Dwellings of Holy Rome (Open to all HRE occupants)

[alphyn]

Within The Dwellings of the Holy Roman Empire Part 1 (800 - 1250 )

Stepping into the castle, the young Helvetian was pretty excited about the whole thing. He had to be. It wasn’t like he really had a choice in the matter, but there didn’t seem to be any drawbacks either. This is how things were. And now perhaps, being a part of a larger cause while still retaining his independence, the Helvetic proto-nation would finally be able to build a stable life for his people, one that would not fly under siege from one greedy pair of hands to the next, wondering where his next meal would come from. Yes… here, he could learn, here… he could live.

“Come on Roderich, let’s go pick out our rooms!” he smiled pulling along his friend’s hand as his feet danced across the stone floor, “I’m looking forward to one with a big window that I can see the horizon out of!”

Vash had always liked the skyline, peaking over his mountains each morning. There was nothing in the world quite like that view. He hoped Roderich would pick a room close by so they could wake up to the same view. They’d always shared that skyline, those mountains, the hardships. Everything was even. Vash would do anything to no longer have to see his friend suffer, just as he no longer wanted to suffer either. It was the perfect situation.

The stone, Gothic halls echoed with the mirth in the blonde's voice as leather boots ran down the floors and graced stairwells, reaching the west wing of the castle. Paintings and torches adorned the walls. Windows wide open, hungry for the sun's heat, bathed everything in warm light. It truly felt like a home here. Never in his short life had Vash ever seen anything so majestic and filled with riches. Perhaps once or twice when he was first taken under Germania and Rome's care... he had seen something of a similar nature, but for the most part everything had been left to what his mind could conjure in faerietales from Gaul.

Everything was so large here. The doors to each room had to be at least 5 metres tall at least. Every door was decorated with wood carvings of historic battles, persons, and symbols on them, laced with meticulously gold trim on the frame. Everything was incredible here. Empires as a whole were incredible. How could one developing nation accomplish such feats? Perhaps it was by serving the church?

[reticence]

The boy laughed. It was a thing that in upcoming centuries would be a rare thing, and perhaps never again heard after a time with such innocence and purity. Roderich was happy to be pulled about my his friend, happy to go anywhere with him. He was young, and although he had been dizzy over the century with different names, names that he had thought had belonged to others (scared, dim faces in the dark never to be seen again), but he was happy here. He felt... safe. He didn't want his name taken, too - but the men had assured him he would be fine. They even gave him sweet things. Surely they were good people. Even the King, so intimidatingly tall, had pat him on the head and spoke kindly to him, giving him a new name - one that rang true, finally, in his heart.

They ran down the hall (well, only when there wasn't some adult there to give them a scolding look for it), toward the place they were able to choose from. Choose? It was too much! "Vash-- can't I just stay with you? I don't need a big room just for me!" His voice was cheerful, but really he wanted absolutely nothing more than to just spend his days and nights with his friend. His closest friend. There'd be no more being picked on by mean Magyar boys and his wickedly smiling friend with the bloody eyes, no more being pushed in the mud by pretty blonde girls from the west and their pretty brown-haired friends. No more. Only living happily in this place with good food and Vash, Vash by his side forever. He couldn't supress another giggle, didn't even think to, just held his friend's hand tighter and pushed shoulder against shoulder staring at the various doors. "Which one first?"


[note: assuming from Austria not even realizing that Chibitalia was a dude, and Hungary presenting herself as a boy back then, I'm referring here to Hungary/Magyar as male and France (the pretty blonde from the west) as female (well, even England thought he was a girl at first, right...?). Other references are Spain (pretty brown-haired friend), Prussia obvs being the wicked smiler with red eyes and the King being Charlemagne]

[alphyn]

“You should really have your own room here… How do you ever expect to get stronger if you don’t try to stick up for yourself?” he tilted his head to the side a bit, before smiling to reassure his friend, “You’ll be find here I promise! We’re in Holy Rome’s house now, and he’s one of the strongest empires around. You don’t have to worry about Elizaveta here, and Gilbert won’t touch you with Holy Rome around, plus I’m here. I’ll be able to train you in peace and we’ll both get stronger each day.”

Vash returned the squeeze to Roderiech’s hand as he turned back around picking up his pace again as they arrived at the bedroom halls in the west wing, where they were told they’d be staying. Vash giggled again rubbing his shoulder back against his friend’s playfully as he looked up at the first large wooden door. Light danced in his eyes, awaiting to see what it'd be like inside.

“Well… let’s see if this one’s taken,” he stated, stepping forward to knock on it first; ever one for manners. When he heard no answer, he opened the door to reveal a music and study room with a Hackbrett in the center, “Hey Roderich look! It’s a music room!” he exclaimed back to the other with excitement. He knew Roderich had always been a fan of anything culture had to off him, rather spending his time plucking strings and reading books, versus holding a sword or bow and arrow. “Maybe you should take a room next door or across from this one if it’s available.”


< note: I kind of feel like the nation's probably called eachother by their human names or special nicknames they had for each other, as a lot hadn't developed their (final) country names yet. >

[reticence]

Roderich frowned slightly, something that was really more a pout (a substitute he'd never be able to get rid of his entire life) but could only hold it for a moment before he was grinning again. "Right...!" Holy Rome's house, what an amazing place! So many people could live here happily, safely, and-- training? Roderich couldn't help but give a soft groan at the thought. It was fun... sometimes, but Vash was stern and... well... he wasn't actually very good at it. At any of it. It was easy for him to see an opponent's blind spot, but less so when said opponent was coming at him with a sword or fists. They said he was good at strategy, but what he wanted to be good at was not getting hurt. It was hard to think about strategy with that savage ponytailed boy laughing over you and his jerk albino friend smiling that sharp smile of his.

Vash's words brought him back out of sad thoughts of the boys he really just wanted to be friends with despite their constant bullying and he peered over his friend's shoulder curiously, and then stared, wide-eyed, as the blonde's step forward tugged him a little too. He forgot to walk at first, but when he came back to himself he dropped the other's hand so he could tenatively be drawn toward the instrument that seemed the very center of the world. Tenatively, reverently, he touched the strings, sliding small, long fingers along them. Roderich tilted his head slightly at the very faint sound that came from such a movement. "I can't stay here...?" he nearly whispered.

[alphyn]

Vash watched with knowing amusement as his friend made his way to the instrument. It was like leading a heard to their summer pastures. The way Roderich’s eyes locked onto the instrument and began analyzing it, exploring it. Now if only he had that same interest when it came to battle he probably wouldn’t be so bad off. The Helvetian was never much for such fancy things like his friend, could never afford them anyways. Nope… large bells and horns to lead the herds were pretty much all he really cared for, for music. Occasionally he might be caught singing, but that was very… very rare. In fact, he was pretty sure Roderich wasn’t even aware of the fact Vash could sing, or that he enjoyed it from time to time.

After a little while of letting the other fiddle around with the strings Vash walked up behind him and pressed his face into the others back softly, letting out a small chuckle, knowing Austria would fall in love with this room the minute he'd opened the door and seen for himself. The sounds of the plucked strings echoed comfortingly in his ears, like long forgotten songs and melodies he'd forgotten, but his heart knew. Greens and twisted knots tucking him in at night with whispers of forgotten languages kissing him to sleep as he'd bury into pelts deeply hidden within the Alps. Only then would he awake next morning to find everything lost and forgotten. But for now, just listening to that old comfort, made the world less heavy on his shoulders. He wanted to sing, words he couldn't remember but somehow knew... songs of his heart. He wanted to hug into that comfort, but even dreams had to end as he opened his eyes to the cold reality of morning, and the modern day.

“I don’t see a bed here, so that’s probably not a good idea. This room should be for everyone,” Vash replied softly, stepped to the side so he could peer down at Roderich’s face. His hands slid off from beside the brunette, resting on his knees as he tried to cheer both of them up again, thinking quick on his feet, “But, perhaps when you save enough money you can buy your own Hackbrett.”

“Come on,” he egged again grasping the others hand, “We need to find our rooms before all the good ones are taken. You pick this time,” he smiled, swaying Roderich’s hand to and fro.

[reticence]

Already, the boy who would one day become a man known among his fellow nations for his musicianship felt melodies in his mind. He didn't dare pick up the hammers, but merely slid fingers along those strings, coaxing soft sounds from them that wouldn't draw the attention of the castle guards, of adults that might tell him 'no.'

It wasn't until Vash again spoke that he noticed the press of the boy's face against his back, or that he was leaning a little into the comfort and warmth of it. "I can just sleep underneath, right? I don't need a bed!" But it was an empty proclamation: despite his proximity to the Alps, despite snow and rain, Roderich still easily became cold at times, his thin limbs not easily keeping any heat within. He frowned again, that little pout he'd never in his life define or accept as such, and finally withdrew his fingers. "Yeah, you're right..." but the hand in his brought renewed curiosity and excitement and together they left the room to explore again the big corridor outside. If Vash wanted something with a big window, and they were on the western side of the castle, than perhaps this room--

Roderich opened another large door (although not without some effort), pushing it open to reveal a large, heavily curtained window that seemed to be the centerpiece of the room itself. Sunlight streamed in, warming him already from the doorway, magnetizing him into the room itself. Roderich didn't think to ask if Vash would follow - he merely kept the grasp on the boy's hand as if he were part of him.

[alphyn]

Vash couldn’t help but burst into a small fit of laughter at the prospect of Austria sleeping under a Hackbrett on the stone floor, curled up perhaps so he would require as little space as possible. The mental image was something else to behold.

”I can only imagine how you would be feeling the following morning after sleeping on a stone floor all night,” the Helvetian chuckled, ”You know you deserve to sleep on something better then the floor right? Just think about it, we’re going to have actual beds!” Vash nearly jumped in excitement, his eyes jumping to life with excited green. He could barely contain himself with the idea. It was certainly unsightly of him to be acting so childish, but he knew in his heart his children back home were bubbling with just as much joy. Their salvation from the cold had finally come.

When the pair had entered a new room, the young proto-nation had immediately took to the window, rushing over to draw back the curtains. He didn’t forget Roderich though, as he dragged the other with. He knew that grip well. To him it was always a sign of caution and fear, which Roderich had every right to be. It seemed every minute Vash was running out into some neck of the landscape digging the other out of the mud, or getting him down from a tree (he’d somehow managed defeat on) and carry the other back home so he could tend to the others wounds and put him to rest. He hoped there’d be no more of that happening here, Vash would see to it. But for now he indulged, giving Roderich’s hand a returning squeeze before releasing and grabbing hold of the long cord to pull back one side of the curtains.

”Roderich you get the other side!” he called out, leaning back already, ”We’ll draw back the curtains together on three!”

Vash was nearly jumping again with excitement. It was getting late in the day as it were so they’d surely see the sun and the mountains right? Perhaps it would just be kissing the peaks before it disappeared from view. Oh Vash couldn’t wait as he gave a playful tug at the rope in anticipation. He smiled back at Roderich swinging the rope until the other looked ready.

”Ready?” He started.

[reticence]

The laughter was contagious, even if Roderich couldn't quite figure out why Vash was laughing, it made him happy just to hear it, to join in himself. He only smiled back at the boy's proclamation, watching the eyes of his friend shift into that particular tint of green that only occured when he was really excited, or very angry. He was glad it was the former. He loved that look, it was like... a songbird, the first of the morning, its melody clear against skys, against eyes that hadn't yet opened to early sunlight.

It was only when his hand was squeezed that he realized just how tightly he was holding onto the other's. Roderich gave a small, embarrassed smile and (of course) followed hte other's lead. "Can we really--" but the boy already had a grip on that cord and Roderich gasped and fumbled for his own, not wanting to be left behind. He never wanted to get left behind, even when it came to the boys (and girl) that constantly bullied him. Roderich only wanted to fit in, to smile with them even if it meant another face full of mud, another bruise on his head or body.

"Ready!" He had finally found the cord and grasped it tightly between two small hands. "Three--"

[alphyn]

”THREEEE~!” Vash chimmed in the same time as Roderich, pulling back on the rope as hard he could manage. Fading sunlight pooled into the room, bathing it in an orange glow.

When Vash wasn’t able to pull any further he dropped the cord like dead weight and ran over to see the view. Words couldn’t describe it, even majestic put the sight to shame. Sunlight ghosted over the peaks of the mountains, highlighting the groves and canals making the snow on top glow, trickling down to the warm valleys spreading out before the castle. The Rhine sparkled with orange light, bouncing off it’s unforgiving current stretching to the far off lakes. And there were trees, so many trees. It was the most grand forest Vash had ever lay eyes on. Roderich probably saw sights like this all the time at his old house, but way up in the centre of the Alps it was all snow and stones for the Helvetian.

For a good while Vash just stood in the centre, taking in the light almost as if he were recharging somehow. His arms lifted slightly and he breathed deep closing his eyes only briefly. It felt like a bird taking off in flight, seeing the land—real land, laid out before him. Anything was possible here, a nation could thrive here. The others were so lucky… they didn’t even know it.

Vash had been so lost in his trance with the window view, by the time he’d opened his eyes he found his arms had raised to a complete 90 degree angle on either side as if the boy had been attempting to fly. Vash quickly brought his arms in, brows furrowing in embarrassment as a apple red blush tinted his cheeks. Luckily though, it blended in pretty well with the odd lighting, hiding it from being as easily spotted.

“Well, I think I’ll take this room then,” Vash concluded, resting his hands on his hips in an authoritive position, one hand just gracing the top of his dagger, “We should go find yours now, ja?”

[reticence]

"Ah--!!" He was going to count down, not--! Roderich pulled as the other boy yanked back his own cord, not able to do nearly the same amount of damage, but at least his side was open somewhat. Vash was too excited to notice the difference and scrambled over to peer out next to his friend.

It was... beautiful. He wanted to point, describe the things the other could obviously easily see, but he couldn't even think of the words. Everything looked like music, like the high notes on stringed instruments, like soft percussion. It made the Germanic boy's eyes sting from the sight of it. He reached tenatively toward Vash's hand, but it wasn't there - it was, instead, nearly high enough to hit him in the face. He ducked out of the way with only a heartbeat's spare time, distracted from the sight of landscape by the look of bliss on the blonde's face.

The moment was ruined quickly by the easy stain of red on the other's cheeks and the drop of those arms. Roderich quickly looked away, pretending he wasn't observing, open-mouthed, the phenomenon. He knew Vash wasn't pleased to be caught in such a manner, even though he thought he could hide such things easier than Roderich would notice. The smaller boy let him think so.

"Oh." He didn't smile, and the acknowledgement was disappointed. 'I', not 'we'. Oh. This was stupid, why did they have to stay apart? They could finally be together, forever, but they couldn't even sleep in the same bed. It frustrated the boy; he knew it was a childish thing. What did it matter, he was a child. But still, he tried his best to smile and just nodded, reaching for that rough hand again.

[alphyn]

Vash could feel the disappointment in the others voice, he didn’t need to see it to know, though it was clearly just as visible as it was audible. His own demeanor dropped a bit to one of sympathy, but it’s not like there was really a choice. Two nations staying together in the same room, possibly sleeping in the same bed… it was unsightly. Besides, Roderich needed to learn to be strong and strive on his own, like any other human child would. Granted things were infinitely more complicated and difficult when you were a nation, but a lot of basic principles still applied.

”You know… I can’t be around to protect you forever right?” Vash remarked softly, his brows knitted in concern. It wasn’t something he liked to think about, but there was a chilling feeling he just knew. Alliances and fall outs, deaths and births, they were so easy and quick to happen right now. Every day was a chance to tip the scales.

The Helvetian took Roderich’s other hand in his and swung both hands lightly between them.

”One day I want you to meet me, strong… on your own two feet. Promise me you will ja?” he asked, voice soft with a small squeeze of their hands. His face had tipped gently forward so innocent teal—almost blue eyes peered back at violet hoping for an honest, true response.

[reticence]

Oh. His voice almost betrayed him; he kept silent. He had even smiled--! But Vash knew better, and he could feel the change in the air like something slightly out of tune. It made him cant his head slightly to the side as if searching for music none could hear but him in a habit he would always keep, but not often be aware of.

Roderich merely nodded again at the first, eyes downcast to the hand then hands held between them, thinking of how small and soft his looked against the callouses and bones in the other's. At the second statement, he shook his head quickly, pressing thin lips together lest they speak without his permission, and in a quick moment pushed his head forehead into the other boy's chest, willing himself not to cry in stupid childishness. Even the thought of standing against Vash sometime - no, no! He couldn't even bear it! He shook his head again and spoke softly, trying to control the timbre of his voice. "I only want to stand with you. I'll-- I'll try harder in practice so I'm not a burden anymore. I'm sorry..."

[alphyn]

”D-Don’t… Don’t be sorry…” Vash exhaled, closing his eyes as Roderich rested against him,. His own rough hands gave the other’s a gentle rub, trying not to leave any marks on the other’s skin. Vash never had gentle hands, even as a newborn they were roughed up in seconds to brace for the cold unforgiving land he was left to call home to.

Vash could feel his friend’s sorrow and fear leaking out of him as he buried against Vash’s thin, but firm chest. The Helvetian close his eyes a moment, exhaling slowly again before releasing his grip and bringing his arms up to hug Roderich against him. It wasn’t sightly… how they acted around each other sometimes. But… they were alone right now… which made it more acceptable right? Vash brought his head down so it was level by Roderich’s as he nuzzled his face aside the others hushing him gently. Roderich’s skin was always so velvety soft and delicate. Vash wondered even if trained, would the other country ever be cut out for war? Vash shook his head ridding the thought of Roderich in war. It hurt seeing his friend all torn up and mangled almost every time he came out to see him. Though sometimes… sometimes he wondered…

”You’ll never be a burden to me… no matter what. I promise,” Vash then paused for a moment, his lips opening partially, stuttering then closing again as he instead squeezed Roderich a little bit tighter to him, ”You can stay here for tonight… but we really should pick you out a room so you still have a place to call your own ok?” he asked, not yet releasing the other from his hold.

[reticence]

He wasn't crying--! Even if he was stiff all over, small hands fisted tightly against the other's, he wasn't crying. The pride that came from that realization relaxed him, coaxed a small smile onto his face even as the other spoke again and promised something that Roderich couldn't quite believed but made him feel better anyway. He knew he was a burden, knew that he brought Vash down, but even so, he didn't want to leave him. Even if he had to spend all day on the training field, he'd be better, someone worthy of friendship.

The boy's smile grew wider at the thought and shifted so he could share it with his friend. "You're right-- come on, let's find another room before it gets dark!" The fading sunlight was already dying the sky in bright hues of burnished gold and august orange. Roderich spared another grinning glance out the window before pulling his friend back into the hallway and nearly dragging him to the door immediately neighbouring the room Vash had chosen for himself. Even if they couldn't stay together, if he could look at the same mountains and the same sunsets and sunrises (well, maybe not sunrises... Vash always seemed to awaken a little earlier than he did), it'd be like they were staying together, right? Of course. It'd be good enough. He could be happy with that.

[alphyn]

Vash could feel Roderich smiling on his chest, which made a small smile of his own grow a bit wider. It was always hard to be sad around Roderich, perhaps because the other was always so optimistic and hopeful? Vash found himself slightly envious sometimes, but he was able to ignore or dismiss it for the most part. He’d make it on his own someday, somehow.

The Helvetian then found himself being ripped of his thoughts as Roderich came to life in his embrace, suddenly taking the lead and now pulling Vash along behind him. Vash almost found himself laughing again at the predictability in Roderich’s actions, immediately picking out the room next door. Although across the hall was pretty likely too, it was just a bit too far for his friend to want to travel to see him when he had the option to be closer. Helping open the door, the two revealed another empty bedroom, much to probably both of their delight and Vash smiled back to Roderich.

”Perfect! We’ll be neighbours now, just like when we were living at home,” the blonde pointed out before then pointing to the window, ”And we can still share the same view.”