took a few days to himself, but he's back now! Currently raiding the fridge for a snack.

looks like his sixteen year old self. He makes his way into the kitchen spotting him. "Gilbert?" His voice sounds off. "Where have you been?"

pauses, face still in the fridge. "Are you sick? You sound like you did before your balls dropped." He peeks over, and drops the package of wurst. "Holy shit, you're all cute again!" He runs over to fuss over_

_him, inspecting the other. "It would have been cuter if you were that age when I could you know, pick you up and carry you around. Like a sack of damn flour, remember? But this'll do. What happened?"

flushes a dark red at the reaction. He's so flustered he doesn't even mind that he dropped a back of fresh wurst. "I don't know...I was hoping you could help or would have an idea."

cooing over him, and pinching his cheeks. Gott, West was so adorable. "Uhm. Uh...did you piss off Arthur? Did you screw around with magic things or people?"

was so embarrassed right now. He grabs Gilbert's offending wrist. "Gilbert...please. I'm not actually this age." He pauses to contemplate. "Not that I can remember. I hardly play with anything

magical..."

tugs his wrist back, and pulls West against his chest to cuddle him. "But you're fuckin cute, and I'm taller than you again!" Awww Weeest~!!!

's ears to red when he's cuddled. "So you have no idea?" He asks glancing up at him from his position crushed to Gilbert's chest.

hums. "If you didn't dabble in any magic, no...actually." He paused. "How's your half of Germany doing? Economy alright? Political crap the same?"

hums pensively. "I don't think anything to drastic changed that would de-age me." He doesn't even pull away letting cuddle him all he wants.

rests his chin on West's head. It's been too long since he could do this. "Hmm...well if it's not you, and not the land...." Then he wasn't really sure.

sighs again. "I'm not even sure what to do anymore..."

isn't complaining at all. He adores West like this. "Well, we'll figure something out. Maybe it's something with the politicians that we don't know about, hm? Or the actual land itself, or...or maybe Arthur_

_playing a prank."

would take any of those at the moment. "I can't even show up for work...not like this anyway..."

hums. "Well. I could go to the conferences and stuff, and you could do paperwork from home?"

has been doing the paperwork at home. "I'd appreciate that. I'm hardly an imposing figure like this." He's surprised Gilbert was still cuddling him.

isn't. It's been a long, long....long time since West was this side, he was going to cuddle his fill. "Nah, you'd cute them to death. I'll take care of appearances."

hums in appreciation. "I've got free time...if you want to do something..."

perks up. "Sure! What so you wanna do?"

flushes a bit. "I'd like to go to the zoo with you...maybe we can catch a movie afterwards?"

hasn't been to the zoo in forever. "Sounds awesome! Oh, oh, can we see the new Thor? Don't tell Den, he'll give me that dumb look. But it's supposed to be really good!"

doesn't see why not. "Ja, I don't mind. We can catch a late show."

cheers at that. "The zoo will be so fun. We can see the tigers, and lions, and they have chicks in the petting zoo!"

struggles out of Gilbert's hold. "Ja, and the polar bear." That was his favourite animal besides dogs. "Lets go then. No point in wasting more time." He may be a little excited...and the mentality of

his physical body may be catching up to him.

picks up his brother, spinning him around, before setting him down again. "Sweet!" He ran around, collecting his wallet and keys.

was a little overwhelmed by the pick up and spin. No one's ever been able to do that since he's grown up. His face is red and he almost gapes after his brother before smartening up and heading to grab

his necessities waiting patiently at the door.

comes back excitedly, ruffling his hair. "Oh, oh, have the dogs seen you like this yet?"

nods flushed. "I've taken them out on lots of walks and jogs."

tugs him out the door, locking up behind them. "Were they excited? Weird? I mean they can smell that it's still you I guess, but they've never seen you like this."

grasps onto the back of Gilbert's jacket as he's tugged out. "They were weary at first and then fine once they realised who I was."

hums. "What about Berlitz? He's kind of a spazz sometimes."

smiles a bit. "He was weary but he came around."

the dogs. "That's good."

| They arrive at the zoo finally. It's not to crowded, Ludwig instinctively takes out his wallet to pay for two tickets.

swats at his hand. "This one is on me." He does see if he can get a student discount for West, though >>;;

shakes his head at the effective swindling but doesn't say anything to ruin it. When they do get their tickets there is a look of mild excitement that he can't hide from his face.

nudges him lightly. "How long has in been, since we've been to the zoo. Forever, right?"

nods. "Together probably around sixty or so years."

can't even believe that. "Damn...we should have gotten the damn senior citizen discount. That long, huh?"

cracks a smile. "I kind of got it..in the form of the student discount." He laughs lightly. "Maybe with your white hair you could have gotten away with it."

cackles as he swats at him. "You know, people have actually offered me that shit because of my hair? Rude."

laughs a little harder. "You have to live with what you're given." He manages to dodge the swat.

grins at his laugh. "Or throw it back in life's face."

hums smiling at that. "Or that. What part should we see first?"

looks around happily. "Uhm. Uhhh...ahh...the lions! Let's see the lions."

nods at that. He liked lions a lot too. He takes a sharp turn and heads in that direction.

looking around excitedly. Everything was way different, they had more animals, and everything was...newer. He follows after West, only getting side-tracked a few times.

stops when he gets to the lions. He draws closer to the glass where the tigers seem to relaxing.

presses his face against the glass. "Do you think we could handle pet tigers? I've seen humans do it."

gives him a pensive look as if he's actually considering it. "Maybe if we got it as a cub..."

's eyes widen a little. "Or a cub liger?"

had never seen an actual liger. "Where would we even find a Liger?'

shrugs. "Some zoos have them, but I'd feel guilty...think they just happen in the wild?"

hums. "They might. Not sure what the odds are though."

humsssss "So a zoo?"

nods. "Ja, a zoo. I could look up zoos that may have Ligers for you when we go back home." He starts walking around the habitat.

can't believe West is actually getting him a pet Liger! He picks the other up abruptly, spinning him around. "Danke, Danke, Danke, Danke, Danke!!"

flushes. He hadn't said they would get one....just to go visit it. "I haven't even done anything?!" He looks embarrassed.

doesn't even care. West puts up with his shit far more than anyone else bothers to, and he's happy. He sets the other down, ruffling his hair. "That's what you think."

still a little red cheeked. He grabs Gilbert's sleeve and tugs him to the next habitat that so happened to be the polar section.

grins, following along. "Ooh polar bears. Like Matt's"

nods. "I've always wondered how he was able to keep a Polar Bear with him." He really liked them.

grins "Keep a polar bear, who doesn't even know who he is half the time."

laughs a bit. "Poor guy. That seems to happen often to him."

shakes his head. He should really pay him a visit. "Weird, right? Matt's such a...he has a massive piece of land, and he's not doing bad for himself at all. And yet..." Nobody really noticed him.. "I think it's

_cause he's attached to Alfred."

it's hard to notice anyone when they are beside the loud American. "You may be right."

grins at that. "Usually am."

snort. "And here comes the modesty."

nudges him. "I'm so totally...okay, but what good is modesty anyways?"

nudges him back. "It's good for many things like not getting eyes rolled at you by your younger brother."

grins at that. "Aww, but you love me anyways. That's what counts."

flushes it was true he did regardless. He doesn't say anything to that merely turning his attention to the polar bears.

chuckles to himself, turning to the polar bears as well. "I wonder if Matt can ride one..."

that's a good question. "Ask him next time you see him."

nods. "I definitely will. That would be awesome."

watches the polar bear for a little longer.

hums. "Do you feel like we should have done more crazy shit in our long lives?"

glances at him. "As in start more wars....or are you talking about other things?"

rolls his eyes. "I mean like...riding polar bears!...and stuff. You know those people that go into cages, and then go under water to see sharks? Crazy shit like that."

makes an 'ah' noise. "We can still do that if you really wanted...I don't plan on disappearing tomorrow."

quirks an eyebrow at him. "You want to do all that crazy shit? You're encouraging me?"

doesn't think it's that dangerous if they conduct themselves properly. "We just have to be safe about it."

picks him up, hugging him again. "Danke, that's awesome!" He likes being able to pick up his brother again >>;;

has noticed this and awkwardly pats his brother. "I'm starting to think I should become smaller so you can just carry me around."

grins. "Aww, I could just piggyback you all over the place!"

flushes. "Is that what you want to do?" He wasn't going to protest although he wasn't that much smaller than Gilbert.

smushes his cheeks. "Ja, why not? I mean if you were small enough."

grabs Gilbert's wrists and pry them off embarrassed. "Gilbert...we're in public.."

scoffs at that. "So? First of all, you're my even smaller little brother. It's my job to embarrass you. Second of all...polar bears. Who's looking at us?"

thinks that's true they were pretty alone. "True...bit it's the principal on the matter. If there were people you still wouldn't care."

shrugs. "No. I wouldn't. Why should I?"

thinks if he had to ask there is no pony answering. He sighs and nods in resignation. "Where to next?"

| "The penguins aren't to far away."

waves at the polar bears. "We could go see them. Fanciest birds alive."

smiles at that and nods starting to head over to them. "They do look quite fancy."

walking alongside West, but considerably more excited. He probably looks like the younger brother, with the way he's bouncing around. "Like they're wearing tuxes all the time, right?"

's eyes widen a bit in amusement. "Ja, exactly that." It was clear he was humouring Gilbert. They make it there and he stops.

doesn't even care. They pause, and he can't help but grin as he leans against the glass. "Cuuute!"

leans against the railing and gazes in quietly. He was glad he had this day with his brother.

nudges him lightly. "Perk up, West! You look so sullen.."

blinks a but and flushes. "Ah...sorry I zoned out a bit."

grins at the flush. "Aw, what are you thinking about?"

flushes a little darker. "Just how nice it is that we get to do something like this again."

sighs happily. "Ja. I miss the two of us hanging out together."

smiles lightly at that. "I think I need to make more of an effort to spend time with you."

grins broadly at that, pulling him into a hug. "You do! You need to make time for your older bruder, okay?"

flushes again and hugs him back if not a little awkward.

squishes him a little, before letting go. "We should have a once a week day for us. At least."

could do that. "What day works with you?"

shrugs. "I can shift my schedule, you know that. What day works for you?"

grows quiet for a second. "Most likely Thursday or Friday." He finally replies.

hums. "Friday, then? That way if we're out late, we can sleep in the next morning."

smiles at that. "Ja, that sounds good."

grins. "Awesome. It'll be so fun, West. You'll see."

doesn't doubt it. "He always seemed to find some sort of excitement with Gilbert."

would be excited to know that. He kisses West on the forehead, not caring how embarrassing it may seem, before turning his gaze back to the penguins. "I'm naming that one over there...happy feet."

flushes at that as he lightly touches his forehead. "Good name." He had never actually seen the movie.

kid movies. They were cute. "Danke. When we go see the fish, I'm naming them after Nemo characters."

chuckles. "And here I thought I was the younger brother."

nudges them. "Hey. You just don't take the time to enjoy those movies."

"Recommend one and I'll watch one."

hums. "Actually...we should have a marathon. But we should definitely watch Finding Nemo."

feels like he may have watched Finding Nemo but he isn't to sure. He really liked documentaries. "You really like that one, hmm." He comments as they start to head towards the aquariums.

shrugs. "I mean the beginning is super sad. More sad than any kids movie has a right to be. But I like Dory."

thinks that he probably hasn't seen it in that case. "I heard that other movie Up was the same way."

frowns, a little upset. "West. West that movie was so sad. You have to watch it, but it was ridiculous how sad that move was. It wasn't even the beginning. I mean it was, but half way through, BAM! Feels_

_all over again. So not cool."

didn't mean to upset him. "Ja...okay I'll watch them."

didn't think West upset him, just thinking about the move was so saaaad. "Great. You also have to watch the Toy Story movies. Classic."

nods. "I watched the first one."

so proud of him. "There are two others." He eventually gets bored of the cute penguins, and tugs West over to another exhibit. Ooh monkeys.

lets the other tug him away as they make to the warmer climate animals. Monkeys were always so interesting, if not a little silly at times.

liked monkeys. If he wasn't so busy all the time, a pet one would be cool. "I wish we could feed him."

chuckles lightly. "I think there is a day we can come and play with them."

perks up at that. "Really? That would be so awesome West, oh Gott.."

pauses to think about it. "I think they're usually every second Wednesday if a month."

grabs his shoulders, trying not to shake him. "Can we? Can we pleeeease, come back?"

looks a little startled. "Ja...sure. If that's what you want."

cheers at that. "I can't wait. Let's go see...pandas." Pandaaas

nods as he starts heading in that direction occasionally waiting for Gilbert.

keeps getting distracted, but he catches up. "I'm going to name the panda...Po."

gives him an incredulous look. "You're naming all the animals. You do realise they have names already."

looks back at him like he's ridiculous. "Yea, but these are better ones. Haven't you ever seen Kung-Fu Panda?"

shakes his head. "Gilbert...I don't have time to watch movies...not many anyway."

shakes his head too, but in a sad solemn kind of way. "That's so sad. You should work a little less." He'd have to start stealing West's paperwork again.

knows that if he didn't decide to clean, take care of the dogs and work on cars during his spare time he might. It just had never been something he sought out.

steal all his work. He will!

will finish it before he can!

go see their boss and take is first!

*it]

will talk to their boss ahead of time so he can't!

totally not let West do that!

will do it anyway, he won't tell Gilbert he'll do it.

secretly text their boss right now >>;;

might have already talked to their boss!

Might have talked to their boss yesterday!

might go have a word with their boss right now...even in this state.

would stand there and laugh when the boss ordered for 'the child to be picked up.'

looks displeased by this.

would then take all his work 9D

*8D

will get him back...maybe be petulant about it.

looking forward to it!

thinks he shouldn't be.

petty revenge usually evolves into fun prank wars.

is not very good at pranks so he could safely say he would probably lose.

winning...but maybe he should teach the other a thing or two.

thinks he'll be fine.

he needs to know something, just in case he finds himself in a prank war!

hopes that doesn't happen. He'd recruit Gilbert's help anyway.

would be happy to help. But he doesn't know who West could possibly piss off...