Russian Roulette | Rusame | Countryhumans AU

Shadow Dragon and Prince

Children cheered in the streets, lanterns in hand as they scurried to meet their friends. Hues of red and orange veiled the surroundings as well as themselves. Overhead translucent cloths hung from pole to pole, colors ranging in the warmer side.

Within just a few seconds of strolling, they could count a few dozen happy faces. It was a nice sight to see a once tragic area become once again full of life.

Around these times, people from all over Asia as well as the rest of the kingdoms come to take a quick visit for the festival. Cloaked tourists dotted the streets, amongst those hooded people were two discreet figures.

Noticing the abundance of pairs holding lanterns made Russia remember the very reason he came here in the first place. His attention was diverted to the wooden stall next to him.

Upon laying eyes on the specific trinkets on display, he couldn't help but feel enraptured. Each lantern carved to perfection, not a single strand out of place and the motifs were just as Russia remembered seeing when he was a child, however slightly modified.

"Interested?" The stall owner parted the translucent red curtains, stepping out into the light. Even though Russia was hyper focused on admiring the lanterns, the ones that hung above the stall too, he couldn't help but glance at the shopkeeper.

A smile was plastered on his face, watching intently at his new customers every move of interest. Despite his crooked headscarf, the man seemed as well kept as ever. The shimmer of light reflected by the thin golden chains on his forehead was eye catching yet also blended well with his features; the star like pendant that attached to the chain right in the middle of his forehead especially.

"These are really well made, you wanna buy one? I can pay." The prince was distracted by the busy commotions of the streets just a few seconds ago, yet suddenly appeared next to Russia and grabbed his arm. As much as he hated to admit it, his heart skipped a quick beat before rolling his eyes in annoyance.

Russia picked one of the lanterns up to take a closer look at its details.

How familiar..."no thanks I can pay on my own," He snapped. Since it had been a long time ago, the lanterns Russia was used to seeing had already gone out of style. People started to prefer different designs as time changed, that's fair.

Russia scanned through the entire catalog, the older designs interested him but he couldn't settle for one. That was, until he laid his eyes to the crack between the shop's velvet curtains.

There at the backside, on a table was a lantern that looked exactly like the one he picked up years ago. The one he kept in his room, staring at it for the next year as he waited.

"Can I have the one at the back?" Russia eagerly pointed at it which caught the shopkeeper by surprise. The shopkeeper hummed, "hmm, it's not quite done yet, I was going to adjust the design to appeal more to the changing tastes... I'm surprised you'd want this one out of all. It's pretty old fashioned and generic."

The man brought it out and laid it on the counter. The blue dragon took no time to take some coins out and slide it over without hesitation. Any shop owner's ears would perk up at the sound of clattering coins.

When Russia picked it up, he saw at the corner of the wood, words were etched on.

It read out 'Israel'

"Ah shit sorry, I usually add my signature to my works in progresses, here, I'll get rid of it." The shopkeeper Israel slid it back into his grasps followed by nervous laughter, with a quick white flash, the words were gone without a dent in place.

Perhaps his ability?

Calmly, he handed it back to Russia who seemed ecstatic to even hold this measly item.