二十五 ❀

[naicha]

✿ action

[ Tiny Taiwan is walking around or on top of a ladder covered in Christmas lights and tinsel as attempts to hang them on the front of her house at 1245 Williams Road. On one hand, she looks like she could use some help! On the other, she looks like she's having so much fun... She doesn't celebrate Christmas, not like this, but cold weather and recent events have gotten her in a Christmas mood.

The cafe isn't open around this time yet, but passerby may notice the sudden addition of a pair of plum blossom trees in her front yard. ]

Look, I'm a Christmas tree!

[ Chances are she's talking to Pops, Nadeko or Homura, who are inside the house, but feel free to approach her while she's decorating, too. ]

✿ phone

Hi, um, I have a question!

[ You can just tell this isn't important. She is all about the trivial things today. Oh well, they easily take her mind off the events of last week! ]

Are nations allowed to kiss each other? Is that okay? If your nation kissed another nation, would that be okay with you? [ A beat. ] What if they weren't a nation?

I really want to know! Because I don't want to not be a nation if it's not allowed... Thank you!

[ TAIWAN WHY DIDN'T YOU FILTER THIS SCREAMS ]

Comments

phone; terrible time

[byakkoyagirl]

No, nations are not allowed to kiss or indulge in any sort of mouth to mouth contact. Your nation card, and all the things that come with it, will be revoked as a result of disobeying this rule.

[He will tell her it's all a joke later, but for now he just wants to be a jerk.]

horrid just horrid

[naicha]

Aiya! I did something really bad... [ She is taking him so seriously. ] But he's only a special administrative region anyway, so it doesn't count, right? Right? [ Beat. ] Is there any way I can get it back?

[byakkoyagirl]

Hm, let me check.

[And he'll put his hand to the receiver for about ten seconds and block out all sound on his side, before removing it and speaking again.]

Unfortunately special administrative regions do count toward the rule, so we will need to go through the regular procedures. Kissing between nations is a very serious offense after all. If you want to reinstate your nationhood it will require appeals, special bureaucratic procedures, court hearings and a waiting period of about...six months to two years.

[naicha]

I can't wait that long!

S-stupid Hong Kong! So that's why he did it! Ooh... [ She's hurt, Scratch. Devastated, even. She feels so betrayed, she might start crying if this goes further downhill. ]

[byakkoyagirl]

[He makes a light 'tsk' sound. Okay, he's had his fun for the day and he doesn't want her being upset.]

Don't you worry, it will all work out. Much quicker than the timeframe I gave to you for certain. After all, everything I just said was part of a not-so-elaborate joke.

[naicha]

A joke? [ Give her a moment to register that. ] Oh. I see... Haha, so it was a joke! Ah, you're silly. Ahaha, a joke, hehe... I get it.

Um, I didn't kiss Hong Kong or anything!

[byakkoyagirl]

No, I'm fairly certain you did, as you were under the belief that I was being serious. You don't have any reason to backtrack, since I don't even know who this Hong Kong is, or who you are for that matter.

Who are you exactly, other than one of these personified nations? [He's a bit curious, and doing his best to disguise the caution that may be coming with his tone. After all, the last nation he met tried to kill him (though to be fair, it was during that population mess) and he can't tell if they are all like that.]

[naicha]

[ She is oblivious, as usual. While she is embarrassed to have him know about that little tidbit, he isn't teasing her about it, so she lets it slide. ]

Oh, I'm Taiwan. If you don't know me or Hong Kong, I guess you're not from Earth, then, huh? Or maybe you are from Earth, but from a different version of it! Hm...

[byakkoyagirl]

No, I'm not from Earth. But, I have heard of 'personified nations' from an acquaintance. ...Actually, now that I think about, I have heard of you before, despite this being our first conversation. You live with a Miss Nadeko Sengoku, yes?

[naicha]

Yes! She's my daughter here. Are you her friend?

[byakkoyagirl]

Hm, something like that I suppose. More or less a supervisor - an uncle figure as she refers to me in her native tongue.

[naicha]

Ohh, I see! Wah, Nadeko's a shy girl, so thank you for looking after her.

[byakkoyagirl]

I've noticed. She says that you are a very good guardian to her as well, so I'll return the thanks Taiwan.

[naicha]

Hm! You're welcome. Hehe, I'm a good mom...

Hey, what kind of stuff do you two do together? I don't get to spend as much time with her because of work, you know...

[byakkoyagirl]

Most of it is simply idle conversation. She needs to break out of her skin so to speak at some point and I try to encourage her to not be so reclusive.

[naicha]

Hehe, she does need to learn that some time. I wonder if it'd be easier for her if her brother was around...