SOUTH KOREA + AUSTRIA AND OUTFIT SWITCH (:I)
The minute Italy opened Austria's door, the mismatched cords of a piano reached his ears. He furrowed his brow, and waited for them the even out, but that never happened. Frowning, Italy continued into the house with his basket of dry noodles and tomato paste. They were gifts for Austria and Hungary, because Christmas was soon, and because of the war, Italy wouldn't be able to spend it with them, so he was bringing them their present early.
But something wasn't right. Austria played the piano a million times better than this even on his worst days. The sound reminded him of when he would crawl up on the bench and hammer down on the keys in an effort to recreate the magic Austria was able to make with the instrument, but to no avail. Was there a stranger in the house —the kind of stranger who brakes into people's houses just to play their old, antique musical instruments? Italy shuddered. Maybe he should have brought Germany after all (despite how he had vehemently refused). . .
When he finally entered the music room —that hadn't changed dramatically in the last thousand years he'd been absent from it, other that the instillation of a floor vent— he saw Austria's back, seated at the piano bench, a sight he was so used to, he almost looked right over the man in his search for the source of the horrible noise. He looked the same as he always did; back straight, hair perfectly combed, legs uncrossed and unmoving.
"Uh, M- Mr. Austria?" Italy called, his voice only slightly louder that the horrible music. "A- Are you alright? Because you're music sounds like crap. . ."
"Hey!" Italy jumped, because that was not Austria's voice, and that meant he should probably be getting out of here. "Did you know the piano originated in Korea?"
Italy stopped, half-way out the window, and turned to look back at not-Austria. "K- Korea?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"I don't know what happened," China mused. "But lately, I've found you much more tolerable, Korea."
"For the last time," Austria hissed. "I'm not Korea. I'm Austria."
"Just let me enjoy this a little bit longer."
AN: Told you.