He didn't attempt anything. He simply observed Ludwig. Odd, he'd usually be more terrified than this. Yet he stood strong, save for the one shaky step he took. Yet his expression betrayed nothing, save for the slight tremor in his voice. Veneciano was irked at these new antics.
"Why must you restrict yourself? It's not like that would help anything." He rolled his eyes and took a step closer, maintaining his former distance.
Ludwig straightened and frowned at him. "Why—... What happened to you? Why are you like this?" Despite the furrow of his brows, concern tinged the ice-blue of his eyes.
Veneciano gave a bitter chuckle. Ah, Ludwig. Always one with the questions. How it could never dawn on him that his curiosity piqued the annoyance of the italian, he could never understand. "I could ask you that myself," he scoffed, "You know, usually you'd be cowering now, not asking about my state." Another step towards him.
Confusion played at Germany's face. Why was he confused? He was the one who changed. Not him. So there wasn't any reason to be confused, was there?
Ludwig, Ludwig, Ludwig. His irrationality would never be understood. Veneciano wondered how he was able to put up with him for all these years without getting pissed by his lack of logic and ending up punishing him for it. Oh, that's right. He did punish him for it, if not occasionally. No, scratch that. Ludwig had irritated him frequently, and thus received the punishment he deserved just as often. Speaking of punishment, maybe it was simply high time for another one.
"Stop being so confused. It's not as if I changed a bit," he grumbled. "In fact, you're the one who did. What happened to the weakling I'd come home to?" With a single step, he shortened the distance between them and held the taller man's chin between his finger and thumb, only for the confusion dancing clearly in his eyes to swing to shocked alarm as he visibly flinched and blushed faintly at the touch.
Veneciano grinned widely. Now this was the Ludwig he was used to. But something seemed amiss...
"Snap out of it, Veneciano!" Ludwig abruptly barked as he firmly grasped the italian's wrist and jerked it away from his now frowning face. The uncertainty had been wiped completely from his ice-blue irises, making them much colder than they appeared. It was replaced instead with a chiding strictness Veneciano had never witnessed on Ludwig before.
"If this is a result of one of Arthur's failed spells again..." He trailed off. He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration. Veneciano eyed him warily, now unsure of many things. Arthur? Spells? Psh, like cupcake boy could ever make a mistake in those kind of things even if he tried. What was wrong with Ludwig today? Was he telling all lies, or did he somehow acquire amnesia or whatnot? Either way, Veneciano wasn't one to ask questions when the other party didn't seem to have the answers he desired. So he simply sat back, and watched the chaos unfold.