herrbox | Happy June 8th~

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Happy June 8th~

[Rosalinde considered herself lucky that the date of her anniversary was in early June. It meant the weather was usually fantastic, and this year was no exception. It was an excellent day for a picnic with Sándor, such a lovely way to spend an afternoon. Once they'd finished lunch, she had brought along her violin and began to play. Liszt's Consolation in D flat major had always been one of her favorites, and it felt like a natural choice at the moment. She hadn't even needed to think before slipping into the song. It was no coincidence that her choice was by a Hungarian composer, of course. On this day, Hungary always held a permanent presence in her mind. Even after centuries of knowing him, he still had her heart utterly captivated, enough so that their anniversary turned her into a romantic like this.]

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[Even when their paths had gone in different directions in the last decades, as well as the bittersweet memories that their married years brought to both of them, Sándor would never forget this special day. Rosa was always a constant presence in his life, ever since they were child nations fighting either each other or other nations; there was always a sort-of special bond between the two, and no one could take that away from them.

Agnieszka and Yure had immediately caught on and left him off the hook for today, even when it meant he'd miss the first EuroCup matches. They knew where Hungary's priorities lied for this day, and thus he was able to meet up with Austria in time. And now he listens to her music with a quiet smile on his lips, gently holding the roses and edelweiss bouquet that he had brought for her among other things.

And no, it wasn't exactly a concidence that the bouquet looked quite a bit like a bridal one.]

[When she finishes the piece she savors the last note for a moment before lowering her instrument and placing it back in its case. She sits back down next to Sándor and lets herself rest her head on his shoulder. Today she isn't going to worry about the propriety of showing affection in public, and she's loosened up considerably on that matter over the years anyway.]

It amazes me how little this spot has changed, even over centuries.

[It's true. This area is one they've come to for years and years now. A large shade tree atop a hill overlooks a small pond, and a field of wildflowers sprawls out for acres behind them. It looks almost exactly the same as it did on this day in 1867 even.]

[As for him, he has always been the kind of put his heart on his sleeve and say what's in his mind. She wasn't able to fully tame that side of him, even in the times when it went back and forth between bitter snark and more gentlemanly sarcasm...

And yet, whenever he wants, he can also say very kind things to those he cares for. This was a day of sweetness, he had decided, and specially since he always spends it with her.]

Yeah, it's almost as if time had stopped right here and around us. [He places the flowers on her lap and slowly wraps an arm around her.] And I like that a lot, too.

So do I. I believe it may be why I keep returning to this place, truthfully.

[She blushes a little bit, letting herself lean against him more. She picks up the flowers and sniffs them thoughtfully. Her favorites, of course.]

Though time has been kind to us as of recent, has it not?

[He smiles more openly when he says that, placing his hand on her shoulder and allowing her to lean more against him.] Yeah, it can be said so. If it wasn't, well, we wouldn't be able to meet up here in the first place.

Precisely.

[She sighs wistfully, recalling those horrid years of minimal, covert communication with her love by way of coded letters and nothing else during the years of the Cold War.]

I am quite grateful that those years are over.

[Her voice is barely above a whisper.]

[But his hearing is quite sharp, due to still possessiong a warrior's extremely sharp senses. Which were also very useful to find ways to slip in his own coded love letters to Rosa -- more often than not, under the very noses of Anya and her entourage.]

You don't have to tell me, Rosa. [He gives her a cocky, kinda child-like smile.] I know it well, and you show it too... It's all behind us, finally.

Indeed. Anyway, shall we return home? As lovely as the day is, I find myself craving the Sachertorte that we have in the refrigerator...

Ah, that's a good point... [He stretches a little, almost like a playful cat.] I brought a nice Cabernet wine that will go nicely with it, too, so we should be going!

[Her eyes light up at that. The only thing better than good sweets are good sweets with a fine wine to match. And music and the company of a certain handsome man, of course.]

Ja, then let us return.

[She rises and offers her hand.]

[It's almost always the other way round, so he's somewhat surprised! But he's no one to look at a gifted horse in the mouth, and he takes her hand to keep his balance as he gets up.]

Szívesen! No, we should get going...

Edited 2012-07-08 16:50 (UTC)

[She just smiles at his surprise. He can be so cute sometimes, really.]

Then lead the way, Ungarn.

[And he's sorta glad that she and Agnieszka think that way! ]

Certainly, my lady ~ [And he squeezes her hand gently, lacing their fingers.] Follow me!

[She squeezes his hand back and follows him along, her violin in her other hand, naturally. She takes her time to enjoy the scenery as he leads her back to her home; this year it was her turn to play host for their anniversary celebration, after all. She had to admit, though, she always looked forward to the years when she would travel to Budapest for this. She never did spend much time in her husband's capital, which was quite a pity. It was a lovely city, as was all of his land, and she still had much to explore of it. But there was no use dwelling on the past or waiting around for the future; today was absolutely lovely, after all.]

Is there anything in particular you'd like for lunch today, Sándor?

[...since she's just focused on cake...]

[The bittersweet memories related to this place were multiple. The times he was a retainer, those when he fought for her and Maria Theresa's sake, the Imperial days when this was a mix of gilded cage and home, the two wars with all that they brought to everyone, the counted visits during the following decades, and the first time he could come visit her on his own after fully recovering his freedom. But now this is the present, and after the brief flashbacks are back to the back of his mind, he looks at Rosa with a small smile.]

My favorite place in your capital is the Spanische Hofreitschule, so any place not too far from it would be good for me...

[She can't help but grin; it was so like him to suggest that.]

Very well, then. I know of a lovely little cafe near there, I believe it was put in since your last visit to the area, actually. It has excellent food, not to mention a selection of tortes that are to die for. Is that suitable?

[And the small smile becomes quite a big grin.] Are you reading my thoughts, Rosalinde Edelstein? Because it sounds really awesome, and I'm sure you've been thinking of it for quire a while already.

You've caught me.

[Well, her mind was more occupied with the cake, truthfully, but of course she had her lover in mind as well.

And now she leans up and gives him a light peck on the cheek.]

[He jokingly purrs a little as she does so, wrapping an arm around her slender waist and oulling him close to her.]

I know you so well, and you also know the kind of man I am perfectly. And that feels good.

Indeed. I do believe we've been together far too long for anything else to be the case.

[She lets herself be swept up into his arms; it's probably one of the greatest signs of trust she can display for him, letting him take control like that. Normally she's so proud and regal in stature that the way she submits to him like this speaks volumes, despite it being such a small gesture.]

[He knooooooows. And considering how a woman like Austria tries to be in control of herself more often than not, Hungary loves how she has come to trust him like that. He won't take it for granted, then, letting her guide him through the streets and keeping up with each of her steps, a smile on his lips as he enjoys the moment.]

[She enjoys the silence for the moment, enjoying just taking in the world around them, experiencing it with him like this. Soon enough they arrive at their destination. Austria has to restrain herself from gazing longingly at the dessert case.]

[Funny, he also glanced at them a little. He specially likes how they have a Dóbos Torte alongside a Sacher Torte first in display, proudly showing both of them off.

But that will be commented on later, because he's staring around and checking on the nearby booths.] Which one would be the best for us, huh? Some might be more quiet but the view to the strees isn't as good, others may be caught in the middle but may be more fun. What do you think, Rosa?

I think I'd like a nicer view today, if that's alright with you.

[She tears eyes away from the desserts to look at him now, a soft smile on her face.]

Aha! [And his eyes shine as he finds a good one that also happens not to be far from the spot they're standing in.] This one is good in the eye and not that far away, so here we go.

[He then looks at her, smiling playfuly.] Coming in, my lady?

[She blushes lightly, taking his hand and giving it a light squeeze.]

But of course.

[He returns the squeeze with one of his own and a playful kiss on her forehead before guiding her to the spot he had found. And he only sits down when she's already sitting, looking through the window with a slightly melancholic feeling in his heart.]

So many changes, ever since the days we were married and then when we were apart. And yet I can still recognize so many places and roads with a little effort. And yes, I know you can do the same when you come to Budapest... It's still a little strange.

[She stiffens, blushing profusely at the little forehead kiss. She still struggles a lot with public displays of affection, even though deep down she appreciates it. She makes herself shake that off and take a seat, however, and joins him in gazing out the window.]

Indeed. I believe I know Budapest better than some of my own cities, truthfully. It always surprises me a little when I realize that.

[He says nothing about these details, not wanting to look too pushy.]

Well, we did spend part of these years trying to know each other better and beyond what we already were aware of. It was quite worth it, and still is.

I completely agree.

[She turns to meet his eyes. The look she's giving him is one that only he has ever known. Giving her heart to someone else wasn't something Rosalinde did easily or often.]

[And from his part, allowing someone to fully take the reins of his heart wasn't something Sándor, once the "wild child" of the plains, did easily or often as well. So the gentle look in his green eyes is not often seen either.]

It wasn't easy, I admit. But since when have things been easy for us nations? We've seen the best and the worst of our people, and we keep seeing them all the time. And still...

[He chuckles a little.] And stil, we're do our best to be ourselves through everythting. In that sense, you help me quiet a bit.

I help you?

[Rosalinde looks genuinely surprised by this]

It isn't often that you say that. And I'm quite certain your people disagree with that sentiment...I know quite a few of your recent bosses have disapproved of our relationship.

Hey, you don't worry about that. [He playfully sticks his tongue at her a bit.] I can't and won't tell them to just go shove it, and you know very well the kind of guy I am, but in the end my feelings are my own and no one can tell me otherwise.

[He lets out a sigh and looks a little more serious.] Even with all the bittersweetness of our marriage, you and your people were the first ones to open our borders when we got to leave Anya and the Eastern Bloc. I'm not gonna forget that easily.

It was the least I could do.

[She sighs deeply, wishing some of those more painful memories could just go away.]

...You know, I always feel guilty about...what happened. That I was able to have it relatively easy, while you were trapped over there. It wasn't fair, such a punishment going to you simply because of the division of borders. I should have had to bear the same burden.

[He nods, and upon recalling these years as well as other bitter moments of his life, his face grows somewhat darker. Even for someone as plucky as him, it has not been easy and he never expected it to be either.]

No... [And he shakes his head.] You saw how I, Popo, Raine and many others had it back then. Even Poroszország!...

I would not wish that on anyone, and even less on you. Even with all our own fights and the pain we brought to each other and our people more than once, I would not even nurse these thoughts.

I...You're right. I'm sorry. It's selfish of me, I know. I just always wished we could have spent those years together. You should have suffered less, or I should have suffered more. Anything but that accursed border.

[She sighs, looking down, embarrassed by her own thoughts.]

But this is just me being selfish. I'm grateful that it's all over and you made it through unbroken.

[She would have destroyed Russland if he hadn't. Or she would have tried. She was no match for the much larger Eastern European nation, of course, but she would have at least tried to make her feel even a little bit of that pain. It was crazy of her to dream of that, and her bosses would be furious with her for trying and for undoubtedly coming back hospitalized, but even just the thought of what had happened to Ungarn in those days still made her blood boil, despite the fact that all was well now.]

Anyway. We should figure out what we want to order.

[She forces herself to smile, forget the past again, and just enjoy this happy summer day.]

[Sore spots have been hit at full force... He can't help sighing and leaning closer, touching her face very gently with one of his scarred, rough hands.]

Nope, they can't break me. They tried several times, but I got up again. And again. And again! [And he laughs a bit] And nothing will shatter me. Mark my words.

[But yeah, ordering something to sweeten the deal sounds good.] Something fresh would be nice, it's so hot out there. Do you agree?

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Happy June 8th~

Damn HTML. Also Agnieszka: fem!Po and Yure: Dudekraine

HTML is a jerk

It ships PruAus, maybe? /shot

ffffff

Well, who knows. . .

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