Day 49: Evening - Bus 1

[hat_einen_vogel]

Whatever promise the day had seemed to show in the morning, it had steadily turned for the worse since then. The weather hadn't bothered Prussia at all (other than the annoying women who seemed to think he could actually get sick by staying out in it, as if a little rain was just as dangerous as economic trouble), but by the time the nurses were

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[rocksthecourt]

Klavier frowned slightly as the man looked back, wondering if he was about to throw reason out the window again in favor of useless confrontation. It looked like despite his arguing, the man had decided against another attempt. Which was good because Klavier didn't know how much he could care to interfere again.

The man's response, however, was a bit... jarring. First there was the out of place anti-American sentiment. It wasn't so much that Klavier considered himself a patriot as it was simply odd to see such a strong negative reaction to the simple suggestion of living here. As long as it wasn't any kind of violent hatred, he supposed it wasn't worth dwelling over. And secondly was the answer itself.

German had been unexpected enough of an answer, but Prussian? He was actually wondering if this was some half-cooked attempt at trying to trick him or something. If it was a lie, it wasn't a very good one. Prussia didn't exist anymore, obviously. Normally, Klavier might have thought there was yet another time distortion at fault here (after meeting someone 5000 years from the future, anything was possible, really), but circumstantial evidence proved otherwise. Nothing about how the man looked, spoke, or acted implied he was from a pre-modern era. The man must have just thought he was an idiot.

Klavier sighed a little, allowing a little annoyance to seep into it, and placed his good hand on his hip. "That's not necessary," he said, slipping into German. "If you didn't want to tell me, you could have simply said so. I don't really care. ...You could have at least offered something entertaining."

Of course, he only spoke in German since he didn't expect the man to understand him at all. When the man expressed confusion, Klavier would catch him in his lie red-handed. Perhaps then he'd know better than to make up stupid stories unnecessarily.

[hat_einen_vogel]

Prussia frowned, confused. This guy... didn't believe him? Maybe he hadn't heard of Prussia before (no matter how much that thought stung), perhaps as a product of some sort of inferior foreign schooling that didn't cover history properly. Or maybe it was because of the attempts to take his name from him. But even if he was skeptical over Prussia being, well, Prussian... there wasn't anything strange about being German!

Then again, Prussia wasn't entirely certain he even was foreign. His German was better than anyone else's he'd heard so far.

"I wasn't trying to be entertaining," he defended, confusion slipping into irritation. Where he was from was who and what he was, and to not be believed was frankly insulting. He scowled, the orderly and potential escape now forgotten. "You asked where I was from, and I told you. I have no reason to lie about it." And he wouldn't lie about it even if he did have a reason.

Of course, no matter how irritated he was that the man thought he was lying, he was curious (if not a little... not frightened, but wary) of why it was that he'd come to that conclusion. It may not have been from ignorance at all, and the thought made him uncomfortable. Maybe he knew about the upcoming law and found it unlikely that any would still call themselves 'Prussian'.

"Is being German so hard to believe?" he asked. "Or do you have a problem with Prussians?" A thought struck him then. "You're not Austrian, are you?"

[rocksthecourt]

Any sign of annoyance Klavier held in his expression dropped at the response. Apparently, he'd been wrong in his assumption. The man spoke German perfectly well. Naturally, even. More surprising, however, was the passion with which he spoke. This was the most straightforward the man had been during the entire conversation, his voice carrying a level of defensiveness that was difficult to interpret as anything but honest. That aside, he had to agree with the man. There was no logical reason for him to lie about where he was from, which was why it was so stupid to imagine. So what did that mean?

Actually, no. When he restated his claim, he stated himself as simply being Prussian rather than from Prussia itself. Klavier had to wonder now.... He hadn't actually been back to his mother country for a while now, had never really lived there for an extended amount of time outside schooling. If he remembered right, there were some German patriots who still called themselves 'Prussian' with regards to their ancestry rather than German. In that sense, there were people claiming to be 'from Prussia' while not really being so. But that was... that was something the elder generation tended to do. Elders who lived through another time and held onto the filial loyalty of nationality with an iron fist. Those his age -- their age, as the man appeared about his age -- never did that from what he'd seen. It was old-fashioned.

...Well, it could have been that the man had been raised in an extremely old-fashioned household and was accustomed to calling himself as such. It wasn't Klavier's place to judge another by their family. Perhaps, then, he'd been a bit too brash. ...That didn't exactly explain the random "Austrian" accusation, but he supposed there was a personal story in there Klavier shouldn't pry into.

"Ah. No. I'm not. I'm German myself, actually," he stated simply, reverting back to English. His own tone was gentler than it had been at any point previously, honestly apologetic. "...I'm sorry. I misunderstood what it was you were saying. I thought you were saying you actually were living in Prussia before arriving here." He shook his head slightly and offered a small smile to his companion. "I hold no ill will toward Prussians. But you may want to be careful how you phrase things here, for future reference. People claim to be from ridiculous places, many of which are impossible. It's difficult to tell who is being honest and who isn't."

[hat_einen_vogel]

The scowl remained on Prussia's face until the man said that he was German; the expression wavered then, but didn't fade completely until he'd added that he had no enmity towards Prussia's people. That was... good. Better than good.

However, the man's confusion over saying he was from Prussia still concerned him. "And if I was saying I was living in Prussia until now?" he asked, his own tone friendlier than before. It may have been a part of Germany, but his State was still his State for a little longer. If this man was claiming to be from the future like England had claimed... No matter what, it still seemed too ridiculous of a notion to believe. England had to be lying about it, the way he had lied about Russia taking over. Prussia wasn't going to fall for it, no matter how weird some of the things around here had been!

Prussia moved to take a seat and motioned for the man to join him. He favored the man with a smile, feeling much more inclined to be friendly now that he knew the stranger was one of West's. "By the way, I'm Gilbert. Gilbert Beilschmidt."

[rocksthecourt]

Well, the man seemed to have accepted his apology, which was good. Last thing Klavier needed was to go around offending people. Reassuring as that was, he hadn't expected the guy to suddenly invite him to sit with him in such an amiable way. He supposed there wasn't any harm in it. Brash as he seemed to be, the guy didn't seem as totally unreasonable as he'd initially seemed.

Klavier reflected a pleasant smile back and sat in the seat beside the man. "A pleasure, Herr Beilschmidt. I'm Klavier. Klavier Gavin." He paused for just the briefest of moments to consider how to answer that question. Was this hypothetical or legitimate? The best he could do was answer honestly, he supposed. "...If you were really stating such a thing, then I would have to assume you are... from a time earlier than myself. It may sound strange and unbelievable, but such a thing is not wholly unheard of here." Ha, look how casually he was speaking about such a ridiculous concept.

Now... whether to elaborate upon that point or not. He supposed the statement would only beg the question whether he said it or not, so he continued on. "It would be impossible for you to be from there and not be from another time, actually. Prussia has not been around for... quite some time."

[hat_einen_vogel]

Klavier? Really? He'd been named after a piano? That name combined with the foreign-sounding last name made Prussia think he must have had mixed ancestry at some point in his family history. But one of West's people was one of West's people, as far as he was concerned at the moment, mixed blood or not.

Besides, the nonsense about 'earlier times' he was spouting was much more important. It was similar to what England had claimed, but the way Klavier was talking... It sounded like it was common. England had mentioned one of Japan's people who was supposedly from the 1800s, but that was still coming from England. As far as Prussia was aware, Klavier had less reason to lie to him than a Nation would.

"And when are you supposed to be from?" Prussia asked, neither confirming or denying the idea that he might have been from a time earlier than Klavier. Hell, Klavier may have even meant the earlier dissolution by Germany's government when he said Prussia hadn't been around for a while, rather than meaning the Control Council's law. "It can't have been that long since Prussia was..." He glanced away, feeling uncomfortable talking about his upcoming fate as though it had already happened. "...was abolished."

[rocksthecourt]

There was no sign given as to whether the man really believed this time travel idea or not, or if he thought such a thing might be the case or not. Nor did he give any indication of thinking Klavier was crazy, as he would be well within his rights to assume. Instead, he seemed willing to gather more information before entertaining such idea. If nothing else, Klavier could respect that alone.

Still, he had to feel a small sense of pity. Maybe time wasn't a factor after all. Not if the man already seemed aware Prussia didn't really exist anymore. However, this was obviously an uncomfortable subject for him, even if Beilschmidt was pressing forward with the conversation. It would be best to approach the subject with some sensitivity, even while explaining the truth of the matter. He pretended to think for a moment as though it really demanded consideration.

"Hmm, well. I last remember the year 2026." He stated it that way rather than he was from a particular year. It sounded less ridiculous that way. He continued as if uncertain about the details. "I suppose, relatively speaking, it hasn't really been that long. Almost a century or so, perhaps?"

He offered nothing else, waiting instead to gauge a reaction.

[hat_einen_vogel]

So Klavier was claiming to be from the future... Moreover, he claimed to be from even later than England by nearly twenty years. Even if Prussia had managed to survive until 2008, who knew what the years after that held for him? He would do whatever it took to survive-he was sure of that if nothing else-but if the next eighty years were going to feel like this, being cut off from both his land and his people (if he even managed to hold on to either, in the end)... It wasn't exactly something he was looking forward to. He needed that connection.

"No matter how many times I hear it, it'll still be hard to believe," he scoffed, giving a small laugh along with his words. "Coming from the future... It really sounds crazy."

Prussia leaned back in the seat, deciding that he would at least get as comfortable as he could considering his situation. "You could say that I was... living in Prussia before I arrived here," he confirmed. He had been Prussia, was Prussia, so the statement was only a little bit off. "Or what was left of it. It's 1947."

[rocksthecourt]

Ah. So he'd heard this theory before. That would explain it the reaction. At least the man wasn't so naive as to simply swallow whatever story was thrown at him, he'd give him that. A huge grin spread across Klavier's face and he laughed easily. "Crazy is about right, ja. It took me a while to accept it myself, actually. But a few weeks in this place will make you change your mind about many things."

It was true in a general sense, but Klavier himself admitted he still didn't swallow much of what he heard. There was only so much one could accept. This man being from 1947, for example. Had Gilbert not sounded so honest about the whole thing, he wouldn't have taken that seriously. Klavier didn't really have anything to go on aside from pop culture, historical, and musical references, but weren't people in the late 1940's/early 1950's far more... reserved in their behavior? Gilbert acted no different than anyone else their age. Then again, he was thinking about American culture, not Prussian, and it could be that pop culture simply gave the wrong impression. An eighty year gap was bound to offer discrepancies.

So he was from Prussia right around the time it was fading, then. He couldn't imagine what it must have been like to live in a "dying" country. But now that piqued his curiosity. If he were to take that as truth, then he had to wonder the same for Herr Beilschmidt as he did everyone else: Why was he selected to be brought here? What was important about taking someone from such a place during that particular time? Klavier had his theories.

"Really...?" he asked rhetorically, thinking a bit. "If I may ask... Did you have any ties with the government at all? A government job, perhaps? ...Or do you last remember being in or around a government owned building, like a school or bank?"

[hat_einen_vogel]

"I hope to be long gone before then," Prussia replied. The renewed thought of escape reminded him now of his own attempt to get out by taking control of the bus, and he glanced up front. The driver was there now, but the bus was also already underway; trying to take control of a moving vehicle could be dangerous for the humans. He didn't want any harm to come to West's people, be it one or be it more aboard.

Nevertheless, his expression turned sullen. Another opportunity had been lost, and who knew when the next chance like this might come along? Maybe there still was a chance, though. If he was swift enough, or if he could intimidate the driver into doing what he said, then maybe...

But Klavier was also asking questions. Even though he was one of West's, there was something about those questions-possibly the way they'd hit very near to the truth, or a portion of it-that made him wary.

"W-why do you ask that?" he asked, countering with a question of his own instead of answering. Yes, he'd had ties to his government. Yes, being a Nation was, in some respects, a government job. Yes, he'd been in or around a government-owed building. "Germany's under occupation, you know... The Allies are running things."

[rocksthecourt]

"...I'm aware of what Germany's state was like after World War II, yes," he said simply, humbly. Not exactly the most pleasant of times to live in the country or any of its states. Mentioning that while giving such a response, well... He would be taking that as a "Yes, and it's none of your business."

Which was fine. He'd only wanted an answer to that particular question for now. Klavier normally didn't like explaining his questions until he'd gotten an absolute answer first. Asking without elaborating on his specific goal forced the one being cross examined to be honest and unbiased. In this case, however, it would actually benefit Klavier to explain and may even motivate Herr Gilbert to become more forthcoming with information. Or so he hoped, anyhow.

"An interesting note: The national demographic of the patients here seems focused on two countries in particular. Namely America and Japan. Many other countries are involved as well, but only a handful of people are taken from elsewhere. It's strange, really." The grin melted into a bit of a smirk. "Despite that, there is one common factor many people here have. They are, in some way, tied to government agencies. Police, prisons, schools. Work or even relations. It is all the same, it seems. If that is the case for you as well... then that may have been why you were targeted and brought here."

[hat_einen_vogel]

From what Prussia had seen thus far, it seemed like Klavier was telling the truth about the other inmates, at least in regards to their nationalities. With the notable exception of England and Klavier himself, everyone he'd met so far seemed to be either American or Japanese. While he couldn't say about any connections they might have had to government agencies (again with the exception of England)... It wasn't even something that sounded unlikely. All sorts of people had those kinds of connections, especially if you took relations into accounts.

But his own case was a little different. His own case had to be a little different. He hadn't exactly been in the position where anyone but America, England, Japan, and Russia could have gotten to him easily.

"If you're aware of its state, then you know that there isn't a German government in place," Prussia replied. "I know a few....... guys related to the Allied governments, but I sure as hell don't work for them. In fact, keeping me from getting anywhere near German government ever again is pretty high on their agenda."

It was more than Prussia had meant to say about it, but the words seemed fairly innocuous to him. He hadn't come right out and stated what he was, after all.

[rocksthecourt]

He... knew several people in the Allied powers? That was quite the claim, no matter what year one claimed to be from. Herr Gilbert must have been part of the political scene, in that case. Someone who actually had contact with people related to the other governments somehow. .... Klavier stared at him for a moment, face purely neutral. This man? Really? The one who'd been speaking in such a hostile manner toward an orderly and was a few moments away from picking a fight? This one who spoke coarsely and had been ready to act without a well thought out plan? He held a job somehow involving international relations? Oh, the thought was somewhat terrifying.

Actually, if he were to also consider the man's prior claim of "guaranteeing" he had better training than the nurse, it may mean he had some connection with security? Not much more of a comforting thought. ...Wait, no. But then what was this about these Allied relations trying to keep him from getting near the German government? That implied something far more... Hold it. Did he just say "ever again?" Did that mean he'd originally been involved in the German government? And for it to be "high" on these people's agenda...

Klavier's stare shifted into a bit of a confused frown. Who was this guy? What was it he did exactly? It sounded like he was supposed to be someone of significant historical importance, but there was nothing even slightly... well, just look at him.

"Um." It wasn't very often Klavier was driven to the point of near speechlessness, but... "What do you mean, exactly? You were part of the German government at some point?" Perish the thought, mein gott. "Your saying these... 'people related to the Allies' consider you an enemy of some sort?" So what did that mean? A spy? A terrorist? Nothing about the man matched the profile of anything Klavier was coming up with. This wasn't making any sense.

[hat_einen_vogel]

...On second thought, maybe he'd said too much.

Prussia had been trying to keep a low profile, pretend to be human until he busted out, but Klavier's questions were getting harder and harder to answer evasively.

"At some point," he echoed in agreement. "And of course they consider me an enemy; we were on opposite sides in the war."

He looked out the window, trying to figure out how he could explain this without really explaining it. Maybe he should just say what he was and leave it at that? It would certainly answer any questions Klavier had about his connections to governments. And Klavier was one of West's, so maybe...

"I had connections to the old government." Wait, that probably made it sound like... "Older governments," he amended. He turned back towards Klavier, crossing his arms and grinning defiantly. "I could tell you how, but you wouldn't believe me."

[rocksthecourt]

Oh heaven help them all, he was involved with German government. At the very least, he'd been involved at the time of World War II, though not in the way one may initially assume. He'd clarified he'd been involved in the government before the shift in control that led to the war. So that was it, then. He was part of the original government and after the war, the Allies wanted to establish a new system with new people entirely. That still didn't much clarify what Herr Gilbert's exact role in all this was.

And the other seemed perfectly content with this. He was now leaning back with a massive grin spread across his face and a subtle air of confrontation about him. My my, weren't we arrogant all of a sudden. What was with the abrupt cocky attitude? Feeling a sense of importance due to his occupation, perhaps, or was he simply enjoying the sight of Klavier floundering for answers that made sense? Haha, how annoying.

He spread a wide, almost playful smirk. "Herr Beilschmidt. You are already telling me you last remember a year eighty years in the past and that you somehow took part in the original German government. I would say that sounds fairly crazy in and of itself." One hand went through his hair and he met his companion's gaze. "But if we're already playing different tunes, we may as well go all the way, ja? Try me."

Why not? He'd call his challenge. As stated earlier, Klavier had been here far too long. He was certainly not stupid enough to swallow anything he was told, true, but he was a bit more open-minded than he had been when first arriving. Besides... whether or not the man was deliberately baiting him, Klavier supposed he could stand to hear the man out.

[hat_einen_vogel]

So Klavier was taking the challenge he'd laid, was he? Good. He had his doubts about whether he would be believed, of course, but since Klavier was at least willing to hear him out instead of meekly agree with Prussia's assessment, he would tell him.

"And you're telling me you last remember a year eighty years in the future and share a name with a piano," Prussia countered, not intending to make this easy, even if he was going to explain. Klavier wasn't the only one in a position where the other looked potentially crazy. "But very well."

"When I said I was 'from Prussia', I wasn't being entirely truthful. I wasn't lying, but I hadn't told you everything," he said, pride bubbling up within him. He'd had a good history-despite those times when he hadn't been sure that he'd scrape through to the end of the war (or even a battle), and despite the way the others had frowned upon his actions-and he was proud to call himself 'Prussia'. His cocky grin had settled into something nostalgic, as he thought back to the German Empire, to the Kingdom of Prussia, to his beloved Old Fritz, to long before that, when he hadn't yet called himself by that name. "I'm not just 'from' Prussia. I am Prussia."