AN: After a long absence, I'm here again! :D
I had work and plenty of things happening in my real life.
Here is the 20th century! And I am so happy I've eventually reached it^^
Thank you everyone! You've given me almost 4000 hits and 26 reviews! I love you ;D
Now things will get much more interesting. I can't wait to see Alfred being a hippy! LOL
Mahé, April 19, 1900
I had never been to Paris before. How beautiful is Paris! It is different from New York and London but I think I love them three, these great cities are all stunning!
At this period of the year, there were flowers blooming everywhere in the streets!
We had time so we went in a park for a walk. The weather was pleasant. Perfect for the opening of the Expostion.
We sat. Quiet. Waiting for the H-hour of the opening ceremony.
Then a young couple sat together on the bench in front of ours. The young male took the girl's hand and leaned his head to whisper some tender words into her ear. She giggled and smiled at her lover and he took her face into his hands for long and deep passionate kisses on her lips.
Oh, well, that seems weird to write this. When I think about it, I wonder if this was voyeurism to watch those Parisians kissing on this bench. I just couldn't take my eyes off of them.
I watched his lips devouring her mouth, slobbering on her from her nose to her chin while he was pressing on her waist with his hand. I could make out quite easily the movements of their tongues in their kisses.
Oh, dear, how ashamed I felt, enjoying, envying pleasure that was not mine. How could I dare? Yet, I'm not bored at all with Arthur. We know how to share good times as well. But not in public. Never. I think that is why this Parisian couple had caught my eye.
Talking about Arthur, I can't say that he wasn't affected either. He first watched with widened eyes and then tried to avoid looking at them. He first laid his eyes resting on the floor, then on the trees, on the carriages passing by, on other people, and then on the floor again. He had a half shocked and half exasperated look on his face, and his feet were stamping with impatience to get out of there. He was clearly ill-at-ease. And so was I when his eyes caught mines. I rapidly averted my gaze, looking at something invisible on the opposite side. But I felt his timid hand on my arm and heard him calling my name.
"Victoria."
I looked up at him. His emerald eyes were filled with seriousness under his furrowed eyebrows. I realized how close our faces were. And suddenly he grabbed me and crushed his mouth on mine, kissing me like he had never done before and I felt my heart melting instantaneity inside my chest at the taste of those lips pressing with a hunger that he had never shown before. I blushed at the feeling of the wet and warm softness of his tongue when he let it come out playing with mine. He groaned in our kiss as I wrapped my arms around his neck and he started running his hands on my waist and my back. How long did we kiss? For a few seconds? For a few minutes? For an hour? Anyway he didn't seem to care. He even went dirtier. He unstuck his mouth from mine and started to lick my nose.
"Hehe, what are you doing?" I giggled.
As a reply he came closer to lick my eyelid, wetting my eyelashes, and then he went down to run his tongue on my cheeks.
"Haha, that's tickling! Stop it!" I laughed when his tongue came on my chin.
Then it came down along my neck. When he made sure that I was covered with slobber, his lips returned on my mouth for a last sloppy long kiss.
Then we felt harsh gazes targeting us and we gently stopped, managing to remove the strand of slobber that remained between our faces.
The two Parisians had stopped kissing and were staring at us with confused faces.
Arthur fainted a surprised look and took hastily his embroidered handkerchief from his pocket to whip his mouth and then whip my whole face rapidly before putting it back into his pocket like if nothing had happen. He readjusted his top hat and my hat, made sure our clothes were okay, removing invisible dust from them. Then he looked back to them. The couple was now furrowing their eyebrows, looking like if they were wondering if Arthur was definitely making fun of them with his imitation of French kissing. And indeed he was. Arthur sent them a silent hello with a hat sign and a smile. And then a glance from him told me it was time to go. So we left the bench and the two Parisians to head for the Champ de Mars, where the ceremony was held.
The Eiffel Tower was impressively bigger than on the pictures. And way higher than I expected! Once under the enormous steel structure we fought a little to find our way into the crowd of politicians, representatives and ambassadors to join the group of the Nations.
Francis welcomed us joyfully.
"Arthur! Mon poussin! He exclaimed while hugging Arthur with affection. You've made here!
- Of course I have. Arthur replied with an amused smile. He seemed to be used to Francis' demonstrative behavior. And stop calling me like that, would you? I'm not a little boy. He whispered loud enough so I could hear. Francis moved back.
- Oh, dear, I-I-I'd forgotten how heartbreaking you are… Tears appeared into Francis eyes. Kids are terrible when they become adults. This-this-this is terribly sad. Oh, sadness of fate, I'm going to cry! To cry tears of joy and sadness! Francis ended while pointing his index towards the ceiling, his tearing eyes lost in some infinite dimension. Some people around applauded his romantically delirious performance.
- Francis… Arthur sighed with deep despair and exasperation. This wasn't supposed to make you cry. And besides, we're aged almost the same. However, you've forgotten to say hello to Victoria. It is not like you to forget the pretty ladies, is it? Oh, dear, you should feel ashamed! Arthur grinned.
- Marianne! Ma chérie! Francis turned towards me. His tears seemed to be suddenly gone.
- Fake tears… Arthur muttered but was still grinning.
- Oh, Victoria. Oh right. Excuse me. I just can't help but calling you by your former first name. He kissed me hello with a kiss on each cheek, and then hugged me. Oh mon ange adorable adoré en sucre d'amour que j'aime fort! You can't imagine how I missed you! He said before moving back to look at me. Oh, mon Dieu, how this petite has grown up! She's grown up so beautiful, just as I expected! He gave me a kiss on my hand. Oh, tell me, Victoria. He lowered his voice and started talking in French just like if he didn't want Arthur to understand. Comment est Arthur avec toi? Te porte-t-il toute l'attention et l'affection qui sont dues aux jeunes filles telles que toi? Te fait-t-il du mal ? Te fait-t-il pleurer ? Ecoute-t-il ton cœur ? Et est-ce que... He approached his face closer and put a hand on my shoulder with a serious face. Il satisfait les désirs de ton corps comme il le faut ? Si ce n'est pas le cas, tu sais que tu peux me demander tout ce que tu souhaites, je serai ton ho-
- Hey, I understand French! Don't you remember, you idiot? Arthur scolded and took my arm, glaring at Francis.
- I was just making sure my adorable daughter was okay. The Frenchman replied with dignity.
- Your… daughter? Arthur rose a skeptical eyebrow.
- Oui. It is the duties of a father to make sure everything is fine.
- You're not her father. I know what you're trying to do. He held my arm tighter. And I won't let you."
Francis and Arthur shared a long look. Then Francis sighed and smiled.
"Fine. This was what I wanted to hear from you, Arthur." He said softly.
Arthur seemed a bit confused by the change of Francis' mind. Francis patted a hand on his shoulder, which made Arthur jump. I know he doesn't like being touched by people like that. Francis was looking at him with a serious face.
"Do not make her cry. Do you remember what I told you on that day?"
Arthur swallowed.
I didn't know what did Francis tell him but it seemed highly important. But that was not my business.
Arthur removed his hand from his shoulder and answered him something with his eyes, a silent answer I didn't get.
"Well, Francis had recovered his joy and the atmosphere got suddenly better, hope you'll have a good time in Paris!"
We thanked him and he went away to welcome other Nations. He had a lot of work with this world event.
Then I noticed one weird thing. And I realized Arthur had it in his hand in New York too. His umbrella. A mysterious umbrella.
I know that England is a rainy place, but what was the use on such sunny days?
When I asked him why he kept it always with him, he replied "We always must expect everything at anytime."
I am not sure about what to think. I thought I knew Arthur perfectly, but I'm starting to think that there are more and more mysterious things around him. And I'm feeling a bit frustrated because I want him to tell me what he feels. I love him. Why doesn't he tell me? He's so mysterious. Would I be allowed one day to enter his mind and his heart.
Then the opening ceremony ended and we started visiting all the places.
It was sublime and interesting. I saw all the other Nations enjoying their visit and sharing good times together.
We said hello to Alfred. He was in a very good shape, looking at everything with stars in his eyes and gesticulating. But himself was also an amazing monument. Everybody was looking at him with bright eyes when he said he would one day make towers that will be taller than the Eiffel Tower!
Arthur sighed and shrugged, but I must admit that Alfred's charm can make anyone believing in him, whatever he says.
I saw enormous and colored buildings that looked like big cakes! And there were Sir Ivan Braginski with his sisters giving a Russian dance show! They were just amazing!
We went back home tired but happy of all we saw.
Now I want to go everywhere. Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia…
When I told Arthur. He smiled, promised me we will.
And the love that I saw in his eyes told me I shouldn't worry about his feelings. He loves me, I'm sure. He's just a bit reserved. I'll do my best to make him feel at ease. He has always so much work to do.
My role is to take care of him.
AN: Translations:
"Mon poussin": literally "my chick" (the animal, the baby chicken's sense^^) but can be translated into "my pet/poppet". I think this is one of the affectionate names that fit best to Arthur (but yeah of course he wouldn't like it at all but this is the point anyway, you would say^^). A poussin, it is cute as it can be! (Lol, now I feel like I am talking like Francis xD) And to me it is one of the cutest words of my language. Just love it :D
''Mon ange adorable adoré en sucre d'amour que j'aime fort!'' : literally "My adorable beloved angel made with sugar of love that I love a lot!" but can be translated into some other nonsense overdose of affection for free. In France we quite often call some close friends/family (not only boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife) such affectionate words (or "mon poussin"! lol), just to tell how much we like being with them, and I do and like to tell^^
"Comment est Arthur avec toi? Te porte-t-il toute l'attention et l'affection qui sont dues aux jeunes filles telles que toi? Te fait-t-il du mal ? Te fait-t-il pleurer ? Ecoute-t-il ton cœur ? Est-ce qu'il satisfait les désirs de ton corps comme il le faut ? Si ce n'est pas le cas, tu sais que tu peux me demander tout ce que tu souhaites, je serai ton homme.'' : ''What is Arthur's behavior with you ? Does he give you all the attention and affection that young ladies like you need? Does he do you any harm? Does he make you cry? Does he listen to your heart? Does he satisfy the desires of your body correctly? If he does not, you know that you can ask me whatever you want. I'll be your man."
Maybe most of you may not know this (anyway only a few people, even in France, knows it (let's not give examples like some politicians who are famous for it lol)), but normally in a proper kiss on the hand as the tradition wants it, the man's lips mustn't touch the hand. Yeah, it is actually a fake kiss. But nowadays it has almost completely disappeared. (Actually, it happened to me only once in my whole life, and it was the father of an English friend of mine in England for he probably wanted to act the fool lol. Her father was definitely crazy and super cool. Excellent. Epically awesome. Almost as Prussia xD. I think that if he knew about Hetalia he would love it.)