Le désespoir

[champagnedelis.livejournal.com]

Open to all!
Setting: Floor 13
Format: Either~
Summary: Francisca reflects on the blackout and sings a hymn... as goodbye to her world.
Warnings: Angst, potential language



The voices were still whispering in her ears, her memory of the blackout far too keen. Her body still felt weighed down and tired from that far-too-close encounter with the not-England.

But England's voice had been too real.

She'd been trying to believe that England was alive - that this whole Tower business was just an elaborate scheme conjured up by some idiots smoking too much of Pays-Bas' drugs. But... perhaps she was now too tired to even attempt feeling hope.

She'd been strong as Rome and Germania would have expected of her, but even the strongest of defenses would slowly fall under constant fire.

She'd normally avoided this kind of place - too melancholy, too 'holy' for her tastes - but it was an apt setting for what she was about to do.

She moved to the altar, hearing the sudden hush of unheard voices, and took a shuddering breath, staring up at one of the beautifully decorated windows before she haltingly began to sing Pie Jesu, voice pealing out heartbrokenly in the language she'd almost forgotten since her childhood. Her eyes close as hot tears threaten to spill as she continues to sing.

England would have called her a drama-whore for it.

Comments

[princesspowaful.livejournal.com]

[Molly had to go explore the new floors, it was what a hero does after all when she heard the singing. Now, she didn't understand it but it was pretty and sad nonetheless.]

[Dying had shaken her a bit and she didn't like the feeling]

[So she comes up besides her, sits down, and leans on her lightly]

[pineandmaple.livejournal.com]

Canada stood in the doorway watching France sing...It was oddly silent, she could see France singing but not hear the words. She remained silent even as she walked up the aisle and stood beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"...Maman?"

[champagnedelis.livejournal.com]

[She pauses her song for a moment, glancing down at Molly.

She gathers the girl into her lap and hugs her while continuing her song. Not anywhere near as small as her colonies had been as youngsters, but it's comforting - and Molly looks like she needs a hug.]

[champagnedelis.livejournal.com]

France hadn't heard her arrive and was startled out of her singing, glancing up to her side. "Ah, Madeline-" She broke off and quickly rubbed her hands over her eyes to kill the tears that she'd held back. "Wh-What brings you here ma petite?"

[pineandmaple.livejournal.com]

Canada settled in closer and smiled, trying to cheer up France in some way. She wasn't very good at it.

"I was exploring. Were you singing Maman?"

[vanavanushka.livejournal.com]

Ivan slowly peered into the church, the new rooms making him curious--after all, new rooms meant unexplored areas, and unexplored areas always added the hope of escape. His brows raised when he saw the woman, a small frown on his face, watching as her lips moved and no sound came out.

After a long moment he started forward, curious onto what was the matter, moving quietly, though the church's odd effects made him silent. He stayed quiet, especially when he was finally able to hear her, pausing where he stood behind her, and listening to her sing, eyes going to the alter after a moment, before finally closing. He said nothing, instead just listening, not willing to interrupt. It had been a while since he'd heard music, and though it was not his, it was beautiful all the same.

[champagnedelis.livejournal.com]

France's lips quirked in a pathetic mockery of her normally bright smile and nodded. "Ouai, I thought doing so here might be best - less chance of disturbing others."

[champagnedelis.livejournal.com]

Francisca continued to sing, unknowing that Ivan was behind her. The tears began to flow and her voice wavered on the last few bars, the Latin suddenly overflowing with emotion that she couldn't contain. Her figure shook and she put her hands over her mouth, muffling her choked sobs.

[vanavanushka.livejournal.com]

While he was used to women crying, he still didn't like it--didn't like any tears, and he frowned, slowly placing a hand on her shoulder, a little awkwardly, uncertain onto what to do or how to help, but certain that he wished to.

[champagnedelis.livejournal.com]

Francisca jerked with surprise, quickly scrubbing at the tears before glancing back at the man. "C-Can I help you?"

[vanavanushka.livejournal.com]

"I think that should be being my question," he replied, giving her a sad, sheepish look, before pulling out a handkerchief and offering it to her. "You can be using... is helping, da?"

[champagnedelis.livejournal.com]

She blinked at the offered handkerchief and gave him a small smile, carefully taking it from his hand. "Merci... You are Russian?" She used the little cloth to attempt fixing her makeup - thank God for tear-proof mascara and eyeliner!

[vanavanushka.livejournal.com]

Ivan nodded, watching her. "Da. And you are French," he gave a tiny smile, not bothering to say that he was not just Russian, but Russia itself. After all, people tended to not believe him, or give him odd looks after that. "It is not a problem."

[champagnedelis.livejournal.com]

Well, she had no issues explaining who she was, so she smiled a bit more and answered with a small shrug, "Well, I am France, so I suppose that makes me French anyway, oui?" She glanced down at the now dirtied handkerchief and gave him a sheepish look. "I will clean this before returning it to you, sorry..."

[vanavanushka.livejournal.com]

Ivan's brows shot up then, and he gave her a little smile, glancing over her curiously, a little surprised--though he supposed she was enough like the France he knew, at least appearance wise. "You are another one of the women-countries, then, da? So different coming from my world, ah, where you would be a man, but not so different at same time. Is being odd," he replied, and gave a tiny shake of his head. "It is fine. Do not be worrying about it, da? Using if you are being sad again, da?" A pause and then, "You are being okay now, da?"

[champagnedelis.livejournal.com]

Francisca tilted her head a bit and examined his face before blinking with surprise. "Oh. Oh-! You must be Russe, oui?"
At his question she glanced back down at the handkerchief, remembered why she'd needed it and hesitated before shrugging her shoulders. "... I will be. I always get better eventually."

[vanavanushka.livejournal.com]

Ivan nodded slowly and gave a tiny smile. "Da. I am Russia," he replied, relaxing slightly, watching her and frowning.

"What is the matter? what is upsetting you this much?" He frowned, watching her still, a little concerned. "Yes, yes, you always get better, but that is not meaning you are being okay now."

[champagnedelis.livejournal.com]

".... Is...." She licked her lips and continued, "Is your England here?"

[vanavanushka.livejournal.com]

Ivan was frowning and he gave a tiny shake of his head. "I do not know," he replied, looking thoughtful. "If he is being, I have not been seeing.... I have only been seeing the Pol'sha from my world, no one else.... Not even sisters.... Ah, but you and Amerika and Kanada from your world are being here, I am knowing for sure," he gave a gentle smile, thoughtful.

"Why are you asking? Is Angliya and me being friends in your world?"

[champagnedelis.livejournal.com]

The tiny flicker of hope she'd had flickered out and she gazed down at her hands. "... I see...."

”No, not particularly but... since you arrived later, I was hoping that perhaps either or both of the Englands might have as well..."

[vanavanushka.livejournal.com]

Ivan watched her, a curious look on his face, brows furrowed slightly. After a moment, he tipped his head to the side. "Are you two being very close in your world?" he asked, simply curious giving her a tiny smile. "Arriving later...? How long were you being here for...?"

[theoryofprocess.livejournal.com]

Nagi had been drawn to western architecture for as long as she could remember, so floor thirteen had been on her to-do list for a while. However, she hadn't expected to run in to anyone else- let alone someone singing. Nagi kept a respectful distance from the stranger, absent-mindedly stroking her hair as she listened. Not a language Nagi knew, but the summoner could respect it.

"That was beautiful."

[champagnedelis.livejournal.com]

Francisca's head jerked up and she glanced back at the stranger, forcing her emotions down - ugh, England was right, she went around showing too much of what should be kept hidden.

She smiled, composed, and answered, "Thank you - I am a bit rusty though... Did you come to pray or explore?"

[champagnedelis.livejournal.com]

"Ye-... non, we are not..." She bit her lip and added, "But she is my neighbor and I worry about her."

"I've been here for I think a month or more... I lost track of time, but since I had yet to meet you..."

[theoryofprocess.livejournal.com]

Nagi's lips pursed when the woman jerked, looking down at the ground after a moment's hesitation. "I apologize if my process has startled you. I meant nothing by it."

Nagi took a deep sigh, glancing about the room with a sense of wonder, before properly answering the question. "The theory that has lead me here is investigation...though I confess, I am also admiring. The only other church I have ever seen was in the Capitol."