[Action]

[bewaeltigung]

Throughout the area, in one of the neighborhoods, you could hear hammers and saws. In the streets the sound seemed to echo but anyone determined enough to follow it would find a rather nice looking but rundown house. Germany was standing outside, shirt off, sweaty, working on some boards to add to the inside of the house

Comments

[morethanpasta]

[Lots of work to be done? Too few pairs of hands to get it done? Not the kind of environment Feliciano enjoys, but he is a faithful friend and he had promised. So when he walks by to see Ludwig working on the house, he doesn't run the other way as his laziness commands him to do. No, he approaches, determined to be helpful... or keep Ludwig from work, as is more likely.]

You're working very hard! Are you hungry? I promised to make pasta.

[morethanpasta]

[That bright smile slips a bit. Well, it had been too much to hope for that Ludwig would simply drop the matter and concentrate on the bright sides of life. He's never been good at that, unlike Feli.]

I'm not mad that you worry for me, it's sweet. [He smiles softly, a fond, genuine smile.] But you don't need to. I'm fine. I'm not saying that there's nothing to worry about, but... [He approaches him, coming to a stop right in front of Ludwig and takes his hand in his own.] I'm stronger than I look.

[bewaeltigung]

[Baby steps, Feli, baby steps]

I don't like ze double standard...

[he was surprised then, as is evident by the slightest of blushes on his cheeks. Last week or so the hand holding would have been ordinary or maybe annoying, but now it got his heart to jump]

[morethanpasta]

[He laughs again and shakes his head in fond amusement. Feli is vaguely aware of the blush on Ludwig's cheeks, but doesn't give it any further thought. He would be embarrassed by Feli holding his hand and getting him to talk about his feelings, that's nothing out of the ordinary.]

Of course you do! That's because you are you. You always overthink everything. But... I suppose it's alright if you worry over me and I worry about you. We'll take care of another, just like we did back home!

[Well, it'd mostly been Ludwig taking care of him back home, of course, but he likes to think that he did his share, too. Ludwig would have worked himself into an early grave if he hadn't had anyone to stop him.]

[bewaeltigung]

[He'd continue to take care of him. Feli was the only friend he really had. There was bruder and Japan but Japan was so vague and Gil was...annoying sometimes]

Ja... like...

nevermind zat. Vhat do you mean? I don't oversink sings!

[morethanpasta]

Ve! [Yeah. You don't overthink things and Feli's favorite food is wurst. Not impressed. Try again. Feli attempts to convey just how unimpressed he is with a pointed look and a scoff, but tact has never been his strength.] Do too! [He pokes him in the chest with his forefinger.]

[bewaeltigung]

[he frowns a bit, but doesn't say much]

I don't...but...

hm. [he is not getting in a 'do not' 'do too' war with you]

[morethanpasta]

[Well, that's a damn shame. Feliciano happens to enjoy 'do not' 'do too' wars. He pouts. It would have been too much to hope for. But that setback isn't going to discourage him.]

It's alright if you can't admit it yet, you've got me to take care of you!

[He's smiling as brightly as ever, his tone is light and cheerful, but oh, Feliciano is serious. He hadn't there to take care of his Holy Roman when he needed him the most, but that's a mistake he wouldn't repeat.]

[bewaeltigung]

Huh?

[You? Take care of HIM? How? He didn't remember any time when you weren't a helpless child when it really counted. But he appreciated the sentiment]

It's just pasta, Feliciano. [Still. There was a fondness from within him, a very old fondness that he was slowly discovering]

[morethanpasta]

[Feliciano's bright smile dims. Ludwig doesn't understand. But he supposes that it's alright. He can be patient when it truly matters.]

Of course, Ludwig, it's just pasta.

[Pasta which is just about ready to be cooked, so Feli returns his attention to cooking for the moment. He raises the heat until the large pot of water is boiling, then he starts to drop the dough into it. As he works, he hums the tune of an old song, one of these songs he used to sing already as a child.]

1/?

[bewaeltigung]

[Oh your smile changed...he couldn't tell you how it did but he knew it did. He wasn't a master at reading peoples' expressions. He didn't witness too many in his life. And most of his socialization was lost after his amnesia]

....

[That.... song....He listens for a while. It was nice]

2/?

[bewaeltigung]

3/? I'll try to consolidate here

[bewaeltigung]

Done!

[bewaeltigung]

[morethanpasta]

[Lost in the singing and cooking, he forgets everything, including his company. Ludwig's sudden loud exclamation startles Feli so badly, he drops the spoon with a squeak and whirls around, wide, fearful eyes searching for the threat Ludwig is yelling about.

It takes a moment for the words to sink in, but when they do, he just keeps staring, all the more wide-eyed. It's impossible to pinpoint all the different emotions warring for attention, his heart is beating too wildly to make sense of it, but a deligted smile is slowly tugging his lips upwards.]

Ve?

[bewaeltigung]

Za song... you used to sing it as a child... I remember.

[He was so overcome with his discovery he didn't exactly remember the volume control. He reeled the excitement back at the sight of Felicano's reaction]

Ah, sorry.