“Hey, Estonia, what’s up? Did you check out that email I sent ya?”
“Yes, I did, America. Sorry, I didn’t get the chance to reply yet.” Estonia felt it was unnecessary to mention that he actually had read the email (concerning developments in government internet security, from what he could decipher) several times, every “LOL” and “OMG” and outdated emoticon like a Cupid’s arrow to his heart. Nor should America know about the hours he had spent trying to compose a reply and failing miserably. He ducked his head and concentrated on the documents he had pulled up on his laptop, willing the blush that was about to rise to his cheeks to dissipate.
“Aw, don’t worry about it,” America replied, that movie-star smile lighting up his face and a space of 1.3 cubic meters all around him. “I got some free time, we could go over it now.”
There was nothing he would love more, but all Estonia said was, “All right, let me find the email first.”
“What, here? Pssh!” America exclaimed. “We’re out for today, let’s go to a coffee shop. My treat.”
Estonia found himself dragged out of the conference room, with laptop tucked under one arm and his other hand clasped in a warm grip, almost stumbling to keep up with America’s impossibly long strides. Fortunately, the coffee shop was just across the street, empty but for a middle-aged businessman reading a newspaper. Before they sat down and discussed business, America ordered them some drinks, directing the full force of his irresistible charm towards the bored-looking cashier until she blushed to the tips of her multiply-pierced ears.
The tables were much too small, Estonia thought, very aware of America pulled up close beside him, the way his blue eyes sparkled behind his glasses as he stared at the laptop screen, the adorably obnoxious sound he made as he sucked at his iced mochaccino through a straw. Of course, America couldn’t sit across from him, he wouldn’t be able to see the screen that way. But every time America’s leg brushed against his, Estonia had to fight the simultaneous urges to shiver and melt at the touch.
Once they opened the email, the conversation turned to technical matters, and Estonia breathed an inward sigh of relief. As dense as the other nation could be in certain areas, he really was a technology prodigy and understood everything Estonia brought up without needing further explanation. It was just so easy to talk to him once one got over the initial awkwardness of him not remembering anyone’s name, and Estonia held a deep regard for those who could communicate well, although this was likely more because America lacked the sophistication to lie convincingly than anything else. They discussed the issue of government network encryption, brainstorming ideas to circumvent hackers and outwit the plots of cyber-terrorists while maintaining data integrity and infrastructure. More than once, Estonia laughed when America blurted out one of his usual crazy ideas.
Science Versus Romance - part 2/2
anonymous
January 31 2010, 17:37:49 UTC
In a burst of inspiration, America quickly sketched out a framework on a napkin that would have made a comp-sci professor at MIT throw his degree away in shame, jotting down notes for reinforcing security with multiple layers of shifting encryption.
“We could probably talk to Switzerland about what he uses to protect sensitive information in the banks,” America suggested, scribbling a few more ideas and doodles onto the napkin.
“Unfortunately, he doesn’t like to share information with outsiders. He doesn’t even let Liechtenstein talk to me,” Estonia said with a sigh.
“That’s too bad,” America replied, grinning to himself as he folded the napkin into an airplane. “Tell ya what, I’m gonna bring this up to the folks back home and I’ll let you know what we figure out. We’ve got good guys in the department, but those Russian hackers are insane.”
“I understand completely.” Although the time his government site was hacked and replaced with pro-Russian propaganda, it had actually been the work of an Estonian, not a Russian. It was terrible, Russia would not let him hear the end of that for days, and Estonia’s mood immediately worsened just remembering the incident.
“Estonia? Something up?” America leaned in even closer, briefly squeezing Estonia’s shoulders in a half-hug. “You want me to get you a hot chocolate? Or a donut?”
“No, it’s nothing serious, I’m fine,” he replied, laughing sheepishly. “Thanks, America.” Estonia cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses, feeling noticeably warmer due to America’s proximity.
Still smiling, America smoothly got to his feet, making his way to the counter while Estonia accidentally left his finger on the L key watching him. With a soft curse, he quickly deleted the jumble of letters right before America returned, holding a sprinkle-covered donut and a cup of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream.
Estonia did his best to decline the sweet, claiming that he was trying to cut back on sugar, but America insisted, and he was impossible to turn down. They ended up sharing the donut, much to Estonia’s mortification, and he blushed deeply, watching America lick the pink frosting off of his fingers with a thoughtful look on his face.
“Hey, remember that movie we made the last time I was around?” America asked out of nowhere. “D’you still have it? I haven’t watched it in a while, kinda wanted to see it again.”
There was no way Estonia could have refused such a request, and he happily acquiesced. Although he would not quite label it high art, he liked watching the dramatic ending credits that America directed and starred in, regardless. Something about America made him perfect for the silver screen, or computer screen as the case may be, and Estonia had to admit, it was probably America’s presence that garnered the film so many views on the online video sharing site.
They did not get further than two minutes into the film before a warning notification popped up on the taskbar.
“Ack, it looks like the battery is running low,” Estonia mumbled, embarrassed. “And I left my laptop charger back at the hotel.”
“No problem, we can just watch it later. You’re… not busy tonight, are you?” America asked, fixing Estonia with an expectant half-smile.
“Uh, I should be free after dinner.” Estonia tried to look perfectly calm and not about to hyperventilate and hoped he succeeded.
“Awesome! I’ll call you around eight o’clock then?”
Nodding, Estonia closed the laptop, and before he lost his nerve, before his heart gave out from how hard and fast it was beating, he leaned forward and gave America a quick peck on the cheek. “It was great talking to you again, America,” he whispered, and smiled as cheerfully as he could before turning and fleeing to the safety of his hotel room.
[Err, I really did try to write more, but totally failed, sorry. Hope this was amusing enough!]
Re: Science Versus Romance - part 2/2
anonymous
January 31 2010, 19:57:10 UTC
surely there is more??!! unexpected OTP was unexpected, excellent work, anon. I loved Estonia's thoughts and embrassment, and his opinion on America. It's not everyday that a fic mentions America's incapacity to remember names and his tech genius. the donut made me hungry! I hope to see this updated in the future, because I liked it ^^
“Hey, Estonia, what’s up? Did you check out that email I sent ya?”
“Yes, I did, America. Sorry, I didn’t get the chance to reply yet.” Estonia felt it was unnecessary to mention that he actually had read the email (concerning developments in government internet security, from what he could decipher) several times, every “LOL” and “OMG” and outdated emoticon like a Cupid’s arrow to his heart. Nor should America know about the hours he had spent trying to compose a reply and failing miserably. He ducked his head and concentrated on the documents he had pulled up on his laptop, willing the blush that was about to rise to his cheeks to dissipate.
“Aw, don’t worry about it,” America replied, that movie-star smile lighting up his face and a space of 1.3 cubic meters all around him. “I got some free time, we could go over it now.”
There was nothing he would love more, but all Estonia said was, “All right, let me find the email first.”
“What, here? Pssh!” America exclaimed. “We’re out for today, let’s go to a coffee shop. My treat.”
Estonia found himself dragged out of the conference room, with laptop tucked under one arm and his other hand clasped in a warm grip, almost stumbling to keep up with America’s impossibly long strides. Fortunately, the coffee shop was just across the street, empty but for a middle-aged businessman reading a newspaper. Before they sat down and discussed business, America ordered them some drinks, directing the full force of his irresistible charm towards the bored-looking cashier until she blushed to the tips of her multiply-pierced ears.
The tables were much too small, Estonia thought, very aware of America pulled up close beside him, the way his blue eyes sparkled behind his glasses as he stared at the laptop screen, the adorably obnoxious sound he made as he sucked at his iced mochaccino through a straw. Of course, America couldn’t sit across from him, he wouldn’t be able to see the screen that way. But every time America’s leg brushed against his, Estonia had to fight the simultaneous urges to shiver and melt at the touch.
Once they opened the email, the conversation turned to technical matters, and Estonia breathed an inward sigh of relief. As dense as the other nation could be in certain areas, he really was a technology prodigy and understood everything Estonia brought up without needing further explanation. It was just so easy to talk to him once one got over the initial awkwardness of him not remembering anyone’s name, and Estonia held a deep regard for those who could communicate well, although this was likely more because America lacked the sophistication to lie convincingly than anything else. They discussed the issue of government network encryption, brainstorming ideas to circumvent hackers and outwit the plots of cyber-terrorists while maintaining data integrity and infrastructure. More than once, Estonia laughed when America blurted out one of his usual crazy ideas.
Reply
“We could probably talk to Switzerland about what he uses to protect sensitive information in the banks,” America suggested, scribbling a few more ideas and doodles onto the napkin.
“Unfortunately, he doesn’t like to share information with outsiders. He doesn’t even let Liechtenstein talk to me,” Estonia said with a sigh.
“That’s too bad,” America replied, grinning to himself as he folded the napkin into an airplane. “Tell ya what, I’m gonna bring this up to the folks back home and I’ll let you know what we figure out. We’ve got good guys in the department, but those Russian hackers are insane.”
“I understand completely.” Although the time his government site was hacked and replaced with pro-Russian propaganda, it had actually been the work of an Estonian, not a Russian. It was terrible, Russia would not let him hear the end of that for days, and Estonia’s mood immediately worsened just remembering the incident.
“Estonia? Something up?” America leaned in even closer, briefly squeezing Estonia’s shoulders in a half-hug. “You want me to get you a hot chocolate? Or a donut?”
“No, it’s nothing serious, I’m fine,” he replied, laughing sheepishly. “Thanks, America.” Estonia cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses, feeling noticeably warmer due to America’s proximity.
Still smiling, America smoothly got to his feet, making his way to the counter while Estonia accidentally left his finger on the L key watching him. With a soft curse, he quickly deleted the jumble of letters right before America returned, holding a sprinkle-covered donut and a cup of hot chocolate topped with whipped cream.
Estonia did his best to decline the sweet, claiming that he was trying to cut back on sugar, but America insisted, and he was impossible to turn down. They ended up sharing the donut, much to Estonia’s mortification, and he blushed deeply, watching America lick the pink frosting off of his fingers with a thoughtful look on his face.
“Hey, remember that movie we made the last time I was around?” America asked out of nowhere. “D’you still have it? I haven’t watched it in a while, kinda wanted to see it again.”
There was no way Estonia could have refused such a request, and he happily acquiesced. Although he would not quite label it high art, he liked watching the dramatic ending credits that America directed and starred in, regardless. Something about America made him perfect for the silver screen, or computer screen as the case may be, and Estonia had to admit, it was probably America’s presence that garnered the film so many views on the online video sharing site.
They did not get further than two minutes into the film before a warning notification popped up on the taskbar.
“Ack, it looks like the battery is running low,” Estonia mumbled, embarrassed. “And I left my laptop charger back at the hotel.”
“No problem, we can just watch it later. You’re… not busy tonight, are you?” America asked, fixing Estonia with an expectant half-smile.
“Uh, I should be free after dinner.” Estonia tried to look perfectly calm and not about to hyperventilate and hoped he succeeded.
“Awesome! I’ll call you around eight o’clock then?”
Nodding, Estonia closed the laptop, and before he lost his nerve, before his heart gave out from how hard and fast it was beating, he leaned forward and gave America a quick peck on the cheek. “It was great talking to you again, America,” he whispered, and smiled as cheerfully as he could before turning and fleeing to the safety of his hotel room.
[Err, I really did try to write more, but totally failed, sorry. Hope this was amusing enough!]
Reply
Reply
I hope to see this updated in the future, because I liked it ^^
Reply
America...Estonia...America/Estonia...
*flails*
OMG this was so perfect and so in character for the both of them. Geek!America for the freakin' win. Just gods I adored this...so...so...much.
Would love to see more...but it does stand just as well on its own.
Someone actually wrote America/Estonia... *flails*
Reply
Leave a comment