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]

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..."

[naicha]

_{[ presses her hands on the glass ]}

And then she'd buy it for you anyway 'cause you're cute, hehe. Mister, I want one of these, please!

[encored]

[did she just flick his forehead and why is this such an accurate representation of Vietnam

he can't even bring himself to get too angry about it even though it really looks like he's about to be for a moment.]

I'm not cute and it's not that expensive. [oh but now he looks kind of pensive...]

[naicha]

_{[ because she deliberately wants to forget that Vietnam is not really here!! ah, why does he look sad... ]}

Hey, don't feel bad about things I've already paid for, okay? _{[ shoves the tray with a plate of the tart she bought at him ]} From now on, you should review your life choices if you want to stop feeling guilty!

_{[ of course, she knows that's not what he's thinking about. she leads them to an empty table near the door. ]}

[encored]

[is it working...]

You'll have to try harder than that if you're attempting to get me to give it to you.

[oh even his snark seems half-hearted... shuffles on after her with his tray in hands, still looking a little lackluster. he takes the seat closest to the door and sets down the tart but doesn't move to take a bite yet.] What will you be getting? [they can have an Eat Their Feelings party!!]

[naicha]

<sub>[ combined with the fact she now has no family around at all, no. also charles, you're not even trying. her grandpa can snark better than you!!!

she takes the seat opposite his and her smile is just a little smaller. ]</sub>

I'm not hungry. _{[ wow what is this ]}

[encored]

[being Taiwan is suffering. and he has fine-tuned snarking skills okay he just doesn't have the energy to bust them out right now, but he does give her a dubious look when she says she isn't hungry

like that is literally the least plausible thing he's ever heard....]

...If you only wished to purchase one item you could have told me earlier. My appetite isn't very large, you may take half of this. [clearly this is the reason for her dismal appetite. hands a fork over!]