Monday, September 9, 2013

The Smiling Mask

 

It was almost impossible to see him sad, or that's what they thought. Truth be told, ever since the Revolutionary War, Alfred has had a war going on within himself, trying to keep his true feelings hidden while he put on the twisted grin smile. He believed that if he smiled he could forget those terrible feelings deep within he soul.
 
But he never could.
 
 He's been hit buy everything you could imagine. A Civil war between him and his sister, multiple natural disasters; such as hurricane Sandy, Earthquakes which rock the western coast, tornadoes that rip through the middle of his country, floods forcing people on top of their homes, and blizzards in which everything becomes a white out.
 
The pain is almost unbearable, both physical and physiological. His muscles ached, his mind spun,  everything he did caused him some kind of damage. His spinning mind made him a bit confused and slow. When he spoke with such a head, it made him sound a little..dumb.
 
The sad thing is, he probably never would be going through all of this pain...
 
If he never left his brother.
 
 
The American huffed as he pulled the headphones onto his ears before crossing his arms across his body. These were the few meetings he just wanted to disappear, to evaporate into nothing. It's not like nothing ever was directed his way anyways.
 
His gaze found that of the familiar English man, his eyes squinting slightly through his glasses, silently challenging the man to a staring match. Now, how could the good gentleman refuse the opportunity to play even a slight game with his little brother.
 
Alfred watched as Arthur's eyes narrowed, his glare intensifying upon the American across the table. Alfred couldn't help but let a slight smirk before it faded, his glare intensifying to match his opponents.
 
Within a few minutes, the English man blinked, causing the American's pride to swell up in his heart, only for it to slightly break when he saw tears around the other's eyes, even though they were just to wet his eyes back.
 
He never had seen Arthur cry, except for that one day...
 
Arthur looked around him, the bright room had been replaced with a dark, dingy battlefield. His T-shirt, jeans, and headphones were replaced with a stiff, pain filled uniform. It's read collar stiff as it's pressed against his neck.
 
He saw him, the elder brother in the blood red coat, his limbs stiff and barely moving as he marched with the musket in his hands. Fear slowly started to fear the younger man as he looked around, where was his sister?! She went to go get back up.
 
A sudden tap against his elbow made him jump, only to be met with the hidden face of his sister. Her deep blue eyes held a spark of happiness and hope as more men appeared behind them both. Alfred felt himself smile as his heart soaked up her happiness and hope.
 
Around this time is when Arthur got to them. Alfred told him the truth and explained all that his people wanted, if only he'd understood then what his brother was going through.
 
Arthur dashed forwards, musket held tight within his hands and clashed it against Alfred's. During this Alfred tried to calm him down, but Arthur didn't listen. Wining the draw, Arthur pushed Alfred's musket away and held the muzzle to his face.
 
"Get your guns ready," his sister called to the other men, who responded by aiming their guns at the lonely British man. Alfred's gaze was upon the muzzle, but he felt the burning of his elder brother's gaze.
 
"Why," he heard the other whisper. Confused, Alfred looked up and saw the jade green eyes filled with pain filled tears. He watched as his older brother, the exact one he looked up to, fell to his knees; the mud inviting him, causing him to shrink lower as he covered his face.
 
"Why, Damn it," the eldest whispered again, tears rolling down his face. Alfred could feel a pinch of pain within his heart as he gathered the courage to speak those words...
 
"You know why."
 
His eyes opened as his head jerked from the table, tears streaming down his face and still blurring his vision. He heard his voice being called, but he ignored it as he wiped away the tears and stood. He turned around and quickly walked out. It seemed like nothing could replace the pain that had burrowed its way into his heart.
 
Alfred sighed as he rubbed the bridge of his nose. His hands gripped the steering wheel as he awaited to move to even simply order his meal. He only had 10 minutes till he had to be to their little 'Our Pasts' party they were planning, and this McDonalds was the slowest ever.
 
His gloved hands move softly around the wheel as he turned it just enough to reach the speaker. He leaned out, knocking his cowboy hat behind his head in the process. A voice soon came over the speaker.
 
'Hello welcome to McDonalds. What can I get for you today?'
 
Alfred sighed. Another pretty voice he only heard over the speakerphone of a McDonalds Drive-thru box.
 
"Hi, I'd like 15 McDoubles and 5 McChickens," he called, already reaching one hand back into his pocket to grab ahold of the 20 dollar bill.
 
'Alright that'll be 20 dollars at the second window sir.' Alfred sighed as he sat back down into the drivers seat. A good portion of people had given him a hard time about his eating habits, but it was the only thing he could do to get his mind off of the pain.
 
He groaned as the car in front of him kept talking to the woman giving his food. He couldn't see the woman but he could tell by her hand gestures she was getting pissed. When the car didn't seem to move for 5 minutes, Alfred leaned out of the window of his car.
 
"Dude, whatever it is, she's not interested," he called angrily, "Now move before I plow you." As he settled back down, the car ran forward and disappeared into the street. Sighing, Alfred pushed the car only a bit forward to meet the window.
 
"I appreciate what you did sir," called a voice, smooth and silky. Alfred couldn't help but look up as he nodded. He slightly regretted doing so though.
 
There was a woman, average height, wavy rose colored hair tied up in a ponytail, skin a perfect blend of tan and pale, and her eyes a heavenly light purple. A small smile was on her face, before she had to turn, her voice going into the headpiece connected to her.
 
That was the woman of the Drive-thru box, and she looked magnificent.
 
"Alright," she said as she looked into the bag filled with food, "That's 15 McDoubles and 5 McChickens at 20 dollars." Alfred nodded as he took the food and gave her the needed money for the food.
 
"U-um, ma'am," he said softly, as if he was a 3rd grader asking a girl to play with him.
 
"Yes, what is it," she softly asked him.
 
"W-what may your name be," he asked, hands slightly shaking beneath the open window. She let out a small giggle.
 
"I'm Whitney," she stated softly, "Whitney Lane. How about you, cowboy?"
 
"A-Alfred. Alfred Jones."
 
When he was with her, everything seemed to melt away. All the pain, the suffering, the deaths, nothing seemed to matter as long as she was within his arms reach. That's why, when her manager told him she left, he was just heartbroken.
 
He wiped away his tears when a shadow engulfed him. He looked up, only to be met with his short, older brother and stuck-between-them younger sister. Both of their faces were concerned and obvious very worried.
 
"Alfred," said Sasha as she crouched down to his level, "We have some news." He looked between both her and Arthur, confusion printed clearly upon his face. He looked down at the bouquet of flowers in his hands before looking back up.
 
"What is it," he asked. Arthur sighed, putting a hand to his shoulder.
 
"The woman you describe," he said pausing, "She's the representative of Atlantis. Her country went underwater a few days ago, so..."
 
"That's why she's gone," he whispered.
 
"But," Sasha said, snapping them back, "If rumor has it, she turns into a mermaid into this time."
 
"So," added the English man, "I was wondering, if you wouldn't mind, coming with me to look for her." Alfred couldn't help but smile widely as he hugged them both close, yes repeating his mouth over and over again.
 
He was happy to do something like this with his siblings. But he'd be much happier when they'd find her. When they find the one girl,
 
 
who gave the man a smile,
 
 
 
and broke
 
 
 
 
 
 
The smiling mask.

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