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Post by Im Yong Soo~! on Oct 16, 2010 14:22:29 GMT -8
((Germany))
Thank god for small miracles, Ludwig thought to himself. He still is German.
As Ludwig followed his moronic troublesome brother, Ludwig took the time to familiarize himself with his new...home. Home. That word in connection with this place left a bad taste in his mouth. It really was a beautiful ship, but he wasn't sure if he could call it home. It represented everything he wished Gil wasn't. It could hold many people, but it was empty. Gil certainly wasn't lying when he said he needed Ludwig's help. He didn't have much of a crew yet.
He continued to follow Gilbert, wherever he was going. He assumed the kitchen. He winced, finally realizing how much his hand hurt. It felt like he had almost broken it; he would probably have a huge and painful bruise for a while. He grumbled to himself. It will be a long time until I forgive you, Bruder.
Ludwig finally asked the question that was interrupted before the promise of beer. "Gil. You never answered my question. Please tell me you have a... reason at all for this. This isn't like the times before, when we were kids?" Ludwig didn't expect much. His brutalized hand was the proof of that.
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Post by Im Yong Soo~! on Oct 16, 2010 14:24:18 GMT -8
((Prussia))
Gilbert stopped just in front of a door that had a gold-filigree placard which read Küche in beautiful swirling letters, and turned slowly to look at his brother, expression relatively serious for the first time that day.
"Nein, not like when we were kids, bruder. I really want to do this; there's a treasure everyone's talking about, something huge and expensive, and if I find it we can be set for life," he explained, a small grin gracing his features at the end of his statement, before he added, tone a bit softer, "You're always taking care of me, ja? I want to take care of you for once, bruder. I owe you that much."
Shaking his head after a moment, he grinned again, his usual expression back as he turned and threw the door open, stomping into the apparently empty room importantly.
"OI, KATYUSHA! The awesome me and mein awesome bruder require beer!" he announced loudly, then added as an after thought, "Und maybe some food, if we have it."
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Post by Im Yong Soo~! on Oct 16, 2010 14:27:00 GMT -8
((Ukraine))
Katyusha jumped as the Prussian burst in, squeaking and almost dropping the potato and bacon dumplings she was preparing for lunch. Hastily setting the tray on the counter, the buxom Ukrainian turned to face Gilbert, wiping her hands with a checkered cloth.
“You know my rules, Kapitan!” she called brightly, tucking her hair back with a sisterly smile. “Drink after food!”
Katya glanced to the man’s side, bobbing her head and about to greet his companion. She froze, blinking in surprise, a sudden swell of indefinable emotion catching her off-guard and stinging her eyes in a flare of heat. The cook winced, bringing her hand to her face, hiding a grimace and wiping away the sudden streaks of moisture.
“A-Ah, meni shkoda, please forgive: must have something in eye…” Katyusha sniffled, swallowing and giving herself an abrupt shake, before turning towards the paler man again, unconsciously avoiding the newcomer’s gaze and giving Gilbert a trembling smile, stepping back to gesture to the counter. “Feel free to help yourselves. I will go get beer and come back, tak?”
(FFFFFFFFF- THIS TOOK WAY TOO LONG. OTL)
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Post by Im Yong Soo~! on Oct 16, 2010 14:29:47 GMT -8
((Germany))
As Ludwig entered the kitchen, he paused briefly to engulf himself in the delicious aroma coming from the other side of the room. It reminded him of his cooking; Ludwig was of course not a master chef, but he could pull off some great dishes after much practice. He fondly remembered learning how to cook from Old Fritz, and having the luxury to enjoy the food with him and Gilbert. As a family. In the recent years, Ludwig had only cooked for himself. Certainly, food tastes much different when you have more to share. Perhaps food will now taste like it did back then.
Ludwig snapped out of his nostalgia when he heard a familiar woman's voice. Looking at her, he couldn't quite remember where he had seen this woman. But Ludwig had a nagging feeling that he had met her before. There was another strange emotion he felt, however he couldn't exactly say what it was. Guilt, perhaps?
Since he was engrossed in his thoughts, Ludwig barley noticed that the woman-Katyusha, he recalled Gilbert called her- had taken a face full of steam and had become much more nervous than before. She discontinued staring at Ludwig and turned her full attention to Gilbert. She gestured to the counter, telling them (but mostly Gilbert) to help themselves. Ludwig nodded a thank you, but he suspected she didn't see it. He turned to Gilbert.
"Gil, did you recruit an old girlfriend or something?" he whispered as quietly as he could. "She is....very familiar..."
Ludwig doubted this; as far as he knew, Gilbert never had much luck with the ladies.
( Now THAT is a loaded question Ludwig. This was inspired by a conversation Gil and I had a while back! <3)
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Post by Im Yong Soo~! on Oct 16, 2010 14:38:16 GMT -8
Gilbert was already stuffing his mouth with dumplings when Ludwig addressed him, and he paused a moment to look between Ludwig and Katyusha (where she was getting his beer) before letting out an incredulous laugh, a little bit of dumpling falling from his chipmunk cheeks as he did so.
"You're kidding, ja? I just met her this morning," he told his brother, then quickly forgot the subject and the nagging feeling that he knew her from somewhere; his brother must have felt it, too. Why else would he have asked, right? Suddenly an idea struck him, and Gilbert swallowed his large mouthful of food before looking up at the girl across the room.
"Oi, Katyusha. Mein bruder and I agree that you look familiar. Do you have family in Berlin? You mentioned you were looking for someone right?" he turned a slight shrug to his brother as he spoke, indicating that, hey, maybe she looked familiar because they had seen her family around. That had to be it.
((HAHA YOU'RE CLEVER, LUD. 8I Jk, I lol'd. <3 And sorry for the waaaait~!))
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Post by Im Yong Soo~! on Oct 16, 2010 14:48:33 GMT -8
Browsing through the nearby pantry to retrieve a couple of chilled mugs and filling them at the barrel-tap along the back, Katya almost missed what the German had said. She jumped at the implication, almost spilling some of the beer as she scrambled out to correct the misconception, flushing.
“Ni, ni! I am only cook!” She blinked, realizing belatedly that the denial may come across as insulting, and offered a sheepish smile of embarrassment. The Ukrainian bustled back to the counter, holding the two mugs, and set them down firmly, sliding them to the two young men in a silent peace offering.
She blinked up at Gilbert’s statement, pausing in the adjustment of her headband. “Ah, f-family…?” Katyusha’s thoughts immediately went to the house she used to work for, who had surely condemned her and her sister as thieves to their remaining relatives, smearing their names and breaking their hearts. Then they went to her lost little sister, still missing, still all alone and most likely still so angry…
“T-Tak,” she manages, nodding and swallowing. “I look…M-M-My sestrychka…” Almost before she realized it Yekaterina found her lip trembling, and tears began streaming down her face, big and heavy. She shuddered, chest hitching, before covering her eyes and trying to contain her sudden desire to sob. Really, of all the ridiculous…
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Post by Im Yong Soo~! on Oct 16, 2010 14:50:40 GMT -8
Although it was immature, Ludwig couldn't help forming a teasing smile across his face when Gilbert confirmed that the Katyusha woman was only an acquaintance. Since he couldn't really hurt Gilbert, embarrassing him in front of his crew would have to do for revenge at the moment. Childish yes, but Ludwig could be a bitter person.
"Yeah, I figured as much." he retorted, while grabbing a dumpling. "You wouldn't be able to...Eh. Never mind." He turned his head away from Gil and popped a dumpling in his mouth, hiding a satisfied grin.
A rush of delicious flavor embraced his taste buds. He chewed slowly, savoring the divine taste as long as he could. "These are very good." He took a few more.
He fell silent when Gil asked Katyusha if she had family in Berlin. It would make sense if she did, the almost frightening sense of familiarity was still pounding in his head.
It took Ludwig by surprise when she burst into tears. Ludwig wasn't very good at dealing with tearful women.
"Er...are you alright?"
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Post by Im Yong Soo~! on Oct 16, 2010 14:52:56 GMT -8
Gilbert paused all motion (grabbing his beer, lifting it to his mouth, chewing his food) as the girl began to cry, a slight twinge of guilt running through him; why would he ask her about that? Of course she would start crying, and Gil never did very well with women crying.
Swallowing the mouthful of food and setting down his beer, he moved around the table to Katyusha's side, patting her back in an awkward mimic of a comforting motion.
"A-Ah, now, there's no need for tears, ja? I promised I'd help you find her, and I will, so don't worry," he shushed gently, pitch and tone a little strained as he struggled to find the right words to calm the girl. Plus, he was standing so close to a crying woman...he never did well with crying women, at all.
"S-So, ah, why don't you sit with us, ja? Have some food and beer; it'll help you feel better."
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Post by starshasestra on Oct 22, 2010 11:11:02 GMT -8
Katya sniffled, wiping beneath her eyes with the corner of her sleeve, hiccupping and trying to regain her composure. She nodded along with Gilbert’s words, edging along with him and sitting down at the bar. “M-Meni shkoda, is… I believe you.” The blonde swallowed, and managed a watery smile, reaching over to take a dumpling and gently nibble it.
After a moment, she looked up at Ludwig again, and, looking a bit sheepish, nodded. “Spasybi, Pan…” It suddenly occurred to Katya that she didn’t know the young man’s name. And, already, she had broken out in tears;; The Ukranian rubbed the back of her neck, swallowing. “Meni shkoda, I am…ah…I am looking for little sister. She, ah…” Katyusha took a deep breath, fighting back the emotions, and made her self sit up and smile. “Well, you are Kapitan’s brother, you understand, tak?”
She could do this, she just had to keep things light. Yekaterina smiled, a bit stronger, and extended her hand to the German. “But, I forget myself—welcome to crew. My name is Yekaterina Braginskaya, but is alright to call me Katya. I am cook.” She waited for the other to give up his name, ignoring the skrill of unease the idea of shaking his hand gave her. After all, he did not seem so bad—why should she feel uneasy?
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Post by Deutschland on Oct 22, 2010 12:36:53 GMT -8
Ludwig's nerves immediately calmed down when she stopped crying. Honestly, he had very little experience when it came to those emotions. Gil never really cried; at least as far as he knew anyway. And Ludwig...well he never showed them either. Except for....
He recalled a distant, hidden memory of his childhood that he rarely thought about anymore. When he was around ten or eleven, he couldn't recall which, Fritz was teaching him and Gil a bit of German history. During the process, Ludwig had felt a little ill, but he was interested in the topic so he kept quiet. In fact he seemed too interested, and surprisingly knowledgeable; to the point as if he was actually there.
But then he got to World War ll. It was as if Ludwig had been stabbed in the stomach. Horrific images of soldiers, explosions and mass murder engulfed the young Ludwig. He could no longer notice what was going on around him. He didn't know if Gilbert was still there, or if he was still home. An overwhelming feeling of sadness and shame consumed him, and Ludwig could feel rivers of tears pour down his face. He whimpered a meager "I'm sorry...", then he lost consciousness.
When he woke up, he still felt sick. It took two days for him to recover. Fritz never mentioned what had happened again...
Present Ludwig jolted back to reality when Katya started to talk to him. He blinked back the memory, and tried not to think of it. He pondered at what she had said. He glanced at Gil in the corner of his eye.
"Sometimes I forget how to understand it."He didn't elaborate, but he had a feeling Gil knew what he meant.
When Katya finished introducing herself, he gave her a small smile and took her hand. "Thank you. My name is Ludwig. It is very nice to meet you."
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Post by prussia on Dec 28, 2010 21:58:30 GMT -8
Gilbert was quite preoccupied with stuffing his face and drinking while the other two conversed, or rather, while Katya spoke and Ludwig temporarily lost himself in memory. He glanced over at his brother, recognizing the slightly dazed expression that he got when he was thinking back on something from a long time ago. It didn't happen often, but he recognized the expression because he had seen it enough to know that it was never good memories that were being conjured.
Gilbert swallowed the mouthful of dumpling he had been chewing and observed his brother for a moment longer before the buff blond snapped out of his memory, and answered Katya after a glance his direction. The smaller brother glanced away, expression carefully masked as he took a sip of his beer, just to avoid having to speak for a moment. He knew what Ludwig meant, about forgetting how to understand. The brothers had never been very good with emotion, much less displaying it toward one another. If they had been in a situation similar to Katya and her sister, they would likely have handled the situation much, much differently.
There was a brief pause after their introductions, so Gilbert decided it was the best time to cut in, despite having already taken another bite of dumpling.
"Bruder is going to be mein first mate," he informed Katushya through a mouthful of food, sparing her his mischievous grin until he had swallowed. Before anyone had a chance to respond (or in Ludwig's case, object), he barreled on. "We should head out of Berlin soon, stop somewhere to re-supply, und maybe pick up some new crew members. Where do you want to go next, Katushya?"
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Post by starshasestra on Dec 30, 2010 15:32:37 GMT -8
Katya caught the split-second exchange of glances between the two German brothers, and when Ludwig replied she almost wondered if she had erred in mentioning family ties at all. Regardless, the moment was easily smoothed over as Ludwig concluded the introduction, and she returned the pleasantry with a nod and smile. Her attention returned to Gilbert as the boisterous Prussian informed her of his brother's new rank, and the Ukrainian looked on the taller German with a greater measure of respect, if a little confusion.
After all, upon meeting the Kapitan, Katya had assumed that he was already well involved in the sky-faring trade, with his easy confidence and splendid vessel. But the way that he phrased it, Gilbert made it sound as though he was just starting out with Ludwig and herself, though she had seen some hint of crew while settling aboard. The prospect of starting completely anew made the buxom blonde a touch uneasy, but, she had already committed herself, she supposed. And if there was one thing that Yekaterina held true, it was the sentiment that if one starts something, she should finish it.
As she was mentally affirming herself to this, the Ukrainian almost managed to miss the platinum blond man's inquiry. She looked up in surprise, blinking rapidly and holding the forgotten dumpling in her hands. “Shcho? Where do I...?” Katya did not expect to be an active decision-making part of the ship's route—after all, she was a cook, not a navigator. For the first time, the Eastern European began to wonder exactly what sort of shipping business Kapitan Gilbert was involved in, that he could afford to be so careless. 'But then,' she thought, chewing her lip, 'perhaps that can work the best for my advantage—well, once I get any sort of idea where sestrychka may have gone.'
Well, at any rate, a tentative suggestion was required. “Ah, being honest, I am not precisely sure where to start, but London may be possible...?” Katya knew little about the United Kingdom, but the capitol city of Britain was famous as a world-gathering site—surely, it would be a good place for resupply and crew? Not to mention, it was fairly likely that if her sister did manage to secure a ship as she did, London would be as much a potential destination as anything else.
Once more, Yekaterina tried not to compare the impossibility of her task to finding a pearl in the sea.
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Post by Deutschland on Dec 30, 2010 18:05:57 GMT -8
"Er-!" Ludwig started to say in protest to Gilbert, but he stopped midway. There really was no point in arguing with him about it. Even if Ludwig denied the job, Gilbert would continue to call him his first mate until he gradually, and grudgingly, went along with it. Just like every other adventure Gilbert dragged him on. He sighed, defeated once again.
He fell silent, listening to Gilbert. It was definitely a priority to obtain new crew members; he doubted they could go far with only three members (unless there were more that he didn't see). It would also be a good idea to get out of Berlin for Ludwig, thanks to a certain white-haired idiot. He shot Gilbert an annoyed look.
Katya brought up a good point. "I agree with you. London is famous as a gathering place. I'm sure we could find recruits there." He blinked. I guess this is the beginning, isn't it? he thought to himself. My career...as a pirate.
He frowned, but took a sip of his beer.
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Post by prussia on Jan 20, 2011 12:29:34 GMT -8
Gilbert looked between his two crew members, munching on his dumplings thoughtfully and occasionally pausing to take a drink of his beer. He mulled over the idea that Katya presented, thinking about it with vague interest. He supposed there was nothing wrong with the idea, and the two were right - London was a good gathering place, and a fairly diverse one, as well. They could probably find any number of crew members there.
"I guess London it is, then," he agreed finally with a shrug, quickly finishing off the rest of his dumplings and beer. "We'll set off as soon as you two are finished with lunch, ja? I'll kick these other guys into gear, too."
Gilbert stood from his stool, wiping his hands on his jacket as he did so, then wiped his mouth on his sleeve. He shot his brother a grin, knowing the younger man would be infuriated by the lack of table manners, then started toward the door. He paused to turn back to Katya, waving a bit at her.
"Danke, Katushya," he beamed, "The food was delicious."
With a final turn, he flung open the door and began stomping his way up the stairs, yelling at the few temporary crew members lying around on deck. "Oi! Holen Sie sich die Arbeit! I'm not paying your sorry asses to lie around!"
Holen Sie sich die Arbeit! = Get to work!
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Post by starshasestra on Jan 24, 2011 14:22:50 GMT -8
When Ludwig readily agreed with her errant suggestion, Katya blinked, surprised in yet warmed. She offered the German man a tentative smile, before turning to Gilbert to hear the final words on the matter. Remembering the dumpling in her hand, she began taking small bites and nibbles from it, hardly about to let good food go to waste in her own kitchen. When the Prussian made his announcement, the Ukrainian bobbed her head, smiling cheerily. "Aye, aye, Kapitan!"
There was something inimically satisfying about the idea of moving in a direction again. Even better that it was one she chose. It felt a bit less like being useless.
Finishing her dumpling, she stood, instinctively getting a cloth to wipe down the tables again, pausing just in time to hear the Prussian's compliment. Yekaterina smiled, and nodded her head in happy acknowledgment. "Spasybi, Kapitan." She hummed, cleaning the counter with a slight bubble of energy, letting Gilbert's harsh German fade in the distance. Then, remembering Ludwig, she looked up, smiling sheepishly and wringing the cloth. "Do not feel need to rush with lunch, Pan Ludwig--I will just be doing cooking for crew, tak?"
It occured to Katya that the chances were likely that the taller German was still adjusting to being on board. In a moment of compassion, she bobbed her head again, smiling invitingly. "Is unsettling being in new place at first, tak? Should you need, I'll keep ears open." Leaving it at that, she turned back towards the other tray of dumplings that were still simmering. They looked almost done.
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