012- [action] Italy has finally seen the other side of Mayfield.

[canhaspasta]

[Italy has spent several days hiding in his house after the weeping angels left. His confrontation with Angel!Romana in the church was devastating.  Was he really so worthless? That much of a burden? If he had been brave and strong like Grandpa Rome he could have protected her. The nightmares he's been having haven't helped matters either. When he

Comments

[muskatli]

[Hungary's dressed in an old pair of overall, kneeling under the kitchen's window in an attempt to salvage what remained of her flowerbed. It's mostly ruined, however, but she rakes the mud anyway, too quietly.

It's when she looks up that she notices the small figure staring forlornly at her house.]

...Italy, sweetie?

[canhaspasta]

[He makes a quiet squeaking noise and ducks behind the tree.]

[pasodoble]

Coming!

( ( Spain calls from inside. When he answers the door, his hair is a mess and he's yawning. It looks like someone just woke up from a nap. ) )

Huh? Italia? Ah, sí, sí, come in. . . !

( ( And he steps aside to let Italy in. ) )

[canhaspasta]

Grazie...

[He'll follow Spain back in, hovering very close and staying uncharacteristically quiet.]

[pasodoble]

( ( Spain closes the door behind them and he shows Italy in. The house isn't anything special inside-- it looks just like every other house in Mayfield. He shows Italy to the kitchen and picks him up to set him on a chair at the table, ) )

What's wrong, niño? Are you feeling sick?

[canhaspasta]

[He stares at the table, and then shakes his head.]

I'm not sick. But.... I can't sleep.

750 Partridge Drive

[reluctantnanny]

[Was going to do some staring at that very house, as chance would have it.] Italy--

Are you all right? [Approaches quickly, closing in just a bit more than he has on previous face-to-face encounters with him] I haven't heard from Austria yet-- Did you escape, then? I'm sorry I was so useless...

Re: 750 Partridge Drive

[canhaspasta]

Mr. Germany....

[Why was he apologizing? He'd at least done more than cry and run away. Look at you, crying like a baby! Romana's voice rings in his ears even now. useless, useless, useless... He can feel fresh tears in the corners of his eyes.]

Si... I got away.

Re: 750 Partridge Drive

[reluctantnanny]

[Now Italy's crying but Germany's...pretty sure he didn't do anything scary, right? So

so what's wrong] . . .

The statues are gone now, you don't have to be afraid. That man, the Doctor, is to be trusted.

Don't worry. I'll...I'll do whatever I can to protect you next time. [He's the one who brought out that damn mirror and summoned another of them...]

Re: 750 Partridge Drive

[canhaspasta]

[And now he's crying even more.]

No! You can't! Everyone who tries to protect me just gets hurt! And it's my fault. Because I'm weak, useless....

Sorella was right...

456 Stone Street

[motheringnation]

[Walking by....tree?]

....Italy? Are you alright?

Re: 456 Stone Street

[canhaspasta]

I'm fine....

[His gaze is focused somewhere on the pavement in front of him.]

[tomatatas]

[Romana hasn't really left her house, too ashamed to face anyone, too scared that something might happen. She doesn't know what to say, especially to Veneziano. Spain... Australia, all of the others, they're adults, her words won't have hurt as much... but Veneziano...

She feels so guilty. If she had fought harder, gotten away, then Veneziano wouldn't have heard such horrible lies... it plagues her, only her new fear of the outside keeping her from trying to find him.

Finally, she gathers her courage, stepping outside with slow footsteps. And as luck would have it, the one person she knows she needs to find is there.]

Veneziano! [Her tone is slightly startled, mixed with guilt, and fear. Quickly, she hurries down the stairs to him, dropping to her knees to meet his height. Her shoulders shake, Romana still trying to keep a grip on her emotions] Bambino, piccolo.. I... I'm so sorry, it wasn't me, I would never even think... you're not.... you're not useless, you're not, okay?

[canhaspasta]

[He flinches when he sees her coming, very nearly runs away. His fear of facing her further disappointment in him pushes him back a few steps.]

S- sorella?

[the tears are already falling. Why is she apologizing? She's not the one who was weak and pathetic and useless.]

[tomatatas]

[Reaches for him blindly, her own tears clouding her vision as her shoulders shake harder]

F-Fratellino... I dodn't... it wasn't me, I would never say anything like that, I swear.