Day 53-Technology time !

Yay! A short chapter! And knitting Nordics!

At the World Meeting in October, Gilbert waited outside. He noted that some of the nations had already left because they were not relevant to the ongoing discussion about debt and austerity measures. The Nordics, for example, were enjoying the sunshine as they knit and drank coffee. Gilbert sauntered over.

"Ready to go drinking tonight?" Denmark called. He waved Gilbert over. "You need a sweater?" Norway overheard him and rolled his eyes.

"Ja." Gilbert shrugged. He wasn't going to turn down a free handknit sweater, especially since it was getting colder. The Dane whipped out a measuring tape and started wrapping it around his chest, waist and arms. He took out his smart phone and tapped in the numbers. "Estonia designed this app for us," he explained, "you put in the measurements and it gives you the calculations for the number of stitches to cast on, where and how much to work increases and decreases, even how much yarn you need. Temmelig smart, ja?"1

"Better than when you used to calculate them in your head," Norway muttered as he worked a complicated color pattern. Gilbert always wondered why the Danish nation let the smaller one insult him consistently. He turned back to Matthias, who was studying him closely. "I'm thinking a turtleneck," the Dane finally stated. "Saddle shoulders and wide ribs on the body to show off your shape. " Gilbert nodded; it sounded good to him. "So what color do you want?" Matthias started rooting around in his knapsack of yarn. "I've got black, charcoal, Prussian blue," he winked, "a brick red—"

"Black goes with everything," Gilbert said. Denmark nodded. "You got it!" He grabbed a ball of black yarn, a set of needles and cast on stitches at a breathtaking rate. "Verdammt, you're fast." Gilbert was impressed at his speed.

"Fast and sloppy," Norway said. Gilbert raised an eyebrow, wondering if Lukas knew how dirty that sounded. He looked over to the entrance of the meeting hall and saw Francis leaving. "I'll see you later, Matthias," he said and walked over to see his friend.

"So, where's Antonio?" Gilbert asked. Francis shrugged in his Gallic fashion. "Trying to keep his temper and make his case to your brother. I've got my own troubles and no one wants to hear them today, alors I'm getting some fresh air." The two strolled out on to the plaza together.

"Got any gossip for my blog?" Gilbert nudged Francis's shoulder. The French nation chuckled. "Mais bien sûr! La Belgique seems less enchanted with Southern Italy than she used to be. This time, when he threw a fit, she rolled her eyes instead of comforted him. But when notre ami vented his frustrations, la petite was very supportive. Honhonhon!"2

"Duly noted," Gilbert smirked. "Anything else?"

Francis puffed out his lower lip as he thought. "Oui," he said. "Something très interessant. Switzerland and Liechtenstein were not sitting together. She sat next to Austria, then Hungary, then Vash. And guess who was next to him, mon ami?" France's eyes twinkled. "Poland!"

Gilbert was not surprised until the last reveal. When Vash had left Vaduz, he had been noticeably cool towards Lili. Gilbert had tried to reassure her that her brother was still in shock about discovering their relationship, but that he would grow more comfortable with it over time. But that had been over two weeks ago and it still sounded as if Vash were holding a grudge.

Switzerland's sudden closeness to Poland concerned him. It would not have surprised Gilbert to hear that Vash had grown closer to Austria and Hungary in an attempt to learn about his faults and complain about him. But Feliks was a chatty wildcard; he knew things about Gilbert's time as East Germany and Prussia that neither Roderich nor Elizabeta would ever share with a hostile stranger. I might be the dog they like to kick, he thought grimly, but I'm their dog and no one else gets away with it. Poland, on the other hand, depending on his mood and vodka intake, could be very damaging indeed.

"Maybe Vash is finally getting laid," Gilbert joked. "Feliks has already run through Lithuania and Ukraine, maybe he wants some money and weapons!"

"Je ne pense pas."3Francis shook his head. "Ukraine is still la petite-copine de Pologne, but he and Vash were talking to each other. And la petite Lili did not look very happy about it. There is trouble in the Alps, je crois."4

Gilbert didn't like the sound of this. He knew that there was no longer any reason to keep his relationship with Lili secret, but he wasn't ready to tell Francis right now. His phone buzzed and he drew it out. The angry chibi Vash icon Lili had designed in Prague dashed across his screen.5 The nations were streaming out of the hall, and sure enough, Vash was walking with a chattering Poland, Ukraine and Hungary, while Austria and Liechtenstein followed a couple of steps behind.

"Amigos!" Spain came trotting up; Gilbert and Francis were surprised at how quickly the normally easygoing nation moved. "I think I got a break today. We'll get some lunch and I'll tell you all about it." Gilbert's eyes were on Lili, talking to a solicitous Austria. He was glad to see her out of her childish Loliwear. She wore a dark blue suit with a full skirt and a cropped jacket with a nipped-in waist. She walked gracefully in low-heeled pumps.

"I like Liechtenstein's ensemble," Francis murmured. "Très New Look, n'est-ce pas?"6 Gilbert nodded; Francis could have mumbled a string of meaningless syllables and he would have agreed, he was so drawn to her loveliness. His heart raced as she approached. When she saw him, her serious expression transformed into a radiant smile. Gilbert found himself smiling back; there was no reason to hide anymore. He didn't notice the funny looks France and Spain gave him, the cold glances of Switzerland and Hungary,or Austria's befuddled squint. All he saw were lovely round green eyes lighting up as Lili broke into a trot.

When she leapt into his arms, Gilbert couldn't help laughing. "Kesesese!" He swung her about and kissed her deeply, arms circling her little waist. He loved feeling her arms around his neck, her lips on his, her sweet little tongue in his mouth. When they broke apart, he placed her down and squeezed her. France and Spain stared at them, stunned. "Sorry, Antonio, but I already have plans." Lili leaned into him and put her arms around his waist. "Tell me tomorrow, ja?" As he and his girl (Look! He wanted to shout, Liechtentsein is my girlfriend!)strolled off to lunch, he heard Austria moan, "You idiot."


1 Danish: Pretty clever, yes?

2 French: But of course. Begium, our friend (Spain, bien sûr), the little one

3 French: I don't think so

4 French: the little friend (girlfriend) of Poland, the little one, I believe

5 See PruLiech 100 Day Challenge: Maiden and Unicorn, Chpt 23 – My Invention

6 The New Look by Christian Dior post-World War II radically changed the silhouette of women's fashion. Whereas the late 1930s and 1940s emphasized padded shoulders, slim lines and straight knee-length skirts, the New Look emphasized sloped shoulders, tiny waists and exaggerated hips and full skirts. The New Look influenced the shaped of women's fashion into the late 1950s.