During the celebration following the announcement on TV, Ludwig received a phone call, which a secretary brought to his attention. "It's your brother on line four." Ludwig nods and takes the phone. "All right. Er, yes, I'm very busy and important," Kiku laughs and walks away, giving Ludwig some space. "How can I help you?"

"Have you gone completely insane, aru?"

Ludwig just shrugs. "You can't be sensible all the time." Kiku taps him on the shoulder to catch his attention, and from the receiver there's a shout of, "You can if you're Prime Minister!"

Ludwig shifts, "It's the Chancellor on the other line."

Yao rolls his eyes. "It isn't!"

"I'll call you back."

"No, you won't, aru!" The line goes dead and Yao turns to Ivan who's sitting in a stark white armchair. "The trouble with being the Prime Minister's sister is it puts your life into rather harsh perspective. What did my brother do today? He stood up and fought for his country, aru. And what did I do? I made a papier - mache lobster head." He plops down in front of their coffee table where they have presents for their children waiting to be wrapped. Ivan's face contorts in a mix of confusion and disgust, "What is this we're listening to?"

Yao smiles. "Joni Mitchell, aru."

Ivan rolls his eyes and looks down at Yao. "I can't believe you still listen to Joni Mitchell."

Yao fans himself with one of the many toys. "I love her and true love lasts a lifetime, aru. Joni Mitchell is the woman who taught your cold Chinese wife how to feel."

Ivan looks at Yao and deadpans, "Did she? Oh, well, that's good, I must write to her sometime and say thanks."

Yao turns to Ivan holding two ugly dolls in her hands. "Now which doll for Lin Yi's little friend Erika, aru? The one that looks like a transvestite, or the one that looks like a dominatrix?"

Ludwig stood in his room getting ready for bed, the radio on at his nightstand, when he heard. "It's almost enough to make you feel patriotic, so here's one for our arse-kicking prime minister. I think he'll enjoy this. A golden oldie for a golden oldie."

The song Jump began to play, and Ludwig stood at the window, his hips bopped to the beat.

"Hold me, I'll give you all that you need. Wrap your love around me. You're so excited I can feel you getting hotter. Oh baby, I'll take you down, I'll take you down." He started to dance, showing his age in the moves he used. "Where no one's ever gone before. And if you want more. If you want more, more, more." He began to move through the halls and through the rooms. "Jump for my love. Jump in. And feel my touch. Jump, if you wanna taste my kisses in the night then. Jump for my love." Mary, a woman with long hair braided down her back and half-frame glasses, stood in the doorway watching. "I'll take you down, I'll take you down. Where no one's ever gone."

It was at this point Ludwig turned, seeing Mary for the first time. He executed a flawless transition from doing the sprinkler to clapping his hands and letting them fall to his sides. "Yeah, erm, Mary, I've been thinking. Can we move the Japanese ambassador to four o'clock tomorrow?"

Mary remained stoic. "Certainly, sir."

Ludwig turned to leave. "Terrific. Thanks so much."

As she left, Mary couldn't help but smile.

A/N:

Erika: Liechtenstein

Mary: Monaco