"He really hit you hard!" Francis laughed while dabbing with a rag at the spot on Arthur's forehead that stilled oozed out blood.

"I ready don't understand why he hit me so hard. What the hell could he have up there?" Arthur pouted, flinching slightly as the wet feeling of the rag made accidental contact with the wound.

"Well, it is a rule for a reason. Thanks to you we're all walking a tightrope." Francis dropped the rag and went to the first aid kit he had been given courtesy of Toris. "Though I wonder what the consequence would be." He pulled out an alcohol wipe and a huge band-aid.

"Knowing him, it'd be something he found scary that actually isn't scary."

"Perhaps." Francis wiped the wound-which was really more of a gash-with the alcohol wipe to which Arthur quietly hissed. "Didn't he say he would make us sleep outside?"

"He wouldn't do that." Arthur's grown deepened.

"Maybe he would." Francis opened the packaging for the band-aid and slowly stuck it onto Arthur's forehead. "We don't know everything about him." He smoothed it out with two fingers, pressing down to make sure it's in the right spot.

"But he's predictable."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Francis back off, his work finally done. "We've all seen him do the unthinkable."

"Whatever." Arthur rolled his eyes. "This just isn't fair."

"How?"

"He likes to get in everyone's business so what's it matter if we get into his?"

"He has his reasons whether you like it or not."

"They're probably really dumb reasons."

A knock sounded from the door interrupting their conversation.

"Come in!" Francis called, turning around in his chair. The door opened and shut with a creak and a click. Toris stood with a look of concern, his eyes scanning the room, soon falling on Arthur and the band-aid on his head.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm perfectly fine."

"That's a lie, he was bleeding like crazy." Francis added to Arthur's response.

"He must have hit you hard." A somber look overtook Toris. "Which isn't very surprising, he tends to forget his own strength."

"You seem to know a lot about him." Arthur rolled his eyes.

Toris sighed, "Arthur I have to give you a warning."

"Warning?" Arthur raised a thick brow in question.

"You have to be careful with him. You know he's impulsive and even more so when he's angry. What ever you do, don't try anything again."

"What could he possibly do to me?"

"What he wants to. You can't forget how strong he actually is."

"As if I could ever forget." Arthur rolled his eyes again. "What are you trying to say, hm?"

"I'm trying to say that you have three chances and only three. Sleeping outside is Alfred being generous."

"Generous?"

"On your third chance you're going in the basement, Arthur."

"Why is that bad? What's down there?"

"I-I can't tell you."

"Why not?" The door opened behind Toris and he froze.

"You okay, Arthur?" Alfred walked in with a sorry smile.

"Yes, I'm fine."

"Good, I thought I hit you way too hard or something." He chuckled. "Sorry about earlier, it's just that I expected you to follow the rules but silly me forgot how you are." His eyes shifted to Toris as if he just realized the man was in there with them. "Oh, Toris, didn't expect to find you here." Toris looked at him with the best smile he could muster, forcing all his fear into his clenched fist. His nails dug deep into his skin as a reminder to be careful.

"I was just checking on him same as you."

"Luckily, I took care of poor Arthur here." Francis bragged with a grin trying to ease the tension he saw on Toris. "Brings back memories."

"That's cute." Alfred grinned. "Well, I'll be leaving you guys to your business now." He looked back at Toris. "Toris, don't forget what I planned for today."

"I haven't yet." Toris smiled genuinely this time, remembering the plans for the day. He watched Alfred leave, closing the door with a click, and listened to the way the floorboards creaked as he walked away. Once he was about a few feet away, Toris turned around to look at the two.

"I think I get it now." Francis muttered.

"What do you mean you get it?" Arthur furrowed his thick brows.

"You want to warn everyone don't you?" Francis directed the question at Toris, ignoring Arthur completely. Toris nodded. "I'm guessing that whatever is down there, it's something to fear."

"Not entirely, but I recommend you be careful. Find a way to warn everyone with out Alfred finding out."

"I don't like the fact that you're being so ominous about it." Arthur butted in.

"I have to be."

~

"Toris I need you to go to up to the basement to get the things I need."

"Alright." Toris left the room.

"What exactly are we doing?" Ludwig asked laying on the couch.

"Playing one of my favorite games, of course!" Alfred beamed.

"Which is?" Lovino raised a brow from the wall he was leaning on.

"Drunk Scrabble!"

"Drunk Scrabble?" Feliciano whipped his head up from his book. "How would that even work?"

"It's all in the points. If you get more then ten points you have to take a shot." Alfred grinned.

"A shot of what?" Ivan asked from the stairs.

"Vodka, of course." Alfred turned to look at him. "Only the strong stuff in this game."

"Oh Lord, this is going to end terribly." Arthur groaned from Feliciano's side.

"But all languages are acceptable."

"Even mine?" Kiku asked, peaking through the corner from the kitchen.

"Absolutely! I have a special Scrabble with all letters known to man." There was nothing but pride in Alfred's words.

"You're such a nerd." Toris walked in teasing. A box and two fresh bottles of vodka in hand.

"I'm just passionate about other cultures."

"More like obsessed."

"I am not obsessed!"

"Says the man that knows near every language on Earth." Toris rolled his eyes and placed the box on the table. The pieces inside clashing together making the quiet move much louder than it should have been.

"It's so interesting though."

"I know but you take it to an extreme." He turned to the others and spotted Kiku, now with a neat sandwich in hand. "Am I right, Kiku?"

Kiku nodded, "Absolutely."

"Let's just start the game or might just down a whole bottle before everyone starts ganging up on me."

"It's not like you would even get drunk." Toris chuckled and set the two bottles alongside the box. He uncovered the box to reveal the scattered pieces and board inside. "Best to start now, anyway."

"Oh, right, who's a light weight?" Alfred asked the group. About half raised their hands. "Then this going to be fun!" Toris sat down next to Alfred and set up the game. Once it was all ready, he leaned into Alfred.

"Are you sure about this?" He whispered. Alfred nodded and hummed and "mhm". Toris simply sighed and leaned back. He pulled out a shot glass from his pocket. A little skull was on it with two guns crossing behind it.

"That's quite the ominous glass." Francis commented with a slight look of fear.

"Did you really have to get the scariest looking one?" Alfred fakes a pout, more amused by it than anything else.

"I got one of the least scary ones, I didn't want to scare them." Toris set it down. "It's only their first game, after all."

"Fair enough." Alfred shrugged, his pout twitching into a wicked smile. "So, who wants to go first?"