So why do they act like such children?

That's not to say she wasn't above all the rest. No, in fact she'd gotten into her fair share of squabbles on the meeting room floor. But the chatter that erupted beyond those double doors was already giving her a headache. How badly she wanted to retreat back to her quiet homestead up in the mountainside. 

"Hungary! You're here!"
"Italy! You've showed up on time today."

The excitable country, once living closely with her under the Roman Empires roof, grabbed her arm and dragged her from her wallflower perch by the wall. He was adorable, but he really couldn't take any form of social cues...

"Austria is already here! You want to say hi, right?"

Normally, she would. Very eagerly so. But she pulled back slightly, a sort of cold washing over her. Did she want to say hello? The more time she spent up in the mountains, the more time she had to think. And thinking was a dangerous habit, especially all the ways up there. Did she even love Austria back then, or just the idea of him....?

"Maybe later, dear...I need to find my seat."

A polite smile, trying to ignore the way her stomach tossed and turned as she turned on her heel and strode the opposite direction. Some hellos, some idle small talk. Everyone seemed to have some issue they wanted adressed. But with the track record these things usually had, the likliehood of getting to everyone was very unlikely.

But wouldn't it be nice if all the worlds problems could be solved in an afternoon?

Emerald hues flitted down to the hardwood floor. Footsteps tapped quietly against the steps, trying to find a seat before this darn thing started. An empty spot, finally. With a quiet sigh of relief, she set her folder down in her lap, smoothing the skirt of her dress down. Next to Belgium. Not quite a friend, but someone she considered to be on relatively good terms with. But she was too busy chatting the Czech to notice her arrival anyway.

Nervous hands took a section of hair that was free from the careful fabric covering and braided it down her face. But just her luck, settling to her other side- 

Austria.
And he didn't even look her way.
Didn't even acknowledge her.

Fine. She didn't want to speak to him anyway. Her face turned away from him, catching Italy's eye a few rows ahead of her. He gave a delighted wave and shouted,

"I get to talk today Miss Hungary! Germany said I'd have a few minutes to speak!"

"Da, and if you make a fool out of me, I'll throw you out of here and you'll never say another word!"

"Oooh...scary..."

A small giggle was stifled behind one hand. He still acted like the child he was when she dressed him up in cute dresses and brushed his hair.

And so it began. America, as was his whim. slammed his hand on the table a few times and threw his hands up into the air.
Wasn't Germany the one to usually lead these meetings?

"AAAAALRIGHT, DUDES! Who's ready to kick this sick sh*t off? Any questions? Who's up first? Nothin? I'll go then!"

(Blatantly ignoring the several hands that shot up...)

Hours passed. They argued, England nearly launched himself out of his seat to strangle the American after he said utter nonsense for half an hour.

("NOBODY WANTS TO INVEST IN TAHT BLOODY STUPID IDEA!"
"You wouldn't know good investment if it hit you in the face!"
"ILL HIT YOU IN THE FACE-!")
Italy offered a surprisingly deep insight to his festivals that year. Maybe she should attend one of these days...
("And we sing and we dance and we drink so much wine we can't even feel our faces! And there's pretty girls...!"
The deep insight only lasted for a couple of minutes...)
Her hues flickered over to Austria, who looked as bored as always. But stood with his posture straight, hands folded in his lap.

"Will you speak today?"

She chanced in a small whisper.

"No. I have nothing to say."

Nothing to say indeed...Finding herself more annoyed than anything, she tapped her folder a few times before raising her hand. Greece was beside Germany, something about their economical struggles.

"What if they extended their working hours to produce more in a shorter time?"

"He already has the longest hours out of all of us...but he takes lots of breaks, so you cant say hes efficent..."

Greece could only give a shrug in response. He didn't seem too bothered by his own shortcomings. 
She almost envied that in a way.

Her head was really starting to pound now. The arguing was becoming too much, and she could feel the bile of anxiety rise in the back of her throat. Fingers clenched the folder, a quiet crinkling of paper. But she'd stay strong. This was only a round of endurance once a month. Then she could have her quiet, safe space back. 
Finally came her turn to speak.

A deep breath. Smoothing out the papers imprinted with her own stressed grip.

Brushing bangs from her face, her gaze flickered over all the countries looking down at her.
Why did she feel so out of place amongst them now?
Did their stares hold judgement, or boredom?

Her talk was brief, presenting the issues she's struggled with the changing climate, how farmers struggled to famr their crops in the summer, and some rising tensions from imaginary conflicts with other countries. She hadn;t even been aware there was any kind of misgivings until her boss called her up to the city one day to discuss it.

"So, if you have any issues, I'd rather not allow it to escalate. There are larger problems at hand, so speak to me directly."

There. She felt pretty good about that. Clearing her throat, she gave a smile and a polite curtsy before climbing back to her seat.

"You wouldn't be having these issues if you-"

"Oh be quiet. I thought you had nothing to say?"

A surprisingly harsh spit of venom toward the bespectacled country. Her cheeks flush with annoyance. Really, is that his angle? Belittle her like this again?
So silence fell like a wall between them.

Maybe she'd skip the next meeting.

Could the entire country of Hungary call in sick?