- do this, but he's left her no choice. Her people are tired, weak and she knows... she knows she's losing but she can't stop. "Stop this now!" Elyse shouts at him, aiming her pistol at him. But she knows that-

-the battle is long lost, and that she would remain simply, the South of Netherlands.

( Belgium doesn't become independent. )

stared down at her, standing strong and confident. He knew he would win. She was just a weak province in his eyes. He didn't even bat an eye at the gun pointed at him. "Admit that you'll forever be under me."He

only had a few cuts and bruises from what he had been through, nothing near as bad as her.

's arm shook as her thumb rested over the trigger. "Damn you!" She snapped at him, tears welling up in her eyes. "I can't do that." She hissed. Damn him...

shakes his head as he walked closer. "You can't become independent. Someone like you will fall within the first week. You're weak, and need me." He didn't consider her a threat at all.

takes an involuntary step back, swallowing thickly as she lowers her pistol. She can't shoot him... "You don't know that, Nikolaas! Y-you don't know anything." She shouted, trying to keep her voice from -

-trembling. "I could be great."

let out a sharp laugh before putting his hand around the barrel of the gun. "Could, and will, are two totally different words, Zus."

tries to yank it back, glaring fiercely at him. "I will be great." She hissed at him. "With or without you. Sign the papers, Nikolaas."

kept his eyes on her as he let go of the gun and turned towards the papers. He ran his finger along the desk they were on before grabbing the papers and tearing them apart into as many pieces as he could get.

( Ouuuch. )

felt her heart break and she dropped the gun, the blade following soon after as she sank to her knees, trying to pick up the scraps of paper. "You're so cruel!" She whispered, hands shaking.

kept his glare strong as he walked back over to her. "This is life, Zus."

eventually gave up on the pieces, cursing under her breath as she sat back a little, trying to calm down. "Not my life.." She said, sniffling idly. "I don't want this."

crouched in front of her, resting his forearms on his knees. "You will. Trust me, I'll protect you so no one can harm you. We'll be happy, together."

shook her head, rising to her feet and stubbornly knocking papers and an oil lamp from his desk. "I don't need you protection! I want to be your equal, Nikolaas!"

sighs and got up, watching her. "You will be. Just under my name."

- "You know damn well it isn't the same thing."

shrugs. "It's better than letting you fall under pressure. This way, I'll take it all." He walked back over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "I'm doing this for your safety."

recoiled, instantly slapping his hand away. "I can stand on my own. I won't fall under pressure." She snapped. "Why are you acting this way? You know I can do it!"

glared back at her and headed out. "I expect you at home later. Don't disappoint me more."

stares after him in shock. What? "Don't... Don't just walk away from me!" She hurried after him, shoving him harshly. "We're not finished!" She couldn't just give up...

stumbled forward and turned. "What do you expect, Elyse? You're done. Your people are my people. You can't escape!" He couldn't help but yell at her. "You'll forever be with me!"

glared at him, shoving him again. "You give me what's rightfully mine, Nikolaas. I refuse to be your property!"

stepped back again and just kept yelling at her. "It's the only way you'll live!"

- "You don't know that for sure!"

nods. "I do know! I've seen countries rise and fall, in the exact same situation as you!" He clenched his fists. "I don't want to see that happen to you."

grits her teeth. "It won't happen to me. I can promise you." She wanted to punch him. God. "Let me go."

shakes his head. "Nee." He refused to let her leave. She would forever be his.

so angry and frustrated that all she wants to do is scream and cry. "Are you afraid to stand on your own? Is that why you won't let me leave?" She hissed. "I won't crumble, but you might. Is that it?"

snapped and put his hand around her neck, slamming her against the wall. "Don't you even think about trying to insult me."

winces, hands scrambling to grip his wrist, trying to pry his hand away. "I didn't have to think about it... I just did." She glared up at him defiantly.

growled and tightened his hand around her neck, feeling his rage rise more and more.

makes a slightly pained sound at that. "Y-you're hurting me.." She gasps, trying to get free. She was never going to stop! Why couldn't he just let her go?

tightened his grip a bit more before letting her go, dropping her to the ground. "Weak."

gasps, touching her throat. Ow. "I-I'm not weak... I'm not." She said softly, getting to her feet. "I could be stronger than you."

shakes his head. "That's impossible. Now go home."

- "I don't have a home!" She didn't want to stay with him. She would stay out in the streets if she had to.

grabbed her wrist and pulled her close. "You live at my house. Now go home, while I clean up your mess."

tried to get free and when she couldn't, she slapped him. "This is your mess because you provoked it!" She growled.

kept his eyes on her, taking in a deep breath. "Don't do more you'll regret, Elyse."

's eyes tear up again in frustration. "I'll do whatever I need to."

started dragging her home.

growls, trying to get free. "Let me go!"

shakes his head.

struggles, trying to dig the heels of her feet into the ground. "Nikolaas!"

glared at her. "I've had about enough of this, Elyse. Start cooperating, or else I'll put you in jail."

glares right back. "Then do it. Try it." She yanked her wrist free and started walking away.

raises his brow. "You want to be treated like a prisoner? Fine." He found some rope and grabbed her hands, tying them up before adding a line for him to pull her and started walking.

couldn't believe how big of a jerk he was being. She jogged a little to fall into step with him, her head held high.

slightly proud that she still had a fighting spirit, and that she didn't feel fully defeated. Secretly, he knew she could be her own nation. He was just too scared to let go.

- "Maybe not today," She spoke softly after a long period of silence. "but one day, I will break free from you, Nikolaas. I'll stand beside you as my own nation. And I can only hope that you'll acknowledge me-

-as such."

kept his mouth shut as he refused to accept that. He brought her to the jail and threw her into the cell, keeping her hands bound. He gave strict instructions not to feed her until he said so.

- "Untie me!" She snapped at him. She could probably get out of the rope herself, but it was still annoying.

shakes his head. "You say your independent. Prove it now." He turned his back on her and began to leave.

stands up, rushing to the bars, not caring much for her bound wrists. "Coward! I don't need you and it burns you, doesn't it!" She shouted after him. "Pathetic!" She was angry enough to /want/ to cause him-

-pain; to want to anger him.

didn't want to hurt her more than what he had. He just ignored what she said as he left, wanting to give her some time to calm down.

falls back against the wall, tugging viciously at the rope, chest heaving as she tried to keep calm. She wanted to scream. Eventually it came undone and she tossed it aside before curling up on the ground-

- sobbing into her knees.

came back a few hours later to see how she was. Even if he was upset with her, she was still his sister.

sitting up against the wall, expression stony. She said nothing; didn't look at him.

stood by the bars. "Ready to come home, yet?"

holds her arms out. "I am home. It might as well be."

narrowed his eyes. "There's proper clothes and food at home. Will you behave, now?"

looks at him. "No."

"Elyse, stop this nonsense. Just come home."

- "I can't. I'm locked in this cell." :/

shook his head as he unlocked the door, even opening it for her. "Now nothing is holding you back."

frowns, but she stands up -rope in hand- and walks out, but not before tossing the rope at him. "Here. In case you need to take me for a walk later."

made a sound but caught it and closed the cell before walking behind her.

((Wow lookat dat sass.))

( =w= )

walked ahead of him, feeling tired and cold and a bit hungry, but she was stubborn and refused to tell him.

just assumed what she felt. He made sure she was ahead of him. He didn't want her to run off or anything, he just wanted her home.

obediently making her way home, arms folded over her chest. She really wanted a hot shower.

glad she was working with him now. He opened the door for her even, and let her do whatever she wanted.

walked upstairs to take a bath. She didn't want to talk to him.

figured as much. He prepared the bathroom for her, making sure she had towels and clothes and left as much hot water for her as he could. In the mean time he went to make dinner for them.

takes a long bath. She wasn't planning on joining him for dinner. Hmph.

doubted she would. He just left a large plate of food out for her after as he went to do his own thing in his office.

simply leaves the house after her bath, looking around at some of the damages.

heard her leave and sighed. He really still cared for her...

cared for him too but she was so angry with him! She didn't return home until hours later, the sun already set. She walked inside, pulling off her coat and hat.

still in his office, almost not wanting to see her.

shuts the door and walks to the study, picking up a book and opening it. Now what? She sighed to herself.

figured she could at least eat.

protesting. :/

didn't want her to starve. And that food cost him.

doesn't care honestly.

didn't want her to get sick...

doesn't care. She picks out a few books before heading back up to her bedroom to read. She wasn't coming out unless she needed to.

sighed and left his office, going to package up the food for later. He then decided to go out to see how the cleanup was going.

doesn't think things will be okay with them anymore.

still had some hope. He just loved her a lot.

that if he loved her, then he would let her go.

couldn't do that. She was too important to him..

could be equally as important to him as a new nation.

just worried and had trouble letting go.

nothing more to say to him then.

stayed out late into the night.

didn't care anymore. He could do whatever he wants.

glad she cared oh so much for him now.

too angry at him to care.

eventually returned the next day, spending the whole night helping as well as seeing the damage. There at least wasn't a huge amount...