus glowered at the shortening of her Nation name, but she paused to consider Ukraine's words. "I…I suppose so…" she said hesitantly.
"But if you're exposed, don't come crying back to us, Hungary!"
Hungary laughed and pulled the Soviet sisters into a hug.
Preview of the next chapter:
Hungary placed her hands on her chest again, making sure the bindings Belarus and Ukraine had helped with were still on and secured. They were.
She did feel a little nervous as she stared at the gates of the Headquarters of the Gentlemen Alliance. She had always spent her time around the two Soviet sisters, around women. Being constantly surrounded by men was going to be a whole new experience for her, even if she had spied on them before. So she tried to remember the organisation's history again, just to settle her traitorous nerves.
'Let's see… The Gentlemen's Alliance… Founded by UK, France, Russia, Germany, and Northern Italy… Comprises of only European members, namely Spain, Southern Italy, Switzerland, Prussia, Austria, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Greece…' she counted them off with her fingers.
'Their motto: Strength, honour, affluence.' She couldn't help but wrinkle her nose at the chauvinism of it all.
"Pardon me, you must be the new Nation that has come to join us." Hungary looked up from her thoughts to meet the eyes of a bespectacled young man clad in a navy blue coat.
The author speaks: There you have it! Let's see how Hungary would fare in a man's world, shall we? ;D
Plase R&R (: