๑ Nove ๑ Action ๑

[tomatatas]

[It's just another ordinary day in Mayfield. The weather is warm enough that for once Romana dares to wear something that doesn't cover her arms. It's still modest enough, and seeing how he body has lost all traces of it scars, she feels confident in her choice.

For once she feels content. The sun is bright, birds are chirping, and she's managed to find all the ingredients she needs for her Easter feast. And even though she could have taken her vespa to the shop, she chose to walk with the last of the groceries, some deeply repressed part of her wanting to enjoy the sunshine and crisp air.

Stopping outside 750 Partridge lane, Romana opens the mail box, pulling out a few bills, as well as a letter addressed to her. A slight frown forming, she opens it, the frown deepeningen only a photograph slides out. The courtyard of the church of her namesake... in it's ruin...

The photo falls from her hand, as well as the rest of the mail and groceries as Romana shrieks in agony, clutching her left shoulder and falling to her knees as a ugly red burn scar appears, covering her forearm, the marks on her chest covered by her dress.]

Comments

[koyo]

( ( The weather is nice today, isn't it? He went out for a run but it wasn't enough. A beautiful day like this should be spent with someone! But who? After stopping by a few houses and receiving no answer, he's on his way back home to maybe work in the garden at home instead. On his way, he sees that Romana is home. He wants to talk to her!

. . . But that hadn't been going well the last few times. M-maybe he'll just go home. There's a shriek and he looks back to see her drop her things. Spain can't just ignore a woman like that so he runs over to help. He'll leave after he helps her, really. ) )

Ay, hey, I'll help-- Romana? ( ( What's that on her arm? ) )

[tomatatas]

[The pain makes it hard to see straight, to focus, and Romana groans softly, her good arm shaking as she uses it to support herself.] w-Who...

[koyo]

( ( Even though he came to help with the groceries, Romana is more important than a few dropped vegetables. He reaches over to help her once he sees her struggling, ) )

It's me; Spain. What's wrong? Did something. . . Did something happen?

[tomatatas]

[Finally, she realises where the pain's coming from, and with a gasp, Romana grabs her arm, trying to cover the scar. Still looking shaky, she looks away, slumping against the fence to avoid his gesture of help. Stupid town, she's managed to go so many years without knowing about the effect of the bombings, and now people will know. Spain knows. Even if he isn't Isabel, it's enough to make her want to run away in shame. She's supposed to be strong after all]

D-Don't look at it... it's nothing... nothing happened.

[koyo]

( ( His eyes dart away when she speaks but then they go back. And then he looks at her again. ) )

You're hurt-- Ay, let me help you!

( ( And he keeps trying to help her. ) )

[tomatatas]

Don't touch it! [Slaps his hands away, eyes wide, before she whimpers. Wincing, she covers the mark again, looking away.

No one was supposed to ever see it...]

[koyo]

( ( He pulls his hand back and stares. He isn't sure what's going on but he still wants to help. But how? It's the mark on her arm, isn't it? While not the most intuitive of nations, he knows enough about women to know how important appearances are. So he looks away and kneels down, beginning to pick up the dropped groceries and mail, ) )

Go inside, I'll bring everything in for you.

[tomatatas]

I... I can do it myself... [Her protest is weak, and she knows it, but she just doesn't have the energy to throw a proper fit. And the groceries do need to go in and be put away, and she knows now that her arms going to be weak and useless...

So she pushes herself up slowly, holding onto the fence as she steadies herself. Swallowing, she starts to walk, teeth gritted as she pushes through the pain that flares along her side. She can't be weak, she's the eldest, and she deserves this pain for not acting sooner... it's the punishment she got for not protecting Venezia properly.

Eyesight blurred by the tears in her eyes she slowly stumbles up the path, trying to keep her sniffles quiet.]

[koyo]

Of course but I want to do this, okay? ( ( He doesn't argue but he won't let her help. Spain watches her careful as she gets up and heads into the home. As he picks up the remaining items, he can hear her small cries and he sneaks looks back at her. How was she hurt? Who hurt her? Was it from the town? Or maybe it was from before. . . He'd never seen it before now.

Ooh, what now, Spain? He wasn't sure what to do. Once he collects everything, he doesn't follow right away. Was it all right to follow her yet? ) )

[boostedfailure.livejournal.com]

[Any super hero, even a failure of one knows what to do when a woman can be heard shrieking, to come running, and that's what this idiot does at Romania's yells bounding down the block he'll stop a few feet from her]

"Ma'am, what happened? Do you need any help?"

[tomatatas]

[Romana jerks in surprise, her breathing ragged as she stuggles against tears of pain. Automatically, she presses her hand against the scar, trying to ignore the way the feel of it makes her want to cry even more. She has to be strong, she can't be weak, even if every small movement makes her want to cry.

Gritting her teeth, she does her best to look up and meet Booster's eyes] I-I'm fine. I... I got something back that I wasn't expecting, and it... sh-shocked me... that's all.

[boostedfailure.livejournal.com]

[Booster meets her gaze with an actually genuinely concerned one]

"Are you sure? I can help you inside and call a doctor. I mean, sudden surprises get everyone from time to time and I hear this town is extra sadistic with them."

"Wait... Luthor is the doctor here... I can help you find a first aid kit. I've gotten kicked around enough to know how to use that stuff."

[tomatatas]

[Shaking her head, Romana struggles to straighten up, a soft whimper escaping her as each movement pulls at the returned injury]

There's nothing you can do... so don't bother signor. This is... old, the town only gave back what it took. I'll be fine.

[She has to keep saying that, in the hope that repetition will make it true.]

[boostedfailure.livejournal.com]

"That's not true, I've lost arms in the past. Whole arms. And there are people out there that can grow new ones. I'm not one of them, but, maybe someone at the hospital can."

[For such a stupid statement he does look completely sincere]

[tomatatas]

It's just a scar... it'll be fine, I know it will be... it was fine before.

It just... hurts. [Nearly as much as the blow to her pride by admitting that does.]

[boostedfailure.livejournal.com]

"Maybe some ice then? Look, I'm kind of a screw up of a super, but, seeing a pretty girl in pain isn't my thing."

[tomatatas]

[Her cheeks flush at the compliment, Romana looking away] Don't say such foolish things...

...If you want to help so much... could you please help me with my things.

[sub-umbra-sedi.livejournal.com]

[Seborga comes running out of the house at the sound of the shriek.

Yes, running. She's that important to him, okay?]

Cugina! W-what's wrong?

[Running over to her. He hasn't seen the burn scar just yet.]

[tomatatas]

Seborga... [Her voice is barely more than a mumble as she slumps against the fence, face twisted as even the slight movement pulls at the scarring under her dress. Automatically, she tries to cover the scarring, ignoring the fact that it's bigger than her small hand. Somehow, even in her pain, her mind knows that nobody's supposed to see the mark the last war left on her.

Swallowing, her face in a tight wince, she does her best to reassure him] Seborga... I'm fine, go back inside bambino... I just tripped...

[sub-umbra-sedi.livejournal.com]

[Too late. He's seen the scarring, and now he's even more worried.]

Y-you're hurt! How...

[He reaches for her hand.]

[tomatatas]

[Her hand tightens on her arm, even as Romana winces, biting her lip. Trembling slightly, she looks away]

There's nothing you can do Seborga... Go back inside.

[sub-umbra-sedi.livejournal.com]

I... I... I should call a doctor! Or help treat your burns! Or something! You need help!

[tomatatas]

Sebastiano! [Raises her voice, eyes squeezed tight]

Per favore... there's nothing you can do, so please, take the groceries, and go back inside.

[sub-umbra-sedi.livejournal.com]

I can't just leave you here!

[tomatatas]

[She takes a deep breath to steady her voice, eyes still closed as she fights to keep her words sound normal, to keep the pain from sneaking into them]

I'll be fine piccolo. It's just... something the town decided to return... I would prefer you to take the groceries, and go inside.

[Her tone is all business, leaving little room to disagree]