Opus no. 9 [Dream]

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

[The streets of Vienna are winding and lovely. Somehow there is music playing, as if it was background music.

Rosalinde is walking down the streets, deeply inhaling the fresh air and looking very peaceful. Her precious city is thriving as ever, and, though her face remains stoic, she's clearly very happy. She hums along with the music as she walks.

Along the way, she runs into two people, Germany and Hungary respectively. It seems she'd been concerned for them. She seems to be very happy to see them both, and the three chat for a bit, though it's not really possibly to distinguish what they're saying; the music has gotten louder and is drowning out voices. Hungary pulls Austria into a tight embrace that she accepts and returns while Germany just watches, smiling a little at the happy reunion.

The three of them walk a little further down the street to a small outdoor cafe and chat for a while. From there, Spain approaches from the street and the group welcomes her to join them. The music dies down in volume just long enough to make out what Austria says next.]

I apologize for my extended absence. To you and to all of my citizens. I am grateful to see that you are all doing well.

Comments

[rueandwolf.livejournal.com]

[Honestly Lithuania looks a bit lost. She recognizes Vienna in the broad strokes, it's rather different from any Vienna she's seen.

She doesn't quite notice Austria--the voice registers in her ears, but not only is she too busy staring at things, it seems perfectly reasonable for Austria to be... In Austria. She is standing very close by, though.]

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

[Not noticing that Lithuania is there, Austria continues chatting with the three people she's with.]

--And you, Spanien. I am especially glad to see you and Deutschland here and doing well. I was unsure as to whether you'd both returned safely, and admittedly I was a little worried about it.

[rueandwolf.livejournal.com]

[They might continue just coexisting without talking, except Lithuania, distracted by watching just about everything else, knocks over an empty table at the cafe close to Austria's.]

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

[Hearing the disruption, Austria turns around and sees her.]

Lithuania? My, is something happening in Vienna today that I wasn't aware of? That would be quite shameful of me...

[rueandwolf.livejournal.com]

Um--

[Lithuania looks startled at being addressed. She's really not sure what's going on.]

We were just in the Gardens the other day, yes?

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

I believe so, yes.

[rueandwolf.livejournal.com]

Ah, I'm from 1619, so...

[What is going on?]

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

....I see. That was quite a long time ago. It is 2011 here.

[rueandwolf.livejournal.com]

I--see. [She looks a bit overwhelmed, to be honest.]

Why am I here, then?

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

I haven't the slightest clue.

[rueandwolf.livejournal.com]

Even if they had to pick a year, I shouldn't be here.

Not that there's anything wrong with your house, but...

[But she should be in Vilnius.]

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

I did not bring you here, so I can't really address why you didn't arrive in your own house.

[The other nation's issue is pretty obvious to Austria; they'd all prefer to return to their own houses and check on their own people, she's sure.]

[beerjugs.livejournal.com]

[It's too much like home for comfort, until a rather distinctive building towers on her once her steps come to a halt. The opera house is horribly familiar, if not hers.

And then, the streets are no longer hers at all. She's unable to turn back, and inexplicably it becomes utterly important to march on. Something that is not there is telling her to.]

All? [She questions the end of that sentence.]

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

[At the sound of that particular voice, Austria turns.]

Is there something odd in wishing for the well-being of all of my citizens, Preußen?

[heartovertime]

[Homura has never seen this city before. Maybe in a photograph or in a movie, but certainly not in the Gardens. Maybe it's a new area she never heard about, or someone went through the unimaginable trouble to mold all these buildings. Or maybe she found her way to another world... or a different part of her own.

But regardless, the Japanese girl wanders the streets looking rather lost, currently coming up to a café.]

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

[Austria hasn't noticed yet. She's still enjoying her lunch with friends. The male nation slips an arm around her waist and pulls her closer. She blushes, but allows it.]

[heartovertime]

[As she passes the establishment, Homura's eye catches on someone at the table, though it isn't Austria - though she's seen her face on the Vine before, it's not really one that's familiar. Rather, it's the brunette she has with her, one who Homura had known in the past from an impromptu picnic.

...She can't just barge in and interrupt a conversation to ask where they might be, however. But for the moment she remains stationary at the perimeter of the café to look around for more familiar faces.]

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

[Austria still doesn't notice; Hungary has her rather distracted. Of course neither does Spain, nor anyone else at the table. They continue their chatting. A waiter appears with their drinks.]

[heartovertime]

[Giving up on spotting anyone else, Homura focuses on the beverage-bearing waiter. Not wanting to interrupt those at the table, Homura slowly approaches the worker, waiting for the drinks to be set down first.

Deliberately, she speaks up in English, the only Western language she has any training with. Though she's done well enough in class the last couple loops back home, it's still only at the junior high level: it is a bit accented and far from full fluency.]

Excuse me... Do you speak English?

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

[The waiter stops and gives her an apologetic look.]

[cascadetomboy.livejournal.com]

[This city is nice, and Misty feels kind of relaxed. That doesn't stop her from being confused as she wanders the streets, looking for a familiar or friendly face or something. When she stops to observe a cafe and think its adorable - also lamenting the fact she has no money - she recognizes one of the faces of the patrons outside.]

Austria?

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

....Misty? What are you doing here?

[Austria looks confused. She was certain that Misty was from a different reality, so what was she doing in Vienna?]

[cascadetomboy.livejournal.com]

Hey, it is you!

[Her relief is immediately replaced by even more confusion.]

What am I doing here? I don't even know where I am!

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

You are in Vienna, my capital city.

[cascadetomboy.livejournal.com]

Huh? You have a capital city?

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

Of course I do. Don't all nations?

[cascadetomboy.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, but... [she looks up at the cafe, and smiles in admiration.] It's really pretty!

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you think so. I wouldn't have it any other way.

[cascadetomboy.livejournal.com]

... So you rule a nation?

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

No. I am a nation.

[cascadetomboy.livejournal.com]

Wha-?

[She just looks back and forth, as if unsure of everything.]

Huh?

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

My existence is directly tied to that of the land and people of Austria. I am a personification of that country.

[cascadetomboy.livejournal.com]

... How does that even happen?!

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

It is unclear how we nations come to be, but that is without a doubt what we are.

[headedforhope]

[She falls into the dream and is immediately confused. Austria could not be more different than the Gardens- or her home city in Japan -than day from night. Mami walks cautiously along the street, spotting Austria quickly in her desperate attempt to locate anything familiar, even if just in the slightest. She opens her mouth to hail her, but falters when the older woman is joined by others....people she seems to know well, judging from that reunion. Not to be deterred, Mami approaches anyway, hoping to catch Austria's attention before they go into the cafe.]

...excuse me, Miss Austria- I hate to interrupt, but do you have a moment?

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

[Mami? Well that was unexpected. The older woman turns around, giving a polite smile in greeting.]

Guten Tag, Mami. Welcome to Vienna.

[headedforhope]

I'm- my apologies, where? [her own polite smile is still there, but a shade unsure.]

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

Vienna, Austria. My capital city.

[headedforhope]

...I see. And why am I here?

[she glances around]

Don't get me wrong, it's a beautiful place, but I don't quite understand.

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

I haven't the faintest clue why you're here. Or why I was able to return.

[She glances over to the people she was with, a bit reluctant to part with them, but wanting to be hospitable.]

Shall I show you around?

[headedforhope]

Yet you don't seem bothered overmuch, either, if I might so observe.

[There's a growing feeling of unease, and she responds almost warily:]

Only if it isn't any trouble.

[pluckmygstring.livejournal.com]

Well, it is my home. I can only see it as a positive place to return to.

[She waves to the crowd and they nod; Hungary blows a kiss and she blushes and glares at him for embarrassing her, but her expression softens quickly.]

It's no trouble at all.