still getting used to the layout of this world, and tried to expand her comfort zone. Buildings still seemed familiar, but she still held some discomfort even if her features didn't express it. The only way >

she could feel even a bit at home in a foreign land was to visit the park, and that's where she found herself now.

notices a woman walking by and starts to play a song, trying to act casual as he watches her from the corner of his eye. She was pretty cute and he wanted to try to impress her.

heard the music and her attention went right to the source of it. She stopped walking and stood off to the side of the path for others to get around her while she listened to the music. Even if it wasn't >

the music she was used to, it was still a comfort.

plays a little more and smiles over at her when he sees her step aside. He always liked playing music for people, especially women. He keeps playing for a while before ending the song and waving at her.

hadn't noticed that she was blatantly staring at him. The moment he smiled to her her cheeks flared up, and when he waved to her she had to avert her gaze, trying to hide her embarrassment. She busied her >

hands by fumbling with her scarf, trying to cover the lower bit of her face.

smiles faintly when he sees her get embarrassed and calls out to her. "You don't have to stand over there, you can come closer." He thought it was cute that she got flustered so easily. Most of the girls he-

spent time with didn't ever get flustered at all and usually just embarrassed him.

focused on the ground, but she couldn't deny that he was addressing her. After a silent pause she stepped towards him, mustering up her courage to push away the earlier embarrassment. She made sure to look him>

in the eyes, trying not to look intimidating.

thought she seemed a little intimidating but he wasn't scared of her. He smiles a little wider when she comes closer. "Is there any song you'd like to hear in particular? I know quite a few."

shook her head from side to side. "Play what you want." She didn't want to talk too much because she knew her accent was uncommon in this area, and she didn't want to draw too much attention >

to herself. "I just enjoy the music..."

noticed a hint of an accent but wasn't going to ask about it. There had been more tourism in the area lately and even though he tried to stay away from them, he didn't mind spending time with them. He nods at-

her before starting a new song, picking a slower one this time.

stood off to the side so she didn't feel as exposed, and to allow other customers to come and give him compliments. She watched his hands and how gracefully they moved on the instrument. Her focus was so >

intense on the movements that she lost focus on the music, and had to close her eyes to bring back her focus. It really did have a calming affect on her and with a quiet sigh she allowed herself to drop >

her guard.

notices her relax and is glad for that. He didn't want her to feel uncomfortable. Music was supposed to help people feel relaxed after all. He glances at her every once in a while but doesn't watch her too-

closely, not wanting to embarrass her again.

opened her eyes once she felt comfortable enough to. She noticed a few other woman watching and didn't want to steal away his attention anymore, so once he finished his song she nodded a silent thanks and >

contemplated on where to visit next.

walks over to her. "You aren't from around here, are you? Want me to give you a tour?"

hadn't imagined the other would pay attention to her. She wasn't prepared for it. "Ah." She fiddled with her scarf once more. "I think I've been here before, once. Maybe a brief tour will help jog my >

memory." She made very little, if any, eye contact with him. It was a shy trait of hers.

thought there was something unusual about her. She reminded him of someone but he couldn't quite figure out who. He smiles faintly and sets his guitar on his back. "Alright, I'll show you some of the main-

roads first."

clasped her hands together in front of her and began to walk where the other was guiding her. "Danku." She kept looking around, not making eye contact with anyone. "I think I know the main roads, but >

it's not a bad idea to get another look around."

tilts his head and watches her as he walks. "Do you happen to know Elise or Nikolaas?" He knew that the Netherlands and Belgium had quite a few relatives and he figured that if she was a country, that would-

explain why she seemed different.

shot an icy glance at him, watching him cautiously now. How would he know so out of the blue? "What if I happened to know a Nikolaas, or a Elise?" She started to build up her guard again.

shrugs. "You have an accent that sounds like someone I know. I grew up with them." He looks around for something to help change the subject. "There's a really good bakery there that you should check out-

sometime, they have great bread."

watched his movements for longer before looking ahead. "Does this Nikolaas you know have a scar on his forehead, and wears a scarf with white and blue colours?" She turned her head to see where he >

was talking about. "Ah, okay. I like bakeries as long as they have fresh and local products."

glances at her with a nod. "Yeah, that's the one I know. I guess you could say we grew up together. I really don't know him too well, though. Most of the bakeries around here are like that. I don't see the-

point in buying food we can grow just as well."

stopped walking and looked at the male. "It must have been fun growing up with him." She said with a hint of sarcasm as she walked once more beside him. She began to feel a little more familiar with >

the other, even if he was still a stranger. It helped her nervousness begin to fade away at least.

blinks at her before laughing under his breath. "I guess, I don't know, I mostly had to spend time with that bastard Sp-...Antonio." He wasn't sure whether she knew about the countries. He figured that-

Nikolaas was private enough that not many people would know him. "How do you know him?"

watched him carefully as he made his slip up. She had assumed he was a nation as well, but this secured it. "You could say I accused him of taking my house. I've not seen him in a >

long time, however. We keep our distance and keep to our personal spaces."

stops midstep and stares at her for a bit. "Are... are you his counterpart?" He hadn't considered that before but now that he looked at her closely, she did have a resemblance to him. He had a similar-

encounter with his own counterpart and his brother's counterparts though he hadn't seen any of the three of them in a while.

stops with him and nodded confidently. "Ja. I've not seen him in a while. I keep to my house outside of the city. It's closer to the fields and my greenhouse." She tilted her head as she tried to >

guess who he was. "From the way you talk about Spain, I'd guess you're South Italy's counterpart?"

blinks in surprise before he sheepishly scratches the back of his head. "Yeah, I am. I haven't seen her around or really, any of the family." He sighs in mock annoyance. "Bastards... now I'm stuck with all the-

paperwork."

showed a faint smirk as she looked ahead once again. "I agree. I have quite a lot of paperwork to go through. Doesn't help that I don't talk or even interact with the other Netherlands. I've not seen my >

brother either. Or your Belgium. It's just me." She didn't like the fact that she was alone busniess wise, but she liked it personally. She liked her solitude.

shrugs a little. "I haven't seen them around lately, either or I'd try to help you out. Elise is nice, though. She gets along well with everyone." He watched her out of the corner of his eye, now mentally-

comparing her to her counterpart. He had never really considered Nikolaas to be shy or cute but she certainly was both. He'd never really bothered to get to know Nikolaas well, though.

caught his eyes looking at her and made it obvious that she noticed. "I'll keep that in mind when I see her. Is there anything you want? You seem to be eyeing me." She didn't intend to >

embarrass or frighten him, she just wasn't that good in social situations.

blushes bright red. He hadn't meant to stare but he always found the counterparts interesting once he got over the initial shock. "Ah, no, I was just thinking that you don't look much like Nikolaas. Well, you-

do... but not too much, I guess. Some of the counterparts look a lot alike."

let a smirk escape as looked down. "I would be embarrassed if I looked like someone. My image means a lot to me, when I mean it." She stopped and leaned on one leg. "Though, walking in heels all the time does >

get tiring. May we get a tea or something? I wouldn't mind a small break."

nods, a little glad that she didn't seem to be mad at him. Women could be scary when they were mad... He frowns faintly and glances around for a coffee shop. "Of course, I think there's a shop just a few doors-

away that has some tea."

kept her smirk as she looked down, restlessly tapping her fingers together. "Or, whatever you enjoy. I'm in your territory, so I should appreciate any hospitality. I just automatically think of tea >

because of Japan."