二十二 ❀

[naicha]

✿ action 1
<sub>[ When the cherry blossoms disappear, Taiwan holds her breath. Japan always adored things that come and go so easily. Now he was one, too. She should've known better than to expect this the least. Watching his figure put on his coat and walk out the door, Taiwan knows it's not him. And stay out! Taiwan thinks as she slams the door shut. She feels like flicking his drone on the forehead for his remarks. "Be a good wife and make him dinner?" Ooh, the nerve! ... This makes her miss the real Japan already. Hm? What? She's not going to cry, that's silly. Even so, no matter how many times she's learned how to stand on her own, she can't help but feel abandoned. It's okay, though. Not that it hasn't happened before.

At the cafe, it's business as usual. Employees will find that there are no costumes for them to wear, though, if they don't already bring their own. Behind the counter isn't Japan typing away on his computer, but Taiwan, accounting everything by hand. She lifts her head up whenever a customer passes by. ]</sub>

Welcome!

_{[ With no makeup masking her troubled state, Taiwan quickly ducks back into her work again. She isn't even eating anything. She does try her best to put a smile on her face, though. Look! It's as if nothing happened at all. ]}

✿ action 2
_{[ Two siblings are walking around town together, but there's something odd about their dynamic today. ]}

And he was like, "Ah, is that so." And then I was like, "Yes! Yes, it is so!" Ooh, but I tried and tried and he still wouldn't let me and I was so mad that I could... _{[ p-punches her palm ]} hit him...! But I didn't 'cause I'd feel a little bad, you know. Oh! I was gonna say sorry for calling him a stupidhead today, but when I woke up and checked on him, all his stuff was gone! Just like that. It's not fair, you know, I mean- _{[ She waits for a witty, candid response, but nothing. Her voice is full of anger. ]} Hey! _{[ Then worry. ]} Hey, say something...

_{[ It goes on like this until Hong Kong's drone arrives at work. Very upset with this turn of events, Taiwan starts her walk home looking a little glum. She's not exactly looking where she's going, so she might bump into you, a drone or a pole. A detour she makes to the elementary school's playground is where others may find her hanging upside down on the monkey bars. ]}

✿ phone/action for 1245 williams road

Hello... Um, _{[ There's the sound of Taiwan wiping her face with her sleeve. ]} um! _{[ She takes in a deep breath. ]} Japan's... gone and stuff. If anyone wants to hit him, you don't have to, 'cause I already did. If anyone's worried about the cafe, I'm taking over, you know! I mean, until he comes back...

Ahaha, I feel a little dizzy! I think I'll go lie down now.

_{[ But she can't stay still! After the call, she'll be around the house, arranging all the clothes they have by color and sorting the records and books alphabetically. ]}

Comments

[naicha]

Oh! I didn't mean... _{[ groans. ]} Anyway... you gotta tell me if anything happens to him, okay? _{[ Or don't tell her. Her heart would just break. ]} Ooh, I really hate this.

[encored]

[he is giving her a look right now that's very much like I told you so, look, didn't we just go over this, but at least he's biting his tongue for the time being.....]

I'll be certain to inform you if anything happens. [and then, even though he's fairly certain he already knows the answer:] Hate what?

[naicha]

<sub>[ yes but does she ever really listen

although it's sad, she works up a smile ]</sub> Everyone's gone now.

[encored]

[he isn't entirely sure who is included in that 'everyone' - Vietnam and Hong Kong, surely. China has been gone for a while too, and what of Japan? he contemplates asking for a moment but decides against it, expression shifting to one of subtle curiosity.]

Is it so surprising?

[naicha]

What kind of question is that? _{[ Some hesitation, as if she's telling this to herself. ]} ... Of course it is... Everyone's so strong on their own - no one would think they'd get droned that easily.

[encored]

Initially, perhaps. [and he looks a little irritated by this since it isn't something he wants to admit, but he doesn't want to appear naive or overly optimistic either.] It's more a matter of when rather than if, wouldn't you say?

[naicha]

_{[ but she's not afraid of being what charles doesn't want to be. ]} I was hoping we'd all go together.

[encored]

[it's that sort of thinking that he hates, if only because it's so frightening and it always, always lets you down in the end. his scowl deepens.] Don't be foolish. Not a single one of us has fortune that good.

[naicha]

I'll pray lots! _{[ if she prays to the gods long enough, she'll get all the luck, right... even if it may amount to nothing in the end, at least she did something - she refuses to accept that she has no control over that, or anything ]}

[encored]

[oh, that actually manages to get a laugh from him. it's not a pleasant laugh, but still!]

To what? If there's a single thing out there to pray to that is capable of listening, it's clearly choosing not to, or we wouldn't be in this situation to begin with.

[naicha]

_{[ no shut up!! she is jumping up and down ]} I'll pray to every single god and goddess and spirit until one of them listens to me! They have to! I'll give 'em a hundred bucks!

Ah, everyone already left though. Aiyo, I don't have enough money to ask for that much luck...

[encored]

[wow childish!! he looks a little amused by her antics but has been feeling kind of down about all the dronings lately as well and doesn't really have it in him to make a snarky comment on it.]

What will you do, then? Praying and bargaining won't save anyone, even if you had all of the time and money in the world to waste on it.

[naicha]

<sub>[ hmm oh man she doesn't know she's just gonna

lifts charles up

above her head, like superman... if he he doesn't protest hahaha ]</sub>

[encored]

[LMAO taiwan..... he is actually too shocked initially to do anything since he's not used to being picked up, and once he's over her head he just sort of

reaches down

to tug on her cheeks and kick his legs a bit still attempting to be dignified]

Are you trying to sacrifice me to your heathen gods-!? [that is a bad idea he'd only fetch terrible luck]

[naicha]

Nngh...! _{[ struggling to keep charles up stay still ]} If we can't even do anything to save ourselves, let's forget about everything for a second and get our act together, dammit!

_{[ oh she swore... oh now she's running ]} Haaaaaaaaaah!

[encored]

[WHY IS THIS HAPPENING]

This isn't getting your act together, this is a pointless disruption of peace! Set me down! [well it has successfully made him forget about everything for a second, at least... he is too busy trying to strike a balance between composed, flailing madly and trying not to be dropped to think about much else.]

[naicha]

_{[ he just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. also, they're still running. ]}

I don't care, I don't care, I don't care! Stupid town, making girls with pure, innocent hearts cry! It's not going to happen this time, you know! We can rise above our troubles and hardships, you know! _{[ IS SHE ABOUT TO THROW HIM oh no she was faking it hehehehe ]}

[encored]

[WOW he's clinging to her arms for dear life now, they probably look like a pair of deranged aspiring figure skaters with a sudden affinity for sprinting.]

Well you certainly aren't crying now, so there's one goal down! My, look at how much running aimlessly has accomplished! [he makes a frustrated noise where are the breaks. too bad he can't just punch her or something, he doesn't want to be dropped on the pavement....] Is this necessary?

[naicha]

_{[ taiwan is laughing because look charles it's almost as if you are a real vampire!! only not, please don't kill her... ]}

Yes! Now we have to let our frustrations out! Aiyoooooo! You too, Charles! _{[ she tosses him up a short distance before catching him again ]} Keeping them inside is unhealthy you know! Make it nice and loud! Aiyoooooooo! _{[ they swoosh and make a turn around the corner! ]} Hehehe, aiyoooooooooooo!

[encored]

[being a real vampire is not fun okay he likes staying with both feet firmly planted on the ground, not flying through the air]

No! No aiyooo, you're being foolish and the exact opposite of helpful! [but this is probably doing wonders for his built-up frustrations!! at the very least he's being louder than he's been in a long, long time....

when they swoosh around the corner he kind of tries to flip himself upright which is difficult when he's being held, but it is getting to the point where he doesn't even care if they careen into the pavement anymore this is too embarrassing]

[naicha]

_{[ But Charles flying is only the best thing ever!!! Taiwan doesn't plan on stopping yet, but she is slowing down and she has stopped making a ruckus. ]}

You don't think this is fun? Didn't it make you forget stuff?

[encored]

It isn't fun in the least, and- [...well, it actually had made him forget things for a moment, and he pauses in his flailing to contemplate that.

after a brief silence, he swings his feet and reaches down to prod her shoulder.] Go to the bakery, you owe me a cake for the immeasurable headache you've put me through just now.

[naicha]

_{[ Taiwan nods with much enthusiasm. That sounds like a very, very good idea. ]}

Okay. I have lots of money today, you know. Fasten your seatbelts, everyone! Let's fly! <sub>[ Makes an airplane sound as they start running again, fwoosh! ]

[ Airplane sounds, airplane sounds, but the engine sounds like it's breaking down. Wait, no, that's not the engine... ]</sub> Oh no, captain, we're experiencing turbulence! _{[ SHAKES HIM IN THE AIR now the chances of him falling off are much greater. ]}

[encored]

[WHY TAIWAN WHY

on top of the sudden turbulence, Charles's immediate reaction is to try and cling even more tightly to Taiwan so he is probably obscuring her vision a little they will never make it out of this alive]

You're a horrid pilot. Retire! Retire immediately! [the bakery seems like it's a thousand miles away now, this is a tragedy....]

[naicha]

_{[ See, Charles, a real vampire would turn into a bat and laugh at her pain, you poser!! Taiwan stumbles along the sidewalk, nearly tripping over the cracks in the concrete. Not that she can see them, of course. ]}

Noooo! I haven't even gotten my Christmas bonus yet!

_{[ She certainly doesn't sound worried about that, though, as she grabs onto the arms blocking her view, halfheartedly trying to get them off. There's another pole nearby, isn't there... A fire hydrant, maybe... ]}