[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

[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.]

[lacecase]

[After another moment of gawking Ginger thankfully snaps out of it. As long as she doesn't have to stitch skin together, she's not going to make a fuss.]

Right! I'm on it!

[Spinning around she heads to England's pack. Fortunately, a first aid kit is pretty distinct--and also fortunately, Ginger's not the snoopiest person around. She grabs what she needs before bouncing back over, ready and willing to be as helpful as she might need.]

Is there anything else I can do?

[fifty]

It's already healed, you don't need to--[But Ginger's already brought the first aid kit over.] Guys! It was, like, a shadow, I don't think it had diseases or anything.

[keepscalm]

[Sorry, England is counting the bites on America's hand. At America's protests, England gives him a sceptical look.

Again, he directs Ginger.] Just grab the disinfectant, if you would.

[And to America:] Did you clean them at all?

[lacecase]

Okie dokie smokey!

[Ginger takes perhaps lightly longer than she needs to--unsure exactly which is the disinfectant at first--but she figures it out, and then hands it over to England.]

Just what the doctor ordered.

[fifty]

[Ughhhhh.] None of them are even bleeding anymore! [They've scabbed over! He's pretty sure, anyway. He'd actually been too busy staying up all night keeping a fire going and then getting as far away as possible from that basement to clean them, but he's sure England would only consider that an excuse.]

[keepscalm]

[There's a pause as England reaches out to take the disinfectant from Ginger. He doesn't want this to turn into a fight. And, in that moment of stillness, he has enough time to reflect on his own...fussiness. He always worries about America, better judgment be damned, but perhaps this is a bit...excessive.

A flush starts to gather in his cheeks as he grabs the bottle.] Thank you, Ginger. [The imploring edge is gone from his voice, his overall manner much more subdued now.

He clears his throat and tries to pretend nothing was ever out of the ordinary.] ...just let me clean the one on the back of your neck, all right? It looks awful.

[A compromise, or something.]

[fifty]

[America touches the wound on his neck gingerly. It is a little sore, still...] Okay, I guess, if you wanna.

[keepscalm]

[England doesn't give a verbal response, too preoccupied with turning his own behaviour over in his head. What would he say, anyway? Obviously he wants to, or he wouldn't be asking to do it.

He tugs the collar of America's jacket down a little and holds it in place while he spritzes the disinfectant onto the bite. It's probably cold, but there isn't much he can do about that.]

[fifty]

[America gasps.] That's cold! [He does stay still, at least. The wound matches up to some sort of large canine, though it's hard to say what exactly. This one was especially deep, apparently.]

[keepscalm]

A tad. Sorry. [Though England sounds distracted and not particularly sorry. He leans to reach for the first aid kit so that he can get a bit of gauze. When he straightens again and starts to dab at the wound, he can see how deep it is, how big it is.

He begins to rethink his compromise on this cleaning matter, but he knows America won't agree. Maybe if Ginger said it was the best thing to do, but England can't just ask her to say that.

A heavy sigh escapes him without his notice as he works.]

[fifty]

[America can hear the sigh.] It doesn't even really hurt anymore. [Sort of. Actually, the disinfectant kind of stings right now, and the whole area is still kind of sore, but that doesn't count.]

[keepscalm]

Shut it and let me deal with this. [Complaining was not part of the compromise!

He contemplates bandaging the wound. But it would be...really rather inconvenient to bandage, being so large, and they've only got one roll of gauze.

It does not really take this long to clean something, usually, but this is a pretty big bite so England has an excuse.]

[fifty]

[America tries to sit still, really--but with England telling him to keep quiet, his building energy has to go somewhere. It's not long before America is fidgeting, tapping his fingers and wiggling his feet and generally not keeping still anymore.]

[lacecase]

[In jumps Ginger to try and maybe keep America distracted from England's work. Before America, like, totally can't contain himself anymore or something.]

Hey!

[She moves over so that way America can see her without having to twist his head around since that would completely defeat the purpose.]

Did you find any other neat thingies while you were out there on your own?

[fifty]

Oh! [This is a good point! America grabs for his pack, luckily within reach so he doesn't have to twist around, and pulls out a paper bag from the grocery store.] I've got donuts! Want some?

[That was what she meant, right?]

[keepscalm]

[England is so thankful for you, Ginger.

And okay maybe he's a little thankful for America too. Doughnuts are not his favourite thing in the world, but he perks up with interest anyway, peeking over America's shoulder.]

Really? [The "you haven't eaten them all?" is implied.]