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[handelaar]

[The feed opens with a glimpse of sunflowers, an ashtray - contents still smoking - and a couch, before two hands darken the view. By the time the video adjusts to their removal Netherlands is already flopped back on Russia's couch, wearing his football uniform and lightly leaning against the other nation's shoulder. He's too boneless to be sober but not so fucked up that he looks anything but his usual cross between bored and overly serious.]

There aren't any history books here. From Earth.

[Russia’s letting Netherlands take care of the speaking this time, a bit amused that despite how nosy he is he hadn’t managed to realize that there weren’t any history books in the Media Library, or rather, that he hadn’t visited that particular bit of the ship in the entire time they’ve been here. So he just sits back and rucks a hand through his hair, relaxes.]

Not much of anything from Earth. [Idly, he reaches up and straightens the scarf about his neck, smoothes the lapels on his uniform.]

Thought America said it was after Earth, [Netherlands mutters, more of an aside to Russia, before he returns his attention back to the video.] We can write some of it, if there’s a way to write - media books.

[What the hell are those things.]

As far as he knew. [Russia rolls his eyes and murmurs, follows Netherlands’ gaze over to the video, nods a bit.] Not going to write it all though, too much shit to deal with.

[That gets a flick of Netherlands’ eyes to the ceiling in return, before he settles further back into the cushions and continues.]

So we’re taking requests, then.

[Not actually a question. They’re now taking requests.]

Can do some right now... not doing anything else. Nothing after - [a flicker of a look between Russia and the feed] - 1900. Unless you want us to write it. Later.

Comments

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[za_rodina]

[Once the video shuts off Russia huffs and leans against Netherlands shoulder, takes a drink from the bottle of vodka he'd had by his side.]

You sure you've got time to write this? [He laughs under his breath, shoots Netherlands an amused look knowing full well just how much time he puts in the Gardens.]

[handelaar]

[That gets a flat look and a shrug, and for a second it doesn't even seem like he's going to answer. Why bother to answer a tease - but then he thinks "fuck it" and rambles on anyway instead of shooting back sarcasm. And since it's only Russia he's talking to, he switches back from Dutch.]

Depends on how much we wanna write.

[za_rodina]

Hm. [Russia hadn't really expected an answer like that, but it's reasonable so he shrugs a shoulder and falls into Nation-Speak as easily as Netherlands does.]

Guess we'll see where we're starting and figure it out from that.

[handelaar]

Yeah. [Quiet, grunted agreement as he sprawls back further.]

Need something to do that isn't gonna wear me out, too. Besides painting.

text;

[cl_cl_claudius]

[ SO EXCITE. ] As it happens, I am in possession of two books of history: Livy's Ab Urbe Condita and Pollio's history of the Caesars. I will happily share them with anyone who asks.

But this is a very generous offer you have made, and I would be delighted to read anything you write. I am finding it challenging to get a clear picture of how history progressed after my own time.

text;

[za_rodina]

That is great fortune indeed, perhaps a list should be made if others have books from Earth. Rome would be a good starting point.

History is not so hard to have a grasp on when you've lived it, though certainly we are biased towards our own. If you have a point you'd like to hear of most I could start there

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[handelaar]

[As Russia types Netherlands flicks a look at his own device, still propped up on the table and recording. He could follow suit, or he could lean enough to read over Russia's shoulder and not have to navigate a keyboard.

Commenting loudly enough for both of them to hear it is.]

Rome...

[Well, given the books offered and the rest of Claudius' statement, he has his guesses. But it's easier to ask, so he turns back to the video screen.]

When are you from?

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[cl_cl_claudius]

[ Ugh, the date thing. Claudius sighs. ] I am an historian b-by education, and that has been a source of c-considerable f-frustration to me. Accounts have v-varied w-w-widely. Evidently most of humanity c-comes to use a calendar they call "Gregorian," centered on the life of s-some god who may or may or not have been born in my own time.

By my acc-ccounting and the calendar established by the g-great Julius Caesar, I was brought from 27th Januarius, in the f-f-fourth year of my n-nephew Caligula's reign - or, I suppose, [ since those well read in history seem to always know him as Emperor so there's little point in not mentioning it ] three days into the f-first y-year of my own. It is, from the f-foundation of the City of Rome, the year 795, and 818 years from the date of the first Olympiad. And f-from the assassination of Julius Caesar, which I believe history is unlikely to forget even with the passing of m-many ages, it has been 71 years.

If any of these events are m-meaningful to y-you, or you know your own date as counted by the Jewish calendar, or that of the Babylonians, Egyptians, or Zoroastrians, I'd be g-greatly ob-bliged to you if you shared that kn-nowledge with me. [ Because it has been driving him nuts, srsly. ]

video whoop

[walksonrooftops]

You talked about someone once. It was--Naple Lion. [Napoleon, but close enough. He doesn't have any clue about dates, either, which is why he doesn't see anything wrong with asking about it now. Humans as a whole just existed some undetermined number of years before cats did, long enough to pass into myth, so a few centuries don't keep him from inquiring. He's admittedly curious how much of the stories could be true.] And his brother. Because that was how the rabbit got his name, right?

He sounded important.

always video

[handelaar]

[Sorry Asato, that gets him laughing - not at the slip up itself, but the idea of France's reaction if he heard. Soft and brief but it's too amused to be anything but laughter, too warm to be making fun.]

Napoleon, yeah. One of France's, if you met him.

[And he still sounds amused as he tilts his head to look at Russia, raises a brow. This'll be fun.]

sidles over

[za_rodina]

[He leans over, hears that slip up and snorts. Oh, France would throw a hissy fit if he'd heard, but well that's the point isn't it? There's a slip of a grin at Russia's lips as he meets that look, and he nods.]

Important to France maybe. [Of course Russia has his reasons to disagree--but they'll get to that eventually. He's just going to settle in for this roller coaster, and probably have to laugh over it some more somewhere along the line.]

[walksonrooftops]

[They may both be amused, but the reason for it flies right over Asato's head, which is probably for the best. He remembers a person called France was here once, a long time ago, back when Austria was still here too. But he can hardly put a face to the name, especially since he'd never met France in person.

Either way, he's got no idea what's up with this Napoleon guy or with anyone in human history, so he listens with curiosity like he's still hearing about a legend, like a human hearing about Atlantis.]

Not important to anyone else?

[jilt]

Keeping busy, are we?

do hope this wasn't meant solely for netherlands--! voice;

[za_rodina]

Well that is the point, is it not?

voice;

[handelaar]

[SLAPS OFF THE VIDEO




which

doesn't matter at all because Russia's still on his own comms, and it's easy to hear Netherlands' low huff from that. And possibly the impact of his elbow in Russia's side.]

[jilt]

[ NED BABY DON'T BE LIKE THAT. ]

Nothing to say?

of course not!

[jilt]

You set a lovely example. I'm sure we've all heard that saying about idle hands.

aaa, good then, and i apologize for the lateness!

[za_rodina]

[There's a brief little huff of laughter in the background.]

Surely we have, though I'm afraid I'm rather a prime example of it.

voice and it's your own fault(s?)

[sweetmotherofgod]

Russia, tell me about when you were little?

Um. If you were. Little.

voice; right back at you eheh

[za_rodina]

I was little once, a very long time ago. [He laughs.] But still, that's a couple of centuries right there. What would you like to know?

/straps heather in for imminent crushing of illusions

[sweetmotherofgod]

Centuries? Well, I guess that would make the first question when. When was this?

here not here

[handelaar]

[Wow why does Russia get questions. He's not sulking over that at all, nope.]

video

[justdumbluck]

[Oh, look, it's that crazy guy before. And he has a friend. Firo has to wonder if this other guy will be just as weird, but he's pretty sure that question would be too off-topic for them to take.]

Before 1900? How far back can you two go?

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[za_rodina]

[Oh hey, been a while Firo. Russia offers a bit of a grin.]

That depends, personal history wise or general?

video;

[handelaar]

[Aaaand Netherlands has no idea these two know each other. This one's just a new nosy kid to him.

Which means he just jerks his thumb toward Russia at the question. What he said.]