Sorry for the wait. ✿ One more to go.
"Oh boy, what a night" Serbia sips her drink pleased. She is sitting with Russia and Belarus at the night club. They're the only nations, not to mention humanoids, left in the early hours of the morning. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other former-Soviet nations left a few hours ago.
Russia seems happy but also displeased looking at his phone: "I can't believe I stayed up all night again. It's going to be a long day tomorrow. I mean today."
Belarus says nothing. She has her stocker face on and sits very still. There's a dark purple aura surrounding her making it seem as if she's in a universe of her own.
Russia's phone rings. It's Syria. He excuses himself and goes outside to talk.
The screen is on Serbia's face holding a glass and it quickly goes to Belarus' face which has 'stare' glowing out of her eyes and is very close to hers. Serbia is a little startled but hides it with a smile.
"I'm on to you" Belarus says.
"Come again?" she replies still holding her lips in a smile.
"You're trying to steal Russia away from me. What did you think? That doing your hair like that and making yourself all pretty is going to impress him? And why are your lips so full! Did you have them done or something!? And what's with the nails! How can you handle any weapon with than manicure?"
Completely confused, Serbia touches her already deforming locks and looks at her hand. Her nails are nicely decorated and just a little longer than the tips of her fingers.
"Oh...well the hair wasn't planned. Czechia did it for me. And my lips are naturally like that. As for the nails...I don't know...all the women at my place are doing them. It seemed odd not to have them. Which is not bad at all. Look! This one has a cute little two-headed eagle with 4 Ss on it!" she says innocently showing her middle finger.
Belarus leans back unsatisfied: "Still, I know you like him. As his sister it's my duty not to let-"
"Friends usually like each other. That's what friendship means, a group of people liking each other and hanging out" Serbia adds with a monotone voice.
Belarus continues to stare at her suspiciously: "That's not what I meant."
"Seriously, Belarus, lighten up. No one is stealing your brother away. Your obses-...devotion to him is unsurpassable. Others can't even come close."
Belarus hums as her companion continues. "Besides, I don't see any reason the two of us can't be friends. I think you're pretty cool" Serbia adds in a friendly tone.
Belarus' expression changes from gloomy doubt to complacency. "Yeah, no reason to be enemies. I mean, you're kind of cool too."
They both smile at each other.
"I still have bigger breasts than you anyway" Belarus adds. This makes Serbia choke on her drink.
"They're not that small. It's been a though few decades, ok. When I gain a little more weight they'll grow bigger" Serbia says ignoring the large plate of delicious snacks and goes straight for her cigarette pack.
She takes a smoke and adds, "I don't get it. I have good food but I'm still so skinny. It just doesn't make sense," and continues smoking staring at blank space. Belarus can't hold back a chuckle.
"What's funny?"
"Oh, I just remembered something" Belarus says hiding her face with her hand.
Next scene: "Poor Syria" Russia sighs deep in though while returning. He finds the two chatting and giggling.
"So how similar is Belarusian to Russian anyway?"
"Oh it's fairly similar but there are still some differences. Some words for example. There are even some 'false friends' like трусы and люстра" Belarus answers.
Serbia chuckles: "The linguistic false friends of Slavic languages. Definite proof that God has a sense of humor." (seriously, check them out sometimes, there are a few gems that will make your day)
"Did I miss something?" Russia says baffled.
"Of no, we were just talking" one of them replies.
"Sister, you feeling okay? Your face has a weird not-murderous expression" he says to Belarus.
"Yeah, I'm great?" she replies with glee.
He moves his head back still confused. "So, are you two buddy-buddies ready to go? I have somewhere to be in 3 hours."
"Sure" they say in unison.
"Great. Ladies first."
The two girl nations take their stuff. Serbia is putting her pack in the bag when we hear: "Can I have one?" Her eyes glimmer and cheeks blush. "Sure. But I don't have a lighter – only matches."
"No problem. Give me a match and I'll light it (Дај ми спичку да закурим)" Russia adds innocently.
She turns to him slowly giving him the small box. Her tight smile quivers as her cheeks turn into two radiant red circles. Russia sighs: "Again, why is that so funny?"
"Oh, it just sounds funny in my language" she says in a high pitched voice holding back the laughter. (it's not just funny, it's hilarious:))))
Next scene: Russia is flying his personal jet. Serbia is in the passenger's seat. Belarus has already been dropped off, literary.
"Are you sure you can ride a plane in your condition?" she asks.
"Sure. I'm drunk, not blind."
"How many fingers do you see?" Serbia holds out a hand with 3 fingers. After a quick glance Russia replies: "12."
She looks back at her hand focusing on the fingers: "Close enough."
They reach Serbia's place very quickly.
"Hey, there's my airport. Did I tell you how I fixed up my airport?" she says excitedly.
"Only about 4 times" he answers with a smile. "There's a parachute here somewhere if you want to jump."
"I don't think that's a good idea. I don't feel focused enough to operate a parachute."
"Belarus and I never had that problem. I sometimes jumps without it. Just for fun."
Serbia clears her throat. "Funny as that was, I would rather not die tonight."
Russia pauses for a bit before responding: "Okay, I'll try to land as safe as possible."
She turns to him curiously: "You sound a little insecure. Why?"
"Well, flying a plane drunk is one thing. Landing it...is another" he says squinting at the landing strip. Serbia gulps and secures her seat belt tighter. "Hold tight" he says lowering the plane.
The landing starts out smooth, but then... "You're too low, you're too low! Nose up, nose up!" Serbia stars screaming.
"Relax, I know what I'm doing" Russia replies calmly. His announcement is followed by the screeching sound of wheels cutting into the concrete. Then the airplane stops.
Russia releases the controls and turns to his left. The camera goes to Serbia who is cradling her knees with eyes wide open.
"I don't feel so well?" she replies.
"Are you sick?"
"No, just became sober all of a sudden."
Next scene: The two of them are standing next to a slightly damaged runway.
"Sorry... I'll pay for that" he apologizes.
"It's okay. It's not as bad as I thought. It'll be fixed in no time."
Russia smiles: "I'll get you a nice gift the next time we meet."
Serbia looks at him happy "Thanks. I really had fun tonight."
"Me too. Say hello to the EUs for me."
Serbia nods: "Sure. With a little luck, you'll have a chance to talk to them yourself soon.
Russia is not so optimistic. "Hopefully" he says in a monotone voice. His expression turns stone cold. "This world is really getting weird."
"It will get better."
"You think?" he asks sincerely.
"You'll see. Everyone will get what they want. Except the crazy people who got us into this mess."
She gets stunned by Russia's large hand patting her back. "You little scamp. How can you be so hopeful all the time?" he jokes with a large smile.
"Hey, quit it!" Serbia responds giggling. A scene of the plane in focus is shown with their laughter being heard.
Next scene: Russia waves and flies off while Serbia watches and waves from the ground. Her smiling face turns sour when she looks back at the blackened strip. She rubs her face in frustration and walks out of the frame arching her head.
Next scene: We see her house which is just a remodelled Yugoslavia house with many rooms sealed shut. The couch in the living room has not been changed which is clearly visible by the worn-out edges. She gets a very quick snack and falls on her bed exhausted.
There is a pile of papers neatly tied together on her night stand. Serbia looks at them curious. "Now why did the old bat put those there?" She turns on her side and sees a thermos with some coffee on the other nightstand. Serbia raises her eyebrow: "She usually leaves that when I have an important meeting early in the morning."
Rolling on her back, a note on the celling catches her eye. It says: "You have a 9 o'clock meeting on Thursday at Brussels." Serbia's smirks: "Oh yeah. Silly granny, that's tomorrow. No need to hurry." She shuts her eyes peacefully. After a few seconds, she jumps in horror.
"Oh my God! Tomorrow is today! I mean, today is Thursday!"
As quick as Flash, she puts everything into her trusty bag and runs for the front door. Before reaching it, she catches her reflection in a mirror. At this point, her hair resembles an electrified Persian cat. She hops from one foot to another and rushes to a small room closing the door. We hear pressure being released. Great quantity of steam comes out from the cracks and she emerges with her hair pressed straighter than a ruler.
Next scene: Czechia is sleeping in her bed when she gets a call on her mobile. She answers it still drowsy scratching her head: "Hello?"
"Hey, it's Serbia. I didn't wake you, did I?" a voice is heard from the other end.
"No, I was just...actually you did. What's up?" she responds rubbing her eyes.
Next scene: "Aren't you going to be late for work? I just passed your place" Serbia says drinking the last drop from her thermos.
Next scene: "Actually I asked for a day off in advance." A yawn and then a smirk appears on Czechia's face: "I expected to be curing a major headache by now but I guess my drinking opponent wasn't up to the task." She then scratches the tip of her nose.
"Haha" a sarcastic response is heard from the phone, "Rematch. Any time. Any where."
"That can be arranged at some point in the future. So, why are you going to Brussels?"
"I have a report that keeps being sent back. I have no idea why so I am going to consult with someone about what I'm doing wrong."
"Whose your advisor?"
"Germany."
Czechia makes a bunch of sounds and faces as if she is looking at someone fall off his skateboard down a flight of stairs and into a pool of piranhas.
"Yeah, not my first choice either" Serbia's voice sounds solemn.
"It's not that. He's been under a lot of stress lately. The whole migrant crisis has made him...snappier than usual. For your own good I think you should reschedule" she says scratching her shoulder this time.
Next scene: "It's kind of too late now. I have to be there in 15 minutes. And besides when is he ever in a good mood? I haven't seen him crack a genuine smile, well, ever." Serbia says looking into her empty container trying to conjure the magic dark liquid with her thoughts.
A sigh is heard from the other side. "It's your funeral. Just remember, as soon as he starts mentioning migrants, run."
"Thanks for the advice. Oh and by the way, who wo-"
"Well, I have to go now. Gotta catch up on my beauty sleep. Bye!" Czechia says ending the call.
"-n last night?" Serbia continues putting the phone down. She sighs and sends out a few texts.
Next scene: Serbia is entering the Brussels building. She stops by the snack and beverages table with a friendly looking staff member. "How can I help you Madam?"
"I though I smelled some Cuban coffee. That's new" Serbia rejoices.
"Why yes. This is South America week. We promote the cultures of these nations by introducing the public to some local products. Would you like a cup?"
"Actually I have my own" she replies giving him her 1l thermos, "fill it up." The young man looks at her confused: "Madam, if I may be direct. The coffee is extremely concentrated. You may find-"
She smiles as she holds out the other hand in a stop motion. "I know how strong it is. I drank it when most of the people here were in elementary school" she adds returning her outreached hand to the strap of the old leather postal bag on her shoulder. With her other hand, she nudges the container closer to the staff member.
Next scene: Serbia enters the lift sipping her coffee. As the lift doors close we see her face looking a bit tired and her eyes half shut. When it reaches the top floor, the doors open again and we see her face alive, awake and fully alert.
All offices on that floor were reserved for the EU nations themselves. Germany's office was the first to the left after a long hallway.
She thinks aloud the whole way. "I'm getting a bad feeling about this. I should probably turn around and think of a good excuse." She passes a few more doors very slowly. "But then again I really need to catch up on my reports." Her face turns visibly frustrated. "How badly do I need to be a member of the EU anyway. I mean really, half of the rules don't make any sense."
Still walking, she continues her train f thought: "Wait, how did my bosses talk me into this again...Oh yeah, isolation, trade...free stuff. Even God loves free stuff (old proverb)." She stands in front of the office holding the rim of her nose as if fighting a headache. "I'm already regretting this" she mutters and knocks on the door.