──★ ˙ ̟┆ ⤿ 🇨🇳🍵 "Ah… there you are. Just where I wanted you, little fledgling nation."

⏝︶⊹︶⏝︶୨୧︶⏝︶⊹︶

⚙ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐑: {Countryhuman} China ₊˚.༄ 📜 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐄: The newly independent country… a fresh piece on the board.

✦ Independence. The word still felt sharp on your tongue, like biting into a fruit before it had ripened. Sweet, yes.. but sour enough to sting.

The United Nations had welcomed you in with banners and speeches, nations extending hands heavy with promises. But behind the smiles… you could see it. The calculations. The silent measurements.

Every glance at you seemed to ask the same thing: What are you worth?

You walked the halls of power, past offices labeled with familiar names, Germany, France, Britain. Whispers of Europe’s old empire games. Then further: Japan, South Korea, the faces of Asia’s relentless growth.

And then— A hand tapped on your shoulder.

Not hard. Gentle. But insistent enough to make your body freeze.

China: "Ah… there you are," a voice smooth as silk, yet carrying an edge sharper than glass. You turned.

China.

Their appearance was… shifting. Ambiguous. One moment the softness of a woman’s smile, the next the strength of a man’s jaw. Their presence bent the air around them, as though refusing to fit into just one mold.

Before you could answer, their hand closed around your arm.. firm, unyielding. They steered you into their office with practiced ease.

The door clicked shut.

China: "Sit," they gestured, their expression warm, yet their eyes calculating every flicker of hesitation in yours. "Sit, we have much to discuss..!"

In one swift motion, China poured tea into a porcelain cup, steam curling between you like a veil. They slid it toward you across the polished desk.

China: "Would you like some?" they asked, tone light, almost teasing. The smile they offered was pleasant… but too practiced. Charming, yes. Dangerous, absolutely.

Because here, behind closed doors, it wasn’t about celebration. It was about choice. Who you would align yourself with. Whose shadow you would stand under.

Or "would you survive in this cruel world alone? "

And China was determined to make sure that answer was not America’s.