[OPEN]

[cashnotash.livejournal.com]

Characters: Iceland (cashnotash ) and you.
Location: Around the Shopping District; near Death By Pastry or near the Northern Lights would work, too!
Rating: Should be G unless anyone's acting up.
Time: November 14; Lunchtime/afternoon-ish
Description: It's a boring Sunday and Iceland is going out for lunch. Hopefully something (or someone) interesting would alleviate the boredom.


[ It's just another day in Death City for Iceland. Morning comes, he skipped training because he still doesn't feel like it, he tried to avoid thinking anything that's related to his partner, he had breakfast with Alice, the usual. There's nothing of significance except that he felt bored, more so than usual. Perhaps it's because he's been trapped here for three months now, or perhaps it's because he doesn't really have anything to do ever since BREW decided to make him partnerless. Well, he doesn't really have anything to do either aside from going to class and work when Nura was still with him, but at least he could go on a mission anytime. He's been considering trying to resonate with someone else just for the sake of going on a mission and get out of the city for a while, but decided against it in the end (as usual). He's not ready to replace his lost partner yet, it's still too soon.

Well, you know what? Screw everything. It's Sunday, there's no work or class, and he's going out for lunch. Normally, he'd take Alice with him, but right now, he's in the mood for going solo. Even crushes are no exception when it comes to precious alone time. That's how he ended up strolling in the Shopping District, with either the Northern Lights or Death By Pastry in mind, secretly hoping that something interesting would happen. Or even someone, for that matter. ]


[[ooc; either action or prose works. please state the location in the subject line! tags will most likely come in the morning or WHEN I AM AWAKE because I need to sleep now, hnnnngh. ]]

Comments

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[Apollo could walk around fine now without being assaulted by dizziness or soreness of any sort. He knew how to wash up (that first time didn't count), and after having done so, he decided to take a walk. Staying inside was getting boring and his muscles were getting weak from lack of usage. He steps outside after having dressed appropriately (he hated them, but it was better than getting sick again), and his feet lead him to the shops that displayed many things that were supposedly required to live.

He snorts, wondering at the high-maintenance and how needy these mortals were.

And his hair kept getting in the way. How annoying.

He was distracted by the task of trying to keep his hair back that he almost didn't see someone in front of him, but stopped in time before he could crash into their back.

He sighs in slight frustration.]

[cashnotash.livejournal.com]

[ Boredom is indeed the newest trend in Death City. Among the guests, specifically. Being someone who travels a lot (at least in recent decades), Iceland couldn't stand being trapped in a place for an extended period of time. Especially in a place like Death City. Not that it's not hospitable, but he just...doesn't like it. He had developed a certain disdain for it, actually. Unfortunately, it seems like BREW wasn't planning to send him home anytime soon, which means he had to deal with it for a long time. Hopefully not as long as his paranoid thoughts told him, though.

The platinum blond was still trying to determine his destination; all while taking in his surroundings and trying to find anything that caught his attention when he heard someone sighs behind him. Normally he wouldn't even bat an eyelash, but boredom makes you do crazy things. In his case, it's turning around and asked a stranger what's wrong. Which is what he's doing now. ]

Something's wrong?

[ Hopefully you don't mind being scrutinised, Apollo. He did that to (almost) everyone, actually. ]

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[Well, yes. His long, long hair which is making him look more like a girl than usual needs tying amongst other things, but that was his matter to take care of.

He ignores the question, stands straight though it isn't very effective with the slightly large coat, and counters with one of his own.]

Find something interesting?

[cashnotash.livejournal.com]

[ The boy (?) he was speaking with seems interesting. At the very least, he's also bored like him, as indicated by his question. Although, the Nation thought that he was a girl at first, what's with the long, long hair and all. Apollo's voice has saved him from this mis-assumption (?), though. ]

No. Not yet. [ Pale blue eyes scanning the crowd around them once more, still trying to find something interesting. It doesn't take long for him to shift his gaze back to the god. ] You?

[ Crossed his arms, adopting a more casual, albeit still guarded, stance. Actually, he was a bit surprised by the question, and the fact that the other ignored his question completely, as if it was never asked, but of course, it doesn't show. ]

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[Honestly, he had just wanted wander around on his own and hopefully not run into anything troublesome, but maybe he should find out a little bit more about the place he may or may not familiarize himself with.

The boy in front of him wasn't that ugly, he supposed.]

Nothing new.

[a pointed look at one of the stores]

Vanity, greed...

[cashnotash.livejournal.com]

Oh. Well, that's too bad.

[ Even though his words indicates disappointment, his expression remained impassive. Well, he is a little disappointed, but also weirdly sort-of glad at the same time, because that means he's not the only one who's bored as hell, right?

Iceland followed the other's gaze, quietly noting that he haven't seen him around. Maybe he's one of the new arrivals. He'd settle at that theory for now, because what Apollo said next caught his interest. There's a few moments of silence as he tried to determine the motive behind his words. ]

Any reason why you suddenly say that?

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[He smiles a smile that is never kind.]

They are full of them, aren't they? Humans. Selfish, always wanting more. And they themselves know that well enough to manipulate those desires for further gain. These--[a slight nod at what he's looking at]--are proof of that.

SORRY FOR THE LATE, I'M SLOW

[cashnotash.livejournal.com]

[ If Apollo was hoping to invoke some strong emotions from him, well, he'd be sorely disappointed because his expression still remained nonchalant as he listened to the god quite attentively. Perhaps his words does incite an emotion or more, mostly astonishment (Iceland didn't see that coming, really) and shock, but of course, he kept it hidden very well. When it comes to emotions other than embarrassment (and all that jazz), he's very good at hiding them. Unsurprisingly, perhaps.

Right now he had completely discarded his belief about the sun god being an underage boy who looked a lot like a girl. His eyes, the way he carries himself, and more importantly, his words, says otherwise. It makes the silver-haired country wonder if he had encountered yet another inhuman being. ]

In a way, yes. [ A nod, he can agree with the other on some parts, surprisingly. But then again, he'd been observing humanity for quite some time now. Maybe it's nothing comparing to Apollo, but still. ] But it's human nature, I guess, and if they don't have them, they're not going to make any progress. They're going to stuck in stone age forever.

[ Shrugs, looking like he doesn't care. ]

It's fine <3

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[Yes, greed was like a double-edged sword, useful yet harmful. A slow-acting poison, even, that once it invades the system, it can only only go deeper until you notice too late that it has consumed you.

Apollo turned back to the boy. The way he spoke, the words he used, implied that he was a separate entity from the species they were talking about.]

Not human?

<3!

[cashnotash.livejournal.com]

[ Iceland was perfectly aware of that; although he's still a child comparing to Apollo, he understand how humans and the world works. There's a lot that he doesn't understand yet, and he realised that, but the vices of humanity, not excluding greed, wasn't one of those things. Greed was just something he'd witnessed throughout his life, as with vanity.

Even if he was human, it's still possible for him to speak in the same way, because he's an observer by nature, although his words won't carry as much power as it is now. Perhaps he doesn't say something extremely wise, but from the way he said it, it's clear that he truly knows what he - and Apollo - was talking about. In contrast with his apathetic attitude and appearance. ]

In a way.

[ That question confirms the notion that he is, indeed, speaking with a non-human being. He wanted to ask what the other is really, but well. There's no need to hurry. He's going to reveal it sooner or later. ]

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[Apollo raises a brow, obviously expecting more of an explanation. He seemed to be one of those quiet ones, not speaking unless spoken to, and no more or less than what was needed. Those types could get boring quickly, but he would have to see depending on the answer.]

SUPER-LATE TAG, SORRY ;____;

[cashnotash.livejournal.com]

[ Good communication is effective and precise communication, and there's no need for excessive words. That's his principle. It's something that runs in the family, it seems, because Norway was the same, albeit more extreme. He's definitely more talkative than his brother. However, he understood the nonverbal language (even though he stared for a while, expecting Apollo to say something else) and opened his mouth to answer. ]

I'm a Nation. Or "personification of a country", if you preferred that. I'm human, in a sense, or not human at all. Depends on how you see it. [ ... ] You?

It's okay ;w;

[sundere.livejournal.com]

Oh, so there are more of you. [He takes another good look. Quite different from the one he already met. Which nation does this one represent?]

I'm God. Apollo.

thanks ;u;

[cashnotash.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there are more of us. [ A nod, silently noting that look. It's probably easy to tell that he's one of the European nations from his features, mannerisms and accent, and his paler-than-normal skin tone is a tell-tale mark that he's representing one of the colder countries. It's been suffering from Death City's horrible weather, but recently, it'd returned to its normal tone. It's safe to say that he seems like someone who'd never seen the sun. ] You'd met one of us before?

[ Cue supermassive pause, a somewhat-shocked expression, and lots of staring. After a while, his expression shifted back to its nonchalant state, however. ]

One of Greece's gods? [ So you guys are real? Iceland actually wanted to ask that as well, but for once, he used his common sense and realised that it'll be extremely disrespectful to say so. ] It's nice to meet you, er, Apollo.

[ Real life is apparently stranger than fiction since there are gods walking in Death City's streets. ]

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[Apollo is used to various reactions that follow his introduction, including this one. The Nation had been very calm this whole time that he had expected quiet disbelief rather than the shocked stare, but it was fine. Amusing, even. The words that came after that were better, oddly funny in this situation. People sure seemed to like saying that phrase, whether it was true not.]

Never seen a deity before? Or are you so taken in with the ridiculous stories as well that you're shocked because I'm not what you expected?

[cashnotash.livejournal.com]

[ It's still hard to believe that's he's speaking with a god, but he's been in Death City for a while now. He's sort of used to meeting other inhuman creatures. Never a god, but, well, he'd like to think that he'd seen one or two gods during his childhood. Of course, it was such a long time ago and his memories were hazy. But that's Iceland, for you. He may be a skeptic and a cynic at times, but once he believed in something, his faith is unwavering, and he doesn't give a damn about what the rest of the world said. ]

Maybe a little bit of both. I don't really believe the "ridiculous stories", though, and perhaps I'd seen a deity or two before. I'm not sure about it.

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[In Apollo's personal opinion, seeing a human representation of a nation was weirder. With a god, there was at least the possibility of existence whereas this had been unheard of, even to him.]

Well, then how fortunate for you, or perhaps it's unfortunate. Contrary to what those who believe in us think, we aren't merciful or caring in anyway.

[cashnotash.livejournal.com]

[ Not that he cares about other people's opinion. Apollo's wasn't an exception. It's rather...upsetting at first, hearing things like that, but after a while, he'd gotten used to it. His eyes flickered with interest at what the sun god said next. ]

Care to elaborate?

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[His smile could be mistaken for good-natured if one didn't know how to distinguish moods and emotions well. The god was never so; only cold and childishly cruel.]

That's it. No matter how much they pray and worship, it has no bearing on the way we act, feel, or think. There are no blessings or judgement. If they happen to get what they prayed for, or misfortune falls upon them when they feel they have sinned, it was only a coincidence.

[cashnotash.livejournal.com]

[ Well, Iceland had mistaken it for a good-natured one, but being the observant one, he noticed something...cold behind that smile. Besides, Apollo's words are in contrast with the supposedly pleasant smile. There's another long pause, it took a while for the other's words to sink in. ]

Maybe in your world. Every world works differently.

[ The impact wasn't so hard since he's an atheist of some sort. Or more like, being a Lutheran is only a formality; he believed more in the old gods. But he's still not ultra-religious, so that lessened the impact. A lot. ]

[sundere.livejournal.com]

The ones from my world, yes. That's obvious. It makes this place far from completely boring.

When they meet me, I don't bother to let them fantasize. Man-made impressions are tiresome.

[cashnotash.livejournal.com]

[ He's actually still kind of shocked thanks to Apollo's words, but he managed to hide it behind that indifferent mask yet again. ]

This place would never be completely boring. [ And after he stumbled upon the god, he truly believed that. ] Telling the truth is always better.

[ Although he doesn't really believe what he said either, when it comes to this. ]

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[laughs a little]

Always better? Really? People seem to be fond of lying despite knowing that. Since they can both hurt, they prefer the one that hurts less in that moment.

[cashnotash.livejournal.com]

[ Thoughtful pause; composing his reply carefully. ]

Lying is a human trait. If there's truth, there's lie. They're two sides of the same coin. Preferring the one that hurts less in that moment is a human trait, too.

[sundere.livejournal.com]

[His smile grows just a little wider, impressed. He knows that very, very well as it is common knowledge between him and the other gods. Not many below them see it that way, much less realise it. Maybe he should stick around for a little longer before going on his way?]

Well. [changes subject abruptly] What are you doing out here?