Eighth Spark! [Dream]

[empyreanistic]

It starts with a scream. Not a normal scream, of course. It’s the scream of a nation, billions of voices crying out in horror and it’s not clear how it sounds, just how it feels. The screen is locked in a freefall of fire and explosions, slowly fading into rain

Comments

[in person]

[maplelight]

[Canada jumps awake in his own bunk and, after initially hitting his head on the ceiling at sitting up so fast, peers over the edge - yawning]

America? Are you okay?

[in person] 1 / ?

[empyreanistic]

M--

[in person] 2 / ?

[empyreanistic]

Mattie?! [And Alfred is bolting upright too, smashing his own head in the bottom bunk with a loud crack but he doesn't care, he's too busy scrambling out of bed in his boxers to clamor up the ladder]

[in person] 3 / ?

[empyreanistic]

[The second he sees Canada, really there, though it may take him a moment, his eyes fill with something like relief and happiness and shock and sadness all at once, and he all but launches himself onto the other nation]

[in person]

[maplelight]

Wha-!!! [He yelps as he's all but flattened by America, being squeezed harder than is comfortable]Not so hard!

[in person] 4 / 5

[empyreanistic]

[And then he's hugging Canada, arms thrown around his shoulders pulling him close like he can't quite believe that he's really here and babbling] Mattie-- Canada, Mattie, dude, you've been gone for so long, shit, I thought-- I missed you, man, you can't do that, you missed so much, I- don't just-- do that! Shit! There were these-- buttons, dude, and like-- screaming, and it was, you can't, I can't-

[in person] 5 / 5 DONE

[empyreanistic]

[And then, belatedly realizing Canada asked him a question, Alfred pulls back and laughs nervously, high in his throat] Oh! Yeah, I'm-- fine, dude, don't even worry! I'm too cool to, uh, no, yeah, I'm okay. Are you? Okay? I mean?

[in person]

[maplelight]

[He pats around for his glasses and puts them on his face before answering]

Not one complete sentence and you're sure you're okay?

[in person]

[empyreanistic]

[America is still sort of clinging to him, and honestly he's so bad at hiding it right now, nerves still shaken from the dream and guilt and memories] I-- yeah, I'm totally fine! [He's trying anyway] It's you we should be worried about. I mean you've been gone for like a month or something I swear.

[in person]

[maplelight]

A month?! [He reels back a bit in shock, but he's still being clung too so he doesn't actually move that much] No. What the hell.

[in person]

[empyreanistic]

Yeah. Long time. [His voice trembles slightly, but he covers it up with one of those grins that doesn't quite reach his eyes] Who's farther ahead now?

[in person]

[maplelight]

[He bristles with indignation, but he does recognise the unhappy look - the words are just already out before he can rethink them] America I've lost days before but I've never been that stoned!

[in person]

[empyreanistic]

Yeah you have. Don't even try that. [The response is out before he thinks about it either, but that's not uncommon with Alfred. Still, his hands are pressed to Canada's back, keeping him close. It's unusual, for him to stay close so long unless he's seen a ghost]

[in person]

[maplelight]

Not an entire month, shut up. [He can deal with a lapful of clingy younger brother, it happens every time they watch a horror movie after all. He does rub his back a little in comfort though]

[in person]

[empyreanistic]

The sixties, man. [Alfred noses slightly against his shoulder, relaxing imperceptibly. Maybe he'll never admit this, but he's unutterably glad to have his brother back. These last few weeks have not been kind, or easy, and while Alfred is totally a cool hero who can deal with it... well, there's a voice in the back of his mind telling him to quit kidding himself. It sounds suspiciously like Matthew, actually]

[in person]

[maplelight]

Pot, Kettle. Don't you 'sixties' me.

[Yes it does sound like Canada doesn't it. He hugs America properly]