As we all know, in the show, Tori's Puerto Rican but as I mentioned before, in my fics she's Mexican, because that's my nationality.
So that being said, to all my fellow Mexicans reading this latest chapter I gotta yell, ¡FELIZ DIA DE LA INDEPENDENCIA!
And to everyone else who isn't familiar with the holiday, prepare to learn a bit about the history of Mexico and culture!
Mexico City:
Jade woke up with a yawn, stretching as she got out of bed, lazily looking over at her wife's side of the bed, which unsurprisingly was empty.
"Figures she would wake up before me."
The thespian took a quick look at their hotel room, everything was where they left it the night before, they been in Mexico for over two weeks now and the countdown to the 15th of September was something that made Tori giddy with anticipation.
"And who can blame her?"
Going into the next room of their suite, she was unsurprised to see her spouse all ready for the day ahead of them.
"¡Buenos días Jade!" Tori greeted." ¿Cómo dormiste?"
"It's too early to be answering questions before my first cup of coffee, Vega." Jade replied. "But fine, I'll play along, Buenos días mi queridísima esposa, dormí acostada."
"Oh ha ha." Tori replied with a grin. "Didn't think you could be funny before breakfast."
"What can I tell you Vega?" The Thespian shrugged. "I'm full of surprises, especially when it comes with a reward."
"Such as?"
"Like seeing that dorky ass grin on your face."
"Aww." Tori gushed. "Baby, that has to be the mushiest thing you ever said."
"And only you get to hear it." Jade warned ominously. "Because if anyone else were to hear I swear the result won't be pretty… I'm also going to need a ton of mouthwash after saying that kind of mushy stuff."
"Solo para mis oídos." Tori chuckled. "Of course."
Once she sat down, Jade noticed the breakfast that her wife no doubt ordered for room service.
"Tacos, enchiladas, tamales, chilaquiles and Yoli?" Jade asked. "You went a Little crazy with room service, didn't you Vega?"
"Are you complaining?" Tori teased. "I seem to remember you grew fond of chilaquiles with cheese."
"That… I did." Jade grinned. "And what's this?"
The thespian noticed that apparently despite ordering food service, her wife got creative with breakfast because there was a huge plate of tacos that took the shape of an eagle sitting on a cactus while devouring a snake, not to mention that it was on a dish that had red, white, and green which Jade knew were the colors of the Mexican flag.
"Showing Mexican pride, eh Vega?"
"You know it baby!"
"You know, I always wondered why put an eagle and a snake on the flag?"
"Oh that's actually an interesting thing." Tori said before taking a bite out of her tamales. "See the central emblem is quite symbolic, there's a legend that once during Aztec times, they saw an eagle sitting on a cactus about to eat a serpent which the Aztecs took as a sign as to where to found their city, Tenochtitlan."
"Tenochtitlan?" Jade repeated "You mean those pyramids we saw last week?"
"Yup." Tori nodded. "It's amazing how long they survived."
"I guess." Jade took a bite out of her chilaquiles. "Correct me if I'm wrong Vega but weren't they conquered by the Spanish people?"
"They were." Tori nodded. "In fact, for a long time Mexico was under Spanish rule, similar to how The United States was under British rule."
"Really?" Jade asked. "Huh… Guess history has a habit of repeating itself no matter in what part of the world one is."
"You're not wrong about that." Her wife agreed before taking another bite of her taco. "In fact Mexico was under Spanish rule for three hundred years."
"Wow, that long?"
"Unfortunately so." Tori said. "But after much blood and effort Mexico gained its independence in the early 1800's."
"Not that long after the U.S then."
After eating in silence for a few minutes, Tori asked. "So baby? Think you'll be easy soon? We got a lot to do today."
"What's the hurry Vega?" Jade asked curiously. "We have all day to celebrate."
"True but I want to show you how we celebrate in Mexico!" Tori replied with a grin. "I wouldn't want you to miss the Mexican experience."
"I have been doing the Mexican experience for the past two weeks." Jade shot back. "We been to Tijuana, Cuernavaca and Acapulco and not once have we stopped, you been showing me around remember?"
"True but now we're in the heart of the Country." Tori pointed out. "Where it all started, so its fitting that we're in Mexico City, especially for tonight."
"Why?" Jade asked curiously. "What's going to happen tonight?"
"You'll see." Tori replied mischievously. "Don't worry, I promise you'll like it."
"Oh joy."
Silently, Tori sat next to her wife but not before moving her plate so they could be staring out the window, Jade raised an eyebrow questioningly, the Latina simply grinned before nodding her head towards the balcony, the Thespian, followed where her wife was directing her head and saw a flagpole, the wind making the Mexican flag flow in a way that made it appear to fly as majestically as the eagle that was a symbol to the Country.
Jade didn't say a word but she didn't need to; instead she silently gave her wife a knowing smirk as if saying. "That's quite a sight."
Tori didn't say anything in return, but simply rest her head on her wife's shoulder and they continued to have their breakfast and stare out the window, taking in the sight of both the beauty and culture of Mexico.
Later that day, the married couple was in the Zócalo, the celebration of Independence was nothing new to Jade but this was actually the first time celebrating another country's independence but clearly that wasn't the case with Tori as she was as familiar with the traditions as she was back in the States.
Whenever she looked, Jade saw decorations with the colors, red white and green, from replicas of the flag in all shapes and sizes to lights and even sombreros and ponchos that the locals were wearing.
She even noticed that some people were also wearing red, green or white, shirts, pants, shorts and so on, clearly a sign of national pride, some were even dancing in the streets.
Tori herself followed suit as she was also wearing a green dress, red shoes and a white bag, the thespian was actually standing out like a sore thumb as she was the only one wearing a pair of jeans and a black shirt, however she made up for it as she died her hair in a mixture of both red and green.
"Having fun baby?" Tori asked
"Just taking in the sights Vega." Jade replied. "Sure looks like everyone is determined to have a good time while they're waiting for something."
"Yeah, el Grito."
"El What now?"
"El Grito." Tori said again. "See at exactly eleven tonight, the President is going to come to that balcony over there at El Palacio Nacional."
Jade looked at where Tori was pointing and saw the National Palace where the President of Mexico resides or more accurately at the principal balcony where the President will give out the famous grito.
"Grito… Grito." Jade mussed. "So the President is going to scream later tonight? Why?"
"It's not exactly a scream Jade." Tori corrected. "But actually it's a shout of patriotism where the names of the important heroes of the Mexican War of Independence are remembered."
"So why do it at eleven?" Jade asked. "Why not earlier?"
"See its more of a technicality but the thing is that every year on the eve of Independence Day, the President re-enacts the Grito from the balcony of el Palacio Nacional while ringing the same bell Hidalgo used in 1810." Tori explained. "See the 16th is when Miguel Hidalgo who was both a priest and the leader of the movement rang the bell of his church and gave the call to arms that triggered the Mexican War of Independence."
"Wait… If the whole thing started on the 16th, then why are we celebrating a day earlier?"
"You can thank Porfirio Díaz for that one."
"And who was he?"
"He was a president who served thirty one years in office." Tori replied. "See he was baptized on the 15th of September 1830 and when he first became president, the independence anniversary was commemorated on the 15th rather than on the 16th."
"So the man wanted the holiday to revolve around him?"
"In a way, yes." Tori said. "See the only reason why he was president for so long is because he made sure the votes were changed every time till Mexicans were sick of him and there was another call to arms to get him out of office in 1910, he's partly the reason because the Constitution said that the Mexican president can only serve one, six year term, no reelections can happen… Ever!"
"You certainly know your history Vega."
"That, I do." Tori said with pride.
"So Mexico gained independence when exactly?"
" It took Eleven years to earn it."
"So if it started in 1810, then by 1821 Mexico was free from Spanish rule."
"Only technically." Tori replied. "The Constitution was not written until three years later."
"Ok Vega, here's another question for you."
"You're asking a lot of questions Jade." Tori teased. "You know that right?"
"Why shouldn't I?" Jade shot back. "I'm getting to know a part of your history and culture my dear wife."
"Aww. Jade." The Latina gushed. "You're too sweet, you know that right?"
"Only with you and no one else Tor." The thespian said. "Ok you should know this, who was the first president of Mexico?"
"Guadalupe Victoria."
"You're telling me that Mexico's first president was a woman?" Jade asked with wide eyes, obviously surprised. "That amazing!"
"I wish." Tori chuckled. "No, actually this guy was named José Miguel Ramón; he simply changed his name after Capturing Oaxaca which was a battle that happened in 1812, as a result of his devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe and Victoria for the Victory he scored against Spain."
"That's unusual." Jade said. "Then again religion and war does have an effect on people."
"True." Tori said somewhat bitterly, her spouse knew why, the Latina after all had her own issues with the previous one.
Deciding to quickly get rid of that dark cloud that came over them, Jade kept asking her wife question after question which the Latina happily answered.
"Hey look!" Tori said after taking a drink from her Yoli. "El Zocalo is packed!"
Jade took a quick glance across the street; true to her wife's words the place was full of people in front of the National Palace, which was covered in lights and just like everything else it was in red, white and green.
"I take it this is what you wanted me to see, no Vega?" The Thespian asked but after not getting an answer, she looked at the other side of the table. "Tor..?"
She didn't get to finish because her spouse grabbed her by her hand and dragged her towards the palace.
"Hey Vega!" Jade said as she was dragged across a sea of people. "Calm down! Hey! Are you even listening to me?!"
But Tori wasn't listening, she was more concerned about seeing the main event that was about to start.
Finally getting as close as she could to the Palace, she finally let go of her wife's hand and was just ecstatic to be so close to a part of history.
Jade meanwhile was massaging her hand, grumbling under her breath that she married a history freak, after the annoyance slowly left her, the former Goth saw people waving Mexican flags in the air, some yelling "¡VIVA MEXICO!" Which she knew loosely translated meant "LONG LIVE MEXICO!" Everywhere she looked, Jade saw people showing their National pride in one way or another, even Tori was doing so by holding her wife in a one arm hug and taking a selfie and then posted it which Jade received in a ping.
She looked at her phone.
"Minutes away from ¡El Grito! So excited!- Victoria West.
"I think she's about to explode with happiness anytime now."
Just as Eleven O'clock came, the crowd began yelling "¡VIVA MEXICO!" over and over, Jade raised an eyebrow, curious as to what was going to happen next.
She got her answer almost instantly as everyone's attention went towards the main balcony of the palace and the President came into view proudly holding a flagpole, to her surprise, Jade saw a familiar face.
"Wait… Carly Shay?" She asked in awe. "She's the President?! Wow, I did not see that one coming."
Indeed, the former Web show hostess was in power, she walked towards the bell that Hildalgo rang in the original grito and rings it.
"¡Mexicanos!" Carly said in Spanish ¡Vivan los héroes que nos dieron patria! ¡Viva Hidalgo! ¡Viva Morelos! ¡Viva Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez! ¡Viva Allende! ¡Viva Aldama y Matamoros! ¡Viva la Independencia Nacional! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México!"
The crowd went wild repeating the same "Vivas" after the president, Jade was almost certain Tori was yelling the loudest, she shrugged and joined in the festivities, holding her wife's hand as they yelled together.
After that, Carly rings the bell one last time, and started waving the Flag of Mexico to the applause of the crowd; some were even waving their own flags.
Soon after, everyone held an arm over their chest and started to recite the Mexican National Anthem, Jade kept smirking, noticing how Tori not once did she stopped smiling.
Then came the closing act, the fireworks.
Jade and Tori watched alongside millions of people as the night sky became brighter as the fireworks joined in the stars, with red, white and green.
The crowd once more shouted "¡VIVA MEXICO!" as the festivities continued.
Jade held Tori from behind, the Latina moved her head to stare at her wife.
"Gracias por traerme Tori."
"De nada Jade."
They shared a small kiss as they continued to watch the fireworks.
"¡Viva mi esposa!" They thought happily at the same time.
Well, this was quite a struggle to write, mostly because I wanted to put as much history as I could without making it too boring and go into facts, because there's just too much to tell but not enough to give into just one chapter, so I instead wrote what I thought was what might make you look further into the history of Mexico.
I actually put a bit of myself in Tori since I'm fascinated with history and gave her that trait as she kept telling Jade fact after fact.
I bet you were surprised that Carly is the President of Mexico in here, huh? That was actually done intentionally as Miranda Cosgrove who portrayed her is Half-Mexican, in here she's full Mexican, for those who don't know Mexico has not had a woman president so far in its history… Yet.. Thay may eventually happen.
El Zócalo is the main square in central Mexico City.
Finally, for those of you who don't know Spanish, below are the translations:
"¡Buenos días Jade!" – Good Morning Jade.
"¿Cómo dormiste?" - How did you sleep?
"Buenos días mi queridísima esposa, dormí acostada." – Good Morning my lovely wife, I slept lying down.
"Solo para mis oídos." – For my ears only.
El Grito – The Scream or more commonly known The Cry of Dolores.
"¡Mexicanos!" Carly said in Spanish ¡Vivan los héroes que nos dieron patria! ¡Viva Hidalgo! ¡Viva Morelos! ¡Viva Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez! ¡Viva Allende! ¡Viva Aldama y Matamoros! ¡Viva la Independencia Nacional! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México!" -Mexicans! Long live the heroes who gave us our homeland! Long live Hidalgo! Long live Morelos! Long live Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez! Long live Allende! Long live Aldama and Matamoros! Long live the nation's independence! Long Live Mexico! Long Live Mexico! Long Live Mexico!
"¡Viva mi esposa!" – Long live my wife.
Hope you all liked the story and in the next chapter in following with Mexican Culture I'll be posting about El Día de los Muertos in November 1st or 2nd.
See you then!
Invader Johnny Signing Off.