10 ❧

[balaton]

June 8 195x

.:456 Stone st :.

[After such a drastic event, the house at this address is immaculately clean, for a change. There is none of the usual rubble that normally befalls it, and even the stairs are intact for once. In fact, flowers line the living room on every stable surface. The largest vase is in the kitchen, though, where Hungary is doing the last touches to the icing on her cake. Ella Fitzgerald play on the phonograph.

It's someone's wedding anniversary. If you're nearby and can smell the flowers or the food, come pay a visit for free cake.]


.: Make-out Point:.

[Hungary is wasting what precious ammunition she has shooting targets, over and over again until nothing remains of them but tufts. The trees are next.]

Comments

[muskatli.livejournal.com]

[There is tea left in the pot from Spain's visit--still hot. She starts with pouring that, sneaking worried glances at Romana. She hasn't seen her fare that badly since... Christmas.]

Normally, I wouldn't probe, but you don't look well, dear.

[tomatatas]

[Looking down, Romana watches her fingers curl in her skirt. There's a slight chip in one nail, she realises absent mindedly, her mind trying to avoid how much she needs to talk.

Finally, she glances up, watching the tea pour into the cup. She licks her lips before speaking, voice low and emotionless] The... letters. And what they wanted. Did you get one, did you... do it?

[muskatli.livejournal.com]

I was lucky... This time. [She casts her eyes down, biting on her bottom lip. It's not something she's proud of.] The town didn't see it fit to take my life this time. I escaped.

[tomatatas]

[Romana's eyes close as well, her hands shaking slightly before she holds them together]

I-I died... and... and I did what they wanted Ungheria... it... it was worth it though, si? 60 million lives for... for just a few.

[She needs someone to reassure her, the guilt won't stop. Netherlands' words echo in her head

"You're nothing like me... I haven't murdered anyone..."]

[muskatli.livejournal.com]

[Forget the tea. She shifts closer, pulling Romana into her arms in a deceptively gentle gesture, but her hold is strong and firm. She can feel her shivering against her, a slight subtle sort of shaking.]

Under different circumstances we wouldn't have had to moralize this, right? We're not human, Romana, and they're trying to make us think like human.

[tomatatas]

[Her jaw tenses even as she accepts the hold, Romana refusing to let her emotions get the better of her. She's cried enough.]

I... I could feel them... I had my strength back, and I could feel my people... and he still managed to kill me. I... I was still not what I should be Ungheria, and it...

[A slow soft exhale as one hands rises to hold Hungary's arm] It scared me.

[muskatli.livejournal.com]

[She laces her hands behind Romana's back, tugging her close before she rocks her in a slow, comforting rhythm]

Back home it makes sense, doesn't it? Anything to keep our people safe. Nothing else matters. Everyone has mothers and children, but our own are different. They matter more.

But here... They made us play God, to decide and judge. Those I spared I did out of compassion, or maybe cowardice. But to strip of us what makes us nations and ideas... To make us mortal... It is scary.

[tomatatas]

[Romana leans into the hold, one hand still gripping Hungary's sleeve tightly]

Si... Si... we're not weakened, not like this, and... and everything makes sense.

...I'm not... I'm not a monster, for doing it, am I Ungheria? They were threatening my people, Venezia... I... I wasn't supposed to fail them again, and I... I still did.

[muskatli.livejournal.com]

[It's not the time to argue the morality of their situation. Romana is shivering in her arms like a leaf, as on the brink of slipping away, body and mind.]

If we were out of here, and we had to do this... Then we would have killed, regardless of the place. Anything for our people. Anything.

[tomatatas]

[Taking a deep breath Romana forces herself to calm down, nodding slowly]

Si... And not.... not just them. I couldn't let Venezia be hurt, even if it was just the smallest chance. I just... I can't. I promised.