Fire and Ice [Russia]

Ivan did like Venezuela. He saw a bit of himself in the boy. He, too, had once been surrounded by enemies with an immense desire to become stronger no matter what others might believe. He saw similar desire for power behind those fearful brown eyes. He saw the dedication to do anything necessary to achieve such goals. Ivan found many younger nations difficult to handle, for their energy never seemed to wane. It often made Ivan feel like a babysitter riling up many children from a playground, except there was something different with Venezuela. The nation seemed to have difficulties making real friends…and well…Ivan could be his friend, if Venezuela allowed him.

He clasped his hands in glee as the boy agreed that he wished to succeed. Quite good. He was starting to worry that the boy might be stupid. His happiness only increased as the boy flattered him with words. It was very sweet of him to do so, though Ivan already knew his plan was excellent. He did not regain his strength through pure luck. No, it took years of strategizing and plotting to return him to his glory. It also appeared that the younger nation had not wished to offend Ivan. He smiled brightly and patted the young nation on the shoulder, a bit rougher then needed, giggling softly. “Da, yes. It appears it was all a misunderstanding. I am quite happy to know that you do have intelligence, young one,” he said sweetly and nodded his head, “Come, my sister is right. Evening draws closer.”

He turned and expected both nations to follow him without protest. “Venezuela, you must come visit my home soon,” he continued, his voice still light and charming. Friends offered outings, correct? He assumed so. He had never been talented on the aspects of friendship. “I could teach you ice-skating, and I am certain my sister would join us for a humorous time of building a snowman. Da, sister?” he asked, glancing at her for a sign of agreement. They walked through the campsite until they reached a larger tent. He walked in and immediately, his men stood at attention.

The problem that Vicente has with the Russian is that the bigger, older, stronger, and more experienced nation seems so profoundly threatening that having any level of trust in someone like him is extremely difficult - especially since Vicente is slow to trust anyone. True, he's been won over by those nations he considers to be his friends, but just because there's a few doesn't mean that it's any easier to get on the list.

But just because he doesn't trust someone doesn't mean that he can't respect them. Of course, there's always the matter of what way he respects someone. He respects that Ivan could probably literally rip his arm off, and might do so if provoked, for example. But it's also true that he has his goals - most of them borne out of the need to ensure that his deepest fears are never realized - and he's willing to risk such bodily harm and even worse if he has to.

Then again, it's also true that he's young, and prone to all of the mistakes of youth - most of them falling under the heading of 'bad judgment'. But he's certainly not stupid, and even he doesn't make the most obvious mistakes - and failing to not couch what he was saying in the most flattering possible of terms would be an obvious mistake. Especially since that last phrase was a command - one that, if not taken seriously, will have consequences. He may be no match for Ivan physically, but he knows a wide variety of ways of making people regret making decisions that he doesn't like - just ask his father and his sister.

Still, he sincerely hopes that it won't come to that. He certainly doesn't want to pick a fight with anyone bigger than him - he'd only do so if his goals are placed in jeopardy, and there's nothing in Ivan's current plans that would do that. So he makes no complaint about the rough pat on the shoulder - he's willing to endure such things if he must to get what he wants. When the Russian turns and obviously means for him to follow, he's purposely just a bit sluggish to fall in with them, giving both of them plenty of space as he nevertheless comes along.

The invitation causes him to frown to himself for a moment as he weighs the words used - he 'must' come? That sounds profoundly not-optional, even though going to Russia is definitely not on the list of things that he wants to do. "How could I refuse such an offer?" he replies lightly, as if the words said were what convinced him and not the undercurrent. He'd had to endure the unpleasantness of interacting with nations much stronger than himself throughout his early youth, so though he disgusts himself every time he has to brush off the skill, he does know the proper way to respond to them.

What he doesn't know how to respond to is someone like Natalya. She's a bit... 'unique'. And the look she gives him causes a nervous frown to come to his face and he hesitates in his pace just a little - giving her and Ivan even more space. Clearly he regards her the same way one might regard an obviously poisonous and probably aggressive snake - stay well away from the thing!

Natalya felt some grim satisfaction in seeing Venezuela's face fall. It was just too bad the boy had accepted the offer anyway, though he hadn't really sounded very happy about at. At least he seemed to understand that there would be consequences. This little teenager wasn't part of their family, after all. She could forgive the presence of some people (Toris might as well have been a member of the family at this point), but some South American, and an irritating one at that? He didn't get that right. She gripped the knife a little tighter. He didn't get to go anywhere near hers. 

She once again had to hold herself back from giving her brother an incredulous, flat look though. Really? Natalya very much doubted she looked happy about the proposal at all. Ivan was just being willfully ignorant at this point. Though... though she supposed he did seem to particularly want this. She relaxed back. "Oh yes. Very much so," she finally said. There wasn't any audible sarcasm in her tone, but there was a tiny bit of it in the way she'd said it. However, her face had softened a bit. Venezuela did not meet her standards of people allowed to associate with her brother regularly, but fine. Her brother seemed to inexplicably want it so fine. She'd deal with it for now, but if the boy actually showed up there'd be something to pay for.

When Natalya saw the name on Ivan's phone, though, she really did have to hold back a scowl, finally just aiming it at Venezuela again. She'd really prefer if Ivan didn't. If he was going to send such texts, why not send it to safer people, like Iryna or Lithuania? Not China. China had certainly broken her brother's heart already, or had they both already forgotten the Sino-Soviet split? She certainly hadn't. He was a little untrustworthy scorpion who acted too childish for his age and then scolded others for acting childish afterwards. Unfortunately, Natalya also knew she wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

She glared at Venezuela again, though she should have known better than to take her frustration out on someone completely uninvolved. She wouldn't be able to do anything directly about it at all, though she had once tried stealing that panda suit her brother owned and tearing it up. Unfortunately, that had done just about nothing. Her brother had just continued to chase after the other man, and Natalya was worried she'd have to pick up the pieces again. (If Natalya admitted it to herself, she was still irrationally jealous to some degree. China was in no way worthy of her brother, but was Natalya any more worthy a confidant anymore?) 

Natalya took a small, unnoticeable breath and turned back. It was not the issue at hand. Instead, she glanced about the tent. Thirty men stood firmly at attention, each one a little different. Her gaze was almost lazy as she walked it across them. She spoke in Russian. "They'll do," she said, though even she was slightly impressed with a few of them. And a few of them... yes. They'd do indeed. They were the ones watching her with wary, even suspicious eyes. Frightened eyes, but they were still standing there, and they were still perfectly at attention, and they were not truly afraid.

Some people did not understand this, but in her sort of fight, one must always be afraid, must always be wary, even of your allies. Natalya walked past them. None of them, of course, were truly distrustful. But some of them were wary despite everything. And one of them- she paused curiously. He stood still at attention and he was very nearly the lowest rank there. But that was not what made her curious. His eyes had briefly slid past hers. Interesting. It was always interesting to meet a human who knew they were there, though she'd never met one that could really See them all.

"I shall only need five," she decided, and she could have sworn at least one of the men who knew what they were about to do was a little shocked. She supposed they weren't entirely prepared to take on armies on their own. But most of the men seemed not startled at all. They truly were Ivan's best, weren't they? Natalya thought for a moment, looking over them. She did not notice (or pretended not to notice) how far behind Venezuela was, or her brother's invitation for him to come closer. Instead, she gave a cool glare to the men and simply chose, pointing out five men in quick succession. All five of them were ones with wary eyes. The fifth had wary eyes that noticed even more than the other four.

"I am General Braginsky's second in command," she said, assuming the title as she often did in situations such as this. "You will obey even orders that seem nonsensical at the time with no questions. I do not suffer fools. Do you understand?" They each saluted and she nodded back before turning to her brother.

"Get rid of the others. I do not need them."

Natalya had never gotten along with Yao, and Ivan did not understand why it was the case. Yao had known them for such a long time, and while he certainly did not trust the man, he knew their interests lined. Besides, Yao held such adorable features, with his little blush, and he was quite witty and taught Ivan so much. His food was delicious, and his paintings were spectacular. He could watch Yao paint for hours in a day. He could listen to his life lessons with thoughtful ears, and enjoyed teasing him until he became flustered. They certainly had disagreements, but his life always seemed brighter when he was near the Chinese man.

He wished his sister could get along with him. One day.

He felt his phone buzz and read the text from China.

…Russia? Who? Who are you with?

He chuckled to himself. Ah, Yao was worried about his new friends. He always worried over him so, it was quite sweet.

His fingers moved across his phone in quick succession, barely noticing his sister as she went through the men.

Little Venezuela. He is quite funny. He believes you can protect him from me. Silly jokes.

He only glanced up from his phone when he heard her comment on needing only five. It seemed a small number, but his sister held far more talent in this field than him. He trusted her judgement, and gave his men a curt nod in agreement that her words were true and that there would be no room for argument.

“The rest may leave,” he commented after his sister, glancing at his phone again hoping for another text. He could get quite giddy over these simple messages. When they first came into existence, he thought them pointless. Why not pick up the phone and call if you wanted to speak? But as he played with the letters, he realized how much fun it was to hint at things through a few words. He also loved all the fun emoji.

He gave a soft smile at the smaller boy when he approached. “No need to apologize,” he answered sweetly, and then turned to his sister, “I will be going by sea, but I suspect we will arrive to the canal around the same time. We will need to gather the explosives for your team to carry before we separate.”

He always felt happy when interacting with China. (Actually, that was hardly the case, he usually felt extremely frustrated, but he quickly forgot those feelings, always quick to fall into nostalgia.) China had been the comforting arms after the Mongolian Empire, and the soft supportive words of wisdom that lit a fire in his chest to fight, to be stronger, to prove the Empire wrong, the bullies, the world. China taught him the soft beauties of the words, the importance of manners, yet always the necessity of strength against your enemies. He often thought of their moments sipping tea on his porch with teasing conversation, and always forgot about the pain.

If he had a sound mind regarding his feelings for China, he might understand his sister’s frustration with his friendship. After all, he rarely lingered on the day China broke up with him, and how he spent many days afterwards sobbing in his room, face buried in a pillow with only Iryna and Natalya coming to check up on him. He would only let his sisters see him in such a weak moment. As the Soviet Union at the time, he could not be seen weak and could not appear heart broken, so only they saw the tears shed over China and the pain it caused him, but even he himself barely remembered the pain. China could be cruel, but it was his own way of affection. China loved him, and he loved China. Ivan and Yao would be married one day after the war. He would make certain.

It’s why he felt so happy at every text he received from the man and continued to stare at his phone in excitement waiting for the next one, but when it didn’t come immediately, he started to become impatient. He pouted out his lip as he stared at the phone, wanting to see the three little dots that did not come. When it did not, he huffed and stuffed his phone back into his pocket. If China would make him wait, he would make China wait.

But what if the service is merely bad? Da, that could be it. China had text him, the service must be bad and that was the reason he had yet to receive a text. He justified to himself.

He forced the smile to return and wanted to distract himself from his confusing thoughts. He focused back to the manner at hand. They did have a large battle strategy to accomplish tonight. He nodded at his sister. He could rely on her. He trusted her. He was happy to have her on his side. It made missions like these possible, for relying on citizens to accomplish such tasks always increases the probability of failure. “I wish I could see you in action, sister,” he remarked causally because honestly he did. He would enjoy to see the surprise on Allegiance soldiers faces when facing her. He chuckled at the thought before placing a hand on Venezuela’s shoulder. “Do you plan to accompany on my battleship during the battle?” he asked curiously. Venezuela could either led the ambush into Brazil or join him. He did not mind. Unlike his sister, he felt confident that a citizen could accomplish Venezuela’s tasks without much difficulty.

“This way,” he stated in regards to the directions of explosives. He started to walk, expecting everyone to follow.

Finding himself more or less ignored again, Vicente resumes standing there with a serious expression on his face as he watches the other nations. He doesn't fail to notice the small expressions on Natalya's face getting rather... worrying, but it doesn't appear to be directed at him so he doesn't see the need to be too nervous about it. As long as she goes after anyone else but him, he doesn't really care what she does.

But he's still jumpy enough that he jumps slightly when Ivan puts a hand on his shoulder. Though he recovers from that startle very quickly, not having to even think about it before he says, "No, my place is with my men - I should be with them." Ivan may believe that he wouldn't be needed there, and he's probably right - but only probably. The odds of that are probably less than he supposes. Vicente knows his men, and what he knows of his men is that some of them are extremely reliable and hard working, but then there's the others... Really, the only way that he can make sure that the important things get done properly is to get involved himself. Of course, he only troubles himself to get involved if it's very important - if he bothered to get involved in more trivial matters then that would be a lot of work, and he doesn't like to work that hard!

He quickly suppresses the sound of annoyance that threatens when Ivan's gesture for everyone to follow seems to include him. He's beginning to suspect that his input isn't going to be needed for any of these details they're discussing, and if so he'd rather not continue to hang out with Señor Dominante and Señorita Homicida. But though he's sure that there's some polite way to get out of here, it's not easily coming to him. Maybe if he'd been paying better attention when Yao had tried to teach him about diplomacy... But it's not his fault that he hadn't paid very close attention - it was very boring!

But as he silently falls in with the rest of them, he finds his thoughts drifting from that to the explosives. And he's quickly frowning to himself - he has quite the strong preference for how he wants it to turn out. Of course above all they need to cut off America's ability to use it, but he really hopes that destroying the canal won't be necessary. If it's in friendly hands that means that he can use it, but if it's gone then nobody can and while Ivan and Natalya would only be affected by that so much, it would affect him a lot. While he doesn't really care too much about reaching the Pacific at the moment, without the canal functioning it would turn what's an extremely short journey into an extremely long one for him. In fact, until he can finish his fight with his sister, it would make reaching the Pacific within a reasonable time frame at all quite impossible - and while that's not important to him now, he's not blind to the fact that it may become extremely important later.