Cute caterpillar turn into a flamboyant butterfly…
Sweden… we get it already.
Never asked ‘im t’ teach me. Didn’ show ‘nterest ‘n ‘t before, so… Guess I just never gave ‘im th’ ‘mpression that I wanted t’ learn.
/shrug
‘f Farfar doesn’ give me’uh lesson ‘r two, then you will? That’s really nice ‘v ya… Why would ya be willin’ t’ teach me, ‘nyway?
Never shown inter—- ohhh… [/suddenly it dawns on him] Right yeah, no I understand perfectly well then…
Something like that. Can’t have you running about with a weapon you have no idea how to handle. That will only end in tears on every part involved.
[Text: Erik] I probably could. But we’re teammates tonight because of the show and I want Margaret to win, okay.
[Text: Erik] Says the sorrier face to ever grace this land, so of course you’d know.
[Text: Erik] Mari and Ben are coming along, by the way. Mind if I drag them along? Think of it as family night.
[Text: Huldra] Fine. I’ll lay down the weapons for tonight. but prepare to have an axe in your pillow tomorrow morning
[Text: Huldra] My face is actually quite happy. so there
[Text: Huldra] sure. the more the merrier
[Text: Erik] Oh was that supposed to be comedy. I thought it was simply how you are. Dry.
[Text: Erik] I’m sorry I love you.
[Text: Erik] But I’m still kinda not sorry.
[Text: Erik] And okay, thanks. Want me to bring anything else?
[Text: Huldra] Excuse you. As if you can do better.
[Text: Huldra] I know you’re not as sorry as your face will be
[Text: Huldra] Nah. I have alcohol, food and enough coffee to last us a year. I think we’re good.
“That was what I was counting on!” With the book and the hidden message out of sight and out of mind, she relaxed just a bit and followed Erik into the kitchen.
“I might have one as I might have only gotten to test one for quality control, no matter how it came to be,” she said as she snatched one to attempt to daintily nibble on. The fact that she may have grabbed a few that weren’t made by her well, she wasn’t being a glutton really, they just looked good and she wanted to appreciate the hard work. That was it, pure and simple. The fact that her sampling was accompanied by a pleased hm at the taste was just a bonus.
“You’re quite the clever one,” he smirked at her “Beginning to wonder if you know me to well or something,”
Laughing softy he placed the tray down on the table.
“Sampling is an important aspect of any food-related task; bough or made from scratch - good to know you’d test them either way,”
He straightened his vest a little and looked at her with a small smile.
“You look very lovely today, almsot feel like I should drag you around in one of the parades and show you off,” he smiled at his own ridiculous idea “Maybe even drag you by the caste and say hello to the king,”
[Text: Erik] Goddammit, Erik. B([Text: Erik] I’ll be there in about an hour, okay? Can I sleep over, too? Don’t wanna go home after Eurovision. It’d be too late.
[Text] I am a fucking comedy genius. Why don’t anyone else appreciate it?!
[Text] Spare bed will be made and ready for you by the time you’re here.
Oh, uhh… Well.
That’d be nice ‘v ya, onkel. But, ya sure ya’d be willin’ t’ trust me with ‘t?
Surprised your dad hasn’t taught you already… but never mind.
Trust? Not in the slightest. I trust no-one with a sword if they have never handled one before. But I can give you a few lessons if Scandia doesn’t, and then I will trust you with one.
[text: Isbjørn ungen] It’s okay. thank you for the gifts, I appreciate it. Hopefully you had a lovely 17th of May too.
Old… one?
…What ‘f ‘t breaks?
Not rusty… fucking hell; you’d think I’d let you wave a rusty sword around? [/sigh]
I meant a sword that’s been worn down so it’s no longer that sharp. You do not want to learn with a weapon that can take your leg off if you’re clumsy.
Norway; possibly one of the few male nations who finds it easier to shop for others than himself
“Well! I wasn’t gonna come ‘round fer long. So I figured, ya know, lemme not get all dressed up n’maybe get somethin’ on that in such’a short time.” He tried to placate, chuckling sheepishly even if Erik was just pulling his leg right back. “But hey, if I come ‘round later I’ll be sure not tah bring shame on us all n’I’ll be dressed fer tha occasion.” He grinned in earnest as he tucked a hand in his pocket, really now just waiting for Erik to get to his present.
“If that’s a dig at me fer not bein’ able t’wrap things…” He chuckled and waved a hand dismissing any sort of real back-and-forth that may come of the comment. He just waited for his brother to get to the present and to subsequently eat his words.
Within the wrapping paper was a box and in that box was a book. It was an old book of old leather and fraying pages full of old ink and stories of things long-since believed to not exist. It was a book that belonged to Erik hundreds of years ago. Little did any of them know what a pack-rat Mathias really proved to be.
He just smiled and waited for the reaction.
“Suppose that makes sense. Not everyone has the day of on the 17th after all,” he sighed and wondered briefly if he should just maybe have told people to come Saturday or Sunday instead. “Well I’d hope not,” Erik snorted, “I can only handle you being an embarrassment for so many times before I completely disown you,” there was a hint of humour to his tone as he said it
Carefully he unwrapped the present and opened the box.
Despite his tried at not giving anything away - emotion or surprise; Erik really couldn’t hide the sharp intake of breath at the sight of the book.
”Herre gud,” he mumbled as he carefully took it out of it’s box “How long have you had this? ….I though it was long gone…” he let his fingers run over the old and familiar cover, carefully opening it it and flipping through the first few pages. His own handwriting and little sketches. Notes on things even he was sure he’d started to forget. Stories and tales so grand that Iceland had hardly believed him when he had told them.
And now he had the book back.
“Okay…fuck. You win. I am definitively surprised,” Erik smiled at Mathias before his expression darkened ever so slightly “But now I have to ask, how much else have you got that belongs to me?” he raised an eyebrow and smirked “I was sure this book had been burnt years and years ago…”
“Ya mean this one, yeh?” He teased “When have ya ever gone without s’what m’wonderin’.” He chuckled again, keeping his pose until Erik moved aside to allow him in. He entered but moved the gift to his opposite side and then his front to make sure it was kept from Erik’s view just a little bit longer.
“But ya know m’kiddin’. Everyone looks incredible today.” He qualified with a smile that bloomed in earnest on his face. A smile that couldn’t hide the bit of shock that came after talking about dinner plans. “Oh! I mean I didn’t think. Uh. Well! I mean we’ll see when tha time comes, yeh? I may be back ‘round.” He nodded. It was different in entirety if Erik actually wanted Mathias around.
“Nah! M’good I just wanteeeedd~” He trailed off before presenting the present at last. Wrapped, ribboned, and with a small flag and all, there had definitely been some time spent into decorating whatever it was. It was of medium length and height and could be carried comfortably in two hands or one. “T’give you this.”
“Ha. Ha. Ha.” he replied flatly and with no trace of amusement “Very funny,” he rolled his eyes; but appreciated the observation regardless. No ‘birthday’ without some family mocking he told himself. “You’re not even in your bunad, how insulting,” Erik feigned offence as he crossed his arms and stared at his brother.
“No pressure. Same as more or less every year… Plenty of food for all who want to come, but there’s no obligation,” Erik shurgged, even the times none of his fellow nations showed up; he found ways to celebrate it. Neighbours and human friends - it didn’t matter who he was with. As long as he saw people smiling and enjoying themselves then he considered it a good day. “After all, it’s only a special day for me, not everyone else,”
Erik stared at the present presented to him before taking it from the Dane’s hands. He looked it all over before looking back up at Mathias.
“Takk, I can tell you’ve spent ages on the wrapping alone,” he resisted the urge to rip off the wrapping - patience was better.
Taking a seat in his living room he placed it down on the table, admiring the handiwork of the ribbons (and he really couldn’t help smiling at the small flag). Carefully he began unwrapping it.
As soon as the door opened he straightened up and flashed an easy smile. He may not be 100% but he certainly would act that way in front of Erik.
“Tillykke, Erik! N’I toldja I would! Surprise ya, that is. Yer lookin’ good! I like tha socks.” He laughed to himself though spoke with affection . He too, was dressed nice but not in the folk clothes - he barely had an excuse to wear a bunad anyways. He tucked the box behind his back and smiled mischievously. “
“Are ya gonna let me in r’not? I don’t wanna take up so much’v yer time t’day.” He still wore a smile, how could anyone not be happy with such festivities going on?
“Heh, tusen takk,” He smiled “Figured it was time to dust off this bunad this year,” Erik shrugged and wondered what Mathias had behind his back. If he continued like this; Erik would be eating his own words about his brother not being able to surprise him.
“Yeah, sorry,” taking a quick step to the side and holding the door wide open, he gestured for the Dane to enter. “In a hurry today or something? Suppose I’ll strike you off the list of dinner guests then shall I?”
Erik closed the door behind him and gestured towards the living room
“Want coffee or something before you run off?”
“Oh, it is my honor really.” There was a soft laugh as she hid the ever so slight nervousness when Erik opened his presents. Her prayers were evidently not in vain as he seemed to like them, or at least didn’t seem horrified.
“Fairytales and food seemed a safe enough bet,” Cécile pushed up her glasses, concealing her relief at the little note she snuck in the first of the two (a risky move really) stayed lodged safely in the pages, even if it was noticed.
Her expression shifted to slight whimsy as she pressed her finger to her lips in a mockery of solemnity. “That information is confidential. State secret whether I toiled in the kitchen for hours or ran by a bakery. I’m sure you understand.”
Humming happily he placed the book high up on his bookshelf (because then no one else was allowed to touch it until he’d read it all back to front and front to back.) “A very safe bet indeed. I don’t think it’s possible to go wrong with that,” he smiled and motioned for her to follow him into the kitchen.
“I won’t pry and ask any more then,” Erik winked and placed a few of them on a small tray, sneaking a bite out of one before happily devouring the rest of the small cake. “They’re good though,” he licked his lips and offered the tray to her “But you can help yourself to any other cakes if you don’t want to eat your own hard work,”
