closed;

[meridione]

Who: England (unionjackoff) & Romana (meridione)
When: Evening of the 23rd!
Where: Tea For Two and onward.
What: Dumb nations being dumb and pretending they're not nations while going over sheet music and picking up a violin.
Rating/Warning: N/A

[Life is hard when you're a nation working at a restaurant serving up really crappy versions of your foods. Romana isn't in the best of foods when she finishes her shift, but she hopes that walking around for awhile will clear her mood up before she goes to meet this Kirkland guy. She's made a decent impression so far; she has to keep it up! Part of her wishes she could change out of her uniform, but she wasn't sure she'd be able to make it back to her apartment, change, and then make it here on time.

When she does arrive at Tea For Two, it's a little before six o'clock, so maybe she didn't need to worry. Either way, what's done is done, and she gets the attention of one of the employees before speaking up.]

I'm here to see Arthur Kirkland. Uh, I can wait, though...

[And wait she will, until he's all finished with his shift!]

Comments

yaaaaay!

[unionjackoff]

[the employee smiles at Romana]

Oh, yes! He mentioned you were coming. He'll be out in a few minutes.

[yeah, England is on top of things. when he comes out in his own uniform, looking sharp even though it's the end of the day. he unties his apron as the employee points him out]

[meridione]

[When she sees him, she does a double-take. Not because he's attractive or anything cliche like that, but because he actually sort of reminds her of England, or at least the England she knows. Maybe it's the color of his hair, or his eyes, or just his posture.

...well, maybe this guy's British. It's not so weird for a British person to look like their nation, is it? She straightens up a little and holds up a hand in a small wave to get his attention.]

You're Mr. Kirkland, aren't you? I'm Marietta.

[unionjackoff]

[the other employee and Marietta catch England's attention easily, and he immediately makes his way over to them, holding out his hand for a shake, if she wants to]

Yes, of course...

[though when England gets a closer look at her, he has to do his own double-take. that's funny, he feels as if he knows this woman. there's something familiar about her. it's the kind of feeling he gets when he's around others, like himself. nations. but he's never seen the lady before, he's certain. perhaps she possesses some sort of magic, and that is what he is sensing]

It's good to meet you.

[meridione]

You, too...

[She takes his hand to shake it, and gives him another curious once-over. The more she sees of him, the more familiar he seems, which is just... downright bizarre. The world is nowhere near as small as it once was. If there was another male nation running around, particularly a full-grown one, she would have met him by now. Or at least heard of him.

...maybe she's just so homesick that she's noticing similarities where there aren't any.]

So, uh... you must've been here for awhile. Long enough to be able to set up an orchestra... that's pretty impressive.

[unionjackoff]

[his hand lingers a moment, because England is still in a state of shock. her question brings him back to reality and he drops his arm]

Ah, I've been here since November, so not that long. It feels like longer.

[meridione]

Being away from home is bound to make anything feel longer.

[She pauses, unsure of what to say next. Romana has never been the best at conversation, but she doesn't like awkward silences, either.]

Is it... what's it like, being here?

[unionjackoff]

[that question makes England bark out a short laugh. he looks around, as though he were checking to see if anyone was watching them, before turning back to Romana]

I don't know if you want to hear what I have to say in regards to that.

[meridione]

I-I want to hear the truth. So I know what I need to prepare for.

[Although she says so, he isn't completely wrong in that she most likely won't like hearing what he has to say. Some things never change, and South Italy being easily frightened is one of them. Her hands are shaking, but she balls her hands into fists in an attempt at disguising it.]

[unionjackoff]

[fortunately for her, England doesn't notice the shaking. he does give her a sympathetic look, and he still has the same respect for her that he did when they were discussing the orchestra]

All right. Come with me, then. We'll find a place to sit. [England turns and begins heading for one of the back tables of the tea shop, where there are fewer people]