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Disclaimer: I don't own Axis Powers: Hetalia. It rightfully belongs to Himaruya Hidekaz. I merely own the AU plot and setting. Additionally, I'm not an expert on teaching and blindness. All information comes from observation and speculation. Please do not reference.
Enjoy!
Nihilism
"If you see the world in black and white, you're missing important grey matter."
—Jack Fyock
"Maybe we should stay off of Shakespeare. Everybody does Shakespeare," Francis said as he tapped a pencil on the desk.
Arthur sat across from Francis at one of the tables in the art room. His eyes skimmed over the list of drama productions before him. "But Shakespeare is a classic! Who wouldn't like a good Shakespeare? Romeo and Juliet, Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet…"
"Not necessarily. The literature students are always complaining about them."
"That's because they don't understand the mastery of Shakespeare!" Arthur shot Francis a glare, but the fellow fine arts teacher made no reaction; after all, Francis didn't know. "They don't understand the significance of the poetry and the pure philosophy that make his plays utterly timeless!"
"That's the point! It's better to give them something they can understand than something…" Francis moved his hand back and forth, frowning. "Something… out there. Way out there."
"Are you calling Shakespeare strange?" Arthur snapped, slamming his hand against the table surface.
"Maybe… larger than life is a better term."
"You're just trying to create some sort of silver lining!"
"Of course. As you can tell, I'm not a big fan of Shakespeare myself. I don't get what the hype is all about. It's just some old English actor writing in iambic pentameter and rhyming every other line."
Arthur sputtered, almost as if he were choking on air. "What?" He leant forward, straining against the table. "Are you blind? Can't you see the beauty in everything Shakespeare does?"
"Well, yeah. My cane and sunglasses aren't here just for decorations, you know."
Arthur groaned and rolled his eyes. "I don't mean like that!"
"Then what other sort of blind do you mean?"
"You know what I mean!" He threw his hands up in exasperation. He really didn't know why he was arguing with Francis in the first place; he wasn't going to win anyway. Leaning against his left arm, he snatched the pencil from Francis' fingers and then hovered the tip of the utensil over the Shakespeare plays. "Fine. We'll take Shakespeare from the list, all to satisfy your and the students' lack of good taste," he spat, then he crossed the titles off the list. "So what else do you suggest?"
Francis paused for a brief moment, tilting his head this way and that. Silence pervaded through the room. It was starting to make Arthur antsy. He tapped his fingers on the table. And the pencil. Then his feet. Eventually, he started humming the jeopardy song, taunting Francis to think faster. But Francis remained silent, "looking" at things he couldn't see. He didn't even seem to notice the cacophony Arthur was making, much to Arthur's displeasure.
Arthur couldn't take it anymore. "Well?"
"I was thinking that we should have some colour for the art show next month. Sketches are quite dull, don't you think?"
"You are completely off topic!" Arthur cried, throwing his hands into the air and flipping the pencil away. "We aren't talking about the art show! We're talking about the drama production!"
"But it's still pretty important! I want the students to start creating their portfolio and possibly work on something new to put on for the show. So far, we only have sketches."
"Then we'll have them dabble in something else. Like watercolour or something."
"Do we have pottery?"
Arthur shook his head. "No. Not enough money for that. I've been trying to persuade the administration for more funding, but they won't give us a single extra penny. I gave up a long time ago."
"… All right."
"You'll think of something. But right now, think about what sort of production we should put on!"
"Fine… Les Misérables?"
Arthur sputtered and choked. "What?"
"Les Misérables. You should know this."
"But that's practically like an opera! Where would we get the music?"
"Maybe you can bring the band in? It will be collaboration."
"But we have the Pops concert to worry. We don't have time for something this complicated or this grand in scale. We're cutting it close already. We need something simple. Like Shakespeare."
Francis groaned, leaning back. "We already discussed Shakespeare. We need something simple but interesting."
"Shakespeare is interesting!"
"And overdone. What about Phantom of the Opera?"
"Outrageous! What's with you and overcomplicated musicals? We're a small school with a possibly small cast and little to no resources at all for either the set or the practical effects! What makes you think we can put on a show like that?"
Francis shrugged and smiled. "You never know. Maybe the school will surprise you, and we do have everything we need."
"No, we don't."
"Aww, you're just being a downer with a stick up his butt. Why not give it a chance?"
"No. I'm being real. We need something simple! Simple! That's the keyword!
"Fine…" Francis sighed, leaning against the table. "Then… Aida?"
"Aida?" Arthur repeated, furrowing his brow and frowning. "Do you mean that weird Disney-style Egyptian love story museum thing?"
"I… suppose you can describe it like that. I recently heard that a neighbouring high school put on the show, and it was simple and well-done."
Arthur rubbed his forehead as he thought, sighing deeply through his nose and looking down on the list of plays, mostly containing Shakespeare. Aida was not even close to being on the list.
"Well, would that satisfy you?"
"I suppose." Arthur took up the list and crumpled it into a ball. "I'll research it and put up auditions."
Francis' smile widened. "Don't worry. You won't be disappointed."
"I hope not." Arthur tossed the crumpled ball into the nearest recycling bin.