[ 5 ] a thorn defends the rose, harming only those who would steal the blossom

[mostpopulous]

[China is not at home right now. He's off in Netherlands' house, paying back a favor to the Dutchman, and using that particular phone to communicate. The first thing he does - besides triple checking that his pistol is in perfect working order - is phone his house. Really, it's a shame that he's entirely unaware of his new not!daughter.]

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[armywithcountry]

[Knocking? What is knocking? Prussia barges in through the back door like a boss, kicking it open and heading towards the fridge.]

Hey, Netherlands! You got anything in here not laced with drugs? I swear my fake wife is trying to poison me or some shit, entire house smells like fucking smoke. Least you do that shit outside.

By the way, is Taiwan feeling any better? She was acting weird as hell yesterday.

[mostpopulous]

[Congratulations on giving China a mild heart attack, Prussia. He typically hasn't been keeping up with shenanigans outside of his own family, so your voice is anything but familiar to him. Proceeding to stay defensively in front of drone!Taiwan and draw his pistol, as well as reamin in the living room because dragging his sister's droned self toward a possibly dangerous stranger? Fuck that shit.]

Whoever you are, is not welcome in this house! Leave!

[armywithcountry]

[Guess who also isn't exactly up to date on anything outside of early 19th century Europe? Prussia whirls at the unfamiliar voice, drawing his own gun out as well. He storms into the living room, narrowing his eyes when he spots a strange man nearby Taiwan.]

Who the fuck are you? Are you trying to invade Netherland's house? Bring it on! I'll crush you!

[mostpopulous]

I was invited, did not have to kick down door. Is you who are dirty invader.

[China lets go of Taiwan's wrist in favor of wrapping an arm around her shoulder. He aims his gun squarely at Prussia.]

Am People's Republic of China, and am here to protect my sister.

[armywithcountry]

[Prussia brings his gun up as well and unsheathes his sword with his other hand.]

I've had a permanent invitation to this house since I've gotten here, because I'm fucking awesome. But I've never seen you around. I didn't realize Netherlands was on close relations with you, China. [There is clearly a great deal of disbelief in his voice.]

[He frowns and his gaze flickers to Taiwan.] Hey, Taiwan. You're being awfully quiet. This guy telling the truth, or he holding you hostage? I told you if you wanted to be independent, you're gonna have to learn how to fight.

[mostpopulous]

Life full of surprises, heya?

[The hand holding his gun doesn't waver; although he knows that it would be smarter to put it down, to instead pull out Netherlands' note, China just can't seem to. Prussia's gun is on him and his sword is out and China is nothing but not extra paranoid when he's in danger. Yet when Prussia addresses Taiwan, something soft and sad creeps into China's voice, into his eyes. For all that his sister can be a brat and for all the mutual animosity between them, China does love her, and he hates what this town has turned her into.]

She is droned.

[armywithcountry]

[Prussia keeps both weapons up - he's nowhere idiotic or trusting enough to lower his guard in front of an armed stranger - but he sucks in a startled breath at that last sentence.]

That's impossible - I thought that was only supposed to happen if you broke one of the stupid fucking rules in this shithole! She didn't do anything --

[But China's right, he already knows, has known it ever since Taiwan called him 'Gilbert', a name she should have never known. An expression of disgust crosses his face - he hadn't exactly been friends with her, Prussia didn't make friends often and certainly not after a week, and he'd regarded her infatuation with Japan as rather pathetic and weak . . . but she had been trying to change at the end there. Trying to get stronger, and to get droned for that . . .]

So those bastards are just after anyone now. Or anyone who tries to change, is that it? Arschlöcher.

[mostpopulous]

This place torture us for laughs. Perhaps no reasoning behind it at all.

[China's finger moves slowly away from the trigger- it's ready to slip back at any time if he must shoot, and the gun does not come down, but more and more is China slowly realizing that perhaps this is a misunderstanding. Yet he did not last for four thousand years by being reckless or naive. Caution, caution....

He sucks in a breath.]

Netherlands...he wanted me here to watch her. Maybe he's planning to break a rule or three himself.

[armywithcountry]

[Prussia notices China's finger slipping off the trigger. It's an opening that he'd normally instantly take advantage of - honor was for fools who wanted to lose - but attacking here would give him no reward, no advantage other than a corpse on the ground and a blank-eyed drone. He doesn't remove his own finger from the trigger - only a naive fool or Austria would blunder blindly into such a potential trap - but he does slowly, carefully sheath his blade, leaving it a few inches out in case he needed to grab it quickly. He only needs one weapon to take care of someone, anyway.]

Netherlands . . . so he's planning on fighting back, then. Ha! Knew I liked him for a reason. [He narrows his eyes.] But how do I know you're telling the truth and not, say, taking advantage of this to form a union with her the way that coward did with Vietnam?

[mostpopulous]

[He watches the blade return to its sheath - not all of it, but enough - and his breathing calms a little. Yes, all right, fair trade. Perhaps it's only because China is secure of the fact that he's in the right that he's willing to work toward easing the tensions in this house. Maybe it doesn't even matter: he's already been shot, already suffered the affront of death. While he doesn't want to experience it again, there's a difference in facing something down for the second time. His mouth quirks in honest disgust at Prussia's insinuation.]

Am not like Japan. Furthermore, have no need of unions. Only lead to trouble.

[He lets go of the polite, eternally smiling drone that was once his sister as if to prove this. He also removes Netherlands' note from his pocket - slow enough to let Prussia know that he's not making a grab for another weapon or something - and holds it out.]

Am here to protect family and repay a debt in one go. That is all.

[armywithcountry]

[Prussia's hand tightens instinctively on his gun when he sees China reach for his pocket, but he waits until the other nation pulls out a note. He cautiously reaches for it, never letting go of his weapon, and glances at it - that's definitely Netherland's handwriting. So China was telling the truth then. It's not enough for him to put the gun away completely, but he does finally take his finger off the trigger.]

Japan's a weakling. Almost as bad as Austria, I swear. I have no fucking idea why your sister likes him so much. And unions are only for countries who can't rely on themselves - being alone sure is the best!

[He doesn't ask what the debt is - it's none of his business and he's not really interested anyway, plus he's fairly certain China wouldn't tell him. Instead, he shifts his gaze over to Taiwan.]

Don't suppose there's any way to snap her out of it?

[mostpopulous]

He's made her be in his house until she not know up from down. Was always his way.

[A sneer and a glower and that's all he'll say about that. China slowly, very slowly, lowers his gun, although he doesn't holster it. He's beginning to sense that trying to pressure Prussia to back down first will get both of them nowhere, and by now he seriously doubts that the other country is here to do Taiwan harm. So he relents, now, because he can afford to and because that is probably the real secret to his survival- adaptation. He looks at his sister and frowns.]

No. Heard that the effect is supposed to end over time- how much, don't know.

[armywithcountry]

Ha. Sounds just like Austria. Too weak to fight for what he wants, he has to resort to useless words and unions and manipulation instead. Fucking cowards.

[Prussia watches China lower his gun, and the tension slowly seeps out of his body as he does the same. He's still on edge, still alert to any sign of attack, but if Netherlands trusted the guy enough to let him into his home and take care of his former colony, then holding him up at gunpoint probably wasn't necessary.]

If she's strong, she'll snap out of it. And if she doesn't, she will once I find whoever the boss of this place is and beat the shit out of him.

[mostpopulous]

[What can he say to that other than "I agree"? And those would be words he doesn't quite feel like wasting breath on. China puts one hand on the drone's shoulder and peers deep into that empty gaze, as if he's trying to find some shred of Taiwan. He shakes her once, gently, before releasing her.]

Heard man in charge of this place called the Mayor, and is backed by other named Grady. How long you been in town?

[He doesn't mention that these aforementioned individuals are elusive, dangerous, and probably invincible for all intents and purposes.]

[armywithcountry]

I've been hearing those names around too, but I haven't seen either of them around yet. Been here for about two weeks, which is two weeks too long if you ask me.