062

[pinkplumblossom]

[The past several weeks have been a rather trying ordeal for Taiwan.  It seems like one thing after another has been going wrong, starting with Netherlands' permanent droning and spiraling down from there.  Mindy had run off in the middle of the attacks while they were staying with Prussia, and locked herself in her room afterward.  Saki had

Comments

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas smiles faintly from a short distance, half-wondering if she had just lost a few hundred citizens or something like that. He isn't quite sure if he ought to approach, so he'll move to turn away after a few moments if she doesn't see him.]

[pinkplumblossom]

[Haha, wow, that's a horrifying thought. Happily, I'm pretty sure Taiwan's hair didn't represent any portion of her populace. Perhaps it represented disputed territory with Russia that she's finally given up on, IDK. But the point is, she feels better! Anyway, she smiles over at Lucas as she spots him from across the yard.]

"Hello, Lucas."

[a_gentle_boy]

. . . Hi.

[He approaches, now, a bit slowly. And if it were any other adult he knew, he would hesitate to ask the question, but . . . ]

Is it OK if I ask why you did that?

[pinkplumblossom]

"Of course."

[Taiwan smiles, patting the space next to her.]

"Where I come from, cutting one's hair is symbolic of cutting off past ties, or leaving behind weakness. After this past week, I decided that I'm going to try to be stronger, and to stop just cowering at home and hiding behind other people when things get bad. There are people in this town that I care about, and I want to be able to be strong for them and help defend them when they need it."

[dynamic_may_lee]

Do I still get to call you "Mei", or was that reborn too.

-May Lee is also smiling as she walks up, letting out a content sigh.-

You look good...

[pinkplumblossom]

[Smiles warmly, shaking her head.]

"Mei is fine."

[Runs her hand through her newly-shortened hair.]

"I feel so much better."

[dynamic_may_lee]

I... didn't mean the hair. I mean, it looks good, but... I mean that smile.

I haven't seen something like that from you in awhile.

[pinkplumblossom]

[Taiwan blushes a little at that, nodding gratefully at the compliment.]

"I decided it was time to stop feeling sorry for myself and take charge of my life. Now is no time to be weak or let Mayfield get me down."

[peonymarket]

[He's not going to demand an explanation. He doesn't need one.

But he comes up to her anyway, looking down into her face, speaking gently and knowing that somehow this act means much more than it seems:]

If needed haircut, could have just asked.

[pinkplumblossom]

[Laughs a little, smiling affectionately.]

"This was something I needed to do myself."

[peonymarket]

[slight headtilt and a smile; this event has tired him more than he had expected, but none of that shows on his face. Leaning over, he gently thumbs the ends of Taiwan's hair.]

Swords are not the neatest way to trim, though....

[pinkplumblossom]

[Touches the uneven tips of her hair in the back.]

"I was thinking I could get Hong Kong to clean it up for me. He works at the barbershop, you know."

[lotuslife]

Did someone break your heart, Mei?

[her voice is gentle, though.]

[pinkplumblossom]

"...Yeah."

[She sighs, bowing her head for a moment as she clutches at the hair she'd just cut off. But when she opens her eyes to look at Vietnam again, she's smiling as brightly as ever.]

"But I'm moving on. I have to face forward."

[lotuslife]

[she nods slowly.] I see.

[pinkplumblossom]

"I decided that I need to change myself, to try to be stronger. I'm not going to let this town break me down. Not anymore."

[Clutches the hair in her hand, nodding seriously.]

[thesebootswere]

. . . Mei?

[pinkplumblossom]

Hello, Lenalee!

[thesebootswere]

[glancing at her hair bundled in the ribbon]

Are you alright?

[pinkplumblossom]

"Oh, this?"

[Holds it up, smiling.]

"Just cutting ties with some things that I need to move past. I actually feel like there's a big weight off my shoulders."