Captain's Log: Entry 36:

Wednesday 10th February 2016:

Ah, hello, yes I'm back, finally.

Today was interesting, apparently before relinquishing hold back over to me, Sid set a good few general pranks around the house.

Greece is hilarious when pranked, he was victim to the old bucket on the door frame trick, and he had pretty much no reaction! He just slowly picked up the bucket from off his head and shook himself like a dog, then he carried on his merry way.

To be fair I'll probably pay for that later, along with the rest of them, but until then, I'm enjoying it.

So, something else happened today.

It was just after lunch and I was about to go take the Daily Siesta, when my surveillance system beeped.

I darted over and saw that it was coming from the kitchen camera.

It was Germany and Italy again, on their own and Germany looked like he was trying desperately to stand up for himself but it wasn't working and Italy was tearing complete and utter strips out of him. I grabbed my tea cup and headed straight down to the kitchen.

When I got there Italy had put his mask back on and was prancing out of the kitchen, he waved at me as he passed me.

"Ciao, Inglaterra!" he said, sweetly. I marvelled at how good his mask was, even knowing what I know, I was still nearly fooled.

"Hello, Italy," I said moving past him to get to the kitchen.

"I wouldn't go in there! There's an awful smell in there," he said. That sneaky little shit.

"Is that so? Well I'll come back after Siesta, thank you for the warning," I said, before walking as though I was heading back to my room. I waited until he was gone then went into the room, just as Germany was coming out.

His eyes were slightly red as I pushed him back into the kitchen, "Okay, what's happened that's so bad it made you cry?" I asked, feigning innocence.

"I don't know what you mean," he stammered.

"Oh cut the crap," I said, "Your eyes are slightly red and slightly puffy, you've obviously been crying, so what the hell's going on?"

Germany shifted nervously, poor sod didn't know what to think.

I sighed heavily, "Look, I can tell something's wrong, you don't have to tell me now, just know if something is happening, then I won't judge you whatever it is."

He nodded and took a deep breath, "I need to tell someone, but I'd rather do it somewhere more private."

I smiled, Progress! "Very well," I said, "Just let me get a snack and we can head up stairs and continue this in my rooms." Ludwig nodded shakily. So I picked up a pack of chocolate biscuits and lead the way back upstairs.

We sat down in opposing armchairs, the plate of biscuits between us.

"So, what is it?" I said, once he was comfortable.

He took a deep breath and told me how Italy had been abusing him since the Second World War and how he couldn't do anything to break away from him. He told me how if he tried to get away he got punished and how his self-esteem was crippled.

I listened in silence, appalled by what I was hearing, at the end of it I looked at him with sympathy, "Does anyone else know?" I asked.

He shook his head silently.

"Well then the first thing to do would be to tell Prussia, I'll be there if you want me to be, but you need to tell him," I said, putting a hand on his shoulder, "If you can't trust your own brother, then who can you trust?"

Germany nodded and sat up straighter, "Thank you, Arthur. This really helped."

I nodded, "Words are powerful things, Ludwig, they can create and destroy in a heartbeat," I said, "would you like to stay, or have you got things you'd rather be doing?"

"I should be getting to work, the agenda for tomorrow's meeting still isn't solidified."

I smacked my forehead, "Of course! There's a meeting tomorrow! How could I be so forgetful?" I wondered aloud. Germany grunted and left, leaving me in silence.

So, interesting turn of events, wouldn't you think?

Anyhow, Cheerio!