[America had a conversation with England, and it went--okay, maybe--and now he's gotta! Well, he's gotta tell a president he's dating someone oh god he's never done this before someone help him.]
Hey! Roland! Hi!
[The perfect introduction. He sounds nervous in a sort of manic way.]
[It's rather obvious to Roland that America is wound up about something. Pretending as though he hasn't noticed, Roland smiles warmly in exchange. It's good for them to talk, at least, but he hoped everything was alright.]
[Alright, whatever this is, it can't be that bad if America is going to open the conversation with "Guess what". Roland raises his eyebrows, continuing to smile.]
I'm, um, dating England. [America's voice dips down to a quieter register, but it's still plenty loud enough to hear.] I mean, I have been! So I figured, you know, I should tell you. And now you know! So!
[In all honesty, Roland hadn't noticed, and he can't stop an expression of mild shock from spreading across his face. Sure, the two of them seemed close, but he'd chalked that up to their unique identities as quasi-Kingmakers. Now, he'd heard of a leader and a Kingmaker mating, but two Kingmakers? From countries with the histories that their respective countries had? How unusual.]
[Clearly, America knew this, and when those pieces fall into place - his nervousness, how embarrassed he seemed to tell him, how he was clearly trying to blurt it out in a desperate effort to seem nonchalant- Roland can't stifle a bit of a laugh. Laughing isn't something he does too often, but when he does, it's affectionate - paternal, almost.]
-Sorry. It's not what you think; I'm happy for you two. Truly.
[He collects himself, beaming now. Could this be called young love? How sweet.]
You should have told me sooner. Ginger and I can give you some space when you need it.
[Oh, he's laughing--] It's--! [But then Roland is saying more stuff, so America calms down. A little. To be fair, America and calm are kind of opposites. But--okay, good. He's okay with it. That's good!]
Okay, good, I knew--I knew you'd be cool with it, I just--it's--weird to tell people, like--I dunno. [America's inexperience in relationships is glaringly obvious right now.]
[Roland doesn't think it's weird, but there's no sense trying to reassure an irrational anxiety. Empathy might be the better course - Roland watches America a moment, pensive.]
Hm...
[He's not the kind to be overtly sentimental, but he's been meaning to break the ice, so to speak, with his traveling companions - especially America, who he suspected had a difficult time putting Roland's occupation aside.]
Do you mind if I show you something, America?
[It's not as much of a departure from the topic at hand as he might think.]
[America doesn't mind changing the subject--really, almost anything else would be something he knows better how to deal with. While there's still a bit of lingering embarrassment, he looks more curious than anything.]
[Pleased that America has indulged him, Roland takes out his tablet and flips to the photo app. One of the first things he'd done upon his arrival, realizing there was no immediately obvious way to recharge his phone that Bracken had so kindly taken the trouble of fixing, was to save some of the photos that were important to him. He'd meticulously lined up his phone below the tablet camera and taken a picture of each picture - they aren't perfect quality, but they'd serve their sentimental purpose.
Roland shows America one of these images now; a posed photograph of him with his family. The Roland in the photo is easily thirty years older than the present one, though stress had aged him well beyond 50 years. He's accompanied by his wife, a grey-haired woman with a gentle smile, and a boy who could be the splitting image of his father if not for his pale skin and distinctly thin eyebrows. He gestures to the woman.]
My wife. Before we married, she was a politician outside of my party.
[Well, independent, but details. He's decides to spare America quite a few of those in an effort to be brief.]
Made ourselves sick trying to keep it quiet, at first. Then, when we decided to announce our engagement, I'd kept it a secret so long that I didn't know what to say.
[It was weird, in other words. He smirks. What a coincidence that the two of them managed to take controversial lovers.]
Guess what I'm trying to say now is that I know a thing or two about how you might be feeling. It'll work out.
[America looks at the photograph with obvious delight--he loves seeing his citizens happy, and happy families are one of his favorite kinds of happy. Roland looks a lot older here, which is curious, but look, he has a wife and a kid, and look at that kid, super cute! What a good kid!]
I'm good at talking, but not about, like--relationship stuff. [As if America would have to tell anyone who's been around him for more than fifteen seconds that he's good at talking.] It's all kind of weird with us--nations, I mean. 'Cause we've always gotta do what our bosses say and I've always gotta make sure all my people are happy before everything else, but, I mean--England's--really great.
[W...ords... Embarrassing... America looks like he's trying to hide in his jacket.]
[Pleased that America has indulged him, he stows his tablet and returns to the topic at hand. In a good mood, he playfully scolds him:]
You can enjoy your own happiness and still do those things, America.
[Come on, man.
Though he can't say he isn't enjoying watching America trip over himself like this. It's kind of... cute. His own son isn't old enough to tease, though Roland hopes that someday he will be.]
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revenantking) wrote2018-06-10 09:00 am
[action]
Hey! Roland! Hi!
[The perfect introduction. He sounds nervous in a sort of manic way.]
[action]
Hey, America. How's it going?
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What?
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1/2
2/2
-Sorry. It's not what you think; I'm happy for you two. Truly.
[He collects himself, beaming now. Could this be called young love? How sweet.]
You should have told me sooner. Ginger and I can give you some space when you need it.
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Okay, good, I knew--I knew you'd be cool with it, I just--it's--weird to tell people, like--I dunno. [America's inexperience in relationships is glaringly obvious right now.]
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Hm...
[He's not the kind to be overtly sentimental, but he's been meaning to break the ice, so to speak, with his traveling companions - especially America, who he suspected had a difficult time putting Roland's occupation aside.]
Do you mind if I show you something, America?
[It's not as much of a departure from the topic at hand as he might think.]
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Yeah, what is it?
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Roland shows America one of these images now; a posed photograph of him with his family. The Roland in the photo is easily thirty years older than the present one, though stress had aged him well beyond 50 years. He's accompanied by his wife, a grey-haired woman with a gentle smile, and a boy who could be the splitting image of his father if not for his pale skin and distinctly thin eyebrows. He gestures to the woman.]
My wife. Before we married, she was a politician outside of my party.
[Well, independent, but details. He's decides to spare America quite a few of those in an effort to be brief.]
Made ourselves sick trying to keep it quiet, at first. Then, when we decided to announce our engagement, I'd kept it a secret so long that I didn't know what to say.
[It was weird, in other words. He smirks. What a coincidence that the two of them managed to take controversial lovers.]
Guess what I'm trying to say now is that I know a thing or two about how you might be feeling. It'll work out.
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I'm good at talking, but not about, like--relationship stuff. [As if America would have to tell anyone who's been around him for more than fifteen seconds that he's good at talking.] It's all kind of weird with us--nations, I mean. 'Cause we've always gotta do what our bosses say and I've always gotta make sure all my people are happy before everything else, but, I mean--England's--really great.
[W...ords... Embarrassing... America looks like he's trying to hide in his jacket.]
I mean. Sometimes he is. [FIXED.]
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You can enjoy your own happiness and still do those things, America.
[Come on, man.
Though he can't say he isn't enjoying watching America trip over himself like this. It's kind of... cute. His own son isn't old enough to tease, though Roland hopes that someday he will be.]
He's your first love, then?