AN:
In case this causes some confusion. All states that begin with North are female. All states that begin with South are male. North Carolina is called Carolina and her brother is South. South Dakota is called Dakota and North Dakota is called North.
People that guessed that Maryland was cosplaying Naruto (please tell me if I missed anyone because I think I did): Annie-The Awesome (You're reward will appear later), dragonlover721, ncalkins and skyspottedshadow (same as Annie I promise).
Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia although apparently I update as often as Himura and for that I'm so sorry and made 2 omakes to make up for it.
Dinner and Dares
The barbeque battle was put to an end by quick Arizona's action, with Texas's cowboy hat being the only casualty. The states had put aside their different tastes and cooked up a meal together, which they were now peacefully enjoying. Of course since they couldn't agree on what to cook everyone had made something different, barbeque not being allowed, and things weren't exactly peaceful.
California and Nevada had decided that the table would make an excellent dance floor and were currently twirling around on top it without a care in the world. This was obviously a problem for anyone that hoped to get some food without being kicked. Some states thought it was hilarious and were even clapping a beat for the two girls. New York disagreed.
Louisiana had been watching for the last five minutes as the Empire State's face turned redder and his fist clenched until they were white. Truthfully this was more amusing than the performance on the table, at least it soon would be.
"What's wrong Big Brother? "
New York glared at Louisiana's cooing. "What's wrong is that our sisters are not only ruining dinner but they're making fools of themselves while doing it."
"Oh I see," Louisiana remarked as he thoughtfully took a bite of his gumbo. Once he had savored the spices to his satisfaction he gestured back to the table. "So you aren't you enjoying the view?"
New York thoughtlessly turned to look at the table and saw exactly what view Louisiana had been talking about. When California spun closer to them and her skirt swirled a bit higher. It wasn't anything scandalous but New York's face turned beat red. A strangled noise escaped his throat as he, chair and all, fell backwards to the floor.
California gasped at the noise, pushed her golden hair out of her face, and peered over the tables edge at the unconscious but twitching northern state.? "Did I knock him out?" She asked with more awe than concern in her voice, wondering if she had kicked a bowl of steaming General Tso's chicken into him or something
Louisiana smiled up at her. "You could say that, Cheri."
California beamed and with an exclamation of "Awesome, go me,"she spun right back into her dance.
On Louisiana's other side Georgia raised a hand to her lips in an effort to muffle her laughter. "You're absolutely terrible," she said with a smile.
"I'm just trying to speed things up," he replied with a smirk of his own. Neither of them moved to help New York.
Later, after one minor food fight between West and Virginia, the States gathered in another room. Since America had implied that everything should continue as planned, with no violence. They had to do some kind of bonding activity, but what?
"We could do a musical, we certainly know enough of them," Oklahoma suggested.
New Hampshire wrinkled her nose. "Another musical really? Why can't we just play games or sports like normal families?"
"Sports are a type of game," Connecticut corrected. New Hampshire frowned and opened her mouth to throw a come back at the know it all but Montana spoke first.
"We aren't a normal family and even if we were, we can't because of all the damage last time we played."
"It wasn't that bad," another state said.
"One high definition flat screen TV, five expensive vases, two priceless works of art, and 50 windows disagree," Montana remarked.
"Greatest ricochet ever," Florida sang from across the room.
Montana set her hands on her hips and shrugged. "Besides it isn't fair for us to compete against Alaska and Hawaii and they refuse to play against each other."
"They could sit out," New Hampshire suggested.
"I'm sure they'd just love that,"Connecticut said.
None of them could think of anything to say after that so an uncomfortable silence settled in the room.
Meanwhile, in the corner of the room Rhode Island sat shifting back and forth uncomfortably. She couldn't stand this awkwardness. Her eyes darted about the room begging anyone to say something but the others were still and silent. She looked at the game cabinet and mentally ran through a list of the contents. Shoots and Ladders was for little kids, Chess and Checkers were only for two people, monopoly took too long, Carolina would cream everyone at Battleship, and they wouldn't even be able to look at Don't Wake Daddy. Couldn't they do anything without getting into serious trouble? But what if the trouble was controlled? Park services started fires in forests and that helped the ecosystem so couldn't controlled trouble be fun and healthy for them?
Rhode Island bit her bottom lip, closed her eyes, and let the possibilities flow through her brain. The perfect idea hit her like a truck and her loud gasp drew the eyes of several surrounding states.
"Guys we should play truth or dare!"
Although a few states looked horrified by the suggestion most of them agreed with a smile or nod.
Rhode Island smiled brightly and clasped her hands to together. "Since it was my idea I get to go first right?" She wasn't asking but was reminding everyone that it was a rule that they had agreed on and there was no way she would be the first one to have to go streaking down Pennsylvania Avenue. The others had to regretfully agree. So she once again looked around the room and looked for victim.
Her eyes caught on a state half way across the room. His arms were folded over his chest. His feet which were propped up on arm of the chair across from him. But he was frowning up at a section of his blonde hair that now had some red caught in it. As if he felt her gaze he looked and their eyes met. A smile grew on her face while his eyes narrowed.
"Massachusetts, truth or dare."
His glare intensified but she she kept smiling and staring back. He had no other choice but to sigh and consent. "Truth."
"Is it true that you have dabbled in the dark arts?"
The states collectively held their breath. They all knew that he had always held onto a few of his Puritan beliefs and witchcraft was definitely not accepted by the Puritans. However, sometimes it seemed that he fought it too much. Didn't Shakespeare write that "the lady doth protest too much?" Sure they had never asked him or called him a lady, he would probably attack them if they did, but they had always wondered.
"No," Massachusetts gritted out between his teeth.
Rhode Island cursed in her head. Contrary to what some of the states might have thought she did know the consequences of her actions. Mass looked so mad and now he could retaliate against her. She really didn't want to be known as the girl who flashed the President.
Massachusetts watched as his sister began to twitch before him. A part of him wanted to relish the power of having the whole room at his mercy but he had a more personal punishment to dish out. His gaze drifted over to New York. He had mocked his team, and on a larger scale Massachusetts, one too many times. Massachusetts smiled at New York.
"California," the Golden State sprung up at the sound of her name. "Truth or Dare?"
California was born on a dare. All her people had dared to travel away from their previous safe homes and seek a better future, which in her early days meant gold. So with a shinning wide grin that would have made America proud she boldly answered, "Dare."
While a look of horror appeared on New York's face Massachusetts issued his dare. "Take New York and go into that closet for seven minutes, and no, I don't care what you do in there. "
California tossed her hair over her shoulder and practically pranced to the closet. But when she turned to close the door behind her she realized no one had followed her. Instead New York was still standing in the same spot he had been in earlier, his fists shaking and his face flushed.
California flew across the room and snatched up New York's arm. "You are not ruining this for me," she hissed into his ear. She didn't notice that the northern state's face had turned red and it appeared to everyone else that he was both speechless and breathless. Instead she dragged him into the closet and slammed the door shut.
Inside the closet New York was pressed against the wall. Even though an umbrella was digging painfully into his ribs he couldn't move. Well his knees were shaking but he felt like he couldn't move. If he moved he could touch her and he wouldn't know where. For all he knew there could be only inches between their skin. Her hair could be drifting down, nearly embracing him in their golden, shining, curling depths and he wouldn't know.
Was she as anxious as he was? What did she look like right now?
A blue light appeared from California's phone surprising New York. But that feeling faded quickly and he was able to focus on how the light fell across her face and caressed her smooth hair. She looked like an angel.
"Oh man, it hasn't even been a minute," California whined.
New York blinked. "You know, you didn't have to take this bet if being in here with me was going to bother you so much."
California looked away from her phone and frowned at him. "Geeze Yorkie, do you have to be such a drama queen?" Hypocrite, New York thought. You're always the one that's over dramatic and egocentric and I don't see how anyone thinks you're pretty. Your hair was obviously better when it curled, now it's as lifeless as a mop.
"It's not like being in here with you is such a big deal." New York's mental rant came to a screeching stop. "It's just that I had this amazing idea. You know how much fun we had the last time we saw the nations." New York nodded although she was too caught up in her speech to notice. "We should totally mess with them again."
"Are you an idiot? Weren't you paying attention to what Dad said, no wars."
California rolled her eyes. "We didn't start a war that time and besides this won't be anything like last time. This'll be so much more fun. See I was thinking-"
The door was suddenly flung open.
California beamed at the states who were standing outside looking disappointed. "Times up, awesome." California pranced out of the closet. "So I was just talking to Yorkie."
"You were just talking in there," New Hampshire frowned at New York as he walked past her.
"Yep, and now it's time for my dare." California dramatically raised her arms and declared, "I dare all of you to launch a prank war against the world."
The states didn't react the way she thought they should.
"You can't dare everyone at once. One dare one person, that's the rules."
"But New York participated in my dare."
"That was different."
"We could prank England," New York said.
Massachusetts lips twisted into a maniacal grin. "Let's do it."
Montana quickly stood before everyone could get carried away. After all, California had managed to convince two of The Thirteen to agree already, not that New York agreeing with her came as a surprise, and the rest were sure to follow. "Wait a minute, guys. How do you even think we're going to accomplish this. Dad will be home in the morning and it takes about seven hours to get to England. There's no way we would have time to do a good prank there, let alone the rest of the world."
"I already thought of that." California raised her arms in one, big, dramatic motion. "Mexico can fly us around in Toni's ship."
New Mexico raised his hand for attention. When California nodded at him he said, "Two things: one, I don't have access to it and more importantly two, I'm not Mexico."
California ignore the most important part and asked, "What do you mean you don't have access to it?"
"Well, I'm not supposed to fly it in the first place and I don't where it is. "
New York tilted his head slightly in confusion. "You were banned from flying it?"
"Not exactly. But the FBI did move it to a secret location."
"A secret location?" Nevada threw back her white blonde head and laughed. "Well that's not a problem. I know just where it is and how to get it."
New York crossed his arms and stared at her. "Are you sure about that Nevada? We don't have time to mess around."
"I'm positive. All secret alien tech goes to Area 51 and I visit that place all the time."
"You visit a secret government base all the time despite the fact that we're banned from government activities," Connecticut interrupted.
"Ok, so I'm never been invited and they never know I'm there. But I needed a hobby."
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that,"Connecticut said.
Nevada sprang up to stand on her chair. "Ok states, let's vote. All in favor of the epic prank war of awesomeness say I. All against stay out of our way. All in favor?"
"I," all the states laughed.
Notes:
Gumbo is a soup/stew that originated in Louisiana in the 18 hundreds.
General Tso's chicken is a dish commonly sold in North American Chinese restaurants. It's apparently named after the General Tso Tsung-tang (also known as Zou Zongtang) But it's not a Chinese dish.. The first China heard of it was when chiefs returning from America brought it back. The dish was introduced to New York City in the 1970's as an example of Hunan cooking (Hunan is a Chinese province) but no one seems to know for sure how it came about.
For those of you that don't know Oklahoma is also musical.
North Carolina's Outer Banks are called the graveyard of the Atlantic.
Pennsylvania Avenue is the street that the White House, the Presidents home, sits on.
The Boston Red Sox's and New York Yankee's have a very long and famous rivilary between them. They're both baseball teams.
AN:
So the dialogue where the states try and figure out what to do was actually the first piece written for the state fics. Not the scene that inspired all this but I just wanted to point that out.
I don't know if you've noticed but the review button has changed since I last posted. So you should all click on it and review, just to check if it's working.
Replies:
ZeroLuver567: Don't feel bad, he escaped. Thank you. Everybody seems to love those. Thanks for reviewing.
Omake: (During dinner)
Illinois slid farther down in his chair to slip another small piece of his dinner down to Chewy. He couldn't let anyone know what he was doing. Although it didn't look like any one was watching him. He glanced across the table to see Ohio and Pennsylvania threatening to stab each other with their forks. But he still had to keep eating too.
The large German Shepard licked Illinois's hand in gratitude causing him to jump in surprise. The food he had previously been trying to eat smeared across his face. He fumbled for his napkin before realizing it wasn't there. Some one had probably stolen it.
"Here"
Illinois stared at the white napkin in front of his face.
Massachusetts pulled back his hand a little and raised an eyebrow. "Don't you know how to use one of these?" Illinois's face heated up.
"Let me help you."Massachusetts leaned closer butIllinois leaned back and used one hand to push him back.
"I can take care of myself."
"Maybe but apparently you can't multitask." Illinois blinked in response. Massachusetts had known what he was doing but hadn't said anything. Why would he do that?
Seeing that Illinois was lost in his thought Massachusetts's used the opportunity to move his hand forward. Then he carefully caressed Illinois's face until it was clean.
"Just let your big brother take care of everything." He smirked as Illinois's face turned a darker shade of red.
Of course his moment of cool was ruined when a piece of pizza smashed into the side of his face.
It wasn't necessary to have two Viriginias, right?
Omake 2: (While NY and Cali are in the closet)
The Carolinas came to stand behind Massachusetts's shoulders. "You know she didn't get that you're practically having her play Seven Minutes in Heaven," North Carolina said.
"It doesn't matter whether she got that or not, as long as New York knows."
South Carolina laughed. "You know, you're kind of evil."
Massachusetts propped up his feet again. "Yeah, and it's wonderful."
Notes:
Massachusetts was the first state to legalize gay marriage on May 17, 2004 and it was the sixth jurisdiction in the world to do so.
Civil Unions are allowed in Illinois as of January 31, 2011.
Pizza, as we know it today, originated in Italy. But Americans have made it their own. (I seriously doubt they make apple pie pizza in Italy.) They've made it in new styles (New York, Chicago and more) and with all sorts of toppings. Americans eat 90 to 100 acres of pizza a day and each American eats an estimated total of 23 pounds each year.
AN:
I'm not saying that Massachusetts is gay because he won't freakin' tell me! (Stubborn lovable son of a gun that he is.) So I have decided to mess with him. So take the fist extra as bortherly love or romantic love, which ever you prefer. Anyways, the real fun starts next chapter.