[video] in which America will prove that he's right and YOU ARE WRONG

[starspangledhero]

[ Something is amiss in Hetalialand. If you thought Italy!Japan was odd, you're in for something else tonight. Instead of America's usual bomber jacket/hippie clothes/nudity, he's actually cleaned himself up. The horrendous bowl cut is slicked back to be less... awful, he's clean-shaven, and he's managed to patch together a semi-respectable navy blue suit. (Kinda like the icon but way more dusty/moth-eaten/DAMN IT DISCEDO RUINS EVERYTHING AND HE'S TRYING.) Also, red bow tie. Of course. There is nothing to be done about the cowlick. Oh, and the bandages are gone yay! All that's left is a bruise around his left eye.

America had currently set the communicator aside to finish fixing his hair in the mirror. Even his apartment is cleaned up what the hell have you done to him, Japan. ]

Japan's love life aside, there's still a lot of other work to be done to Discedo. Things to be mended, repaired, restored, removed, explored. And I hope you know all know that I fully intend to do all that. As much as is possible for a world power, anyway, though I have to say that's a lot to look forward to!

[ He finishes combing his hair and, to the side of the screen, effortless hoists a washing machine onto his shoulder and moves it off-screen. Walking back over: ]

Doctor Whoever You Are, whenever you're free, I'd very much appreciate any help with this. I can move them all to the basement no problem, but I'm afraid I'm a bit lost when it comes to piping and repairs. Still, I'll do all I can!

In the mean time... I've decided to take everyone's advice and give myself a night off. I've already worked myself to death once; it wouldn't do anyone a favor to repeat that. Not when there's so much left to do!

Anyone is welcome to join me for a drink, or just to hang out-- er, socialize. Whatever. Point is, company's welcome. Otherwise I guess I'll... go fight my way through the library and hope they have one of my writers. Or something sci-fi!

[ America grins, winks at the camera, and bows slightly before moving to shut it off. Blame Japan. BLAME THE COMMUNISTS TOO IF YOU'D LIKE. ]

Comments

[starspangledhero]

[ D'awwww, so touching. After a while, America comes back looking a little down. That is, until he sees his sheets aren't all cut up. He's surprised to say the least.

He opens his mouth to exclaim something along the lines of "You didn't!" but instead snaps it shut and takes his seat again. Most productive tag ever. ]

[mygodmyright.livejournal.com]

[ not even bothering to look up ]

Before you say anything you overgrown lummock, it wasn't the right material for a bow tie.

[starspangledhero]

[ GRIN GRIN GRIN. ]

Wasn't gonna say anything.

[mygodmyright.livejournal.com]

You had a stupid look on your face.

[ sew sew sew... and flipping one of the bedsheets over to inspect the other side ]

If I hadn't shown up to fix these, they wouldn't have lasted another winter.

[starspangledhero]

In that case, thank you. I really appreciate it, England.

[ Pause. ]

Question: What's more formal, "England", "Britain", or "United Kingdom." The last one's kinda a mouthful. Do you mind if I abbreviated it to "UK"?

1/2

[mygodmyright.livejournal.com]

[ DELIBERATELY POKING HIMSELF WITH THE NEEDLE SO HE DOESN'T HAVE TIME TO LOOK HAPPY OR TOUCHED OR LIKE HE CARES THAT AMERICA SAID THANK YOU ;w; ]











Fuck.

[mygodmyright.livejournal.com]

Don't thank me; it's not as if I'm doing it for your sake, stupid.

[ and after England stops waving his hand in the ai-yah ai-yah!!! he goes back to sewing while thinking about that last question ]

They're different names. England is England. Great Britain is the isle made up of my bloody brother Scotland and myself. The United Kingdom is what I represent, and includes Northern Ireland.

[ pause ]

The wanker.

[starspangledhero]

[ Wordlessly digging around in a nearby end table to fetch England a band aid. Who says America's organization is weird. Holding it out to England while he talks. ]

If I remember right, you told me when I was reliving my Reconstruction that I should call you any of those names. Which do you prefer?

[mygodmyright.livejournal.com]

[ TAKING IT WHILE GRUMBLING SOMETHING THAT SOUNDS LIKE 'thankyew' ]

England.

[ and then repeated in a really really REALLY REALLY LOW VOICE ]

Engwand too, I suppose.

[starspangledhero]

I'm sorry, I didn't catch that last bit, England.

[mygodmyright.livejournal.com]

[ hurngh forgot to close a tag. England distracts himself with bandaging his finger, before going back to his work ]

I said England, idiot.

[starspangledhero]

That's what I thought!

...If I may, I have another question.

[mygodmyright.livejournal.com]

And you may ask.

[starspangledhero]

You call me Alfred a lot. It's not that I mind, but you never let me call you Arther. Why is that? The water's ready by the way.

[ Throwing a look over his shoulder to the kitchen to distract himself momentarily. ]

[mygodmyright.livejournal.com]

[ and that question causes him to look up. the fact the kettle's steaming up a storm in the backgrounds registers, but it's not of... importance ]

It's not as if I've forbidden you from using my name. You've never seemed fond of using it, and it's not as if I use your name that often.

[ that is a lie. pause pause pause this question is so secretly awkward ]

Only when I'm a bit upset. And only when you've done something particularly stupid.

[ pause pause pause ]

Stop asking stupid questions, Alfred.

[starspangledhero]

I stopped because you always get upset when I do. More upset than you usually get with me... in any situation.

[ Throwing a look to the kettle again as though looking for something to interrupt them. He could always do something stupid or go back to his normal yelling to change it, but, no. A hero always rises to the challenge!! ]

I've had reasons in the past, but I won't bore you with the details.

[ Finally turning back and blinking. ]

Okay. That was my last question, anyway.

[mygodmyright.livejournal.com]

You're over-thinking it; I wouldn't allow such a minor thing to rile me up.

[ still busy mending America's blankets, although his mending is getting steadily fancier. he's like a sewing machine that does kitty stitch patterns, okay ]

Not that I really care, but what past reasons? I'm only bothering to ask since we have nothing else to discuss, and silences bother me.

GOD I'M MORE TL;DR THAN MOBY DICK. APOLOGIES.

[starspangledhero]

If you say so, Arthur.

[ He says it so casually, but he's obviously waiting for some sputtering or cursing.

America cocks his head and rolls his eyes to the ceiling in thought. He barely resists the urge to chew on his thumbnail. ]

Where do I start? Well, initially, it was doubt. I can't pinpoint exactly when I began to wonder, but at some point in my later years of colonization, I began to wonder if there was something more to you than just being England. By that I mean... man, this was easier to explain to France.

[ He can't help but let his gaze flick to England to see his reaction to France's involvement in the conversation. ]

Anyway. There is more to me than politics and whatnot. God-given free will. I can love, hate, anything like a human--I don't doubt it's my society that lets me think this way, but I won't go into that right now. I wasn't sure if you were the same way. Eventually... it became convenient of me to think of you as nothing more than an empire. A tyrant, not a brother or father, with "Arthur Kirkland" only being some convenient title to go by in the market.

[ He shrugs, stretching and cracking his back slightly. ]

But, like I said. It's the past. I don't dwell on it anymore. I live with what I understand, and at the moment, I'm more interested in experiments with atoms than philosophical inquiries.

[ It doesn't quite explain what he believes now, but at this point, England probably just wants him to shut up oh my god what is this comment. ]

PFT IT'S ADORABLE 1/2

[mygodmyright.livejournal.com]

[ GIVING AMERICA A LOOK OF PURE VENOM WHEN HE MENTIONS HIS NAME AND FRANCE. and while he's pretending to listen nonchalantly, like America's answer doesn't matter to him, he's listening, and his sewing is kind of... taking on a life of it's own. ]

[mygodmyright.livejournal.com]

Luckily for you, the empire is now more. ... Gladstone would have been proud.

[ and after a slight pause, because it's late and I can't write awesome things as awesome as you ]

The State comes first for me, then myself. I'm not fond of the name Arthur because it doesn't represent me entirely. People build an empire, people run it, and people devote their lives to the prestige of their nation.

[ maybe. or maybe that's just what England says and not what he thinks ]

I'm done with these. Did you have anything else that needs mending?

[starspangledhero]

[ THE LOOKS OF VENOM ARE ENTIRELY EXPECTED. The reply kinda is. And yet, his lips quirk into a grin. ]

That's what I thought. You're far from alone from what I've heard from others. I've never had any problems being both America and Alfred. Maybe that means I'm alone.

[ pause ]

Except Mattie. But I guess that's how the world is. And people wonder why I don't involve myself with nations?

[ The snort he makes almost sounds like a horse ] It'd be all politics. I'm probably the only one among us who actually believes in love, which sucks for you guys. Oh well! I'm getting my happily ever after, destiny be damned.

[ Are you happy England? You wanted to get to know America and seriously he's probably had this kind of convo with Japan like, twice. I don't remember. Getting up now to go get some things. ]

Actually, if ya don't mind, I've got some clothes with holes in 'em.

[mygodmyright.livejournal.com]

There are no happy endings. They can spend the entirety of their lives with you, but you can't spend the rest of yours with them. You live on, alone. I learned long ago there wasn't any benefit to being Arthur.

[ placing the bed sheets aside in a neat pile, after giving them a nice shake and stirring up the dust in the couch and probably a few lice as well. ]

Go fetch them.

keywords. the song is now in your head.

[starspangledhero]

[ he's already turned away, but he's paused on the way to his bedroom. ]

I refuse to believe that. Maybe that's what they want. Too many people die for me to think that I'm not gonna get my happy ending. And I'm not just talking as a country.

[ shoulders sagging as he walks away. his voice is almost quiet for once. ]

It's my story, I'll end it how I want to.

[ annnnddd after a while, he returns with a bunch of cothes that need holes sewn back together. his face remains surprisingly neutral. ]

THERE WILL BE PEACE WHEN YOU ARE GONE.

[mygodmyright.livejournal.com]

[ not even bothering to look up at America, England's busy arranging the various clothes into piles that only make sense to him ]

I'm happy enough with the way things are. I'm happy enough alone, and watching my economy prosper is enough happiness for me.

LAY YOUR WEARY HEAD TO REST

[starspangledhero]

Are you?

[ His lips twitch, just slightly, into a wry grin. ]

I'm almost jealous. But, I'd rather tell people: don't fear death, but rather the unlived life. You don't have to live forever. You just have to live. That's what they do, and that's what I do.