Vienna, 1815.

"You two are really going to bring us into another war?" Hungary was exasperated. They had so recently finished the last one. Defeating Napoleon was no easy task and required the blood of many of her men. She couldn't believe such sacrifice was unacknowledged by Britain and Austria.

"There's only a war if Russia and Prussia want there to be one." Britain straightened his back and focused his eyes on her. "Believe you me, I want nothing more than to avoid another fight. If those two brutes are looking for one then it's up to us gentlemen to put an end to it."

Austria crossed his arms over his chest, narrowing his eyes into a glare. "Perhaps you could engage in some of your diplomacy with Prussia to convince him otherwise. Make your relations with him useful for a change."

"Do you really want to go there? You're no better, just last week I heard about-"

Britain held up a hand, cutting her off before this could escalate further. "Please, both of you spare me. I refuse to continue to play spectator to…whatever it is you three have going on. It brings out in the worst in all of you." Sufficiently embarrassed, Austria and Hungary turned their attentions away from each other. "Thank you. Though, maybe Roderich has a point. Sleeping with the enemy might get us something here."

Erzsébet stiffened up, balling her hands into fists at her sides. "I refuse to cheapen myself like that! I'm not going to Berlin to throw myself at him to take his mind off Saxony! I have more self-worth than that!"

Roderich rolled his eyes, outwardly showing his disbelief at that notion. Arthur, on the other hand, was in a place of deep thought. "Very true. It's not proper of us to try to force you into such a position. My apologies." He snapped his fingers, an idea coming to mind. "In that case, I'll stop over there before I head home. Should only be a minor detour. You have to be the change you want to see in the world and all that nonsense." He looked between their shocked expressions. "Something the matter?"

"Why does everyone want to-!" Roderich caught himself after he realized he was yelling. After taking a few calming breaths, he forced a smile. "I'm going to fix myself a drink. Do either of you want one?" Without waiting for an answer, he began pouring three glasses of scotch at the cabinet.

Erzsébet readily accepted hers. Arthur was a strange man. A little buzz would probably be the best way to understand someone so bizarre. A question nagged at her in the back of her mind. "Aren't you normally his ally anyways? It seems odd for you to be preemptively siding with us."

Arthur waved her concern away. "It's all about the balance of power. When Austria is too strong, I work with Prussia; when Prussia is too strong, I work with Austria. I'll be blunter than I really should be, but it's all keeping you lot in check." He chuckled. "You can understand, wouldn't want either of you becoming too elevated."

"Are you implying him or I couldn't handle it?" Austria took his seat on the far-end of the couch besides Hungary. "While I agree that he's incapable and would lead the world into endless wars, you seem to be misjudging my capabilities."

"Am I really? I apologize, it must be due to the fact that I can't recall the last time you won a war on your own merit." Britain sipped from his drink, staring down Austria from over the rim. "It would be fascinating to see a man who can't even control his own household vaingloriously attempt to control disparate parts of the world. No disrespect, but if you can't handle Bohemia then you certainly can't control Australia." He winked at Hungary, a sly smile forming across his lips. "I'm sure the woman who can attest to all this has a lot to say on the subject."

Hungary couldn't mask her bemused smile. She could appreciate anyone who could check Austria at his own, faux-gentlemanly game. Her emotions ran too hot to ever achieve that. Despite how much she wished to join Britain's crusade, she didn't want to create any hassle for herself. "Arthur, be good. You'll get me in trouble." It certainly didn't hurt that her voice had a distinctly flirty tone to it that both men picked up on.

"You most certainly will." Austria's hand gripped tight around his glass, making his knuckles white. He shot daggers at Hungary with his eyes, before turning them onto Britain. "Interesting for you to say all that. How long ago was it that you lost America and then failed to reacquire him? Was only a few years ago, wasn't it?" The corners of his mouth itched upward. "Seems as if you lack the skill required to control the more…passionate spirits among us."

Arthur's jaw tightened. Erzsébet found herself shocked by how hard that blow seemed to land. "No wonder you can't keep any spouse you manage to acquire. You're the most horrendous of men." Roderich's eyes widened and his mouth gaped. Arthur smiled, enjoying the moment of weakness from his prey. "It's quite funny, really, how befuddled you are by everyone's preference for Gilbert over you. None of us are foolish to believe that he's a better man than you - quite contrary, you both are incredibly uncouth and vile - but he doesn't hide his true self under a thin veneer of decorum. He knows he's wretched and he loves it. Which is rather charming when you get up close to it, as Erzsébet would willingly corroborate." His expression shifted into one of utter distaste as he stared down his nose at Roderich. "You might actually be enjoyable beyond a cheap laugh or two if you accepted who you really are: a barbarian with a suit flailing around high society."

"I think that's enough, Arthur." Despite addressing him, Erzsébet's full attention was on a completely gutted Roderich. "If you want to arrive before nightfall, leave for Berlin now."

"Very well. You're the expert after all." He rose, nodding his head at the two of them. Once in the doorway, he turned around. "Don't take it all to heart, Roderich. You do have redeeming qualities. You're quite the brilliant pianist." Laughing, he took his leave.

Erzsébet cautiously reached out to him. "Are you alright?" She didn't know why she bothered. It's not like everything Arthur had said was wrong. She found herself agreeing to it in principle and had even said quite a bit of it to Roderich without him being affected. It seemed as if coming from Arthur, from Britain, it had more weight.

Roderich understood this too and inched away from her. His eyes were alit with fury. "Why do you care? As if you think of me any differently." She had never seen his expression and body language filled with such contempt. He was trembling with his hate. "Every word he said, I know it's exactly as you think. Why act as if you care about my feelings now?"

If she said it was because it was the decent thing to do, he would throw it right back in her face. She had to proceed with caution. "Because I've never seen you so upset about this before."

"Of course, you haven't. Why would I allow myself any vulnerability before you? You're a complete wench."

All Erzsébet's compassion was thrown out the window. "Amazing. You're really willing to prove his point this quickly? You've been horrid to me since the day I arrived! No consideration for my feelings, my experiences, any respect for me as a person and nor as a state! You really expected me to give you the respect you wouldn't dare to afford me?" She was screaming now, yelling at the top of her lungs. "You're a bastard!"

"You're damn right I did because I am your superior! I am the master of your lands; you should do as I say and not be so hellbent on undermining every little thing I do! Being married to me and living underneath my king should be an honor!" He was standing now, his glass had fallen to floor. It was shattered into thousands of tiny little pieces. Roderich smiled in a way that completely distorted his face. "I should've left you under the damn Turks. A whore like you probably loved being part of that harem. No shame in admitting it now, I can't imagine you've ever been a virginal woman."

A loud smack filled the air, the cracking of skin-on-skin. The left side of Roderich's face was bright red. Erzsébet laughed hysterically despite there being nothing funny about the whole situation. Her eyes were wild. "I slit Sadiq's throat in his sleep once. It's important that you understand I'll do the same to you. Blood doesn't wash out of silk easily."

Her response was a nice wad of spit landing on her cheek, underneath her eye. Her outrage fueled Roderich's own. "I know where the swords are too, bitch. You really think you can threaten me?" He rolled his eyes, scoffing. "Why don't you make yourself useful and clean up the glasses you knocked over?" He smirked, his eyes begging her to continue. "Or are you going to run to Gilbert and tell him more about your nasty little husband? You realize that you're no princess and he's no knight? None of them care. They'll never come to save you."

"I don't need saving," she hissed. Fire coursed through her veins. "I will break free from you on my own. I don't expect anyone's help."

"You've said that for centuries, but look-" Austria stretched his arms out wide, a taunting grin on his lips. "You're still here."