Characters:
Arthur 'England' Kirkland
Antonio 'Spain' Fernandez Carriedo
Mia 'Mexico' Zapata Carriedo
Irepani 'Purépecha' Tarasco Rosaria
Matthew 'Canada' Williams
Alfred F. 'America' Jones
Pairings; F.A.C.E family, ex-Spanish Empire, Mexican family
Summary; Matthew is playing hockey in Northwest Mexico, Arthur is a Mama Hen
Michoacán, Mexico
Arthur sits with Antonio, drinking his tea. Antonio is leaning forwards excitedly, face painted with the Mexican flag.
"You know this is just a silly game, right?" Arthur says, glancing across at Antonio.
"What? I can't show support to my babies?" Antonio retorts.
"It's not that. I just think you're going overboard."
Antonio freezes up, but relaxes quickly. "Spanish pride."
"They're Mexican."
"Still count as Spanish."
"I feel like they'd disagree with you."
"They are my babies, and I am proud of them!"
"Alright, Mama Hen!"
Mia holds up the ball, liquid dripping from her hand. Irepani gives a cheer, swinging his stick in the air. Matthew bounces excitedly. Hockey is love, hockey is life.
The ball drops, and one of the boys on Matthew's team has to stop the idiot northerner from going straight at it.
Mia crouches and, with a flourish of her arm, sets the petrol-dipped ball on fire.
Arthur sits bolt upright. "What the fuck?"
Antonio cheers as Mia clears the court, and she calls at the teams to start playing. Irepani dives forwards, smacking the ball towards the opposite goal. Matthew is hot on his heels.
Arthur rises in alarm. "Why is it on fire?!"
"Because… Mexi set it on fire?" Antonio responds dumbly.
"This isn't safe!"
"Oh calm down, Mama Hen. Your precious America has handled cannonballs, he'll be fine!"
"That's Canada!"
"Oh," Antonio stares at Matthew, "Are you sure?"
"I think I can tell my own colonies apart, unlike some people!" Arthur gives Matthew a long stare anyway. Definitely Matthew. His hair's too long and French to be Alfred.
"Did he handle cannonballs too?"
"No. And I don't like him handling these balls either!"
"No wonder your kids revolted against you. Controlling bitch. EH! GOAL! ME-XI-CO! ME-XI-CO!"
"What did you just call me!"
"GOAL! ME-XI-CO! GO! GO!"
Pelota Purépecha is a traditional game that used to be played by Purépecha people, who are an indegenous people who live mostly in northwest Mexico.
There is evidence of this game being played right back to 3,500 years ago. Under Spanish rule, a lot of traditional games began to die out in Mexico and other Spanish colonies, as the players would be killed at war, and/or the games would be banned by the new rulers. However, Mexico has recently been pushing for a revival of pre-Hispanic games and cultures.
It is similar to hockey, but has some variations in rules. It also has a much stronger cultural significance, originating as a representation of a legend of a battle between day and night, the fire representing the sun and the players representing the movement of the universe.
Pelota Purépecha is Spanish for "Purépecha ball"
In the Purépecha language the general game is called "Uárukua Ch'anakua" which translates to English as "a game with sticks". "Pasárutakua" specifically refers to the game being played with the ball on fire.
Headcannons of the day:
Matthew will play hockey in any and every form it comes
Mia doesn't appreciate being called Spanish. She's Mexican and very proud of that, and loves to talk about her history and politics and culture to anyone who will listen,
Irepani is a little short tempered, and generally likes to keep to himself. He loves sports.
Arthur and Antonio, as well as other ex-empires, sometimes struggle to tell their 'kids' apart, but are very defensive of those 'kids'. They can also be very motherly and overbearing towards their 'kids', even if the 'kids' don't appreciate it.
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