❧ 17

[balaton]

.: at 456 Stone St :.

[It's a sleepy, uneventful morning in the small house, and then the unhappy housewife bears down with a frying pan on the intruder into their kitchen with a loud, echoing clang.]


.: Somewhere down Mitchell Rd :.

[It's also a peaceful late morning, with the children already gone to school, the birds settling after foraging for food, and a large tank making its way noisily down the street to grind to a halt right outside 1449 Mitchel Rd. With a deafening sound, it turns its somewhat outdated canon to the house, before a loudspeaker rattles the window in a rather feminine voice. :.]

Young man! Get out here with my motorbike, or else!

.: around 456 Stone st :.

[Later in the day, Hungary is happily hosing down her newest regain. She's also whistling to herself as she does.]

Comments

[balaton]

[The loudspeaker allows for a growl of rage--mixed with a healthy amount of fear--to rumble through.] You let me down this instant or I'll blow your stupid house up!

[sothis_rising]

I've just put you into the air and started you floating away. Do you really want to risk that I can't stop your puny guns?

[The growl is low and dangerous. Almost like a dog who's hackles are up.]

[balaton]

Now you're just bluffing! Put me down, and nobody will get hurt!

[sothis_rising]

No.

[balaton]

Yes! Put. Me. Down.

[sothis_rising]

Jump.

[And with that he slams the window closed again.]

[balaton]

I'm halfway to the sky. I like my bones intact, thank you very much-- Hey!

[sothis_rising]

[Nope, not coming out]

Going to float here for a while now

[balaton]

[Well




fuck.]

Re: Going to float here for a while now

[sothis_rising]

[Still not coming out.]

Re: Going to float here for a while now

[balaton]

[The tank eventually slams into an oak tree, settling there with a loud crunch and a louder stream of Hungarian curses until they grow fainter and less with the advance of the evening.




Very eventually and very reluctantly, Hungary begins to climb out and down.]

Re: Going to float here for a while now

[sothis_rising]

[Sirius might be watching from his room. With a dinner plate.]

[balaton]

[It takes her an hour to figure out how to turn off a tank in mid-air, so it's not a happy Hungary that jumps onto the grass, dusting the dirt off her uniform and tossing her hair over her shoulder.] And here when I thought Prussia was the absolute worst...

[sothis_rising]

[He cracks the window.]

Hungry?

[balaton]

Famished. The only food that tank has is beer.

[sothis_rising]

[He nods, closing the window and making his way down with another plate of food. When he opens the door he holds it out to her.]

Here, come inside, we'll talk.

[balaton]

[She follows, with a great deal of grumbling and limb stretching, and hidden gratitude now that the boy is showing a semblance of sanity.]

You won't make me float next?

[sothis_rising]

So long as you behave.

[balaton]

I'm a few hundred years older than you. Show some respect.

[sothis_rising]

You act like a mewling first year. So no. Have a seat.

[balaton]

[She wants to argue so badly, but she's also spent the past few hours in a tank--stuck in a tree, so Hungary collapses on one of the chairs, arms hanging over the back as she sinks down.]

[sothis_rising]

Good girl, now eat.

[He offered her a plate.]

[balaton]

Thanks for the food, but you don't have to be so condescending. [The meal disappears rapidly into her mouth, though. It's easier to take her aggression out on food rather than other people who are not Prussia.]

[sothis_rising]

Ask my boyfriend, I'm always condescending.

[balaton]

Oh, the poor lout. [To her credit, she puts away the plate herself, despite her harsh tone.] Must be hard, having that sort of relationship in this dismal town.