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

[encored]

[well he could turn into a grotesque bat demon but that might crush her a bit....]

You don't get a Christmas bonus, you get a giant pay deduction! And- [oh hey speaking of poles guess where they're heading. he lifts his arm up just enough to be able to point in the general direction of it before going right back to clinging again since he still doesn't want to fall :I] Go left-! [wait Charles that'd take you both into the street...]

[naicha]

_{[ no she likes him better when she can kick him in horrid places ;o; ]}

Okaaay. _{[ spins slooowly. you know that moment when you take a step, thinking you're on flat ground, but end up sort of falling and you make a big deal out of it until your foot touches land again? yeah. ]} Whoaaa!

Haha, this is fun. _{[ strolls across the street!! ]}

[encored]

[terrible...] This is not fun at all, at all. [o-oh his heart is beating a little faster than usual because CARS but at least there aren't too many at all. not that it would matter if he got hit, and it isn't like he cares about Taiwan or anything!!]

Walk faster, you idiot! If you go any slower we'll both be ancient and decrepit by the time you get to the bakery. [really, he just wants to get her off the road before they get stuck in the path of a speeding car or something]

[naicha]

If Charles wanted to get to the bakery faster, he should've taken a helicopter. _{[ Pats his arm! Oh no that's a horrible idea. But it doesn't look like she's going to spin Charles around above her head or anything, so he's safe hahaha. ]}

I hope I'm not missing any pennies. You know, I heard that if you pick up a penny, you get good luck and stuff. Look for pennies for me!

_{[ yes do that while they're dawdling in the middle of the road, about to be run over at any moment!!! ]}

[encored]

[he'd better be he's never going to trust Taiwan to pick him up ever again if she drops him okay.]

I don't see any, and even if I did they would all be face down. That's bad luck. Terrible luck. Luck so horrid that we'd probably be struck by a car as soon as you bent down to pick it up. [so don't...do that...... unless you want to be a road pizza of course, who is he to judge??]

[naicha]

In some places, all the cars stop for you, you know. But I guess that's why accidents happen there a lot.

_{[ How did they cross the road so suddenly? Miracles. They're walking on the sidewalk properly again, too. Was she really unable to see... Nah, she just got lucky. ]}

[encored]

[oh, how fortunate... maybe it's the luck from all the pennies she's picked up in the past. he moves his arms away from her field of view now at least, feeling less threatened by imminent car/being dropped on cement injury.]

Most likely, yes. And the cars do stop for you here, you know, you just have to cross at the crosswalk and not amble out into the middle of the street like a complete dunce.

[naicha]

But it was Charles who said go left! _{[ and she trusts him so much... ]}

[encored]

[this is what you get for trusting babby bats]

I did not, I said go right. [said with a completely straight face.....] Don't attempt to get us both killed and then put the blame on my shoulders.

[naicha]

_{[ snorts and makes him sit on her shoulders ]} There, now it's on mine. _{[ walking!! ]}

[encored]

[SITS THERE

IDIGNANTLY

it's not like he secretly enjoys being carried around or anything okay he's too old for that!!]

How old do you think I am? [huffs and puffs and rests his arms on the top of her head....]

[naicha]

Um... twelve? _{[ Which age are we talking about, Taiwan doesn't know. Whatever, it's not like it matters to her, really, he's a babby and a grandpa at the same time no matter what he does. She holds on to one leg and puts a free hand above her eyes as she looks for the bakery. ]}

[encored]

Not that age. [grandpa babby huffs indignantly before raising a hand to point in the direction of the bakery. yes he has its location memorised from several different routes....]

Go that way. It won't lead to another street, I promise.

[naicha]

A hundred years is super young, silly. But I dunno, I don't think I can trust Charles anymore... _{[ goes the opposite direction just to mess with him hahaha ]}

[encored]

Maybe for a nation, but it's a long time for someone who ought to have been dead by now. [looks in the other direction with great distress! why you do this.] You're going to walk us into another street and it'll be our blood on your hands, then.

[naicha]

Charles is supposed to be dead. _{[ Slows down and turns around. ]} 'Cause, vampires are dead...

[encored]

[he wrinkles his nose] Quite an assumption of you to make, especially considering I've said time and again that I'm not a vampire. My heart is still beating, thank you very much. [which is true!! it's just that he doesn't technically need it to be in his body at all times anymore....]

[naicha]

_{[ Oh okay, that's good to know. Phew! She looks up at him. As far as she can, anyway. ]} Huh. So that's why you still go to the bakery? Do you really need to food like humans do?

[encored]

[and he looks right back down at her. ...as best he can with an arm still draped over the top of her head, at least.]

Of course I don't need to eat food. Blood is the only thing I must have in order to survive, but there's nothing wrong with being indulgent now and then. [or every day, same diff.]

[naicha]

Oh! You're like... _{[ Looks straight ahead. ]} that magical girl's cute spirit animal who eats sweets all the time and transforms into a beast when his master is in danger! I saw it on TV.

_{[ Charlesberos, Guardian Beast of the Seal... ]}

[encored]

[why....]

That is quite possibly the most idiotic analogy I've ever heard in my life. [no actually it is pretty accurate. Diva doesn't really count as a magical girl though and he is not quite spirit animal material]

[naicha]

Is not. _{[ starts skipping! ]} You're a lot like him. If Japan were here, he'd say so, too! Hahahaha! Ha...

[encored]

That doesn't make it true. [bats her over the head a bit. he doesn't appreciate all this jostling! but then he goes quiet because that is kind of sad, Taiwan]

...We're almost there. [BEING DEPRESSED ISN'T ALLOWED.]

[naicha]

_{[ but not too sad... she stops skipping when he does that, but once he tells her that last part-- ]} I'll use the Fly card to get there! Woosh! _{[ see? totally not sad. not. at. all... she jumps and runs to the bakery! ]}

Woosh woosh!

[encored]

[even he can tell she's forcing herself that should speak acres for how well she's covering up that melancholy.]

You ought to have used the Fly card when you were standing in the middle of the road, you imbecile. [but there is less annoyance than usual in his voice. see he can be... nice....]