hopefragment | week 06, sunday, after the ball announcement

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!vices

week 06, sunday, after the ball announcement

[Okay, Hinata's literally never been to a fancy party in his entire life. Why would he? Normal Japanese teenagers don't normally find themselves in need of formal wear for anything other than a school event, and certainly not for something called a "ball." That's seriously something he's only ever seen in movies.

So when the announcement is made, he half-considers ignoring it because, well, he'll just make a fool of himself. But... he also owes it to a certain someone to show up, just in case she's there? Which is what brings him knocking on Poland's door, or finding her wherever she might be wandering around, doing his very best to look Cool with a bag from the clothes store slung over his arm.]

Um... Poland, can I ask you something? It's not important, and if you're busy, it's fine...

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For learning purposes though, just follow me for now.

So. One. [Step.] Two. [Step.] Three--eeh! [OW. ow.

Maybe she should have gotten dressed.]

[Right, okay, he can do this. He tries to step along with her while looking at her face, and like that, it's almost inevitable that he steps on her foot in his shoes.]

Sorry! I'm sorry! [He just tries to wiggle backward out of her arms, pulling his own hands back.]

I'll, um, take my shoes off... I'm sorry, are you okay?

[Ow ow ow-- IT'S FINE. EVERYTHING IS FINE.]

Just... Hold on.

[While Hinata removes his shoes, Poland disappears into the bathroom with a bag and some red pumps. Then re-emerges wearing a pretty dress and her red pumps.

She's still got the curlers in her hair though.]

Okay. Let's try again. [Poland starts to hum an indiscriminate tune.] Pay attention to me and listen to the music.

One and Two. Three and Four?

[He honestly looks like a kicked puppy. He hates seeing people get hurt? Why did this have to happen to him, Hajime Hinata.

Now with his shoes safely removed from his feet, he just nods and puts his hands back on her waist. He is absolutely looking at his feet now though, because he doesn't want to risk stepping on her again! Before she can call him out on it, he has to mention,]

Um... I like your outfit, Poland. I'm sorry if I step on your feet again.

[She wanted a dramatic unveiling but. If clothing will help Hinata, in the spirit of Easter she will sacrifice herself for him.

Exactly like how Jesus himself sacrificed for all our sins.]

You're forgiven.

Okay. Um. Maybe this is the way to go. Once the song's played for like a second or two the beat you need to step with should be pretty simple to figure out.

So just watch your feet til you have it down-- then move on to looking at Roxy.

One and two and three and four. Five and six and seven and eight.

[Once he gets this down she can show him twirls. And dips. And hand kisses.]

Thanks.

[The clothing definitely does help, yeah. While he might be 100% Hella Into Roxy Lalonde, dancing with a cute girl in a bathrobe is still pretty distracting! Not to mention his confidence when it comes to learning new things is pretty low as it is.

He counts silently to himself as he moves his feet, concentrating intensely. He really does want to get this right! He's just very clearly not all that coordinated. About average, really, so he's getting it! Just slowly.

At least he doesn't step on her feet again, though there's some near misses and quick sorry!s every now and then.]

Do all countries learn this, or is it just something you kind of... know?

Well. I love to dance. [Poland's gently guiding him along on counts of eight. It's a muscle memory thing you get better at it as you go.]

It's always been easier to get through a party by dancing as opposed to like. Trying to deal with a bunch of strangers trying to strike up a conversation with you all night long? ... I'm not good at it.

[If you don't remember back to six weeks ago Hinata, Poland is actually incredibly shy.]

You sort of had to learn, especially if you're an older nation. We used to do balls all the time and had fancy political functions where you had to rub elbows and be charming with your allies and whatnot for your boss.

Wars led to winners and losers and that led to treaties which led to new parties which led to new allies and maybe even a marriage. On and on and on. There was always someone in Europe fighting with someone and bringing all the rest of us into it.

Now we still do those things but it's a little less higher stakes I guess. I'm not in charge of the whole of Eastern Europe anymore at least. [Her glory days are gone.]

Mm.

[He just nods -- he absolutely does remember how shy she was, before they became friends. But he's quiet as she explains about nations, finally lifting his eyes from his feet to look her in the eye as she speaks. It still feels a little awkward to him, but at least he's moving along with her a little better now.]

I... didn't realize you'd been in control of Europe. That sounds really... [he pauses, then laughs quietly, shaking his head.] I was going to say "stressful," but I don't think that'd even cover the half of it, would it?

Well I was married to Lithuania at the time too! [It was split between the two of them but. It was pretty apparent that it wasn't really split evenly. Power wise.] Our bosses made us get married and it worked out for the best.

Except not. Really because then we were really big. And everyone wanted a piece of us... all the time. Not that we totally couldn't hold our own or anything but. [Fighting was more of a necessity than a fun thing. They just wanted to keep their stuff and tend to their fields??? Leave us alone?]

That's not the part I miss. [She misses being with Lithuania.]

Ah, right... so you guys would have been like a team?

[He still can't really wrap his mind around the idea of their "bosses" -- he guesses she means... kings? presidents? what even counts as a boss... -- forcing them to get married. They're countries, but.... they're also people. if they want to be together, shouldn't they be allowed to make that kind of choice?

That's... really none of his business, though, so he just hums, lightly tightening his fingers around her waist in lieu of a shoulder-squeeze.]

You'll get back together, though, [he says a little quietly, tilting his head to try to meet her eyes a little better with a smile.] I mean... I think it's obvious to everyone how much you guys care for each other. "Bosses" say-so or not, I mean... nothing can really stop you guys if you both want to, right?

Sorta! That's probably a good way to describe it. Partners!

[Poland's quiet as Hinata speaks. She doesn't really want to reform an empire with Lithuania-- the nation. She just wants to be with Lithuania-- the person.

That's the thing though. Poland's not quite sure how else to make her intentions clear to Lithuania, she must understand. And just not feel the same way.]

Ah.

Hey I think you're getting the hang of it!

Why don't you try spinning me to keep things spicy! [Wink.]

Poland...

[Ugh she's changing the subject, but he's not going to pry. Poland knows best, after all? Though he might try talking to Lithuania about it at a later time...]

S-spinning?

[Plus now he has to focus on that, and he flushes. With his hands on her waist, he has no idea how to start doing that, so he just kind of... shifts his hands as if trying to twist her around. Help Him.]

L-like that?

[Why do you and Faize always want to talk about such depressing things when she can clearly just suppress them with a smile instead??]

...

[Poland bursts out laughing. Not just because Hinata's approach to spinning her was absolutely ridiculous but because she is also ticklish there.]

Oh-- oh Hinata. Okay Um. No like this. [Here she'll take his hands. And spin him like she wanted him to spin her.]

Got it?

Sorry!

[he's doing a lot of apologizing, but when she laughs, he can't help but laugh, too, letting her take his hands and spin him around.]

Y-yeah, I think I get it. Can you just do that whenever you want to, when you're dancing?

[inb4 he just spins Roxy like a top around the entire dance floor.]

In moderation! Just like when things get kind of stale and you need a change of pace.

There's also dipping-- you're a little tall for me to dip so you have to figure this one out.

Just pull me close and then lean me back... slowly.

Uh... right.

[He is much too tall for her to dip, so he does exactly as instructed, pulling her in and shifting his hands to try leaning her back. Except--]

Am I supposed to lean forward with you, or stay standing straight up?

[Nice job Hinata.] You can lean in too, just make sure you're stable so you don't drop anyone.

[he tries his best! and hopefully the silly, pleased grin on his face makes up for any awkwardness, because he honestly seems a little proud of himself for being able to do it.]

Got it.

[and he tries to lean in! before pulling her back upright and grinning.]

I think I can do that.

Congratulations!

You've passed Dancing 101.

Here's your proof of certification.

[Poland pecks him on the cheek. Red lip stick smudge and all.]

Ah...

[Well now he's flaring pink enough to match his tie, covering that spot with his hand as he laughs.]

We'll see if I remember any of it by tonight, but... thanks, Poland. I really do appreciate all of this.

[Wait, no, okay, he's seen this shit in movies. At the end of a dance, guys usually...

He takes a step back and brings her hand to his lips to kiss her knuckles -- then laughs again because honestly, he feels ridiculous.]

[Awwwww Hinata! Poland's pink now too!]

You're welcome!

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week 06, sunday, after the ball announcement

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