History Lesson

[hammerofhell]

The move in had gone smoothly enough, and Hans was beginning to spend more and more time at Ali's--their--home.  Spending time with the children, telling stories, sitting through teaparties, looking at bugs, helping to build model planes, and all manner of other activities, as well as making plenty of time to spend with his beloved

Comments

[vicioussweetie]

Definitely the point of no return--but that doesn't mean it can't be wrapped in a pretty package. Which is (maybe?) why Ali's decided to out-sexy-librarian certain Republicans before inviting Hans and Samus to a little history lesson (complete with props [like chalk boards, get your mind out of the gutter]). The question is whether they can concentrate with her dressed like that...

[onemorebounty]

*Ali could out-sexy-librarian those unnamed parties in an Easter bunny costume, but that isn't really the point. With some inkling of what's coming, she's come at least in part to lend moral support.*

[hammerofhell]

Well now, that just might make it difficult to concentrate, although she hardly need dress up to have that effect on him.

"So," he says, "where are we to begin?"

[vicioussweetie]

Ali smiles at them both, then points to their seats. "Sit down, and make yourselves comfortable. This is going to take a while. How long depends on what year you want to start in."

[onemorebounty]

*Samus takes her seat with a nod.*

Whenever Hans would like to start; I can pick up the rest another time, I'm sure.

[hammerofhell]

"A difficult question, to be certain," Hans agrees. "But perhaps best to start sooner rather than later. I know the war will not be won by my side, that much has become quite clear."

[vicioussweetie]

Ali nods without comment, and turns to start writing on the board. She'd known he'd want to know this--but why did she have to be the one to tell him?

But she won't keep it from him. A timeline starts to form on the board: 1918 (World War I): Armistice--1919: Treaty of Versailles--1920s: The end of WWI; the rise of the Third Reich--1930-1940s: World War II.

She suspects they can tackle Communism on another day.

[onemorebounty]

*Because she cares enough to tell him gently? Samus' attention is mostly on Ali, although she scratches the occasional note into a datapad as the lesson progresses.*

[hammerofhell]

Hans takes a few notes of his own as well, careful and deliberate script, albeit in English (he'd been making it a point to practice using it first before German).

"Another War? Madness. Did they learn nothing?"

[vicioussweetie]

Ali very carefully and deliberately puts down her chalk and wipes the dust from her hands before turning to look at her "students".

"I'm sorry, my love, but they still haven't."

[onemorebounty]

*Samus reaches over, squeezing Hans' hand gently.*

Need a break?

[hammerofhell]

Hans returns the squeeze but shakes his head. "No, no. I shall be fine. Please, continue."

[vicioussweetie]

"If you're sure."

Ali waits a moment to make sure Hans doesn't want to change his mind before diving in...to a sidestep: the Treaty of Versailles. There's a short lecture, and a handout, and pauses whenever Hans seems to want or need such.

[onemorebounty]

*Reading the handout, Samus scoffs.*

I'd have gone to war over this, too. This isn't a treaty, it's a contract for slavery. Honestly, no one saw a violent reaction to this coming?

[hammerofhell]

As Hans listens and reads, his expression grows increasingly more grim and one can practically hear the kettle whistling as things come to a boil in his mind.

"This? This is pure garbage! This and the verdammt idiots who came up with it should be strung from the highest tree and left to..."

He stops, when he realizes how loud he was become and that he is fuming. "Forgive me..."

[vicioussweetie]

Ali sits beside Hans when she sees his expression darken, and her reaction to his outburst is to wrap her arms around him and nuzzle his shoulder until she feels his heartbeat slow.

"There's nothing to forgive. I agree. The treaty is horrible. And not everyone signed it, Samus; the United States declined, even though they were represented at the negotiations."