log

[nsovietrussia]

He stood quietly to the side, dressed in full splendor for the occasion, though no amount of pomp could hide his state. The deep circles under his eyes, the hollowed cheeks and protruding cheek bones betraying how thin he'd become. Boris had done some things right, yes, but he'd done many, many things wrong. But despite it all, there was a small

Comments

[russiawhite]

Splendor indeed. Beautiful ceremony, beautiful celebration to follow. His hope would be hers. Negotiations ran strong, yes, between the nations' leaders, but nothing was ever quite written in stone, and the younger nation was kept quite busy for almost a decade then. A decade of rebirth, of growth, as the promise made to her was a promise well kept. As much of a horrible leader the prior had been for her brother, the promise to her had been kept, and with her independence, she kept her promise to grow stronger. To be worthy of being his sister. But in the end, they were always connected enough that his success would mean everything to her.

Watching him on stage from where she hid in the back of the hall made her heart break. At least when she'd last seen him, he didn't look so weak and tired. Drunk, sad, yes, but he'd been so strong anyway. Had he been eaten away so wholly? That wasn't her brother. A shell, it was a shell, and...

She stayed in the hall as the masses began to leave to go to that beautiful celebration, blending well into the shadows in her hooded jacket, sweeping clear down to her ankles and hiding the evening gown she'd chosen for the event. Her presence was unknown, only anticipated, as she would later give the new President a gift from her own leaders to welcome him to his new position. But that would be in queue until he was done with his own business for the day.

Belarus had been so eager to show up to her brother and show him the effects of her reparation, but that eagerness contorted to that of wanting to hug him and help him. Which was why when he began to drift back, she took it as an opportunity to sweep around in front of him silently, and hold a hand out to stop him in his place. She didn't expose her face, she didn't utter a word. She wanted him at a full stop first, and to wait for more privacy for their reunion. If he were to walk out there in that condition, though, she wanted to walk with him.

[nsovietrussia]

He almost didn't notice the woman at first, still utterly transfixed with the inauguration celebrations and lost in his own thoughts. Though before to long his field of vision widened from the tunnel-like focus it had and the hooded figure bled into his sight. Stopping dead in his tracks in a mixture of tired obedience and curiosity, he looks at her fully now, as though trying to see her face through her hood - and failing, obviously. She was familiar, very familiar, but he couldn't be sure...

Taking a step towards her he tilted his head slightly to one side, and quickly glancing back to the pair of men up ahead and scanning the area to be sure there were no potential threats in the area, he craned his head again to try and look at her in a wordless inquiry. It would have probably been too loud to hear a proper question, anyways.

[russiawhite]

His silence, his lack of response other than an inquisitive tilt of his head... had so much time passed, was she forgetting something about his personality? Normally he would have stopped and acted out at the interruption of his business.

Belarus waited longer, continuing to hold her hand out to him. The step closer didn't bother her. Brother never bothered her, happy or angry, if he came closer to her. She was patient to wait for the last few bodies to leave, before bringing her hands up mutually and pulling the hood off her head to show him her face. Her eyes were wide as they studied him up close, and it was clear she, herself, had worked very hard to make his mercy on her worth it to him. "Brother," she said in his tongue, "you look as though you could use a companion."

[nsovietrussia]

He would have, yes, years ago. But those were different days, days when he mattered more, and when paranoia kept him questioning everything. But he was so tired, so stretched lately, he was placated. Willing to accept an interruption from some unknown civilian (or so he thought) calmly, and willing to just listen to what they need.

His eyes widen, though, as the hood is removed and he hears his sister speak. How long has it been, since last he saw her? Of course he knew she had been doing well; he kept tabs on her. Watched the news, even noticed her from afar in passing as their leaders met. But while she had thrived, he had stagnated, his economy crumbling. His people were so completely let down by the promises of Yeltzin and the new order of things. He was kept tucked out of sight more often than not, to hide just how little had improved since the fall of the Union.

Russia's expression is unreadable as he stares at her for a moment as the emotions of everything, the new leader, the shaky hope of his people, the now sudden appearance of his sister and the resurfaced emotions of their last encounter all threatened to overwhelm him, before his eyes went calm again, and a small smile tugged at his lips, as he finally extended his hand to gently take hers.

"It's been a long time, Natalia."

[russiawhite]

She stepped closer and took his hand as it was given, and the smallest smile came to her lips. Brother... he looked so tired, so lonely. Where he had seen her, she had not seen him. At all. Unsurprisingly, when she thought about it. He was always better at everything, including enduring, than she ever was. She idolized him for what he was capable of coming back from...

Sweeping in and to his side, Belarus swung her arm under his. While
it looked so subordinate and proper for a man and woman, Russia would no doubtedly notice the force brought up into his side. He supported her, and though sun was shining on him now with his new president, she wanted him to understand she was there to support him.

"It has." Her speech had long simplified from what it once was. Her lack of words, her lack of emotion, it was nothing against him. It was simply the toll, one could suppose, taken on a nation in her position for centuries. "Come. Sit. You've been standing long, and look tired." And with that, she pulled him for a nearby seat gently, supporting.

[nsovietrussia]

The strength was noted, yes, though the only sign he gave of it was the smallest of glances cast down at her as she moved to his side. Though more than anything he appeared the quietly proud older brother, that smile never leaving his lips.

Even as she led him away, he was calm, allowing himself to be moved and directed though he would at least draw the line at letting her support him. He was not doing well, true, but he was not so far gone that he was not able to carry himself. Especially now, at the beginning of a new leader.

"There's been so much to do lately, and still. Though for you, I can take some time." He sat down at the seat, far more grateful to be off his feet than his pride would allow him to show. "I am surprised you came."

[russiawhite]

"Surprised?"

She seemed surprised at that, but it quickly faded. No, that made sense. That made complete sense, considering how absorbed she'd been in her own recuperation. In her own life, her own alliances and relationships.

With him sitting, Belarus slowly removed her long coat and dropped it beside her as she took a seat beside him. Lovingly, always lovingly despite her monotone face, she hugged his arm with both of hers and rested her head on his shoulder. Her eyes watched him as though he was some sort of golden idol.

"Brother. I apologize for my absence. I owe you everything."

[nsovietrussia]

"Events like these no longer bring the others."

He was alone now, again. Ten years was not enough time to forget what it was like when they had all been one with him. But loneliness aside, Russia really is still appearing to not let it get to him. Today was a momentous day, after all. He had much to be hopeful of.

He glances down at her again as she clings to his arm, a bit startled at the touch because it had been so long that it'd become foreign to him, though the emotion passed quickly again. And tentatively, he brought up his free hand to pet her hair.

"You owe me nothing."

[russiawhite]

She closed her eyes for a moment at his touch and nuzzled his arm a little more. Unlike him, she'd been a little more fortunate. While her relations with nations, such as the United States of America, were rocky at best, Belarus had at least received attention and had visitors. Her most frequent visitors were... more unsavory, but they were secret allies no less.

Clinging to him still, her eyes opened and she looked up to him. "You are so strong. He will build you up, and if he doesn't... I'll take care of him for you, if you wish." It wasn't exactly a plausible scenario, but one could suppose the sentiment would be enough. "In the meantime, I will take care of brother. You look like you haven't had a good meal in some time."

[nsovietrussia]

The sentiments were appreciated, no matter how inappropriate considering the day or the sheer folly behind the promise. Were she to assassinate him, no matter how ineffectual he could be, she would not only be dealing harm to Russia himself, she would undoubtedly start a war between them. A worst case scenario really, all things considered.

"We have high hopes for him. Let us hope it does not come to that."

He paused at the mentioning of a meal, his stomach aching a bit at the reminder. When had he eaten last? He had picked at a croissant early that morning, but that could hardly have been more than a bite, definitely not a good meal by any means. In all honesty he couldn't recall the last time he had a 'good meal', there was always so much work to be done.

"Is there anything you would like in particular?"

[russiawhite]

She nuzzled his shoulder and hug him close. Poor brother. She couldn't get over how this first meeting was turning out. This was unacceptable, it truly was. For all the celebrations and the hopes that Russia's future would shine bright soon, he deserved doting on by someone. Who more perfect than family?

Belarus reached up then and brushed his cheek. "I will make you a full course meal tonight. We will start with a small vinaigrette salad, before moving to ushnoye and goulash. The main course. And then we'll see of having a dessert of rasstegai. And you will eat." Oh, she would make sure of it, the reason behind her wanting to be the one to make the food for him in the first place.

But then, as an aside, "...but you eat only to the best of your stomach, I will not have brother getting ill." He was so thin, Belarus knew how the body could react to too much food after so long of not having it.