Berlin is a very busy city these days. Then again, it's been absolutely bustling starting around the same time as the war, and achieving final victory has yet to slow it down even slightly. Hints of the war are everywhere still, especially soldiers in uniform. Those who were the furthest away and weren't able to secure fast transportation home are still arriving back home daily, and it takes time for these soldiers to return to their civilian lives. And it's still too early for some of the other trappings of the war to end, like some of the rationing, as it will take time for the German Empire to adjust to peacetime. But, bit by bit, the German War Machine is being re-purposed into the Germany Industrial Machine.
Yet the mood in Berlin has lifted somewhat. Before it was grim and determined, and now it is triumphant and proud of itself. This can be easily seen in the obvious patriotism on open display in the streets - often the flag, but there are other national symbols such as the eagle. Germany himself, being quite old even though he's physically quite young, has seen much war and so he stops short of actual pride. Instead he simply feels satisfied by the good result. But he doesn't see the end of the war as a happy ending - it isn't an ending at all. The story continues as the dust settles, now about the more subtle and yet often as brutal tale of peacetime intrigue. And who knows how many more pages will be turned before a new chapter of war begins?
For now he is pleased to be supervising the efforts to bring the remaining soldiers home (except, of course, those still needed in areas with extra security concerns), as well as decide which of the remaining pieces of weaponry should be stored, destroyed, or handled in some other fashion. May all of them rust before they're needed again! Though the pessimist in Germany doubts that will be the case. Though with how well his postwar relations have been going so far, perhaps he can hope that they will at least be outdated by the time the next war begins.
To that end he's invited England to come visit him in Berlin. In some ways he has less of a reason to meet with him than he does with his other allies - he's not worried that England wants to conquer more territory, unlike both Italy and Japan. Perhaps England does want to reclaim some of the many pieces of territory that he lost, but none of those are in German hands so that's not something for him to be concerned with. However, there are different things to be concerned about - mostly relating to the fact that he seemed to join the Axis quite reluctantly, and only because the benefits of doing so were quite great. Now that the war is over, where do his loyalties lie? So though he had little reason to talk to England at the peace conference, they perhaps have quite a bit of other things to talk over more privately at this point.
In selecting a venue for this meeting, Germany found himself rather short on good choices. He's reluctant to leave Berlin with Russia in his prison, and his office would probably be too formal - that's a better place to meet with those who need to be reminded that he is someone they ought to respect, and he doesn't think that England needs that. But his own home would also be a poor choice, as there are many there (like France...) who perhaps ought to be kept from accidentally running into England. So he ends up inviting England to meet with him over dinner at one of his nicer restaurants, reserving a private room so that they can eat and talk away from the noise of the main dining room.
He purposely arrives about five minutes early, to make sure that the room reserved is ready and suitable, give some last-minute instructions to the wait staff, and make sure that they know to escort England there when he arrives. Having done that, he orders a beer to keep him company while he waits.
England knew to receive further instructions from the German, so he was hardly surprised to eventually receive correspondence that listed the location they would meet at. Arthur made ready to leave for Berlin, packing for at least a couple nights. If he was going to make the long trip, then why not prepare for a stay that would be worth the travel? Being the sort who oftentimes pondered over the various meanings behind even the smallest details, Arthur couldn’t help wondering briefly over Germany’s choice to meet him at a nice restaurant. An office signified power, formality, and business—perhaps even a tool for an attempt at intimidation or reprimand. A cigar lounge might pass over a meaning of displaying wealth, power, and prestige. A restaurant had a decidedly more intimate and friendly feel. Though it could also be a political dance, at times treacherous and daring. Whatever the cause behind it, Arthur found himself the smallest bit pleased that Ludwig desired a more casual atmosphere.
Arthur had responded in kind that he would be there promptly. Upon arrival, the visual of Berlin was of equal interest to him because it gave away hints of where Germany currently was at, and perhaps where he wanted to be in the near future. At the same time, Arthur couldn’t help noticing that there were some striking similarities between the bustle of Berlin to the slowly revitalizing energy in London; a desire among the people to move on, along with a strong feeling of national pride. It filled Arthur with a sense of purpose, solidifying what exactly he wanted to bring forth at some point in the meeting.
He dressed well tonight, with dark chino trousers, a button up beneath a trim waistcoat, hints of dark green beneath the pleated back of the waistcoat. A dark tie, and a green pocket square to match the pleats. And, of course, over that was the iconic tan cotton gabardine trench coat, which had been making a sleek comeback in this decade. Arthur always preferred his long coats belted and tapered along the waist. As the British people started emerging from strict rations and wartime into an era of delicate peace, they wore their fashions with a sense of hope and pride. Fashion throughout the decades was a statement that ran much deeper than others probably realized.
Upon arrival at the restaurant location, Arthur had brought a small gift with him, which was considered polite and respectful for any invitee to his host. Arthur requested that it be brought to the table before he arrived. So, one of Arthur’s men passed it along to one of Ludwig’s men at the door who likely inspected it carefully before setting it upon the table. It was modest and small, but held meaning. A small glass bottle containing a few of each important bloom. German blue cornflowers, bright and vivacious along with a few still half closed English red roses. Both of their national flowers displayed modestly. It would only take up a small bit of the table, but the bold colors were noticeably striking together. England, particularly in his Victorian and Edwardian era, was known for the subtly that lay in the language of flowers. It was the wordless tone and message that Arthur wanted to bring before entering the room.
Arthur was led by the other man at the door and into the private room that Ludwig had provided. His eyes grazed discreetly along the restaurant as they passed through, approving of the venue as well as the fact that Ludwig had chosen something classy. Upon arrival, Arthur removed his trilby hat as well as his coat. His lips curved slightly when he saw Ludwig, peeling the gloves from his fingers before reaching to give him a firm handshake. ”It’s a pleasure to see you again, Ludwig. I’m flattered that you chose such a fine venue.” As the man left with Arthur’s hat and coat, he was seated, crossing one leg comfortably over the other and ordering a dark lager to start off with. Part of the enjoyment of being in Berlin, of course, demanded having one of their locally brewed beers.
With any luck the the atmosphere of the restaurant will match the tone he would like for this meeting perfectly. He'd had many conversations with England over the course of the war, some of them with better results than the others. And each time he'd wanted one thing from England: to be seen and treated as his equal.
How much that actually happened changed over time - he certainly wasn't treated as an equal before the war. Which isn't even him accusing England of being more arrogant or patronizing than he had reason to be - they were in fact unequal at the time, after all. England was a grand empire, stretching across the globe, while Germany was a weak, angry, and even small nation who had soundly lost the previous war. Now England is still a grand empire (perhaps knocked down a notch or two by his losses over the course of this latest war, but still grand) but Germany has now surpassed even him in power. Perhaps he could fault England for not seeing his potential to get himself out of that situation and rub that fact in his face, but that would be petty and counterproductive. Instead what he wants is still the same thing - for England to see him and treat him as an equal.
And this time he feels confident that he will get what he wants in that regard, so he doubts that he'll need to remind England of his position in the world. In the past he felt that need, especially right after he defeated France, but that was already years ago. So the casualness of a dinner at a restaurant seemed appropriate, though of course he still wants to treat his guest in style and it's nice enough to require a suit and tie. Which actually feels a little bit strange to him because he's gotten so accustomed to wearing his uniform instead - which is still often the appropriate for much of what he does even now, but for this conversation he'd like to metaphorically put the thought of war behind them. It's a classic dark gray business suit, with a white shirt and navy blue tie.
The gift that England had sent was very well received and the flowers are indeed on the table. Perhaps he can take that as a sign that England wishes for them to continue to grow well side by side? He was never that into floral symbolism, though perhaps Prussia would know more about it. In any event, though he appreciates symbolism it's important for there to be real substance behind it. If he wants the peace that the world is now enjoying to last, he can't afford to make mistakes with England.
When he sees that his guest has arrived, he stands to greet him. "Alvays a pleasure!" he agrees as he shakes the offered hand, "And of course - only the best for my allies." He sits back down, waiting as England chooses a drink and the waiter hands them menus to look over - waiting nearby in case they need anything. It's a quintessentially German menu, heavily featuring sausages and cheeses. But there's also many forms of potatoes and also other types of meat.
Germany skims the menu, but his mind is only half on it at the moment - the other half is on the conversation ahead. "Hov have you been doing?" he asks, half asking that to start things off with some lighter small talk and also half because he actually wants to know, assuming he gets an answer beyond the standard 'I'm fine', "It's almost strange that the var is over. You get used to it, and then it's like you vake up one morning and it's gone."
England had often been known for his rather proud disposition, that occasional lofty gaze that he bore, whether intentional or not, with whatever his dealings were. At least, with Arthur, his respect had to be earned; and he didn’t offer it freely or effortlessly. However, all too often it happened where the display of power would draw his gaze and not entirely by choice. And right now, he was looking at Ludwig.
There was one thing that Arthur could admire with any nation, and what he did see Ludwig do within the past handful of years: a nation down on his luck, strewn through the proverbial mud to get up so powerfully and to trample his adversaries. He could personally relate admirably with his own dense, long history. England used to be such a nation quite some time ago, not at all well regarded in Europe, treated as the barbaric and uncivilized less. All before he became the greatest Empire that the world had ever seen, having touched ninety percent of the globe at one point, forcing people to look at him without that ridicule, erasing that conception of him as a weak and easy target with a vengeance. Although that had been a long while ago, Arthur still felt that stirring in his heart. He remembered it well, and that was perhaps what he saw when he looked at Ludwig now, whether he agreed with the philosophies behind it or not.
Part of the indulgence with going somewhere with a suit and tie was the normalcy of it, the pleasure that naturally came with looking nice and dining; was than, that they were now finally (even if briefly) removed from the bitter taste of the aftermath of war, the temporary normalcy that had been their uniforms prior. Arthur’s eyes cast briefly to the flowers on the table and the corners of his mouth raise slightly, satisfied with the reception.
He was equally somewhat flattered that Germany had welcomed him so well, shaking his hand with assurance. A hint of approval flitted across Arthur’s mind with the way that Germany seemed to know how to properly treat allies, at least with the first impression, the rest of it would be seen. ”Thank you for the impressive consideration. It’s actually quite nice to see you out of your stiff uniform. Perhaps I can see you sporting your lovely dining clothes more often.” There was a very slight mild-mannered teasing component with the second statement, the touch of a smile over the corners of Arthur’s mouth. While briefly grazing the menu, he could appreciate the German-ness of the items. His own culture was still very Germanic, and aside from the similarities in their language, there were some cultural ties that held them fast, including something as inane as the food items, the reliance on meat, potatoes, and gravies. So, he, more or less, felt a certain comfortable familiarity with the offered menu.
England allowed the menu to press to the side of his dinner placement and out of the way while his attention rested once more on Germany as he started the conversation. ”I’ve been doing well, thank you. Strong efforts have been put into building ourselves prior to how we were before the start of the wars; and so far, there hasn’t been anything alarming slowing our renewal progress. And yourself? How have you been adjusting to heralding your new empire?” Arthur kept his words to business, not at all mentioning the natural hardships that massive bloodshed brought, the strain of a fragmented family, or even the caution that he felt with certain other nations that he was only involved with because of a shared alliance with Germany.
His lips pursed very slightly, a sort of brief solemn thoughtfulness crossing his features with the statement that the war was gone. ”The concrete fighting, yes. But, the war oftentimes is never truly over. The fire may be smothered in most areas; but we’re still left with the charred bones, ash, and spilt blood, and the fact that another fire could break out at any moment in an entirely different area. Wars like this one sometimes never find their conclusive end.” Of course, by this one, he meant wars that reached across the entire globe, the sort where no country was really safe from its touch. But, the rebuilding had started, and alignments were shifted, and countries would negotiate. When the lager was brought, Arthur brought the bottle to his lips, tasting briefly before bringing his eyes to Ludwig once more. ”However, perhaps a peaceable conclusion can be reached with this one.” He was a country who desired a time of peace for the moment. In his eyes, there was an equal measure of strength and wisdom in maintaining achievements, as it required just as much effort and work as the actual fighting and strategy within the midst of an active war.
Few nations don't pride themselves on their hospitality, so long as they're welcoming someone that they actually care to be welcoming to. And Germany is no exception, especially toward an ally and even more especially to an ally he'd like to keep. So of course he's going to roll out the proverbial red carpet, though he's also not the sort to overdo that sort of thing. Simply treating someone who is important to you like they're important to you goes a long way. And he nods in acknowledgement to England's compliment about it - it's simply the way one ought to do things.
Though when England comments on the way that he's dressed, he looks slightly amused. "In that case, perhaps ve vill have to make dining together a more regular thing, nov that the var is over and our every meeting doesn't need to be so... efficient," he says, remembering how several of them went. During the latter part of the war they were both so busy that finding time to meet was difficult, but also extremely critical. The schedule was tight but there was so much to discuss, and they'd end up spending the entire meeting rushing through business and not having a moment left to actually talk like normal people. As much as Germany appreciates efficiency, there is such a thing as having too much of it and the luxury of actually slowing down from time to time has been nice. There is still a lot to do, but most of it isn't quite as urgent.
He nods in understanding as England explains his situation at home. And when the question is turned back on him he says, "It has been an adjustment, to be honest. I've had a number of colonies to look after before, but nothing quite on this scale." Which is something that he's willing to admit freely, because after all that's a simple fact. He makes a sound of amusement and shakes his head as he comments, "And vhen I vas young I thought that Prussia had a lot to manage..." Which is a completely laughable idea at this point, considering how many more times larger the Greater German Reich is compared to anything that his elder brother has ever had control over. It boggles the mind, really. Not that he doesn't think that he's up to the task, but it is a lot of territory.
"But everything has been going as vell as can be expected - I've been very busy coordinating the shift from wartime to peacetime. I haven't been experiencing too many problems," he says, echoing England's sentiment. Of course there have been problems - lots of problems - but not 'too many'. He could speak at length about them, but like his ally he's not going to bring those up. After all, this isn't a group therapy session and he doubts that either of them need to unburden themselves about all of their struggles. Both of them are the type to meet the challenges of life by stubbornly plowing through them, not whining about them to others. Of course, if he did have a problem that was large enough and he felt that England could do something to help, he'd mention it, but as things are he has only what he would consider to be 'everyday' problems.
Like the war cleanup problems. That's not something that he necessarily feels that he needs to discuss with England, but then again it's not like it's a problem to discuss it if the conversation shifts in that direction. He murmurs in agreement with the idea that the war isn't truly over in some ways and the fact that another could easily start up again. That's definitely a problem, and one that has been very much on his mind. "I hope that ve can have peace nov as vell, but I fear that it von't last. Ve vere able to decide on nev borders during the peace conference, but that alone did not stop another var last time, so vhy should it nov?" he asks rhetorically.
He pauses in their discussion for a moment on that, motioning the waiter over as he's decided what he wants. He orders an appetizer for them to share - a platter with a variety of cheeses, sausages, and crackers that ought to be both delicious and a good distraction while they wait for their food to cook. And for his main dish he orders Sauerbraten served with Kartoffelklöße. The waiter writes this down and turns to England to see if he's ready to order or will need some more time.
Either way, Germany sips his beer while he waits for the waiter to finish with England before he continues on nearly the same vein. "Of course, I acknovledge that the end to the peace vas partly my ovn fault, but I had my reasons. And I had nothing to do vith Japan's decision to var vith his brother, and nothing to do vith your fight vith yours," he says, quickly adding, "And I'll say as many times as I have to, the conspiracy theories about that are completely false - none of my ships vere in that area at the time. If it vould give you some peace of mind, I can ask my generals if they have a problem vith me shoving you our naval records nov that the var is over." Though he has no idea what his generals will say about that. The records are rather sensitive information, and someone could learn a lot about Germany's naval strategies and tactics if they studied it carefully, but perhaps they would agree that it wouldn't be damaging to simply show him only the relevant entries without letting him copy anything. Then at least England himself would have that reassurance. Then again, even that reassurance is limited - after all, the records could be falsified so it isn't absolute proof. If absolute proof exists at all, it's likely at the bottom of the ocean somewhere.
"But the point is that nothing that vas done to try to prevent more vars vas effective. So vhat vould be effective? If ve vant peace instead of Vorld Var Three, then ve need a good ansver to that question as soon as possible," he states.
England and Germany held so many cultural similarities, it was almost amusing. Ludwig’s view of hospitality and how that ought to be the standard for everyone else, which it very much wasn’t in the world, echoed Arthur’s in an almost eerily similar fashion, but appreciatively so, in his mind. The corners of Arthur’s mouth quirked slightly at Ludwig’s response to his compliment. ”Oh? So, you’re willing to wine and dine me more often? I can’t say that I’d object. Like you, it’s something that I haven’t done in quite some time. Perhaps we could even take this to a casual setting as well?” The smallest hint of teasing entered Arthur’s tone, another thing that he hadn’t been able to do in a normal conversation in a long while. Everything was always about business, the pressures of war, how tightly they needed to secure their ties that day, or how often they needed to raise their voices. While Arthur knew how to be efficient, he also knew how to loosen those ties, and to occasionally wrinkle that perfectly pressed suit. It was necessary in order to keep his sanity, and glancing at Ludwig, to him it looked like perhaps he needed something similarly.
Hearing Ludwig describe briefly what it had been like suddenly acquiring a large bit of territory at once, he wasn’t exactly surprised to hear that it was an adjustment that he was still fitting into. Perhaps surprise would be more appropriate if he had said the opposite. ”It’s true. Although, perhaps one positive to having allies who have some experience in the management of a large empire, is that you have sound advice at your disposal if it’s ever necessary. Not that I think you’re in need of it, but it would be coming from a place of experience if you were to run into any trouble.” And it was a genuine, straightforward offer. England was the sort who preferred to be upfront if there was something he ever desired or needed, without the trivialities of false political nicety. There was certainly a time and a place for that, but he didn’t feel that it was here. Arthur’s finger trailed along the edge of his glass, in brief thought, before bringing his eyes back up to Ludwig. ”Although it’s not true of every historical instance, the more someone comes to acquire as an empire, the more alone they’re likely to become. Because the world will always despise whoever's in power and it fails to ever be satisfied. It seems to be the law of nature.” He snorted softly, a very derisive tone, his usual dry humor mixed with bitter reality. In Arthur’s own way, he did empathize with Ludwig, because if he didn't already, then he'd soon know exactly what Arthur was talking about. It was the sort of thing that Arthur could very rarely mention to just anyone, that is anyone who’d never before tasted that world power along with the crushing responsibility that it brought, smothered with the world’s complimentary loathing. If anything, that same part of him didn’t want Ludwig to be alone in that sense. Because Arthur knew what that reality as an empire felt like.
”That’s good to hear. The most difficult portion of a war to maintain order in is at the supposed end.” And that’s exactly what Arthur wanted to hear from Ludwig, because it ensured that there perhaps might be a period of peace after so many chaotic and bloody years. Or at the very least, that Ludwig wanted there to be peace and wouldn't attempt further conflict and appropriation of land and power. Arthur lips curved very slightly at Ludwig’s mention of the previous world war and how it didn’t stop another from happening. ”That’s very true.”
As the waiter approached, Arthur heard the appetizer that Ludwig ordered for the both of them and he quietly approved. So far, Ludwig was proving to being an attentive dining partner, and he felt even more inclined to join him again at another date for something similar. When the waiter turned to him, Arthur briefly slipped into German to make it easier on the waiter, ordering the würstchen mit kartoffelbrei for himself, a variation of his own bangers and mash.
Once the waiter left, Arthur turned his attention back to Ludwig when he continued along that same thought. The very brief recollection of his own war with the States brought back unpleasant memories, but Arthur kept himself in check, simply listening and responding in kind. ”I never took much credence in the rumors or conspiracy theories regarding your potential involvement in my war. Although, if you’re able to produce the records, that would be helpful. I can’t say that all my generals share the same beliefs, and it would be imprudent of me to refuse them if they’re offered. Although, I can say that the vast majority share my misgivings with throwing around such allegations without proper confirmation. I think they would be put at ease if I at least saw them.” While Arthur was aware that it couldn’t be an absolute reassurance, it spoke well for Ludwig that he was willing to put forth the effort to offer that reassurance at all.
And hearing Ludwig’s further statement, Arthur listened to him, resting slightly against the armrest of his chair, his leg comfortably resting over the other. He paused in thought before offering his own input. ”In my opinion for this war in particular, I think it’s of the utmost importance that those who were involved in the alliance to actively avoid glancing at each other as potential conquest, for one... I know that seems like common sense, but we’ve all seen it happen before. If even one starts demanding excess spoils or territory of another alliance member, then the entire delicate structure of the alliance will certainly weaken, if not outright crumble.” While Arthur was speaking generally, he wasn’t sure if Ludwig already thought of specific members of the alliance where that might be a potential issue. Either way, Arthur knew that the structure that ruled needed to continue to uphold that strength, even if it just seemed like it on the outside while it worked to strengthen itself on the inside. Arthur sipped on his own lager, enjoying the taste of the dark brew, and his eyes focused on Ludwig once more, his expression softening. ”And what about your thoughts on the matter? I know there are multiple answers, an impossibility to answer in one lovely dinner, but what do you think would be effective?”
"Hmm, but it seems like a bit of a vaste to take you to a simple pub or something vhen you've had to travel so long to get here," he replies with a slight frown. Not that it would be much more trouble than usual - though there was quite a bit of damage done to the railroad lines during the war, he's had plenty of time to arrange for the repair of those in Western Europe even though the east are still a mess. Still, the journey takes some time so each trip is at least a bit of an event. Of course, it has occurred to him that the war is over and yet he has a very large number of airplanes - but putting everything in place to take advantage of that for civilian purposes is still in development.
He is not surprised when England responds to his comments on the size of his territory with an offer of help - in fact he'd anticipated it. Not that it had been his goal to elicit that from him, but he knows his ally well enough to know that he'd do so, seeing as the nation is very much experienced with handling that problem. "I'll keep that in mind," he responds sincerely, not feeling the need to ask for any particular help at the moment, but he's quite likely to turn to England for advice if he needs it. After all, Italy is unlikely to be able to offer him any advice of value - Germany probably knows more about than he does - and Japan's advice on the subject is likely to be filled with less... civilized methods. Not that they're necessarily bad methods, but they're unlikely to suit him. After all, at the end of the day Japan is Asian and not European.
Though when England goes on to comment about, essentially, how lonely it is at the top, Germany lightly scoffs. "Hardly anyone liked me before the var, and I didn't start it hoping to make friends," he comments, frowning deeply and sipping his drink. Something that England may have noticed is that the German seems to have gotten rather bitter about the subject of how others view him - usually his fellow Europeans and occasionally the bitterness is even thrown in England's direction. He'd initially been rather humbled after the first world war, but as he started to recover he'd chafed under the restrictions and expectations imposed on him by the victorious nations. That annoyance eventually grew into a complete disregard for their opinions, and then with each success during the war he's now become more and more bitter about it. Everyone, especially the Western Europeans - including England - should have treated him with the same level of respect before as they do now and not only because he's forced it upon them. He's shown them all, but he shouldn't have had to.
But he's aware of these feelings himself, and he's trying not to let his feelings about the past get in the way of what he wants in the future. If he did, he would never have allied with England - after all, he was a party to those restrictions and reparations. Instead he'd sought for an alliance and even now he wants to keep it. So when England indicates that he does wish to see the records for himself he simply nods and makes a mental note to speak to his generals about it immediately after this meeting - if they're quick enough to grant the proper clearance then England should be able to see it before he leaves, avoiding the need for another trip in order to do so.
As England comments about members of the alliance demanding territory, Germany immediately frowns - the comments immediately reminding him of his meeting with Italy before the peace conference. That conversation had been extremely unpleasant and worrying - and England is right that it's a sign of trouble. He hesitates for a moment over whether or not to say so here and now because Italy is supposedly his closest friend - if the wrong nation hears that there are problems within that friendship then they might try to exploit it. On the other hand, he hasn't known Italy to be very fond of England so he doubts that the two would team up against him so it's probably safe enough to confide in him. "Vell, speaking of demanding territory, I knov that Italy is not happy vith hov the var vent for him. I'm sure you're avare that I transferred to him some of the territory near the Adriatic sea before the peace conference? His behavior lately has been troubling - erratic. I don't think he is done vith varring," he says, looking deeply troubled, "And I am also concerned about Japan - he says that he is content, but even I have trouble seeing past his poker face and I think that he only stopped varring because he ran out of land to grab nearby that vasn't claimed by one of us."
"Of course," he's quick to add, "I understand that such a thing could also be said of me - I have said many times that I do not vish for more territory, and vhen I say that I'm sure that it's just as believable. But that is a part of the problem, isn't it? The distrust?" He frowns very thoughtfully as he continues, "But the reason vhy ve have this distrust in the first place is because ve all knov that someone might decide that the best vay - if not the only vay - to get vhat they vant is by going to var. The League of Nations attempted to resolve that problem by making var more dangerous and costly by having the larger nations of the world agree to vork together to stop the vars - but that vas never going to vork. America vas never on board for one thing. And another vas that it sometimes required nations to vork against their ovn interests. But it also didn't resolve the real issue - that a nation vanted something and var vas the vay to get it. And threats are a poor vay of convincing a determined nation that they either shouldn't vant the vhatever it is. I should knov - it didn't vork on me. Vhat ve need is a vay for nations to get vhat they vant - or to be convinced that they vant something else - vithout var being the vay."
Arthur chuckled a little at Ludwig’s response. ”Oh no, I didn’t mean that per se. I meant… perhaps a casual, private setting after the fine dining. Just the two of us, of course.” Assuredly, that could mean a variety of things. His eyes brushed over Ludwig over the rim of his glass, allowing him to come to whatever conclusion he’d like. Arthur enjoyed allowing the game to take him wherever it felt led. But he was also leaving some of that up to Ludwig. If Germany wanted to improve relations with England, then Arthur wouldn’t mind finding some pleasant ways to explore such options, something enjoyable for both parties. Wining and dining was certainly a smooth way to start.
He does feel a certain contentment when Germany seems to sincerely accept his offer of support and advice if he ever felt the need for it. Although, he honestly didn’t know if it was something that Germany would ever be truly interested in. Typically, Arthur could get a feeling for where a nation might lean, but Ludwig had proven to be occasionally unpredictable in the past. And with Ludwig’s bitter comment about how the others viewed him, Arthur tried not to feel too sardonically amused in the irony that Ludwig perhaps seemed more bitter now than he had before the war. Or perhaps it simply hadn’t changed at all.
However, it does show Ludwig’s steadily budding maturity in his desire to look to the future, and working toward that alliance with England, to improve relations with him despite recent histories. It would be the most logical venue if Germany wanted to keep his Empire intact. And Arthur did notice the way that Ludwig seemed to ponder telling him something, a heaviness over his features that gave away that he was troubled. Of course, hearing Ludwig confide in him regarding the erratic behavior of Italy, Arthur wasn’t the least bit surprised.
”He’s been… mm, difficult… with me as well. More in the way of unpredictable outbursts and unfounded paranoid statements,” none of that information seemed particularly dangerous to share. In fact, it might serve to validate Germany’s qualms over their mutual ally. ”If I may be so bold to say so, I agree with your assessment based on my interactions with him.” At least it was clear from what Arthur had recently witnessed with Feliciano’s erratic behavior during their own meeting prior. Even when it came down to the subtle cues of his agitated body language, it was clear that Italy wasn’t finished with the war. Arthur shoulders raised slightly in a casual manner when Ludwig mentioned his concern with Japan. ”Perhaps… But, I suppose I’m more convinced of Japan’s desire for peace after meeting with him. However, he does have that unreadable countenance about him, so I cannot claim complete assurance.”
The corner of Arthur's mouth rose slightly when Ludwig quickly added his own assurance that he wasn’t looking to expand his territory either. He took the time to take a sip of his lager. ”I believed you when you said that you’d prefer a peaceful resolution.” Hearing Ludwig’s contemplation over how to give nations what they want without them feeling like they needed to resort to war in order to obtain what they wanted, his own features settled into something like somber pensiveness over the proposed question. ”If a nation could discover the answer to that question, then our history books would contain less bloodshed. Or at least, one would hope… I would offer up the idea that perhaps it would be more accessible to explore what it is that particular nation really wants—what caused the discontentment in the first place. I’d wager that the truth of what they really desire would provide a multitude of solutions that wouldn’t involve war.”
But here, Arthur shook his head ever so slightly, a hint of a sardonic curve of his lips. ”Then again, it depends on what it is they want—it’s a very complex issue.” And England had quite the repertoire of experience with regards to keeping the vast majority of his possessions content enough to want to stay beneath his rule. The British Empire stretched across a quarter of the world in just the last century— the largest of any recorded empire in history up until now. The feat was made possible mostly due to England’s exceptional organizational achievements and financial prowess rather than through the utilization of a large army. Even the British conquest of India was mostly undertaken by Indian troops in British pay who actively chose to serve the British due to the regular salaries and benefits offered. It took a lot of skill and thought to keep a thriving empire of that scale because of all the complexities involved when it comes to balancing several nation, territories, and cultures at once.
And when the appetizer came that Ludwig ordered, Arthur took the time to pick and choose from the various items offered on the platter. His eyes grazed Ludwig again, curious and contemplative. ”It’s a lot of territory to gain in such a short amount of time. Tell me your vision—where you want to go with what you’ve acquired.”
When England clarifies what he meant in a way that hardly makes things any more clear, Germany pauses for a moment to simply look at him - attempting to gauge the undertone of the conversation. But though the words of his ally could be taken many ways, whichever way was meant the answer would be the same so that is the answer that he gives. "Vell, if you vish to do something in a more private setting after ve eat tonight, I do not have any further plans for the evening," he says - an outright lie because he always has plans, but because he was unsure about just how long this meal with England would last they are plans that are easily adjusted.
Given his own concerns about Italy, he isn't surprised to learn that England has them as well. He frowns and nods in understanding as they are stated. "So vhat do ve do about him?" he asks, as he has his own ideas about how to respond to his best friend's recent behaviour but he would also like England's thoughts to consider and would like to point out that this is a problem they may very well decide to tackle together. Then again, maybe not - whatever the best response is, it's likely to be something that Germany could do himself if he wanted to, and there are many positives and negatives to getting England involved.
As for Japan, England's assessment gets a silent frown and a nod. There isn't much more to say on that particular subject - there is a reason to be concerned, but nothing has happened to merit anything more than that. Well, unless you count keeping an eye on Japan, but Germany keeps an eye on pretty much everyone whether they give him a reason to or not so that's just standard procedure at this point.
But of course, if there is more that can be done to preserve world peace besides keep a wary eye out for signs of the next war, that is even better. "Ja," he agrees easily, "Very complex, vhich is vhy I don't imagine that it is possible to eliminate var entirely - someone vill alvays try that most basic tactic. But it should be possible to make it smaller and less likely, and it's becoming more and more important for us to do so - modern weaponry becomes more and more advanced and more destructive, and the cost of var in every vay it can be measured goes up. It's important for us to learn from our mistakes over these past several decades. And I include myself in that." Of course when it comes to himself he's far more willing to admit to mistakes made during the first world war, such as going along with it when there were so many ways he could have said no, and not this most recent one. As far as he's concerned he did nothing much wrong in this most recent war because he was only giving people what they deserved - if they didn't want war then they shouldn't have driven him to it!
When the appetizer arrives, he quietly indulges in the delicious cheeses, sausages, and crackers - all of which he's famous for loving so of course any restaurant he'd choose would be excellent at those things in particular. He munches on a few of each as he ponders the best answer to England's question. "Vell, a part of that I am frankly still figuring out. Much of the territory I gained vas desperately needed by my people so that they could have the space that they needed to grov. Nov that they have it, they can become the people that they vere alvays meant to be. I am envisioning large, vell run, beautiful cities and tovns on that land. I nov have all the resources I need to give them a good economy, vealth and prosperity." He almost smiles as he stares slightly off into the distance, as if he can see it all now.
But then his eyes refocus and he sighs as he continues, "But that is only a part of the territory - the rest are all... problems. I vould be happy to be rid of all of them, but if I let them do as they please they vould either stab me in the back or they vould be snatched up by someone else - vho vould use them to stab me in the back. And because there is not a quick and easy solution to that problem in the short term my plans are simply to ensure that those areas become very stable. Vhat is to be done vith them in the longer term is probably something that must be played by ear."
