He sat on a bench in the Hong Kong Park, swinging his legs idly as he waited. This was the spot and the correct time he had specified, he was sure. This was definitely where his visitor was supposed to meet him. Hopefully his visitor hadn't gotten lost.
It was always tough, being the little guy. Such was the case with Hong Kong. Except, for him, not only was he the little guy, but also the unwilling loner guy. Set apart from nations. Not his own nation, but just independent enough that he was set slightly apart from China. He was effectively in his own, tiny little bubble, a lonesome class of his own.
With this special class (Special Administrative Region, as it was called) came rather distressing…lack of interaction. Lack of friendship. Occasionally he might get to see Macau at meetings with China, but considering China controlled his foreign affairs, he had little reason to leave his corner of the world other than that. His social interactions with nations or otherwise were few and far between.
About a week ago, however, he'd found a page for "micro-nations," as they called themselves. Curious, and thinking maybe they were a bit like himself, he spoke with a page admin and one of them had agreed to come meet him. Now he waited, surrounded by trees and an odd backdrop of skyscrapers, for the mysterious micro-nation to appear.
At last, he saw someone, definitely out of place in the middle of Hong Kong, approaching him. The young man was taller than most people you would see roaming the streets of Hong Kong for one, with lighter hair and eyes and a very European looking face. There could be no doubt—this had to be the micro-nation he was supposed to meet.
The man smiled cheerfully as Hong Kong rose from his seat to greet him. "You must be…Hong Kong?" he asked, smiling once more when Hong Kong nodded. "I'm Seborga! I'm a nation in Italy. You wanted to talk about joining us?"
Hong Kong began slowly and uncertainly, "So, I guess, like, I'm not really a micro-nation…" he said, shifting a bit awkwardly as Seborga glanced around at the odd mix of scenery. "But I mean, I'm close enough right? I want to hang out with you guys. There's no one around here except Macau. I get bored. Can I just be, like, an honorary micro-nation or something?"
Seborga quirked an eyebrow at him, and seemed to frown a little. "Are you worried we'll say no?" When Hong Kong was silent, he seemed to take it as a yes. "We're not going to say you can't join!" he chuckled a little. "I mean, did you look around our page? We're super accepting. Ladonia pretty literally lives on the internet and Sealand's a fort. I don't see why we can't accept a Special Admin…adv…admin…SAR?"
He was in? That was what Seborga had said, right? Basically? "You're sure?"
"Duh," Seborga said, blowing a strand of hair out of his face. "Or I wouldn't have come all the way over here. Anyway, we have picnics at my place a lot. You should come sometime."
