damned_institute | Night 50: M11-M20 Hallway

[M12]

Klavier felt a wave of sickness as soon as that man's voice came over the intercom again. It was less apprehension and more bubbling anger than anything else. It wasn't so much the mocking that was grating as it was the sound of him sounding so smug, so satisfied with everything that was happening. So safe. Klavier told himself it was fine. Let the man believe he was untouchable. It would make it all the more satisfying when he was ripped down from his pedestal and made to face the consequences.

So last night's events had been done intentionally, after all. Herr Doktor was setting up a new system. A system of what, no one could say at this point, but if it resulted in anything like the previous night, it would prove to make things even more complicated than they already were. If anyone was to do anything, it would have to be now before they finished setting up whatever it was they were doing.

Herr Doktor was already mocking them to investigate to their heart's content, probably confident there was nothing to be found out there. But there was bound to be something overlooked. There had to be cracks in the system. And Klavier would find them all and see this place ripped down.

But first he needed to validate this claim about jewels and rings and whatnot. A teleportation ring? It didn't seem possible... But a lot of what didn't seem possible was fact in this place. Klavier opened the drawer on his side of the room and searched the inside. His good hand shuffled the contents about a little in search for anything like what the man had described, but there was nothing. The only "ring" in there was the small keyring. ...What were these keys for anyway? He picked them up questioningly and looked over the drawer again.

"...Nothing."

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Ugh.... Russia. It had to be Russia who answered the door. And now he was rubbing in Japan's failure to maintain his normal calm and reserve. Well, it wouldn't happen again. He wouldn't be taken in another ambush! His fingers tightened imperceptibly around his flashlight as he lowered his eyes. He had to remain calm and not cause an international incident. His bosses were more focused on America than Russia right now and if the bigger nation ever decided to try something...

"Ah...yes, I am rather used to smaller quarters." He heard Germany greet him from inside the room and bowed to his old ally as he spotted him through the doorway. "I apologize for my brief tardiness in reaching you. Thank you for your hospitality in hosting the meeting."

But now came the problem of how he was going to get past Russia. He still didn't want to scoot past him and--

"Ah! Japan!"

Another familiar voice and the smaller country turned to see England and America coming up the hall. Giving England a small bow in greeting, he sent a wary glance in America's direction and decided that getting into the room first and getting a seat as far away from Russia as possible was more important than his discomfort in squeezing past him. England and America could deal with sitting next to him. Japan would likely get crushed under the weight of his creepy aura. "I am glad to see you both arrived in one piece," he said, motioning toward the door. "Shall we?"

With that, he took a deep breath and stepped up to the door, halfway pressing himself up against the opposite side of the door to get around Russia with the widest berth possible. Once inside, he moved to the right side by the closet and stood, trying to remain as unobtrusive as possible.

Wow, Germany could move really fast when he was spooked. The meeting was already getting lively and hardly anyone was here- oh, but wait. England and America weren't far behind. That would certainly spice things up, even if some of them made him want to smash their smug little faces into the nearest wall.

"Ah, there you are. We were waiting. I thought maybe something awful had happened, but I guess not," a wary soul might have noticed the slight disappointment in his voice as he said it.

He held the door open for the last two, following closer behind England than was absolutely necessary as he walked into the room, letting the door close behind him. He greeted America with a cool smile and gave England a hearty clap on the shoulder. While he was a bit more on his guard around the former allies, he was far from frightened or intimidated by them. Even if what they said was true and things, time, and all the rest had changed around him, it wouldn't change that.

"Is that everybody?" he glanced around at the small number of countries. It was too bad his favorite chair wasn't around either. Canada made for a soft cushion, but he supposed he would have to make do with taking an empty seat on the edge of the bed.

England inclined his head politely at Japan and nodded. "And you as well, although I do wish we weren't meeting here." Most people would say that they wouldn't wish this place on their worst enemies. England was not one of those people. If his enemies were imprisoned in a hellish asylum where there were monsters, then so be it. It made his life easier. Made things easier for his people and that was what mattered in the end.

Maybe if they escaped, they could leave Russia here. Once he hadn't been so bad, and recently he had been slightly more reasonable, but if he really believed that it was 1980, then he was extremely dangerous and unstable. More than usual anyway. He didn't like the idea of Russia standing behind him, but there was little that could be done about it as he followed America into the room.

And then the heavy hand landed on his shoulder.

Flaring pain shot through him, and despite himself, he made a pained sound, face going very very white. Fuck... His hand flew to his shoulder, knocking Russia's hand off as he pulled quickly away, breathing coming just that bit sharper. "Yes," he ground out through gritted teeth, because he was not weak damn it. "We should start shouldn't we?"

...his stomach was already hurting. Japan was scared of Russia, Russia still wanted his former allies eaten, England was trying to hide something, and America... well, he was sure something else would happen soon. The best that Ludwig could hope to do was to keep it on task, keep it short, and keep anyone from throwing a punch. Tall orders, and all while still weakened by those bites from last night.

Germany remained standing, allowing as much room as possible for the other nations, and then he cleared his throat. He had to head off any more digressions before they happened. Any mention of the Cold War, the World Wars, the Crimean War, the War of American Independence... pretty much any war could spark a conflict. So too would talk of refreshments, culture, sports, the weather, the economy, entertainment, politics... in short, there was nothing that any of them could say in this room that wouldn't spark some sort of snide comment somewhere.

...ow, that was a sharp stab of pain in his stomach. The stress was making him suffer, but being a true German, he'd endure. He had to endure, for the sake of world peace! And if he bottled it up enough, perhaps he'd be able to explode like a grenade and stun them all into silence just long enough to get something productive done. Maybe. But he sincerely doubted it. "Yes, I'd like to call this World Meeting into order. Since this was organized by Alfred F. Jones, I'd like for him to make the opening remarks. Mr. Jones?"

With that he nodded to America, and just one thought went through his head, repeated like a mantra. Please be important, please be serious, please be important, please...

Night 50: M11-M20 Hallway

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