♠ first arrow; [video/action for Discedo]

[unionjackass]

[A pair of shrewd green eyes shows up blinking on the screen. The camera pulls back; England is lowering the device examining it--and apparently isn't aware it's recording yet because he's caught mid-sentence:]--the damn thing anyway. "Use this"... Can't even cast a spell, no need to be cheeky.

Of all the ways to pull a prank, this one's got to be the most moronic. [He knits his brows in concern as his footsteps crunch over the ground. He's searching, looking for anything familiar. A prank was one thing, having his magic become null was another. But, strangest of all was the empty sensation at the back of his mind.

England chews the side of his mouth in thought.] That's odd... [He stops abruptly, head snapping up. He fixates on a building, the camera angle low, peering up so it leaves his head and shoulders in clear view. A prank was his first thought and he'll hold onto that until he knows better, but... God, he'd prefer this landscape over the emptiness that's crawling over his mind and he'll be damned if he stands there and simply accepts it for what it is.

He shakes his head.] H-hah, nothing--nothing to worry about I'm sure, I--

[And then he notices the communicator's screen properly and he leans in.]

Is-- Was this thing recording?! How long-- Agh! There's nothing to see here--! If anybody can see or hear this broadcast, and I feel such a fool for thinking anything of it, I demand an explanation for this nonsense at once!

[And with that, he shuts off the device.]

Comments

[hullonurse]

[She'll just subtly watch him from around the corner of one of the buildings, then.

In a totally not creepy way.]

[unionjackass]

Goddamn nonsense. Can't even feel anything. No spells, no economy, no land, no people.

[He kicks a rock rather vehemently and stubbornly continues checking the network, watching his surroundings at the same time. Can't be too careful...]

God, this place looks like it was bombed... Definitely eerie, I'll say that.

[hullonurse]

[Feels a little sorry for him when he mentions not being able to feel anything. She's gradually adjusting to the overwhelming... emptiness she feels here but she can't forget it. And to think she spent so many years thinking just being lonely was painful enough.

Somehow listening to Arthur helps a little. She fidgets on the spot a bit, wondering if she should approach him after all.]

[unionjackass]

[His "someone's looking on me with pity" senses are tingling and he stops in his tracks to get a good survey. His ears are almost twitching as he strains to catch any stray noises that might alert him to danger.]

... Wonder if tea's too much to ask at this rate. [--Blasphemy. But this is his mood right now and no one's around. Hmph.]

[hullonurse]

... I suppose I could put the kettle on, if you ask nicely. [Suddenly close by!! She needs no introduction.

Be polite, Arthur, she's only giving you a second chance because she feels sorry for you! I-it's not like she wanted to make sure he was okay or anything!]

[unionjackass]

[--he jumps and whirls around and oh it's you.]

I knew it, you're--you're following me, aren't you? Don't want tea from a madwoman.

[hullonurse]

We're all mad here, love. And so what if I was? I've a right to. You're hardly getting along on your own.

[unionjackass]

I've only just arrived. [Not commenting on the mad part. He's not in the mood for that discussion today.]

Don't tell me you're actually concerned or something.

[hullonurse]

Don't be ridiculous! Of course I'm not! [Automatic tsun reaction, but she hesitates right after saying it. They're not getting anywhere like this.]

... But other worlds and other nonsense aside, you're English. [So... Yes, she has to be a little concerned no matter what.]

[unionjackass]

[Well now he's just standing there looking confused.] Wouldn't that have you turning the other way?

[See, he does have a sense of humor.]

[hullonurse]

[Hits him on the shoulder with the bristles of her broom.] Twit.

[unionjackass]

[swatting the broom away.] Don't swing a broom at me! And don't call me a twit either. It's rude.

[hullonurse]

It's accurate. [But the broom returns safely to her side.] Anyway, my point remains. [ENGLISH=HERS.

Also they got along decently last time and she's rather fond of him so... She really would prefer he believed her and just let her mother him.] I'm only as mad as you are, you know.

[unionjackass]

You're honestly serious about being England too, then. [Because being tsundere just isn't that fun when it's at another tsundere who's almost exactly the same kind of tsundere as you.

It just.

Isn't.]

An explanation would be very much appreciated--instead of berating me for no reason at all.

[giving her a pointed look.]

[hullonurse]

[Sighs and rolls her eyes. So difficult.] There isn't much to explain. I'm simply England, as much as you are. Apparently there are other worlds out there where things happened differently- much differently in some, less in others. As far as I know, the major difference between our two worlds is the genders of the nations. In my world I and many others are female; in yours they're male.

For example, I've met the America here and gotten to know him fairly well, but in my world America has always been very female. Hungary is a man as far as I know, but I've met a female version here and so on, so forth.

1/4

[unionjackass]

I'm familiar with different universes, thanks. [waving that off, even when he's clearly trying to overcome the images that are flooding through his mind. A female America? A male Hungary...?]

Hmm. I'm not likely to believe you right this very second, you understand... But in light of the situation I--

[unionjackass]

...

[unionjackass]

[--female France.]

[unionjackass]

[Suddenly he's looking a little ill.]

If--If you please, let's exchange information so that I might be brought up to speed and-- I'm already behind schedule for I said I'd meet with America--

[England's expression looks something like a mix between intense, wrenching confusion and the sort of look somebody has when they're extremely nauseated.]

God help us all...

[hullonurse]

He stays in the building just here, you don't have far to go.

I suppose if you must maintain doubt there isn't much to be done about it, but try to be polite as you do. It gives us both a bad name if you don't. What information do you want?

[And as England is really not looking well all of a sudden...] ... Feeling all right, love?

[unionjackass]

O-oh... alright. [He twitches, breathes and settles down.] It-- Yeah, I mean, yes, it's nothing really.

[Nothing but something horrible. Very horrible.]

I... anything. [He shifts, feeling much less certain and grounded than before.] What happened to this world, why they'd bring us here at all.

[hullonurse]

It's not quite clear, but it seems there was a... rather horrid war of sorts among the original inhabitants. [Rosemary missed a lot of the exposition plots but she gathered that impression easily enough.] Hardly any of them survive nearby. As far as I know a bunch of "scientists", as everyone calls them, brought us here in order to repopulate it.

As you can see we're doing a bang up job of it and the place should be as pleasant as Brighton by the end of the week. [Enough sarcasm for you yet, England?]

[unionjackass]

Repopulate? [giving Rosemary the most incredulous look, but it's not really directed at her.] A-as in, bringing us to be the population or to... It's not like nations can--

[HUFF.]

Oh stop that. [Yes, and it's putting him at ease.] I want to have this chip nonsense sorted as soon as possible. [maybe edging closer to a respectable distance for speaking to someone on the street.]

If you are England, then... You'd... be my sister. [ 8|; He is so dreadfully awkward. But at least he's trying.]

[hullonurse]

They haven't given us much of a manual. For now we're just surviving as best we can, building things up to a more comfortable level. And you and me both, at the end of the day being human doesn't make that much difference here but it's frustrating enough. [Pauses. Remembers France's chip event.] Can be rather messy though.

[ Rosemary's never really liked everyone's tendency to refer to her and the others as siblings to their counterparts. For one thing, she's got quite enough siblings to be going on with. For another, her definition of "sibling' is a little warped, as it is for most nations. Arthur doesn't quite fit the bill. But she can appreciate an oversimplification for the sake of avoiding all the ridiculous madness presented by the situation.]

... Well, I'm nearly everyone else's. [Quarter of the globe, ladies and gents.] One more brother can't hurt, I suppose. [Be nice to have one sure to be on her side for once.] ... That mean you believe me then, dear?

[unionjackass]

[He doesn't like the sibling thing either. His brothers, and Ireland...] Er, alright, if you're not... my sister, then... Well you can't be me, if you're telling the truth. So no, not quite.

[crossing his arms over his chest.] Messy how?