❝why do i need anyone else when i can break the sky myself❞
break the sky | axis powers hetalia | 275 words | turkey ; greece | g |
in which successive earthquakes strike turkey and greece, bringing the two antagonistic nations closer together.
written for the hetalia_contest prompts “the sky is falling”, “bruises”, and “cultural exchange.”
Break the Sky
I. AUGUST 17, 1999 ~ IZMIT, TURKEY
Before his sight and hearing return, Sadiq can feel strong hands beneath him, hoisting him to his feet. He sways, but the hands return, holding him steady. Someone is patting the debris off of his chest and shoulders; someone is wrapping a hand around his waist and leading him away from the wreckage.
“…how bad?”
“Tens of thousands dead. Billions of dollars in damage.”
“Shit.” He falls backwards, his entire body trembling as the aftershocks race through his city like twin lightning bolts. His back meets a wall, and he sinks slowly to his knees, his vision still completely blacked.
“Get up.”
“No,” he pouts, childish. “It hurts.”
His companion sighs, irritated. “I know, stupid.”
Sadiq blinks open his eyes.
“Why do you think I came to help?” Herakles asks.
II. SEPTEMBER 7, 1999 ~ ATHENS, GREECE
Before he even has a chance to dress his wounds, the phones are ringing. Bruises cover his arms and make it difficult to move quickly, but, all things considered, Herakles escaped from the quake relatively unscathed.
“…hello?”
“You alright, brat?”
Herakles rolls his eyes. “I’m fine, thanks much,” he replies thinly. He should’ve been yelling, at this point in a conversation with Sadiq, but he doesn’t have the strength.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure,” Herakles snaps. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Sadiq pauses on the other line, and Herakles can almost see the cogs in his brain working as he mulls this over. “Earthquakes are nothing to be taken lightly, brat.” He tells Herakles solemnly.
“I know that,” Herakles says again, patience wearing thin. “Why are you calling, again?”
“Just letting you know that if you need a kidney or something, I’m your guy.”
→ The Greek-Turkish earthquake diplomacy was initiated after successive earthquakes hit both countries in the summer of 1999 and led to an improvement in Greco-Turkish relations. The so called "earthquake diplomacy" generated an outpouring of sympathy and generous assistance provided by ordinary Greeks and Turks in both cases. These acts were encouraged from the top and took many foreigners by surprise, preparing the public for a breakthrough in bilateral relations, which had been marred by decades of mutual hostility.
→ On August 17, 1999 at 3:04 AM, Turkey experienced a massive earthquake centered around the Gölcük and Arifiye areas in Adapazarı. The most severely affected area was the industrial city of İzmit. The İzmit earthquake registered 7.4 on the Richter scale and lasted for 45 seconds. A second earthquake hit İzmit on August 22, 1999. The official number of casualties was about 17,000, although real numbers are thought to be above 35,000; 300,000 people were left homeless, while the financial cost of the earthquake is estimated at about 3 billion dollars.
→ Greece was the first foreign country to pledge aid and support to Turkey. Within hours of the earthquake, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs had contacted their counterparts in Turkey, and the minister sent his personal envoys in Turkey. On August 17, 1999 and on November 13, 1999 the Greek Ministry of Public Order sent in a rescue team of 24 people and 2 trained rescue dogs.
→ Less than a month after the Turkish disaster, on September 7, 1999, at 2:56 pm local time, it was Athens' turn to be hit by a powerful, magnitude 5.9 earthquake. This was the most devastating and costly natural disaster to hit the country in 20 years.
→ This time, the Turkish side reciprocated the aid. A special taskforce was convened, consisting of the Undersecretariat of the Prime Ministry, Turkish Armed Forces, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Greek Ambassador in Ankara was contacted to pledge aid. The Turkish aid was the first to arrive, with the first 20-person rescue team arriving to the site on a military plane within 13 hours after the earthquake. More followed within hours. The Greek consulates and embassy in Turkey had their phone lines jammed with Turks calling to find out whether they could donate blood and one volunteer contacted Ambassador Corantis, offering to donate his kidney for a "Greek in need".
in which successive earthquakes strike turkey and greece, bringing the two antagonistic nations closer together.
written for the hetalia_contest prompts “the sky is falling”, “bruises”, and “cultural exchange.”
Break the Sky
I. AUGUST 17, 1999 ~ IZMIT, TURKEY
Before his sight and hearing return, Sadiq can feel strong hands beneath him, hoisting him to his feet. He sways, but the hands return, holding him steady. Someone is patting the debris off of his chest and shoulders; someone is wrapping a hand around his waist and leading him away from the wreckage.
“…how bad?”
“Tens of thousands dead. Billions of dollars in damage.”
“Shit.” He falls backwards, his entire body trembling as the aftershocks race through his city like twin lightning bolts. His back meets a wall, and he sinks slowly to his knees, his vision still completely blacked.
“Get up.”
“No,” he pouts, childish. “It hurts.”
His companion sighs, irritated. “I know, stupid.”
Sadiq blinks open his eyes.
“Why do you think I came to help?” Herakles asks.
II. SEPTEMBER 7, 1999 ~ ATHENS, GREECE
Before he even has a chance to dress his wounds, the phones are ringing. Bruises cover his arms and make it difficult to move quickly, but, all things considered, Herakles escaped from the quake relatively unscathed.
“…hello?”
“You alright, brat?”
Herakles rolls his eyes. “I’m fine, thanks much,” he replies thinly. He should’ve been yelling, at this point in a conversation with Sadiq, but he doesn’t have the strength.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure,” Herakles snaps. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
Sadiq pauses on the other line, and Herakles can almost see the cogs in his brain working as he mulls this over. “Earthquakes are nothing to be taken lightly, brat.” He tells Herakles solemnly.
“I know that,” Herakles says again, patience wearing thin. “Why are you calling, again?”
“Just letting you know that if you need a kidney or something, I’m your guy.”
→ The Greek-Turkish earthquake diplomacy was initiated after successive earthquakes hit both countries in the summer of 1999 and led to an improvement in Greco-Turkish relations. The so called "earthquake diplomacy" generated an outpouring of sympathy and generous assistance provided by ordinary Greeks and Turks in both cases. These acts were encouraged from the top and took many foreigners by surprise, preparing the public for a breakthrough in bilateral relations, which had been marred by decades of mutual hostility.
→ On August 17, 1999 at 3:04 AM, Turkey experienced a massive earthquake centered around the Gölcük and Arifiye areas in Adapazarı. The most severely affected area was the industrial city of İzmit. The İzmit earthquake registered 7.4 on the Richter scale and lasted for 45 seconds. A second earthquake hit İzmit on August 22, 1999. The official number of casualties was about 17,000, although real numbers are thought to be above 35,000; 300,000 people were left homeless, while the financial cost of the earthquake is estimated at about 3 billion dollars.
→ Greece was the first foreign country to pledge aid and support to Turkey. Within hours of the earthquake, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs had contacted their counterparts in Turkey, and the minister sent his personal envoys in Turkey. On August 17, 1999 and on November 13, 1999 the Greek Ministry of Public Order sent in a rescue team of 24 people and 2 trained rescue dogs.
→ Less than a month after the Turkish disaster, on September 7, 1999, at 2:56 pm local time, it was Athens' turn to be hit by a powerful, magnitude 5.9 earthquake. This was the most devastating and costly natural disaster to hit the country in 20 years.
→ This time, the Turkish side reciprocated the aid. A special taskforce was convened, consisting of the Undersecretariat of the Prime Ministry, Turkish Armed Forces, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Greek Ambassador in Ankara was contacted to pledge aid. The Turkish aid was the first to arrive, with the first 20-person rescue team arriving to the site on a military plane within 13 hours after the earthquake. More followed within hours. The Greek consulates and embassy in Turkey had their phone lines jammed with Turks calling to find out whether they could donate blood and one volunteer contacted Ambassador Corantis, offering to donate his kidney for a "Greek in need".