completelycrazy | week 2 - prussia - friday post-investigation

[Newt was feeling alright during today's investigation. Someone is dead, yes, and that sucks... That sucks a lot, but at least they didn't have to do another pieces-parts scavenger hunt this time. His group only found a knife this time. It also wasn't someone he knew. So far, he's had the good fortune of not being close to anyone who's died. Is that selfish? Hell yes. But sidestepping the mourning means he can think more clearly. The island will benefit from that.

But... Austria. God. What the hell is he supposed to do with that? She's not even dead yet, just... on a timer. That's somehow worse. He can't imagine how she's feeling right now. Prussia, too. Those two are close, right? Newt hasn't really been able to get a read on their relationship, but they remind him a bit of himself and Hermann. They piss each other off constantly, sure, but if Hermann was stuck here with him and suddenly got sentenced to death for no reason, he'd be... Well, he doesn't want to think about that.

If nothing else, Austria and Prussia came here together, so as soon as he has a free moment after the investigation, he sets out to track down Prussia and, uh... Give her a shoulder to cry on? Or something? He's not sure what his plan is, but he doesn't want her to be alone right now.

He eventually finds her on the beach. He joins her quietly, nudging her arm with his in what he hopes is a comforting gesture. He's trying. He doesn't know what to do here.]

Hey.

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[DING DONG ANOTHER BODY HAS BEEN DISCOVERED.

She laughs at his question, a little too loudly, even for her, to be natural.]

'Course! That Joshua kid was a pain in the ass. Anybody would've known he'd be the first to go!!

[There goes another rock. Byeonara.]

Who'd he piss off the most? Maybe we can figure out who set him on fire!!

Yeah... I never got around to talking to him much, to be honest.

[Newt laughs a little, though it's mostly just him being awkward. He roots around for another rock but finds a seashell instead. He turns it over in his hands to distract himself.]

But, Prussia, come on. You know that's not why I'm asking.

Good. You didn't miss anything.

[Where are all her rocks?? She has to go get more. Except she's too tired to stand up again. She was up all night watching the Chiefs, for all the good it did.]

What, you think I'm sad about that stupid aristocrat?

[Where is another stupid rock!!!!! She's rooting around for one, purposefully not looking at him.]

C'mon, you should know your history. I've been fighting with her for most of my life. This is like a victory!!! I'm not sad at all!!

[She is... such a bad liar.]

[Newt sighs. Okay, it's storytime.]

So, back in Hong Kong, I've got this guy that I work with, right? Hermann. He's a total pain in the ass. He's a massive stick in the mud, always trying to police me on how I run my lab, what kind of music I play, all that... We fight, like, constantly. Over nothing a lot of the time. We're very different people, and that's putting it lightly. He, uh, reminds me of Austria a little. [He shrugs. Please see where he's going with this.]

But, even though we're at each other's throats all the time, and he annoys the crap out of me, I think we understand each other better than anyone else does. I've been fighting with him for a long time, too, but we've been forced to work together... or, at least in proximity of one another, for going on five years now.

[He licks his lips, getting quiet for a moment as he digs around in the sand with his seashell.] Point is, if he was stuck here with me, I think I'd still care about what happens to him even if he's a jerk that's always ragging on me.

[She musters up a smile at the story, nodding along. It's nice to listen to something like this, honestly. Normal people with their normal lives. It's something she's always been a little envious of, admittedly. Maybe it's why she's so quick to attach herself to other people.

The smile fades as she starts to get what he's saying behind the story, her scrabbling fingers in the sand stilling to squeeze into tight fists.]

She's--

[It's different, she wants to say, because Austria's a pain in the ass, and Hungary beats her up with a frying pan, and Austria's really fancy, and still has a country, and all around is the better person to be around? Even Prussia knows that. Who would hang out with her when Austria's around??

But she can't muster the energy, dropping her head to her knees.]

She's not dead yet, [she says finally, looking out over the ocean. Her little yellow bird pops out of her hair, peeps quietly, and flies over to land on Newt's shoulder. Hey there.] I'm not sad at all.

[oH hey bird. Newt jumps a little, not yet having had the pleasure of meeting the little buddy, but cool? He gives the bird a gently pat before reaching over to rub a hand over Prussia's back.]

No, she's not, which means you've still got some time to hang out with her. And, uh... If you do happen to get sad at some point, that's okay, y'know.

[She goes completely stiff, posture immediately ramrod-straight to shy away from his hand. What do u think u r doin there buddy. People don't give her physical affection?? She gives it to them and nobody returns it??]

She doesn't want to see me. She's probably too busy playing piano to herself.

[WHOOPS. Newt pulls his hand away and goes back to playing with his seashell.]

Sorry. Didn't mean to, uh, yeah. [Anyway.]

She's... I mean, it's a lot to take in. I don't know what I'd do if I were in her position. [A beat.] I'm sure that's not true, though. She'll want to see you. She might just need a little time first. You want to see her, don't you?

...

[She's silent, looking out over the ocean.]

Dunno, [she says finally.] Don't have anything to say to her. Other than tell her to stop feelin' sorry for herself. Now she knows what it's like, knowin' your clock's ticking. Counting down the seconds 'til you're gonna die. At least she knows when. That's better than just waiting.

[Oh. Is that how it works for... people-countries? That sounds pretty dismal. He frowns.

...Wait.]

That's how it is for everybody. No one lives forever. Knowing that doesn't make it easier, and I don't want to know when I'm gonna die. It's still scary for Austria, I bet. [How could it not be?]

I don't know, man. I don't know what your relationship with her is like, but if I were you, I wouldn't want to wake up on Monday without any, like, closure. Don't do that to yourself.

...!!

[Somehow, that didn't occur to her. That come Monday, Austria would just be gone. Gone. She's been such a bother figure for so long that it just seems impossible to imagine her not being around. Even showing up here, without any of the other countries, Austria was right there. Like nothing had changed.]

You're right. I gotta...

[She pushes herself to her feet and doesn't seem to know how to proceed, other than head back toward the huts. Distractedly, she reaches down and ruffles Newt's hair.]

You're a good kid. I made the right choice.

[??? No further explanation. But she's heading back toward the huts now, bye.]

[OH. He was not expecting that to work, at least not that well. Cool? He's glad she's feeling a little better. He laughs when she ruffles his hair, and stands up to... oh wait she's just goodbye okay.

He'll leave her alone for the night, then, in hopes that she and Austria can have some much needed feelings times. He... doesn't envy them.]

week 2 - prussia - friday post-investigation

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