Filtered to unadorned and encored

[pasodoble]

( Once everyone is in the room, Spain will close and lock the door behind him. He'll stand next to Prussia and introduce her to Charles, )

Have the two of you met? Charles, this is Prussia. Prussia, Charles.

( And he'll reach to take one of Prussia's hands and give it a squeeze. )

Comments

[unadorned]

We've seen one another at the trials-- [She tilts her head at Spain, giving him a clear "watch where your hand is"] look.]

[encored]

[a polite nod.]

I've spoken to you once at breakfast, yes? [his nose wrinkles and he shrinks into his makeshift cocoon a little more.] Goodness, it feels like months since then. Nice to meet you properly either way, I suppose.

[pasodoble]

( And now that the introductions are all over and done with, Spain will reach behind her and go for her other arm, trying to disarm her.

His smile is gone and he looks deadly serious-- an expression Prussia might recognize as a nation tired and desperate from war.

Now is Charles' chance and he says quickly to her, )

I'm sorry.

[unadorned]

[She is genuinely surprise, confusion flashing quickly in her eyes. Without their nation core, their strength is reduced to human-like, and Prussia is at a disadvantage for lacking the necessary upper body strength.

She knows that look well. The one her own Spain had tried to hide after one too many missteps and defeats.] Let. Go.

[encored]

[with a smile that's wide enough to reveal his sharp cuspids, he quickly pulls the gun he had received from Sayaka and aims it at Prussia's chest, as close to her heart as he can manage. it's less out of mercy for either her or Spain and more because he doesn't want a potential struggle.

his grip is surprisingly level as well, but he does have to support his firing arm to keep it from shaking too badly.]

The wolves have given me a gift, Miss Prussia, and I'm going to be courteous enough to return it. In spades. [with that, he fires.]

[pasodoble]

( Even after the shot is fired, Spain doesn't let go of Prussia. America was able to live for some time after being shot and he'd rather not risk Prussia having enough strength to retaliate. He will, however, lower himself so she can lay down.

And very calmly, he'll begin to explain, )

Your window was lit last night when it shouldn't have been. ( Calmly, coldly, without emotion. Uncharacteristic of the public image he'd spent centuries creating.

He won't look at Charles. Despite it all, he still does think of him as a child and would rather not look at him with dark eyes, )

You should rest, Charles.

[unadorned]

[The roaring in her ears is familiar. Prussia's had her share of bullets fired at her, but none lodged so deeply as to do harm. This mortal body is new, after all. Somewhere deep inside, she could feel her lungs filling with blood.]

So you were only being kind so you could kill me. How pathetic. [Her voice is weak with shaking breath, body going limp slowly even as it fights to live.]

Shame on me for trusting you.

[encored]

[a laugh, bright and child-like, befitting of his youthful face.]

My, my, do you speak of Spain? His kindness is genuine! A kind man, infinitely kind. [now that his bullet is used, he tosses his gun to the side and lazily reclines. even if Spain isn't looking at him, he can at least be good enough to try not to prod things too much. to rest, as asked, will have to come later.]

I thank you for this opportunity. There is much I must do before I die, but this brings me a step closer. [he hums, a gentle sound, and allows his smile to slip into something just barely containing the anger underlying his motives.]

Send Joshua my greetings.

[pasodoble]

I didn't know until last night. ( So his actions were genuine until this morning and even then, he tried his best. ) I did like you more than Gilbert. You're much cuter than he is.

( And he manages a small smile at his own joke and he returns to business, )

Did you come here armed?

[unadorned]

Don't be absurd. [She blames her failing body and her lack of motor competence when she shifts to lean slightly against Spain. It hurts a tiny little less painful that way.


She does reach into her shirt with her other hand, with little care for the implication of that gesture. It's a painful and a shaky movement, extracting a locket on a chain from the sea of red blossoming on her white shirt.
]

[pasodoble]

Well, it's better to be safe than sorry.

( And he'll watch carefully as she reaches for the locket and allow her to keep doing so. He'll keep talking her to keep her mind off the pain. )

... What is your human name?

[unadorned]

You just remembered to ask, huh? [She starts coughing up the blood collecting at the back of her throat as she struggles to flip the locket open]

I'm sorry, little one. [her eyes cloud over a bit] You're going to have to go on without me.

[pasodoble]

( Germany.

It makes his heart drop thinking about it. )

You're the one who never told me after asking for mine. ( He would laugh but the situation is becoming more serious. He knows she won't live for much longer and he has to confess, he doesn't know her well enough to know exactly what to do now. ) You'll see her again.

Sanae and Mayu both came back. And Poland does it all of the time.

You can too.

[unadorned]

[She could feel her heartbeat slowing drastically, her lungs barely pushing any air for her to talk anymore.]

No... You don't understand. You all made a terrible mistake. [but she doesn't have any time left to explain--or warn.]

It's Maria. [It feels good to close her eyes. Her shirt is entirely soaked in red now.]

[pasodoble]

What do you mean?

( This isnt' the first he's heard of it and he's confused. She says her name and closes her eyes.

He stays still for a moment, unable to move right away. After a moment of silence, he'll take the locket and cross her arms across her chest. He'll then close his eyes and pray, )

Requiem Aeternam dona eis, Domine
et lux perpetua luceat eis:
Requiescant in pace.
Amen.

( And he'll slowly rise, setting her down carefully. His clothes are covered in blood, as expected, and he begins to change. After all, he can't walk around covered in blood all day.He doesn't speak for a little while longer but when he does, he'll address Charles, )

We'll have to check her room. How do you feel now?

[encored]

[her warning makes his brow furrow, but... well, he's said so himself, hasn't he? it's too late in the game now. he can't forgive the hunters and simply hand himself over, even if they are in the right. and if it's a special role they've triggered or something similar... well, they'll have to deal with that when the time comes.

when Spain addresses him he sits upright again, but all of the twisted mirth he might have been able to get out of the situation is dampened thanks to that one single statement.]

I'm well enough. Let's check her room now, before anyone else has the chance to come across it.

[pasodoble]

( Only a nod and Spain will change into some clean clothes. Once he's finished, he'll help Charles over to Prussia's cabin. )