[log] holding my breath until I know you're all right [closed]

[keepscalm]

Characters: England, Ginger, and America! And then later, maybe others who need to stop by to pick up clothes?
Location C10, building 49
Date: Morning 115 for England, Ginger, and America
Summary: England and America finally meet up again after being separated in the shuffle! Ginger thinks this is precious. Really it is just embarrassing. If your character will be arriving at building 49 close to day 115, contact ceesawaseesaw so we can coordinate!
Warnings: Brief mentions of alcoholic tendencies. Will edit as necessary.

[It's not unusual for England to have trouble sleeping, but he finds himself waking even earlier than usual today in anticipation of their guest. He hasn't been separated from America that long, not compared to the months or years they spent apart back home. But it's felt so much longer here, with the constant danger and America previously at his side almost every moment of the day.

He uses the extra time in the morning to sew, of course. He only occasionally glances at the cheap bracelet encircling his wrist; he wouldn't want Ginger to think he misses America too much.]

Comments

[fifty]

[America finally does let go, but only so he can back up enough to grin directly at England and his embarrassment.] Yeah, you helped, too. But I still rebuilt it!

[keepscalm]

[Despite himself, England is very aware of the dull thudding of his heart in his chest. There's a little tug with each beat as he regards America's dumb grin.

Without thinking (and it would have to be without thinking, or he wouldn't do it otherwise), he removes one of his hands from where they've settled on America's waist. He raises it until it's level with America's face, and with a bare brush of his fingertips, he pushes aside some of America's fringe to get a better look at the scar from the chemical burns.

He's so lost in this action that he forgets to answer America out loud.]

[fifty]

[America finds himself blushing more, which only makes the burns more prominent. They've certainly healed a great deal, though it's obvious by now they won't be vanishing completely. America turns away a little.] It's not like--y'know, it's still healing.

[keepscalm]

[England doesn't touch the burns themselves, unsure if he might hurt America by doing so, but his hand certainly lingers near America's face longer than necessary. He only drops it when he catches sight of the bracelet around his hovering wrist.

A light scoff escapes him.] Oh, come off it. You look well enough.

[Better than well enough, truthfully, but England isn't going to go that far.]

[fifty]

It's not like I care about some burns or anything. [He definitely cares about them, between the continued blush and the way he touches his face idly, as if to cover it up. Still, England's words have made him feel a bit better anyway.] Just! You don't have to worry.

[lacecase]

[Wait, burns? Actually noticing these is enough to get Ginger to dial back her excitement about all these glorious pictures she's taken. She gasps from where she's been onlooking, nearly dropping her tablet when she goes to cover her mouth.]

Oh no! Do those hurt? You poor thing!

[fifty]

No! [America removes his hand from England's shoulder to wave them in front of his face.] No, no, it's cool, don't worry, I don't feel a thing! I mean, I feel things, like normally how you'd feel things on your face, but it doesn't hurt or anything.

[keepscalm]

[Like a spell broken, England quickly withdraws the hand that still lingered with fingertips on America's waist. But there's a part of him that misses the contact as soon as it's gone.

He probably needs a drink.

He pulls his shoulders in as he raises a hand to rub awkwardly at the back of his neck.] Looks like they've only got a bit of healing left to do.

[lacecase]

Oh, good! I'm so glad to hear. I mean, like, it would be better if you didn't have any injuries at all but hooray for healing!

[This is going to be a really good day. A great day! There's no room for anything but optimism!]

Anyway scars are, like, totally sexy, right? That's what everyone says! You're, like, a total battle...warrior person!

[fifty]

[America still isn't very pleased with the idea of having scars on his face, but even if it's embarrassing he does like having his ego stroked. And he has one of his citizens right here to show off to, even if he's still kind of flustered.] Well--I am a hero. A really awesome hero! And a bit of healing means they're still healing so it could totally be that they'll go away and then it was, like, just this thing I had for a while to remind me of my awesome fight!

[keepscalm]

[England definitely needs a drink.

He pinches the bridge of his nose and tries to ignore that Ginger just basically called America sexy.

Also, that's kind of what England said about the scars, isn't it?



England needs multiple drinks.]

Well! I think we've established that they're nothing to worry about. So! [So...]

[lacecase]

Yeah! That's totally cool! And it's a good thing you didn't get it on your booty, just in case, because that would be such a waste of a really nice butt!

[Yes...she is all about butts right now.]

Anyway, like, we should do something to celebrate being all here and okay and happy!

[Don't ask her what.]

[fifty]

W-well--I do have a nice butt. [He's embarrassed, on the one hand, but on the other, yeah, his butt is awesome. Also, the idea of celebrating sounds great and he's more easily distracted than usual.] Sure! Let's do something cool!

[keepscalm]

[England flusters visibly at both parts of this exchange. He glances desperately back at the sewing machine, as if trying to will himself out of this place where butts are being discussed.

The best thing to do here is say absolutely nothing about the topic, though. So England barrels forward through the conversation regardless of his somewhat frantic manner.] What do you suggest we do, exactly?

[lacecase]

Oh! Um...

[She hadn't thought that far, in all honesty. She purses her lips as she thinks, apparently oblivious to anyone elses' discomfort.]

I guess we don't have any, like, board games. We could make something with art supplies, or...maybe we could make some sort of pin the tail on the donkey kind of game!

[It's the best thing she's got that's not wildly inappropriate.]

[fifty]

[America perks up.] I've got pin the tail on the-- [And then he deflates just as quickly.] Wait, I burned it the other day, never mind.

[keepscalm]

[Well, that gets England to simmer down. In a sense. He gives America a sharp, imploring look.] You burnt it? Why?

[England is not offended that America burnt it, because it's not particularly important. However, America giving up any of his bizarrely eclectic hoard is strange.]

[lacecase]

[Ginger completely mimics America's expression--her eyes light up at the mention of an actual game of pin the tail on the donkey...but oh, it's gone. Nevermind. She gets droopy, but only for a few seconds, because she's not going to let that get any of them down!]

Aww! Well, I'm sure there was a good reason, right? I mean, besides being like, totally chilly. We can find a different game to play or a way to make one!

[fifty]

I had to keep a fire burning. ...It was important. Y'know. [America waves a hand dismissively.]

[keepscalm]

[Ginger is probably right that there was a good reason. However, that does the opposite of make England feel better.

He gives a quick:] I'll look through my pack. [Just so that he isn't being totally rude in dismissing the game thing. But he brushes past that quickly, much more insistent now.] Did something happen?

[fifty]

Nothing really! It's no big deal. [America drops his backpack on the ground to dig through it.] I've got a tennis ball and a hockey puck in here somewhere.

[He tilts his head to look through the bag, which reveals a pretty nasty bite on the lower half of the back of his neck.

[keepscalm]

[For once, England's propensity for maybe occasionally staring at America a little bit has paid off. While squinting at the curve of America's neck, he sees the bite and his eyes widen.

As he's apparently having trouble keeping his hands to himself today in regards to America, he immediately reaches over to try and tug aside any nearby fabric so he can get a better look.] What the hell happened to your neck?

[Even if England were inclined to make a sexual joke, the bite doesn't even look human.]

[lacecase]

[Ginger gasps, letting out a small squeal of alarm when she moves in closer and sees what England's reacting to.]

Oh my goodness! Owie! Where did that come from?

[It can't be from a bumblebee!]

[fifty]

What--oh! [America's hand snaps to the back of his neck to cover it, though his hands have marks of their own.] It's no big deal, you know how stuff is here, I just ended up in a weird house for the night a couple days ago.

[keepscalm]

[Of course, England's response is to just attempt to grab America's hand so that he can scrutinise it.]

Something bit you. [Though, upon reflection, he and Enoch did have that encounter with what may or may not have been a cat. The scratches have healed by now, but maybe America ran into something similar.

He glances to Ginger and nods over at his rucksack; there's a bit of hesitation at the idea of letting someone else go through his things, but he shoves it aside for more reasonable concerns.] Could you grab the first aid kit, please?

[Wounds should always be cleaned as a general rule, but especially mysterious bite wounds from an unknown creature.]