For gar_demokratia

[belpaese]

[She's been getting ready for longer than wants to admit--fidgeting, doing and re-doing her hair, changing her skirt over and over. The painting of Hellas is in the next room over, inches away from being done, but she can't. Of course, she's not going to say that. She goes back into the art room to make sure the little table is properly set, tugs

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[gar_demokratia]

[she doesn't get the concept of knocking, so she walks in immediately]

Ita-- Ah. [walks over, smiling slightly. It's always relaxing to spend time with the young woman-- she's so enthusiastic and carefree it allows her to let go a little.]

[gar_demokratia]

[childlike is okay, at times, though it's nothing she would personally endorse-- childish, however, ticks her right off. She reaches out and clamps a hand over Italy's mouth at the end of that sentence, and looks at her sternly until she's sure the girl won't start ranting again as soon as she lets go]

Art is not for other people or for you to get pretty, flattering words, Italia. Art is something inside of you that needs to get out.

[belpaese]

[She shakes her head hard when Hellas lets her go, then covers her eyes with the heels of her hands as if to push the tears leaking out back in. Her voice has climbed up half an octave, too.] Don't tell me that like I don't know! And once it's out, then what? Other people have to love it for it to matter and be remembered and I'm not ever going to be remembered.

[gar_demokratia]

[she wants to tug at the other woman's ear, her hair, just to ground her and tell her to stop it already-- but she's not sure if she should, if she could get away with it]

That is our burden to carry, Italia, and it is not something you should be wasting tears on. [takes her hands, and presses her thumbs into Italy's wrists]

[belpaese]

[jerks away, still hiding her eyes] Ah, what burden do you have? Your art isn't even yours anymore.

[gar_demokratia]

Do people not remember my art? Do they not copy it all over your world? [keeps her grip on Italy's wrists] They may not remember me, but they remember my legacy.

[belpaese]

But only because my grandpa made it his and made the whole world love it! [tugs harder, now. She's deliberately skewing some facts, but somehow she doubts Hellas has read an art history text.]

[gar_demokratia]

[clenches her teeth and only grips her tighter, because that maddens her, the idea that she owes someone else her legacy]

However it went, Italia-- We cannot care about these things. If we leave something for the future, it will be a gift. It is never a given to be remembered.

[belpaese]

I don't want it to be that way! [She stomps her foot again, and tries one last time to get away. She shouldn't have started this at all; she should have said yes when Hellas offered herself up to be painted and let it lie.]

[gar_demokratia]

[her hand flies up to Italy's hair, and she grips it tightly at the base. She's angry with her because she reminded her of her eventual downfall; because she's not listening to her; because she is not acting her age]

But it is. You are behaving like a brat, it's unbecoming.

[belpaese]

[She looks honestly hurt, and bends into Hellas's grip with nothing more than a whimper.]

[gar_demokratia]

[pulls her closer to herself, the hand in her hair sliding down to the small of her back]

You will only hurt yourself if you have unrealistic expectations, Italia.

[belpaese]

[turns away, sullen, mouth in an angry little line. She's trying to think of something hurtful to say, but she's not feeling clever right now. She feels tiny and insignificant.]

[gar_demokratia]

Italia... [her voice has a warning tone to it-- she's still a little angry with the other woman, at such prissy behaviour from an obviously talented artist.]

[belpaese]

[She flinches at the sound of Hellas's voice and puts a hand on her shoulder--to shove her off, maybe, she's not sure.]

[gar_demokratia]

[she won't move away yet, instead wraps an arm around the other woman's waist a little more tightly] You should not need me to teach you this. You are old enough to know how these things work.