Soldat und Krieger [Japan] [Mature]

Blinking in surprise as Kiku points out that he's touched upon the very topic he'd scolded him for earlier, Ludwig blinks in surprise. "Es tut mir leid!" he apologizes, though he gets the sense that his choice of conversation topic wasn't as bad of a choice this time.

Just as their words seem to carry more meaning now, it's also easier to think about the war without getting as upset about it. War is the reality of the world right now, and though they can distract themselves from that fact all they want they'll have to face it sooner or later. But how much easier is it to face when he's so very relaxed? With his emotions so thoroughly satisfied that they're refusing to be riled up by the thought of all the horror that war brings, all that's left to consider the war are those more logical parts of his mind - that part that sees strategies and tactics, but not as much the pain.

Hearing Kiku's words, he gives a quiet grunt of amusement and says, "Ve have gotten so very spoiled - remember vhen the only vay for us to visit each other vas by boat?" And they weren't very fast boats, either. Of course, the visits were also longer - it wouldn't have been deemed worth it to go all the way to Japan for a visit, only for a brief stay.

"But there is more I can give you than this. Vhat else I can do for you vhile I'm here?" he asks, referring to things besides the activity they just completed. As much as he'd love for the answer to be no and to be able to say that he needs nothing else from Japan, and therefore spend the rest of this visit in the same way that it began, unfortunately he knows that he won't get that answer. They are both very large, very important countries caught in a world war, after all.

When one lives for so long, it's very easy to become forgetful about things - at times Ludwig is certain that he's forgotten whole decades. But then there are the memories that are still crystal clear, never mind the centuries since. "Ja, of course - it vas the first time I kissed you back," he replies with an amused curve of his lips. It had, and it hadn't, been quite a surprise, he recalls - he'd felt a certain bond forming with Kiku, but he'd thought that the odds were very high that he'd just been imagining it until he'd been led into that docking house and had it confirmed. He recalls being quite enthusiastic about it, once the initial surprise wore off.

Forcing his thoughts away from that particularly fond memory, he focuses upon Japan's request. And he's very quick to agree. "Ja, I vill see to their instruction myself, and be sure that they get some hands on experience," he promises. Given how the other nation has conducted the war thus far, he can only imagine how much in need of such experience they are. Of course they've been fighting a defensive war, but there's a fine line between that and going on the offense - especially in a land war if they're used to combat on the sea instead. And though they'd have done battle drills, that's hardly the same thing as a real fight. Fortunately, Germany is quite experienced in war, so he's a good teacher - as is Japan, but Japan can't give them a real battlefield to experience or a first-hand explanation of the finer points of their current strategy in Europe.

"And I vill not let yours fall either," he promises Kiku, shifting his hand again to cup the other nation's cheek. He's not sure to what lengths that they'll have to go to keep these promises when they're both so nearly on the opposite side of the world from each other, but he knows that they'll both do their best.

As Kiku leans in, Ludwig's hand slides backward, curling around behind Kiku's neck, where it gently suggests allowing their lips to linger in each other's embrace for a moment. It's not a kiss of passion, but one of love and concern - the war is indeed out there and while he trusts his own and Kiku's skill at warfare, nothing is ever certain. And while they personally are unlikely to face death, neither can help but have the greatest of concern for the fate of their respective peoples. And what concerns Kiku so easily becomes a concern of Ludwig, so there is plenty of concern in the nation.

When their lips finally part, he lets his fingers wander into Japan's hair as he comments, "If you have been thinking ahead about perhaps becoming more involved in the var, have you perhaps had any ideas for nev technologies that vould help us in Europe?" He's come up with a number of useful inventions himself as the war has progressed, though he knows that his friend's mind works quite differently than his own - it seems like every time Japan invents something it's always something different than what he would have come up with himself. Of course, that seems to work the other way around too.

It's true that Germany is in a difficult position in the war - his territory lies right in the way of the best course for a land invasion of the rest of Europe, and the Russians have spent most of the war only a country away. Of course, much of the reason why the progress over land has halted there is because the Germans are defending Poland as if it was their own soil - they know very well that if Poland falls they will be next. Not that the German army is alone in that attitude - all of the countries beyond know that if Poland falls then the Russians are one step closer to them. Keeping the Joint Pact at bay is a true group effort.

Though it's true that some nations are a bit more... effective than others. The man that Japan is lounging on top of right now is the one who knows how to create and wield the German War Machine, for example. And then there's Italy... And the mere mention of Italy and a grenade in the same sentence causes him to sigh so heavily that Japan would sink a few inches. "Italy..." he says, his voice one of resigned exasperation - though there's a hint of a certain fondness there as well, "Ja, no grenades for him. Hmm, but I vould like to see vhat you've come up vith. And vhen you're ready to start producing heavy artillery for your army, you should ask me for my thoughts." It figures that Japan would have been giving more thought to small, personal weapons while his own ideas have been about things on a much larger scale. But both are useful to consider - bigger weapons can cause heavier damage, but the small weapons an individual soldier can carry are more precise and easier to put exactly where they're needed - not to mention easier to make in large quantities, usually.

Pursing his lips slightly, he adds, "Perhaps ve should consider the pros and cons of sharing more technology vith India if he is having trouble vith Pakistan - that might help him more than men vould." But it could also backfire spectacularly. Sharing technology with a less developed nation is always a bit tricky like that. It's one thing to offer slight upgrades to what a country already has - they already pretty much know how to use it without abusing it. Giving the same thing to someone for whom it would be a ground-breaking improvement, on the other hand, rarely goes off without a hitch. On the other hand... "You should ask your men to find out hov much help Pakistan is getting from the Joint Pact," he notes, because if that's why India is having difficulty, not providing at least identical help to their own ally would throw off the balance of the war between the two nations - and the Alliance can't afford to lose India.