Chapter 4: Someone needs to tape her mouth shut
The ball was going horribly for Regina. Somehow she had managed to piss off every single nation she spoke with. She walked around the room aimlessly, deep in thought. "Surely I can't be THAT bad," she mused" I mean I only told Russia that he was a communist bastard, insulted pasta in front of Italy, mocked China's accent and told Austria that he doesn't play the piano well, but I avoided Japan entirely! Surely that has got to count for something, right? Also that katana looked scary as hell."
Meanwhile across the room, Alfred was trying to calm the offended nations down before they could start world war three. It took a while to get everyone civil again, and Antonio did apologize for chasing Gilbert around with his sword, but eventually they were able to discuss what to do like mature adults.
"Zhis new president of jours is not very polite." Ludwig noted, his observation agreed with by all the nations. "Und zhis may end very poorly if she is like zhis at zhe negotiation table." he turned to Alfred and delivered his ultimatum. "Unless jou can get her replaced, or at least make sure zhat someone else vill do zhe negotiations, i'm afraid zhat Germany and America vill have to dissolve relations."
Alfred nodded gravely, eyes chips of blue ice behind his glasses. Other countries soon followed with similar demands, such as Sweden threatening to close all Ikea stores in America, and the Italy brothers both agreeing that italian goods would no longer be exported to America if Regina stayed in office. Arthur remained silent throughout the chaos, but stood near Alfred, his presence a comfort to the younger nation as he tried to figure out how to negotiate with the furious others.
As soon as the others had left and only Regina, Arthur and Alfred remained, Alfred slumped against a wall, took off his glasses, and ran his hand through his hair haphazardly, messing it up. "Well how did it go?" Regina asked. "Did they all love me?" Alfred chose not to reply vocally, instead facepalming and sighing wearily. Arthur however, was a different story.
"Well he barely managed to prevent world war three, if that's what you're asking."
"What!? World war three? Are you serious?"
"Due to your simply lovely comments" Regina winced at his dripping sarcasm. "You managed to piss of nearly every country that works with him, except me. Alfred managed to avoid a major war, but now you are facing possible economic crisis, with Wang, Ludwig, Feliciano, Lovino, and Berwald stopping trade with you."
Regina hung her head, and mumbled sheepishly "You'd think that being a nation you guys wouldn't be such sensitive pansies." she thought that her comment might make them laugh, or at least agree with her, but Arthur looked scandalized. He opened his mouth for a sharp retort, but Alfred beat him to it. Alfred pushed himself off the wall and stepped in front of her, jabbing his finger into her collarbone.
"Sensitive pansies huh." he mocked in a high pitched voice that sounded nothing like her own."We have all lived through events that would make you go insane from fear, and believe me, most mortals did. We fight in all of history's major battles and fought for your freedom. I was at every single american battle in history, and a fair amount in the world wars, even before I officially stepped in. We can't die, even when we are wounded. You think it's fun getting your head chopped off? Ask Francis, he would know. We feel the pain of every one of our citizens when there is an attack in a major city. You would be begging for your life to end after living like that but for us there is no relief. Disrespect from a human is the worst insult in the world, for we went to hell and back for you to even be able to live. Sensitive pansies? In your dreams." he spat, striding out of the room.
She looked around for support, but Arthur was following Alfred out of the ballroom and down a hallway. She started to go after them, but Arthur called over his shoulder "Stay away from him if you would like your head to remain on your shoulders."
Regina felt furious at being ignored, and with a smirk, quietly followed them.