❄ 5 | action

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

[If you have a keen nose or happen to be passing by the spaceship, if might become apparent that someone's spent the better part of the day baking with maple syrup. (Adversely, if you happen to be inside the spaceship, chances are good you've already found the freshly baked stash of maple cookies big enough to feed the Royal Canadian Air Force (circa 1946, though) and are stuffing your American face.)

Should the maple not entice you, maybe the young nation in braided pigtails and an oversized sweatshirt repeatedly whipping a small rubber ball at the side of the spaceship will. With the stick in her hand, she catches the ball neatly no matter which way it bounces back to her, running back and forth to catch it, only to jerk the handle of the lacrosse stick, sending the ball soaring back to the outer wall of the spaceship once more.

It's obvious Canada is taking this as a serious bout of training, cursing those rare times she misses. It's been too long since hockey season ended for her and she's gotten slack at finding people to play lacrosse with her. She misses being able to pour herself into her national sports, letting herself get caught up in the fun and comraderie of the game, whatever it happens to be.

What probably isn't obvious is how sad, homesick, or absolutely tired of being forgotten she is.]

Comments

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

No, I value your opinion, Zenobia. And even though every case is a little bit different and a little bit the same, the other countries have already gone through this, so I have to trust their judgement on this.

[restlessdevil.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess that makes sense, but-

Wait...

...

Other... countries?

You're a nation?

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

Yes. Sorry, it's... confusing. I don't usually bring it up unless someone knows where my home is.

[restlessdevil.livejournal.com]

Oh. No need to apologize. [Zenobia needs a moment to take this in.]

That doesn't change how I feel, though. Canada is still Canada.

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

And Canada needs to remember she hasn't had her independence long enough to start screwing it up with dating humans.

[restlessdevil.livejournal.com]

Oh...

I talked with a few people anonymously about humans and nations in relationships. It sounds so much more complicated than just a human-human relationship. B-but.... I still think it's wonderful.

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

It can only ever be wonderful in short bursts. You're better off just loving your people and your flag, when you're one of us.

[restlessdevil.livejournal.com]

[If Zenobia noticed the cringe, she doesn't act like it.] B-but... you deserve love and happiness, just like anyone else! I mean, if you found someone who didn't age [She has to make an effort to not add "like me" to that.] then couldn't it work out?

...Or... that's what I want to say... but... then people disappear from here... and it's just not fair...

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

No, it's not fair. So even if I found some magical ageless woman here who liked me, it wouldn't last, anyway, because as soon as you leave, you forget. And I hate when people forget me. It happens too much as it is.

[restlessdevil.livejournal.com]

[Zenobia feels defeated. She feels that there's nothing she can say to Canada. After all, Canada's just had someone she loves vanish with no warning. What words of hope can Zenobia offer that won't sound completely empty?]

I'm so sorry. I can't promise that I won't disappear either, but for whatever its worth, I'll always be your friend. And I promised not to forget you. I keep my promises. [Zenobia, I don't know if you can remember her if you return to your own world just through sheer force of will. I don't think it works like that.]

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

If you keep your promises, please don't make ones we both know you can't keep. I'm sorry, but...

[restlessdevil.livejournal.com]

I didn't know that I couldn't keep it at the time... [Zenobia looks even more defeated.]

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

... Hey. You don't have to be sad, too. The Gardens are good for you, didn't you say?

[restlessdevil.livejournal.com]

Yeah... But if I disappear... I'll forget everyone I've met here? And I have no control over it? ...If I disappear... I'll go back to having to stare at a wall until the end of time...

I'm sorry. [Snap out of it, Zenobia. This isn't about you.] I'm here because I want to make you happy. Now I'm just making things worse...

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

Maybe some day soon we'll have an option about being here. And don't worry, Zenobia, there's not much anyone could do here shy of hurting my family that could make things worse for me right now.

Go on, have another cookie. It'll make you feel better.

[restlessdevil.livejournal.com]

M-maybe... I don't want to forget you, Canada.

[Hearing her say that things can't get much worse for her just makes Zenobia want to hug Canada again. But she remembers that it didn't exactly go over well the last time that happens, so she decides not to.]

O-okay. [She munches on a cookie. She looks like she might be holding back tears. Munch munch munch.] Mmm. These are still really good.

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

I'm glad.

Umm... and can I hug you?

[restlessdevil.livejournal.com]

[Canada wants to hug her? Zenobia is a bit stunned, but there's no way she's going to turn this down.]

Yes. I would love that.

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

[restlessdevil.livejournal.com]

[Zenobia hugs back, tears running down her cheeks.] Thank you.

I-it's kind of funny... because I wanted to cheer up you, and here you are cheering up me... I... I'm sorry. I guess I'm not very good...

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

No, it's my fault. I'm sorry. You would've cheered up anyone else, I promise.

I'm sorry. It'll be all right.

[restlessdevil.livejournal.com]

[Sob.] You're so great, Canada. People don't know. They just don't understand. [Sobs.] How could anyone forget such a kind soul?

It's... [Sniff] not your fault. I get carried away. I get so set on trying to help... [More crying...] ...I can't see when I'm doing more harm...

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

You didn't do more harm, leannán, I promise you that. It takes more than a sad memory to knock me down.

[restlessdevil.livejournal.com]

Really? I-If you're sure...

[Zenobia hugs Canada tightly for a moment before wiping her tears.] I... I think I'm okay now. I didn't mean to get so sad. [Sniff.]

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

It's fine. It happens.