Romano crossed his legs on the bed so he could rest his laptop on them. "The Presentation Ceremony," he said aloud as he typed it. "It's so..." He stopped and looked up at his brother. "I don't know. How should we describe it? It's so...Honorable?"
Veneziano thought for a second. "So traditional," he supplied."
"No," Romano shook his head once. "Boring. They're so boring. We've been to so many of them that I can hardly believe that nothing has ever changed. I'm just glad we don't have to sit through the tattooing anymore. Contrary to whatever England may believe, it's practically torture. Why do you think they stopped doing it at the ceremony?"
"I don't know. Maybe they realized it wasn't very fun to watch. I mean... It's not fun to hear infants cry. I hear they don't do it the same way anymore. That it's less painful."
"Lucky them," Romano said flatly. "I can still kind of remember the intense pain from my tattooing..." Romano sighed loudly and looked over and Veneziano who was typing rather quickly. "What are you doing?"
"I'm starting my side of the story," he answered without turning to his brother. We have to start somewhere, Romano. I'm going to start at home not long before we left. Isn't that great?"
"So you're starting in North Italy?"
"Yeah," Veneziano said, finally turning around. "But I'm going to start when Hungary and Austria came to visit... It wasn't very fun," he told his brother, a sad look on his face. "Austria was very unhappy for some reason. I've always been a weak country, but those few weeks they were there really just brought it to my attention."
Veneziano was in the kitchen making pasta and dancing around with the music loud. He had promised one of his beautiful citizens that he would take her dancing that night. For some reason, the girl he was heading out with was in love with Flamenco dancing. He didn't remember flamenco that well, because he only danced it for a while after Romano left Spain and they became one. He had to do a lot of begging before Romano finally taught him and after his southern half stopped dancing with him he nearly forgot it because he had no one to dance with. He had a lot of brushing up to do before nightfall.
When was the last time he saw Romano anyway? They've barely spoken since they were united. They mostly correspond through letters and their boss liked to deal with Veneziano alone, because he "has a better attitude." Maybe he'll get in contact with his brother next week.
He sighed loudly, who was he kidding? Romano didn't want to talk to him. He danced until the pasta was done and he turned down the music so he could eat in the quiet.
"I'm telling you, Austria! He's not in there! He's missing! We have to find him!" he heard Hungary's voice yelled. How long had they been there? "I don't know who you are but you better open this door!" Hungary threatened, banging on the door. There's no way the music could have been that loud. "Austria! What do you plan to do about this?"
"Italy is his own nation," Veneziano could barely hear through the door. "If he's not home then he isn't home. He may be back later. We can go on a tour or go somewhere else if he isn't here."
Veneziano through open the door, a huge smile on his face and hugged the two nations so hard that they fell to the ground. Hungary laughed loudly at this and hugged him back, but Austria just looked annoyed, standing up quickly and dusting himself off. "Aren't you mature enough to realize you are too old to throw yourself into people's arms, Italy?"
The young nation's smile faded and he picked himself up off the ground. "I... I was just trying to... I haven't seen you in so long and..." his brain fumbled around wildly for the correct words as he tried to keep from crying.
"Austria," Hungary warned under her breath. "Look what you've done."
"I just wanted to give my friends a hug," Veneziano mumbled quietly, looking at the ground.
"Oh, honey," Hungary threw her arms around him. "It's okay. I don't mind if you knocked me over a couple of times." She patted his cheek and giggled quietly. "All of your excitement is so cute." She threw a dark glare over her shoulder. "Be nice, Austria. I'll talk to him." She pulled Veneziano into the house and led him into the kitchen.
"I just wanted to..."
"I know," she told him, fixing him a bowl of pasta. "But maybe Austria is right. You have to be more mature, don't you? As adorable as you are you have to watch out for your country. For example, what plans do you have for tonight?"
"I'm going on a date," Veneziano smiled. "I'm going dancing and...What?" he asked to the sad smile Hungary was giving him.
"You have to have fun, Italy, we all understand that. We get tired of work and just want to go out on dates and..." She stopped and shook her head. "As fellow nations, as friends, we have to look out for each other, and Austria and I are a little worried that..."
"I do work," Veneziano defended, not quite meeting her gaze. "I really do. I just..."
"Look at me," Hungary ordered. "I think that you sometimes forget that there is more to the world than just your home. Their are other countries around that would be happy to take your home from you. If they see you as care-free and not as serious as you should be then you will be vulnerable."
"Have you heard rumors that someone is going to attack me?" Italy asked, frightened by her words.
"There are no rumors," she assured him, "but that's the way the world works. We didn't raise you to get taken over. We raised you so that you could become strong. And you are, but you don't apply it as much as you should."
"She's right, Italy," Austria said stiffly from the doorway. "You're practically advertising yourself as prey."
"But if no one is planning anything against me, then I really don't have to be worried, right?"
"No, Italy," Austria's eyes darkened, scaring the young nation. "You should always be worried. If you stop worrying, you're more likely to be surprised."
