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]

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....]

[naicha]

_{[ nice... whatever charles she just laughs your snide remarks off!! and opens the door yeah yeahhh. ]}

We're here, we're here! _{[ throws the door open!! ]} Welcome!

_{[ why are all the drones staring at her... why!! it's because she's short, isn't it!? heightists. oh well, best not to let it bother her. she puts charles back down on the ground. ]}

[encored]

[brushes off his shirt in a very indignant manner as soon as he's set down like he didn't just enjoy the whole ride there...

and if they are heightists that is a little problematic since he's even shorter than Taiwan. no rest for the short.]

Your energy levels are overwhelming. [ambles over to the display case!!]

[naicha]

<sub>[ if he keeps acting displeased she'll really stop doing it... ]

[ hops right next to him ]</sub> What are you getting? Croissants again?

[encored]

[oh that is sad... but he will never stop acting displeased it's a lose lose situation.

shakes his head and points at a lavish and overly-priced tart that probably doesn't taste very good despite the decoration.] I'm going to have one of those.

[naicha]

_{[ well too bad she'll give everyone else he knows piggybacks forever ]}

Ehhh, it looks weird. _{[ Says the one who makes Hello Kitty cakes!! ]} Is this really okay? What will Vietnam say?

[encored]

[how will he ever be able to handle such mean spirited selectivism...]

It doesn't look any more strange than an average tart. [apparently he has never eaten a plain one before...

his expression darkens considerably upon mention of Vietnam, though he simply shrugs in response.] Nothing, obviously. If you recall, she's currently taking a vacation from her head.

1/2

[naicha]

_{[ she'd carry like a thousand babies on her back and she still would have any room for him deal with it ]}

She'd say something like, "Trời ơi! Why? Why you buy so expensive, huh? _{[ flicks his forehead ]} Aaah, kids these days..."