[Post 035] Video/Text/Action for Olivine City

[of_france]

[Video/Text]

[France's face comes onto the feed looking... Well, he certainly doesn't look happy. In fact, he looks like he's trying very hard not to be sad, his expression somewhere between painfully repressed panic and abject despair. It appears that he has something he wants to tell the network, but he can't seem to make himself open his mouth

Comments

[Video]

[tiercelet]

...I found Nuvole.

[Of course he he's gone. Merlin knows that. He'd woken up and found a forlorn Drifblim hovering in the living room when he'd gone downstairs to start his shift. A quick check with the pokedex had revealed Lovino's old pokemon to be his now. It didn't take a genius to figure out what had happened.]

[Video]

[of_france]

Ah.

[France rubs his hand over the right side of his face.]

Yes. That would make sense...

[He motions vaguely.]

Did you find him yesterday?

[Video] private to Francis

[tiercelet]

Yesterday morning. I was going to call you and ask but I've been trying to get everyone into Goldenrod on time. Before we leave for Mahogany.

[Video] Private to Merlin

[of_france]

[France nods slowly. He's obviously not focusing too well on the conversation in general, and it takes him a bit longer than could be excused by transmission lag to respond.]

That fits the time frame I have.

[He blinks and then latches onto the escape route Merlin's offered, smiling gratefully, if a little awkwardly.]

What's happening in Mahogany?

[video]

[blacklodged]

[That look on his face had been alarming ... and it only reminds Cooper of when Canada disappeared and France had completely broken down. Though he's not there to offer any kind of physical comfort right now, he can at least see how his friend is doing.]

France, I'm sorry. Are you holding up okay?

[In his typically blunt but kind manner.]

[Video]

[of_france]

[The situation is a sadly familiar one, isn't it? France's expression is watery now, since he's been crying, and he shrugs a bit sharply, although, when he speaks, his tone carries no actual anger. He sounds more resigned than anything else.]

Thanks.

[He pauses for a moment, honestly considering the question before letting out a soft laugh, humorless and sad.]

As well as can be expected...

[Video]

[blacklodged]

[He gives him a very small smile in response to that. That's about as well as anyone can handle these random disappearances, really, and he doesn't fault France at all for his tears.]

That's better than not at all.

[There's a quiet invitation there - if he'd like to talk, Coop will listen. He's sure France will be okay as long as he can grieve first ... but grief is a powerful thing, and people handle it differently. He might not be much help on the other side of a video screen, but hell, there's still an offer.]

[Video]

[of_france]

[That earns Cooper a weak but sincerely grateful smile. He sighs heavily, passing the cuffs of his chef uniform over his eyes.]

The worst part -

[He breaks off with sound between the sigh and and the humorless laugh, his face drawn into a grimace.]

I don't even know what the worst part is.

[Action]

[somanytosofew]

[After seeing that non-message, the look on France's face, how can he not worry? There's something wrong with seeing France caught in genuine depression, rather than the cultivated artistic philosophical depression that he's always been so fond of.

It takes a while to find him, but he's manages it eventually, and stands in the doorway, knocking at the doorframe once to announce his presence.]

[Action]

[of_france]

[France looks up at the knock, squinting at the door as he wipes tears off of his face.][His voice wavers and he coughs on it, sniffing and trying buy a bit of time to compose himself.]

Do you need something from the storage?

[Action]

[somanytosofew]

[His voice is surprisingly gentle when he speaks, moving to sit down next to him.]

There's an idiot in there who looks like he might get beaten by a wet paper bag at the moment, and we can't have that.

[Action]

[of_france]

[France scowls a bit.]

Only you would come up with such an ugly metaphor.

[He scrubs at his eyes.]

How did you find me anyways?

[action]

[exeggutorhead]

[There is no way Envy wouldn't have been worried after seeing France's expression in that transmission. Even if Envy hadn't ever gotten along with Romano, France had obviously cared a lot about the little Nation, and this was reminding Envy a lot of the time Canada disappeared. This time France didn't ask for him specifically, but he's going to find him anyway.]

[The restaurant is actually one of the first places Envy goes to search, and another helpful employee directed him to the storage room. He knocks once before opening the door and starting inside, looking around for France.]

France?

[Action]

[of_france]

[France hadn't asked because part of him had instinctively trusted Envy to find him. France looks up at the knock, starting to dry his face, but he stopped attempting to be presentable when Envy comes in. Instead, he just reaches out and latches onto Envy wordlessly, burying his face in Envy's torso. The storage room isn't very large with all the items in it.]

Close the door.

[Action]

[exeggutorhead]

[France was right; at this point, asking isn't really necessary. Envy just nods and reaches back to pull the door shut again, frowning in concern. Hugs are still a pretty unusual thing for him to do, but right now definitely seems like the time for one, and he only hesitates a moment before wrapping his arms around France and holding him closely.]

[He doesn't ask if France is alright; he can see that he isn't, and that question has always felt hollow and stilted when Envy says it. He grips the back of France's shirt.] How long have you been back here?

[Action]

[of_france]

[France accepts that hug gratefully, gluing himself to Envy's side and pretty much entirely invading his personal space. He breathes out, shuddering.]

I don't know. What time is it?

[Text] ooc; if it even works like that /sob

[ttlyahero]

[After seeing the video flicker on and then the text show up instead, even America can't be an idiot about something like that.

Which is partly why he's going to write a message back.

Hopefully he doesn't make the situation worse though...]

Uh, hey. Try to not let it get you down too much, okay? I don't know much about this place yet - but I'm sure he'll be alright!

[Yeah, he's really not sure if that'll help at all, but he felt like he needed to say something.]

[Text] Yes, I'm pretty sure it works like this X3

[of_france]

[France appreciates America's efforts, even if he doesn't personally share the optimism.]

People tend to come and go suddenly here. It is the one thing that I will never get used to. It's as if they just vanish into thin air.

[Text] Oh good X"3

[ttlyahero]

[Well it's a little difficult to really, it's a wonder how he has so much of it most of the time.]

I heard something about that, but at the same time at least it's nice to know they're only going back home. Or at least that's what I heard.

[Text] Oh good X"3

[of_france]

[Now would probably not be a good time to tell America that France suspects they might be dead. That week-long stint France spent with his soul-stolen and in a nightmare world didn't help discourage his theory. It'll be something he'll discuss with America either when they meet up or after America settles in.]

There are some who come back, sometimes with memories of their stay here, sometimes without. Either way, it is not easy for us who are left behind.

You were here before in the form of a child under England's rule.