week two - friday (austria)

[eisenundblut]

[It's just past sundown, and Prussia's finally standing in front of Austria's door, hand raised to knock. She's been standing like this for at least five minutes now, swaying lightly back and forth as she tries to figure out what she should do.

Finally, she does knock, two loud, decisive knocks.]

Österreich. Let me in.

Comments

[ladyofthehouse]

[Prussia might notice that the door opens a bit when she knocks. In Austria's escape to her hut, she didn't bother to even shut the door properly enough for it to catch in the lock.

Prussia can walk in as she pleases if she watches her step. Austria's finally pulled off all her fancy clothes and strewn them all about the floor.

She's laying in her bed in her underwear, staring at the ceiling.]

[eisenundblut]

...

[Oh my god those undies?? Literally any other circumstance, Prussia would be keeling over with laughter at this A+ sight. That stupid fancy aristocrat in her underwear like this. What a loser!! Haha!!

Instead she just bends down and grabs her skirt, almost by reflex, to start folding it. Why is she like this. She can't even muster a mocking laugh! What's wrong with her??!!!]

[ladyofthehouse]

[Austria's eyes flitter over to Prussia for a brief moment, before returning to the ceiling.]

If you've come here to pity or placate me, I don't want to hear it.

[eisenundblut]

Nah.

[One (1) folded skirt later, and Prussia's moving onto the blouse. She's going to pick up all this laundry.]

I just thought you'd miss me too much if you didn't see me before you went to sleep. That's all.

[ladyofthehouse]

I see.

[Austria would like to sleep. She's tired. She's been tired for two weeks.

She's going to be doing a lot of 'sleeping' after Sunday though. She can't seem to keep her eyes shut for more than a moment, before being overwhelmed by how dark and quiet everything will soon be.]

Gute nacht, then.

[eisenundblut]

Ja, gute Nacht.

[Except Prussia isn't leaving? She's still moving around the hut, pulling her sleeve over her palm to start dusting everything. Look, she doesn't want to leave yet? She's Busy, clearly.]

[ladyofthehouse]

[Austria remains in her bed, staring at the ceiling and making no move to shut her eyes.]

...Do you think they'll be alright without me? I know that I'm so reliant on Germany these days I don't think my presence will be missed but. I was... making an effort to be more independent.

[It feels... wrong to leave them like this.]

[eisenundblut]

Stop feeling sorry for yourself. This won't kill you.

[It's... not what she intended to say. It's not even close to what she wanted to say? But it's what comes out.]

Might knock you out for a while, but you're too strong to die like this, oder? You've got what, eight and a half million people on your side.

1/2

[ladyofthehouse]

[Eight and a half million people she'll never see again.

Hear again.

Be with again.]

2/2

[ladyofthehouse]

I apologize for making you incapable of keeping your word.

[That they would both go home.]

I know how important that is to you.

[eisenundblut]

I already said you're not gonna die from this!!

[She snaps it, even as she plops down to sit at the piano and glare at the other woman.]

Could you imagine what Hungary would do to me if I went home without you? Who else am I gonna go out of my way to bother when I'm-- no, when you're feeling lonely, huh??

[ladyofthehouse]

[Austria's lips thin into a line, but she doesn't seem to look angry at Prussia.]

You and Hungary always got along better when I wasn't involved. You can have more than enough fun bothering France and Spain. There's Italy and of course there's your little schwester...

As for me being lonely, that's not something to worry about.

[eisenundblut]

That's stupid. You're important too!!

[A beat.]

To Hungary and West and Italichen. France and Spain too.

1/2

[ladyofthehouse]

[Austria looks unconvinced, but she doesn't want to argue anymore.]

...

[After a moment, Austria sits up and reaches under the bed to grab something.]

2/2

[ladyofthehouse]

Hold out your hand.

[eisenundblut]

Huh?

[She frowns with obvious confusion before sticking out her hand. Are you going to slap it or something...]

[ladyofthehouse]

[Austria produces the hair brush, placing it in Prussia's palm and wrapping her fingers around the handle.]

Please... try to take care of yourself when I'm not here.

[eisenundblut]

O-oi...

[Stop that! Stop it!! Prussia tries to shove the hairbrush back at her.]

I'm telling you, stop talking like that. Hang onto it, you'll need it.

[At least... for the weekend.]

[ladyofthehouse]

...You're so stubborn.

[eisenundblut]

One of us has got to be.

[This isn't going the way she'd thought?? She'd tried rehearsing it on the way back from the beach with Newt. She (Prussia) is supposed to be cool and charming and make her (Austria) feel better. This is not going to plan??

She exhales a loud sigh and drops down onto the bed beside her.]

Your underwear looks stupid.

[She is trying!! To bring things back to normal!!]

[ladyofthehouse]

[Austria holds onto the brush, gripping it in her hands. Prussia's making this so difficult. She shouldn't have expected anything less.]

...I know.

[eisenundblut]

...

Want me to count sheep until you fall asleep? The sound of my awesome voice is the most soothing in the whole world, you know. You'll be asleep like a cute little bird in no time.

[ladyofthehouse]

I suppose if I objected, you would simply do as you pleased regardless.

[As is typical of Prussia.]

...

[Austria moves over in the bed, leaving a space for Prussia if she wants to lie down with her. Austria won't ask her to stay with her, but she'd like her to.]

[eisenundblut]

[There's a beat where she just stares at the space next to Austria. Prussia's genuinely not used to being offered anything; she always just takes whatever she wants, whether someone wants her to or not.

But she doesn't give Austria the chance to change her mind, either. Just give her a couple minutes to unlace her boots. Yeah. She's so cool.]

Even though it's a tropical island, you gotta wear your blanket properly. C'mon, how dumb are you??

[Once her boots are off, she's crawling in right next to Austria and throwing her jacket over them both. There!!]

I'm gonna start counting now, okay?

1/2

[ladyofthehouse]

[Austria curls into Prussia's coat, resting her head against Prussia lightly. For all her bemoaning of Prussia's inability to be quiet, Austria has really never truly enjoyed silence.

Silence was lonely. Silence was isolating. Silence... soon everything would be silenced for her.]

2/2

[ladyofthehouse]

[But... not tonight.

For the first time in perhaps a long time, Austria fully appreciates hearing Prussia's voice, keeping her from being lonely.]

[eisenundblut]

[Are you ready for her awesome sheep-counting? She's counting quietly in German, arms wrapped tightly around Austria. It's not because she cares or anything!! She just wants to make sure the other woman gets to sleep so she stops bothering her!!

Except Prussia's literally been awake for more than a day, and while back during the war, that might have been common, she's not used to it anymore! So before long, her numbers start getting slurred together. She's absolutely falling asleep herself, still mumbling.]