The assistant looked over two overwhelming piles of documents, separating them like the red sea. Her worried face said it all. "Thank you for helping me with this. Even since Serbia was stuck on that cube, I've been swamped with this government business. I can't make ends or tails of it."
Niš waltzes in unimpressed with the main office. "Same as I remember it. Funny, I thought this place would be much more luxurious by now" she says frowning at the 80s style furniture.
"Well, we had many things to take care of before refurnishing. I was hopping you could help me with these" the girl says handing her a file.
The city opens it making a face. "And what do I get out of it?"
Stunned by her reply, the assistant stops what she was doing. "Well, for once you get to help everyone around you. Keep good relations with your fellow nations… Things like that."
"Ha!" she scoffs putting the file away as if it was a stained tissue. "You do not expect me to work for free do you?"
"Well…" she uttered starting to panic. "I don't really know. I figured you personifications had it figured out."
The city pouts disappointed. She begrudgingly goes over some documents from the urgent pile and puffs.
"Can you help?" the girl asks eagerly.
"Hmm, fine. But only because you ask nicely."
The assistant smiles relieved. "Great we can start-"
"Right when we get some coffee" the city replies, leaving the girl baffled.
"Um, I'm sorry. What?"
"You don't expect me to start such an important task without my morning coffee, do you?"
"It's mid afternoon."
"So? Does it make any difference?" the personification ads nonchalantly.
"I suppose not" she stutters. "But some of these are urgent! These EU and USA requests are coming in by the day."
"Oh please. What gives them to right for them to send us demands" she scoffs.
"Well, they do send us money."
"Which are near pennies for them" the personification concludes with her nose up.
The assistant sighs. "Fine, where would you like to start?"
Niš looks around and picks up a dusty piece of paper. "How about from here?"
The girl's go over it and squint. "That's the list of friendly countries from the time of Yugoslavia. They're are long overdue!"
"Better late then never" the city shrugs with the confidence of a queen.
"Hmm, I do remember Serbia mentioning doing something nice for Zambia. But I guess with all this madness, I simply forgot."
"And then I came to remind you. See, I am helping you already" Niš taps her on the shoulder.
The girl smiles. "Alright, but once this is done, we can start with the other tasks. I was told they were very important."
"Bah! If it is that urgent it wouldn't be sitting on a tiny desk of a small Balkan nation, would it?" Niš says adjusting a bulky chairs. Prepping a cushion she makes herself comfortable before adding to the stressed-out assistant. "You look tired. Have you been getting enough sleep?"
"Sort of" the assistant barely manages to utter. "My works has been getting the better of me."
"Do yourself a favor and relax. Such delicate matters should be done only when you are at your best."
"Alright" the girl can do nothing but stare.
Her boss' replacement stretches and adds with confidence: "Don't you worry your pretty little head, you stick with me and we'll get the job done. I mean, who knows. I might even get you a raise... Now, about that coffee."
The girl shakes her head. "Yes, Ma'am. I'll be right back."
Some time later, back at the cube, Serbia is deep in her thoughts when the two approach her.
Niš is carefree as ever. The assistant, on the other hand. She slouched as if being crushed by the weight of her own shoulders.
"What happened to you?" Serbia asks worried.
"Oh Ms. Serbia. It was horrible!" the girl bursts into tears. "I tried to do some nation work with Ns. Niš-"
"What?" Serbia blurts. "Why? I told you not to accept any more requests while I'm here!"
"I tried" the assistant says through tears. "But they were all relentless. Bombarding me with orders, and threats. I didn't want to disturb you so I figured. She looks like you… I figured she was a good enough replacement."
As the poor girl cried, Serbia side-glanced the city, who responded with a shrug and titter.
"There's a reason I'm a nation and she is a city, you know."
"I know now. I'm sorry" she weeps even louder.
"There, there. It's going to be fine" the nation comforted the weeping girl.
"It will?"
"Yes. Why don't you give me the messed-up documents and I'll fix the damages."
"You will! Oh thank you" the girl yelled out. Running back and fort as fast as humanly possible, she presented them to the nation.
"Thank you so much, Ms. Serbia" the girl says infinitely relieved.
She smiles and smiles at her warmly. "You look tired, dear. When was the last time you got some rest?"
"Umm. Why does everyone keep asking me that?" the human replies.
"Tell you what. You let me handle this and you have a nice vacation."
The girl nods a little uncertain, but still relieved. "I will. If you say so."
As she leaves, Serbia turns to her subordinate. "I understand her, but you. You should have know better" she adds slightly disappointing.
The city shrugs again and looks away awkward.