The silence hung in the air for a moment until Arthur said, “Son… they’re just questions.”
Liam was disappointed, no Arthur was disappointed and Arthur wasn’t planning on giving up. Liam sighed because knew that he had to deal with these delegates for the rest of the month. He didn’t want to be harassed by them the entire time. Just sitting here for the last five minutes with them made his skin prickle from the uncomfortable static electricity feel of their curiosity. It might be pathetic, but he’d rather tell them once and get it over with than prolong the experience. At least then he could be left alone again.
“Fine, fine….” He let the words escape, “I don’t know how to answer you’re question though…” Part of himself was angry for giving in so easily, but it was quickly squashed by the excitement coming from the three foreigners. He rolled side to side in the leather chair.
“Just try,” Mr. Noica coaxed. He didn’t realize, but Liam was trying! He pulled some calm out of Mr. Thomassen. It made him feel cold inside, but he was able to answer without yelling.
The empath stopped fidgeting. “Why do you want to know anyway?” Liam asked, “What reason should I tell you something so personal? Will you reciprocate or am I just suppose to spill my secrets to you?”
Everyone was startled and the Romanian stuttered out, “Uh… I didn’t realize it was so personal for you.”
In the back of his mind, Liam noticed a group of people lingering around the conference room door. Was lunch over already? All of a sudden there was a spike of anger. The unexpected emotion wiggled into him before he could stop it and then he was yelling.
“Of course it is! It’d be like me asking you what you’re deepest desire is or why you have so much pain?!” Liam shouted. His nails were biting into his palms.
“No person feels as much as you guys feel. It’s not normal!” The anger kept coming, Liam couldn’t feel the other guys’ emotions anymore.
“What? Do you want me to “read” your emotions for you? And do what then? I’m not a circus attraction!” Liam exclaimed.
The door burst open and heaps of dignitaries fell into the room on top of each other. On the bottom of the pile was the American. He was visibly upset. On top of him were three brunettes, Francis, the mischievous albino, another blonde with glasses. Looming above them was the German and a man with a rifle. It’s safe to say the anger he was feeling was from those two. However, he could also feel curiosity from them all. There was hidden love from Francis towards the blonde boy with glasses. What Francis didn’t know was the blonde had unrequited love towards Francis. Their was an odd mix of paternal feelings their too…Liam’s stomach rolled. Please, don’t let it be incest! He did not know how to handle that!
Everyone seemed to be stunned into silence. The American traced circles into the carpet. He looked completely unconcerned at being on the bottom of a six person dog pile. He should be in so much pain from that weight... Liam was beyond confused. And with the added people his emotions were dangerously chaotic again.
“Veee, can you tell me what I’m feeling?” A small Italian wiggled out of the heap and scurried over to Liam.
“Feliciano!” Another Italian called out scrambling after him, kicking the last brunette in the side as he did. A pained, “Looovi,” was exclaimed with a Spanish accent.
Feliciano plopped down in a seat next to Liam, “Read me, Mr. Empath! Read me!” Liam sucked in a breath. The three in front of him looked stunned at the strange turn of events. The possibility of him getting out of this? He looked at the eager faces.
Zero.
“Fine… just fine,” Liam sighed. A chorus of exclamations went up. “Just don’t say anything alright?” Liam asked looking over the group carefully. “Oh and back up,” he waved the rest of them away from him. The all just stared at him strangely.
“Back up! I can’t feel him if you’re all crowding his emotions.”
The made little oh sounds and moved away. Arthur, Mr. Thomassen and Mr. Noica stayed at the front of the group though. The empath rolled his eyes and spun the chair back around to face the Italian.
“Feliciano, right?” Liam asked. The boy bobbed his head.
“Alright so there are a bunch of ways for an empath to read a person.” Liam could hear the sound of a pencil scratching behind him. He turned and grabbed one of his own so it’d be easier to remember everything.
“What I want you to do is think about a particular event in your life and I’ll tell you the emotions behind it. Ok?” Liam was doing this because it was safer than exposing everything the boy was feeling right now.
"Do you have an event?" The brunette nodded, eyes closed. Liam nodded also and let himself zone out. The emotions were right there, so easy to grasp. Liam sat soaking up his emotions, he barely even had to concentrate.
“Don’t you have to be touching him?” Mr. Thomassen asked.
“Stop talking to me,” Liam replied, concentrating on remembering each emotions as it came up.
Terror and bravery mixed together in the first sequence, then a burst of nostalgia, and excitement. The next sequence was longer and a flower of friendship was the main emotion, but then there was worry. It was strong enough that Liam was able to pin down the reason too. It was about being abandoned by another person, a guy, Liam was almost positive. There was jealousy (over someone, not something). More bravery and terror along with a healthy dose of tenderness then a rapid fire of wonder, joy, and excitement.
In the absence of the event's memories, Liam was able to clearly see the trails of Feliciano's worry about abandonment under almost all of his other emotions. Liam scratched down the emotions on a scrap piece of paper. “Ok Feli, do you want to tell anyone what you were thinking of?”
Nerves cropped up and Feliciano searched the rest of the nations. Not finding whoever he was looking for he shook his head. Protests broke out, the loudest was, “How will we know if you’re telling the truth?” Liam ignored them and recounted the emotions for the small brunette.
As Liam spoke Feliciano’s eyes got wider and wider. The last thing though, that he wouldn’t say to the Italian in front of other people so he wrote it down and slid it across the table.
You’re still worried he will leave you for someone else.
Feliciano’s eye’s nearly bulged out of his head and his face went white. He snatched the paper off the table and stared at it. He gave a high pitched giggle before exclaiming, “Veee, this made me hungry for some PASTA!” He booked it out of the room faster than Liam had ever seen someone move. The piece of paper was crumpled up in his hand.
The room was silent for a moment before the other Italian, Lovino, broke ranks and approached Liam. He appeared puzzled but inside Liam could feel a growing desire to know. The boy from high school had a desire like this after he’d learned Liam’s advice was sound. The empath wasn’t sure how he was going to get out of this.
“Go ahead bastardo, read me now,” Lovino demanded.
Liam could feel his own hurt for a moment before the Italian’s false anger replaced his emotions. Liam snarled, “You and I know what you show on your face, it’s not how you really feel about him,” Liam nodded his face in the Spaniard’s direction, “and don’t call me a bastard.”
The other ambassadors were bewildered by him, he could feel it, but Liam was heading for the door. He was so out of here. His job was not to pander to the foreigners, it was to maintain the building. That was it.
As he was striding away from the room, he could hear the British, Norwegian and Romanian delegates calling after him. He knew this wouldn’t be the last time he heard from those three. It was definitely past time for him to go on his lunch break.
The following days the building had never felt so crowded. Everywhere Liam went someone was there. If he was going into the restroom, someone was walking out of it. If he was making himself a mid-morning cup of coffee, someone was there adding sugar to theirs. If he was emptying the garbage bins in unused conference rooms, someone had escaped into that exact room to do last minute paper work. Liam felt like a pregnant woman with all the mood swings he had to deal with! And to top it off Liam constantly had to be on guard for the magic trio. Why was Liam calling them the magic trio? Because they frequently appeared out of nowhere, making a childish part of Liam blame their successful sneak attacks on him on magic.
This particular morning he had to attend to the computer lab which meant a busy morning. He’d have to run virus tests, update the software, download the latest patches, replace the printer’s ink and paper… the list felt endless. The good thing was it kept him away from the others. Liam settled into a brisk dusting, aiming to get the physical task out of the way quickly. The room was split in half, half Macintoshes, half PCs. Soft padded, rolling chairs sat before each computer, thankfully not leather so they didn’t need to be polished. Soft light filtered in from the large bay windows. It was a pleasant morning. Quiet. If he let himself get into the routine of his dusting he could almost pretend that he was alone in the building again.
A soft creak and the tread footsteps broke the silence. Liam didn’t have to turn around, he knew who that person was. The German. Liam glanced up and yes, the blonde German was sitting down at a PC. The two caught each other’s eyes. The German nodded to Liam. Liam stared at his stoic face. None of the guilt, remorse or fury broke through the other man’s mask. With a moment’s hesitation Liam nodded back.
The German proceeded to go about his business and Liam tried to get back to his. Only now he couldn’t concentrate on what he was suppose to do. The despair clung to the blonde like an old friend. Liam felt like his lungs were being crushed by it. Dazed, he began running software updates on the Macs. A flame of humiliation rose up from nowhere and Liam’s cheeks darkened. He shifted and looked over his shoulder. The German was taping away at the key board, occasionally stopping to read something. He was so embarrassed, no, mortified. But he hadn’t even done anything to be so embarrassed. A feeling this intense normally was felt in extreme situations… it wasn’t something paperwork should trigger. Guilt was next. It was heavy, smothering. Liam’s dark eyes glazed over as he spaced out. He couldn’t think around the guilt.
Liam stood. He had to get out of there. It would take a while for the Macs to update anyway. He just had to go. He started to make his way towards the door. Before he could get away though another emotion crashed down around him. It was as if every shade of sorrow was blooming inside of him: anguish, remorse, grief, regret, distress, heart ache, misery. Liam nearly caved in on himself. His heart couldn’t take this. Tears sprang into his eyes. It felt like what he’d felt after his mother had passed away. Only six million times worse.
The empath crashed into the bathroom. Great, gasping sobs ripped their way out of him. He let himself sink down onto the floor, pressing his face against the cool tiles. Tears rained from his eyes. He couldn’t even pull himself into a stall. He just laid against the wall unable to move any further, so desperate for the heart ache to stop.
I'm so late, sorry! I saw you updated but I hadn't had time to read or comment. Anyway, I really love what's happened so far and poor Liam and poor Germany!
Being cornered probably wasn't the best way for them to talk to Liam, I like how Liam is standing up against revealing everything or being a test subject, especially if the nations aren't going to reveal anything. I hope something is revealed now that he's collapsed.
I wonder what triggered Germany's embarrassment and shame, whether he saw something while he working.
Anyway, I'm still really enjoying this story and I hope you update soon!
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Re: Empathy or Why He Liked To Work Alone 5/?
(Anonymous) 2012-02-16 09:18 pm (UTC)(link)Liam was disappointed, no Arthur was disappointed and Arthur wasn’t planning on giving up. Liam sighed because knew that he had to deal with these delegates for the rest of the month. He didn’t want to be harassed by them the entire time. Just sitting here for the last five minutes with them made his skin prickle from the uncomfortable static electricity feel of their curiosity. It might be pathetic, but he’d rather tell them once and get it over with than prolong the experience. At least then he could be left alone again.
“Fine, fine….” He let the words escape, “I don’t know how to answer you’re question though…” Part of himself was angry for giving in so easily, but it was quickly squashed by the excitement coming from the three foreigners. He rolled side to side in the leather chair.
“Just try,” Mr. Noica coaxed. He didn’t realize, but Liam was trying! He pulled some calm out of Mr. Thomassen. It made him feel cold inside, but he was able to answer without yelling.
The empath stopped fidgeting. “Why do you want to know anyway?” Liam asked,
“What reason should I tell you something so personal? Will you reciprocate or am I just suppose to spill my secrets to you?”
Everyone was startled and the Romanian stuttered out, “Uh… I didn’t realize it was so
personal for you.”
In the back of his mind, Liam noticed a group of people lingering around the conference room door. Was lunch over already? All of a sudden there was a spike of anger. The unexpected emotion wiggled into him before he could stop it and then he was yelling.
“Of course it is! It’d be like me asking you what you’re deepest desire is or why you have so much pain?!” Liam shouted. His nails were biting into his palms.
“No person feels as much as you guys feel. It’s not normal!” The anger kept coming, Liam couldn’t feel the other guys’ emotions anymore.
“What? Do you want me to “read” your emotions for you? And do what then? I’m not a circus attraction!” Liam exclaimed.
The door burst open and heaps of dignitaries fell into the room on top of each other. On the bottom of the pile was the American. He was visibly upset. On top of him were three brunettes, Francis, the mischievous albino, another blonde with glasses. Looming above them was the German and a man with a rifle. It’s safe to say the anger he was feeling was from those two. However, he could also feel curiosity from them all. There was hidden love from Francis towards the blonde boy with glasses. What Francis didn’t know was the blonde had unrequited love towards Francis. Their was an odd mix of paternal feelings their too…Liam’s stomach rolled. Please, don’t let it be incest! He did not know how to handle that!
Re: Empathy or Why He Liked To Work Alone 6/?
(Anonymous) 2012-02-16 09:52 pm (UTC)(link)“Veee, can you tell me what I’m feeling?” A small Italian wiggled out of the heap and scurried over to Liam.
“Feliciano!” Another Italian called out scrambling after him, kicking the last brunette in the side as he did. A pained, “Looovi,” was exclaimed with a Spanish accent.
Feliciano plopped down in a seat next to Liam, “Read me, Mr. Empath! Read me!”
Liam sucked in a breath. The three in front of him looked stunned at the strange turn of events. The possibility of him getting out of this? He looked at the eager faces.
Zero.
“Fine… just fine,” Liam sighed. A chorus of exclamations went up. “Just don’t say anything alright?” Liam asked looking over the group carefully. “Oh and back up,” he waved the rest of them away from him. The all just stared at him strangely.
“Back up! I can’t feel him if you’re all crowding his emotions.”
The made little oh sounds and moved away. Arthur, Mr. Thomassen and Mr. Noica stayed at the front of the group though. The empath rolled his eyes and spun the chair back around to face the Italian.
“Feliciano, right?” Liam asked. The boy bobbed his head.
“Alright so there are a bunch of ways for an empath to read a person.” Liam could hear the sound of a pencil scratching behind him. He turned and grabbed one of his own so it’d be easier to remember everything.
“What I want you to do is think about a particular event in your life and I’ll tell you the emotions behind it. Ok?” Liam was doing this because it was safer than exposing everything the boy was feeling right now.
"Do you have an event?" The brunette nodded, eyes closed. Liam nodded also and let himself zone out. The emotions were right there, so easy to grasp. Liam sat soaking up his emotions, he barely even had to concentrate.
“Don’t you have to be touching him?” Mr. Thomassen asked.
“Stop talking to me,” Liam replied, concentrating on remembering each emotions as it came up.
Terror and bravery mixed together in the first sequence, then a burst of nostalgia, and excitement. The next sequence was longer and a flower of friendship was the main emotion, but then there was worry. It was strong enough that Liam was able to pin down the reason too. It was about being abandoned by another person, a guy, Liam was almost positive. There was jealousy (over someone, not something). More bravery and terror along with a healthy dose of tenderness then a rapid fire of wonder, joy, and excitement.
In the absence of the event's memories, Liam was able to clearly see the trails of Feliciano's worry about abandonment under almost all of his other emotions. Liam scratched down the emotions on a scrap piece of paper. “Ok Feli, do you want to tell anyone what you were thinking of?”
Nerves cropped up and Feliciano searched the rest of the nations. Not finding whoever he was looking for he shook his head. Protests broke out, the loudest was, “How will we know if you’re telling the truth?” Liam ignored them and recounted the emotions for the small brunette.
As Liam spoke Feliciano’s eyes got wider and wider. The last thing though, that he wouldn’t say to the Italian in front of other people so he wrote it down and slid it across the table.
You’re still worried he will leave you for someone else.
Feliciano’s eye’s nearly bulged out of his head and his face went white. He snatched the paper off the table and stared at it. He gave a high pitched giggle before exclaiming, “Veee, this made me hungry for some PASTA!” He booked it out of the room faster than Liam had ever seen someone move. The piece of paper was crumpled up in his hand.
Re: Empathy or Why He Liked To Work Alone 7/?
(Anonymous) 2012-02-21 07:17 am (UTC)(link)“Go ahead bastardo, read me now,” Lovino demanded.
Liam could feel his own hurt for a moment before the Italian’s false anger replaced his emotions. Liam snarled, “You and I know what you show on your face, it’s not how you really feel about him,” Liam nodded his face in the Spaniard’s direction, “and don’t call me a bastard.”
The other ambassadors were bewildered by him, he could feel it, but Liam was heading for the door. He was so out of here. His job was not to pander to the foreigners, it was to maintain the building. That was it.
As he was striding away from the room, he could hear the British, Norwegian and Romanian delegates calling after him. He knew this wouldn’t be the last time he heard from those three. It was definitely past time for him to go on his lunch break.
Re: Empathy or Why He Liked To Work Alone 8/?
(Anonymous) 2012-02-21 07:18 am (UTC)(link)This particular morning he had to attend to the computer lab which meant a busy morning. He’d have to run virus tests, update the software, download the latest patches, replace the printer’s ink and paper… the list felt endless. The good thing was it kept him away from the others.
Liam settled into a brisk dusting, aiming to get the physical task out of the way quickly. The room was split in half, half Macintoshes, half PCs. Soft padded, rolling chairs sat before each computer, thankfully not leather so they didn’t need to be polished. Soft light filtered in from the large bay windows. It was a pleasant morning. Quiet. If he let himself get into the routine of his dusting he could almost pretend that he was alone in the building again.
A soft creak and the tread footsteps broke the silence. Liam didn’t have to turn around, he knew who that person was. The German. Liam glanced up and yes, the blonde German was sitting down at a PC. The two caught each other’s eyes. The German nodded to Liam. Liam stared at his stoic face. None of the guilt, remorse or fury broke through the other man’s mask. With a moment’s hesitation Liam nodded back.
The German proceeded to go about his business and Liam tried to get back to his. Only now he couldn’t concentrate on what he was suppose to do. The despair clung to the blonde like an old friend. Liam felt like his lungs were being crushed by it. Dazed, he began running software updates on the Macs. A flame of humiliation rose up from nowhere and Liam’s cheeks darkened. He shifted and looked over his shoulder. The German was taping away at the key board, occasionally stopping to read something. He was so embarrassed, no, mortified. But he hadn’t even done anything to be so embarrassed. A feeling this intense normally was felt in extreme situations… it wasn’t something paperwork should trigger. Guilt was next. It was heavy, smothering. Liam’s dark eyes glazed over as he spaced out. He couldn’t think around the guilt.
Liam stood. He had to get out of there. It would take a while for the Macs to update anyway. He just had to go. He started to make his way towards the door. Before he could get away though another emotion crashed down around him. It was as if every shade of sorrow was blooming inside of him: anguish, remorse, grief, regret, distress, heart ache, misery. Liam nearly caved in on himself. His heart couldn’t take this. Tears sprang into his eyes. It felt like what he’d felt after his mother had passed away. Only six million times worse.
The empath crashed into the bathroom. Great, gasping sobs ripped their way out of him. He let himself sink down onto the floor, pressing his face against the cool tiles. Tears rained from his eyes. He couldn’t even pull himself into a stall. He just laid against the wall unable to move any further, so desperate for the heart ache to stop.
Re: Empathy or Why He Liked To Work Alone 8/?
(Anonymous) 2012-02-26 03:10 am (UTC)(link)Re: Empathy or Why He Liked To Work Alone 8/?
(Anonymous) 2012-02-26 10:02 pm (UTC)(link)Re: Empathy or Why He Liked To Work Alone 8/?
(Anonymous) 2012-02-28 10:59 am (UTC)(link)OP
(Anonymous) 2012-02-29 09:31 am (UTC)(link)Being cornered probably wasn't the best way for them to talk to Liam, I like how Liam is standing up against revealing everything or being a test subject, especially if the nations aren't going to reveal anything. I hope something is revealed now that he's collapsed.
I wonder what triggered Germany's embarrassment and shame, whether he saw something while he working.
Anyway, I'm still really enjoying this story and I hope you update soon!