crotchroses | ♕ deux; [video (French)/text (translated)]

I am quite bored here, with so little to do. Perhaps, should anyone in Spero desire friendly company, I could be of service? Nothing with the strings attached, as they say; perhaps a talk on the roof of a building in the starlight or a meeting over lunch or dinner.

--Despite how terrible the food is here, anyway. It is just a little better than starvation... [Something in his tone says he's not sure how sincere that statement is.]

Oh! Speaking of disgusting food, I have a story to tell you. It features a then small nation by the name of Angleterre. You would know him as Arthur Kirkland! Or that irritable Englishman with the caterpillars above his eyes.

Anyway, this little one was uncouth, unwashed and uncultured. Such a small angry thing! But he secretly desired that he could be as cultured as... me! It took months, but he grew out his mangy hair.

It looked something like here.

[Not an IC cut. He's holding up a wad of fur. Don't ask him where he got it.] It looked like that, except it obscured his features and he looked wild!

I came to visit him and in my graciousness, returned his hair to the way it suits him; the way it is today! He could have chosen something much better, I assure you my sense of style is not limited to that kind of mop. But it is the one he wanted, and he has kept it ever since!

[Like the jerk he is, he repeats this ENTIRE MESSAGE in TEXT so everyone can read it.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nonsense! You wouldn't have brought it up if it did not matter to you. Perhaps you have not asked the right nation, or the right questions, eh?

It is better not to ask with a specific example. We are so diverse, and our histories long and detailed.

Aye. [Waves a hand.] Pay it no attention, just musing out loud I suppose.

Non, you cannot get away that easily. Something is bothering you concerning Japon, am I correct?

Bothering is too strong of a word.

So that is a 'oui.' Is this concerning him and Chine?

Not specifically.

Out with it.

[Now he just getting into stubborn mode. Something Japan is probably quite familiar with.]

It's nothing Francois. [Coolly arches an eyebrow.]

So you will not mind if I bring this issue to Kiku!

Go ahead. He already knows.

That it bothers you?

[Shifts jaw.]

Make no mistake, I'll protect Japan against anyone or anything. Brother, ally, or nakama.

[That... doesn't explain it though.]

Eh.

If you cannot tell me what this is about, I cannot help you, ami.

It's not something that can be helped, eh?

Denmark once explained that centuries of infighting later, his and Sweden's royal families married and had kids, and that was the only common ground they could find to try to get past it. So it is like that. I'm not so forgiving. For me, a betrayal is unforgivable, and yet... mistakes happen. [Thinking of Squardo and how to explain it to an outsider.] I've got a handle on it, but thank you Francois.

Mm. Danemark is right. A betrayal is a betrayal, but mistakes and misjudgments occur. There was a time when Angleterre and I would have gladly seen the other wiped from the face of the Earth, and yet...

... In the year Kiku resides, there was a great war across the entire world. That year, my armies protected the Allies against Allemagne's soldiers in a city of mine by the name of Dunkirk.

I kept Allemagne's forces away as best I could while hundreds of thousands of soldiers escaped to Angleterre's land across the sea. It was not long after this that Allemagne took my capital.

Eh, the rest is history, as they say.

How long ago was that for you?

Roughly seventy years.

Still relatively recent then, or would you disagree?

Not in the eyes of humans, and it is they who run the world. Allemagne and I, in my time, are allies, and Angleterre is my closest ally. But, ah, some nations will never heal their scars against one another, I think.

It's strange for me to try to consider it in terms of countries though. In my time and world, the countries are all relatively united under the World Government. There aren't any wars between them, and whatever disagreements arise are usually between rulers.

It still reminds me of Rome when you say they are united. I was a child, and would run away to become independent. My name then was Gaule.

But--Oui, our disputes usually are between our bosses and citizens. Disputes between the nations themselves come from and reflect these, though we have our own moments of conflict as well.

Eh, I have never had to explain this, come to think of it.

Sounds cute. Although I guess when you put it like that, I can see why stories of my Pops reminded Belgium of him.

Heh, advantages and disadvantages to a different world, eh? But aye, I think I understand the personal conflict vs. defending and doing what's right for your people. Japan and I have discussed it at some length as well. Best as I can tell, your people are like your crew. It's your job to protect them because without them, nothing really means much, eh. Although Denmark always says I have that wrong, but I don't think metaphors are his strong point.

♕ deux; [video (French)/text (translated)]

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