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Post by Gilbert Beilschmidt on Jul 11, 2017 18:57:23 GMT -5
There were times when life just got too over whelming. When all the modern technology was just too much for him; when there was too much stimulation. It was during these times that he needed a retreat. Fortunately, he had one that was close to what he needed. And in a typical fashion, he followed his heart back to his roots. In this case, his roots led him to a beautiful church. It was beautifully decorated, giving homage to the higher power it served; but in some ways it was still rather homey, inviting to all those who came for care and retreat. The mission had changed through the years, but it had finally come full circle; to care for the Germanic People. And while Gilbert wasn't Germanic, he was Teutonic first and at heart. Deep down he knew he could take up the mantle again if he wanted to, but he was needed by his brother and by East Germany. This place, this place would always be a home away from home. This church in Austria. Greeting one of the priests at the door and asking for a few days’ sanctuary, he was granted in with a bit of an odd look. He knew why; they could feel something off about him, but they never said anything. Walking through the main doors, he moved familiarly through the hallways until he came to the main sanctuary. Crossing himself as he approached the alter, he started mumbling in Old Prussian, one of the original prayers of the order. He ignored the priest when he left, just focused on what he was doing. He knew the priest was heading to tell the Grand Master that he was here… He was one person that would always be allowed access to anywhere in the church he wanted to go. After all, it was his birth right and his history. He knew he would meet with the man later, but that he would also not be disturbed. It had been a long time since he had done this, had returned to his roots and just let himself be… and somehow, it brought something soothing over him. There was a room in the old section of the church he was sure would be ready for him when he wanted it; but for now, he just wanted to take in the silence of the sanctuary. It wasn't heavy or suffocating, it was the silence a soul felt when finding itself at peace. Slowly though, he could hear a song lifting through the church, a peaceful one that filled him with something he couldn’t yet name, and he slowly felt his eyes welling up. Still closed, he could feel a few tears start falling down his cheeks as he continued his prayers. This had been the right choice, a place to be at peace.
Roderich Edelstein |
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Post by Roderich Edelstein on Jul 12, 2017 13:08:45 GMT -5
He felt him. Roderich didn’t always; there were times those who crossed into his borders were unknown to him – some hid their presence well. Gilbert, however, didn’t bother this time – he couldn’t understand Prussia’s motivations well, but there was small inkling that the once powerful nation didn’t mind being found. It also depended on proximity – he doubted the man was more than a kilometer or two away, no, he knew exactly where Gilbert was since he always went there.
The nation sighed, setting down his coffee cup. It was a rainy afternoon, and he felt very little need to brave the streets in case it decided to rain again – a day more suited to warm drinks and hours of piano practice than setting foot outside. However, Roderich knew that whatever Gilbert did when he came there was a sign of…unrest within the other nation, of something troubling him. He also knew Gilbert was not the sort of person who’d outright talk about the things troubling him, least of all with his brother Ludwig, who he seemed to want fool into believing Gilbert was as steady and solid as the wall that once separated the brothers. Ludwig was far too smart to believe it, but Roderich was sure the blond would
never confront Gilbert on it.
The visits had been increasing in frequency. Roderich wasn’t sure what to feel about it – he knew that there was a chance Gilbert could… well, revert to what he once had been – the St. Maria Order. The Teutonic Knights, which had been under Roderich’s thumb for centuries now, an aid organization affiliated with the Church and focusing on aiding those of German background (himself included, of course, no lesser solutions here). It would be a stairway down to the resolute country that had pulled itself by the bootstraps from being a backwater into a country that beat down an imperial dynasty and won over most of Germandom, but perhaps Gilbert would prefer to exist in some capacity rather than cling to old glory as he faded…
Roderich wasn’t sure what the man would choose. But after all those visits, perhaps it was time to finally make his presence known.
The Deutschordenskirche, as it was called now, had provoked a bit of amusement in Roderich – especially when in his most heated rivalry with Gilbert. Prussia converting had severed ties to it, but there was something ironic in having one’s birth ‘family’ belong and controlled by an enemy. He’d never mentioned it to Preussen, as there were more obvious insecurities to point out if he wanted to hurt the fool, but in this day and age he was more curious about how Gilbert himself felt about it.
He was able to come in quietly, as the higher members of the German Order knew of him and he got a few knowing glances as he inquired to the whereabouts of a very pale man with a distinctly North Eastern German dialect who attended once in a while. He didn’t enter the room Gilbert was praying in fully, instead waiting and clutching his umbrella while the other finished up. It was only a few minutes of silence that Roderich spoke up.
“I do hope you brought an umbrella,” He slipped into a scolding tone. ”Mine can only cover so much space. And I am not sending you back to Ludwig with a cold.”
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Post by Gilbert Beilschmidt on Jul 12, 2017 21:15:06 GMT -5
Deep in his own musings as he spoke his old language, time held no meaning for him. Overall it really had no meaning for one of his kind, only a way to mark certain events happening and trying to keep track of lives. To Gilbert, in this moment, it didn’t matter. He was currently at one with himself, letting the music wash through him, digging into his bones and filling any emptiness he might have been feeling. Others wouldn’t understand this, what he got from this. Even he had forgotten the importance of being able to return to somewhere that reminded you that there was something bigger out there and that in the long run, even Nations had a small place. It had been a long time since he felt humbled, and he always felt like that when he came here. It was a good thing really. He didn’t know how long he had been kneeling there in the room, candles flickering, but he eventually came to the realization that he wasn’t alone. In some ways he wasn’t surprised that the other was standing behind him. What was surprising was that it took him this long to come looking for Gilbert. He took his time though to finish up what he was doing, but he still didn’t move. “I do hope you brought an umbrella. Mine can only cover so much space. And I am not sending you back to Ludwig with a cold.”
“Who says I’m leaving anytime soon? I’ve got a room here they’ll let me stay in for a few days, and they’ll feed me. I’m surprised you came though, I thought this place was beneath you?”Crossing himself finally, he slowly moved to stand up, making sure his legs were still awake enough to support him. It had been a long time since he had stayed kneeling in prayer for as long as he did. Moving to brush his hair out of his face, he finally turned around to look at Austria, the man who represented the country he was currently in. It really was surprising it took this many visits for the man to seek him out. Usually anytime he was in the country, Rodrich was looking for him to determine what mischief he was causing.
Roderich Edelstein |
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Post by Roderich Edelstein on Sept 3, 2017 13:51:07 GMT -5
Bielschmidt took his time react to his words, apparently lost in some contemplation in the peaceful atmosphere of the church. The scene itself felt slightly surreal, hundreds of years passing since the silver-haired man had been a man of the cloth – Roderich found himself unable to sometimes merge the idea of pious priest with the man who had fought so brutally against him (except for scant memories of what this order just used to be). There was a vulnerability to him here and the Austrian felt a pinprick of discomfort at intruding this way, though it was waved away by the others’ rather defensive response, as always delivered in tones Roderich found grating.
“Who says I’m leaving anytime soon? I’ve got a room here they’ll let me stay in for a few days, and they’ll feed me. I’m surprised you came though, I thought this place was beneath you?”
He gives a loud snort, an unbecoming habit but perfect to show just what he thought of Gilbert’s questions.
“Far be it, this is a lovely enough church. I just rarely visit these days now that… my bosses no longer hold title of grandmaster. Sometimes there are events that draw me here but it isn’t as if I many reasons to.” He takes a step closer as the man crosses himself, seeing an opportunity to approach the other. Roderich’s voice softens as he speaks again, not wishing to be overheard. “Just because something has some… association with you does not mean it is immediately subject to my derision, Gilbert. And while I’m sure the Order would be happy to accommodate you with a room and food; my home is around seven minutes by foot from here so you might as well just take my offer.”
He furrows his brow, crossing his arms to show the other nation he truly meant business about the other staying with him. No one could accuse him of being a bad host, after all, plus while he was sure Gilbert would generally behave with the Order, there was no telling to what other mischief he could get up to in Wien…which would mean angry calls from Ludwig about how Roderich couldn’t even keep an eye out for the Prussian in his own backyard.
“Come, Preußen, we should hurry before it starts raining. I’m not sure about you but I find no comfort or pleasure in being stuck in drenched clothing.” Roderich says again, this time a bit firmer as he pushes his back to open the door for the other. “Does Ludwig know you’re here?”
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Post by Gilbert Beilschmidt on Oct 3, 2017 20:10:49 GMT -5
“Far be it, this is a lovely enough church. I just rarely visit these days now that… my bosses no longer hold title of grandmaster. Sometimes there are events that draw me here but it isn’t as if I many reasons to.”Gilbert could only frown. That's not what he meant and the Austrian knew it. He always said things on purpose to make Gilbert mad and today he wasn't having it. He was never one to mince his words, and the wasn’t starting today. "You know that's not what I.-"He was interrupted by that voice again. The one thing that bothered Gil is that Roderich’s voice could be equally grating as his own, in its own separate way. And that snort the man did, that was just as out of character; it made it seem like Gilbert was being ridiculous when he wasn’t. “Just because something has some… association with you does not mean it is immediately subject to my derision, Gilbert. And while I’m sure the Order would be happy to accommodate you with a room and food; my home is around seven minutes by foot from here so you might as well just take my offer.”He didn't understand this man sometimes. Why was he so insistent on Gilbert coming with him? Most of the time it seemed that the Austrian couldn’t stand to be in the same area as him, much less staying in the same house, constantly underfoot. Carefully he moved to wipe his eyes, thankful that the other man hadn't remarked on the nearly dried marks of where he had been crying a bit ago... it was a good way to safely release emotion alright. He didn’t know what he would do besides deny the fact even though the proof was on his face. Come, Preußen, we should hurry before it starts raining. I’m not sure about you but I find no comfort or pleasure in being stuck in drenched clothing.”Gilbert could only sigh as he gathered his bags up in his hands. He didn’t have much with him, just a few things here and there; mostly clothing that he could change into, but he had one outfit in his bags that he would not be taking out now that he was leaving. He had his other clothes in there, ones that would work fine for being at Roderich’s house. "I don't understand you sometimes…”“Does Ludwig know you’re here?”“Ludwig’s not my keeper… but on that note, he probably does… He always knows how to find me, just like I always know how to find him. If he wants me, he can find me.”
Roderich Edelstein
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Post by Roderich Edelstein on May 16, 2018 17:37:25 GMT -5
Gilbert looked uncomfortable when he interrupted him and Roderich perhaps…didn’t understand why. Their relationship was a…difficult, complex one. It spanned nearly a millennium and so many different incarnations of them (from weak Margraves and Holy Orders, to massive empires) that Roderich could understand how at times they didn’t even know where they stood with each other.
Still, Roderich turned away the moment he saw Gilbert wiping his eyes and face, giving him one more moment of privacy. What was it that America once called it? The… ‘Bro’ code? Yes, there was a unspoken social code that necessitated he didn’t remark on Gilbert’s tears. While Ludwig was the one who appeared toughest of the brothers, it was Gil who probably had the most trouble expressing feelings of weakness and vulnerability and…
Austria pursed his lips, thinking of the man’s usual bravado. That Gilbert, the proud one to the point where it both grated and (in Roderich’s opinion) overcompensated for insecurities, was hard to bear. Luckily, Gilbert soon straightened himself from his earlier teary gaze, only sighing and saying something that Roderich barely managed to catch.
"I don't understand you sometimes…”
The Austrian frowned at the statement, crossing his arms so his umbrella didn’t dig into in his side.
“Is it really so…strange for me to try and be cordial to a guest, Gilbert?” He asked, managing to try and smother any offense he found in Gilbert’s comment with confusion. “Would you actually prefer to not get along with me?” The bespectacled man added, feeling unusually forthcoming today. Perhaps it was the weather, rain could be so sentimental. “Because, truthfully, Preußen, I’m fairly tired of constantly fighting with you, especially now that we have nothing to fight over. It’s dull and unnecessary.”
Gilbert Beilschmidt
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Post by Gilbert Beilschmidt on May 19, 2018 8:23:08 GMT -5
“Is it really so…strange for me to try and be cordial to a guest, Gilbert?”
He didn’t think it was strange for him to be cordial to a guest.. but… was Gilbert really a guest? He didn’t know at this point. He felt so lost currently, was trying to find his footing again; and here Austria was, inviting him to his hold, seeming like he was trying not to insult him. Perhaps he was a guest, even so in the place he had once called his. Was there anything that he truly had that was his anymore? He had thought that he could still belong to the order, they were his roots after all. But perhaps not. Perhaps he was just a guest in this land after all, at this church.
“Would you actually prefer to not get along with me?”
Looking up at Roderich, he just sighed and shook his head. It wasn’t so much them getting along or not getting along, it was something that he felt inside, something that he was yearning for.
“It’s not a matter of us getting along or not getting along Roderich….”
“Because, truthfully, Preußen, I’m fairly tired of constantly fighting with you, especially now that we have nothing to fight over. It’s dull and unnecessary.”
He could only sigh and moved to hitch his bag farther up on his shoulder, just watching, seeing if he was done talking. He didn’t interrupt, but waited until the other was done. Once it seemed like he was free to speak, he shrugged, unsure quite what to say. At least if they were fighting, it was a constancy in his life.
“At least when we’re fighting, it’s something I’m familiar with. This… all of this… It’s all yours Roderich…. Yes, I’m a guest… I’m always a guest…” And he sighed again, looking around. “Even here, with my roots, I’m a guest…. Let’s go to your place Rod… at least there I can get a beer and not miss anything.”
He started moving towards the door, waiting on his companion. He knew he wasn’t acting quite like himself, but this was the man Roderich was going to get today. It wasn’t often he was in one of these moods, but the only way he knew to work through it was to just let it happen and to try to work through the issues somehow. Perhaps having another person around would be helpful.
“So do I need to make sure I take my shoes off at the door? After all, I’d hate to get your place muddy.”
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