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]

[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!]

[naicha]

_{[ it is strange. he should check if the doctor is still wearing a bowtie later. she pushes his hand back!! ]}

You don't have to be nice, you know! _{[ because it's weird and there's nothing wrong with her okay ]} I already ate, _{[ lies lies lies ]} so you can have it.

[encored]

[he would be convinced the apocalypse was nigh if the Doctor wasn't wearing a bowtie at the same time that Taiwan wasn't hungry.]

I just don't want you complaining about your hunger after we leave like an idiot. [yes, so nice... okay he really is worried but none of it shows on his face and he shrugs once she turns down the offer, forking a piece off for himself.] That aside, don't they say there's always room for dessert?

[naicha]

I already said I wasn't hungry, didn't I? _{[ A little more forcefully this time. Jeez Charles stop being difficult. ]} Besides, food always tastes better with company, so in a way, you're super lucky!

I'm fine, really.

[encored]

[being difficult runs in his blood he can't help it. and she's getting a really disbelieving look at that...

the tart gets a look of disbelief too because wow that is some mediocre dessert. he sets the empty fork against the plate edge.]

You aren't as brilliant an actress as you seem to believe. [he means that in the least insulting way possible]

[naicha]

_{[ just this face. ahhh, he caught her... ]}

A smile always looks better than a frown, right?

[encored]

Not necessarily, though I've heard people who smile often live longer. [shoots her a slightly judgmental look....] I'd imagine only genuine smiles would count for that.

[naicha]

_{[ fistpumps!!! ]} If there were too many sad people in the world, that wouldn't be very good, you know!

[encored]

[picks up his fork again and begins to peel the crust away from the filling.] I don't believe it would make too much of a difference either way. This isn't exactly the world, at any rate. Only Mayfield.

[naicha]

_{[ slowly puts her hands down ]} That's what I meant...

_{[ throws glances between him and the plate ]} Are you going to be okay? _{[ without vietnam or hong kong around ]}

[encored]

Of course. Being by myself is only natural. [his tone is haughty and he hardly looks bothered even as he crushes the graham crust to bits beneath the fork prongs.]

That aside, your family has been taking the hits lately. [are you going to be okay?]

[naicha]

_{[ Even so, that's still sad, Charles. She tugs on her collar. ]}

That's something we're all used to, hehe. _{[ She'll be alright. ]} I've already cried lots.

[encored]

That would seem to be the case at times, undoubtedly. [he swings his feet a little, the soles of his boots scuffing against the floor, and places his fork down again.]

Has it helped?

[naicha]

_{[ She picks up the fork and points at him with it. ]} Of course! Now I don't have to cry anymore, even if they try to make me.

_{[ She waves the fork around and takes some of the tart. The taste makes her nose wrinkle... ]}

[encored]

[that is the exact face he wanted to make at the tart earlier] I could make something far better than this. [but oh, he is kind of pleased to see she's eating at least...

waves a hand!] They will try, so prepare for it. [because he kind of worries that if they succeed, one of these days she won't bounce back, even if he's already figured he'll be the proverbial last man standing.]

[naicha]

I'm only scared of things I don't know, you know! _{[ That makes a lot of things about Mayfield. Anyway, she'll cross the bridge when she gets there! She does not want to talk about that!! ]}

Hehe, this food sucks. Let's get outta here! _{[ grabs his hand and drags him out of the bakery and no he can't protest ]}

Where do you wanna go next!? _{[ dropping the happy act just made her even more energetic... she has a lot of time, charles. she has all the time. all the time... ]}