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

[francia]

[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. Or maybe he can, but, if he did, he'd probably end up screaming. This uncomfortable moment lasts for a substantial amount of time before France cancels the transmission.]

[A few minutes later, the following open text appears.]

It appears that Romano has left this place. He is, at the very least, missing. He disappeared somewhere in the late evening to early morning hours of this past Saturday to Sunday.

If anyone has more information, please contact me.



[Action]

[France is in the storage room of the Olivine City Restaurant, hiding there until the place closes. His shift is over, but he doesn't want to go back to the hotel, where he's been sharing a room with Romano. All of Romano's personal effects are still there, including the clothes France made for him and the new ones that France had just started working on. There's the premade meals in the mini-fridge for Romano to eat while France is at work, and there's Toro's pokeball on the dresser, which reminds France also of Spain, who's been gone for almost a year now. All those little things...]

[France puts his head in his hands, elbows resting on his knees, and cries.]

Comments

[Video]

[dragonspeak]

...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.livejournal.com]

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

[dragonspeak]

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]

[tapestodiane]

_{[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.livejournal.com]

[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]

[tapestodiane]

_{[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.]}

[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.livejournal.com]

[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]

[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.livejournal.com]

[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?

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

[isahero]

[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.livejournal.com]

[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

[isahero]

[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.

[Video]

[drugsbeleid.livejournal.com]

I have his Eevee.

[ Netherlands had found the lost little creature earlier, scratching at the door in an attempt to (presumably) head out and search for his pint-sized trainer. ]

[Video]

[of-france.livejournal.com]

[France inclines his head slightly, reaching up and swiping at his eyes.]

That... makes sense.

[He sighs shakily.]

None of the others?

[Video]

[drugsbeleid.livejournal.com]

Just the Eevee. [ He pauses at that to think what to say next. ]

People go home. It's better in the long run.

[ That what he kept telling himself when Canada disappeared just a few weeks ago. ]

[text]

[meatysoviet.livejournal.com]

[He's not entirely sure how to react- not because Romano is gone, he barely had any (acknowledged) contact with him, but with the fact that Francis is so obviously upset about it... That and the fact it's actual sadness rather than some melodramatic display.

He goes to say something on the 'Gear but... hesitates before switching to text and typing instead- he's rather the other didn't know how awkward the exchange actually was.]

Where are you?

[While they don't get on more than public civilness in his current time period, he does have a soft spot for the blonde. A tiny one.]

[Text]

[of-france.livejournal.com]

[France would be touched to know that Russia has a genuine soft spot for him! Although, it being Russia and the fact he's the Soviet Union at his particular point int time, France might be a little freaked out, too.]

Olivine City. Where are you?

[video]

[justicereigns]

Damn. Sorry. If I see him, I'll keep an eye out for him.

[Video]

[of-france.livejournal.com]

[France offers a weak but sincere smile.]

Thank you. You never know with this place sometimes...

[text] t-totally not late

[gochuugoku.livejournal.com]

I have his Pachirisu.

[Text] I'm sorry I'm so late in replying TAT

[of-france.livejournal.com]

Ah, okay. When did you find it?

[France is trying to make sure that Romano didn't disappear for other reasons or at another time.]

[audio] fashionably super late

[thattrail.livejournal.com]

Roman- the kid? He's gone?