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Chapter Text

Friday, 03 January 2025

fick dich, digga (CULT OF HAMBURG)

Baden-Württemberg  Today at 12:31
> so who took my marmelade??

Sachsen-Anhalt  Today at 12:32
> are you sure you didn't just eat it in your sleep?
> that was how it went down the last time this happened.

Baden-Württemberg  Today at 12:32
> yeah, last time
> i checked the cameras and i sure didn't sleepwalk

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern  Today at 12:33
> and you have checked it for the second, third, and fourth time?
> it's quite expected to know that you might have missed it.
> especially with that track record of yours.

Baden-Württemberg  Today at 12:34
> yeah obviously
> if i didn't i wouldntve gone here

Deutschland (You)  Today at 12:35
> i ate your marmelade

Baden-Württemberg  Today at 12:35
> HEY?

Niedersachsen  Today at 12:35
> Ah wonderful.
> For once this isn't BaWü's fault.

Baden-Württemberg  Today at 12:36
> i don't appreciate this slander

Rheinland-Pfalz  Today at 12:36
> a miracle at this point.

Saarland  Today at 12:37
> For once i agree with you diggi

Baden-Württemberg  Today at 12:37
> wow

Deutschland (You)  Today at 12:38
> cut your crap

Baden-Württemberg  Today at 12:38
> erm no??
> this is important

Schleswig-Holstein  Today at 12:39
> No it isn't.

Baden-Württemberg  Today at 12:39
> oh really

Bayern  Today at 12:40
> yes really

Schleswig-Holstein  Today at 12:40
> What he said.

Deutschland (You)  Today at 12:40
> ah yes the rare moments when edmund is right
   | 🇸 1 | | 🇹 1 | | 🇫 1 | | 🇺 1 |
> why are you copying my reactions
   | 🇮 1 | | 🇩 1 | | 🇰 1 |

Sachsen  Today at 12:41
> cause he gay or something

Baden-Württemberg  Today at 12:41
> here i thought it was you

Sachsen  Today at 12:42
> again with the baseless accusations

Nordrhein-Westfalen  Today at 12:42
> Quite the opposite, actually.

Deutschland (You)  Today at 12:43
> directed to all of you
> kindly halt your talking for a moment

Berlin  Today at 12:43
> That's a bit hard to do, is it not?

Deutschland (You)  Today at 12:44
> yeah of course it is
> if i can't ask you to do your paperwork
> obviously you can't listen to the simple things

Hamburg  Today at 12:45
> To be completely fair for all of us, UN's paperwork is much more harder than shutting our mouth up.

Bremen  Today at 12:45
> yeahh no digga
> i dont think well shut up

Deutschland (You)  Today at 12:46
> sometimes i regret existing

Hessen  Today at 12:46
> Blame that on Brandyborg.

Brandenburg  Today at 12:47
> Do not push all the blame on me.
> Are you high?

Deutschland (You)  Today at 12:48
> isn't he always?

Hessen  Today at 12:48
> HEY.

Thüringen  Today at 12:49
> True.

Hessen  Today at 12:49
> No?

Deutschland (You)  Today at 12:50
> i'm never wrong

Bayern  Today at 12:50
> i can point out several times you got stuff wrong...

Niedersachsen  Today at 12:51
> I'm surprised you kept track of that.

Sachsen  Today at 12:51
> why wouldn't he at this point.
> i feel he has the most blackmail material on zweichen

Baden-Württemberg  Today at 12:52
> here, at least

╭─ Bayern  i can point out several times you got stuff wro...
Deutschland (You)  Today at 12:52
> nein

Bayern  Today at 12:53
> doch

Deutschland (You)  Today at 12:53
> i hope you get haunted by your son.

Bayern  Today at 12:54
> woah there
> so harsh

Deutschland (You)  Today at 12:55
> who was his biological father anyway

Bayern  Today at 12:55
> my secret to tell

Deutschland (You)  Today at 12:56
> okay
> you do you
> still confused how that even happened in the first place

Baden-Württemberg  Today at 12:57
> sex obviously

Deutschland (You)  Today at 12:57
> i know

Hessen  Today at 12:58
> She was just worried you might not, you know.

Deutschland (You)  Today at 12:58
> that's just preposterous

Mecklenburg-Vorpommern  Today at 12:59
> sure, sure...

Thüringen  Today at 12:59
> Great sight.

Deutschland (You)  Today at 13:00
> well you would know.
> whatever
> don't wanna think about it
   | 🤣 10 |
> seven reactions
> ten
> really
   | 🇾 14 | | 🇪 14 | | 🇸 14 |
> whatever
> okay shut up now
   | 🤐 10 |
> question

Sachsen-Anhalt  Today at 13:02
> shoot.

Deutschland (You)  Today at 13:02
> did any one of you see any black gooey things looking at you from the shadows weirdly
   | ✅ 5 | | ❌ 10 |

Thüringen  Today at 13:03
> No.

Deutschland (You)  Today at 13:03
> well at least i know it wasn't just me
> ugh
> this took too long to ask
> you can go back to doing whatever you want
> i'm going

Bremen  Today at 13:04
> have fun doing whatever digga

Hamburg  Today at 13:04
> Try not to do anything rash.
> I suggest sticking with Gottfried.

Deutschland (You)  Today at 13:05
> that's my plan anyway
> bye

Chapter Text

Potsdam, Germany
03 January 2025

Germany's car was fluent in Honkese, but she wasn't ever quite fond of how loud it could be at times. Grumbling at the slight traffic due to some idiot, the country's hold at her steering wheel tightened as she glared at the car in front of her, as if that would do anything significant to the driver pulling her patience. Really, this quick detour to meet Brandenburg shouldn't be taking half a day, but stupid people on the road always hinder her some way or another.

Once the driver annoying her actually got their marbles back together, she pushed the pedal and overtook the other in frustration. Was that a law-breaking thing? Maybe, maybe not. Germany doesn't read the law every time she's bored, after all. Plus, she's sure if she did, Brandenburg would immediately be at her tail for breaking traffic laws.

Well, he used to, at least until he retired. But someone else would still be chasing Germany, that being Potsdam or maybe Brandenburg an der Havel. She wasn't even sure how those two got into the police force in the first place. The state had always been one, even within the empire, but those two cities (town for the latter, though he used to be an independent thing himself at one point) were a more recent addition to policing the country.

For sure it was in that period in where Germany wasn't in Germany proper. And that was just a thirty-year interval between her leaving and returning the land she personified. She was more willing to bet it happened on the more... latter era of that timeframe, though.

The ride to her destination didn't take as long as she originally thought. Of course it would be quicker if she used her bike, but she really couldn't bother having the police actually going after her. As in the humans, not her technically subordinates. Her relationship with her states were more a primus inter pares connection compared to how other federal countries govern over their states.

Their previous state of independence before the unification always end up biting her back in the ass with their behaviour. She's lost count how many times she's been driven to insanity by how annoying those former electors acted. At least Brandenburg isn't batshit insane. Maybe it's because he's her mother. For sure that man was way better than the rest of the electors concerning attitude.

Alright, she shouldn't bring down Hesse and Saxony because those two at least do their paperwork, but they still make her want to throw them off a building by a window. She wasn't alive during the Defenestration of Prague but that's what she might do if all of her states suddenly rebel and not do their paperwork. Bless Thuringia for being the only vaguely normal one.

He's not. But it sometimes baffles Germany at how this ex of hers is way better in terms of behaving compared to her own capital city, Berlin.

Damn Bavaria for being the most annoying thing to have ever graced her sights. If he wasn't an Archon of an era long gone, Germany was sure he wouldn't act this way. At least to the extent he's annoying her. She doesn't even want to talk about Württemberg breaking into her house just because she could.

There was a reason why Germany stole her marmalade.

Then there's Palatinate's snark directed at her. Maybe it's because he used to be Bavarian lands, but he was an independent Count Palatine for far longer than that. He was one of the few Archon which didn't make it obvious that he used to be one. Perchance it was because half of him was a Prussian province at one point.

And he is definitely better than Hanover. Lower Saxony, that woman, is an absolute uptight. What is she, a stereotypical Brit you would see? At this point, she might be. She is married to United Kingdom in the first place, even if she doesn't even remember that sometimes. Somehow she acted more stereotypically British compared to the actual British country. Even that reconciliation in 1913 with Prussia didn't spare her from getting backhanded comments.

One good thing is that complaining about her states makes her time pass on quicker, as Germany now found herself right in front of where she and Brandenburg would supposedly meet. Exiting her personal car, she stood silently in front of a lamp with an empty stare. This thing she's doing isn't even some long talk, she just had to pick up Brandenburg's paperwork.

To be specific, it was more one of Brandenburg's cities handing her his paperwork, only because he had to meet some people or whatever. Who was it today, Cottbus or Frankfurt an der Oder?

A shame she couldn't keep berating her states in her head. She could do that once she gets Brandenburg's paperworks.

Each and every one of her states need to get some form of complaint. Who else was missing?

Ah, she hadn't talked about that bastard Baden yet. And those two city-states, can't forget about the state that doesn't exist, as well as that workaholic which refuses to work on her paperwork NRW. That incest freak too ("Okay it's getting old at this point. Stop calling me that, because I'm not,"). Germany could almost hear Saarland's complaints.

Oh yes, human Saxony (even as that man kept complaining that he wasn't just Saxony—the one with more influence is actually Anhalt speaking—it was funny to reduce him to just that) too. And Halfdan, can't forget Halfdan. Halfdan isn't even Schleswig-Holstein's human name, but it should be. 'Half-Dane', isn't that what he is anyway?

"Rosamunde," she heard someone call for her attention, and from just the vaguely masculine voice, she could identify the owner to this voice to be Cottbus. Turning around to the general direction where she perceived his voice, she was met with the familiar gruff face of the city. "was it a long wait?"

"Not quite," Germany replied, noting that it didn't really feel long due to her mind-ranting about Cottbus' superiors. Her eyes trailed over the dark briefcase he held, as he handed it to her. To be fair, everything was dark, her glasses are photochromic, so they're more sunglasses right now. Taking over the suitcase swiftly, she gave the city a nod before saying, "say my gratitude to Brandenburg."

"I'll make sure to do so," he hummed, before taking a quick glance at his watch and quipping, "I have to go somewhere, so I can't be here any longer. You..." he trailed off, unsure what to even say to his country. "good luck with the twelve paperwork you need to finish by Sunday," he went on with that, before turning around and walking the other way.

Germany sighed defeatedly.

Shaking her head in an annoyed manner, she would've immediately continue on insulting her own states if she didn't see a glimpse of dark figure behind a building from the corner of her sights. Quickly shifting her sights there, she was met with a goo-like humanoid figure where she had her eyes trained on, before it dissipated almost immediately.

That thing, if it even had eyes, was looking at her.

Weird.

This wasn't even the first time she saw this thing. The first time was by new year's eve. It still didn't make this encounter less unsettling. She might have to meet those people who reacted with the check mark this morning in person and ask them about what they saw. Who were they again? If her memory didn't falsify itself, it should be Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, and Saxony.

She's really dreading having to meet Bavaria this quickly after just two days of not seeing him.

Germany shouldn't think of this too much. Now that her job in Potsdam here was done, she should get back to her home and just... think about other stuff. Do her own paperwork (which aren't even her own, she doesn't get any from UN, it's just her doing twelve other people's papers), maybe even just sleep early today and do the paperwork tomorrow for a whole day of uninterrupted work. So fun.

Opening the front passenger seat's door had her throw the briefcase onto the seat beside hers, as she practically leapt inside from the other door. Don't even bother asking why she did that rather than walking a few more steps to her own door. Reaching over to close the door beside her, the car was started once more as she fastened her seatbelt. Taking a peek at her own phone, she noticed a notification on the front page. Squinting to see who that might be, she let out a quiet "Huh," before she placed the phone somewhere else, and started driving down south.

Now she can complain again. What a splendid activity for today.

"Fucking Baden and her fucking hangovers. Having her and Württemberg separate was dreadful enough, now that they're merged my headache has since then increase, those annoying women. Does she really think I can keep bailing her out of those stupid parties every time?" Germany was muttering at this point. Well, she was actually muttering about her states the whole time, but she didn't quite realise that just yet. Or, she's simply ignoring that. "As if I want to. Then Bremen and his stupid vocabulary.

"Does he actually expect me to understand all the new young stuff? He's older than me yet he acts so childish. All of them are older than me yet acts so childish. Hm, I don't think Saarland is older, but that's not the point. And while it's about Saarland, I cannot stand her at all. Why does she act like that? Why? Why does she keep bothering me with those stupid things?

"And Westphalia. God. What's with her. Why the fuck does she not want to do her paperwork? She's a fucking workaholic for all I remember! Now she doesn't want to do the shit she does best? What is she, some teenager in their rebellious phase? Huh, how old is she anyway? Ugh, I'm sure there's a chance she's older than Saxony.

"Hamburg and her... fucking... how did this even turn into a cult worshipping her. I'm sure Hamburg herself doesn't even mind getting free hamburgers. I have no idea how much money I wasted on that already. At least Mecklenburg isn't the most annoying person. I swear, can she not... smoke outside? I feel like she doesn't even listen to me when I tell her to do that, really.

"If God even exists I'd be very happy if He decided to smite the half-Dane from existence. And Anhalt—" it seems that her words have to come to a stop, now that she realised that she was at her intended destination already. "That's... fast."

Well, she can stop thinking about them here, now. Leave that an issue for tomorrow's Germany to handle.

That gooey creature still wouldn't leave her mind despite all her efforts of not letting her mind drift away.

At this point God should smite her out of existence.

The sound of thunder cracked in far away, out of place in the sky's cloudless state.

Chapter Text

Ingolstadt, Germany
04 January 2025

Germany groaned into her pillow when she was shaken awake by a hand constantly rubbing her shoulder. Burying her head deeper to the headrest, she could feel it shake as the sound of someone laughing filled the room. Bringing her head up, she glared at the thing she slept on who only snickered at her way in return.

"Good morning, precious" the older felt like she wanted to just break his jaw with how unnecessarily sweet he's being. Germany knew he's doing this on purpose. "Why are you looking at me like that? Did you not ask me to wake you up on time yesterday?" he questioned her, as she didn't do much but grumble before pushing herself off him and rolling to the other side of the bed.

"I did," she replied with a sharp tone as she let out a sound exhale, before stopping her flow to think of a continuation. The words that came out next sounded a lot more softer than her previous response, "thank you for keeping your word, husband," that remark was accompanied with a slight smile on her face. It disappeared as quickly as it came. "I'd be a bit busy."

"Yeah, you and your Personification work," he shrugged as he sat up on his side of the bed. The two of them sat with their backs against each other, before he continued with a glance to her direction, "the states still being assholes to you with their paperwork?" he asked with a hint of concern in his voice.

"Why wouldn't they?" Germany scoffed as she heard that, when she turned to see him, she saw a frown on his face. "What? It isn't like I have much say over them despite being their country. Their sense of independence is much greater than the typical state-equivalent Personification because they used to be—"

"Independent," he interrupted her. She looked at him with a dumbfounded look before shaking her head. "you mentioned that a while ago," he hummed, as he watched the slightly shorter person stand up and walk to the bathroom. As he heard the sink being turned on, his mind wandered to something he just recalled. "Oh also! I think one of them is here."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Germany's head popped up from behind the door frame, face wet as her eyes weren't quite looking at him, mainly due to the fact that they're closed. "Don't tell me they're in the house," she yelled from back within the bathroom as the sound of running water was still prevalent with the usual splashes.

"I think that's possible," the man pushed the bed down and stood straight up. Walking right in front of the opened bathroom door, his head shifted to her way. "and I don't think you'll like him, too," he remarked, which had Germany fully exit the room with a bewildered still-wet face.

"Him?" the Personification's expression visibly turned grim when she realised who it might be from just that description. "Why would that Bavarian be here again?" she jabbed at him accusingly, he did nothing but shrug in the lack of knowledge he had. "It is Edmund, no?" she asked for confirmation from the black-haired man.

"He's really the only one of your states with a spare key to our house—who is a man..." he trailed off, face amused as he heard the woman groan out of sheer frustration. "I know you don't like him, Röschen," Germany just raised a brow at that statement, "but maybe he has a reason for the sudden visit?"

"Knowing that man, there is a very high chance for him to get here just for the sake of annoying me," she shot him a deadpan stare while he only stifled a laugh at that. "I'm Prussian, remember? I don't think Bavarians like us, and vice versa," she spoke, before she paused and looked at him straight in the eyes. "There is an exception."

He only shook his head with a grin, "Yeah, I get it, I'm the only Bavarian you'll like, Federal Republic of Germany," she didn't seem to enjoy the mention of her full country name, obvious with that strong gaze. "What? It isn't that I'm wrong, is it?" he asked with a wide smile.

She chose not to answer.

Chuckling at that response, more lack thereof than any, he just shook his head again for the nth time as he pulled open the door and went outside to God knows where. For sure Germany didn't, as she only sighed and stood absentmindedly in front of their wardrobe, not quite sure what she should wear today.

Germany could hear the commotion coming from outside, visibly wincing when she noticed the voice of that one state she disliked more than most from the other side. Okay, she didn't have any particular fondness for most—if not all—of her states, now that she thought about it further. She doesn't want to remember about what she had with a part of Thuringia a century ago...

She shook her head in disgust as she thought about that. What the hell did German Empire see in him?

"Ah, where's my favourite Saupreiß?" a voice called out from outside, and Germany's face scrunched up to one of frustration when she identified that as Bavaria calling her. Who else would call her with such a name these days, anyway? "Don't rot in your room, talk with this old man here!"

Grabbing the glasses from the nightstand as she dragged her legs to get out of the confines of her shared room, she squinted to see the figure of that blond grinning ominously, while her husband seemed quite tired at his antics. Well, if he's tired, how about her who had dealt with this man ever since the 1600s? Okay, that's an exaggeration, she never really met him until the start of the 18th century, but her point still stands.

Sliding those glasses up the bridge of her nose, an audible sigh was heard from her mouth as Bavaria only snickered at that reaction. "I do agree that you are an old man, look at you, stem duchy of the Holy Roman Empire," his heterochromatic eyes narrowed at her way. "but you are wrong with the rotting."

The black-haired human decided to just ignore what was happening between the two Personifications and strolled to the kitchen to cook. Germany could vaguely hear other voices from the other end of the house, but her full attention was completely grasped with the existence of this southerner in her not-humble abode.

The blonde woman made a disgruntled noise as she folded her arms in front of her chest. "Edmund, why are you here, if I may ask so politely?" that was said with such a sarcastic tone to it, the blue and light grey-eyed man couldn't help but to feign offence. "I'm sure you are not here to pledge that you will be diligent with your UN-issued paperwork."

He let out a loud scoff at that suggestion. "I would never!" he retorted, finding her pissed off look quite amusing. "I know you love drowning yourself in endless paperwork, Rosamunde—" though before he could continue, he was interrupted quite rudely by the younger, clearly on purpose.

"I'd rather die."

"—but I'm sure it is not that hard to work with in the first place!" she was clearly unamused with what he just said. Of course she would be, she's working with an equivalent of twelve countries' United Nations Official Paperwork Records in the first place. Just imagine twelve people's work all on your shoulders. Must be harsh. "But to answer, it's more about the... ah, meeting."

Germany's expression then turned serious. Her cornflower blue eyes gazed into Bavaria's own dull irises before she spoke, "The whole annual Sunday meeting Ulrich holds on every new year," she let her words hang in the air before continuing, "or is it this month's meeting with the rest of the states?" that seemed to not be it, as Bavaria's eyes dimmed as she mentioned that.

"Former," he replied as he snagged a glass of water from the kitchen-top counter and took a few sips from it. Letting out a sound of satisfaction after getting hydrated, he went on with his words, "you mentioned Russia's been acting giddy lately," Bavaria hummed, as he took notice at how dissatisfied she looked at the mention of that Slavic country.

"I did," she nodded, tugging at the collar of the dark-shaded tank top she wore, before taking a seat at the sofa in the room as the smell of her husband's cooking filled the room. "and of course, whenever she acts that way, it can't be a good sign of... well, anything, really," sighing, she didn't take much time in looking at the southerner's direction and only eyed the other man.

"I think you're more interested in the food than this conversation," Bavaria pointed out. Germany scoffed at that and rolled her eyes, the both of them knowing how true his words were. "but I stand my ground. Does Russia's behaviour imply more paperwork, perhaps?" that suggestion he made was met with a glare from her side. His hand flinched.

"I sure hope not," she muttered under her breath, the woman closing her eyes for a moment as she began to pinch the bridge of her nose in frustration. Hearing the clanking of plates, her eyes were opened once more as she stared at the ready food awaiting for her to devour. "I'd have to get on the stupid plane to Lysander's land and attend that God be damned meeting physically. More than that and the papers I already have to deal with, I would end Ulrich's career as United Nations."

Bavaria looked taken aback at that. "God damned, to kill a fellow German? Never knew you were so cruel," he said with a hint of irony in his words. He was definitely just saying that to irk Germany even more. "okay, fine, you know that I jest. Germans killing other Germans is a typical form of tradition at this point, is it not?" he grinned. "Like how your father killed Austria Elder."

She stood up right as he said that, and only stared at him with an odd look for a few seconds. "Yes, Randolf indeed committed that sororicide, didn't he?" she mumbled, before walking up to the dining table and her sat on her designated seat. Her husband seemed to make something simple for today, just some rye bread and eggs. "Come by and eat, be grateful I'm being kind right now."

That order was met with a laugh at his direction. "Okay, okay, I'd rather not have that tentacle monster come and eat me because I denied a free meal, or something," he shrugged, being met by another pair of weird looks from the other man in the room. "What? Did I say anything particularly wrong, Gottfried?" he asked, dumbfounded at their reactions.

"Not quite," he replied, pausing to think what to say next. "just a bit peculiar," he rubbed his chin with an absentminded look in his eyes. Sitting beside her, she watched as a young boy exited a room in the end of the hallway and strutted his way to sit next where Bavaria was sat now. "Benno, sleep well?" the boy only nodded at the question.

Germany took a glass of coffee specially prepared for her and sipped from it, the hot drink making her slightly gag at the taste. She never quite liked it, but she needed the caffeine to go through UN's awful meeting. Well, at least the sugar and milk toned down the striking taste of bitterness on the back her tongue.

The quartet began their quiet meal, Bavaria not daring himself to even interrupt the peace Germany so enjoys. That was always what she liked, silence. Maybe it was a bit odd that she liked to sit in a room of nothingness and push herself to the corner and talk to no one in particular. It was broken by Thorben pushing the chair back and running his way to the kitchen sink to put the dishes away.

"Thorben, try not to run as you bring a ceramic plate on you," the woman scolded, only getting a few blinks from his way until he nodded silently. He was always quite silent. Taking a look at the man beside her, she muttered out, "could you take a look on him for a moment? I think I'd like Edmund to not get distracted as I..." she wasn't sure what word to use.

"Use your preferred CIA interrogation methods on him?" he continued for her, which was met with a dumbfounded look. Bavaria on the other hand, looked rightfully nervous over the chance of that even happening to him. "I suppose not," the youngest adult shrugged, before strutting off following wherever Thorben ran to.

And now, it was just the two of them left. Germany could tell that Bavaria found this unnerving, noting at how his hands were being actively fiddled under the table. Their air of silence filling in the room wasn't in any sense comforting, and if Bavaria dared, Germany could see him cutting the quiet with one of his knives dropped to the cold floor below.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" Germany asked the taller man with an eyebrow raised. "You said something about Ulrich's meeting," he hummed in agreement at that, as the country leaned into her chair with a sigh. "yeah, what about the in-person meeting, then?"

"'In-person', eh?" Bavaria snickered at the words he repeated. "I feel like you should actually keep doing in-person meetings when it comes to Ulrich all the time, you know?" Germany could see the southerner flinch when he noted her haunting gaze. "I don't get why you show up for the new year and solstice meetings only."

"Because if I can attend the unimportant ones at home," the woman started, unamused with how the other blond had carried himself in this conversation. "then what's the need to fly myself to the United States? That's a waste of money, is it not?" she continued, as the older only rubbed his chin with a weird look at that. "And it's unnecessary. I don't even know why Ulrich holds those extra meetings in the first place when all that could be put into the format of an email."

"Oh, so you were basically just lazy, then," he pointed out with a smirk, only to be met by a frown by his technically-superior. "What? Just a few hours of flight, another few hours of the meeting, and another few hours of returning home. It's really not that hard, Germany," he paused as he took notice to her hardening stare.

"How about you be the Country Personification of the Federal Republic of Germany, then?" she challenged with a grim look.

The silence that came after was almost deafening.

"Oh, well I'd be honoured—"

Before Bavaria could even continue his words, Germany interrupted him with a bang, slamming her hands on the table loudly. "Do not—" she said, rising from her seat abruptly as she leaned forward, to gaze closer into the state's eyes. Germany would dare to even say she saw them tremble. "—ever think of that possibility ever again."

Despite that, Bavaria managed to look scandalised at the implication behind her words, as he managed to form a retorting sentence. "You were the one to—"

His words didn't matter to the younger blonde either way, as he found his sentence cut off once more. "You do realise that you're challenging me for my birth right, don't you?" her eyes narrowed at his way, as she stood up straight looking down on him, putting up an intimidating front to the biggest state in the country. Bavaria might be contemplating his previous choices now, seen with how his form slightly shifted back under her scrutiny.

"Whatever," she was more amazed over how he could still put up a face of nonchalance, as if he wasn't at all bothered by her act. His next words were almost amusing for Germany to hear. Almost. "What would you and the other countries even talk about in that meeting anyway?"

She decided not to point out the change of topic. "Unimportant stuff," she waved her hand around, as she took this as a sign to sit back on her chair. Folding her hands in front of her chest, she awaited the other's response in silence. It's not like the specifics was needed for her to answer his query.

He raised a brow at what she spoke. "Such as?" the raised brow signifies that he was unsatisfied with the length of her quaint reply.

"Politicking. It might end up with a civil debate that might not be considered civil by some, but it's up to the debaters on what to call their little scuffle. No one has died yet so far," she grumbled in the end, eyes distant as if trying to recall an unfortunate event which had transpired there. Once she seemingly did, she sighed and looked at the plate she had finished.

Bavaria decided to tread the line of the unpredictability of her reaction, as he continued on with his questions. "Close calls?"

"A bit too much," Germany answered with an odd look, as if she was questioning herself as to when those things happened. "I lost count how many times I—" cutting herself off when she realised what she was about to say, she shook her head before continuing, "how many times any country would in general be brought to the building's recovery bay."

"You know I heard that," he pointed out the verbal mishap she did with a small grin. He only got a deadpan stare in return.

"No, you didn't," she disagreed, yet Bavaria seemed to not sway to her not-so-convincing words. "Austria was just being a usual prick. I'm sure any other Prussian would cull him the moment he talks," it looked as if he gained an epiphany when he discerned the other German-speaking country's name from her mouth.

Yet, he zeroed on to another part of her words rather than that, mainly due to how her situation with Austria didn't need more explaining to him. "Aren't you the only other Prussian left alive?" his head tilted a few degrees, wondering whatever she might mean by that.

It was time for Germany's turn to look surprised at his own claim, as she refuted it with her brows furrowed. "Now what do you— last time I checked, most of the northerners used to be Prussian provinces before their—to some, regaining—statehood. Only the non-existent state is non-Prussian."

He chuckled at the mention of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, before replying at her response with slight snark. "Does that mean they would immediately slaughter Austria when the moment comes?"

His question must've sounded like one that didn't need more answers, but she still replied with a name for the Bavarian. "I'm sure Halfdan would."

"Halfdan?" he looked confused at that, his brows furrowing before his face showed a clear reaction for when he realised who she was referencing. "Oh, yeah, you call Colbrecht that for some reason," the mention of Schleswig-Holstein's actual human name caught her off guard for some reason, as her right eye twitched.

"He's literally half-Danish, is he not?" she asked him a question in return. It was genuine, Germany really had no concrete evidence other than stories from Prussia on the northern state's ancestry.

"Probably? How would I know about his personal history," he shrugged, before continuing with a question of his own, "Why do you think he was ever important to me in the first place? You know I had other things to worry about as an Archon."

"With those being..?" she trailed off, wanting him to continue for her.

"Hm," he huffed, arms crossed on his chest as he leaned to the back of his chair, face shifting to a contemplating expression before he landed on a decision. "I think I'd rather not say," he spoke with a grin.

Continuing her staring, the woman simply replied, "Coward."

"Oh, you— you take that back!" he yelled, arms unfurled as they gripped the edge of the table tightly. Germany could see a spark in his eyes, threatening to expand into an uncontrolable wildfire, threatening all around him. It was amusing to see him react this way.

"Then I'm sure it's a perfectly fine thing for you to tell your country about, Edmund," she quipped, eyes shifting to grab an apple on the table, taking a bite out of it. The heterochromic man seemed peeved at what she just did—or maybe it was because she was Prussian, there really is no difference.

"Fine," he relented, sighing before continuing, "You know I had to worry about Austria Elder. And Luxembourg. But mainly Austria's mother, because, well, you know, she used to be under my tutelage, yeah?" he looked at her with a questioning look.

"Sometimes I forget that that was the case before," the blonde mumbled, finishing her apple as she put the pits on her plate.

"Yeah, not a lot of people remember. Your grandfather wasn't really the best father, you get that? Not just Athaulf Herrich, of course, I also mean François, but it's more the former compared to the, uhm, French version of himself," his eye twitched at the mention of the Kingdom of France.

"I— don't remind me that France is, by all means, my aunt, would you?" Germany requested with a tone feigning surprise. She couldn't see why he had to bring that up out of the blue.

"I feel like every country in this continent is related at this point," that comment was so sudden as well, Germany couldn't help but to physically reel herself in, as if to take in whatever he just said.

Was he wrong though? No, because as far as she was aware, she had a lot of countries in her family tree. "You wouldn't be entirely wrong, I think. I don't know, go ask Yelena," it was always a weird point on how the Russian even knew about the family tree so well. She could even recall her mentioning that it isn't complete too.

"Yeah, well Austria was put under my watch. That kid wasn't really anything at that point, but I guess I taught her a few things, she became a margravine, and then suddenly she declares herself archduchess," a grumble exited his mouth as he said that.

"And then you kept contending the throne of emperor with her," she spoke with a flat tone, as if recalling the things she was told. She wasn't quite alive during that era, and once she was born, it was already a permanent reign for Austria as empress-regnant.

"Oh, don't forget that Luxembourg was there too. I'm more or less surprised he keeps getting forgotten. He was er," his sentence was cut off as he tried to search for a better wording. "let's say, ambitious, to even make a deal with a demon."

"So that's the reason why he even did that in the first place?" she questioned, finally realising that the reason for Luxembourg's black sclerae was due to something simple. Well, everyone knew what he did, but not the reason why. Who knew this old man of the Baiuvarii had the answers all along. Did Austria know of this? Germany wasn't sure. For sure not the current one. She was more thinking of the dead.

"Practically," he shrugged with a small smile, before continuing where he was ranting about. "oh, and then the rest of the Archons, yeah? The most annoying one was Brandenburg, though, ugh, you weren't born yet at that time but he was genuinely such a bother to me," the groan heard from his way was clearly of weariness caused by Germany's mother.

"Like that one time you called him a man?" she brought up something of an embarrassing moment, resulting in Bavaria's face somehow looking flushed. Huh, she'd never seen that before. That must've been really humiliating to him, then.

She was met with a retort by him. "Hey! It's not like I knew! You and I, and everyone in this country, know just how much Brandenburg looks like a man even when he isn't. Don't act as if you didn't first mistake him as your biological father when you were younger," that fire-back was certainly effective, as it was now time for Germany to be caught off her guard.

"In my defense, I was a child, and Randolf wasn't quite present in my early years," she spoke, bringing up her father yet again. Bavaria didn't seem quite pleased with her reasoning.

"Yeah, whatever you say," he waved his hand in the air, sighing. "in the end, neither Schleswig nor Holstein ever held any high value to me in that era," he shrugged, not putting too much thought into his words when it came to the now-merger.

"Oh, I believe you," Germany spoke with a tone so clearly sarcastic, Bavaria looked as if he was allergic to that.

"I don't think you do," he said with a monotonous voice.

She only scoffed at those words, before shrugging and continuing, "With that shelved away, in the end, Ulrich's meetings are useless. The paperwork we do should've been enough for the 'catching-up' session of the meet," her words came to a pregnant pause. "at this point I'm positive he's only hosting those to waste our time."

"Yeah, which brings to my question," he leaned forward, placing his arms on the table as his face turned oddly serious. Dare she says that it doesn't fit him, but she knew well enough that Bavaria is capable in what he says is capable in. Being serious wouldn't be such a hard thing for him to do knowing his history as a man with high regard.

"Yes?" she awaited his next words, head tilting in curiosity.

Bavaria didn't immediately carry over his question to her, opting to wait a few seconds, before finally speaking, "Would you talk about that goo-stuff you mentioned in the meeting?" now that was a delightful surprise to Germany.

"I... would, yes," to state the truth, Germany had honestly already forgotten about that. Maybe she shouldn't, with how ominously her spine rattled when her mind found itself thinking about it. "Why is this your question, again?" Bavaria only looked at her with brief hesitance before she remembered why. She recalled that he was one of the few who reacted with the checkmark yesterday.

"Well, I did see something like that around two days ago," he found himself unable to continue his words with certainty. He was encouraged with the intrigued expression the woman made. "it was you know, I was in a bar, and I just drank fewer beer than usual, so I know I didn't hallucinate or whatever.

"I got out of the bar, looked into a streetlight because why wouldn't I," his eyes shifted to Germany to watch how she reacted, in which she remained passive. "and then I saw it. It was a bit... chilling. As if the atmosphere went a few degrees lower, which wasn't too surprising for the season, but it was just so sudden, it felt clearly out of place.

"That thing was just watching me, you know. Like, that human-looking thing that was covered all in black. And you could actually see the gooey texture. Like, hm, what do the young people call it, slime, I think?" unsure where to continue from there, he tried recalling what happened next. "Yeah, that thing just did absolutely nothing but watch. The figure was... I couldn't tell their sex, but it was taller than average, that's for sure.

"And it was, well, you can say it disappeared after a few seconds. I would've assumed I was hallucinating if I was not feeling the, let's say, weird effect," Germany looked as if she wanted to ask what he meant by that, but was cut off before she could speak. "Dazed, I felt dazed, and frankly, the goosebumps were obvious to me."

"Goosebumps?" she scrunched up her face, wondering why he gave such a reaction while she only felt a mere chill.

"It's like I've just seen a ghost, actually," his voice came to a sudden halt, before he elaborated, "and it's not like what I saw was actually a ghost, you know. In my over-millennium years of age, I've never encountered one," he came to a pause once more. "Maybe I just can't see them. Ghosts aren't supposed to be seen by the living, after all."

Germany hummed at that, saying, "That's quite true," she contemplated over what to say next before finding a choice. "I don't think you've fulfilled the criteria for a human to be able to see ghosts," she spoke, sparking interest from the other.

"Oh?" he said, clearly intrigued. "And you know what they are?" he asked with an accusing tone. Somehow, Germany could tell he didn't believe that she did. Well, granted, it's not that she figured it out herself, but he didn't need to know that.

"It's just one thing, contrary to what you think," she reached out to him and pushed his hands off the table, which offended him greatly if a look was taken at his expression. He was feigning it badly, though. "You just have to have an encounter with Death."

"Encounter with death?" he parroted her words to her, wondering whatever she might imply with them. "I'm sure I've gone close contact with death several times before in my long life," he shrugged, yet his brows furrowed in a questioning gaze. "If so, why can't I see ghosts if that's the case?"

She sighed at that, as if berating his idiocy within her head, and followed up with, "No, Death—capital D in English," she specified, and Bavaria finally seemed to understand what she meant before. "Even if you've nearly died a million times, if you haven't actually seen the apparition of death personified, you wouldn't be able to see ghosts."

"Huh," he let out a sound of understanding at the statement she made. "is that so?"

Just as he said that, his shoulders perked up suddenly, gaining a raised brow from Germany as it happened. His expression suddenly was alert, and she wasn't sure as to what reason garnered such a reaction from him. "... Yes, what's with you?"

"I'm just— Germany, are you absolutely sure your home isn't haunted?" he asked with an apprehensive tone.

What a weird question.

"Last time I checked, I don't see any phantom activities going around," she responded cautiously. "Plus, every time Yelena would come here, if there was indeed a ghost living here, she'd point it out immediately, I feel," Germany wasn't actually sure Russia would, but she was one of the few living who can see ghosts, so she likely would.

She did gain that criteria knowledge from Russia anyway. Else, how would she ever know that in order to even see ghosts in their somewhat-physical form—translucent, according to the albino—she had to have met Death before? For sure, she wouldn't have known; mainly because she hasn't seen Death in her whole life, as far as she remembers.

"Uh huh," he quipped, clearly unsure and disbelieving. "well, can you even sense ghosts in the first place?" now it was time for Germany to look confused at his claim. And because of that question, she was now deep in thought on whether or not she had.

"And how do ghosts feel, anyway?" she questioned him back rather than giving him the answer he had wanted. "Their presence, I mean. I don't think you can actually feel a ghost... unless they're touching you themselves," she added.

"That's true," Bavaria agreed with her. "I'm actually wondering how you know a human can see ghosts but not what being in the presence of a ghost feels like," Germany kept quiet at that. "Either way, chills running down your spine, and then the obvious goosebumps, there's also the nagging feeling in your gut that someone is near you when there's no one, also, watch how animals react. They can sense them, somehow. If they act weirdly, you can assume it's either a natural disaster, or it's a ghost stalking them."

"Interesting," was the only response Germany gave after a few seconds of silence.

They kept the silence until the Bavarian broke the silence with a, "So..." noting how her attention has now been directed to his way, he went on, "... is it possible for me to, you know..?"

"I don't," she gave him a deadpan look with a colourless voice, annoyed at the (at least, she assumed) blond's vague implications she had no idea what they meant. "Maybe specify what you want from me rather than be so cryptic around me."

"Ugh," he groaned. "would you accept it if I borrow your car—"

"Hell no!"