"Despite the fact that every time a country goes through strife and hardship, we will always get back on our feet. This is thanks to our citizens and the leaders of our lands. You see, that is the beauty of humanity. Those humans are beaten and thrashed about, scarred and betrayed, wounded and some are dying. But they always pick themselves up and give living another shot. They keep going despite hardship and uneven odds. Truly they are one of the most tenacious species on Earth. A country personification is born of the wishes and the lives of the people. We embody their stereotypes and wishes but at the same time their deepest fears. We represent so much to our dear citizens. But what makes a 2p? What do those doppelgängers represent? Why are they here and do not tell us much about themselves? Do you know, Austria?" Hungary is speaking to Austria but doesn't notice a young chibi-Italy in the room. Austria notices chibi-Italy but is too busy trying to digest what Hungary had said and give her a proper response. Before he could respond, the young nation speaks up.
"Mrs. Hungary, you sound a lot like Greece." Chibi-Italy smiles up at Hungary with great reverence. Hungary see the young nation, then thanks him, knowing that her words may have confused the young nation.
"Actually I did hear some of that from your half-brother, Italy. Now, why don't you run along and get some food? If you are on your break from cleaning set down your broom and enjoy it." Chibi-Italy obeys, exiting the room. Hungary turns to Austria. Austria tries to hide some of the confusion in his face.
"Time will tell their meaning Hungary. I am sure of it." Austria manages this response, wincing a little at how he couldn't offer a good explanation. Hungary smiled at him, reassuring that their 2ps were a topic that would not easily be explained anyways.
"The queen Hungary is going to read to you today Italy! It's from TetonicKnights!" A lady that strikingly resembles royalty speaks. She wore an extravagant dress and glass slippers, even completely with a fake gold crown. She sat next to another man who seemed to be bored and kept looking at the door to another room. The "queen" tried not to notice how bored and distracted this man seemed to be and tried to smile at the person she was talking to. However, it was painfully obvious she was bored and unwilling to read this letter as well.
"Hungary can I go and practice some of my heavy metal music? Do we really have to read this to him?" The man looks at her hopefully, then continues speaking. "All of TetonicKnights' literature is so depressing, pessimistic, and not to mention boring. Would Italy really care about it, Hungary?" The man looks at the young boy they were talking about, then back at the "queen."
"Italy needs to know about these people because soon he will serve them too. Now Italy, please stop playing with your knife and listen to me. Your brother already heard this story and you need to as well." The "queen" looks at the young boy. He was stabbing a piece of wood. The boy drove his knife in, then takes it out of the wood, then he drives it in again. The wood seems like a plaything of his. He kept driving his knife in and out and in and out of the wood as if they were the most satisfying actions he had ever done, a smile plastered unsettling on his face. Soon, the boy had completely sliced the thick piece of wood into two. He looked up at the"queen", who looks impatient. The man had already left to go play his heavy metal. "Now will you listen to the story?" The boy nods his head, albeit reluctantly. He finally spoke.
"After this can I go slice more things? I don't care if it's just more wood. I can't explain it but I feel so...happy when I cut something." The lady nods, then opens the letter.
"Perhaps this will explain why you feel that way Italy." She clears her throat, then begins to read.
"We are shadows of a brighter being. We exist as the unseen conspiracies of the world. There are none who know or even remember us that call themselves human. Even by our brighter kin we are forgotten and seldom spotted. Despite our help we are shunned. Alas, we are merely twisted clones. A second fiddle. An underlying scar that is repeatedly covered up again and again and again in hopes that we die. But they can never get rid of us. For there is no light without shadow. And they can never fully forget us. For that is equivalent to forgetting half of yourself. In time, all of these second fiddles, these darker halves….will carry out the heinous deeds all countries wish to never see. While they are born of wishes and joy, of the people and government, we are born of blood, death, and shadow. We must comply with our duty in order to keep the balance and the ways of the world in place. However, without them we cannot live, for there is also no discernible darkness without light. Without vengeance and resentment we do our jobs. The time has come, Italy. Or rather, 2p!Italy now. You must come to accept your new role bestowed upon you, and I hope it is a role with as little blood as possible. Welcome dark vessel. Remember that your new name is 2p!Italy. Human name Luciano Vargas. Your light vessel is named Italy. Human name Feliciano Vargas. You must refer to yourself as 2p!Italy from now on. Your fellow dark vessels, perhaps I'll call them fellow 2ps, will refer to you by this name from now on as well. You are no longer an empty vessel but a dark one. Please remember to serve your corresponding light vessel obediently and without question. And please keep your murderous tendencies under control to the best of your ability.
From,
2p!TetonicKnights."
As soon as 2p!Hungary finished reading she adjusted her fake crown and shifted her feet around in her glass slippers. "Ok. Go ahead with your questions. And next time I'll have 2p!HolyRomanEmpire write the intro letter. 2p!TetonicKnights has quite…. colorful language." 2p!Italy cannot hide how overwhelmed he felt and is shaking with his knife in hand. 2p!Hungary looks concerned. She has never seen 2p!Italy show this much weakness. Surprisingly, the nation speaks up right away after the short silence.
"Why can't we kill our 1p?" 2p!Hungary is taken aback, then straightens up.
"Italy, er, rather 2p!Italy, you cannot kill your 1p because we would die as well. All you have to do is serve them and they will allow you to live happily, but out of sight of the civilians of course." 2p!Italy put the knife down and stares at the ground.
"I have one last question. What is a empty, light, and dark vessel?"
"You used to be an empty vessel, and we were going to ship you off to a normal family once we confirmed you were just an empty vessel. But your….murderous tendencies came in. Following procedure we found out through a blood test you took that you were a dark vessel, or in other words a 2p. Some 2ps show violent tendencies, others have a personality change. Not all 2ps go through a violent age. But either way there is something that tips us off. The light vessel is a 1p." 2p!Hungary stands up. "Good thing that was your last question. I am rather tired now, so run along and get ready to sleep. It's past your bedtime." 2p!Italy, too shocked to argue, complies, getting up from his seated position and going into his room. Inside he chucks his knife at the wall and it ledges itself into the wall.
"We will see if this...Feliciano is acceptable to me."