Countryhumans Oneshots

What's The Worst Way to Punish An Introvert?

Written for NewLostIslands and based on a conversation we had once

Finland didn't mean to make a mistake. He had gotten permission from his father to purchase the book. He should have specified that the book was in Finnish, but he was an idiot and didn't. He knew that it made him look more educated to read in Russian, and it allowed him to share the book with his father, not to mention it was also part of an agreement his father had with his nobility, allowing Finland to use Finnish in his daily life. But Finland bought the stupid book in Finnish; now, he and his father were in trouble.

His father got out of it easily; he was the empire, but Finland wasn't so lucky. Thankfully, his father decided his punishments, and unlike some members of his nobility who thought Finland needed to be punished more harshly regularly, he was averse to severe punishment.

That didn't mean Finland liked his punishments. That defeated the point. They always required interaction with large groups of people, and he wasn't allowed to speak Finnish or leave without his father's permission.

Not being allowed to speak Finnish wasn't supposed to be part of the punishment. His father just made that rule because the last time Finland spoke Finnish in Saint Petersburg, his father had to stop many nobles from treating him with disrespect because they thought his father wasn't educating him properly or other nonsense. His father found those rumors just as annoying as Finland did, and they often had fun together laughing over the more outrageous ones.

His father was always happy that Finland could take those insults with good humor. Finland neglected to tell his father they hurt more than he let on. It was better to see him happy. Finland could handle it. Besides, Finland didn't even care. Why do the opinions of people he'll outlive matter to him? Finland will affect history, and they won't.

"Finland! How was the trip? I hope you didn't have to deal with anything too annoying on your way from Helsinki." Father said as he greeted Finland, a fond look in his eyes.

"I didn't, Father, don't worry. I presume you'll have me attend some of your balls and other parties while I am here? As punishment for my error?" Finland asked, the Russian language feeling foreign on his tongue. It had been a while since he had spoken the language since Finland tended to stay in his duchy, and rarely was he punished.

Finland was a good son.

"I will. I have your outfit picked out for one tonight. And your requirements will be given to you when you arrive. I expect you to be early so I can ensure you are properly prepared and don't get humiliated by some nobles who like to insult you." Father said. Finland nodded at the instructions.

"Thank you, Father. I'll prepare for it now." Finland said, walking towards the palace. He can't believe his father was making him attend one tonight. Finland was tired from traveling from Helsinki, and he knew from prior experience that showing any emotion that his father hadn't allowed him to during one of these parties only made it worse.

Finland shivered at the memories of days of parties in a row with no breaks, constant conversations, and dancing. He had never been more tired in his entire life. His feet hadn't stopped hurting for days, he couldn't stop shaking when he stood up, and he had lost his voice.

Finland was grateful that his father took time out of his schedule to help care for him, even if he couldn't promise he wouldn't take it that far again. But that was okay. Punishments were meant to make you learn, and reactions like that helped Finland stay well-behaved and a better son.

However, sometimes, he wishes his father wouldn't attack his weaknesses with these punishments. But it's not like that was his intention. Finland knew that his father didn't know that Finland hated parties, and social interaction for long periods seemed to drive Finland closer and closer to an emotional breakdown. His father didn't know that Finland never felt an attraction to the women he tried to match me up with.

Finland would never let him know. Disappointing him wasn't allowed, and showing weakness was a sin.

Those were some of the first lessons his father had taught him. Finland made sure he used them well.

Finland entered his room and sighed when he saw the outfit his father had picked out for him. It looked stuffy, tight, and uncomfortable. Finland was a good son, though! He wouldn't disobey his father, so he put on the suit.

After Finland did that, he looked at himself in the dirty mirror. He looked a lot more like his father this way. Maybe that's why his father loved dressing Finland in these suits. Finland sighed, shifting uncomfortably in the tight material. He wished he could stay here a bit longer to reduce the time he had to spend at the party, but he knew that would just upset his father.

With a heavy sigh, Finlan prepared to leave, knowing that he would most likely have to attend this one.

It wouldn't be that bad!

—————

Finland didn't just have to attend one party—he had to participate in three, all in three days, with nearly no time to rest. Finland was exhausted and felt like his face was stuck in a permanent smile, as his father had only permitted him to express joy and smugness. Finland had let his face return to its regular expression during the first party, and his father saw it, resulting in Finland being forced to go to the other two parties.

Finland was now looking for his father, hoping that he would be able to convince his father that three of those parties were enough punishment for the book and for disobeying his orders. Finland wasn't hopeful, but it was worth a shot. Eventually, he found his father in the library. Finland hesitantly entered, fearful of offending him.

"Father, may I ask for something?" Finland asked. His father looked up from his book and nodded, and Finland shifted nervously.

"May..." Finland said, the words dying in his throat as he struggled to gather the courage to say them.

What was he doing? Why was he questioning his father? He should be grateful, but instead, he acted like an entitled brat.

"You want to know if you've been punished enough," His father stated, reading Finland like a book, as he always did. Finland nodded, "Then explain why Stanislav."

Finland dropped to his knees, knowing the action would make his father more willing to listen.

"Father, I have learned. I won't disobey you again. I will not question you again. Let me stop going to these galas." Finland said the Russian no longer felt foreign in his mouth. But it was still hard to speak. His voice was quiet. He wasn't used to speaking this much.

His father was doing this to help Finland, though. He was trying to ensure that Finland was involved in his world, that they had a chance to be together as a family, that Finland had friends, and that he wouldn't be alone for the rest of his life. His father cared. Sure, this was technically a punishment, but it was also just his father trying to share his life with Finland.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and saw that my father had kneeled beside me.

"Okay, Finland. I think you've been punished enough," he said before standing and holding out a hand to help Finland up. Finland smiled and took it, his father's massive hand dwarfing his own. But even then, his hand was gentle, and he did not accidentally crush Finland's hand. "Now, Stanislav, tell me, did you make any new friends?"

"No, Father, I didn't. But I found some people I think would make good friends with further conversation." Finland told him, hoping that these attempts at friends would work out.

It would make his father happy to see him happy and with others. Finland wanted that. He wanted to make his father happy. His father never seemed happy, although maybe that was because Finland really only saw him when he messed up.

But little moments like these reminded Finland of how much he loved his father. His father never stops caring.