Vienna,
The Danubian Federation
The streets lay quiet, and torn propaganda posters breeze through the streets. Victor Kraus wanders through the city a look of profound sadness on his face.
“It used to be such a beautiful city” he thought, “Now a bunch of fools have once again nearly brought fair Vienna to its knees.”
As he wandered he saw an old man trip and spill his few coins all over the ground, drawing the attention of a bunch of dirty, vagabond-looking men. As he started towards the man, intending to help, he noticed that the other men were already moving forwards. Kraus opened his mouth to shout at the men, but closed it in stunned silence as the men helped the old man up and gathered up his coins for him. One of the men noticed Victor staring at them, and slowly walked over to where he stood.
“You seem surprised sir” the man said in a weary voice.
“Well… Yes! I thought…” Victor began to say
“No, I understand what you must have thought. Normally you would be correct in your assumptions, but not now.”
“Why? Why have you changed? Divine inspiration?”
At this the man gave a short barking laugh. “Divine inspiration? No. We have all suffered enough, that is why we helped the man. It was the riots. So much and so many lost…So much suffering…”
“I’m sorry. Really.”
“Aye, I suppose you would be sir. After all it was you politicians who caused this.”
“How do you know…”
“I’ve seen you giving speeches before Herr Kraus, I recognize you. I like you. You’re a good man, but that doesn’t make you guilt free of all of this.”
“I assure you…”
“Assurances won’t bring back my dead brothers, hung by the Legion of St Mark for having sympathies with the Radicals. Nor my wife, killed by those mad rioters for being Italian. No, you politicians and your ideas brought this to our city, to us. You are to blame. But it’s too late now. Everyone is sick and tired of the hatred and the killings. The anger isn’t gone. Just subdued.”
“I wish I could have prevented this…”
“I wish you could’ve to, Herr Kraus. Well goodbye. What's left of my family needs me."
As the man wandered off down the once again deserted street, Victor walked in the other direction, back to his accommodations for the night.
As Kraus entered the hostel, the streets once again became empty and seemingly lifeless.
((Just for everyone's information; this update's sole purpose is to make everyone aware that the riots in Vienna are finished and that it is once again safe to work in the Federal Chambers, rather than everyone writing letters to one another.
)
