[Voice/Accidental Video] 06

[prud_englaland]

[The audio clicks on and England's voice is heard, crackling over the microphone, and the whisping rustle of paper in hand.]

Tell me, tell me, because I am sincerely curious, what sort of madhouse makes up stories that truly must be too outrageous to ever be believable!

[An exhalation, faint grumbling, and the sound of paper again.]...I mean

Comments

[Voice]

[el_desheredado]

They're not writing to us, stupid, they're writing to their loved ones. Whoever's running this show just thinks they can make us fit into their little game.

...that's what I think anyway.

Turn off your camera, pendejo, we can all see you.

[Voice]

[prud_englaland]

[Awkward pause in which he stares at the camera and hastily shuts it off, his caustic tone coming overt the microphone a moment later.]

How would you know that you great big idiot? You're basing it entirely off your assumptions and forgive me if I find those just a little less than utterly untrustworthy.

[Voice]

[el_desheredado]

Because why else would we be getting these things? I said it was just my idea. Whoever's words you're reading, they were meant for someone. And whoever's running this place thinks this is all a great laugh.

Bit reassuring, isn't it? You're not crazy.

[Voice]

[prud_englaland]

These letters don't strike you as being just a little bit more than that? To think it's just a coincidence that letters meant for someone else still contains such a personal importance seems foolish to me.

Of course I am presuming too much about yours and can only speak from experience. I am addressed by name in mine, care to explain that?

[Voice]

[el_desheredado]

That sounds more like coincidence than anything else. All I know is this poor woman misses her husband dreadfully, and they have children. They've sent me pictures, but I don't see the similarity; a rosary; a guitar. The staff won't let me send it back, so I'm half hoping for visitation so I can hand it all back myself. It's not right to lead these people on. They'd see if they came to see us, they'd know we weren't the people they're looking for.

[He's quiet for a long moment, like he's looking through the things he's been giving or something.]

One of your little Asians got some things, though. Saw his eyebrows when I was waiting.

[Voice]

[prud_englaland]

Don't call him that! He is not my-- Oh never mind!

[Pauses to gather his thoughts.]

Alright, call it coincidence if you will, but this seems like a bit too specialized to be called that to me. When I have a letter addressing me as England and not by the name I've been told is really mine--forgive me if I begin to suspect this as being more than mere coincidence!

[Video]

[el_desheredado]

[Spain was quiet for a moment, before his video feed flicked on. He still had a couple of the bruises left, yellowing now and looking worse than they felt. He kept quiet for a moment more.]

Well I'm not so sure. In a war across borders, do you really think there wouldn't be a single English soldier called just by where he's from?

Isn't the option that this is all some mix up, some sick game someone's playing to see how long it takes before we all snap and play along, better than the option that we're all mad in the first place?

[Voice]

[prud_englaland]

[His brief silence means he's staring at you and he deliberately keeps his side of the feed to only broadcast voice.]

It's...really not the same thing! This has a tone to it...

[Video]

[el_desheredado]

And mine doesn't? It's written by the man's wife, she's...

[He looks off screen at where he tossed the letter.] She's terrified and alone with three children and no one should be that scared for someone they love.

I'm not saying it is what's happening, but what if it is? What if they, whoever it is that's controlling this fiasco, are just trying to break us?

...England. What happens when we forget what we are?

[Voice]

[prud_englaland]

Many people are in her same position! What is the use of pitying one of of hundreds, thousands! Maybe she is writing to someone else and maybe she is writing to you, you'll not know until she comes to you yourself and looks you in the eye and tells you exactly who that letter is for!

[He cuts himself off from saying anymore, his tone having grown a little too intense for his liking. A heavy sigh and he sounds weary.]

How the hell should I know what happens, Spain? Maybe we disappear... I don't have those answers.

[Video]

[el_desheredado]

I'm not pitying anyone, you--will you just listen? You asked for an option, an explanation, and I tried to give you one. The best one that we can have while we're stuck here.

If you let yourself get sucked in by whatever this is, then how long is it before you forget that you're England?

[Voice]

[prud_englaland]

[A huff.]

I am not certain I fully understand why you care. Indeed, it seems like something you would rejoice at!

What makes you think this woman wasn't writing to you?

[Video]

[el_desheredado]

Oh trust me, I have my own selfish reasons for worrying about your forgetting what you are.

And she can't be writing to me. I'm mad, I know that, but I'm not delusioned. I've met delusional people, I know what they're like. History is far too mad and hectic; delusions are logical.

What logic is there to think that we are, unless we are, nations? No, she's not writing to me.

[Voice]

[prud_englaland]

. . .

[Sounds grouchy and irritated.]

You make no sense! Say what you will and believe it too but don't try and convince me! If you ask me you are taking an awful lot of interest in a woman whom you think isn't even really writing to you!

[Video]

[el_desheredado]

She's one of my people. I have to take an interest in her.

And you asked for an explanation. So fine, don't believe me.

[He gets up and steps out of screen, but the video stays on.]

[Voice]

[prud_englaland]

[Bitter laugh.]

No, you don't.