We've been waiting [Germany]

Even after breaking out of the prison, getting out of Russia wasn't exactly easy. But it also wasn't that difficult, as it was mainly a matter of keeping Ivan and other nations from finding them - any humans that discovered them were easy enough to handle. Since the distance involved wasn't significantly different, Germany suggested that they escape through Finland and thus avoid passing right through the thick of the wrong side of the European Front. Either way it isn't easy getting out of Russian occupied territory, but there's a clear difference in difficulty level.

From there it was an easy matter to get a ride back to Alliance territory, and once there Germany thought that it would be best to get right back to the front - he could have insisted that after all of the hardship and privations in Russia that he deserves a break, but in a way his time in Moscow was a break. Yes there was torture, lack of food, massive blood loss, but none of that was really so horrible and it was also so much time spent alone doing nothing. And since he got several good meals and more time to recover from his anemia even as they were leaving Russia, by the time he arrived back on the front he's raring to go.

But first he needs to track down an old friend. One who is also an old enemy, but they've managed to put most of that past behind them, leaving only that lingering sense of respect. England is why he wasn't too concerned about the Allegiance's efforts in Europe falling apart without him - not Prussia. And certainly not France - the man may have a big army, but what's more important than the size of the army is how you use it. No, he put his faith in the one who kept him on his own side of the English channel, bombers aside. So he's not surprised when his questions result in him being directed to the camp's lead tent, or the fact that England is alone in it when he enters.

"It is night," he answers the question posed to him the moment he enters, as he's only just arrived on the front and he hasn't yet had the opportunity to find out what the status is other than that. But, knowing that he was mistaken for someone else, he simply waits for England to notice who he's talking to. When he does, he walks up to him and puts a heavy hand on his shoulder. "You should see the look on your face - I vish I had a camera!" he says, giving his shoulder a heavy pat before adding, "And I'm sorry I vas gone for so long, but Moscov is lovely this time of year and Ivan personally insisted on an extended stay." Clearly he's enjoying himself, and he hardly looks worse for the wear.

Some thing change, other things don't. While he can't say for certain that he'll never change again - nations change all the time, after all, and what one generation calls right the next calls wrong - at least for now Germany can say that his conquering days are over. But that doesn't mean that he isn't still cut-throat, stiff, and determined. And whether or not that's a good thing depends on if you're on his side or not. Too many nations have their scars that remind them of what Germany is like as an enemy, leading them to worry of what may happen if he were to go back to his old ways. So he honestly wouldn't blame anyone for still being suspicious of him - but what can he do about that besides try to be a good ally and hope to regain their trust?

Besides, the war has given him much more important things to worry about than the opinions of other nations and whether or not that's fair. They all need each other to keep Russia from taking more of Europe, let alone turn the tide of the war to their favor, so like it or not they can't afford to let the past get in the way of their efforts. Of course it's occurred to Germany that perhaps he might finally gain some trust from the more skeptical if he acquits himself well in this war, but that's hardly his primary motivation. No, it's more basic than that: they simply can't afford to lose. It doesn't matter what they think of him and whether or not that's fair when the larger issue is Russia. Once they have that problem solved, then perhaps he'll have the luxury of having enough time to worry about what everyone thinks.

He's not surprised by England's reaction to him - it's not like he was expecting him to burst into tears and hug him. That would be more Feliciano's style. Arthur's style is to be grumpy at almost all times - especially at the same time that Ludwig happens to be in a good mood - so there's nothing new here. "You sound like you could use a vacation - I'm sure Ivan vould be happy to host you too," he suggests. Another joke, yes, but also a reminder that in spite of his good spirits he wasn't exactly away having fun. And England's complaints about the pressures of the front fall on especially deaf ears here - Germany in a way enjoys the pressures of the front. Well, at least when they're not flat out losing - managing to hold their ground or even make a slight gain gives him a lot of satisfaction.

Removing his hand from England's shoulder and tucking his arms behind his back, he catches the subtle hint of actual concern in England's voice in his next words, though he's not so into a teasing mood as to remark upon it. Instead he simply answered the not-quite-asked question. "Physically, I'd say I'm at about 85%. Mentally, I have never so strongly desired to shove Russia's head up his ass. That's vhy I'm here," he states very seriously, now not sounding at all like he's joking. "But I'm sure my health is in no small part due to my people being vatched over in my absence - and I'm pleased to see that ve're still in Poland," he comments, probably the closest thing he'll ever come to saying that England has done a great job handling everything while he was gone.

Pondering for a moment whether or not to give England more grief, Germany eventually decides to relent. While his current mood seems to urge him to continue, his common sense tells him that if he manages to make England blow a gasket then that wouldn't help matters at all right now. It would be somewhat amusing, yes, but not worth it.

As England heads over to the map, Germany is quick to join him. "The closest thing I got to nevs vhile I was avay vas Russia boasting about hov vell he vas doing in Poland, but of course he vas obviously trying to break my spirit so I didn't knov vhat to believe," he comments, trying to explain that it wasn't that he didn't have faith in his European allies or was really that worried, but it was simply nice to see the truth for himself after having no solid information for so long about something as important as the war. "Is this our most current position?" he asks as his eyes travel over the map, quickly taking in the changes that have happened during his absence. Using an actual, physical map on a table probably seems a bit dated to their generals, but Germany has always preferred having something that he can touch and manipulate with this hands over some sort of computer model, and he's not the only nation who is like that.

Continuing to look over the map as England talks about the situation, Germany nods gravely at the situation, muttering to himself, "...doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results..." His voice returning to normal, he reaches out his hand toward the map, but it travels pasts Poland until his finger is resting just beyond it in Belarus. "This should be our goal this summer," he says seriously, his eyes lifting to meet England's. "I sav Natalya vhile I vas there. I have not seen her looking so very unvell since the last time I vas in Belarus," he says somewhat quietly. And, given the fact that he hasn't been in Belarus for something around a hundred years, that's saying something.

"If ve're going to get that far, ve need a new strategy. A better one. I don't have it yet, but I've been vorking on it - perhaps ve should gather our allies and put our heads together. Most of the suggestions vould be terrible, of course, but maybe one vill not be," he continues and puts his arm back behind his back, but then he adds, "But perhaps ve can be even more hopeful about the coming vinter. Before my adventure I'd been speaking with Sveden about the possibility of having him join us and lend us his expertise. He didn't give me an ansver either vay, but he vas considering the idea carefully." Which is a good sign, given how quickly the neutral nation is to greet the idea that he should be doing anything differently with a flat 'no'.

Perhaps surprisingly, Germany doesn't appear to be upset by the Russian's selective delivery of the news - it is, after all, exactly what one expects of the man and also what Germany would have done himself if the situation was reversed. Making someone worried about the current well-being of their friends is a very good torture tactic, after all. And it also didn't work very well. Yes, he'd been concerned about how the war was going while he was being held captive, but he would have felt that way regardless.

His eyes hardly stray from the map as they talk strategy - this is something he's quite good at, after all. Rather than seeing little tokens on the map or simply using it to visualize soldiers on a field, the picture in his head also fills in all the logistical aspects - how they'd have to structure their supply lines to keep the soldiers well-provisioned, where those supplies would ultimately be coming from and how large of a support structure would be needed to transport them, and how the routes would be protected from sabotage and other disruptions, for example. This is the mind that knows how to build the German War Machine, after all.

Though his mind comes to a screeching halt when Japan is mentioned. "Something happened between China and Japan?" he asks, his eyes coming up sharply to England's face - he hasn't heard anything about that.