[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

[lacecase]

Are you excited to see your friend again, honey?

[Ginger woke up not too long after England. Because, boy, it just never really feels like she needs to sleep anymore. Sometimes she'll just wake up without realizing that she even fell asleep in the first place. It's really very silly the way that works. But, oh well! She gets a lot of sewing done that way. The hardest thing is not bothering everyone else when they're sleeping and she's still awake, but she tries her best.

But now there's a good reason to be awake! Reunions and friendships! She's practicing her knitting, doing her best to steady her hands as she walks herself through it, but it's hard for Ginger to focus on something like that when friendship abounds.]

It's going to be so totally nice to have some more company around, don't you think?

[fifty]

[America has been getting up early, too, lately--he's pretty sure he only got three or four hours of sleep in general--but that works out today because it means he gets an especially early start at heading out! Really, he would have left earlier if he hadn't been locked in and it hadn't also still been pretty awful outside.

He makes good time; it isn't long into the morning before he opens the door to the place England and Ginger are supposed to be. Hopefully they're still there! They should still be there. He calls out even as he's throwing the door open to step inside.]

Hey, England, Ginger! You guys here? Told you I'd be okay!

[keepscalm]

[England nearly runs his finger beneath the needle when Ginger places exactly why he's awake in one go. He clears his throat in a much too exaggerated fashion.] I mean— I'll be glad to be able to keep him out of trouble again, at least.

[But all that goes out the door, quite literally, when America arrives. He stands from the chair at the sewing table in one swift movement when he hears the door open, turning to set his eyes on the doorway with no small amount of anticipation.

For a moment, he's speechless with relief, and only barely remembers himself enough to sputter out an attempt at a "normal" greeting.] You— of course we're here! I mean. It would be terribly rude not to be present at a predetermined meeting place!

[lacecase]

[Oh my god it's happening. It's happening right now! Tearful reunion! She has imagined this many a night.]

Yeah, we're like, totally here! Hi!

[Ginger hangs back as she greets America, but only because she's absolutely getting her tablet ready to take a cute picture of the two of them. She wants to capture the exact moment that things get tooootally crazy emotional.

...that's going to happen, right?]

[fifty]

[America misses Ginger's clear signs of preparing to take a picture, because he's broken into an even larger grin than usual--it's possible--at seeing England. Seeing Ginger is exciting, too, but it feels like it's been ages since he saw England even if for someone like him it might as well have been yesterday.

Before he knows it he's dragged England into a hug that's probably too tight for comfort.]

You could've gone somewhere! But I guess you guys like this house, yeah?

[keepscalm]

[England thought of many ways this encounter would go. Admittedly, this was one of the possibilities he considered, but not in any great depth, as he dismissed it fairly quickly as a ridiculous fantasy.

He freezes, just for a moment, absorbing the reality of the contact. And then, absently, he lifts his own arms to wrap them around America, too. It's only a couple seconds before his grip also becomes a little tighter than it needs to be.

He's aware of Ginger's presence and his own embarrassment pooling as a flush in his cheeks, but not enough to make him let go.]

It has the only sewing machine we know of. And a lot of supplies.

[lacecase]

[Matters like these are important. They require attention to detail, fast reflexes, and a whole lot of something that she can't think of but is probably very good and she's sure she has it because she took about ten pictures in what she swears was less than a second. One of them has to be good it has to be perfect she's going to capture this moment forever!!!

She knows she should leave them alone to their tender loving moment but she just can't help herself. She can't. It's impossible.]

You two are so sweet! I love it!

[fifty]

Well--I mean-- [America sounds embarrassed when Ginger speaks up, because he's remembered she's there again and watching this and this probably, strictly, doesn't count as a cool moment, but he doesn't exactly let go, either. His grip becomes less suffocating, at least, and the flush that rises to his face makes the reminders of his altercation with the Joker more obvious.] Yeah, obviously, I mean, I rebuilt it, remember?

[keepscalm]

[England is pretty sure he's going to die. This is it for him. No one on earth should be calling them sweet.

He realises he should let go, but America hasn't. And he...doesn't really want to let go, even though he knows he really, really should. His grip slackens as well, though he ends up turning his face to try and subtly hide it from Ginger.] I helped. Don't devalue my contributions in front of Ginger.

[He should really sound grumpier about that, but he's too embarrassed right now.]

[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.