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Does one dream of the ghosts of the past?
And San Marino meant that question in a literal sense, not in the metaphorical way.
The world of the supernatural was always a particular fascination of his, ever since his own resurrection in ages past. It only made sense for him to question it that way.
Though, he had to be true to himself. That thought had slipped away from his mind entirely, and only appeared when his nephew kept blabbering away on finding himself in a dream. That shouldn't be something odd in the first place, but the details were most definitely peculiar.
Italy kept seeing the same woman, again and again. And with every time he tried to communicate with her, she kept repeating that cursed word of 'you know me'. Yet San Marino only found the frustration in his face amusing.
At least, until this moment.
Yes, that question only appeared in passing, and he never really gave much thought over it, considering he hadn't heard of any similar instance. He certainly tried, but he wasn't able to figure out on how exactly that would work.
But could he really deny it, when it was happening to him right now?
Now that he was looking at that same woman in Italy's dreams (his surroundings mattered not), he couldn't help but to chuckle over how hilarious all this was.
It certainly made sense why Italy wouldn't know who this was; he'd only seen his father in the form of a man, after all.
"Postumo," he called out to the brunet, who had his back turned on him. Only once he heard those words, did he turn to face the living. "you seem to enjoy messing around with Alessandro."
Roman Empire didn't bother hiding the glee in his eyes. "You know, if it was Gaius, I am sure he would have known who I am immediately," the hearty laugh which came after filled San Marino with a sort of longing.
Ah, it had been so long since he had seen him. It didn't matter that he saw the ghost of the man, since the end of the Second World War, because all he saw was a translucent apparition. Different from this, who looked full and unable to be seen through.
"Why are you here?" San Marino asked, curious on his brother's odd choice. If he had something to say, he could've just met him as a ghost.
"No reason in particular," the man shrugged, his cognac eyes shifting in amusement. "I just wanted to play a little game with Alexander. I wonder how long it would take for him to figure out that I am his mother."
"So, you only wanted to rope me into this?" The republic questioned the empire's behaviour.
"I would rather you not push him the right way..." he trailed off. "he needs to figure it out for himself. He cannot see me like how you can, in the living world."
That made more sense now. The reason why San Marino could see ghosts was because he wasn't really alive in the first place. Italy, on the other hand, definitely was. "I suppose I can help you with that."
"I hope so," he let out a short chortle. "All I would say is that the world of Incarnations would start its change soon."
San Marino wasn't sure how to take that response as. "Is that supposed to be a warning?" He decided to push further.
"I guess you can refer to it as that," he shrugged, face absent of any care towards the world. "I should not say more than that, though."
"That's fine," San Marino huffed. "Does this have anything to do with Martino?" His question came to direct towards Vatican City.
"Him?" Roman Empire paused. "It would not be wrong to think that way. But he is not as involved as you might think. His kind, definitely, but not he himself."
"Interesting." The younger (though he was much older than his brother, now, considering he'd lived for far longer) commented shortly.
"I suppose that is all I can say to you," the empire smiled. "I am sure we would meet again soon, Petrus," he turned around to face the other way, and San Marino could see how the place seemed to have gotten brighter all of a sudden. "Ah, and before I go," he continued. "Even if Alexander could see me like how you can, I cannot appear in that world. Let us say that the circumstances are... quite challenging," before the living could ask further, he could see Roman Empire grin at his way, as he spoke, "Farewell."
Roman Empire disappeared with the light, and San Marino woke, drenched in a cold sweat.