88. The Only Exception

Date Written: July 17, 2019

Date Posted: December 5, 2020

Characters: Veneziano

Summary: Veneziano loves women. However, like with most rules, there is an exception.

Notes:


If there was one thing to know about North Italy, it was that he absolutely loved women. He loved how they smiled, how their bodies curved in just the right places, and their voices that rang high and demure. Any woman was worthy of such beauty: North Italy was sure of that. So enamored was he with the fairer sex, North Italy often shirked responsibilities and whatever just so that he could please a woman. Unfortunately…

Unfortunately, he loved all women and wouldn't bear the idea of just leaving his heart open for one lucky woman.

And so, North Italy's heart remained open.

"I can't believe you just left me for some old hag!" The woman clung tightly to his arm as her too plump rouged lips simpered at him. Her nails were long and polished and the jewelry she wore glittered without abandon in the sunlight. Her voice, which Veneziano mistook for the sweet tone of a lullaby was sharp and keening. "You're too kind for your own good!"

"No," Veneziano tried shaking the woman off his arm. "It's only common sense and courtesy to help the elderly across the street. Have you no shame?"

His eyes, usually so warm and inviting, had hardened steadily after hearing the woman sound so callous. With a strength that he usually reserved in times of war, he gently—gently—pushed the woman away from him. Her display of casual cruelty had forever marred her beauty. Instead of seeing the color of emeralds in her eyes, he saw the mold on old bread. Her dark ringlets writhed and curled about as if they were festering with snakes. She was no longer the independent, outspoken woman that he had acquainted himself just a few minutes ago.

No, she was far removed from his expectations of a woman.

With such a bad mark upon her personality, she would not have qualified as a woman at all. There was no beauty to behold there was no woman to hold and cherish like he wanted so many times before.

The woman, oblivious to the gradual distance that North Italy was trying to put between them, tittered in a way that hinted towards a false personality. "Shame? It's such a shame that the lady caught your attention! No self-respecting man would ever abandon a prize like me. I think you should be asking yourself that question."

At that moment, Veneziano wanted to escape from the woman's embrace. At the very least, he hoped that the woman would get the general idea to leave him be. At this rate, he thought that maybe he shouldn't have shirked his duties as a Nation today. Well, if there was one thing that North Italy was good at, it was that he was fast at running away if push came to shove.

But when the shove became deadly, he would fight back.

It was a shame that the woman was steadily backing him into a corner. Who knows? Maybe something productive might happen.

He raised an eyebrow challenging her. "And what would you have me do? Leave the poor old woman without anyone trying to help her?"

It was as if North Italy had notched an arrow and struck true. When the reality of his words hit the woman, her face colored and a strange sound came from her lips. Before she could splutter out an explanation, he abruptly tugged her arm away and made sure to leave a space between them.

"Perhaps you should reconsider your priorities in life." Veneziano turned and walked away, stewing along in his disappointment for his poor judgment.

Italy loves women. He likes them despite color, age, intelligence, etc.

The only exception is when there's only ugliness inside.