A picture of restraint.

[alliance_yao]

[Somewhere in HQ is a garden. A Chan Buddhist rock garden, to be specific. The room is shaped like a sinuous curve, with a waterfall trickling down the far stone wall into a small, blue-tiled pool. The sand is white and fine, and the worn, carven stones look like pieces of old ruins, placed at elegant intervals. A few of them are even floating,

Comments

[warchangedme]

How long can you sit like that?

[He just doesn't like silence, okay? SILENCE MEANS DEATH!]

[alliance_yao]

[He sighs and opens his eyes.]

Several days, when I'm in the proper state.

[He's not even close right now.]

[warchangedme]

You do this all the time? [He plops down next to Yao, not really sure why, but it feels like the other man is upset about something.]

[alliance_yao]

Usually only half an hour or so a day. I'm a busy person.

But sometimes, I, it. It's calming.

[Wow, China. You suck at opening up to people. Also it is totally not working much today.]

[warchangedme]

[Leans slightly on him, since that seemed to get a positive reaction the last time.] Wanna talk about why you need to calm down?

[alliance_yao]

[He sort of hunches into himself a little more. You look so much like Alfred and that gentle concern makes him ache.]

My husband, he. There's someone else.

I mean, I knew. I knew for a while, but they finally...

[warchangedme]

Part of me wants to break his kneecaps for you, but if the other something tells me his other lover is one of those people I'd make the same offer for.

[He takes the older nation's hand and keeps leaning on him.] Do you know what you wanna do yet?

[alliance_yao]

[He yanks his hand away, snarling and laughing. It's a small, awful, painful sound.]

Of course he is. All you Americas just adore a helpless guilt-ridden England, don't you? I shouldn't even be surprised. Really, him naming our capital planet Londinium really should have tipped me off.

[warchangedme]

Dude, it doesn't change the fact that he couldn't keep it in his pants. When he married you, that meant he was supposed to love only you. Stop trying to bite my dick off. [He growls in return, but doesn't back away from China.]

Also, I would would cause harm to anyone who upset Canada and Japan too. They dig up that kind of reaction.

[alliance_yao]

[Bitterly]

He married me because of debts and armies, and he stayed with me because everyone else was dead.

[Nevermind that they fell in love later. He huffs and looks away, which is as close to an apology as California is probably going to get right now.]

[warchangedme]

And why did you marry him? [Back to leaning again.] You could have chose anyone else. Russia was right next door, and India too.

[alliance_yao]

[Finally, he kind of snuggles slightly back. Maybe. Just a little.]

Russia and I didn't really work out. And India...

[There's a soft, wistful sadness in his voice, because she was his first, and you don't ever forget that. Some part of him will always think of her as the beautiful, baffling girl next door.]

By then she was already tearing herself to pieces.

America had things I needed, and I thought I could control him. We had complimentary strengths.

[warchangedme]

[Up goes his hand to rest in Yao's hair, gently petting him.] I'm sorry, man. About the whole damn thing.

Sure you don't want me to kneecap you husband? He'll learn not to cheat ever again, at least. Bet it will make you feel better.

[alliance_yao]

It wouldn't. Especially since he'd kill you.

I appreciate the offer, though.

[warchangedme]

You still love him, don't you?

[He gives a sigh and pulls up something on his Pip-boy.] If I get left alone when I'm pissed or sad, I just feel worse and worse.

You like Elvis?

[alliance_yao]

[He hunches his shoulders miserably, nodding.]

I wish I could just. Turn it off.

I...don't think I've been exposed enough to really form an opinion.