[ text ] valentine's day event post

[fourseasons]

Hong Kong-san,

It has come to my attention that our time here together has grown into something much more than what we have at home. Perhaps it is a forbidden sort of love, but I believe that is what causes it to burn so strongly! Forgive me if this is far too sudden, but I will wait as long as it takes for Hong Kong-san to be ready for such a thing. Please contact me as soon as this message is received. We do not have to stay in a place such as this with so many limitations...

With love,
The State of Japan

[Yup...

As Japan's communicator sends this message out, he'll just be on a walk and checking out Ace's old warehouse. Feel free to run into him along the way or come find him, otherwise he does have his comm with him!]

Comments

[fierybluebird]

You're not following your path either.

[fourseasons]

[He's honestly so unsure...

And he told Hong Kong to talk to Marco so maybe he can help. In the meantime, what can he even say?]

Forgive me, Marco...

[fierybluebird]

[Headbutts.] For what?

[fourseasons]

For seeming as though I am not happy. Truthfully, I would like to be happy with how I am now. I am still working on such a thing...

I was never so happy, though. Perhaps it was more believable that I was when I had such a large goal, but I was quite... [Lonely.]

[fierybluebird]

Shouldn't I be the one apologizing then? All I want is you to be happy, if you're happier like this, that's good, yoi.

[Rubs his face.]

Wait, you've never been this happy, but you are not happy with yourself? You like yourself less now? [Frowns in confusion. That's a genuine question, trying to understand the disconnect he feels through all of it.]

[fourseasons]

I feel like I am a better person like this. [Watching Marco curiously.]

I believe I am happier, yes... Though there are still doubts, so perhaps I worried Marco without realizing.

[fierybluebird]

[Frowns. He's not sure.] I don't know. I guess I feel better... [But is it just a bandaid like the other times? He flexes his wings.]

"Better" person by whose definitions. [Peers at.]

[fourseasons]

It started as theirs. [He leans against the wall, frowning thoughtfully.]

Ah, but when I see how far my country has come since then... I believe there is truth to it, as well.

[fierybluebird]

[Sighs and pets Japan's head.]

We didn't force Ace to stop.

[fourseasons]

I do not believe Ace could be forced to do anything.

[fierybluebird]

I didn't think Japan could either.

[fourseasons]

[That hurts him to hear. His expression fades back into a frown.]

I cannot. ...I only follow the rules of battle and make my own decisions... of course. [His pride's talking again, but that's how he wants it.]

[fierybluebird]

Ahhhh that's not...

I mean... [Smacks his head against the wall.] I know Japan cannot. Damn it.

[Shoulders fall. He keeps fucking up and it worries him.] Hand. [Takes Japan's hand and kisses it gently.] What I say, and what I mean... That is what I'm looking for. Not the sadness... the determination to show me I'm an idiot if I'm being an idiot. To prove me wrong. To show you're strong.

[fourseasons]

[He should stop worrying Marco... Really, that's all his self pity is doing. So he takes Marco's hand right back and places it over his own heart.]

My strength is right here. I believe there is strength in the fights I avoid far more than any fights I started.

[fierybluebird]

[Nods softly and kisses Japan's cheek.]

I still--

Be yourself. [Frowns.] Did I ever tell you I like weird? [Plays with some blue flames.] Sometimes it seems you're worried I won't like the parts that I guess others don't. [Thinks that over and how it sounds and picks up a little confidence with this.] I want to know all of Bushido. [Pokes his cheek.] Everything. [Eyes flatten, he knows he's being childish, but he's a pirate, he'll do what he wants.] It's not fair a bunch of the countries get to know parts of you I don't. Aye, I know you trust me most. And they all agree on that, but there's still a lot of you I know nothing about. It makes me nervous.

If it's too hard to tell me or show me I'll be patient, but with me... be as yourself. Get mad if you're mad. If I'm not holding back, you can't either.

Tell me about your kinks other than tentacles and the furry thing. [Pokes his forehead.] And tell me about your talking, music-playing toilets. And... everything. [Glances away. Is the fire he wants passion? That's why Marco always encouraged the doujinshi, because from nearly their first conversation Japan said it was one of the few to only things he really enjoyed.] Remember when there were shadows following us here, just before those doubles took over? I guess I feel like I'm seeing those shadows, but they hide when I look too close, so I wonder if they were ever really there. [It makes him nervous.]

[fourseasons]

[He's getting it slowly, but still hesitant. Mostly... Well. He glances down.]

There are parts of myself I still must admit. Ah, but I do suppose there are things I could that I am too... shy, perhaps? To reveal. I will try to show them to Marco.

[fierybluebird]

[Kisses his cheek again.] You are happy now? Still getting there, but overall, happy?

[fourseasons]

I believe so. It is my old habits that I must fight. Ah, I know Marco was accepting of them, but...

I do not believe he fully understands what I did, either.

[fierybluebird]

If you tell me and I'm not bothered, will that upset you?

Remember how upset you were after you attacked America? And how I ... wasn't?

[fourseasons]

...It would not upset me. It may worry me, depending...

Ah, what if... [A pause.] What if it was involving Hong Kong?

[fierybluebird]

Go ahead. [Ruffles Japan's hair.]

[fourseasons]

[He fidgets and then shakes his head.]

I do not believe I have the right to speak about it. Perhaps Hong Kong could tell Marco, however. Ah... but that is a sensitive subject, so...

[fierybluebird]

He already told me he forgave the past, it's you who struggles to move beyond it.

[fourseasons]

He forgave me. For the most part, at least. But that does not say what I did.

[fierybluebird]

Stop telling me to ask other people. I've told you before, I want to hear it from you. I wouldn't send you to someone else to ask about me.