Untitled - (2/?)
anonymous
July 8 2009, 23:31:26 UTC
Ivan smiled a bright, creepy smile at the Baltics.
"I'll be right back," he told them happily, before slipping out of the room. They knew this meant they were to stay and wait for his return. Stay. Like always.
As soon as Ivan's footsteps faded, Raivis broke down and finally allowed the tears that had been threatening to escape throughout the Russian's whole talk slip down his cheeks unheeded.
Eduard sighed and, once he was absolutely sure Ivan was gone, for this moment at least, wrapped his arms around his younger brother and held him close, allowing him to cry into the front of his shirt.
"Raivis..." he murmured. "I know you're scared. But we can get through this. We have before. You can't let him see you crying. Remember what he did last time he saw you crying when he was going to deliver a punishment?"
Raivis's crying only intensified, though he knew his older brother was right. He couldn't break down now. Not before the punishment had even started. If he cried during it, it would be fine. Ivan expected that. But he couldn't cry before. His punishment would only be worse, because Ivan would think that his tears were a weakness that needed to be beaten out of him. Ivan was a man of contradictions, calling them his children one moment and expecting them to have the bravery of fully grown men the next. And if they somehow didn't manage to meet these strange and impossible contradictions, it would only result in more pain. So despite the impossibility, they had to try.
Eduard gently stroked Raivis's hair back as his brother attempted to get his sobbing under control. Though he sounded cool and collected as always, Eduard felt like breaking down crying too. He was sure the only reason he hadn't yet was because he knew that in Toris's absence, he had to be the big brother. The strong one. Toris was always the strong one, always comforting them after beatings, helping them bandage their wounds, if there was even any bandages available. And he always worked so much harder than either of the other two, worked himself to the breaking point, so he would remain the favorite. Because the favorite was the one who would always receive Ivan's visits, the ones he paid in the middle of the night, and though Eduard and Raivis had both received these visits themselves on numerous occasions, Toris was the Russian's main toy. Toris had always made sure of that, in a feeble attempt to protect his brothers as much as he could while they lived with a madman.
"Raivis. You need to stop crying now. I think I hear him coming back," whispered Eduard, heart hammering in his chest. He wasn't sure what Ivan would do if he saw him comforting the little Latvian, but he knew it wouldn't be good. So he released his brother, and Raivis hurriedly wiped at his tears, and the sight of how hard he was trying, trying to be strong, nearly broke Eduard's heart.
"Eduard. Raivis," they heard the Russian croon as the stepped back inside the room. "Come with me," he said, and the two had no choice but to follow him out of the room and down the stairs.
Untitled - (3/?)
anonymous
July 9 2009, 01:14:22 UTC
'No...' thought Eduard, a sick feeling in his stomach as he realized where they were being led. 'He wouldn't...he wouldn't do that...not to us...it's not our fault Toris left. Hurting us won't bring him back. Does he not see that?'
Apparently Ivan either did not see that, or didn't care, because for all of Eduard's silent pleadings and prayers, the two Baltics were lead inexorably downstairs, to the basement.
The basement.
It was a place that held all the terror in the world for the Baltic brothers. It was where Ivan carried out his worst punishments. Eduard and Raivis were quite familiar with the place, though not nearly as familiar as Toris, who for quite a while may as well have called the basement home, considering how often he was down there. To have Ivan tell you to go to the basement...it was like hearing a death sentence. Except of course, he wouldn't kill them. No, Ivan still needed the Baltics. He wouldn't just do away with them like that. It would be a waste. Why kill them when you can keep them around, to clean the house, cook the food, warm the bed? 'No,' thought Eduard bitterly. 'He wouldn't like that. He likes having us around, having us live in fear. It's fun for him, the sick bastard...that's why he's so upset Toris is gone.'
Ivan grinned merrily as he led the Baltics downstairs and into the basement. There was a heavy iron door leading into the main basement room, and he stood aside, gesturing Eduard and Raivis to enter ahead of him. They did so reluctantly, and Ivan entered and shut and locked the door behind him. 'Can't risk them escaping!' thought the Russian, smiling.
As the lock clicked shut, a feeling of despair settled over the room. Raivis looked like he was going to have some sort of fit, he was shaking so much. Eduard knew there was no point in asking, but he had to try. He had to attempt to protect Raivis, as Toris would if he were here.
"Sir...please, don't subject Raivis to this too. He's just a kid...this kind of, er...discipline, it won't help him. And look, he's shaking so hard...he's terrified," he said, not about to lie, "J-Just...just hurt me, instead...please, sir..."
Ivan turned to the Estonian and stared at him for a long moment, violet eyes studying him intently, making Eduard want to look anywhere but at the Russian.
"Eduard..." he began slowly, tones honey-coated. "Is it my imagination...or are you presuming you know the art of discipline better than I?"
Eduard's heart gave a frantic leap in his chest.
"N-No, sir! Not...not that, no! I would nev-" he was cut off by a strong hand at his throat, cutting off his breath, the force from which pressed him to the wall behind him.
"Than I suggest you remain silent," said Ivan coldly, face right in front of Eduard's. "As a reward for your insubordination, Raivis will be going first," he said with a cruel smile.
Raivis turned a shade paler, if it were possible, and Eduard hadn't thought someone could shake so hard. Eduard looked at Raivis, silently trying to apologize. But the Latvian was too nervous to even take notice of his brother.
When the Russian released him, Eduard took in a deep breath and massaged his bruised neck. He wanted to stick up for Raivis, try to stop this madness, but he knew the only thing that would happen if he were to speak up again would be more punishment for his brother. Ivan knew that was the best way to hurt the brothers, making them see each other get hurt. This wasn't the first time he'd done this, and Eduard knew it wouldn't be the last. But usually Toris was here, to at least convince him to allow him to go first. The Lithuanian would take the brunt of the punishment, because once Ivan was done with one of them, he would be kind of tired, and he might not hit the second as hard.
Untitled - (4/?)
anonymous
July 9 2009, 02:33:04 UTC
Ivan crossed the room, boots making an ominous and strangely authoritive sound against the cement floor. There was a strong leather whip on the wall, and he went and, before grabbing it, took his gloves off, slowly, finger by finger, just to prolong the waiting, and therefore the mental anguish, of the Baltic boys. When he grabbed it, he held it in his hand, enjoying the feeling of the cool leather beneath his fingers. Yes, this would do good. This would do just fine.
He went back across the room.
"Raivis. On the ground, on your knees," he commanded, and the Latvian boy felt the tears spring once again to his eyes.
"P-P-Please, sir...don-" he began, speaking for the first time in the Russian's presence this day.
"Now," commanded Ivan, and his smile slipped a bit, showing his displeasure. And Raivis knew better than to disobey. He fell to his knees, barely feeling the impact, though his knees did hurt on the cement. He anticipated the Russian's next order and brought his hands to the shirt of his uniform and began unbuttoning it without being told to do so. He knew there was no way Ivan would allow him to take his beatings with a barrier in the way. The Russian liked to see the whip cracking against the boys' skin, liked to see the blood that streamed from the wounds. That was the best part for him. He wouldn't let Raivis deny him that.
Ivan seemed pleased that Raivis was taking the initiative, and his smile returned to full force. He turned to Eduard, grinning.
"Sit down, against the wall," he ordered in a cheerful tone. "Just relax. It'll be your turn soon enough. But not if you interfere," he said, as though reading Eduard's mind, and maybe he was, because that was exactly what the Estonian had been thinking at that moment. "If you interfere, Raivis's turn will stretch on, and on..."
Eduard felt a wave of despair wash over him. Then there was nothing he could do. If he tried to help, Ivan would just hurt Raivis more. And Eduard couldn't be the cause of that...he just couldn't. It was already his fault Raivis was going first...the least he could do was cooperate and hope his brother's turn would be over soon.
"I'm sorry, Raivis..." he murmured softly without noticing he'd spoke. When he realized, he slapped his hand over his mouth and hoped against hope Ivan either hadn't heard or wouldn't care.
And luck, in this small thing, was on his side. If the Russian had heard (and Ivan heard everything), he was too distracted by his anticipation of whipping Raivis's already scarred back. When Raivis finished pulling his shirt off, he set it down beside himself and leaned forward, so he was on his hands as well as his knees. Once again, the Russian hadn't needed to tell him. The Latvian boy knew the force from the whip would knock him like this anyway, and he figured he may as well just go ahead and get into this position beforehand.
Ivan took a slow walk around Raivis. He circled the boy once, keeping his eyes on him, making sure to remember the beautiful sight as it was. Though he had done this to the Latvian before, it never got old, and he liked to keep fresh memories of things like this, especially with his cute little Raivis. The small boy was so adorable. Though he wasn't his favorite, he still loved seeing him like this, on the ground, prostrate, waiting for the lash of his whip to absolve him of his sins.
Untitled - (4.5/?)
anonymous
July 9 2009, 02:46:24 UTC
When he finally circled all the way around the boy, coming back behind him, he brought the whip forward with no preamble, and it lashed against the Latvian's back, a red welt appearing instantly across the scarred, but still nice and smooth in certain parts, skin. Raivis screamed out in surprise and pain. No matter how many times you went through something like this, you never properly remembered the pain until it happened again.
'But,' supposed Eduard, head hung, eyes closed tightly, "It's probably a good thing he didn't remember...he would have been even more scared as we were walking down here. He might have fainted, and then Ivan would be even more displeased...'
The Russian waited after the first lash of the whip for the Latvian's loud cries to dissolve into quiet sobs. He then brought it down again, and once more, in quick succession, and then the screams were back.
Eduard resisted the horribly selfish urge to cover his ears. He knew he wouldn't think so when it was his turn, but right now, it seemed almost worse to be hearing this. To be hearing his little brother's screams of agony and have to live with the knowledge that there was nothing he could do to help him.
Re: Untitled - (4.5/?)
anonymous
July 9 2009, 04:36:33 UTC
I feel terrible for F5ing right now, But I've wanted to see this one filled for a long time, since Eduard and Raivis are kind of forgotten most of the time, thanks anon~ I'll be waiting for more. And I think your crazy!Russia is great.
Why thank you! :D I'm glad you like him. I wasn't so sure I was making the crazy apparent enough, as opposed to an almost...sanebutsadistic!Russia. I'm glad the crazy is getting through. :)
I'm glad you like it. : ) I'm still not too confident in my characterization of him yet. I've always seen him as the calmest, most collected one of the Baltics, though. But I will keep that in mind.
Re: author!anon
anonymous
July 10 2009, 07:04:25 UTC
I disagree with previous anon; I'm enjoying your voice for him. The only time he seems shakey is when freaking out about a dead/dying Latvia. Otherwise the IT & tourist friendly Estonia is pretty level headed & smart; he'd try to find a way to minimize impending doom. Liet would take on the doom like a total martyr & Latvia would shake himself into a coma, managing to avoid it in his own special way ^^;.
Loving this fic even though its gonna be a painful one- hang in there forgotten Baltics ;_;v
Re: author!anon
anonymous
July 10 2009, 08:41:03 UTC
I guess Eduard is somewhere in the middle between Raivis and Toris, as far as shaking is concerned. At the one hand, he's not constantly shaking, but... well, all brothers tend to shake around Russia in most of the strips, and Eduard shakes more than Toris.
... but except for that, I love this characterization very much, and yes. Latvia often got worse conditions when he got occupied than Estonia, although they were in the same situation, just because they were a little late or early or just didn't handle the diplomatic stuff as well as their neighbours. [Although it's always hard to speak of lat and est before 1918, but those parts of the region that I assume to be them.]
Ahaha, yes, I almost hated Russia too when I first read some fics like this, with his whole sadistic!Russia thing going on. But I can't help but love him, through it all. xD I'm glad it was horrifying enough. I was sure hoping it would be horrifying, but I'm not sure I'm all too good at that. D:
Thanks everyone for the comments! :D They make me happy. More of this will be coming soon, as soon as I get it written. Maybe a new part today, but if not, definately tomorrow.
Untitled - (5/?)
anonymous
July 9 2009, 21:55:17 UTC
A while later, 'Far too long later,' thought Eduard, whereas Raivis was so full of pain he couldn't form coherent thoughts at all, Ivan seemed to get the idea that perhaps the Latvian boy had been hurt enough, had learned his lesson. The beating stopped, and Ivan stood for a moment, staring at the boy curled up, sobbing in pain, on the floor in front of him, with an expression of childlike wonder. Though Ivan of all people knew better than anyone what happened when people were beat, it was always so interesting for him to see the blood coming out of the lash-wounds, so intriguing that such a thing would happen.
"Little Raivis has learned his lesson, right?" he cooed. "No more bad thoughts?"
Raivis, though he wanted nothing more than to just pass out and sleep for the next year, knew that as much pain as he was in, it could be worse. It could always be worse, with Ivan. And he knew that if he didn't answer, the Russian would take that to mean that no, he hadn't learned his lesson, and that would equate in his insane mind to Raivis needing more beatings.
"Y-yes...sir..." he managed, every syllable pain-laced. God, it hurt just to talk. His back felt like it was on fire. Ivan had not held back this time; apparently he was really upset about Toris. 'Good for Toris,' thought Raivis, taking what small revenge on the Russian he could just by being happy for his brother. 'Managed to escape this hellhole. He deserves it, too. He's had to put up with so much more shit from this guy than me or Eduard...'
Eduard...
Aw, shit...now it was going to be his brother's turn. And Raivis knew he'd be forced to stay and watch, just as Eduard had been forced to watch his punishment. There was something inherently disturbing about seeing your older brother have something like that happen to him. He'd grown used to it happening to Toris; he hated it, but it was so commonplace when the Lithuanian lived with them that it just suck into the background of his life. But Eduard, through his quick words and usefulness in other areas of life, such as doing the Russian's paperwork, had normally managed to avoid these sorts of punishments. He had been beat before, but his beatings were fewer and further between than Toris's or Raivis's. So Raivis, who, though he'd been forced to grow up fast under the Russian's roof, was still just a kid on the inside, had always unconsciously almost deified the middle Baltic brother. Stuff like that couldn't happen to Eduard. He was Eduard. It just...didn't happen. Couldn't. If something like that could happen to Eduard, than...
Well, it wasn't really a fully formed idea. He wasn't even conscious of the fact that he had it. Only that the idea of Eduard being beaten disturbed him further than just his natural worry for his brother's well being.
Suddenly, breaking him out of his reverie and snapping him back to harsh reality, Ivan clapped his hands once, loudly, startlingly.
"Eduard. Come here. It's your turn. On the floor, like Raivis was. Raivis, you move back by the wall," he ordered briskly.
Eduard stood and, with shadowed eyes, came over and stood in front of his brother, who was struggling to get up. He'd made it back onto his knees, but it didn't look as though the Latvian boy was going to be able to manage more than that.
"S-Sir...can I help him? He can't make it on his own..." murmured Eduard, worried for his brother. He didn't want to see him struggling like this. It was upsetting. It made him sad, even more so than he'd already been.
Ivan appeared to consider this for a moment, then shook his head.
"No Eduard, this is part of his punishment. He must move on his own. You may clean him up later, if you are up to it," he said magnanimously, as though this were the kindest offer in the world. And Eduard supposed he should be grateful just for that, for it was a leniency the Russian didn't always give.
"I'll be right back," he told them happily, before slipping out of the room. They knew this meant they were to stay and wait for his return. Stay. Like always.
As soon as Ivan's footsteps faded, Raivis broke down and finally allowed the tears that had been threatening to escape throughout the Russian's whole talk slip down his cheeks unheeded.
Eduard sighed and, once he was absolutely sure Ivan was gone, for this moment at least, wrapped his arms around his younger brother and held him close, allowing him to cry into the front of his shirt.
"Raivis..." he murmured. "I know you're scared. But we can get through this. We have before. You can't let him see you crying. Remember what he did last time he saw you crying when he was going to deliver a punishment?"
Raivis's crying only intensified, though he knew his older brother was right. He couldn't break down now. Not before the punishment had even started. If he cried during it, it would be fine. Ivan expected that. But he couldn't cry before. His punishment would only be worse, because Ivan would think that his tears were a weakness that needed to be beaten out of him. Ivan was a man of contradictions, calling them his children one moment and expecting them to have the bravery of fully grown men the next. And if they somehow didn't manage to meet these strange and impossible contradictions, it would only result in more pain. So despite the impossibility, they had to try.
Eduard gently stroked Raivis's hair back as his brother attempted to get his sobbing under control. Though he sounded cool and collected as always, Eduard felt like breaking down crying too. He was sure the only reason he hadn't yet was because he knew that in Toris's absence, he had to be the big brother. The strong one. Toris was always the strong one, always comforting them after beatings, helping them bandage their wounds, if there was even any bandages available. And he always worked so much harder than either of the other two, worked himself to the breaking point, so he would remain the favorite. Because the favorite was the one who would always receive Ivan's visits, the ones he paid in the middle of the night, and though Eduard and Raivis had both received these visits themselves on numerous occasions, Toris was the Russian's main toy. Toris had always made sure of that, in a feeble attempt to protect his brothers as much as he could while they lived with a madman.
"Raivis. You need to stop crying now. I think I hear him coming back," whispered Eduard, heart hammering in his chest. He wasn't sure what Ivan would do if he saw him comforting the little Latvian, but he knew it wouldn't be good. So he released his brother, and Raivis hurriedly wiped at his tears, and the sight of how hard he was trying, trying to be strong, nearly broke Eduard's heart.
"Eduard. Raivis," they heard the Russian croon as the stepped back inside the room. "Come with me," he said, and the two had no choice but to follow him out of the room and down the stairs.
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Apparently Ivan either did not see that, or didn't care, because for all of Eduard's silent pleadings and prayers, the two Baltics were lead inexorably downstairs, to the basement.
The basement.
It was a place that held all the terror in the world for the Baltic brothers. It was where Ivan carried out his worst punishments. Eduard and Raivis were quite familiar with the place, though not nearly as familiar as Toris, who for quite a while may as well have called the basement home, considering how often he was down there. To have Ivan tell you to go to the basement...it was like hearing a death sentence. Except of course, he wouldn't kill them. No, Ivan still needed the Baltics. He wouldn't just do away with them like that. It would be a waste. Why kill them when you can keep them around, to clean the house, cook the food, warm the bed? 'No,' thought Eduard bitterly. 'He wouldn't like that. He likes having us around, having us live in fear. It's fun for him, the sick bastard...that's why he's so upset Toris is gone.'
Ivan grinned merrily as he led the Baltics downstairs and into the basement. There was a heavy iron door leading into the main basement room, and he stood aside, gesturing Eduard and Raivis to enter ahead of him. They did so reluctantly, and Ivan entered and shut and locked the door behind him. 'Can't risk them escaping!' thought the Russian, smiling.
As the lock clicked shut, a feeling of despair settled over the room. Raivis looked like he was going to have some sort of fit, he was shaking so much. Eduard knew there was no point in asking, but he had to try. He had to attempt to protect Raivis, as Toris would if he were here.
"Sir...please, don't subject Raivis to this too. He's just a kid...this kind of, er...discipline, it won't help him. And look, he's shaking so hard...he's terrified," he said, not about to lie, "J-Just...just hurt me, instead...please, sir..."
Ivan turned to the Estonian and stared at him for a long moment, violet eyes studying him intently, making Eduard want to look anywhere but at the Russian.
"Eduard..." he began slowly, tones honey-coated. "Is it my imagination...or are you presuming you know the art of discipline better than I?"
Eduard's heart gave a frantic leap in his chest.
"N-No, sir! Not...not that, no! I would nev-" he was cut off by a strong hand at his throat, cutting off his breath, the force from which pressed him to the wall behind him.
"Than I suggest you remain silent," said Ivan coldly, face right in front of Eduard's. "As a reward for your insubordination, Raivis will be going first," he said with a cruel smile.
Raivis turned a shade paler, if it were possible, and Eduard hadn't thought someone could shake so hard. Eduard looked at Raivis, silently trying to apologize. But the Latvian was too nervous to even take notice of his brother.
When the Russian released him, Eduard took in a deep breath and massaged his bruised neck. He wanted to stick up for Raivis, try to stop this madness, but he knew the only thing that would happen if he were to speak up again would be more punishment for his brother. Ivan knew that was the best way to hurt the brothers, making them see each other get hurt. This wasn't the first time he'd done this, and Eduard knew it wouldn't be the last. But usually Toris was here, to at least convince him to allow him to go first. The Lithuanian would take the brunt of the punishment, because once Ivan was done with one of them, he would be kind of tired, and he might not hit the second as hard.
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MOREMOREMOREMOREMOREMOREMORE.
(Yes. This anon knows she can just IM this author!anon... However...)
F5!!!!!!!!! D:
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More should be up tonight, if I finish the next part.
And just so everyone knows, I know the request called for sex. It's gonna happen. Maybe not in the next part. But it will, be assured. :)
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He went back across the room.
"Raivis. On the ground, on your knees," he commanded, and the Latvian boy felt the tears spring once again to his eyes.
"P-P-Please, sir...don-" he began, speaking for the first time in the Russian's presence this day.
"Now," commanded Ivan, and his smile slipped a bit, showing his displeasure. And Raivis knew better than to disobey. He fell to his knees, barely feeling the impact, though his knees did hurt on the cement. He anticipated the Russian's next order and brought his hands to the shirt of his uniform and began unbuttoning it without being told to do so. He knew there was no way Ivan would allow him to take his beatings with a barrier in the way. The Russian liked to see the whip cracking against the boys' skin, liked to see the blood that streamed from the wounds. That was the best part for him. He wouldn't let Raivis deny him that.
Ivan seemed pleased that Raivis was taking the initiative, and his smile returned to full force. He turned to Eduard, grinning.
"Sit down, against the wall," he ordered in a cheerful tone. "Just relax. It'll be your turn soon enough. But not if you interfere," he said, as though reading Eduard's mind, and maybe he was, because that was exactly what the Estonian had been thinking at that moment. "If you interfere, Raivis's turn will stretch on, and on..."
Eduard felt a wave of despair wash over him. Then there was nothing he could do. If he tried to help, Ivan would just hurt Raivis more. And Eduard couldn't be the cause of that...he just couldn't. It was already his fault Raivis was going first...the least he could do was cooperate and hope his brother's turn would be over soon.
"I'm sorry, Raivis..." he murmured softly without noticing he'd spoke. When he realized, he slapped his hand over his mouth and hoped against hope Ivan either hadn't heard or wouldn't care.
And luck, in this small thing, was on his side. If the Russian had heard (and Ivan heard everything), he was too distracted by his anticipation of whipping Raivis's already scarred back. When Raivis finished pulling his shirt off, he set it down beside himself and leaned forward, so he was on his hands as well as his knees. Once again, the Russian hadn't needed to tell him. The Latvian boy knew the force from the whip would knock him like this anyway, and he figured he may as well just go ahead and get into this position beforehand.
Ivan took a slow walk around Raivis. He circled the boy once, keeping his eyes on him, making sure to remember the beautiful sight as it was. Though he had done this to the Latvian before, it never got old, and he liked to keep fresh memories of things like this, especially with his cute little Raivis. The small boy was so adorable. Though he wasn't his favorite, he still loved seeing him like this, on the ground, prostrate, waiting for the lash of his whip to absolve him of his sins.
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'But,' supposed Eduard, head hung, eyes closed tightly, "It's probably a good thing he didn't remember...he would have been even more scared as we were walking down here. He might have fainted, and then Ivan would be even more displeased...'
The Russian waited after the first lash of the whip for the Latvian's loud cries to dissolve into quiet sobs. He then brought it down again, and once more, in quick succession, and then the screams were back.
Eduard resisted the horribly selfish urge to cover his ears. He knew he wouldn't think so when it was his turn, but right now, it seemed almost worse to be hearing this. To be hearing his little brother's screams of agony and have to live with the knowledge that there was nothing he could do to help him.
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...Although he always seems a bit more shaky to me oO
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Loving this fic even though its gonna be a painful one- hang in there forgotten Baltics ;_;v
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... but except for that, I love this characterization very much, and yes. Latvia often got worse conditions when he got occupied than Estonia, although they were in the same situation, just because they were a little late or early or just didn't handle the diplomatic stuff as well as their neighbours. [Although it's always hard to speak of lat and est before 1918, but those parts of the region that I assume to be them.]
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anyway great story, that's what i call horror. D:
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"Little Raivis has learned his lesson, right?" he cooed. "No more bad thoughts?"
Raivis, though he wanted nothing more than to just pass out and sleep for the next year, knew that as much pain as he was in, it could be worse. It could always be worse, with Ivan. And he knew that if he didn't answer, the Russian would take that to mean that no, he hadn't learned his lesson, and that would equate in his insane mind to Raivis needing more beatings.
"Y-yes...sir..." he managed, every syllable pain-laced. God, it hurt just to talk. His back felt like it was on fire. Ivan had not held back this time; apparently he was really upset about Toris. 'Good for Toris,' thought Raivis, taking what small revenge on the Russian he could just by being happy for his brother. 'Managed to escape this hellhole. He deserves it, too. He's had to put up with so much more shit from this guy than me or Eduard...'
Eduard...
Aw, shit...now it was going to be his brother's turn. And Raivis knew he'd be forced to stay and watch, just as Eduard had been forced to watch his punishment. There was something inherently disturbing about seeing your older brother have something like that happen to him. He'd grown used to it happening to Toris; he hated it, but it was so commonplace when the Lithuanian lived with them that it just suck into the background of his life. But Eduard, through his quick words and usefulness in other areas of life, such as doing the Russian's paperwork, had normally managed to avoid these sorts of punishments. He had been beat before, but his beatings were fewer and further between than Toris's or Raivis's. So Raivis, who, though he'd been forced to grow up fast under the Russian's roof, was still just a kid on the inside, had always unconsciously almost deified the middle Baltic brother. Stuff like that couldn't happen to Eduard. He was Eduard. It just...didn't happen. Couldn't. If something like that could happen to Eduard, than...
Well, it wasn't really a fully formed idea. He wasn't even conscious of the fact that he had it. Only that the idea of Eduard being beaten disturbed him further than just his natural worry for his brother's well being.
Suddenly, breaking him out of his reverie and snapping him back to harsh reality, Ivan clapped his hands once, loudly, startlingly.
"Eduard. Come here. It's your turn. On the floor, like Raivis was. Raivis, you move back by the wall," he ordered briskly.
Eduard stood and, with shadowed eyes, came over and stood in front of his brother, who was struggling to get up. He'd made it back onto his knees, but it didn't look as though the Latvian boy was going to be able to manage more than that.
"S-Sir...can I help him? He can't make it on his own..." murmured Eduard, worried for his brother. He didn't want to see him struggling like this. It was upsetting. It made him sad, even more so than he'd already been.
Ivan appeared to consider this for a moment, then shook his head.
"No Eduard, this is part of his punishment. He must move on his own. You may clean him up later, if you are up to it," he said magnanimously, as though this were the kindest offer in the world. And Eduard supposed he should be grateful just for that, for it was a leniency the Russian didn't always give.
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