France x Russia RP

[chibicavan]

Russia watched France from across the table as their current bosses met to discuss both the recent cultural exchange event between their countries as well as economic policy. Truth be told, he was rather bored by the meeting. He liked France well enough, still thinking the man as a good friend even if he wasn't quite as entranced with the others mere presence as he was when he was younger. War and time in general had made him grow out of much of his liking for France.

He remained impressed, however, with the way France tended to carry himself with grace and act so carefree. If Russia tried to act in such a way (and he'd tried a few times when he was younger, just out of experimentation), he'd look... awkward, to say the least. Plus, his bosses would scold him about appearing undisciplined and not a good representation of the country. Besides, he liked the way people tended to give him space when he put on an intimidating air, especially once he'd gained the leadership and military strength to back up such a persona. People thought him less vulnerable, and were less inclined to make a wrong move lest Russia let his favorite pipe or even his army do the talking. Once upon a time he even thought being forceful and threatening was the way to make friends and keep them, a view told to him time and time again as imperialism and the want to expand ran rampant through his government-- but he'd learned how much such an idea could backfire, when as soon as his 'friends' and 'family' got the chance to leave, leave they did and never came back to live in the same house as he.

It had been hard work changing his viewpoints on such matters after they had been drilled into his head, especially once his bosses realized how much connections with other countries while being "neighborly" was of utmost importance. He tried, though. Many countries had gradually come to accept this change, but continued to keep him at arms length; rumors he'd oftentimes help confirm at the forefronts of their minds. He knew France was one of those countries that kept him at such a distance as far as personal relationships went. It didn't help that sometimes he still liked to see what kind of a reaction he could get by blurting out something "creepy" during a meeting.

Once, he'd harbored some romantic feelings towards France even, but he'd given up a good deal of hope for such feelings to be returned over the years and thus was currently simply trying to maintain friendship. If that was lost, he knew it would be hard to regain it.

Eventually, their bosses left the two of them alone to "connect", and Russia was left unsure of what to do or say. He had a headache from the dry air in the room, his expression not one of someone who was really pleased to be made to continue to sit in said room and talk for hours on end.

"You are... doing well, France?" he finally asked. A somewhat silly question given how there was just recently a discussion of France's economy and thus his health only the other day, but Russia thought it was as good a conversation starter as anything else. "I saw one of your operas a few days ago. One of the old ones. I liked it as much as the time I first saw it."

[Inunobaka]

(...In the description, it looked like you were making us your OTP. I'm flattered ;D)

France was definitely bored. He didn't like meetings; being stuck in a room with a bunch of barbarians wasn't always enjoyable. Especially today; it was nice outside and he was sure he could find a few cute girls, or guys, taking a walk in the Luxembourg gardens, or along the Seine. Sometime meetings were fun; when a lot of nations were together, it became entertaining quite quickly, and he was often guilty of adding oil to the fire just for his personal amusement. Especially when he could get that dear Rosbiff flustered. However, today he was just made to sit alone with Russia.

He didn't especially dislike Russia; he used to be a good kid, when he didn't kick Napoléon out of his lands (...France just really, REALLY wanted to expand back then, and being so glorious had been awesome, as one of his friend would nicely put it. Even though said friend didn't like his empire at the time so much. Nor did anybody but him, but since he was the most important person to himself... It was all fine. But he was getting off tracks.). He remembered him liking him quite a lot when he was younger, to the point he himself had built a bridge in Paris in his honor, kind of. It still was one of the most beautiful of his bridges... But he was getting distracted by his own thoughts again. No, he didn't dislike Russia, it was more that the guy was really creepy. He wasn't a coward (or at least didn't like being called one), but would rather not piss that guy off. He was...Big, strong, and probably easily annoyed. He usually enjoyed annoying people, watching their reaction was always a good way to pass time, but this one... His reaction could end up in hurting his precious face. He needed it to do his second favorite thing; being social. Flirting or chatting with random strangers would be difficult if he looked like an ex-boxer.

He sighed, looking a little more bored, not minding openly showing it, leaning his head on his hand, elbow on the table, his legs folded. He did look pretty nonchalant as of right now. If only they had some snack (perhaps a good dessert; some cake... It'd be nice during a meeting. With some coffee too ...), or some drink, the wait would be bearable. Their bosses were talking about things he didn't really care about, and in the meantime the two poor nations had nothing to do. When they finally were done, he had to stay back and talk to Russia. That was unfair! He definitely wanted out. Though acting like a spoiled brat in front of Russia wouldn't do good.So instead he used all his charisma to get him in a good mood, talk about whatever they had to talk about (some cultural exchange... Spreading French culture was always good!) and be done with it.

At his question, he flashed him one of his charming smiles, the one he had mastered back at the court of Louis XIV, when hypocrisy was one of the best qualities to have to survive.

"Of course I am, being here in such a nice company!"

Lying was something he had mastered quite well too. He wasn't especially happy to be stuck here with him, but upsetting him would lead him nowhere, and flattery never hurt anyone. Beside he might as well try to enjoy this discussion now he had to have it. When opera was mentioned his words actually suddenly became closer to the truth; he couldn't resist a nice tall about his culture. He changed his posture just a little to lean closer to him, now paying him full attention and looking less dismissive of what he could say. Though he still managed to maintain a form of elegance in his position.

"Which one did you see?"

If they were just discussing that kind of innocent yet captivating subjects, he would be fine... No risk to get harmed when they talked about opera, or theater plays, or movies... or literature... Or anything nice and artistic like that.

[chibicavan]

{{ didn't mean for the description to be like that... but it does sound like it, doesn't it?}}

Russia's smiled as France boasted about himself, showing just the kind of narcissistic attitude that he wasn't overly fond of. Not the type of smile that showed any hint of true friendliness, no. Such a smile held a large hint that such an attitude from France was not appreciated, even as Russia didn't want to completely scare the man off with the expression he actually wanted to show. The smile showed he was willing to put up with France for just a little longer. Now, however, he really wanted to be done with this meeting.

"Carmen," he responded to France's question. "Such a fine opera, especially in the way it does not end well for the couple. More... realistic that way, da?" Of course, he had also loved the opera simply for the deep show of love expressed between the primary couple, just as much as he had when he first saw it. Once, he might have been more open to saying such thoughts aloud, but in present times it wasn't in his nature to boast aloud such things. On his outer shell, his heart was hardened, iced over; and Russia wished to keep things this way. He did not wear his heart on his sleeve in the way some nations did.

No, such thoughts about love were kept as a private matter. Perhaps someday he would share these thoughts with someone, but the process in getting there would be difficult. Russia had been betrayed enough times and his mind poisoned with his people and government's paranoia about others that he had gained a bit of that paranoia himself. It would be hard to lose that fully, even as he grew to trust another.

He payed close attention to France's reaction to the statement, hardly bothered that his words might have just intensified the tension in the room. If France could not handle it, that would be his issue.

"I wish our bosses would have put us in a better room... there are not even any windows, and the day looks to be a nice one..." he remarked offhandedly.

[Inunobaka]

He definitely noticed that smile. He didn't really like it, but breaking his mask would be more dangerous in his opinion; keeping on acting like he really was enjoying the whole thing would be best not to offend him and make him snap. Beside, he did start to enjoy it when Russia mentioned Opera. The arts were something he loved, in whatever form you chose.

At the mention of Carmen, he hummed a little. It truly was an amazing one. "It is. But what I enjoy the most is Don José's passionate attempt at taking her back. He's so madly in love he can't stand to see her with another man and have to kill her..."
He could go on forever about it if he was asked, explaining how he loved the depiction of tragic love in this whole thing, and how he agreed to the definition given by Carmen. In a way, he felt quite close to her. He wouldn't be too surprised if something like that happened to him too, it'd be a great end.

At the mention of the room, he nodded dramatically, sighing. "Indeed! I wished we could have enjoyed a nice walk through Paris instead! perhaps go to les Tuileries, the benches here are nice enough when the weather is so pleasant."

He looked at him again, smiling a bit more.
"What else did you watch? Another Opera? Some Theater play? Do you like Ionesco?"
He liked Ionesco for the whole absurdity thing. The non-sense was, to him, a good philosophic intake on life. He loved to dissect literature works like that.
"Or Perhaps did you read anything nice? Sartre, or something from Voltaire?"
His interest had been caught at the mention of Carmen and he wasn't going to let himself be distracted by the nice weather outside. Russia was a smart kid, not especially elegant or... well, it was hard to really feel attracted to someone who was creeping you out, so he couldn't say he was attractive on this point...Though that now he paid him more attention, he had an interesting face, the kind that wasn't per say going with the current beauty standards, but was made nice because of small "defaults". Namely this big nose. His face would be terribly ugly without it, in his opinion. Though he didn't dare to check him out more since the result still seemed too dangerous in his opinion.
Such a shame; why were all the pretty people completely crazy? except from himself, of course.

[chibicavan]

"Ionesco is alright," Russia replied with a small hum. His smile relaxed a little as the conversation turned to the arts. Theater, literature and what a person could do with a simple stroke of a paintbrush was something he'd also always enjoyed. "He was...unusual, but I enjoyed his work and that movement. Though, I haven't read anything by Satre or Voltaire in a long time."

Voltaire and Satre had both been authors he'd mostly read out of his boss' instruction to do so. Some works he had liked and agreed with, some he hadn't liked so much. To him, their ideas were just as good as any of the other authors out there whose thoughts he himself could compare to what he'd seen during his long lifetime. He wasn't about to praise some over the expense of others.

"And yourself, France? Have you seen or read anything Russian? Chekov, Pushkin?"

He thought of summer in Russia, how nice it was as well this time of year. How in the great valleys and gorges, the grass would be lush and the flowers would have created a magnificent view. In his cities as well, many people would be out on the streets during such a day and either shopping or having fun taking in the different sights and sounds.

It had been a while since he'd walked the streets of Paris on a summer day, but he remembered the last time he visiting he'd thought the scenery was indeed nice. Typical in some ways for a big city, but it held its own beauty.

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