Prussia froze and pulled on the leash of Germany's dogs. Their whining brought him out of his daze.
"Shit, sorry guys!" he told them, and petted them while keeping his eyes on the tiny dolls in the window display for the shop in front of him. "Really sorry, forgive me?" he asked, finally looking down at them with an apologetic smile. The dogs sat down in front of him, tails wagging. Prussia laughed, and turned his attention back to the little dolls dressed in different military uniforms before him "Look at that. They're beautiful. Wait here, alright?"
He tied them to a post and entered the shop through the pastel pink door. A small bell chimed as he closed the door behind him and a group of little girls wearing fluffy princess dresses in the corner looked at him in fear. He smiled at them and nodded, but the girls still looked away from him in fear. He sighed and turned his attention to the white lace curtains all around the shop. He had never noticed that particular shop there, so it must have opened recently.
He shoved his hands in the pockets of his battered leather jacket and inspected the different dolls standing in a dainty little white table, at the center of the store. One was dressed like Louis XV on his crowning day, and that made him grin. On the far back he found a doll of a Spanish noble from around the XV century. That certainly brought back memories. The hat the doll wore was great, and the jacket might fit Gilbird with a few adjustments. Spain would love it too, and with a little luck he would cook some paella for them once he saw that. He started thinking about a XV century themed party for all of them.
"Good morning sir, can I help you?" asked a woman with a baby blue apron. She carried on her arms a couple dolls dressed with ugly Christmas sweaters and reindeer hats. Prussia's heart jumped at the sight of them. He wanted matching reindeer hats for Gilbird and himself, and he wanted them with all his heart. He looked up at the woman and saw the wariness in her eyes. Maybe Ludwig was right and he should stop his overexcitement about themed hats? He straightened and cleared his throat.
"Uhm, hi," he said. "I wanted to know the price of that doll in the window. The one with the Prussian uniform."
"I'm afraid that one is sold. It was a custom made one for a special client, but he hasn't picked it up yet," said the woman. She put the Christmas dolls on the table and picked up a Marie Antoinette one.
"So you make custom ones? Like, I can tell you how and you'll make it?" Prussia's eyes shone at the idea of having one made to look like Germany from when he was a kid. He could dress him up in all of the old clothes he'd had. Even that one with the suspenders and the hat that his brother absolutely hated.
"Uh…yes. It's a bit expensive though…," the lady said, looking at his jacked and his torn sneakers. "If you want one for your daughter, I could recommend another store."
Prussia huffed. "I wanted it for myself actually," he replied.
The lady gave him an awkward smile and took a step backwards. A tall man entered the store. He wore a really nice suit that reminded Prussia of the ones Romano sometimes wore to Mafia meetings. Behind him came a girl of no more than six years with dark brown hair in braids and a poofy pastel green princess dress.
"Look, there are your friends honey. Go say hi," said the man, and pushed her forward, but the girl didn't move and just looked down at the fabric of her princess dress.
The lady that had been speaking with Prussia turned to the man. "Good morning sir. I'll get your dolls now," she said.
The man didn't even look up at her. He searched his wallet and took out a golden card. Germany had one like that too. One he never let Prussia use ever since he had bought a hundred green Irish hats for Saint Patrick's day. Prussia was sure it had more to do with England's angry call the next day more than with the actual hats tough.
The lady took the Prussian soldier doll and then brought from the back a doll carefully enclosed in a clear plastic case. It was a man with long blonde hair dressed in a blue uniform with a flute in hand. The girl gave a high pitched scream and reached for the dolls.
"That's Fritz!" said Prussia, unable to contain himself.
"Excuse me?" asked the man, pulling his daughter closer to himself.
"I mean, that's Frederick the Great," he said.
"It's Old Fritz," said the little girl.
Her father looked at Prussia up and down, clearly not liking what he saw. "Hmm, my wife is a history teacher, and our daughter has developed quite the love for a few historical figures," he said. "I take it you have a liking for history too."
Prussia grinned. "I love history. Ha, ha, it's like living again," he said. "But like, in the past, you know."
The bell on top of the entrance chimed and Spain came in, all messy hair and silly grin, waving an old bottle of wine in his hand. "Found you, asshole! Guess what I found in the attic!"
The girls in the corner gasped, and one in a pink dress pointed at Spain "He said a bad word!" she said. Another one started crying.
"Sir, I will have to ask you to leave. Both of you," said the lady with the pink apron, glowering at them.
Prussia blushed. He saw the man glaring at him with barely repressed disgust, and decided to not make a fuss. Just this once. He pulled at Spain's arm.
"Ok, lets' go," he said and pulled Spain outside with him.
"Sorry. I saw your dogs and entered," apologized Spain. Germany's dogs barked and licked at Spain's hands when he kneeled down next to them. "It's a doll store? What's up with that?" he asked, standing up.
Prussia pointed at the window and the dolls with the historical clothing. Spain stepped closer to see them.
"I came in to ask about the doll clothes," said Prussia and went to untie the dogs. "I thought of getting some new clothes for Gilbird, but they also make historical dolls. And very detailed too. Apparently they can make any doll you want. That girl inside got one of Fritz, can you believe that?" he said, and looked up at Spain.
"Any doll you want?" asked Spain, placing his palm against the glass of the display. "That's interesting," he said in a whisper, as if to himself. He stood there looking at the details on the dolls' eyes and lips, then he scoffed a laugh.
"They're beautiful dolls. I want one too!" he said, and Prussia knew better than to ask him why.
