Saudade | CountryHumans RusAme

CHAPTER 18: Tippy-Toe Relevé

BRAZIL
As the school day had come to a close, so had his ability to curtail his curiosity. Maybe France and Britain would enlighten him a little more this afternoon.

Colombia and Argentina were waiting for him at the front door as waves of students departed from the gates of Global High, waving cheery goodbyes to their friends or rapidly pulling out identification cards for a post-school snack at the streets of cafes nearby. Brazil, meanwhile, pulled out his phone.

"You got the location ready, right?" Colombia asked, and he couldn't help but feel that she had dressed a little more stylishly today, pure silver necklace draping down from her neck — and felt a little regretful that he had not done the same. It was difficult to get into Britain's good graces.

"Yeah," Brazil said, and they began walking. "Have you thought about what you're gonna say?"

"I think I'm gonna wing it," Argentina gritted his teeth. "And I'll talk about all my favorite types of tea."

Colombia rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, like that'd help."

"It does!"

"That's not the issue, guys," Brazil laughed, and managed to get a hold of himself after half a second. "No, really. What if we make a fool out of ourselves and they report us to the UN?"

"You don't think they're as worried about their children too? I mean, we're more bordering on suspicious, but still, I would've thought at least they'd try to reach out by now," Argentina said. "Must be a reason why they haven't. I think it's good to wing it. Shows that we're serious."

"But—" Brazil began, but stopped when they had turned a corner and the atmosphere changed drastically. As opposed to the town and city square-like vibe their surroundings had before, marble now replaced the metal of the lampposts and two golden words were engraved into them like a mantra, over and over: Allied Way.

"Oh, I've never been here before," Argentina whistled, and a few minutes' walk in the distance was a large mansion, flags of the family vibrant enough to see swaying in the distance.

"Dang," Colombia said. "Still the same as I remember. I came here for America's thirteenth birthday or something like that. There were fireworks until the sun rose."

The house was quickly growing closer and Brazil's palms began to sweat, and he wasn't quite sure why. In Neo's social and governmental bubble, Britain and France were perhaps the most formidable of the older countries with real world empires dating back to the archaic times. It would certainly skew their spontaneous plan to mess up here.

"Just stay calm," Colombia reminded him, as if reading his thoughts. She offered a tentative nod. "Nothing more trustworthy than staying chill." She knocked on the door. Once, twice, thrice. Click.

"What a surprise," France smiled from the doorway when it had opened. "What brings you here today, South America?"

Colombia plastered a huge smile on her face. "Good afternoon, France. Sorry to be a bother. We just have a few questions about your... sons."

For a split second a shadow crossed France's face. One single, almost barely discernible second. But all three of the Representatives caught it and their hearts skipped.

"What is it?" she asked, without missing another beat.

"Well, we're hosting a party, you see, and we're trying to invite as many people as we can personally. Do you mind if Canada or America can make it downstairs so we can do that?" Colombia lied, smile never faltering.