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

[commie_island]

[Notices the bandage as he walks by]

Hey...you alright?

[nirvananation]

[A nod, and a sheepish smile.]

I am fine, thank you for the concern.

[commie_island]

[And he's walking over.]

Are you sure? That doesn't look too clean.

[nirvananation]

Nothing here is all that clean, ana. [He stays where he is, watching the other country approach.]

[vaimoksein]

[That definitely catches his eye.]

Would you mind if I changed that bandage for you?

[nirvananation]

Ah...The help would appreciated, thank you.

[vaimoksein]

I have a spare roll of bandages and gauze with me, actually. I thought that they may be useful.

If you'd just take that one off for me, I'll be happy to affix the new one!

[nirvananation]

A handy thing to have. [A bit reluctantly, he reaches up to take off the bandage. He didn't want anyone to see, he didn't want to feel as if he'd lost another battle.

But...he'd won something too, hadn't he? Because he hadn't given in.]

It is a bit gruesome, but...[He takes off the bandage, revealing an empty eye socket.]

[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.

[scentofbauhinia]

[reluctantly doing his rounds, spots Thailand and his bandaged eye]

...Thailand?

What happened?

[nirvananation]

[He stops working, and looks up. He's not really sure what to say, at first. Because somehow...it seemed like in losing his eye, he also let his family down.]

I was disobedient, and paid the price. [And I plan on doing it again.]

[scentofbauhinia]

[His expression is fairly blank as usual, despite his concern for his brother, but when he hears those words, there's the briefest flash of real panic in his eyes for a moment.

...So this was the sort of thing that would happen to people if he accepted his new task?]

That bandage needs to be changed.

[nirvananation]

[Seeing that look of panic, however brief, makes Thailand feel incredibly guilty. His brother...

Suddenly the sad smile disappears completely, and for a few moments he looks terribly sad. Sad for his family, and the people, and himself.]

I will find someone, ana. I do not wish to have it get infected.

[pinkplumblossom]

[Walks by after a very long day of work at the factory. If she didn't have so many factories at home, she probably would've been horribly maimed herself by now. All the same, she can't just pass by Thailand in such a state without noticing.]

"...Thailand?"

[nirvananation]

Ah...[He shoves thoughts of his injury and his plans to the back of his mind, and hops up, running over to her. A bright smile is on his face, as he's happy to see her back to normal.

Thailand is worried, however, and as soon as he reaches her, he looks to make sure there aren't any missing parts.]

You have not been harmed?

[pinkplumblossom]

[Taiwan looks fine, if a little dirty and very exhausted.]

"No, I am fine. You, on the other hand..."

[Raises her hand to touch his cheek underneath where his missing eye is bandaged.]

[nirvananation]

[And the smile saddens.] It is nothing to worry about.