[ Bless this child and her ability to be slightly more adaptable than Germany. He glanced at the screen for a moment, animals and colours were definitely safe. Maybe he could rest assured that for this time around it wasn't going to ask any weird questions. ]
Normal? I don't think so, no...
[ He focused on the screen again, looking rather thoughtful. ]
Perhaps we should start simple, maybe colours?
[ Then after a little more consideration he decided it was better to explain than to remain cryptic about his existence. ]
I am, in a way, the embodiment of the country; if that makes sense...though, these days I wouldn't put it past someone to name their child after one either.
[ He added the last part lightly, that had seemed harmless enough to explain. ]
Ah! S-sure, colors work! [But what if she picks the wrong color. She chews on her bottom lip, staring at the selection of colors, but it's really hard to stay focused in the face of information like that.
She turns to stare at him, opening and closing her mouth a couple of times as she tires to work out if he's serious or not. She can't see WHY he'd lie or exaggerate about something like that, but she looks baffled.]
The-- I, uh. [Mikan pauses, stammering over her words.] ...How does that... work?
[ Germany chewed on the inside of his cheek, mulling over the best way to explain it. It really was far more complicated than that, wasn't it? ]
...so long as the people have strength and faith in their country we exist indefinitely. It just works, somehow, I've never put much thought into trying to explain it.
[ Three colours popped up on the screen:
Blue Purple Green ]
Where is it that you're from?
[ Maybe more small talk would put her at ease, even if he was rather terrible at it. ]
[Mikan stares at the colors, brow furrowed. Anxiety worms itself through her mind and down to coil in her stomach. What if she picks the wrong one? Blue or green seems like safe bets, but what if he chose purple and gets offended that she chose one of the more stereotypically male colors just because he seems like such a stern, manly sort of guy??
She feels dizzy but eventually she hesitantly chooses blue.]
M-m-me?! [She finally realizes he's asked her something and her answering question is squeaked out in her alarm.] Oh, um! I-I'm from Japan! I went to school in Tokyo! [She pauses and then adds curiously, because of course she'll ask:] Is...Is there a Japan like you too...?
[ Blue had proven to be acceptable, the screen changing now to ask about animals:
Horses Dogs Birds.
He only glanced at the screen long enough to let out a sigh of relief, at least it hadn't been a strange question. He nodded in response to her own question, head tilting just a little. ]
There is, he's a good friend of mine, even if it's difficult to tell what he's thinking sometimes.
[Mikan breathes a sigh of relief, then considers the next list. Well... She's pretty sure the choice is between horses and dogs here, those seem like the kind he'd like... She chews on her bottom lip and then hesitantly presses the button for 'dogs.']
Ah, so he does exist... [She's not sure how to feel about that, her fingers curling into her palm with a sudden feeling of guilt.] I-is he here too? I feel like I should apologize to him... A-and to you too! A-a lot of bad things happened to the world in my...Um, world...
[ That was definitely the right choice, Germany taking a breath in hopes that the last question would be reasonable. Thankfully, it was, even if it was mildly embarrassing to him. Secret hobby? Well, at least it wasn't something dirty.
Baking Kayaking Scrapbooking ]
Sadly it doesn't look like he arrived with the rest of us, but I'm sure that he would forgive you for whatever happened when you were home...
[ Then a pause to look at her again, she was so timid and nervous that he couldn't imagine anything that she would do would be so awful that she would need to apologise. ]
And I'm sure that you don't owe me an apology either.
[oh no. This one's even harder. Kayaking is the only 'Manly Sport'-type on there, but maybe he's a secret softy for baking... Who even scrapbooks anymore?]
I don't know... [She trails off, mumbling, but whether it's in regards to the question or the assurance she doesn't need to apologize is ambiguous. Eventually she pressed 'baking.' That seems like something that would be 'secret' enough.]
There was...s-something of an apocalypse in my world... Japan did...really poorly, but so did the rest of the world too... I don't know what that would mean for human versions of them.
[ She was 3 for 3, somehow she was doing better than the people that were supposed to know him the best. Still, it was a small victory, given the fact that their score had turned out to be a mere 14%.
It was a mixture of the score, being slapped with a tentacle and hearing the word apocalypse that made Germany gasp and pull his hand back rather quickly. ]
Did you say a-apocalypse?
[ Maybe he'd heard that wrong, but either way he let out a nervous laugh as that never ending music started. ]
Even if that were the case, I'm sure that there's no way you had a direct hand in it...!
[Mikan yelps and jerks her hand back at the slap, rubbing at her wrist as the music starts up. She sniffles, eyes tearing up--she thought she was doing so well!! But Germany's response makes her cringe and she wrings her hands together anxiously.
... there's no way you had a direct hand in it...!
Mikan's eyes dart away and her laughter is high and nervous.] W-well no, but... But it's sort of everyone's fault... Everyone let it get that bad... [That's not exactly a lie, at least.]
But it was just... Pollution got deadly. there was uncontrolled, meaningless chaos, violence, and death. The entire world dissolved into anarchy... It was a world-wide war, but it wasn't for... For politics, or religion, or land... It was just-- War. For the sake of war.
[She looks up, expression guilty and anxious, though her voice is trying to be reassuring] Before I was came here, i-it was getting better, though! I think, um, I think it was down to only 40 murders a month now? A-at least in Japan...
[ He stared back at her, concerned for both her story and the expression on her face. This poor girl, coming from such a world...it was no wonder she seemed to be so easily startled. ]
From the sound of it, the damage was done long before you were born, you shouldn't be so hard on yourself.
[ Still, it was terrifying to think that 'only 40 murders a month' was considered a drop in the statistics. He hesitated for a moment, focusing on the floor before he reached up to place a hand on the top of her head. ]
As much as I hate to give any praise to this place, maybe it's for the best that you ended up here; it seems far safer than what you've described.
[Mikan opens and closes her mouth a couple of times, hesitating. How does she tells him that this happened in the course of like, 2 years??
Well, maybe she doesn't have to. It's probably better for him to think like this. Besides, she's too distracted by the fact that he just headpatted her. She flinches as though expecting something harsher, and freezes when she realizes the touch is gentle instead.
Her head lifts some as she stares at him with wide eyes that immediately begin to fill with tears. She wipes at them furiously and sniffles] Th-th-thank you...! I, umm... I don't... M-mind it so much here, even if it's a little weird. It's so much more peaceful! Th-there's no fighting or people being k-killed in the streets, or riots or anything. A-and everyone I've met has been so nice too, i-including you...!
[ He pulled his hand away, brow knitting once more as he brought his hands up in front of him. Not defensively, but he hadn't meant to make her cry. ]
N-no, please don't cry, I'm just glad to see that you're safe!
[ Japan was his friend and it would feel wrong not to help this girl when she needed it the most. Crying, however, that was something he wasn't very equipped to deal with. Italy did it a fair amount, but that was another thing completely. If he had a handkerchief with him he would offer it, freezing for a moment before pulling the cuff of his shirt over his thumb to blot awkwardly at her tears. ]
D-do you have friends here or are you on your own?
[ Small talk, god, he was so bad at small talk but he just wanted to soothe her a little bit. ]
Y-you're so nice, Germany-san... [She closes her eyes briefly, sniffling as he dabs at her tears. SHe should be apologizing for being a nuisance like this, but it feels nice to have someone trying to take care of her for a change, even if she doesn't know what to do with it.
The question has her blinking her eyes back open though and she nods, smiling a little.] Mm! S-some of my precious classmates are here too! S-so, I'm not so lonely! [Of course, Junko is also here, which is not so great, but Mikan's trying not to let that get her too down.
She quickly moves along though, since she doesn't want to think about Junko] Wh-what about you? You're not alone, are you...? [Mikan looks genuinely concerned about this]
[ It made him feel much better to help her calm down, even if it still felt a little awkward. To hear that she wasn't alone, though, made him genuinely smile; that was a feat in itself. ]
...so it looks like we're both taken care of, at least, I have some friends here too.
[ He hoped that Mikan could have a normal life, or something that resembled one since it sounded like she deserved it. He pulled his hand back from her face, hoping that she had calmed down enough to stop crying. ]
Other countries? [She's curious despite herself, leaning in a little even as he pulled his hand away as if hoping for more. She blinks a few times and then straightens when she realizes, looking a bit embarrassed. At least she's definitely stopped crying!]
Y-yes... [A pause and she adds hesitantly] Do you think... We'll ever be able to get home?
[ He nodded, noticing that movement in and returning his hand to the top of her head. It was helping, even with as oblivious as Germany had been up until this point he was aware that touch seemed to be a positive thing here. ]
I'm not sure if we'll be able to get home, but is that really something that you want to go back to?
[ He knew that he should be getting home, but now that he thought about it he really didn't know if it was possible. That much was of great concern. ]
[The head patting definitely helps and she sighs in something like a dreamy contentment. Even just simple shows of affection and kindness were enough to make her head dizzy.
His question sort of brings her back to reality though and she hesitates] ...No. [She can admit that easily enough. She doesn't want to see the awful state the world is in anymore. But--]
But... I have to do my part too... To help make the world a little better, to bring it back from the sorry state it was in. I-I can't run from that and... A-and even though I want to just-- Stick my head in the sand and i-ignore it and pretend everything fine... I can't do that.
[ Mikan was something else, at least the time they were spending in the booth wasn't as awful or tense as it had been with his own friends. He certainly felt like he had lucked out on this one. ]
I think that makes you stronger than even some of the people I know, I think most people would just take the opportunity to run and better their own situations.
[ That got the utmost respect from him, to see someone so young with such determination to go back and right the wrongs of the past. It was admirable, really. ]
[Ahh, it feels so nice...Between the headpatting and the praise, she's in heaven. It should probably be a bit weirder that it feels so nice, thanks moonlacing shenanigans, but she hardly understands that so it's Fine. She's just going to accept this as it is and not ask questions. It's easier that way.
She does look incredibly embarrassed though and looks away shyly] I-I definitely want to! it'd be so much easier, and this place is so nice, but... But I have all my friends back home still too. Unless they all ended up here, I have to go back for them too!
[The song finally seems to finish though and the door to the booth pops open, startling Mikan a little]
[ The rush of fresh air that came with the open doors was a relief, Germany gesturing for her to get out of the booth first. He could appreciate the fact that she had been some of the most pleasant company he'd gotten to have during one of the booth games. ]
You'll make sure to stay strong, right?
[ Then another pause as he considered his duty to his friend. ]
And if you ever need help with anything, don't hesitate to get in touch with me, okay?
[ He just wanted to take care of this child, bless her. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Normal? I don't think so, no...
[ He focused on the screen again, looking rather thoughtful. ]
Perhaps we should start simple, maybe colours?
[ Then after a little more consideration he decided it was better to explain than to remain cryptic about his existence. ]
I am, in a way, the embodiment of the country; if that makes sense...though, these days I wouldn't put it past someone to name their child after one either.
[ He added the last part lightly, that had seemed harmless enough to explain. ]
no subject
She turns to stare at him, opening and closing her mouth a couple of times as she tires to work out if he's serious or not. She can't see WHY he'd lie or exaggerate about something like that, but she looks baffled.]
The-- I, uh. [Mikan pauses, stammering over her words.] ...How does that... work?
no subject
...so long as the people have strength and faith in their country we exist indefinitely. It just works, somehow, I've never put much thought into trying to explain it.
[ Three colours popped up on the screen:
Blue
Purple
Green ]
Where is it that you're from?
[ Maybe more small talk would put her at ease, even if he was rather terrible at it. ]
no subject
She feels dizzy but eventually she hesitantly chooses blue.]
M-m-me?! [She finally realizes he's asked her something and her answering question is squeaked out in her alarm.] Oh, um! I-I'm from Japan! I went to school in Tokyo! [She pauses and then adds curiously, because of course she'll ask:] Is...Is there a Japan like you too...?
no subject
Horses
Dogs
Birds.
He only glanced at the screen long enough to let out a sigh of relief, at least it hadn't been a strange question. He nodded in response to her own question, head tilting just a little. ]
There is, he's a good friend of mine, even if it's difficult to tell what he's thinking sometimes.
[ Please don't hyperventilate and die, Mikan. ]
no subject
Ah, so he does exist... [She's not sure how to feel about that, her fingers curling into her palm with a sudden feeling of guilt.] I-is he here too? I feel like I should apologize to him... A-and to you too! A-a lot of bad things happened to the world in my...Um, world...
no subject
Baking
Kayaking
Scrapbooking ]
Sadly it doesn't look like he arrived with the rest of us, but I'm sure that he would forgive you for whatever happened when you were home...
[ Then a pause to look at her again, she was so timid and nervous that he couldn't imagine anything that she would do would be so awful that she would need to apologise. ]
And I'm sure that you don't owe me an apology either.
no subject
I don't know... [She trails off, mumbling, but whether it's in regards to the question or the assurance she doesn't need to apologize is ambiguous. Eventually she pressed 'baking.' That seems like something that would be 'secret' enough.]
There was...s-something of an apocalypse in my world... Japan did...really poorly, but so did the rest of the world too... I don't know what that would mean for human versions of them.
no subject
It was a mixture of the score, being slapped with a tentacle and hearing the word apocalypse that made Germany gasp and pull his hand back rather quickly. ]
Did you say a-apocalypse?
[ Maybe he'd heard that wrong, but either way he let out a nervous laugh as that never ending music started. ]
Even if that were the case, I'm sure that there's no way you had a direct hand in it...!
no subject
... there's no way you had a direct hand in it...!
Mikan's eyes dart away and her laughter is high and nervous.] W-well no, but... But it's sort of everyone's fault... Everyone let it get that bad... [That's not exactly a lie, at least.]
But it was just... Pollution got deadly. there was uncontrolled, meaningless chaos, violence, and death. The entire world dissolved into anarchy... It was a world-wide war, but it wasn't for... For politics, or religion, or land... It was just-- War. For the sake of war.
[She looks up, expression guilty and anxious, though her voice is trying to be reassuring] Before I was came here, i-it was getting better, though! I think, um, I think it was down to only 40 murders a month now? A-at least in Japan...
["ONLY"...]
no subject
From the sound of it, the damage was done long before you were born, you shouldn't be so hard on yourself.
[ Still, it was terrifying to think that 'only 40 murders a month' was considered a drop in the statistics. He hesitated for a moment, focusing on the floor before he reached up to place a hand on the top of her head. ]
As much as I hate to give any praise to this place, maybe it's for the best that you ended up here; it seems far safer than what you've described.
no subject
Well, maybe she doesn't have to. It's probably better for him to think like this. Besides, she's too distracted by the fact that he just headpatted her. She flinches as though expecting something harsher, and freezes when she realizes the touch is gentle instead.
Her head lifts some as she stares at him with wide eyes that immediately begin to fill with tears. She wipes at them furiously and sniffles] Th-th-thank you...! I, umm... I don't... M-mind it so much here, even if it's a little weird. It's so much more peaceful! Th-there's no fighting or people being k-killed in the streets, or riots or anything. A-and everyone I've met has been so nice too, i-including you...!
no subject
N-no, please don't cry, I'm just glad to see that you're safe!
[ Japan was his friend and it would feel wrong not to help this girl when she needed it the most. Crying, however, that was something he wasn't very equipped to deal with. Italy did it a fair amount, but that was another thing completely. If he had a handkerchief with him he would offer it, freezing for a moment before pulling the cuff of his shirt over his thumb to blot awkwardly at her tears. ]
D-do you have friends here or are you on your own?
[ Small talk, god, he was so bad at small talk but he just wanted to soothe her a little bit. ]
no subject
The question has her blinking her eyes back open though and she nods, smiling a little.] Mm! S-some of my precious classmates are here too! S-so, I'm not so lonely! [Of course, Junko is also here, which is not so great, but Mikan's trying not to let that get her too down.
She quickly moves along though, since she doesn't want to think about Junko] Wh-what about you? You're not alone, are you...? [Mikan looks genuinely concerned about this]
no subject
...so it looks like we're both taken care of, at least, I have some friends here too.
[ He hoped that Mikan could have a normal life, or something that resembled one since it sounded like she deserved it. He pulled his hand back from her face, hoping that she had calmed down enough to stop crying. ]
Now we just have to focus on adjusting, right?
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Y-yes... [A pause and she adds hesitantly] Do you think... We'll ever be able to get home?
no subject
I'm not sure if we'll be able to get home, but is that really something that you want to go back to?
[ He knew that he should be getting home, but now that he thought about it he really didn't know if it was possible. That much was of great concern. ]
no subject
His question sort of brings her back to reality though and she hesitates] ...No. [She can admit that easily enough. She doesn't want to see the awful state the world is in anymore. But--]
But... I have to do my part too... To help make the world a little better, to bring it back from the sorry state it was in. I-I can't run from that and... A-and even though I want to just-- Stick my head in the sand and i-ignore it and pretend everything fine... I can't do that.
I-I have to go back and keep trying...
no subject
I think that makes you stronger than even some of the people I know, I think most people would just take the opportunity to run and better their own situations.
[ That got the utmost respect from him, to see someone so young with such determination to go back and right the wrongs of the past. It was admirable, really. ]
no subject
She does look incredibly embarrassed though and looks away shyly] I-I definitely want to! it'd be so much easier, and this place is so nice, but... But I have all my friends back home still too. Unless they all ended up here, I have to go back for them too!
[The song finally seems to finish though and the door to the booth pops open, startling Mikan a little]
Oh! ...Oh, it looks like we can leave now...
no subject
[ The rush of fresh air that came with the open doors was a relief, Germany gesturing for her to get out of the booth first. He could appreciate the fact that she had been some of the most pleasant company he'd gotten to have during one of the booth games. ]
You'll make sure to stay strong, right?
[ Then another pause as he considered his duty to his friend. ]
And if you ever need help with anything, don't hesitate to get in touch with me, okay?
[ He just wanted to take care of this child, bless her. ]