05 | The Way

[nirvananation]

[Out in front of the apartments, Thailand is sitting and building something quietly. It appears to be a makeshift megaphone, put together with any and all parts he could find. (Whether or not it'll work is another matter entirely.)

There's one difference, though. Something that wasn't there before: A bandage.

Yes, over his eye is a dirty and

Comments

[lotuslife]

[She looks worn down to the bone and is sporting a couple of bruises, but Vietnam still walks with her head held high. When she spots Thailand, though, she stops.] You're hurt...

[nirvananation]

[One eye blinks, before he smiles. He doesn't really feel like smiling. He wants to scream, tell everyone to stop working, stop what they're doing fight back. He want's to see them stand up. Not just to rebel, but to stand up for what they believe in.

But...he doesn't. He just smiles like always, keeping his thoughts to himself.]

It is nothing serious, ana.

[lotuslife]

[Probably... smells like a toilet because of her illustrious, glorious job, but she sits down next to him anyway.]

Let me see.

[nirvananation]

[He shakes his head, pulling at his shirt.]

It would upset you.

[lotuslife]

Many things upset me here. What's one more?

[nirvananation]

[He goes quiet, looking off to the side.]

There is nothing to see. [Which is true. Because behind the bandage is an empty socket.]

[lotuslife]

You shouldn't hide things from family. [she knows how hypocritical the statement is.]

[nirvananation]

[He looks pained, cringing at the words.] I did not mean...[And hesitantly. Oh so hesitantly, he reaches up and pulls off the bandage.]

[lotuslife]

[The shock rolls over her before anything else, staring at the wound. Vietnam is frozen, staring.]

...Virote...

[nirvananation]

[He looks down at the ground blankly. This wasn't how he'd wanted it to turn out.]

It is...not so bad.

[lotuslife]

[And then the all-too-predictable anger- not at him. At this place. You would touch my family again? And with this place looking like Soviet Russia right now, well. It feels like a very personal betrayal.]

...I won't allow this.

[nirvananation]

[He stands suddenly, looking panicked. If she acted...what if they took something from her? What if it was worse than an eye?]

I will be fine! Please...

[Don't do something rash. Don't do something like that because of me.]

[lotuslife]

I'm tired of being played with by them. [she stands, too, looking coldly calm.]

[nirvananation]

[F-freaking out just a little.] You cannot! You could...They will hurt you! [Something from the past flashes through his mind briefly: A woman on a war elephant, being struck down by the enemy. Not just anyone, but His empress. The only person he had during that time...And all he could do was stand and watch.

No...He didn't want someone else he cared about to get hurt, or die. He didn't want to be helpless like that. Not again.]

[lotuslife]

[She sees the pain in his face, in his eye, but she's cold to it. This is the lady of war; here is the peaceful girl turned blood-covered soldier.]

They have already hurt me.

[nirvananation]

But you canno--[He stops himself. Because as much as it hurt and worried him, he didn't want to force something on her. He didn't want to accidentally push her away--like he had with his own brother.]

...Whatever you decide, be careful. [The words hurt. Be safe. Please, be safe.]