the final siege of /coco/ (renaissance? late medieval??)
from the perspective of a deadbeat officer
holed up in a fort defending their allies during a schizo raid
kronies arrive to aid the deadbeats, maybe it is pointed out how at the time many holos derided deadbeats as no better than dox schizos, so this gesture is seen as rare
clock men described as heroic, kind, and no mention of advanced technology
together they force the schizos back
the Kronies end up bringing shipments of their famous wine and share with their deadbeat brothers in victory
deadbeats end up loving the drink, and all share in their love of culture, the arts (music vs writing), and good drinks
the writer makes note of the new friendship that will hopefully last centuries

immediate cut to the pov of a deadbeat diplomat in /vtwbg/, present day (in-universe)
exasperated, alongside everyone else, as a kronie delegate gives a backhanded compliment to the Niji delegation that ends in a throwing insults
deadbeat internally recounts how not long after /coco/ was reformed into /kson/, the kronie holy volcano erupted and brought about the Great Winter
no nation heard from Infinitum again for centuries
until they reappeared soon after /vtwbg/ was formed centuries later, becoming a founding member (?)
and then promptly made it clear they were not easy to work with, driving out the neutral officials and claiming everyone else wanted to invade them
apparently the clockmen had grown paranoid and antisocial in isolation, and their newly-unveiled advanced technology they've developed in those years have put others on edge with their saber rattling
as if this wasn't bad enough, the first friends they made were with filthy /meat/ cannibals, actually employing them as mercenaries
the deadbeat laments the record of the Kronies and his people becoming friends, then scoffs at the very idea ever happening now

now the deadbeat is writing a report in his office
a knock at the door, he tells him to come in
immediately regrets it once it turns out to be one of the kronies
not the same one flinging insults and threats earlier, but one of the delegates of that socially stunted nation
the kronie sits across him, and the deadbeat mentally notes the thin, bookish, pale kronie looks nothing like the gallant and strong warriors described in history
the "cannibal fucker" starts with an apology for the behavior of the other one earlier, and the deadbeat accepts it, but tells him he should be apologizing to the Nijis first
on second thought, the hoshiyomi deserve one first
actually, make that the entire line of officials from /vtwbg/
the kronie nods with a heavy head, and quietly says he understands that their people are.. Difficult
but, things are changing
the Great Winter has long ended, and the regime that kept the Kronies alive but under an iron fist is losing popularity
if anything, Kronies want to find out more about the world and make friends again
the deadbeat pauses, thinking, before asking if that's why they've rubbed shoulders with /meat/
the kronie says he understands the... history Moriji has with the viking people
quickly apologizes and says eh didn't come to discuss other nations, and procures a bottle of fine wine from his home
he presents it as a gift - a personal one, not between nations but between colleagues - to the deadbeat
deadbeat skeptically takes it, and thanks him cautiously before preparing a glass
it's as good as the old records described them
deadbeat shakes his head but can't help but smile, pouring a glass for the Kronie
the kronie brings out papers, saying that the grand archive back home has record that the two nations are good friends--
"were once good friends"
... were once good friends, so he compiled the finest literature the Kronies had to offer that he felt the deadbeat people would enjoy
deadbeat leafs through (admittedly tasteful) smut of Mori / Mori priestesses
the deadbeat thanks him for the gesture, giving his glass a toast
the kronie offers his toast to the friendship of their great nations, to which the deadbeat wordlessly gestures vaguely
they share a drink, and the deadbeat focuses on the wine
mentally notes maybe they're not that bad / some things haven't changed for the worse