arcanarum | Zwei. [Video]

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Zwei. [Video]

[Some of you may remember Germany. Yes, that's that unfriendly, disbelieving nation that was on the network a mere week ago, displaying a sour mood and willingness to yell at everyone and their pet rabbit. Considering he's been stuck on this island for a week now, still fails to understand the time difference between the present nations and for some odd reason is wearing this when appreaing on the screen... His mood is not one bit better than before. In fact, he looks ready to strangle someone. Just that that's difficult with plush hooves covering his hands. Tough luck.]

Halloween?

[Note the remotely dangerous intonation.]

What... Is the meaning of this? Who was that woman and where is she now? Also, who is responsible for this ridiculous costume and how do I take it OFF!?! [And he's only getting louder.] I didn't give permission to this infamy so I demand that my person gets freed from this-...this...THIS!

[His voice becomes more of a growl.] Unless whoever did this wants me to hunt them down personally. [And this is where a plush-hoof comes into view, shaking angrily. Yes, this would have been a fist. Only that a fist would be far more intimidating.] But once I get my hands on you, I sewar I will-- [But... Germany cuts himself off, glancing down at his ~~hoof~~ hand. His right eyebrow twitches. Luckily, his face is pretty red already due to simply being angry, so the rising embarrassment isn't too obvious. Oh, the humiliation.]

[He ends up quickly pulling his hand down again and clears his throat, continuing in a somewhat calmer, yet still upset voice.] What I meant to say is... I'm not going to tolerate this! Regardless who is responsible for it. I will find them. And they shall be rightfully punished! Unless they want to surrender willingly. If that is the case, this is your chance!

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The species the winning Undead represents gets dominion over the Earth once the Battle Royale is complete.

[He shrugs and takes a sip of his beer like that statement was the most normal thing in the world. He's left a little bit out, but he figures that's close enough.]

It's clear how the younger nations benefit from that arrangement, but what of the older ones? What do they get out of it?

[Germany blinks at that explanation as he drinks from his own beer.]

You decide leadership via fighting over it as well? How curious...

[He sort of feels reminded of what Domon told him.]

Ah, well. They gain themselves some potential strong future allies, of course. And not all young countries declare independence from the nation that raised them like America did. But in the end there are also political decisions involved... And orders.

[Because otherwise he really can't explain himself why all of his brothers would simply have given up on their own existence only to create him.]

I suppose you could call it that, though we don't really go in much for traditional leadership. Once the Battle Royale is complete, Earth is turned over to the new ruling species. Most humans don't know of the existence of the Undead.

[Another shrug.]

Alliances sound quite common among your people, then.

[He arches an eyebrow at "orders."]

I would think that the truly strong would not need to take orders from anyone.

But what are you doing with the Earth after acquiring it?

[If no one is even aware of this happening...]

Well. We are nations. Regardless how strong we may be, just what would a nation be without its people? Every nation is run by their government, so of course we receive our orders from our bosses.

[He's not quite like the other Undead and has to think a bit to make this sound "normal," so he takes a drink to buy himself a couple more seconds to think.]

I have no interest in ruling. I'd just turn the planet over to my represented species, same as most of the other Undead...though I would imagine it would get violent if anyone other than Human Undead were to win at this point.

[He pauses, thinking for a moment.]

Of course, if the Joker wins, then everything is destroyed.

[He takes a rather sizable swallow of his beer after that last statement.]

I see. So your power hinges upon the strength and will of your people. You have to go along with it even if they make a poor decision?

There are different kinds of Undead, then?

[This turns out to be much more complex than Germany had inititally thought it would.]

And who is that Joker?

Though... Ja. That is true. Whatever my government decides, I, as the personification of my country, have no real say in the matter. But us nations don't really crave to rule our people or to have power over them.

[He nods.]

Fifty-two of the Undead each represent a particular species and are organized according to rank and category...it's the only bit of the Battle Royale that most humans might be familiar with. The way we're grouped sort of filtered down through the centuries into what became the common human deck of playing cards.

[Who is Joker? Why, the guy you're having a beer with, Germany. Not like Hajime will admit this.]

Joker stands apart from the other Undead and is there to ensure that life deserves to survive. If he wins, it clearly doesn't.

[He takes another drink.]

That sounds as though it could be rather inconvenient...but I can understand the desire not to rule. That would be troublesome as well.

Ah, it may appear that way. But for us it's the only way we know how to exist.

[And he sees nothing wrong with that, nope.]

So... Playing cards, you say... hn.

[That's a connection he wouldn't have expected. Germany considers all these information for a while, emptying his beer while he was at it. Once he set his glass down, he looks up at the other man, a slight frown on his face.]

But what are you doing when you are not fighting over the fate of the Earth? You sure must have some sort of... Life?

[Yes, he is aware that using that term when referring to someone that called himself an Undead may not be entirely fitting.]

Understandable. Certain species are simply used to certain conditions...I wouldn't know how to exist without fighting for it.

...and yes, playing cards.

[It's hard to read his expression with that mask he's wearing, but he seems almost confused by that next question, like there's a slight deer-in-the-headlights freeze before he answers.]

I was posing as a human photographer before being taken here. Just indulging a bit of curiosity in between fights...

[He shrugs.]

What of you? What would the personification of a country do all day?

Curiosity about humans and how they life, I assume? [Pause.] They are... Peculiar beings...

[And he coughs before actually going on in that direction.]

Ah. I'm currently at war. So I spend most of my time fighting other nations right now. Aside from that there's a lot of paperwork and meetings. In my free time I need to tend to my cat and dogs and ensure that my house stays clean, of course.

[Nope. He refrains from mentioning that he likes to bake and read ~~porn~~.]

[Hajime nods.]

They don't make a whole lot of sense...but they at least pay more attention to the camera than to the man operating the camera.

[War? He understands war. The rest of it...]

I don't believe I'd have the patience for paperwork...and I always thought the keeping of pets was a strange human affectation.

I am not sure if they need to make sense, but that makes them interesting to watch. They experience joy at the smallest things, it is... Intriguing.

[Listen to him talk like an old man despite being hardly seventy years old yet.]

Wasting their lives in a war is almost a shame. But... No. Many nations keep pets. They can be loyal partners and, in a sense, even become part of us, allowing them to stay by our side for a long time.

[Hajime nods slowly. The helmet makes it hard to tell, but he's actually looking a bit uncomfortable.]

They're...I'd never seen any species place another before themselves, even at the moment of death. It's...confusing.

[Because that doesn't make sense and he's been starting to feel that sort of thing too as of late, and it's just not right...if he had any beer left, it's gone now and he's flagging down a server.]

War's about the only human activity I've been able to understand...and I still don't see what benefits one could get from a pet. It's just an animal, right? Not exactly able to assist in a fight.

Self-sacrifice happens among other species as well, though we don't notice that or consider it normal. Several animals for example sacrifice their own lives in order to reproduce and ensure the survival of their offsprings. They protect their young at the risk of their own lives without hesitating once. Compared to animals humans are still mostly egoistic in nature. Though that is because animals still act on instinct and humans consider their options. Those willing to fully give themselves up for another are rare, but admirable. As far as I came to understand them, strong emotions are at play in these cases.

[It happens among nations as well, but he refrains from mentioning that. All his siblings have given up on their existence to make him who he was today after all.]

As for pets... No. They don't fight. At least most don't. They are companions. Maybe you should try keeping a dog and you may find out their value.

[He's considering that, nodding a bit.]

Those emotions. They're...confusing. I once watched a human die...all he cared about was that his family be taken care of. Nothing of what was to happen to him.

[He shakes his head as though to clear it of the memory and sort of frowns at the idea of getting a dog.]

But don't you have to...clean up after them?

Hn. I've seen many soldiers die on the battlefield... And I killed a good bunch myself. To them, their families are what they leave behind. Their legacy, so to speak. If they already know they will die, I assume that worrying about themselves serves little use anyway.

[Germany nods in response.]

You need to take care of any pet you keep. That is the basic idea. They need to be raised, educated, trained. People keep pets to spend their time with them. Cleaning up is just one part of it.

Ah, so then it would make sense that they would wish for their families to be protected...

[He is considering this...]

That is not unlike caring for a child, isn't it? Only without the added benefit of leaving behind something to carry on one's species. Or the ability to hold a conversation.

[Though he won't admit it, he has a soft spot for kids. Animals, on the other hand? He still needs convincing.]

I'm not familiar with children, I am afraid. But as far as pets go I can tell you that you won't find a more loyal companion. Once you gained their trust, they trust you to the very end.

[He pauses.]

Just consider it. As an immortal you can afford to give new things a try.

Children are...interesting. Not something Undead have, but they don't seem to be as difficult to deal with as human adults. They either like you or they don't--none of those social games.

[His mouth twitches in something that might have been a smile, but he kills it quickly.]

Perhaps I will...though I'm not sure how one might acquire a pet in this place.

Hnn. Only that children turn into adult humans at one point...

[Oh, one day he'll understand humans... Maybe. Germany looks a bit thoughtful at that.]

Huh. I don't know about that myself either. I am aware that there are wild animals in the forest, so potentially it should be possible to tame those...

[And he hesitates.]

...given that they act like normal animals, that is.

Hm. That's true...but the process does take time...

[Yeah, he's thinking. He'd already been waffling a bit on the "Maybe all humans aren't so bad," and it's not something he's exactly prepared to deal with.]

If they don't act like normal animals, maybe it would make things more interesting. A bit of a challenge.

It does. Though I have to admit that I haven't studied the entire process of a human life yet. Other things just kept me occupied.

[Yeah. Work. Wars. Politics. His boss...

But right now the nation looks thoughtful.]

A challenge?

[Tempted? Why, yes.]

Hn. It might be worth a try...

It's difficult to care about much else other than fighting once you get involved in something like a war, I'd imagine. I know it takes up a lot of my time...

[Hajime shrugs.]

It's not like there's much else to do around here. Going out and catching something would be interesting.

[The nation nods. To both things Hajime has said.]

Then maybe we should just do that at a later point.

[Hajime nods.]

Agreed. That would allow for a bit more planning...

Zwei. [Video]

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Let's wrap this one up?

Sounds good!

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