11. Reading Stones
Date Written: February 1, 2019
Date Posted: May 31, 2019
Characters: Austria, Veneziano
Summary: Veneziano gifts a neighbor with a strange sort of eyepiece.
Notes: Canonically, Austria has no need for glasses—he only uses them for his talent aspect of his character. Historically speaking, glasses were formed when someone created a nose bridge between two reading stones. These reading stones (hemispherical lenses) were placed atop of texts to magnify letters should they feel the need to read more clearly. In fact, reading stones were first discovered and used by the Romans. Glasses, on the other hand, made their first appearance in Pisa, Italy in the 13th Century.
Austria stared down at the gift in his hands. The Austrian had been busy tidying his house (a stupid chore that he barely tolerated), when one of his neighbors to the south had decided to visit. Much to his surprise, it was one of the successors of the late Roman Empire. After the usual go around with pleasantries and light conversation (that the Italian had initiated with more enthusiasm than Austria could ever hope to stomach), Venice had cut to the crux of the matter.
Veneziano had come to gift his neighbor with a little invention that was never seen outside of Italian borders.
When asked, the Merchant Nation of Venice grudgingly admitted that he hadn't made it, per se, Pisa had, but it was near his region, anyway! Besides, Pisa wasn't nearly as powerful as him, so it didn't really matter where it originated anyway. Besides, shouldn't Mr. Austria be spending less time where he had gotten the gift and worry about wearing it?
Further questioning revealed that someone had been experimenting with two reading stones one day and had decided to join two of them together. Austria didn't think that the joining of reading stones could have possibly warranted this much fanfare—the Austrian even mentioned as such.
Venice childishly stuck his tongue out. "You're such a killjoy, Mr. Austria! This could be the next best thing!"
"Be careful not to presume too much," Austria lightly scolded. "What will you do if I don't like the gift?"
The Merchant Nation rolled his eyes and continually gestured at his gift. (Quite rudely, if you asked Austria).
The Germanic Nation hoped that the Italian would get an extra bout of acqua alta later that year, but he retrieved his gift from the specially wooden box that Veneziano had also taken with him.
Really, it looked like any sort of reading stones. However…
The hemispherical lenses were framed and joined at the middle by a rod (or was it a wire?). Why was that? He turned to the Italian and was deeply amused when he realized that this new invention was supposed to be worn on the face atop the nose. Wouldn't that make his face look like a sight? Could that be it?
Hmmm… Austria began to suspect if Veneziano held malicious intent. Could it be a prank of some sort? But the auburn haired Nation did seem adamant and offended at the whole 'origin' debacle…
Austria continued to hesitate.
Venice must have accurately surmised his neighbor's attitude because he looked at him with clear brown eyes, looking like he was about to cry if Austria refused him.
A small seed of guilt settled and took root in the Austrian's stomach.
Really now, Austria groaned in abject misery, he was much too indulgent at times.
"You look so distinguished!"
Before Austria could berate Veneziano for, again, presuming a bit too much (he would be the one to judge how he looked, thank you very much!), the Venetian shoved a book in front of the Austrian's face. The tome had been opened to a random page, the lettering was absurdly miniscule, but—
"Oh my."
Oh my, indeed. After Austria had placed the reading stones on the bridge of his nose, the letters could be seen as clear as day!
And, when Veneziano shoved a looking glass in front of him, he looked quite—
"What is that hideous thing on your face! It looks like your already small eyes have gotten smaller!"
—handsome. He is handsome.
Damn that Teutonic Knight!
"This," Austria pointed at the gift, "was from Venice and I think it makes me look unique."
Veneziano beamed with smug pride at the Austrian's compliment while the Teutonic Knight's face fell with guilt—he always had a soft spot for the Italian.
"Your face—" The albino tried to retort, but Austria threw the wooden box at Prussia's unsightly head.
Due to the reading stones, his aim was accurate.
