and now my song is over and I've got no more to say [OPEN!!]

[unionjackass]

Who: unionjackass & YOU! Anyone stopping by SKY'S PRIZE is welcome!
What: England owes some of his fellow Brits a night of drinking.
When: Day 88, evening to DAWN OF THE NEXT D--Day 89
Where: Sky's Prize, Loki District
Rating: PG-13 for England's language alone. Will put more warnings up as needed. If anyone gets up to any shenanigans in this post that might need warning, please let me know! (AIM is MayorOfCantown)

[England arrives a little early--he fidgets, unsure of whether or not this was a particularly wise venture. After all, he would prefer to remain strictly professional in appearance. At least, he would like to remain as professional as possible after that fiasco he'd posted the other week. What a mess...

However, the isolation has taken its toll, and luckily he's roped himself into having drinks with several others. England can easily take part in the latter and never breathe a word of the former to anyone.

You'll find him on a bar stool or snacking on food at a small table if you want to speak with him. England isn't much for particularly social parties; with things like dancing and throwing glitter everywhere and God knows what else. The sixties and seventies are over, thanks.]

Comments

[volcanoes]

[Iceland, lost in his own thoughts, doesn't notice England until he happens to glance over from his own bar stool. His face flattens out from its vaguely melancholy introspection to its more usual unimpressed look.]

You.

[the_good_doctor]

[Watson's going to overlook the less than enthusiastic greeting that Iceland is giving England and go over to greet him -- it's been too long.]

Evening, Iceland. Great minds -- or is there simply a shortage of good bars in this place?

[volcanoes]

[Oh, England's not alone, that's odd. Iceland's expression smooths out now that he's not addressing England.]

It's pretty much the only one. It's kind of loud in here because of that. [He gestures to the dance floor without looking at it.] You're hanging out with England?

[...Well, Iceland can't really begrudge someone spending time with their own country. He looks somewhat more pensive.]

[the_good_doctor]

I much prefer the pubs in Thor or Odin -- of course, they've nothing on the size or selection of this place.

Long story, but yes -- it occurred to us that we'd never actually gone for a pint together, and it seemed only right to remedy that.

[volcanoes]

[Iceland nods agreement about the selection; it's really a shame it has to have a club attached to it.]

I guess you can keep him from making drunken network posts.

[the_good_doctor]

That's a risk? Well -- I shall do my best.

[volcanoes]

He's already done it once here. It's just lucky he wasn't really drunk when he made it.

[the_good_doctor]

Good to know. Speaking of, will you join us?

[unionjackass]

[England's gaze shifts and he focuses in on Iceland, then narrows his eyes.]

...

He's gone. You told him, and he's gone.

[volcanoes]

[Iceland blinks at that. Usually England at least makes some sort of sense.]

What are you talking about?

[unionjackass]

You told America everything--a-and now he's gone.

[volcanoes]

Oh. [Iceland is not really sure what one has to do with the other.] He was going to find out eventually.

[unionjackass]

It was none of your damn business. You're not part of our family--o-or one of his citizens!

[volcanoes]

It's not like I told him that many details. [Mostly because he doesn't really know a lot of the details.] Anyway, if he's gone it doesn't matter anymore.

[unionjackass]

Of course it matters. Not like you'd understand though.

[volcanoes]

[Sigh.] Whatever. He could always come back, you know.

[unionjackass]

[knocking back a long, long drink.]

... Like I said. You couldn't possibly understand what family's like.

[volcanoes]

[...What.]

I have a family, don't be stupid.

[unionjackass]

A crazy, axe-wielding family. [pointed look.]

[volcanoes]

So? [Do you have a problem with that?] Don't act like your family's totally normal.

[unionjackass]

[snorts.] I didn't say that at all. You're--just on the completely wrong track, you know.

... Wasn't any of your business.

[... the alcohol's starting to hit, and he's just... staring at his bottle, maybe slumping a little, maybe sideglancing at Iceland because to be fair, he's not really mad at him.]

[volcanoes]

Just because your family's weirder than most doesn't mean I don't know what family's like.

[Sorry, you hit a rather sore spot with Iceland. He'll finish off the rest of his own drink.]

Were you just going to never tell him?

[unionjackass]

Your family doesn't--up and bloody leave.

[Studying the bottle's label again.] Course I was--but would you readily ask Denmark what he thinks of Sweden? Knew it'd happen.

[muttering:]

Didn't think he'd leave after it did.

[This is England drinking again, but not before giving the bottle a particularly disdainful look. Even the numbness alcohol usually offers just isn't cutting it while he's mortal.]

[volcanoes]

Me telling him didn't make him leave.

[He is not sure if England is connecting the two things in his mind. He can never be sure because England is weird and might do something like that.]

My family doesn't work the same way, don't bother comparing it.

[unionjackass]

Family's family, it's the same with everyone. Different cultures don't mean anything when blood relatives are involved.

[... And... yes. Yes, he knows very well Iceland telling America didn't make America leave. It was really awful timing and he isn't even sure if America's permanently gone yet; but his room is empty, there is no answer on his bracelet, and... he hasn't seen him despite his efforts to look all around the city (which he will continue the later).

But he needs something on which to fixate. Unfortunately, that was Iceland. 'Was' because Iceland's chilly demeanor has dampened England's frustrations, and he's not stupid enough to stay angry with him when it's really not his fault.

He's not that much of a bastard, ok.]

You wouldn't like it if your family left either.

[volcanoes]

I guess it'd be pretty annoying figuring out how to pay for the apartment if Denmark left.

[He doesn't really want to consider Denmark or Norway leaving. Sweden has already, sort of--he came back but he didn't remember anything that happened before, so it's a bit like having another one entirely.]

Sometimes people come back and remember stuff.

[unionjackass]

... I'd rather he didn't. It--it'd be easier for everyone!

[As he continues studying the bottle, he idly wonders why it's empty. Wrinkles his nose. Glances at Iceland again, but he's not really looking at him.]

--Not--not angry with you. [Not entirely drunk enough for this, he looks ahead at the shelves of booze behind the counter.]






Sorry.

[the_good_doctor]

The Sky's Prize is not Watson's idea of a good place to drink -- that's not music emanating from the dance floor, but noise. But it's not like they're there to dance, after all.

Leaning against the bar, Watson considers his surroundings in a pleasant mood of anticipation. He's hardly been lacking a social life, but going out with the lads ... it's been a while. He's looking forward to a good night, raising his drink in greeting to anyone who makes eye-contact.

[unionjackass]

[England raises his bottle to Watson, waving him over to join him. He really needs the company, and Watson's a damn good fellow.]

Hullo!

[the_good_doctor]

England.

[Watson takes the invitation, helping himself to a seat at the small table the nation's claimed.]

This really is long overdue.

[unionjackass]

[He tries at a smile and offers his hand in greeting.]

That it is. The advantage to this place is that we'll be left alone by unwelcome company--but we really ought to visit that pub you suggested earlier.

[the_good_doctor]

[Watson raises an eyebrow.]

Unwelcome company -- you're not in trouble, are you?

[Ludicrous as it seems to suggest that to a country ...]

[unionjackass]

In... Oh! [Though England's grin is a little lopsided, his dry laugh is sincere and decent in nature.] Not anything out of the ordinary--for me, that is. As you know there are conflicts between myself and others and I would hate to have those ruin the evening.

[the_good_doctor]

[It is one thing to fight in a war, quite another for one to occur during your night on the town.]

Indeed.