I don't own Hetalia okay? I don't have much else to say with this one, I will tell you however that you can suggest pairings for me to have go on a couple's date with Austria and Hungary and if I already shipped one person, these don't all go together so it can be done. Anyway, enough of this A/N, on with the fic!
Roderich sighed as he arrived at work the following Monday. Elizabeta had a point, they needed more friends that would hang out with them and the double date night idea wasn't a bad one, just they did not think Arthur and Francis would act like they did. But it was time to begin scheduling and practicing with the local theatre, ballet and other performance troupes in the area and today was going to be a rough one. Roderich was first violin and one over all the string section when it came to making sure they were ready for a performance. And today they were meeting with the director of the ballet troupe. Normally they did not do much with them until winter and the Nutcracker was being performed but he had insisted that they meet early to make sure they would be up to par for their standards.
"Oh hello Mr. Edelstein!" The manager of the ballet company said as he came in. "It is not polite to keep your business associates waiting."
"The appointment is at 9 am." Roderich said as he looked at his watch. "Which is now."
"And you should have been here sooner." Natalya said stepping out from behind Ivan. "It is now 9:01."
"Sorry." Roderich said but he did not really mean it. Most theatre troupes who wish to have us perform with them do allow some time for watches not being synched to the atomic clock or something like that.
"Eto ne vazhno. It is nothing. My sister can sometimes be rather impatient sometimes. But now you are here and we must talk." Ivan smiled.
"But the conductor is not here yet and he's the one who makes all the final decisions." Roderich said.
"What is it with people in this country?" Natalya said. She was dressed in a traditional ballet outfit. "Never on time."
"Sorry sorry sorry!" The conductor ran in. "Traffic was horrible."
"I understand. My best dancer is eager to begin to show her talents." Ivan nodded.
"I understand Mr. Braginsky. We have always been partners with your orchestra and hope to continue with our new lead dancer." Ivan began as Roderich dozed off, until he caught a disdainful look from Natalya.
The conversation went on for a while longer and included a performance from Natalya who Roderich agreed that she was indeed worthy of the title she earned of best dancer in the troupe and then wondered why they were here in the first place beyond their usual agreements on their holiday performances of the Nutcracker. As he began to wonder, Ivan spoke. "We are looking to add a few other shows to our yearly schedule and was wondering if you could take up our summer season of Swan Lake as well."
"I do not see any reason why not Mr. Braginsky." The conductor said.
"What about our usual summer routine?" Roderich asked.
"The council was going to change the music to a local jazz band anyway. They were just dragging us along anyway Roderich. You know how the city council is." The conductor said as he shook Ivan and Natalya's hands and worked to draw up a new contract. Seeing his presence was no longer needed he headed into the instrumental room to make sure the instruments kept by the orchestra were in proper order. Many of the members loved to play their own but they had always kept a backup as catastrophes always happened to the unprepared. As he checked the tension on one of the cello's bows the door opened behind him.
"Ivan!" Roderich jumped, throwing the bow aside, but holding tight to the cello. "I thought you were working out a deal with the conductor."
"It is finished. I just had not spoken with you in so long, that I figured it would be nice for old friends to catch up, da?" Ivan said. "How was your weekend? Is Elizabeta happy?"
"Yes, somewhat…." Roderich said.
"Do tell?" Ivan inquired. Roderich had known Ivan for a while and often had long discussions on the classics with him. Naturally he preferred the Russian composers and while Roderich could not discount their contributions, he favored ones like Mozart and Beethoven himself.
"Oh there's no real tension in our marriage. Thank you for helping us to smooth over some of the really tough times early on." He added. "I love Eliza with all my soul but lately date nights have been rather boring so we tried inviting an old friend and his husband with us only to have them think we wanted to 'swing'" Roderich quoted disgusted at the idea.
"What do you mean by 'swing'?" Ivan asked.
"Swap partners. The nerve." Roderich huffed.
"Highly inappropriate. But I do like Eliza's idea. Do you mind if I arrange a meeting for a how you say, couple's date?" Ivan asked. "My dorogoy and I have had much a similar idea," Roderich looked like he was about to interject when Ivan smiled. "Not swing but make new friends. I think he would like you and Eliza. Besides he needs new taste in music you can help provide. He is too fixated on Sousa and Foster. If I hear O Susanna one more time…."
Roderich thought about it. Ivan did not have the temperament and libido Francis did. "Sure, why not."
"Great! I will call you with the address to meet at this Friday." Ivan waved as he headed to the door with his sister tapping her foot.
So that Friday came and Eliza and Roderich were getting ready. "I trust you when you tell me Ivan is not like Francis but where did he want to meet us again?"
"He just sent an address." Roderich said as he pulled up to a Red Robin. "This doesn't seem like something that Ivan would pick…."
"Ivan invited us to a burger place? I mean they are better than McDonalds but for a date?" Elizabeta looked around. "Maybe he just wanted to meet us here as the parking is better than at some of the other places around here…."
"Hey guys! Vanya and I are over here!" A blonde haired man with glasses said in a bomber jacket waving with Ivan smiling beside him.
"Ivan?" Roderich asked.
"Da. It was Fredka's turn to pick where we eat so and when I asked him if he minded you two joining us, he had no issues as long as he got to pick." Ivan smiled.
"You guys will love this place. I mean there's stuff other than burgers but that's my favorite. I honestly would have been happy with McDonalds but Vanya wanted to do better. So this is what we came up with."
Elizabeta looked over at Roderich who shrugged. Alfred was not the type that they had imagined Ivan with. Roderich wasn't sure exactly who he was expecting to see but Alfred was not it. Once seated Eliza looked to Roderich and then to Alfred and Ivan. Their waitress came up and took their drink orders and then a pause filled the table.
"Oh I know that look." Alfred began. "You guys think Vanya and I don't go together."
"But as I assured my sisters, I love his energy and cockiness. It's just so fun to be around and never quiet." Ivan smiled. "Plus I have been improving his musical taste."
"Yeah, really like the 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky. Totally rocks." Alfred said.
"Yes, you seem like the type to like that one…." Roderich said. "Don't you like anything else? I know Ivan mentioned your love of Sousa and Steven 'stinking' Foster…."
"Woah! Little rough out of the gate dude..." Alfred said.
"Yes Roderich. I knew you were rather curt but I did think you would at least show some respect." Ivan smiled but everyone could tell that smile had a menacing aura to it.
"Yeah Roddy. I know you can be a music snob but please. So far it is starting a lot better than with Arthur and Francis." Eliza whispered as she nudged him in the ribs with her elbow.
Wanting to keep his wife happy, Roderich swallowed his pride and went on. "Well I play for the local orchestra and do music with many theatre troupes and ballet groups like the one your husband runs…"
"Well not quite yet." Alfred and Ivan blushed as each of them looked away.
"Awwwww why not?" Eliza asked. "You two seem so sweet together."
"We're waiting for Vanya's younger sister to get used to the idea of us together first. His older sister likes he found someone but Natalya…." Alfred said as he sipped his coke and looked around. The waitress then took their food orders as another pause filled the table.
"I've met her. While she is an excellent ballerina, I can see why you would be reluctant to wed if she does not like you." Roderich nodded.
"Yeah…. she chased me with a butcher knife when I first met her…." Alfred shuddered. "Vanya and I met stargazing one night after fighting over the spot then eventually one thing led to another."
"And you are all mine now my love." Ivan said kissing Alfred on the top of the head. Elizabeta smiled while Roderich rolled his eyes. He needed to keep conversation and remembered some of Ivan's complaints about Alfred's music choices.
"Is there any other classical composers you like?" Roderich said, trying to fulfill his promise to Elizabeta to be less of a snob and to Ivan to broaden his horizons.
"Hmmmmmm Vanya told me you don't like Sousa and he doesn't that much either. Too much brass he says. "I am sure he was putting it nicely for your sake…. He thought knowing how Ivan was. "Ummm I like Nutcracker but that is Tchaikovsky too. Oh and that Ode to Joy one, I just don't know who does that…."
"Beethoven! How do you not know that!" Roderich yelled.
"Dude relax. I only just started even knowing what it was called." Alfred said.
"Yes. One does not know everything like you do." Ivan said menacingly.
"Yes Roddy please!" Elizabeta said as he looked away embarrassed at the scene he made.
"I am sorry to humiliate you so. I know you are trying to expand your horizons for Ivan." Roderich admitted.
"That's better." Elizabeta said as the waitress came with the food.
"Tell me how you like this stuff." Alfred smiled as the food was placed in front of everyone. "I mean I know it isn't typically what you guys would like but also Vanya told me of your displeasure at the Olive Garden. I mean what did you expect? I just like the unlimited breadsticks there." Ivan smiled as Roderich looked at him. He wanted that disaster put behind him.
"You see Fredka has quite the appetite." Ivan said as he motioned to the large burger in front of Alfred.
Eliza took a bite and smiled at Alfred. Roderich had ordered a salad as that was the only thing he could find that he was willing to eat, not being a big hamburger fan himself. "Well it is not bad and it is fair priced."
"We got the check." Alfred said. "It's the only way Vanya would let me keep this place as where we ate if I paid for everyone. So one must make sacrifices." The evening continued until everyone was full up of fries, burgers and fried dough Alfred ordered everyone for desert and then paid. As both couples headed to their cars, Alfred waved. "If we ever get Natalya to like me, I'll invite you guys to the wedding."
Roderich got in the car and Elizabeta sat beside him. He burped and covered his mouth embarrassed. Elizabeta giggled as she sucked on a peppermint. "That didn't go too bad. You didn't get into too many arguments over music and we did not get asked to swing."
"But that food was so heavy, even the salad." He burped again. "If we EVER go out with those two again, it will be somewhere else."
"Thank you for being so nice to them." Elizabeta replied.
"Was it just me or did Alfred seem like he was stronger than he looked." Roderich said as Eliza shrugged. "Because I have a feeling that besides Ivan beating me with his pipe if I upset Alfred too much, he could punch pretty hard."
So how was that? Good? Bad? Short? Long? Let me know in a review. I know this wasn't as raunchy as the others but there's more chaos to come. I had to do a RusAme one, as it is my favorite Hetalia pairing. Doesn't mean I won't use Russia and America in other pairings if you request. Anyway remember to read (well you just did) and to review. Ciao for now,
Otherrealmwriter
Aka
Realm.