Chapter 3.5: Filler- The story of Ribbons.

Whoops, meant to get this out a few days ago, but I got busy. Here it is anyways.

Not going to say much about this beforehand besides that the first part should be read as a flashback/memory (that's why its in italics) and the second part is part of White Room's timeframe, after Lili finally rejoins Basch (she had been mourning for Elizaveta, if any of you remember that, and while Natalya is away from the mansion. Anyways, enjoy this filler.

Disclaimer: Hetalia and its characters don't belong to me, only the idea for this story is mine.


Elizaveta watched at the small girl sitting on the couch from the corner of her eye as she brushed her hair, curious as to the reason for the frustrated look on her face. "Lili, dear, just tell me what's the matter, please."

Lili looked up at her, frowning. "Do I look like a guy? You know, do I look like my brother?"

"I'm not quite sure what you're trying to get at. You look like your brother, but that's probably because you're related-"

"We aren't related at all. I was taken in by his parents when I was younger."

"Oh, anyways, you look like a feminine version of Basch, okay? Now please tell me why this is bugging you." She said, putting down her brush, getting up to sit down next to her on the couch.

"Its just…" She started, sighing. "Some of the boys at school were saying that I look like bruder, and I look like a guy because my hair is so short. They said that I didn't belong there…"

Elizaveta put an arm around her. "Is that all that's bugging you?" She asked, and continued when Lili gave her a weak nod. "Just ignore them, sweetheart. Those boys don't know what they're talking about. And if you look like Basch, wouldn't that mean they're also saying that Basch is a feminine male? Your hair might be short, but it suits you well. Anyways, you belong here, don't worry about it."

Lili nodded, still looking a bit sullen. "But still…"

Elizaveta stood back up, going back over to her vanity table, pulling Lili along. She pulled out the chair to let her sit down, then pulled open one of the drawers, searching for something.

"Elizaveta? What are you doing?" Lili asked, tilting her head, confused at her actions.

"Haven't I told you that you could call me by something else? Just give me a moment, I'm looking for something." Elizaveta said, still rummaging around.

"Alright then, Eliza-" She paused when a reproachful look was sent her way. "Liza. What are you looking for?"

"Just something that might help… Aha!" She said triumphantly when she found what she had been looking for, pulling out a few rolls of ribbons.

"You were looking for ribbons?" Lili asked, still confused.

Elizaveta nodded, grinning. "Of course I was! A ribbon for you." She said as she held two pieces up next to her hair to compare them.

"Why?" She asked, still unsure what the purpose of the ribbons was.

Elizaveta nodded to herself. "The purple it is." She said, as she tied it into Lili's hair. "What do you think?"

She glanced at her for a moment before looking at herself in the mirror. She gasped in surprise, turning to Elizaveta. "I-It looks nice… I actually look more like a girl, now."

Elizaveta chuckled. "You always looked like a girl, dear. I think it looks nice too."

"Thank you so much, Liza." Lili said, smiling.

Elizaveta grinned back, gently hugging the girl. "Anytime."


Lili sighed, holding two ribbons in her hand. She had decided after visiting Elizaveta's grave that she'd move on this year. And she decided that she'd start by replacing the one belonging she used all the time, the ribbon that Elizaveta had given her. Of course, that had proven difficult as she looked at the different ribbons; she couldn't find one that she had liked more than the one she was currently wearing. She sighed again, and walked down a different aisle, continuing her search. Lost in her thoughts, she bumped into someone.

"Ah, entschuldigung." She said, curtsying nervously. The other girl blinked at her, confused.

"Excuse me?" She said, looking at her, a glint of amusement in her otherwise blank eyes.

"Oh! I said, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to speak in another language, Miss… um…"

"Arlovskaya. My name is Natalya Arlovskaya." She said curtly.

"It's nice to meet you. I'm Erika Vogel. You can call me Lili, if you wish. Everyone else does." She said, holding her hand out politely. Natalya nods, shaking her hand for a moment.

"What are you doing here? You don't look like a person from around here." Natalya asked her.

"My brother and I are visiting here." Lili said, biting her lip nervously. It wasn't a complete lie… But for some reason she still felt guilty that she wasn't saying the whole truth.

"Mhm." Natalya said. Lili felt a bit of relief that the other appeared to not suspect anything. "Say, if you don't mind, could you help me with finding a ribbon?"

Lili nods, smiling. "I don't mind. But the one you have right now looks perfectly fine."

"Thank you, but it's not for me. I wanted to get one for big sister… Although maybe I'll get one for myself as well."


I left out a bit at the end, but the only major thing is that after a while, Lili decides to hand over her old ribbon to Natalya for safe keeping. (I know it gets brought up in White Room, but since its been such a long time, I felt the reminder was necessary, especially since I don't know if everyone following this read WR or not.)

Notes:

1. Wasn't quite sure what to call it, but this was one of the more common terms I found for it. It's one of those dressers/tables with mirrors.

2. Liza is a nickname for both Elizaveta (Russian) and Erzsébet (Hungarian) and because I didn't want both Maria and Lili to have the same nickname for her, Eli, I chose Liza (Lie-zah).

Translations:

Entschuldigung=Sorry (German)