[open] A Perfect Morning for Reading

[baidos]

Who: Latvia [baidos] and anyone else who wants to save him from himself join him! Looky-looky, Estonia [estonia_von] has already joined the fun!
What: Latvia has decided to visit the library and experiences bad luck.
Where: The library on the second floor.
When: Sometime in the morning.
Notes: I realize I keep using the word "saule" and I don't remember ever

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[estonia_von]

Exploring his new environment had gone well so far. Keeping out of the other occupant's way had let him focus on studying the building. It was certainly a nice place, nicer than the Baltic nation had seen in quite some time except for the fact he couldn't leave. It certainly dimmed any refreshment the change of scenery would have brought under better circumstances.

The library had been the best find so far. The wealth of books would ensure that there would be plenty to occupy himself with - well, other than that interesting toy in his room.

Sighing Estonia absently looked upon the rows of books as he walked along. there was still more to explore but what was the harm in lingering awhile longer. It wasn't like anyone demanded his time yet.

Pausing to pull out a brightly colored book, the green eyed man quizzically stared at it. What an... interesting choice for cover design. Neon colors, especially six or more was always an attention grabber, just not always in the right way.

Flipping to the first page the blonde just started to read when a loud noise startled him into dropping the book. What was that? Looking both ways in the aisle the nation wondered if anyone else had heard and more importantly if they were going to check it out.

Frowning Estonia glanced around one last time before picking up the book and placing it back on the shelf. Heading in the direction the sound came from but not sure exactly where it was he decided to break on of the library's rules. Whispering was fine, speaking was okay, but raising one's voice without good reason just shouldn't be done!

This, just happened to be a good reason.

"Hello? Are you okay?"

[OOC: Ah, first post! *nervous*]

[baidos]

A muffled groan was Latvia's response as he checked to make sure he was still alive. Like for him, he had landed on his butt, the only injuries sustained to his cranium were from a couple of unfriendly books landing upon it, but he otherwise was in tact, not bleeding, and only bruised and scraped. He realized he had heard someone ask how he was doing and as he picked off some of the books from his face and body he muttered a faint, "I-I think I'm okay...?"

Childlike hands pushed off from the ground, his small frame lifting itself up slowly, shakily, as he tried to focus his eyes on whoever that was. He had assumed he was alone, but it seemed he had been mistaken. His blurred and unsteady eyesight soon cleared to reveal the image of someone he hadn't seen, a ghost of familiarity, and a whispered voice let out the name "I-Igaunija...?" as small hands rubbed against his eyes to fully clean his vision. It was true, the form standing before him, it really was that of who had thought it to be. It had been a month since last he had seen him, Igaunija, and soon his cleared vision blurred again, but this time of tears of joy. "Igaunija...!" Trembling from pain and happiness and a well of other emotions he had yet to prescribe names to, he stood, letting fragile tears fall down his cheek to kiss an equally fragile smile. Igaunija.

[estonia_von]

Following the soft voice to the source, and musing over the extremely familiar ring it had - could it be? No, it'd be better if his brother wasn't here and trapped but...

Following a stray book, a telltale sign of where the deluge of written words had occurred the Baltic nation peered in. Messy blonde hair, small frame, purple eyes, and the voice. Had it been so long he hadn't recognized it immediately or was it denial that his sibling was here?

"Läti!" Hurriedly walking to close the distance between them, Estonia quickly scanned his younger brother's face just to make sure everything was alright. Deeming it so he pulled the shorter boy into a hug.

Even if it wasn't good 'they' had gotten Latvia, maybe he could do something about it. Already the green eyed male was thinking of ways to try to leave, but this only added motivation.

[baidos]

He had no choice but to accept the hug, feeling the warmth his Baltic brother gave to him, nuzzling his face into his chest, his fragile tears staining the other's clothes as he muttered that name over and over again. Igaunija, Igaunija, Igaunija. He had not uttered that name in so long, he had thought he would surely have forgotten it, but he was glad he had not. He let that warmth and closeness overwhelm him a moment before thoughts entered his mind--shameful thoughts, horrible thoughts. "You shouldn't be here," he said softly, gently into Estonia's chest, I don't want you to fall as far as I have, he thought, finishing his sentence in his mind.

He stayed so close to him, that embrace feeling like home, breathing in that familiar scent, the touch of his clothes, everything that he would have forgotten, and sobbed into him. It was all he could do. Thoughts of books and injuries faded; all he wanted was to know that Estonia, holding him, was a real sensation.

[estonia_von]

"I'm not really sure where, or what here is." It hadn't even been two days, maybe the white clothed staff was allowing him to adjust before approaching him? Whatever their goals were, it was still unsettling to know he was being watched, did they really think he could get used to that?

Still, for Latvia to say such a thing was this truly a horrible place? Not seeking anyone out and exploring on his own was not the most efficient way to get a feel for this place. Of course he could ask, but did he want to push his brother after just meeting him? Biting his lip briefly, Estonia hoped he could be forgiven for his curiosity.

"Latvia, what is it like here? I haven't been here long and... if you don't want to talk about it that's fine too. I'm just glad you're okay." Loosening his hold so he could better look down at the other nation, the Baltic wondered if he would get an answer. Already he felt guilty for asking such a thing of the shorter boy.

[baidos]

Arms loosened their grip around him, Latvia's tear-stained cheeks exposed again to the musty air of the library. His focus stayed at the level of Estonia's chest, cursed downward in shame. "You... read the poster on the door of your room, right...? They want us to be human..."

He pulled himself away, looking out over the piles of books that had heaped themselves upon the ground when he fell. He bent down, gathering them up one by one. "They give you a human name and a human family... but beyond that, it's... i-it's not that bad, I guess?" he smiled weakly, accompanying it with an equally pathetic chuckle as he could fit no more books in his arms and got to work placing them one by one back upon their shelves in no particular order. "The kitchen is nice and has a bunch of really big refrigerating ice boxes like what they have in America and all kinds of food there, and there's a swimming pool and this library and there are those 'computer' things in our rooms, but..." he shook his head, shelving the last book in his arms before dipping down to gather up more, "it's nothing like home... It's better than Russia's house, but it's not the same as home, even if the rooms look like home..." He glanced at his elder Baltic brother with a weary gaze, "I'd hoped that I would be the only one of us here, th-that you'd be living a happier life, since Russia's here and all, b-but," he sighed, continuing his replacement of books on the shelf, "I guess they really are trying to gather up all of us..."

[estonia_von]

The idea was ludicrous... a nation would remain a nation unless the nation ceased to exist completely. Surely they didn't expect him to believe that, how could he, Estonia forget? Having ties to his people, feeling them suffer, how could one try to describe it to an ordinary human?

Bending down to help pick up books the older country mused as he listened to his brother speak further, nodding as he helped hand some books from the floor. There was a slight pause when Russia was mentioned, and the blonde frowned. So for a couple of weeks his sibling had been left alone with... and he had been busy worrying about his own problems at the time.

Oh dear the books would be terribly out of order.

Pushing the errant thought out of his head Estonia nodded. "There is only one home. For all the distractions they have here, it still doesn't sound right. Human names and families? We've always been around." Finally with some of his curiosity quelled, guilt for pressuring information so soon after thier reunion bubbled back to the surface.

"I'm sorry you were here alone for so long."

[baidos]

Latvia gathered up what seemed to be the last of the scattered books, thankful that Estonia was there to help him, and placed them on the shelves. Knowing this place, the books would be mysteriously arranged by the next day, like how the kitchens were restocked and the hole in his wall and shattered door had been so quickly mended; it just seemed how this place worked. Blue-purple eyes glanced at the elder Baltic for a moment as he set the last book on the shelf, "Don't be sorry; it's... it's because I'm weak that... hat they caught me, I think," he shook his head, "and like everyone else, I don't even remember how it happened, o-only that I woke up here... as though everything before now was just a dream..."

He pushed back from the shelves, sending Estonia a feeble smile, then looking back over the books to see if he could find the one that he had fallen backwards in attempt to grab. "What's disturbing is--" eyes scanning the shelf found that elusive and slightly dangerous book, and with a much more gallant attempt, he leaped and grabbed the book without falling this time, smiling a proud little smile, "--is that... th-that every time I see my doctor," he tossed the book into one hand, slipping his other into his pocket to pull out a folded photograph, "the story of this-this human life of mine keeps being revealed with more and more details," he awkwardly opened the folded photograph with one hand, "see?"

He held up that image of his family, that beautiful yet ordinary mother of his, his elegant sister with her pale hair, his dependable-looking father, his younger brother with those mischievous eyes, his older brother looking like a taller and stronger version of himself, and, of course, his younger self, small and happy amongst these faces that seemed both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. His trembling hands held it out for Estonia to take--to look at--as if to prove that these people here were constructing something elaborate behind the scenes. "Their names are on the back... a-along with my handwriting..." he looked to the side, feeling that ever-present shame that he seemed to carry of late. Keeping that photograph with him so often? He should have felt more than just shame.

[estonia_von]

Feeling better for helping picked up the books, Estonia stood and stared at teh floor a moment longer before letting his attention wander back to his brother.

"But if they got everyone, it doesn't matter about strength. Just gathering nations, in relatively short time period." Just how they managed to pull it off was intriguing. He recalled his own experience, faintly. Perhaps it was because he had not been here as long. Maybe there was something in the food and drink?

The idea of a human life was still entirely to strange to the blonde nation, but when Latvia offered the photo, he inspected it. Reaching out for it and and studying the back - it was either a fantastically well crafted fake, or possibly true.

On one hand, not being a nation, not having to deal with Russia and being able to live quietly would be good for his sibling. Less stress, not as much reason to fear what, or who stopping by. On the other hand, a regular person couldn't be related to a nation and humans lived such short lives...

"Do you wish it was like that?" Offering the picture back with wan smile the green eyed country figured the other had already thought about such things. No use in bringing it up again.

[baidos]

Latvia grasped his photograph again, holding it before him, the book tucked under one arm as he stared almost fondly at the image. He didn't know what to say, really. Would Estonia hate him for wanting a better life where there were people who loved him? He doubted Estonia would understand how he felt. Ignored and having so little in common with the other Baltic states, an outcast among outcasts, he knew his "brothers" cared for him at least a little, but it never felt to him as though they ever had a solid connection with one another, and probably never will. He held that photograph up to his face to let the scent of photo paper kiss his nostrils. No, they'd never understand. "I do, sometimes... not having to... t-to deal with what I'd had to deal with..." Paper pulled from his face and folded itself in fourths to be placed back into his pocket, "I dream of them at times--this family, I mean--and what kind of life I would have lived, c-could have lived, if I wasn't Latvia... i-if I was ordinary," he bit his lip.

Eyes focused at the floor, carpeted in mundane blue, shifting the book from his arm to his hands, opening and closing it, pages fluttering with each nervous gesture. "It wouldn't be an easy life or a simple life, but it would be a life filled of promise and hope, I think, cradled within the despair of the everyday. Things have never been easy for my people, a-and I know that, but I think it would be a good experience for each of us, living out at least one day as one of our own..." he lifted his eyes, quiet questioning twinged with a seriousness that normally was reserved for that survivors' instinct he showed only under Russia's abuses, "d-don't you think so...?"