Past Part Fills Part 2 -- CLOSED

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Lessons (Part 1, 3/?)

[(Anonymous)]

1985

"Your brother being a brat again?"

Matthew took a deep breath of the cigarette smoke, blew it out. "You were at the meeting, Lars, what do you think?"

The personification of the Netherlands laughed, leaned on the railing. "I think that you're tired, and that you've just reached your limit on dealing with Alfred's eccentricities. I have to say, inventing robotic fly swatters so that we wouldn't have to use any more pesticides was definitely a new one."

"Didn't you notice the way that he was looking at me, like it was my job to validate his crazy ideas? That used to be Kiku's job, but now that Japan's economy is growing faster than the States would like he's been booted from the 'Very Best Friends' bin." He groaned, and Lars ruffled his hair.

"At least the Tulip Festival is coming up, right?"

"Yeah, two whole weeks where Alfred takes pains to be elsewhere, because the tulips are so lovey-dovey. Even though we're not involved and you want Lichtenstein. Still planning on coming?"

"Damn straight." Lars reached out, pulled Matthew between himself and the railing. "Have to see how those new varieties survived the trip."

"They're going to be beautiful," he said with utter conviction. "I walked by last week and I could feel them growing."

"Good. You should only get the best tulips, Matthew."

He snuggled into Lars' warmth. "Only if you get to see them too."

~ ~ ~

"Why do I have to learn to be led? I'm male."

"Ah, but you must have noticed the lack of female company among our number? And surely you've noticed that male nations dance with each other at balls on a regular basis?"

"Well yeah, but I'm not them."

"You will be, kitten. And is dancing not a prelude to the bedroom, a scandalous public intimacy? Being able to dance both sides of any dance will endear you to those who know culture, and make any who are captivated by your 'inexperience' disregard your other skills."

"Assuming I'll have spent my time learning the gavotte, not politics."

"Precisely." A brief kiss in reward. "And once they trust you, underestimate you, manipulate the situation."

~ ~ ~

December 1814

"Mr. Williams?"

Matthew turned from watching the crowd. "Yes, Lord Kirkland?"

"Mr. van der Meer has convinced her Highness that it would be a tragedy if you did not have the pleasure of a dance this evening," Arthur grated out, "given that the festivities celebrate the end of a threat to your lands as well. They have entreated me to ask for the honour of your hand for a waltz."

He blinked. "Isn't that rather indecent? Two gentlemen in a dance, let alone an intimate one?"

"They seem to believe that those like ourselves are outside of such rules." Twitch. "Are you familiar with waltzes?"

"I was taught one in '63, yes."

"Then please do me the honour of getting this the fuck over with."

Matthew curtsied. "At least I'm still shorter than you."

"Brat." But Arthur was half-smiling as he said it, and Matthew allowed him to lead him out onto the floor, trying to ignore the glares Alfred was shooting him from across the room.

They were half-way through a set when Arthur's eyes unfocused momentarily. "They can't decide what to do with you," he murmured.

"'They?'"

Arthur nodded to a group of British officials. "Despite having been in a war for the last two years with no one to teach you, you're dancing the female side of a dance that they only learned six years ago. Either you're a hard worker or don't have enough to deal with."

"Hard worker. Definitely."

He snorted. "Either way, they've reminded themselves that I have too many unemployed peasants. Get ready for more immigrants."

"They're just trying to get rid of my French side." He smiled. "It'll be nice to have more people who aren't Alfred's sloppy seconds. I'll be waiting for the Regent's decision."

~ ~ ~