A quick warning, you may find the language in the first story to offensive. I do this to convey how people thought back then because it is very important to understand the people's mindset then. I'll try to tone it down but sometimes it will be absolutely necessary for me to emphasize this bad aspect of human nature. Oh and the second story is not connected in any way, it's just short so I attached it. Please enjoy.
Fall, year of 1690
Evening of that very same day. A lavish small dinning room located just above the more spacious human one. Like their human counterparts, the Hapsburg gang is getting to know the newcomer. The Hapsburg Monarchy sits at the dinning table with the guest discussing the current situation. Others are mostly waiting on them.
"Ottoman didn't lie. You have a very beautiful home. Such intricate design" Serbia spoke observing the room. Still in male rags, she gingerly strokes the fine linen. Her expression becomes sad and nostalgic.
Hapsburg is slightly leaned back in his chair as he waits for his drink. "This is only a small part of the splendor. We hold to high standards in this monarchy. Something you will see if you are allowed to stay" he says arrogantly taking a glass of wine from a silver tray.
Serbia looks at him nervously smiling. She quickly grabs her glass and declares a toast: "I'm sure our wise leaders will find a solution good for the both of us. Let us drink to happy beginnings. Cheers!" As she moves the glass closer, she looks straight into the Hapsburg Monarchy's eyes. An act which he finds extremely creepy. She keeps eye contact right up to the moment when their glasses meet. She then clangs so hard that wine from both glasses spills a little. Serbia then drinks hers while Hapsburg is left still holding his confused. Hungary chuckles in the back.
"Did I do something wrong?" Serbia turns to her. Hungary covers her mouth but we can still see her chest moving. "No one does that anymore?" she replies. "Does what?" Serbia looks at her confused.
"The glass clinging thing. It's been passe for 4 centuries" Hungary continues. Hapsburg sips his wine relieved.
"Well, I think it's pretty neat. It's part of my heritage" Serbia says slightly defensive.
"Serbia, about your heritage. I don't mean to offend, but are you sure you are what you say you are?" Hapsburg asks.
"What do you mean by that? I know my history. I'm an Orthodox Christian..." she says.
"Yes, yes. I believe you. But perhaps you've... changed under the Ottoman rule. You are darker than a regular Slav after all."
Serbia puts down the glass, thinks for a second and says calmly: "I may speak a Slavic tongue, but to say that I'm only a Slav is a lie. Many peoples passed the Balkan Peninsula, to pillage and leave or to take over. There are even some whose forefathers, older than the Romans and the Greeks themselves, managed to survive all of that. So rest assured, the Ottomans are not the reason I tan well." Saying this, she unbuttons her shirt revealing that her collar bone is pretty pale. A keen eye can see a line on the shirt's chest area as if from a tight undergarment.
The Hapsburg Monarchy adjusts his glasses to see better. "It was a scorching summer and there was a lot of hay to be collected for the cattle" Serbia adds.
"I'm afraid that is not one of my expertise. Others mostly take care of the agriculture" he says pointing to a few of them with his glass. Hungary's discrete smirk suggests that she thinks Hapsburg presumes hay magically appeared in his stables which we can vividly see in a thought bubble. "I can't be bothered with such things myself. Not when I'm in charge of growing and empowering my monarchy. You see my dear boy, it's all about strategically placing members of your boss' family in crucial positions of power and making sure that they stay in power indefinitely."
"And how do you do that?" Serbia asks curious. "Basically by marrying off cousins" Bohemia speaks, others quietly giggle. Serbia's face turns pale.
"And they don't turn to stone?"* she whispers shocked. Text appears above her head. The narrator reads it. "If you didn't know by now. Our heroine is slightly superstitious. There is a rock formation called Đavolja Varoš (Ђавоља Варош) in the south of Serbia. According to legend, a wealthy family wanted to marry siblings in order not to divide the family land. They had a wedding there and in that moment the brother and sister with all of the guests were turned to stone by a higher power for trying to do such a horrible thing. Needless to say, Serbia is extremely anti-incest."
Next scene: Some time later, Hungary decides to step out onto the balcony to get some fresh air. She wraps herself in her signature folk scarf. Hapsburg accompanies her very soon, opening the door long enough for us to hear the "And there I was on the battlefield, charging the Ottoman forces..." part of Serbia's story and closing it.
He stands next to Hungary looking at the stars and not saying a word. She turns to him and apologetically says: "I just came out for some..." before she is interrupted: "You don't need to explain yourself. It's not a problem."
She turns to the stars. The night is clear and calm. Only crickets can be heard. The moon is bright. Hapsburg breaks the silence: "So do you believe all of these wild stories? Such a scrawny little guy imagining he's Hercules."
"It's not impossible. I had some encounters with him before" Hungary answers.
"Before. Is that when you pretended to be a boy?" Hapsburg tries to be witty. "Yes" Hungary presses her lips in a fake smile. There is silence again.
"What do you think? Should I let his people stay?" he asks.
"Well... they can be useful" she replies.
"What do you mean?"
"Back in 1456, one of my best military minds, Hunyadi, was defending Belgrade from the Ottoman forces. His army was outnumbered and the siege lead to mass starvation. He then had an idea to ask locals from the nearby villages for help. Serb villages included. They were untrained simple people of the land and yet, with them and the others, the enemy was repelled and the city defended. Even though their representative doesn't seem strong - personally I doubt he is even male – the Serbian people are. If you want my advice, place them on the south boarder and you will have no more problems with Ottoman raiders" Hungary says only quickly glancing at him.
He looks at her. The moonlight shines upon her long silky hair and face. In that moment, the Hapsburg Monarchy smiles and finds it difficult to look away.
World Academy W – modern times
Leaving the classroom, Yasna receives a text from Iryna. It says: "Meet me at the lockers after classes. I have something importand to discuss with you. She says and quickly replies back.
Next scene: At the designated spot, Yasna finds Iryna looking angry with her arms folded.
"Sooooo, what did you want to talk to me about?" Yasna says carefully.
"Why are you like this? I thought you were my friend too?" cries Iryna obviously tense.
Yasna stands confused for a second. As she opens her mouth, they hear a noise from the other side of the hallway. It was Claudia screaming at Alfred who seems pretty chill.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING! First you try to change my boss without my consent and now you send me aid. How about unblocking my bank accounts! That would aid me a lot!" she yells with an enormous vain pulsating on her head.
"Why are you so tense. It's not my problem you're a complete mess" Alfred says condescendingly.
"YES IT IS!" she screams back thrusting herself forward. "I would still have an economy if it weren't for you. Oh and you can that thief Arthur to give me my gold reserves back!"
Alfred shakes his head sad: "You poor poor poor poor thing. Your mind is playing tricks on you. It must be from all those oil fumes. You're delusional. It must be such a burden."
Claudia inhales to scream some more when Alfred interrupts: "How about this. I take your burden away, a.i. your oil, and you can have any president you want – as long as he brings democracy and is liked by me. Claudia bursts yelling. Her mouth becomes cartoonishly huge as she frantically shakes her arms and legs. Alfred continues to look smug and even pats her on the head. This enrages her even more.
Next scene: Iryna and Yasna are observing hidden. Iryna looks shocked. Yasna is amazed at Claudia's strength.
"We should get out of-"
"Unbelievable" Yasna interrupts. "I mean, I kind of knew why you asked me to come, so I prepared a lengthy speech. But this sums it up nicer than I ever could."
Iryna looks at her confused. "Still eager to join the west? I can tell you this is not the only example of such criminal behavior. For example, after WWI, I had to pay back Francis every last cent with interest. And we were allies! Worst than that, even when you do pay for something in full, there is no guarantee you can keep if it catches someone's eye. Ivan may be brutal sometimes, but at least he can forgive debt." We see Iryna's face turn sad after hearing the last sentence. The camera zooms away from the two girls as the shouting continues.
Happy Valentine's day. The taxes haven't been lifted yet.