[Archive] Wedding of Philip I and Joanna [Spain]

[austria]

Ocober 20, 1496

The Archduchy of Austria had been carefully prepared for this moment. Many tutors had instructed him in the ways of nobility for this meeting so that he wouldn’t embarrass his people. The boy had come a long way from the messy toddler he once was and each rule of etiquette had been taken to heart. Austria had accompanied his young prince Philipp to the Belgian municipality of Lier to meet his new ally - the Kingdom of Spain - for the first time. With this marriage, the alliances between the Habsburg and Trastámara families would be strengthened in face of the growing power of France. Especially now that King Charles VIII of France had invaded Italy the matter was becoming increasingly urgent. To be certain of the family bond, a double alliance had been formed in which Philipp’s sister and the heir to the Spanish throne were wed. Marriage politics were imperative to success, as the Habsburgs had taught Austria early on.

For this day he had dressed his finest. Of course he made sure not to outshine the prince, but Austria had taken great care in the selection of his garments. He had gone with a parti-colored hose and a midnight blue sideless gown belted at the waist, with golden embroidery along the front and back and a dark chaperon hat on his head. While traveling and for the formal introduction, he wore a similarly colored houppelande above his clothes, the flaring sleeves dragging across the floor. His chestnut hair had been strictly combed back while a pair of eyeglasses rested on his pale nose. Even though the lenses were made of plain glass, Austria felt more comfortable with this subtle glass wall between him and the world around him.

Although the purpose of attending the wedding in person was to make acquaintance with his new ally, the budding aristocrat didn’t intend to make a friend. Just a century before had he learned that friendship amounted to nothing but pain. In the end they were just puppets of their rulers who could turn around and declare war on each other at any moment. He bitterly recalled the battles against Swiss peasants as they rejected his rule and his lips pressed into a narrow line. His mind was made up. He would be polite and pleasant in conversation, yet distant and aloof. It was his duty to make an ally, but his choice whether or not to open up to him. In his mind there was no point in opening up to another unless he wanted to be vulnerable, and although he hadn’t even met the Kingdom of Spain yet he already felt angry with him much in the way a grouch resents the existence of pleasantness.

Nevertheless, he was also very curious about the other country. He had heard the other was not much older than him and of similar liveliness as Italy in nature. The young Archduchy hoped that at least the Spaniard wouldn’t try his patience as much as the tiny Italian, although he would be delighted by similar talent for the Arts. This thought lightened Austria’s mood, and he decided to direct the conversation toward music and art. As his company moved toward the imposing gothic church of St. Gummarus his violet eyes scanned the surrounding crowds for the young man he was arranged to meet. Music played as the wedding guests cheered, and the Habsburg prince waved confidently despite the nervous pallor of his face.

Austria was impressed by the grand architecture as well as the amount of effort that had gone into the wedding preparations. He was still in the process of expanding and accumulating wealth and territories, so a festivity of this magnificent scale was still rather new to him. His eyes widened as he tried to take in as much of his environment as possible, though he made sure to keep the rest of his features stoic. He politely inclined his head whenever they passed noblemen and clerics of clear significance while both he and the prince received whispered explanations. Only a light furrow of his brow indicated that he was having trouble remembering the names and titles, but he did his best to hide it.

Almost as interesting as meeting the other country was the prospect of seeing the bride. Austria was very curious to how she looked like and what she would be wearing for the special day. He hoped she would be healthy and ruddy, for the frail pallid brides were less fortunate in childbirth. After all, the most important question of this wedding was that concerning the future of their noble lines; what did this union hold in store for the future of their nations?

---

I hope this is what you had in mind. If I made a mistake please tell me!

[Spain]

The affair was a bit more extravagant than Antonio Fernández Carriedo could imagine as he found himself gawking at his surroundings, ignoring the etiquette that he was taught, even if it was only for a minute. Despite the fact that los Réyes Católicos had been receiving a greater number of audiences lately, the young Spaniard had been spending a lot of his time traveling to the New World, subsequently cutting him off from European politics for a while. Eying the young lady who had passed him, Antonio could not help but feel uncomfortable as he noted the amount of cloth that trailed behind her waist. It was madness to be dragging something so heavy along for the entire affair (granted, it begs the question as to why Antonio was even imagining the feeling of wearing a dress in the first place)!

Granted, it was not as if the Spaniard could really protest, considering his wardrobe. After all, he had been dressed up lavishly as if he was a representation of the kingdom's up-and-coming influence and wealth, almost as if he was the Prince of Asturias himself. His once wiry frame had been filled out after years spent fighting in the later part of la reconquista and fulfilling the labor intensive demands of sailing. A silk doublet made of the finest crimson fabric wrapped around his lean form as golden threads wove an elaborate fabric throughout while his pants were made of the same crimson fabric. Yet at the same time, despite the fact that the prosperity of Reino de España was generally reflected in Antonio's appearance, he merely sported a ring with the royal insignia and a golden crucifix. Gone were the days of awkward adolescence, when Antonio had struggled to figure out what to do with hands and feet that were too large for the rest of his form. Rather, he more closely resembled the figure of the ideal youth as captured in many works of the Renaissance, though filled with much more full of energy and life.

“Toño,” the voice called out to him, interrupting Antonio's observations. Meeting the eyes of Enriqué, the youth smiled brightly at him, almost perking up in his stuffy outfit as he grinned brightly at him. Though Antonio was reaching the appearance of what would normally characterize young males entering the edge of adulthood, he had actually been through a number of attendants, of which none were kept around enough to witness his slow growth (it was awkward enough for Antonio to have to explain it to the monarchs whenever a new one ascended the throne). And Enriqué was no different from them, with the exception of the fact that he was close in age to the young Spaniard and selected based on the belief that he could act as a friend as oppose to a caretaker as the Spaniard took on more responsibility.

“Oh, what is it?” the Spaniard chirped, his mood had been lifted significantly since his arrival in Lier, partly because of the celebration but also because this would be one of the rare periods of time in which he would be able to catch a glimpse of the different people from all over Christendom. Being located on the far western side of Europe and having been under the Moorish rule for so long, he had very little contact with the people outside of the kingdom (with the exception of traveling to the new world or delivering messages to other kingdoms). Tilting his head, he looked at the youth with curiosity before the youth continued to explain what is going on.

“His Majesty requested that I found you as soon as possible, Enriqué said politely,though it appeared that he was agitated with the fact that the Spaniard had managed to wander off almost immediately upon arriving at the church, “he mentioned that we will be meeting the head of the Hapsburg House after the ceremony.”

Antonio looked at his attendant and nodded. He had been given information about the man as he was traveling here, much to the insistent of the royalty, especially since this would be the formation of a very important alliance. He personally knew how King Fernándo felt about the alliance and the Hapsburg in general, but with the looming presence of the French seeping over the Pyrenées, it was only a matter of time before they would agree to form such a formidable alliance. The mere thought of the alliance aroused curiosity in the Spaniard youth. If that was the case, would it mean that he would be moving over to live with the Hapsburgs (as a hostage) or would it be an alliance in good faith? He had heard that the Hapsburg also had someone like him put in their charge. Though he was never quite one for rumors, this particular someone was said to be more serious and perhaps even aloof, though a musical prodigy.

He hoped that it was a cute señorita, though that was most likely wishful thinking.

When they had finally managed to find the royals in the church, the ceremony almost immediately took place after, with the parade of the wedding party. “Juana,” Antonio whispered as he watched the bride enter into the church, her elaborate dress accenting her dainty, but healthy frame. She looked exactly like her mother when she had married Fernándo, flowers rested amongst the blue ribbon woven into her auburn hair. Whatever sign of nervousness she possessed as she walked to the altar, the princess hid her uncertainty well behind her stoic expression. Having seen her grow from a teetering toddler to a blossoming maiden, Antonio could not help but feel sentimental at the ceremony. Would she be happy with the Hapsburgs when she has to enter into their house? Not every wedding would be like that of Infanta Isabel and Prince Afonso of Portugal, who had fortunately fallen in love upon marriage.

Sneaking a peek at the king, Antonio tried to figure out what the king was thinking as he witnessed the ceremony. Generally, weddings would appear to be a joyous affair, parents watching (and crying) as they watched their child join in union with another, at least, that was what Antonio had noticed in the past. Though he was not surprised by what he observed, he noted that the king was not smiling.

---

- Your post was great! It set the tone for the thread very nicely! I just hope that I was able to follow up well with my post. Let me know if I'm not going in the direction you are hoping for, I'll fix it, no worries.
- Blue was the sign of chastity in wedding ceremonies back then, not the white dress, hence the presence of the blue ribbon and wearing "something blue."
- The House of Trastámara was known for their auburn hair.
- I can't wait til they interact, haha.

[austria]

All of a sudden, the young Austrian’s eyes were captured by a radiant young woman dressed in heavy garments that trailed long behind her. Her gait and poise spoke of a regal birth and he was certain to have finally found the bride. The blue ribbon in contrast to her soft auburn hair seemed very aesthetically pleasing to him and he noticed how his Prince straightened up beside him at the sight of her. Roderich couldn’t see the expression of the Head of the Hapsburg household as he stood a certain distance in front of them with his back turned, but he was sure that at least the young Phillip was anxious about this marriage. Of course, if this young lady ahead was the woman about to be wed, then her nation’s representative was surely nearby. His curiosity stirred, Austria scanned the individuals around the Princess. It didn’t take long for his eyes to fall on a young man draped in elaborate robes that somehow seemed different than all the men around him. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but for some reason the presence of a nation felt different than that of a human.

Austria’s first impression of his young man was that of astonishment. He was very impressed by the lavish garments and gold, as it reflected the kind of wealth he strived to gain for his people too. Although he was well on his way of expanding his realm, so far his status was still shaky and rested on the recognition of a forged document. Moreover, he was struck by the Spaniard’s physique. He appeared to be rapidly approaching adulthood, his shape already more that of a man than of a boy. In comparison, Austria suddenly felt inadequate. Since he had just recently gained independence and his power was still in the process of stabilizing, he was still in the earlier stages of his growth spurt. He was no longer the little boy who trailed after Switzerland, but he still had a long way to go. This automatically made him feel at a disadvantage. It was easy to deal with Italy or even the Holy Roman Empire now that he had overtaken them in growth. But to keep his status when confronted by someone who appeared his senior was a daunting challenge.

At least he is Catholic. The Austrian comforted himself with this thought, as it provided common ground. Representatives of other religions unnerved him, especially since his leaders were easily provoked by them. Although born for the purpose of war, Roderich felt like a fish out of the water whenever a string of battles commenced. He twitched in surprise as an attendant whispered to him and his Prince that a meeting had been arranged after the wedding ceremony to engage in conversation with the Spanish Kingdom in hopes of strengthening their allegiance. Austria nodded in response and let his eyes drift onto the nearest cleric as to avoid staring at Spain any longer. He would be very embarrassed if anyone had called him out for staring.

The ceremony soon commenced after everyone took their places, the Austrian and Spanish families standing opposite each other. Almost everything was now spoken in Latin, and the wedding proceeded according to strict protocol that had been practiced diligently over and over again. Roderich watched closely as the ceremony progressed and yet he was finding it difficult to concentrate. Unlike in the many rehearsals he had attended, he was now feeling very nervous. Would this marriage be enough to form a unified front against France? Not to mention the pressure of increased expectations of him were worrying the young Austrian, although he did his best to keep his expression set in stone. Every now and then his eyes darted to his Spanish counterpart as he wondered if perhaps he was experiencing similar thoughts and troubles. However, he wasn’t able to conclude anything, possibly due to his weak social skills. Even though he had poured over many books about behavior and etiquette, he still didn’t feel like he understood how to read others properly.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to the uneasy Austrian, the wedding ceremony was reaching its close. The formal speech of his newly wed Prince was only vaguely registered, but then again he had heard it many times in rehearsal before. His thoughts now wandered toward the upcoming meeting, as it had been arranged to take place shortly after the wedding. In his relatively short time as a reigning power Austria had met only a few others of his kind for diplomatic discussions and none so far had been as established and prosperous as the Kingdom of Spain. This meeting could prove to be crucial to his further development. Only when the crowd began to cheer was Roderich torn from his heavy train of thoughts and he politely applauded the newly wed couple. Soon, soon it would be his turn to act.

---

Thanks! I’m glad you approved~ Your post was wonderful! And that’s an interesting bit of information. We don’t have the ‘something blue’ tradition, but I’ve seen it in movies and wondered about it.
I can’t wait either. xD Sorry for taking so long to reply though!

[Spain]

Antonio had seen a great number of sacred unions between man and wife, heard the importance of fidelity and smiled as they stood together. It almost reminded him of when Fernándo married Isabel, though that was a much more intimate affair since the royal couple had decided to elope. However, Antonio was not easily fooled, he could tell that the princess was nervous and the prince was probably feeling the same, or so he thought. As he stood up with the rest of the attendees of the ceremony, he started to feel fidgety just like whenever he had to stand at court for the whole day. The Spaniard did his best to keep his smile up as he joined in the cheering. He caught a glimpse of the queen smiling as she clapped, clearly cheerful about this union as oppose to the king. Regardless, Antonio could not help but smile as he saw the king clapping, albeit almost quietly as the newlyweds greeted their witnesses.

As the ceremony ended and people began to orderly file out of the church, Antonio followed his majesties, flanked by the train of people attending to them. Whlie he walked, he slowed down the fix his doublet, which had somehow gotten loose throughout the day. Now that the ceremony was over, he had not quite forgotten the fact that he was suppose to meet the Hapsburg representative that he would be hanging around. Unlike the previous event, where all he had to do was sit there and look pretty (he called himself an overdressed ornament earlier, but was reprimanded), he actually had to show the fruits of his upbringing in the court. Though he had not given it much thought throughout the ceremony and tried his best to sit still, he found his eyes wandering a little, trying to determine who was this person that he was suppose to meet. Despite how discreet he had tried to be when he looked around, he could not did not see anyone who would come off as being a potential country (granted, Antonio was not always the most observant person in the world, even if something was gnawing on his head).

“So I take it that we’re gonna meet the Hapsburgs next?” Antonio finally asked the king, tilting his head to the side as he shot him a look of curiosity. Given the fact that the servant that was helping him get dressed this morning had said that they would be meeting the Hapsburg family, it would make sense to presume that they would meet each other right after the ceremony (it was too easy to lose anyone in such a large crowd). Every time someone tall would catch his eye, Antonio would feel the excitement building inside before it was torn by disappointment when he realized that the person he saw that not the person that they were expecting to come.

Just then, a younger youth walked briskly towards them, bowing before the monarchs and waiting for their acknowledgement. Antonio looked at the youth curiously, his head cocked to the side as he studied him. Though his dress was not nearly as elaborate as that of noble blood, the silk doublet, carefully tied up in knots, was a tattle-tale sign that this was a servant of the court. This caused the Spaniard to smile as he chuckled softly, remembering what it was like when he was in the child’s position (many, many years ago).

“Salve,” the messenger started out in Latin, “my lord and his lady have requested to meet you, if you would allow me to escort you to them.”

Somewhere between the solemn nod of Fernándo’s head to the walk along the lengthy hall of the cathedral, admiring the high ceilings and how the elaborate designs twirled about the wall, an appropriate for the house of God. He had seen the dreaming spire that reached unto heaven, almost like a reminder of how Christ had descended unto heaven to save mankind. Despite its massive size and the lack of light in the building when the weather is dreary, the Spaniard liked the tranquility of cathedrals and found himself going there to collect his thoughts as most people around him are more concentrated on repentance and grace. At the entrance, the arc was decorated with the depictions of the seven orders of angels. Antonio’s eyes followed the trail of light that shone through the door to the important looking couple that stood outside, attended by their servants.

As they approached the monarchs, the youth ran ahead to the couple and announced their presence. When they got closer, Antonio noticed that they had another person with them, someone who was dressed richly like a noble, though he looked a little uncomfortable with his setting. Giving him a look over, Antonio could see that they were probably the same type of thing, representatives of their respective countries. Olive green eyes swept over the body of a country that was still experiencing growing pains and learning what it is like to be recognized on the world stage. He was relieved since it probably meant that they were about the same age, or at least, of the same experience. However, the young man’s solemn expression and fair complexion that garnered most of his attention, causing him to note that there was a fair chance that they may be two very different persons.

“… and this is Antonio, who has been put under my charge. He is my representative of Reino de Espana so to speak.”

The sound of his name caused Antonio to look up in surprise before he smiled sheepishly and bowed at the Hapsburg monarchs as a sign of respect. “It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintances, Your Majesties!” he greeted warmly before he pulled himself up again. He tried his best not to look at the young man too long, taking a step back to remain behind his king and queen as he listened to them converse, though e found himself still quite curious about the young man who was with the Hapsburgs.

[austria]

Once the wedding ceremony was over, the Archduchy of Austria felt his throat run dry. Now it was his turn to shine, but he hadn’t done this very often, at least not on this scale. He wasn’t the most socially adept person, but he hoped his training in etiquette and courtly manners would prove sufficient to strengthen the alliance of the two growing realms. As everyone began to file out of the church, Roderich followed the head of the Hapsburg family as a servant guided them to the entrance. They settled by the arc and waited, and Emperor Maximilian I took the opportunity to remind Roderich of his assignment.

"Let others wage war, but thou, O happy Austria, marry; for those kingdoms which Mars gives to others, Venus gives to thee," the Holy Roman Emperor said in a voice that was almost a whisper as he reiterated the motto he ruled by. "This marriage between Philipp and Juana will hopefully aid us in circumventing a war with France. I will negotiate further with the King of Spain, but I expect you to build up an amiable relationship with his country’s representative. I believe our foreign affairs will run more smoothly if you two are on cordial terms, as I know you do not fare well in war."

Austria shifted weight from one foot to the other with a compliant nod. He didn’t want to disappoint his monarch, but it was true that he wasn’t exactly the most belligerent country representative. If need be he would fight, but physical violence was certainly not his field of strength. Instead, he was obliged to follow the path of networking. Maximilian I had already arranged several marriages and expanded his territories by inheritance. Roderich really didn’t want to screw this up, for peaceful coalitions were the most feasible option for him. His gaze briefly lingered on the Emperor and his wife before traveling to the hallway at the sound of someone approaching. He could see two very regal figures – probably the Spanish king and queen – led by a servant. Then he spotted a young man behind them, one that he had noticed during the wedding ceremony. So this really was the other country representative, his hunch had been correct. One of the servants soon announced the arrival of the Spanish monarchs and everyone straightened their position in preparation to the formal meeting.

Soon enough, the conversation had been initiated by the King of Spain, who introduced himself and his wife. Heads were bowed in respect, and Austria felt his heart beat in his throat as the king then proceeded to introduce the other representative. "… and this is Antonio, who has been put under my charge. He is my representative of Reino de Espana so to speak."

The young man named Antonio cheerfully greeted the Hapsburgs in a tone that caught Roderich off guard. "It is a pleasure to meet your acquaintances, Your Majesties!" This type of cheer in meetings of this formality was not part of the behavior Roderich had learned to be appropriate. He had been taught that demure and serious expressions as well as a cool tone of voice were best suited for these kind of situations, and he wasn’t sure what to make of the Spaniard’s approach. The sheepish grin on his face seemed too mischievous for a man of court, at least according to Austria’s strict upbringing, and he hadn’t been taught how to properly respond. Nevertheless, he immediately snapped to attention as he caught his Kaiser’s voice moving on to introduce him. "… and our own representative, Roderich."

Although he did his best to keep up a poker face, the Archduchy of Austria’s brows furrowed in concentration and a rush of blood colored his cheeks as it was his turn to take the stage.

"Seid gegrüßt, Königliche Hoheit," he said while bowing as elegantly to the Spanish royal couple as his long robes would allow, before rising and inclining his head to the other representative. "It is an honor to make your acquaintance, Antonio." Now that he had introduced himself, however, Roderich didn’t feel relief. In fact he felt even more pressure, as he now had to come up with pleasant conversation. Usually he didn’t experience a lot of difficulty with this, but now that he was nervous he was finding it difficult to think clearly. He could tell that his Emperor wanted to discuss things with the King of Spain in private, as the heads of the royal households both moved to the side a little to converse in lowered voices. The wives engaged in conversation as well, so the two country representatives were given the opportunity to get to know each other better. Roderich searched his memory for all the things he new about Spain.

"I hear your lands are very sunny and well-suited for the growth of sweet fruits?" The weather seemed like a safe enough topic to start off with, and he had a natural curiosity for things that were sweet. "And that your people travel far and bring home many exotic things. Have you even been on one of these expeditions yourself?"

Despite the casual topic, the young Austrian couldn’t look any stiffer. He stood perfectly straight, his head slightly raised and his chest puffed out. After all, he wanted to be taken seriously and he didn’t really know how to casually interact with someone his age. It had been many years since he had last done that, and back then he had still been a small child without any worries of reputation or loss of face. Although he didn’t believe the other young man was unkind in nature – quite the contrary actually, considering his cheerfulness – he couldn’t help but feel tense and a need for distance.

---

"Seid gegrüßt, Königliche Hoheit" translates to "Greetings, your Royal Highness(es)"

[Spain]

As they had briefly exchanged words, Antonio could not help but sense the tense air that surrounded the Austria and resisted the urge to tilt his head in bewilderment. Despite the fact that the wedding itself was a very formal affair, however, the marriage ceremony had ended already. He would have understood if this representative was the groom himself, but as an attendee? I wonder what it would be like for him if he ever got married himself, he thought to himself while he studied the smooth, expressionless countenance of the Austrian. To Antonio, this man was like a statue -- from the dead expression on his eyes, the stiff posture and to the carefully layered garments that he wore. And despite the fact that his clothes were designed to emphasize the proud posture upheld by Austria, the slightly loose fit of the jacket hanging on Roderich's frame indicated to the Spaniard that this man was not built, if at all.

Again, the Spaniard found himself straining to prevent himself from frowning on such a day, though he was a bit thrown off when he heard German spoken when the Austrian greeted His Majesties, causing his eyes to widen slightly. The Spaniard was surprised to hear how clear and low his voice turned out to be, considering how young he had looked. And when he was greeted, Antonio returned the pleasantry and nodded in response.

"The pleasure is mine, Roderich," he said, though his voice was slightly more toned down than before. He could not help but feel that there was some sort of barrier between them that was causing the situation to feel a bit more awkward. He turned and watched as the two leaders moved to a part of the church where their conversation could not be overheard before turning his attention to Roderich.

"Oh my lands?" he repeated as he smiled at the Austrian, naturally attempting to create a cheerful atmosphere, "I won't deny that we get plenty of sunshine in my homeland... and some of our crops are delicious! You should come sometime to see it for yourself." The declaration caused him to grin, clearly demonstrating to Roderich that he was sincere and passionately proud of his lands, fertile and abundant in comparison to others. Though he had not been as involved with tending the fields ever since he had entered royal court, the less time had had in managing the fields personally. Instead, he found himself only venturing out to the fields on days when he finished up his duties early enough. Though he was not traveling to the New World for a while, he found himself pulled into performing errands, practicing his combative skills and understanding the rules of court games. Though the Spaniard did not have any great fondness for the protocols of the court, it did not mean that he did not find it any less boring.

His adventures to the New World, on the other hand, were pretty fun to talk about. Antonio's olive green eyes brightened as he looked at Roderich in the eye, glistening with excitement. Despite the fact that Roderich had been driving the conversation up to this point, the Spaniard gladly took the reigns, inadvertently creating a casual environment as he spoke. "I am flattered to hear that you have heard about the adventures of one of our men~ I was actually on the first voyage. It was pretty exciting since it was my first time on such a long expedition, but I learned a lot on the trip... who knew that it would turn out that we discovered new land?" With that, Antonio flashed the best smile before he continued, "I could go on about my adventures in Hispaniola and the other places, though I would venture to say that if you are interested in traveling, you should come along for the next trip!"

Then leaning in, Antonio continued to smile as he shielded his lips as if to tell the Austrian a secret, "Plus, it makes a nice change from being here all the time, the water is so pristine and blue over there."

Taking a step back to prevent the gesture from looking any more suspicious than it may have looked to others, the Spaniard straightened up. Though he personally did not mind talking about himself, he could not deny the fact that he was quite curious about his counterpart. He tried to search through his memory for commonalities that they could talk about, but he only thing he could really recall were the stories of the number of commissions that the nobility had granted to invest in music. Oh, he could remember the choirs of men singing dominants and tonics, telling the Lord of their repentance and wish for grace. Yet, he found himself living in a slight contradiction, for the Moorish influences caused his people's music to become so different from the rest of Christendom. Though he did not quite see anything bad about it (he told himself that the preservation of the musical tradition of the people in his country were just as important). "So I heard that you have been collecting a number of impressive musicians. It must be nice to be a gathering place for musical talent, isn't it?" he inquired.

---

- Dios, I have no idea how out of control Spain got here. I just don't even. Lo siento. ;A;
- I'm just going off I remember from the history of music classes I took. Haha.

[austria]

The young Austrian listened to the other nation representative as he recounted of his homeland. He tried to picture the sunny fields in his mind and was intrigued. Fruits ripened in the sun always tasted sweetest, and he had a very sweet tooth. “... And some of our crops are delicious! You should come sometime to see it for yourself.” Roderich stared at the Spaniard’s confident grin, surprised by his forthright approach. This young man was acting very differently from the adults Austria was accustomed to, and it felt as if there was something more unrestrained and natural… perhaps even more free about him than the other men of court. “You are inviting me to visit your fields? Hmm. I enjoy apples and grapes the most, although pears and berries are very appetizing too. Do you have those?” He hadn’t really been very involved in the tending of crops himself, though when he was very young he had loved to pick berries in the forest. Nowadays he rarely left the house, especially since his abysmal sense of direction caused him to get lost almost every time he ventured beyond the doorstep and his leaders were tired of sending search parties out to retrieve him.

After asking about Antonio’s travels, he could see a spark light up in the other boy's eyes. It seemed this subject was something the other young man was very passionate about. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other as he tried to thaw up enough for this more casual encounter, something he hadn’t attempted to do while conversing with anyone before. “I can imagine that it must have been very thrilling. But were you not afraid? You didn’t know what you might find, and there could have been horrible wild animals waiting for you in the new lands.” Roderich was caught off guard by the offer to come along on the next adventure. He was a very inexperienced traveler and his lack of orientation caused him to fear moving long distances from home. This trip to Belgium was already uncustomary for him, but since the entire royal family was attending it seemed only appropriate for him to come along too. Unexpectedly, the young Spaniard leaned in as if about to share a secret with him, a tickling sensation running down Roderich's spine. "Plus, it makes a nice change from being here all the time, the water is so pristine and blue over there."

His eyes widened at the mental image and he felt incredibly torn. On one hand, the beautiful imagery was very tempting, and he had never gone on such an adventure before. On the other hand, he was very wary of the ocean. He had spent most of his life landlocked and he was unable to swim, so the endless blue depths frightened him. In addition, he suffered from an unreasonable phobia of marine life including creatures as generally harmless as starfish. The desire to see beautiful new landscapes was shining in the violet orbs behind his glasses, yet his face had gone deathly pale. “O-O-Oh… that… It sounds very lovely, but I do not think I would be allowed.” That was another problem. It was very unlikely the Hapsburgs would allow their navigationally challenged representative to travel the world, and he supposed it would be more reasonable not to go anyway. “However, I am glad to hear your travels have been successful. You must have encountered many strange plants and animals. I hear exotic birds are especially lovely to behold?”

The subject switch to that of music made him a little more comfortable, for this was a ‘safe’ territory. He could talk endlessly about music and the many performers he admired, and a faint smile lightened his tense features. “Ja, I have been diligently collecting them. Music is a wonderful means of expression and the most effective balm for the soul. In my opinion, at least. I wish to perfect every instrument, for each has its own characteristic voice, its own set of vocabulary with which one can speak to the heart and mind.” Music was perhaps Austria’s most simple yet subtle way of escaping the strict protocol that dictated his life and he was always happy to share his enthusiasm with others who showed interest. He adjusted his glasses and regarded the other representative with renewed curiosity. “Is there an instrument you prefer? Do you play music? I enjoy the gemshorn and vielle myself.” He could imagine that someone so full of life would play very vibrant music and although he usually preferred calm, serene tunes he was always eager to listen to the melodies of someone’s soul.

Now that he had picked up in confidence, Roderich placed his hands behind his back and strode back and forth with an air of importance. “If you like, you may attend one of the concerts I host. I’m sure the musicians would be very honored to play for you.” The young Austrian thought it would only be fair to return an invitation and he wouldn’t mind showing the other man around his home. He was certain they had both grown up in very different conditions and would therefore have a lot to show each other. Since Roderich didn’t meet others of his kind very often, there was something exciting about this encounter. However, he would be careful not to make the same mistake again as he had with Switzerland. Countries weren’t meant to be friends, for such friendships were doomed to fall apart in times of conflict.

---

- Haha I thought Spain was amusing to read.
- Don’t worry, I’m not an expert on 15th century music. xD

[Spain]

“You are inviting me to visit your fields? Hmm. I enjoy apples and grapes the most, although pears and berries are very appetizing too. Do you have those?”

Antonio looked at Roderich strangely as he asked the question. Of course he was inviting him! "Why, of course!" he said in reply, a hint of surprise crept across his face before it disappeared. "So you like apples and grapes now, do you? We have some pretty interesting types here that we use to make wine! It makes ours taste like none other in the world!" the Spaniard exclaimed as his chest puffed out a bit. If there was anything that he had been proud of, the fact that his people were able to cultivate a grape that could thrive in dry regions at high altitudes was one of them. With that thought, Antonio resisted the urge to grab the Austrian and take him with to Cataluña, Valencia and Castilla right now. There was too much to do, too much to enjoy, so much to explore!And while they were at it, enjoy the seafood in Asturias while admiring the oceanview!

For some reason, this conversation had aroused the urge to travel again in the Spaniard, his mind had started wandering off into memories of faraway lands in the boyish gleam in his olive green eyes. So it would not be surprise that when Roderich asked him if he was afraid of the perils of travelling into unknown lands, the Spaniard just stared at him blankly, uncertain about why he would have to think about such things. Sure, Hispaniola had a few cannibals there, as Colòn wrote, but he had not encountered too many dangerous things during his travels. However, he went on to comfort the man about some of the stories that he probably had heard and reassured him that most of his encounters had been friendly, except for when they were caught in a couple awful storms. But he did his best not to scare Roderich too much, it seemed as if this was not exactly the Austrian's cup of tea. Though, a feeling of delight coursed through Antonio as he saw his face light up at the description of the West Indies. After all, who could resist the desire to see a place so natural and far from the corruption of man?

Smiling again as Roderich asked him about the things he saw, he nodded affirmatively as he smiled. "Actually, the birds are something to see," he said cheerfully as he placed a hand on his belt, "we actually brought some over from there, though some of them were not use to the weather, we do have a couple of our own that we brought over from there... perhaps you should come to my place and see! Granted, I think that there is plenty of things to see in Spain, if you ever decide that you wana visit. Our archives are really something."

Having made the topic change, he could see that the Austrian looked... more relieved, definitely more in his element. For Antonio, this was very much welcomed, after all, he liked seeing his conversation partners comfortable -- there was nothing worse than having to converse through his teeth because he had somehow convinced himself that smiling would eventually make the convesation better. Feeling himself relax, Antonio was a bit surprised to see that he had somehow become really tense himself.

“Ja, I have been diligently collecting them. Music is a wonderful means of expression and the most effective balm for the soul. In my opinion, at least. I wish to perfect every instrument, for each has its own characteristic voice, its own set of vocabulary with which one can speak to the heart and mind.”

The answer caused Antonio to chuckle to himself as he listened, amused by how engrossed that Roderich appeared. It was almost as if the man had come alive with passion, or at least enthusiasm as he talked. "Ah, that's quite the ambition!" Antonio said, smiling a bit as he sifted his weight to his other leg, a bit tired of leaning to one side too long. "As for myself," he said in reply to Roderich's question, "though violins and other such instruments are nice, I think that the lute is a bit nice, easy to carry around. However, I like the guitarra the most... though as you know, our music has been heavily influenced by the Moors." Though strongly discouraged from playing any music outside what was permitted by the Church, Antonio could not deny a certain appeal that the music writing by the others who lived in his home. There was something about it that was so foreign, so sweet, and so nostalgic.

When Roderich started pacing back and forth, the Spaniard tried hard not to burst out laughing in the change in the Austrian's attitude. It was interesting to see how a man could go from stiff and shy one moment to confident and comfortable. Seems that the situation made the person at times. "Well, I'd like to come to Vienna sometime, so I'll hold you to that," Antonio mused, crossing his arms as he grinned. He was not sure about what Roderich thought of him, but as far as he could tell, they were alomst exactly opposites of each other, except for the fact that they were both male and the spirit of their respective countries. However, Antonio could not help but see this as an opportunity to travel and see things that he had not seen before.

Then turning to look outside for a brief moment, Antonio could see that the day was lovely, ideal for weddings. He had long lost track of where the newly wedded couple had wandered off too, but figured that they would see each other fairly soon. he could feel himself aching as he stared out at the blue skies, painted with leaves turned orange, crimson and gold by the autumn season.

Walking up and gently placing an arm on Austria's shoulder, he pointed outside, a mischievious smile on his lips as he pointed. "Say, wanna walk around outside a little? Get a nice change of pace?"

---

Notes:
- I'm glad to hear that he was amusing to read because sometimes I'll look at what I wrote and be all, "Hahah, wait. What?"
- So I was looking up the history of music and interestingly enough, nuemes, the early form of modern music annotation was developed in Spain. Irony!
- I seem to like dragging people around. :D;
- I never knew that I could most over 1k for a conversation. :D;

[austria]

As he was told that the Spanish indeed cultivated apples and grapes, his eyes lit up a little. Though he was not yet an avid wine-drinker due to his youth, he did know how to appreciate the sweet juices made of these fruits and he loved to snack on them between meals. If he hadn’t been so wary of traveling, and if his reigning family permitted, he might have let himself be carried away by the Spanish young man’s enthusiasm to explore. Somewhere buried deep inside him, the curiosity befitting his age stirred, but that small sapling was too easily weighed down by the various layers of social burdens that the aristocratic youth had to bear, especially as the representative of a very ambitious nation.

"I see. That sounds enticing. I have not seen the ocean before."

To him, already a local Spanish beach sounded like an exotic location. The idea of an endless stretch of sand brushed by waves of an infinite blue body of water was almost too abstract to imagine. Roderich was accustomed to be able to see from shore to shore of any body of water, to be able to overlook and control it; the ocean seemed like an unbridled, untamable entity of nature that was to be respected and feared. Nevertheless, he did intend to gaze upon this unfathomable expanse of water sometime in his life for the pull of curiosity was simply too strong. Traveling on it by ship was an entirely different matter and he could feel a cold shudder run down his spine just by the thought of such a journey. It seemed far too perilous to the young man and he would be terrified at sea without any land in sight.

"Actually, the birds are something to see. We actually brought some over from there, though some of them were not use to the weather, we do have a couple of our own that we brought over from there... perhaps you should come to my place and see!"

At the mention of birds, the Austrian smiled just a little. Birds were elegant animals full of beautiful songs and peaceful natures, sometimes with the most intricate feather coats. Especially those of far away lands were described to be lovely to behold, so the presented offer was very tempting. The archives piqued his interest as well and he couldn’t help but ask more about the subject.

“Really? Are they colorful birds? Do they sing? I hear some have even be taught to speak the languages of man. Have you ever seen birds like that before? Ah… I will have to ask for permission to visit. The archives sound very inviting as well. I suppose it would be good to increase our interactions if we will indeed work together more often in the future.”

Austria was pleased that the other young man seemed to share his enthusiasm. Or perhaps he was simply an enthusiastic person by nature? Either way, he delighted in the mutual interest and listened closely as Antonio told of his own instrument experiences. As he himself didn’t have much contact with the music of the Moors or even their instruments, he was very intrigued. He knew that their music was not consented by the current Catholic beliefs, and it would be inappropriate of him to condone such interests… yet he couldn’t help but find all kinds of music equally fascinating.

“The guitarra? I have not heard that be played before. It is an instrument that is strummed, correct? I have heard it produces scandalous music, but I have not been able to judge yet for myself.”

When the other boy accepted the invitation to come to Vienna, Roderich immediately straightened up in his position. He had spent many hours being educated on how to be a good host, so now he might finally get to put his acquired skills to the test. He bowed a little to welcome the idea. “I will gladly show you around when you find the time to visit.” Of course, they would need an actual guide for the tour since the Austrian himself was a horrible choice for anything that required orientation.

Soon, however, he was torn from his train of thought by an unusually bold suggestion. "Say, wanna walk around outside a little? Get a nice change of pace?" Roderich glanced around for the Hapsburgs as if seeking their permission, but it appeared that they had wandered off to discuss business somewhere else. Now that he realized he was without guidance and left to his own devices, he felt almost a little nervous. The outdoors were generally not an approved location of leisure activities, but he supposed if nobody was around to witness it then he wouldn’t be reprimanded.

“A-ah… Well… Alright then. I hope the sun is not too strong today.” He glanced up at the sky and hoped that the sunlight wouldn’t tan his skin, for pallor was a sign of wealth in his society and he wouldn’t want the noblemen frown upon him. He fussed with his sleeves to make sure they covered his arms completely and adjusted his coat, making sure to look presentable before they were to go outside.

________________________________________

- xD Haha that’s cool. Spain does seem like a musical guy to me.
- No problem, dragging brings motion into the scene~

[Spain]

Much to Antonio’s pleasure, it seemed as though he would be able to work with Roderich after all, though he had originally thought that the man was a bit stiff and perhaps a bit rigid. It is amazing how much people change once something that they are passionate about is brought up in the conversation. As the conversation continued, he started to tell him about the birds that he saw, the people he encountered and the mishaps of travel. After all, it would not be considered a journey if everything had gone too smoothly along the way. The Spaniard found it a pity that the Roderich had not sailed before and determined that it would be something that he would need to make happen, whether or not he would be with the other man when it happened. Though he understood that the kingdom was mostly landlocked, he hoped that it was not the sole hindrance for the kingdom.

“Ah… I will have to ask for permission to visit. The archives sound very inviting as well. I suppose it would be good to increase our interactions if we will indeed work together more often in the future.”

The remark caused Antonio to smile as he listened, nodding in agreement with the fact that it would be important for them to build a good relationship. After all, Isabella had drilled it into his head ever since he had been abel to speak enough Spanish to communicate with them. Though he was still not that well versed with the nature of the affairs of the court, he was well aware of the fact that it was essential for his survival to build alliances with other kingdoms.

But there were times where Antonio felt like it was not as much of a chore, especially when he could see that there was so much potential in the friendships that he built. Smiling as his interest was peaked by Austria’s discussion about music, he nodded in response. Though he never tired of talking to his people about music and had started to learn to play some of the music, it was not often that he met someone who was so enthusiastic about music.

“Yes, the guitarra,” he repeated, “you haven’t played it before? I guess it is not as common as some others, but yes, it’s a strumming instrument, a lot like a lute. Though scandalous? Really? I think that it’s very pretty sounding. Oh, I can show you! I have my guitarra stashed with my stuff back in the lodging that we are staying at! How about I play some stuff for you and then we’ll see when I can come to Vienna, sounds good?”

Though Antonio may have, though probably not, have realized that his behavior was a bit less conservative than he had been instructed to uphold at the wedding, he had thrown much of the precaution to the wind. After all, this was another country, I t was someone who could understand him and sympathize with some of the experiences he had while growing all that time. But in all honesty, he also felt that it was all right to act like this from time to time, especially since he had suddenly felt that the Austrian needed to go on more adventures – it was apparent that he not only preferred to stay indoors, but also was very carefully watched over by his masters.

And in his eyes, countries grew the most when they are left to go explore the world for themselves.

“A-ah… Well… Alright then. I hope the sun is not too strong today.”

Tilting his head, Antonio studied Roderich carefully before smiling, patting the man on his shoulder before building him from the building. “Oh a little sunshine won’t hurt your fair complexion,” he said with a laugh, “plus if you’re that worried about it, chances are that we’ll be in the shadows of most of the buildings that we will pass.” Then with that, he placed an arm around Roderich's shoulders and guided him out of the church and retrieved the belongings that he had left outside, including his weapon, before turning and waiting for Roderich to catch up to him.

“So, you have any place in particular that you are looking to go? If not, I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to fetch my guitarra, no?” Then with that, he immediately made his way to the lodge, dodging the people that walked past. Despite the fact that he would have to come back a little later to celebrate the marriage, he figured that someone would come looking for him when his presence was needed. As they walked, he looked over at the Austrian, tilting his head slightly as he noted the man’s features. Aside from the fact that he thought his eye color was quite unique, he grinned as they walked on.

“I don’t quite remember ever meeting you as a child, though I’m sure you’ve had your fair share of experiences… what was it like for you growing up?”

---

Notes:
- Sorry it took me so long, I think that things are lightening up a bit so my posting frequency will increase.
- I almost took Roderich on a boat ride, though we can probably still do it. xD
- I hope that your Austria doesn't get thrown off by how physically affectionate my Spain can get.
- By the way, since we are allowing members to give more literary titles to threads, what would you like to rename this?

[austria]

“Yes, the guitarra. You haven’t played it before?”

The young Austrian glanced around as if worried someone might overhear the other young man suggesting he might have played such an instrument, for it was considered to be all but pious by the Church and upper society. Nevertheless, Roderich couldn’t help but be drawn toward the subject, intrigued by all forms of instruments alike. To him, in his most private thoughts, he didn’t care how different kinds of music were judged, for they all entailed the aspect of self-expression and beauty in creation. Although he might have been a narrow-minded boy in many fields, music was one he was secretly perhaps the most tolerant in.

“Nein, I have not played it. But I am interested to hear how it sounds. I have heard the guitar to be described as possessing an entrancing yet carnal voice, so I wish to hear how much of that is true. If you are willing to play for me then I am very grateful. As long as we do not draw attention to ourselves, for I wish to avoid mein Herrscher’s questioning.”

Austria had indeed grown up very sheltered, mostly due to the fact that he seemed incapable of fending for himself. He would get lost even within the regent’s castle, so nobody wanted to risk having him wander off into the wide, endless outdoors. Furthermore, he wasn’t as boisterous as some of his neighbors and not much of a warrior, so his rulers saw it best to keep him within their fortifications. Roderich himself had not minded this treatment most of the time, for it saved him a lot of trouble and grief. Besides, the best acoustics could only be achieved indoors and he spent the greatest part of his free time playing music and composing new pieces.

As a hand fell on his shoulder, the young nation hesitantly glanced at it. He was not accustomed to physical contact, as humans usually kept a respectful distance to him and in his court people were generally more distant by nature. He pressed his lips together as he contemplated the situation, and he concluded that as long as he stayed in the shade, his complexion should indeed remain intact. When an arm was then audaciously thrown around his shoulders, Roderich stiffened instinctively. Why was the Spaniard acting so familiarly with him? He didn’t understand it, for in his mind there was no merit in making friends. In the end, he believed even the best friendship was just a façade and he found himself pushing a young Swiss boy out of his darkened thoughts. Regardless, he somehow couldn’t get himself to shake the arm off of himself as he believed he should. Perhaps there was even something… pleasant about such a free and uninhibited manner. Austria had no intention of showing any sign of enjoying it, however, and he quietly let himself be guided out of the Church.

Out of the corner of his eye he watched Spain pick up his weapon, for the unfamiliar design was intriguing. His own men were equipped with different types, and he himself carried a thin dagger which served more ornamental purpose than anything else. Although it was necessary to avoid presenting a target for possible enemy nations, Roderich personally frowned upon violence.

“So, you have any place in particular that you are looking to go? If not, I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea to fetch my guitarra, no?”

Without even pausing to think, the young aristocrat shook his head. “I have nowhere to be right now. We can retrieve your instrument and you may then play for me, if you wish.”

Childlike excitement was beginning to bubble in his chest as he followed the Spanish adolescent to the lodge, although it didn’t show on his trained stoic expression. At one point he felt eyes upon him, and he automatically reached to adjust his spectacles. Whenever he felt observed or analyzed, he was grateful for his glasses as they provided a barrier as well as gave him a more sophisticated appearance. He was caught off guard by a question regarding his childhood, and he wondered how much he should reveal.

“I do not believe we met, for we live rather far apart. I was born to be a buffer for the Holy Roman Empire against the Hungarians, so I was never meant to travel.” He briefly reflected on how he had often been beaten by Hungary to the point that Switzerland had to carry him home, but those memories created an unpleasant feeling and he shoved them aside. The past was always a bit awkward for him to recollect, as he wasn’t proud of the unmannered forest-dwelling boy he had started out as. Aside from his bond with Switzerland he lacked any friends or family to report of, so he could keep his account very sober and detached. “Things were very different back then. I was not much of a sightly child. To be honest, I was not very ambitious at first either. All around me were fully established, large kingdoms and empires. Back then, I would have never dreamed the Kingdom of Hungary or the Kingdom of Italy would ever need to heed my word, much less the Holy Roman Empire. Once I became an Archduchy, however, things went very quickly.”

Roderich then pursed his lips, as he decided not to go further into detail. It had been only 43 years since he had gained the right to vote or make any political decisions of his own within the Holy Roman Empire, and on the playing field of kingdoms that had existed for centuries he was still a very freshly-baked player. Embarrassed by this aspect, he decided to return the question to Spain.

“How about you? You seem like someone who… ah… spent a lot of time in the sun as a child. How was growing up for you?”

________________________________________

Notes:
- Sorry, I’ve been keeping busy and forgot that it was high time to post again. ;u;
- xD A boat ride would be a very new experience
- He’s torn between disapproval and secret appreciation.
- Hmm I can’t think of anything…
- mein Herrscher = my ruler

[Spain]

While Antonio had heard of other countries being born once a buffer zone was created between two powers, but he had never actually seen one that was mostly grown up. After all, the Spanish Marches, created by the Franks as a means to keep the Moors from infringing on their territory, was a mere child and he had heard about another one existing by the Swiss territory. Thus, he let go of Roderich, taking a step back as he found his eyes sweeping over the Austrian’s entire appearance, not even bothering to hide his curiosity. “A buffer zone?” he repeated, “seems like a tough job though.” He could not say that he knew too much about the Hungarians, but if he was to make a presumption, he would assume that the group of people was possibly every bit as fierce as the Moors had been. Granted, given the fact that he had arrived at the state that he was at now may also indicate that the man underrated himself greatly. “Well, just because you’re a buffer zone doesn’t mean that you should not explore the world, you know?” he added as they pasted the first intersection, “it makes life seem so uneventful. Besides, there are plenty of talented musicians all over Christendom… would be good for you to travel around to see them perform.”

As Antonio had never been one to focus too much on the minor details, he failed to notice Roderich’s discomfort on the topic, but his curiosity had been satisfied. “Either way, it’s impressive that you have arrived to this state… and with this marriage, it’ll be an alliance of two pretty impressive powers!” he declared, grin playing on his lips.

“How about you? You seem like someone who… ah… spent a lot of time in the sun as a child. How was growing up for you?”

Having the conversation revert to him, Antonio looked over at Roderich before turning and checking to make sure that they had not walked past the place that he was staying. “Well, it’d be fair to say that I grew up under the sun, especially when I grew up in Ancient Rome’s house. He’d take me fishing and out to the fields a lot… though I had to move away and the Moors kept me indoors to study a lot.” his voice trailed off as a whimsical look filled his olive green eyes. It had been a while since he had even thought about when he lived with the Moors, incorporated into al-Andalus with Portugal, but the memories of the wars did not give him nightmares like they did in the past. The memories of burning villages and blood spilt over the lush plains of the Iberian Peninsula had haunted more nights than he could remember, weeping for those who had been his people and have become his people.

But things have worked themselves out somehow over the years and he did not feel as haunted by the bloody images as he did before.

Smiling again, Antonio pulled up the edge of his sleeve to reveal a paler skin underneath, “You can tell that I spent a lot of time under the sun?” He was amused at the fact that Roderich had made such an observation. “Well, though you lived on the other side of the world, I’m sure you’ve heard of the Moors. Well, I was one of the countries that lived under their rule, as did my sibling….” he trailed off, conscious of the fact that what he was about to say sounded heretical, but then decided to say it anyway, “I’ll confess that though they are heretics, I can’t deny the fact that I’ve learned so much from them. We’ve even translated a bunch of their texts into Latin!” At least, most of them were translated, as far as he could remember. It had been a while since Antonio had looked at a lot of the texts, though he had read a lot of them when he was younger, discovering the Egyptian and Greek text that had become lost during the rule of the Roman Empire and the wealth of Arabian knowledge that was far advanced than anything that they had.

“But at the same time, they were not really my people,” he added, his voice adopting a more solemn tone as he looked down, “there was a lot of fighting growing up because of la reconquista, but it was something that we needed to bring the people together. But hey, other than that, I got to travel around quite a bit and the like, nothing terribly exciting.”

Just then, they came upon the building, at which point, Antonio opened the door and held it to allow the Austrian to come through. Waving to the innkeeper, before climbing up the stairs two at a time, he stopped to turn to see if Roderich was still coming before he continued on. Then taking out the key, he opened up the room, squinting as the sun poured through the window and hit him in the eyes. Quietly walking over to the bed, he slid a case out and took out a small guitar before standing up again and turning to Roderich. “Feel free to sit anywhere you want, welcome to my room!” he said before sitting down on the bed and placing the guitar on his lap.

Strumming the instrument softly, he adjusted the tuning a few times before he was satisfied with the sound. Then without a second thought, he started to play a piece, a song that he had learned from the gypsies during his travels. He played it rarely due to the fact that those people are not nightly regarded in Spain, only playing it when he thought no one was around. He allowed the drones to continue playing as he arpeggiated, seeing the images of the dancing in his mind as he played on.

---

Notes:
- Okay, I'll think of something.
- Yeah, er. Sorry about the abruptness of this whole thing. I hope that you like it.

[austria]

Austria could clearly remember his earliest years, back when he depended on Switzerland to come pick him up whenever Hungary had been rough on him. Back then he had foolishly believed it to be the natural order of things, but the tables had turned in a very short amount of time. Now he was the more powerful one, and he hoped for a rapid growth spurt so that his physique would be stronger as well. “Ja, it was not very easy. It makes you the primary target of any attempted invasion.” It seemed the Spaniard didn’t quite understand Roderich’s dilemma when it came to traveling, so he shook his head and attempted to explain. “I am ill suited for exploration. I am unable to orientate myself. Not just outdoors in a forest, but I do not know the streets of the town I live in despite my daily strolls. I have difficulty capturing landmarks in my mind unless I specifically concentrate all of the time, and I am easily distracted. Even within a building I find it difficult to remember where the rooms are. It would most likely be a disaster if I set out to explore.”

At the mention of different musicians spread across the world, he did feel a sense of regret that he was unable to freely travel. So many types of music lay undiscovered by him and he might never get to experience them as long as he simply stayed at home. He sighed softly and nodded in agreement. “Ja, that I can imagine. I wish I could see them, but I would have to take a guide with me.”

A faint pink hue colored his cheeks at the compliment, and his chest swelled a little in pride as his accomplishments seemed to impress the Spanish representative. He listened closely as the other young man recounted of his childhood, trying to picture the kind of lifestyle he must have led. His curiosity was stirred and he couldn’t help but inquire further, unaware of possibly causing the other boy to remember things he might prefer to be forgotten. “The Moors? What were they like? I have heard of them but know little about them.”

Roderich followed Antonio into a building, hesitantly waving to the innkeeper as he felt lost in the completely unfamiliar environment. He made sure not to let the Spaniard out of his sight, following close behind him. A sudden ray of sunlight made him squint as he entered the chamber and it took a few moments before he could look around. The room looked relatively tidy, as he had expected. Antonio pulled forth a curious instrument that could only be the guitar, and he eyed it from a distance. After given permission to sit down, he pulled up a chair and seated himself, hands folded in his lap and back straight. After all, as a guest he had to display exemplary manners.

“What a curious thing. Do you have anything in mind that you can play? Perhaps your favorite song. I am curious what kind of music inspires you the most.”

According to Roderich, one could tell a lot about a person and their current situation reading only the music that comes from their fingers, regardless of instrument. He was intrigued to listen to the other man play, already trying to imagine what sounds the hollow wood could produce. Perhaps if it was easy to play, he could secretly study it a little bit himself. If he watched intently enough, he should be able to pick up a thing or two from the way the Spaniard plays. A soft tune soon filled the room and he held his breath, his imagination painting a landscape of a place he had only seen in paintings, full of sunlight and color, of lively joyous people and vibrant movement. He gasped in delight and clapped his hands together. He was easily caught up in the rhythm and pace, and it almost made him want to wiggle his legs to the music. Of course, since that went against his upbringing he refrained, but the excitement was still very clear in his eyes. The rebellious cowlick of his seemed even more springy than usual and for once, it appeared life had been breathed into the Austrian's face.

“It is simply enchanting!”




________________________________________

Notes:
- *forever late* OTL I’m sorry!!
- I thought it was very cute! I enjoyed it.

[Spain]

Antonio made an attempt to be sympathetic as Roderich tried to explain his poor sense of direction. Having spent a majority of his life either on horseback or moving from palace to palace, his own sense of direction had been carefully nurtured and proven useful during his voyages. “It sounds like you’re in a tough spot,” he said empathetically, “seems like you got too many neighbors, though I guess it kind of only takes one to make your life difficult, doesn’t it?” His mind immediately wandered to that of his own neighbors, both his brother and a certain Frenchmen who could not seem to understand the idea behind fencing off territory and respecting boundaries. Granted, Antonio would confess to the fact that he had his share of toeing boundaries drawn, but he was no less at least able to at least empathize.

Patting the Austrian, the Spaniard cocked his head to the side as he looked at Roderich, “it really is a shame that you can’t explore like that, but that just gives you an excuse to have more companions, doesn’t it?” With that, he offered a smile as he ran his hand through his hair. “But to see that you had at least come this far for the wedding, I’d almost assume that you don’t give yourself nearly as much credit as you deserve, you know? Granted, well, I guess I can’t really say much, can I?” There was a momentary pause as Antonio grinned again. “You know,” he started, “I’m quite serious about being a guide for you if you wanna do some traveling, I’d have to say that I’m pretty good at navigating – I’ve been around the world, after all!”

Waving his arms to indicate the fact that he had travelled around, Antonio stood up and walked over to the window. Leaning against the will, he turned back and looked at his guest thoughtfully. “Well, the Moors? I guess they weren’t bad, their culture was a little different, they brought along some good things,” he started out, though his recollections were filled with pauses as he strained to remember all of the five hundred years of memories. And in all honesty, Antonio thought that they had not been bad – they had brought along with them the Arabic translations of ancient text that had been destroyed by fires and paranoid kings, descriptions of knowledge that he only had a glimpse of a child and presumed to have been lost soon after.

No, it was not that Antonio thought less of the Moors who stayed in his land, no, some of them had become close allies of his king and queen, but rather, it was their practices that always in want. But like the Jews that had lived in their land, well, at least prior to their expulsion, he had cohabited with them in tolerance. It had been the will of the Lord and continually taught by the apostles who followed, and if this was the best way to live as a beacon of light and an example of Christ-like behavior, he would do so as well. But it was something that Antonio had regarded to be part of his life, something that was expected and not quite something he would tell Roderich off the bat.

After all, it would not be good if he came off a little too preachy.

Looking back at the Austrian, he was amused at how prim… and how proper the man looked in his seat, for there was no denial that he had been brought up with the utmost care, under the most strictest teachers. Though considering the fact that it was the Habsburg family, he could not be surprised if he was only cared for by the best.

When he finished playing his guitar, he leaned it gently against the wall, pleased that Roderich had found it pleasing to the ear. It was nothing like the music that was composed by the most regarded composers and nothing like the church music that they would sing, but felt delighted when the Austrian started to clap in rhythm. It was clear to see the Roderich was well trained, talented enough to pick out the complex rhythms and clap along, oh, he resisted the urge to set the guitar aside and start dancing. After all, it was something that was frowned upon, for this music was regarded as to belong to that of gypsies and heretics. But it was hard for Antonio to resist It when he was travelling in Andalusia! And upon looking a Roderich’s countenance, the Spaniard felt as if he had found some common ground with his newfound ally.

“Well, I’m glad that you enjoyed it!” Antonio said cheerfully as he stood up, “would you like to give it a try?” With that, he picked up the guitar and held it out towards the Austrian. “I’m sure you’ll pick it up pretty quickly!”

[austria]

“It really is a shame that you can’t explore like that, but that just gives you an excuse to have more companions, doesn’t it?” The Austrian blinked and stared at the other young man. He had never thought about it like that before. Although he heavily relied on other people, he preferred solitude most of the time. He no longer trusted other people after the rebellion of his former best friend. But he had to admit that Spain had a point. With such poor orientation skills he should always be sure to have a friend nearby. He was pleasantly surprised as the Spaniard offered himself up for being a guide and he considered his words carefully. “I came here with my King, so I was closely monitored at all times. However, it would be very gracious of you indeed if you were to offer yourself to be my guide on journeys around the country.” Although Antonio hadn’t specified to what locations he would be willing to take him, the Austrian didn’t yet dare consider going beyond the European continent anyway.

The other man was observed as he wandered toward the window. He appeared to be in contemplation, as if digging up distant memories in the depths of his mind. Roderich hoped he hadn’t opened up a touchy chapter in Spain’s personal history, and the unusually demure reply led him to believe that there was something Antonio was hiding from him. Nevertheless, he didn’t see it to be his business if the other man wasn’t feeling comfortable enough to talk about it to him, and that was reasonable for they had only recently met. He decided to drop the subject soon enough and to not pry further into it, to avoid an unpleasant turn of the conversation. He had been diligently instructed in the art of conversation and he was eager to put himself to the test. Along with providing conversational matter, however, was also the skill of avoiding sensitive subject matters. And in the end he could only assume it was because of bad memories that the Spaniard was acting like this, for he couldn’t see into his mind and knew too little about him to attempt reading his unusual reactions.

All of a sudden it seemed as if Antonio was looking at him and smiling. Roderich was confused about what amused the other young man like this, and he instinctively reached to straighten his hair with his hand. However, one small lock of hair simply did not want to be tamed. Austria had long since given up on combing Mariazell in any particular direction, for this stubborn curl stayed firmly upright. Only when something emotional happened would it change its shape, most often curling up even further. At least he wasn’t mocked for it, as the nobles agreed that a stray strand of hair was the least of everyone’s worries. Though that didn’t stop his personal caretakers from frantically trying to brush his hair down everyday, as if the lesson would simply not be learned.

As the guitar was set aside, the Austrian noted with what care and tenderness Spain seemed to handle his instrument. This impressed him, for several of the musicians he was familiar with treated their instruments like any common objects, even forgetting to dust or tune them when they had been laid aside for a longer period of time.. Then a bright smile spread over the Spaniard’s face, as if something had just occurred to him. Antonio turned to pick up the guitar again and held it out to Austria.” Ah? You would like me to play?” A faint pink hue spread over his cheeks as he gingerly accepted the round-bellied instrument. Hesitantly he strummed each tone once before turning to face the Spaniard again. “Alright then. Presumably I will play abysmally at first, but I already have a melody I wish to play in my head. I assume the sequence of notes is the same on piano keys as it is on guitars. In which case.…”

With that, Roderich silenced and plucked at two of the strings, a low vibrating sound traveling through the room. Next he tried using two fingers, eager to learn. Although he was not yet confident in the tones he was producing, the Austrian was proud of at least getting the rhythm right. Somehow this instrument simply invited smiles and Austria couldn’t prevent the corners of his mouth tugging upward. The more he played, the more he seemed to understand the workings of this instrument and his melody began to grow and ripen. The music was still soft, but the pace soon matched the Spanish’s song and he put more force into plucking the strings. Roderich hoped the music was conveying the optimism and high spirits he was experiencing right now, but it was much more difficult to let emotions flow into the music on the guitar than any other instrument he was familiar with, as he had yet to master it.