"Aw, that's really sad," Young-Soo coos, "Poor actual daughter."
"She shouldn't have been so nasty, then," Nikolai says plainly, "Nasty children won't get nice things."
"Wait... Are you saying I'm a nasty kid?" Young-Soo asks with a pout.
"Well, yes," Nikolai answers, and Yao gasps in shock, "Immortals like us have all done terrible things."
"But they weren't be when we did them! And we've done lots of good things too!" Young-Soo is on the verge of crying, "And we can't control what our people do! That's why you couldn't save Anastasia!"
Tomakas and Lutz visibly wince. Nikolai's face drops into anger. Yao dashes across the room, planting himself between Nikolai and Young-Soo protectively, wok raised in warning.
"Just get out," Nikolai says coldly, "All of you."
Lutz holds the door open as Yao drags Young-Soo out, then herds Tomakas out before he shuts the door behind him. Tomakas can be heard yelling as Lutz forcibly drags him up the stairs.
Katyusha wakes up groggy and confused. Nikolai is still in a chair by the bed, half asleep himself, and jumps up as soon as Katyusha moves.
"Don't strain yourself," he titters at her as she begins to sit up.
"I'm fine," she mumbles, "Are we still in Germany?"
"Yes, we are. And we're going to be throwing another party."
"We are?"
"Yes. And we're going to invite lots of other nations."
"Is it going to be another dancing party?" Katyusha asks tiredly.
"No, no," Nikolai says, "It's going to be a... film party. We're going to watch movies. And have popcorn."
"Oh. That sounds fun."
Nikolai helps Katyusha gently to her feet and upstairs. "Lutz," he says to the German, who snaps into an attentive salute, "Where is everybody?"
"All the first players are in the bathroom," Tomakas answers before Tomakas gets the opportunity to, "And a bunch of second players are outside the bathroom trying to get in."
"Look after Katyusha," Nikolai orders, and Lutz nods. Tomakas remains in the window seat, and just flips Nikolai the bird.
Nikolai marches up the stairs. Outside the bathroom a series of 'second players' have gathered, trying to coax out the 'first players' inside. With a single bark from Nikolai, they scatter, and Nikolai hammers on the door.
"Fuck off," is the response. Gilbert's response, judging by the accompanying aggressive tweet.
"Get out here," Nikolai orders plainly.
"Or else?" Gilbert retorts.
"I only want to invite you all to a party."
"What kind of party?"
"A film party."
"So definitely not any sort of murder party?"
Nikolai pulls a confused face at the door. "No, definitely not a murder party."
The door opens a crack. "Will there be popcorn?"
"Of course."
"Will there be alcohol?"
"Of course."
"I'm sold!" The door opens fully and Gilbert flies out, followed by a happily chirping Gilbird.
Natalya pads out after him. "I told him to hide in the basement. He wouldn't listen."
"Then he wonders how he ended up losing nation status," Lily comments from down the hall.
Natalya stares at Lily for a few seconds before she nods, turns, and walks stiffly away to the stairs.
Emilio, representative of 'second player' Iceland, sits with Loki, representative of 'second player' Norway, trying to get his 'older brother' to stop crying. Sadiq sits with Katyusha, having snuggled her up in a blanket. Lily is with Natalya, François and Tonio are side by side with Oliver and Flávio practically in their laps, and Herkales is finally awake chatting about cute cats with Yao, Young-Soo and Kuro, Al knocked out in a pool of his own blood behind him. Gilbert, on the floor with Liz and Feliks, gives Nikolai a suspicious glare as the Russian enters.
"This is all weirdly generous of you," he growls, "What's the catch?"
"No catch," Nikolai says, "Cross my heart and hope to die."
"I can easily arrange that," Gilbert says, and Gilbird tweets aggressively.
Nikolai ignores him, instead flicking through Ludwig's address book until he finds the name 'Lars de Jong' with the word 'Holland' in capital letters at the end of his address.
"Hello?" Lars answers.
"Hello!" Nikolai greets, tone friendly, "I am just calling with a party invitation~"
"Braginski?" Lars checks the username on his phone, "Why are you in Germany?"
"For the party~"
"Why are you inviting people to the party?"
"The Bielschmidts are busy inviting other people to the party~"
"Really?"
"... Just shut the fuck up and get over here for the party~"
"I'm not interested in coming to a party."
"It's a film party~"
"I can watch films at home."
"There will be popcorn~"
"I can eat popcorn at home."
"The popcorn is free~"
"Travel isn't."
Nikolai sighs. "There will also be alcohol."
"I can drink alcohol at home."
"Or you could drink alcohol in Germany~ Where it's cheaper~"
"Or I could stay at home. Which is both cheaper and less effort."
"What the fuck is your problem?" Nikolai growls, and Matt face palms at his boss's impatience.
"I don't trust you," Lars answers plainly.
"Why?" Nikolai answers sharply.
"I'm not a trusting person, and you are not a trustworthy person."
"That leaves us with a bit of a predicament."
"Glad we understand each other," Lars says bluntly, and before Nikolai can respond the Dutchman hangs up the phone.
"Rude." Nikolai puts the phone down with a glare. "I would have thought he would jump on the promise of free food and alcohol."
Flávio sighs from next to Matt. "He always has been a cheapskate."
"You've got to wonder how he lives," Nikolai muses aloud.
"Poorly." Flávio responds.
"You're fucking worse than Lutz," Matt growls.
I own nothing
-Laurel Silver
