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Post by Estonia on Oct 19, 2010 20:48:08 GMT -5
(OOC: closed to the Netherlands. Setting is Tallinn. c: )
The clock kept ticking away.
Normally it wouldn't have bothered the Estonian, but since he was expecting company the sound of the clock ticking methodically droned on and on. Estonia kept his lips pressed against the rim of his tea cup, just taking in the smell of the herbs and impatiently glancing at his watch. It was a minute off from the infernal ticking device on the wall, something that he figured he'd fix later if the visit turned out well.
He wasn't even sure why the Netherlands wanted to see him. They'd never been close before, hardly had any contact outside of their strict formal business. Assuming that this would be no different, that the other just wanted to discuss something between the two of them, didn't help to end his nervous nature. Eduard sipped at the tea, thankful that something at least was keeping his hands warm, because the business attire wasn't helping much.
Three more minutes. Three more and the Dutchman would be on time, four more and he'd be late. It wasn't that he was worried, just concerned. The seconds kept ticking away until the next minute passed. He'd spent the entire afternoon this way, sitting and waiting since he was so unused to people coming to him. The possibility was always in his mind that the other maybe decided against even coming to Tallinn, and Eduard wouldn't have blamed him. Almost six in the evening, and he lowered the cup to rest on his knee.
Two more minutes and then he'd start to worry.
Only a little.
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Post by The Netherlands on Oct 19, 2010 21:48:17 GMT -5
It was strictly to discuss business. Since his rendezvous with Japan didn't go exactly as he anticipated, he thought of trying a different approach. Russia was still a force to be reckoned with, and even if he wasn't the main target of The Netherlands' approach, getting that country tangled within the fight would make everything so much better. Hell, if he played this well enough, he could probably get the larger nation to become an ally. It was all in the planning.
So that's why he was here, in Tallin. Sure, Estonia might not be the most productive country, but he was certainly naive enough to coax into coming onto his side. It was all merely a huge act to get Russia angry. Oh, who stole Estonia away from you? Yeah, it may have been a pretty selfish idea, but it was one that would work. Estonia didn't have good placing either, surrounded from a bunch of to be soon hostile empires. What was good about the placing, is that it was one of the quickest ways to get near Russia, Denmark, and Sweden. Huh, it seemed that they would need to go through the soon to be dutch territory for campaigns, wouldn't they?
He was a couple of minutes late. He couldn't really help it, the foot traffic was surprisingly busy for this time of night. He knocked a couple of times, unlike his meeting with Japan, this would go a lot smoother. This time, he wouldn't leave with a no. So now all he had to do was wait, wait for the door to open. He put his hands in his pockets to make it pass quicker.
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Post by Estonia on Oct 19, 2010 22:23:42 GMT -5
The Estonian stared at the clock after the faithful minute passed. He sipped away at his drink until there was nothing left but a light syrup colored stain at the bottom of it, and the moment it was done his mouth was dry. He felt this would be a bad idea in the first place, always thinking that business was best suited for temperate conference rooms surrounded with others instead of in his own cold home.
After a few more moments passed, he rose to his feet, straightening out his blue and black striped tie with a quick tug of his empty hand. It was all the same, he hadn't known what in the world the Netherlands of all people would want with him anyways. He wanted to keep others away at any rate, not invite them into his home. Calming down any worry that he had about why the other wasn't around yet--he forgot, or got lost, or got mugged, all of it was so unlikely anyways--he wandered to the kitchen.
Setting the cup in the sink, it just had to be the very second he turned on the faucet that the knocking rang through his ears. Turning it back off and striding to the door, Eduard took a moment and a deep breath before turning the doorknob, opening the door to meet the Dutchman and the colder air outside face to face.
"...You made it." He remarked, not knowing what else to say as he stepped aside and opened the door for the brunette. "Please, come in. Can I get you anything?"
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Post by The Netherlands on Oct 19, 2010 23:12:00 GMT -5
He coughed a little, the nigh time air was getting to him. He tried to put on a smile as the other opened the door, but he stuck his usual frown. Smiling was never something that came naturally to him anyways, so why should he bother? As the other opened the door, he walked in and took off his boots. “Nee, I don't need anything, thank you. Just your time.” It was going to be straight to business. He walked into a nearby room and grabbed a chair, taking off his jacket and putting some freshly printed papers on the table.
“It would be in your best interest to read that.” He leaned back a little in his chair, pulling out his pipe. If anything, it was just to help him concentrate. It was a simple enough, all he was asking was for the other to become Dutch territory. He stared the other down, waiting for a reaction. Estonia was far too important in his plan to leave alone, so reading the situation was crucial. One wrong move could mean the fall of his entire plan, and he'd have to resort to new measures.
So for now, he got up from his seat, walking over to the other. “So, what do you say?” This was an offer that the other shouldn't refuse, or else the situation would get ugly, quickly.
(argh ;
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Post by Estonia on Oct 19, 2010 23:31:08 GMT -5
Estonia stayed quiet as the other man walked inside, closing the door behind him. The other seemed so formal and strict, a certain air of distinction about him that Eduard swore he last only witnessed Sweden as having. "Are you certain? Tea, coffee, anything?" His voice wavered out as the other walked into the next room, and he followed the older looking nation.
Raising an eyebrow as the other set down papers, he strode to the table to pick them up. He gave a weary glance to the other the moment he noticed the pipe, though he quickly turned back to the documents. After all, he'd smoked once or twice in his life, so he very well couldn't reprimand the other for doing such.
But he could reprimand him for being insane, and that was what he was seeing as he looked over the text. Not even minding as the other walked back over to him, he continued to flip back and forth between the papers with a disturbed look on his face. A Dutch territory? No, that couldn't be good at all. It wouldn't be wise and he was right next to a nation that as far as he knew, the Dutchman hadn't even ever had much contact with Russia.
"...What do I say?" He finally spoke up after a few moments of silence, his eyes widened a bit in astonishment as he tilted his head up to look at the other. "Excuse me, but... I don't understand what you're thinking. Me? Why me? I..." Estonia had no clue what to say.
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Post by The Netherlands on Oct 19, 2010 23:52:36 GMT -5
He stepped back a little but kept his composure. Of course, it was a bold move, and nobody would go after Estonia as a prime target, which made it much easier. “Why shouldn't I go for you? Obviously you know that there is unrest among the Europeans, among a certain... Russian nation, for instance.” He walked back, crouching down to the other's level. “Your location.” His voice was raspy and deep, before standing back up straight. “You're prime for entering Russia, and it's easy to get a military campaign to destroy them if I have you. I could block the sea and pester a certain Swedish nation.”
He stepped back again, taking a seat. The other was so confused about it all, when it was so obvious not to ask questions, and just to sign the papers. “Besides, using the sea would be a handy method of transporting things, without worrying about air strikes, or going through opposing empires.” Sure, maybe that would be a bit of a stretch, but the entire point was getting the other to join him. Anything that sounded it like it could convince the nation, the better.
“Besides, become Dutch territory and I'll protect you from Russia. Want to turn into Lithuania?” No, of course the other wouldn't. There were probably old scars, probably even worse than the one on his own forehead. “I'll treat you properly.” Maybe he shouldn't of said that one, since it was a promise that he couldn't really keep.
“Besides... I'm not going to take no for an answer.” His usually emotionless eyes turning into a glare, as he looked the other over even more.
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Post by Estonia on Oct 20, 2010 0:26:25 GMT -5
"There's always unrest among us. Especially among Russians." The way he saw it was he wasn't prime for anything, his country having not even that long ago finally staved off the Russians for what he thought would be forever. When the other crouched to his level, he almost felt insulted, as if the Dutchman was being condescending about their height difference so he could address him like a child.
A wry smile on his lips after the other admitted it was his location, he turned his head to look away from the Netherlands. Estonia had been a tad annoyed by how the other had acted, so he was glad when the other took a seat again.
Dutch territory? This year, he'd only be celebrating his 21st year of independence from Russia. Protection from the other did seem good, and the comment about Lithuania sort of hit him hard, but unlike Lithuania, he'd been controlled by other nations so much longer before the Slavic ever came along. The thought of willingly giving himself up again, to someone he didn't even know well, when at the moment he wasn't in danger?...
Then he remembered exactly who he was speaking to. The very man himself who had resisted help or assistance until the Germans had just taken what they wanted and by then it'd been too late, and honestly, Estonia didn't wish that for himself at all.
"There's a problem with these papers, though." He murmured, turning to look back at him. It wasn't even his own treatment he was worried about, he doubted the Dutchman would be as harsh as others. After all, he was a sensible enough man to keep other nations in his kingdom up to recent years... "You mentioned having your eye on me not only for Russia, but for purposes against Sweden? I can't agree to anything regarding that." Setting the papers down, he continued.
"See, I may not have very many forces or things at my disposal, but if you're looking to me to take over Sweden, then we will have problems. I don't ever want my military's forces on Swedish soil with hostile intentions." If the other was in a position to make demands, why couldn't he? "And I'm not sure if I trust you in regards to that."
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Post by The Netherlands on Oct 25, 2010 23:43:00 GMT -5
He sighed. Everything had been going so good, and now one slip of the tongue made the other be in the position to demand things. Stupid, the entire notion of there being a counterargument, was stupid. He clenched his fist a little, the black leather glove gripping harder to the skin. Wait, calm down. You can easily get yourself out of this.
“I could personally assure you that I won't be putting Estonian soldiers on Swedish soil with hostile intentions. You believing me, is another story.” He grinned, the entire idea of conquest was coming back, and part of him just wanted to get the stupid negotiating over with. Why should he try? He should just force the other one to become part of his grand scheme. War wouldn't look good for the rest of the nations though, damn. However... you know what? No, the other was being a cocky little shit, trying to put the other in the hot seat. There was absolutely no way that Lars would accept it.
“Now, I was pretty clear when I said this earlier.” A grin, a sudden look of extreme interest in his eyes as he looked the other over. “I said...” He rolled the words slowly, making the anticipation build up. He was so excited, it had just been so long. “I'm not going to take no for an answer!” All in a flash, he reached his arm across the table, picking up the other by his collar. “Interesting, trying to make such demands when you're in your position. Almost as if you wanted to control me. What gave you the idea that you could do that?”
As much as he would've loved to take the violence further, he just waited. The other would do something, but it would be fruitless. Estonia, would belong to him.
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Post by Estonia on Oct 26, 2010 0:05:10 GMT -5
Estonia had looked a little calmed just by the statement that he wasn't going to do it. Although he didn't have the trust with the other man, a statement was always a start. No matter how much of a jerk he came off as while trying to be seem firm with his demands...
"You better keep your words." He murmured, before hesitating as the western European grinned. The Estonian's fight or flight instincts were getting ready to kick in as he listened, a few beads of sweat starting to form on his forehead. If it'd been Russia or Germany approaching him, he'd know how to deal with them, but he didn't know much at all about the Netherlands other than what he'd heard before.
The lack of predictability was proved when he was grabbed by the shirt collar, having in no way expected it. He grit his teeth, both hands immediately flying up to the one on his clothing. Curling his fingers against the leather material, he stared steadily at the other.
"What position aren't I in? Right now, I am a republic, and I am free and I don't have to do a thing you say. The only reason I'd consider this.. You're the lesser of two other evils here, but mister Holland, you'd credit yourself too much if you think you're the first person I'd run to."
Trying to curl his fingers under the other man's, trying to get him to let go, he tried not to let any of his panic seep through to his expression as he spoke. "And you wouldn't hurt me, anyways. I'd be no good to you destroyed. Cities don't get rebuilt during wartime."
With his back straight and his posture perfect, he stared over the rim of his glasses. Just because he was small and meek didn't mean he was weak or useless, and he just hoped that his assumptions were right.
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