Ellevte januar:
Ancient Rome:
It is said that when on Capitoline Hill, one of the old seven hills of Rome, which today hosts the city hall of Rome, one can spot the remains of the temple that belonged to the Roman goddess of childbirth, Carmenta.
And, ironically enough, the ghost of Ancient Rome thought as he walked around the city hall undetected and -noticed, with the power to look in the past. Ancient Rome had visited many places across his Roman Empire. He may not have appreciated as much as he felt he ought to have, but he'd visited them. Capitoline Hill, however, he hadn't visited as much as the other places. It was only now as he was dead that he allowed himself up here.
The celebration that'd been in the temple here, had after all been chiefly for women; not so weird as Carmenta had after all been the goddess of childbirth, with the power to look in the past.
Not to mention forwards to the future, and more accurately, prophecy, added Ancient Rome in his head.
Which was one reason that he was here, he wanted a clue, a hint of what was to come. Not for him, no it was too late for him, but for his grandsons.
Germany:
-It's such a shame that we can't be here for the Beer Day, Elizaveta Héderváry remarked to Gilbert Beilschmidt.
-What do you mean? Gilbert looked at her.
-Oh, come on. Don't you remember? We promised that we would be at England's birthday party, and they fall on the same day. You know that.
-But it's beer! A Beer Day! Gilbert, whom had forgotten, whined
-We promised. Elizaveta said sternly.
-But…
-We promised.
There was a moment with Elizaveta staring Gilbert in the eyes, before he finally sighed.
-Yes, I know. Gilbert said, defeated. Then an idea struck him. But that doesn't mean that we can't bring German Beer to England's party.
-I don't know, Elizaveta began, remember that Arthur, England, has got a rather low tolerance.
-If we keep the beer near Francis, Arthur won't go anywhere near it.
-Good thinking.
They walked closer to the stalls Ludwig, Gilbert's younger brother and Germany, had set up in the gardens of one of his public houses (A/N: not pubs as they've in England, but houses belonging to the personification of the country that the public are free to enter and wander around).
-Oh, look! Elizaveta grabbed Gilbert's arm and pointed. Your brother brought Feli! He's so cute!
-Hey, don't forget whom you're dating, and that Feli belongs to West. Gilbert teased Elizaveta. She punched him in the arm. Him, being used to that from her, just continued to talk. Looks like he's trying the Apple Bucket.
They stood for a while and watched as Feli, North Italy, tried to get an apple with his hands held behind his back, splashing water everywhere.
Then they followed their noses to freshly baked apple cake, knowing that it was good enough to satisfy the gourmet Feli. So, they'd to hurry before he finished with the Apple Bucket and went on a feeding frenzy, or anything resembling it.
The rest of the day they spent in each other's company, occasionally being joined by Feli and Ludwig, or any of the other people gathered in the garden for Apples Day.
Since it was cold, it was after all January, almost all, if not all, the dishes and beverages were hot. And the people trying out the Apple Bucket had towels and hair dryers at their disposal (though Feli had, for understandable reasons, insisted that he'd be left alone when drying his hair with the towel).
Japan:
-Hand or hammer? Kiku wondered.
It was Kagami Biraki, and he was contemplating which method to use to break the kagami mochi into smaller pieces before eating them.
The hammer had its advantages by making the process easier, but it was rather heavy for him to lift nowadays; his old age was taking its toll on his body. But if he used his hands he would've a harder time breaking the mochi.
He discussed this back and forth with himself, knowing that he couldn't discuss this with his regions or his people, or both; he didn't have the time. He couldn't, after all, discuss this for the long time he normally discussed other matters; this was one of his traditions he was talking about.
Kiku finally decided to use his hands, as a tribute to Tokugawa Ietsuna, the fourth Tokugawa Shogun, from whom this tradition originated from.
Author's notes:
I don't own Hetalia