You Think You Can Vin This Vay? [Russia]

Ivan would never admit to himself, but he always lacked patience when he felt something so close in reach. After seeing so many slip through his grasp, watching nations run away, seeing a battle turn in the last moments, it brought out an urge of desperateness in his soul. He felt if he waited, he might miss the opportunity all together. As if he will wake as he did on that fateful day to see all the rooms in his home empty, everything left disheveled as his friends abandoned him. Poland was within reach, held right before him, if only he could stretch his arm father to grab onto it.

The blood spattered down the German’s clothing, as he continued to hold the rag in place. Only a few drops landed on his gloved hand, nothing a good wash couldn’t get out. His pocket knife still in hand. He rarely used knives. He always preferred to use his metal pipe to beat a person to death. It allowed him to take out frustrations he carried with him. For that reason, he usually only carried his pocket knife in regards to knives.

He did not need to look at his sister to know she had become irritated. It did not matter. He was the elder brother, and therefore, she needed to listen to his request. He respected Natalya’s methods, but one must recognize when a bit more force and surprise needed to be instituted. Not to mention, Ivan did not wish to spend the next 48 hours in this cell. He watched as his sister obediently poured the water over the German’s face. The mixture of losing blood while feeling the sensation of drowning would not be a good experience, and Russia planned to repeat until he received the answer he desired from the man.

As his sister stopped the water, he brought the knife back to the man’s throat. “Germany, do you have an answer?” he asked, “I would hate to return you to your brother with a terrible scar.”

Still allowing himself to hang, what small part of the German's brain that isn't fully occupied with the pain and dulled by the blood loss is idly wondering whether it's better or worse that Russia's in such a hurry. A slower process would have been far more interesting, but either way it comes to the same conclusion. He's been gone from the front for too long anyway - perhaps he should be glad of anything that speeds things along.

He doesn't even try to talk until he feels the knife on his throat again. Though for a moment the only proof that neither the injury to his throat nor the water has left him unable to hear and understand somehow is the way his hands ball up in to fists. But then they release and he tries to say something. But he only manages another cough, so he tries again. "Insanity: Trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results," he manages. A favorite quote from one of his people: Einstein. Or at least was one of his people until the war... Until the same man helped America hurt Kiku so very badly... Why does everything go back to that war?

But those words are how he views this situation, from the moment it began in Poland. He knew how this would turn out from the moment he realized just how foolish Russia was going to be about it, but of course he didn't offer to explain it to then - both because it's not the sort of thing that he'd want to explain and because he wouldn't have been believed anyway until Russia tested it for himself. Which means that not only did he not want to say, there was no point in saying it anyway because it would change nothing. He just wonders how long it will take for Russia to believe the results that he's getting - the man is incredibly stubborn, after all. Of course, so is the German, but he's hardly relying on his stubbornness to see him through this situation.

Ah. There was the sarcastic commentary from Germany that she'd been missing before. It takes Natalya a moment to recognise the phrase, but when she does, she can't help but wonder if it's entirely accurate in this situation. True, they were doing the same thing over and over, but it was cumalative. Also, there were a great deal of- what do you call them? Confounding variables. Yes. The entire situation was tailored to cause pain, and even if the definition of insanity was to try the same thing again and again expecting different results, well, the power of the situation reigned supreme over that from time to time.

Though, now that Natalya thought about it, the situation wasn't as well-tailored as she would have liked. She could easily forgive Ivan for this. He was irritated, and he'd been nearly as bad as Germany for some period of time. That hardly gave him opportunity to create a psychologically compromising prison, especially for someone as stubborn as Germany. Natalya certainly knew that her brother, though, when he set his mind to it, could do psychologically compromising (once upon a time she'd followed him doggedly while scratching herself to pieces in her bedroom, wondering what was wrong, why he didn't want her, why she'd ever wanted him).

He's doing a pretty good job with what he's got, though, as once again Germany's brother is brought up as Ivan cheerfully saws off his ear. Natalya briefly frowns. The knife is slightly blunt. She had definitely taught her older brother better than that, definitely taught him better than that indeed. One should never leave their weapons blunt. They should be cleaned after they're used to prevent them from rusting. Even today, when people used a bullet to kill and then never saw their bullet again, the gun still had to be cleaned, inspected, put in working order. She had a respect for weapons, and they should be treated properly before using them.

Natalya was feeling a little bit rebellious all of a sudden, though. Perhaps it's her irritation that she does not get to spend hours upon hours slowly working at the information that she wants. Perhaps she still wants a chance at the German properly because no one was allowed to hurt family except for family, perhaps she was getting impatient waiting for that chance. Her thoughts were beginning to wander. She wondered what Lithuania would be cooking for dinner, and if she'd be able to eat it on a sick stomach. She wondered if her brother would notice if she couldn't.

She wondered if her brother would have been filled with the same raw fury she would have been, Natalya thought dryly, as she would have been if he'd been hurt the way Germany was being hurt. Would Ivan have painted a red road on the battlefield, leaving a massacre in his wake, and torn down buildings until the demon of protective anger subsided, or would he have (left her in the ashes of) would he have (chased her and shot at) would he have (sought her out but not quite). No. He would have found her, perhaps not as a wrathful god of destruction like she be but like a different sort of demon, the sort of cold-faced demon that took delight in hurting what had hurt his. No one hurt family but family; they'd learned to honor that early.

It might not have been the best tactic, though. Germany, Natalya thought, was perhaps as ruthless and dark as she was. He just wasn't quite so honest about it. And for ruthless Natalya, she would have been counting down the painful deaths of her torturer but not speaking, she would have been twisting her wrists until she found her opening, and then she would have become the torturer herself, she would have become something they'd wished they hadn't awakened for daring even mentioning her brother.

At the same time, though, if her brother had a chance of being hurt, would she talk? A part of Natalya balked at the thought, because that would be a betrayal (there had been enough of that in her lifetime). But if in exchange she could be certain her brother was safe?

(Was there anything she wouldn't do?)

She sat there impassively but in some part of her that she'd long since buried her heart started racing in empathy. She didn't recognise the feeling, beyond feeling a little uncomfortable.

Weapons changed over the years and while Ivan learned how to use and care for each one, he never particularly enjoyed using them. He prefered choice was his simple metal pipe. It held the effectiveness of a bullet and blade, and if he did not have his pipe, his hands usually were enough. He could simply send average humans flying with the palm of his hand and a little force. He only kept other weapons on his person in case of necessity, and for that reason this particular blade had not been used in years. If he had been paying attention to his sister, he might have caught her expression and explained. Then again, if he had caught her expression, he might not have. It was not her place to question his decisions.

He chuckled lightly as he wiggled the silly appendage in front of the German’s face. His words were quite laughable. Oh, he hoped Germany would do no such thing. It would ruin the fun. He held no doubt that the German knew his brother just as Ivan knew his sister. A bond between family was strong and not easily broken. He knew if any caused harm to his sisters, they would face his own wrath. Even if others did not cause his sisters harm, they still risked facing his anger. Ivan held possession over them in his mind. No one was welcome near them unless he had granted permission. It likely might be the very reason his sisters rarely had suitors for their love. Of course, Ivan did not see it as such. He merely had not met a nation that fit his high standards. He would happily welcome a lover into either of his sisters’ lives, but they would have to be strong, kind, and suitable. A nation as such did not exist.

Yes, Ivan knew the power of family, but he also knew Prussia.

He had known Prussia longer than Germany. Prussia had even lived in his home for the better most of the 20th Century. Prussia was by far one of his most annoying house guests, and in such periods of close proximity, knowledge of habits become quite clear. Prussia acted before thinking. He had done so centuries earlier when his army ran across a frozen lake and drowned even when Russia warned him, and he did so now. Prussia allowed his emotions to cloud his judgement and strategies. During World War II, Ivan fought with Prussia on the Eastern Front, pushing him further and further into Europe, and with each conquered step, Prussia became more frazzled and chaotic. A man like Prussia did not work well under pressure, pressure he expected only grew with each passing day Germany presence alluded him.

He suspected Prussia would be angry when he received his present, and while he knew the older nation would burying himself into the war and fight even harder, he also knew that his mind would be clouded with anger. Mistakes would happen, and Ivan would use them against him.

“Da, I will not either. I only have to watch to see his own self-destruction,” he smiled sweetly, before wrapping the appendage in his gloved hand. “I do not need to send this to him, if you only cooperate. You wish to cause your brother pain, da?” he asked, a true sense of curiosity crossed his face.

Just because two nations share a familial bond doesn't mean that another two, also with a familial bond, feel it in exactly the same way. Ludwig's bond with his brother runs very deep - and yet he does not generally feel the need to protect his brother as such. He's the younger of the two, so it's difficult for him to think of his brother as being weak - no, his brother is bigger, stronger, wiser, and certainly doesn't need his little brother to fight his battles for him.

Even though that's not completely true anymore, it's difficult for him to not see it that way - he may have surpassed and become successor to his brother, but that doesn't mean that it's at all instinctive for him attempt to keep all harm from ever befalling his brother. Especially since he was probably asking for it a good half of the time. And it's not like his brother is a damsel in distress who can't figure his own way out of disaster most of the time - it's only the rest of the time, when there's an actual need for it, that he generally steps in. And even then, it's usually to fight alongside him, not come in and rescue him like he's some sort of a helpless infant.

"If you think an ear vill destroy my brother, you do not know him as vell as you think you do," is his cold response as he stares at some point on the floor, "And if you vant to give him reason to svear vengeance upon you, that is your bed to make." And he's washing his hands of that matter completely. If Ivan wishes to be an idiot who ignores the consequences of pissing off his brother that badly, then he deserves whatever he ends up getting from that.

Lifting his eyes, they shift to meet Russia's, and it's easy to see the cold fury in them - he's pretty pissed off too. "And hov much pain vould it cause my brother to knov that I cooperated vith the one vho refused to let him come home for forty-five years? The one vho built a vall to keep him in? Don't insult us both by suggesting the ear is vorse," he states with a slight frown. Though the anger within him is obvious, it's a cool anger - the kind that simmers low but long instead of hot and fast. This is simply not the time for the latter, though he's sure that it will come.

In fact, a part of him speculates that perhaps upsetting his brother would wind up being a good thing. The man has been... not himself since he returned from Russia's house, and perhaps he could use the reality check. And the German army could certainly stand to be better motivated - fighting back and forth over the same piece of land for nearly thirty years can be a bit demoralizing, after all. Or it could make his brother wildly erratic - one of the two - but which effect is not necessarily that predictable. Call him a naive little brother, but he believes that Prussia will keep at least some of his wits about him. Even if that's only after America refuses to give him permission to launch their nukes.

She turned away for a moment, just to think to herself. Sometimes Natalya does that. She wanted to consider all of the possibilities. She wanted to consider what would be done. She didn't think they could keep Germany here forever. She knows how Nations work; they tend to be symbolic even when they don't intend to be. Her brother didn't catch her the whole time they were fighting (because they hadn't lost), and then, when her brother finally got to her, she bowed her head and stopped (because what was left to fight for)?

But what if they could? What if they did keep Germany trapped for an actual extent of time? What then? What would it mean? Did it even matter?

Natalya looked at Germany, and she cocked her head. "I do believe he's already sworn vengeance, multiple times. I suspect there is little my brother can do to make the East German hate him more," she said. "Although I do suspect you may be right." Yes, she doesn't think Prussia would like at all the idea of Germany cooperating with her brother. But no, the ear would just confirm where, exactly, Germany was, not in any way force an infinite amount of hatred higher.

He would, however, likely come after his brother. And that is what Natalya suspected Ivan was really doing. Even Natalya would admit that trying to break into Ivan's home was likely a suicide mission. A suicide mission, or perhaps the mission of someone desperate. If Germany continued not to come home and Prussia had proof that Germany was hurt... well, he doubted the reckless albino would hold back long. Maybe he would. Maybe he'd get backup. But maybe he'd come charging in some day, headfirst and determined, and her brother would strike. Yes. She didn't know what Ivan was planning exactly, but she suspected the main tool would be waiting.

He must be feeling more patient again.

A moment later, Ivan cheerfully turned to her, and she looked back, stone-faced. "Of course," she said, quite sweetly. Good. She'd get her chance to do exactly what she'd like with the German, then, and she wouldn't have to worry about anyone else getting in her way. "After all, he's hurt both of us. I'm sure he understands." And in her head, she was wondering. Wondering if someone would come for him or if their breakthrough would shatter past the old fronts at last. Wondering if the times grew closer. It didn't show on her face, of course, but she was wondering. Perhaps they'd draw Prussia out. Perhaps indeed.

Ivan is very aware that he does not have Germany under his grip and while he has the nation trapped in the cell, did not mean he was closer to accomplishing the task. If he had captured the land and people, Germany would not be sitting in a cell. No, he would be in his homes staying one of his many bedrooms. He would likely make Prussia and Germany share a room, merely because both men annoyed him, and he saw little reason to keep them comfortable. Conquered nations (though Ivan would never use such a word) were welcomed into his home with open arms and loving hugs of support. After all, after such difficult decisions it is up to Ivan to help them see why staying with him is so beneficial. Enemy nations, on the other hand, the ones he has yet to help see the reality of their situations end up in cells like these, starving and in pain. Germany was not a house mate. He was prisoner of war, and if it symbolized anything, it symbolized Ivan’s push westward.

Soon enough.

He giggled at the comment as if it was silliest childish remark, but did not respond. Prussia could hate him if he wished. It did not change the facts. Like a teenager who hates their parents for being overbearing, their parents still know what is best. Eventually, everyone would see. He ignored Germany’s second comment, choosing to focus on his sister instead of the man. He gave her a sweet smile that a brother does a sister, and moved towards her. He laid his other hand on her shoulder, and leaned forward to press a soft kiss to her cheek. “Thank you, sister. Do not feel you have to stay if he does not speak. You may transfer the task to a guard,” he stated in Russian, knowing that sometimes his sister’s dedication to a mission could become obsessive. “I will be off,” he gave her another smile and nod before turning.

He left the cell without another word to the man that could have been his friend.