towerofanimus | 06. what could death do if thou shouldst depart?

Characters: England and you
Setting: Backdated through the month of June; various places in the Tower
Format: Starting action, will match!
Summary: England wakes up following his death, decides to be a nosy asshole, and then remembers what month it is.
Warnings: Mentions of character death, vivisection, surgery, Anglo-American history, gore, violence, language. Will edit for anything further.

Backdated to 6/13 (following his vivisection) - Open; dormitory hallways, floor one, floor two, floor three

[He awakens in his room somewhat sluggishly, blinking his eyes open to the bleary sight of the drab ceiling above him. He feels dreadful. It's as if he's been unconscious for a few days. For all he knows, he has. He could liken himself to the walking dead.

Dead. Walking dead. He died. Nine months -- it was nine now, wasn't it? -- and he finally died. He was killed. Murdered, really. No wonder he's tired. Death by vivisection would exhaust any normal person.

God, he was vivisected. Jason literally hollowed him out until there wasn't enough to keep his body going -- and probably continued after that, too, until there was nothing left at all. All of his vital organs -- pieces that represented his country -- removed from him like nothing more than small trifles. What a way to go.

It doesn't bother him as much as the fact that he'd had an audience does.

Screaming.

The memories of distraught cries flood back to him in a rush that makes him bolt upright. America. His boy, his dear, darling boy, saw Jason do that to him. Zelda, Link, Taiki...everyone. Everyone saw. People he cares about had to watch him die.

England's eyes harden and narrow into a glare. His head is swimming with vertigo, but he hardly notices through the anger that is burning through him. It's a fire he hasn't felt in a long time. Not since he came to the Tower. Probably not even before that. It's a righteous kind of fury that has him throwing aside the covers and swinging his legs out of bed to take him towards his trunk. He retrieves his weapons and his clothes to dress himself with automatic motions.

Resolve. The anger within him thrums with resolve.

England will be making his way to the third floor library via the elevator from the dorms to the ground. Catch him on the way?]

Backdated to 6/15 through 6/25 - Closed; all floors

[Casually puts filler here.]

Backdated to 7/1 - Open; room 1-20, 2-16, dormitory floors, cafeteria

[It's begun.

England is sick.

He hasn't been watching the dates carefully -- there isn't much point to it -- but he knows the months, at least. Not that he'd need to count to know it's the beginning of July. He woke up with a dull ache permeating most of his vital muscles and a cold congesting his sinuses. Not to mention he was disturbed to consciousness in the middle of the night from a shockingly vivid nightmare of being abandoned in the rain, something that's not exactly normal fare when he sleeps.

He'll either be found in his own room, America's room, or the cafeteria, looking restless and downright miserable. Approach him with caution.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[If it gets worse than the past two months, England hasn't seen it. He doesn't want to.

He leaves that thread of conversation alone for now, seeing as the only comparable experience he has isn't really one he wants to dredge up.

He's more preoccupied by the young man's identity. William had mentioned a Ronald Knox -- inquired about his death, even. Fancy that.] I believe I've already met someone from your department. Mister Spears spoke of you.

[Despite his ragged overall appearance, England speaks with the utmost dignity as he introduces himself with a stately bow of his head.] I am England. Thank you for your work in caring for my deceased.

[ There's a tilt of his head from curiosity though once England mentions who he is. ]

You're England? Like... the country we come from then?

[ He hadn't really expected seeing a country in human form but hey. If there were demons and people who could turn little kids into moose then... maybe a little suspension of belief was okay.

However, there's an undeniable grin when he hears that William had spoken of him. That too wasn't expected. Same with the thanking. No one had ever thanked a reaper before. So there's a sheepish ruffle of his hair as he manages to keep that grin. ]

Never thought I'd actually be meeting my home country in the flesh. Nothing to thank us for though. All in a days work and all that! Guessing you met Mister Spears during that last thing with the pods?

The very same. [Everyone that had seen him die had already heard Ruana call him "England", so...]

Working a thankless job is all the more reason to be given thanks. [His lips twist into a rueful grimace.] It's unfortunate that you're meeting me in this state, though. Bit of a sight for sore eyes. [He looks kind of like the walking dead, and really, that's such a poor first impression to make on one of your people.]

In any case, yes. I suppose you could say we were cellmates.

[ And now he feels it, the reason why William seems to take so much pride in being a reaper. Feels good to be appreciated, especially by your home country. You've made his day.

Along with that grin is a small salute. ]

Well, we'll keep doing our job then to the best of our ability!

[ But he sighs, lowering his hand. ]

Though... I suppose I should be thanking you too.

[Despite his sickness, England can't help but crack a small smile at Ronald's gesture. He acknowledges it with a respectful nod of his head -- however, Ronald's thanks brings about a look of confusion.]

Ah-- I haven't exactly done much worth thanking me for.

[He's thinking Ronald means a personal favour. He doesn't recall doing anything of the sort...]

Haven't done much the bloke says.

[ He's truly and honestly amused, he really is. Even just kinda laughing at that but he stops. ]

See... I'll tell you a little something about Mister Spears. He's not exactly the sort who goes out of his way to talk to people, right? Can be a bit of a hard arse, prolly a bit too blunt... and the fact you got to talk to him enough to hear about us... well...

That's what I'm thanking you for.

[Oh. Well, their conversations hadn't really been deep or anything -- not that much. But maybe England just hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary because it was their first meeting.]

Well, the circumstances were a tad extrenuating-- I don't think much of it was my doing. [Still, one corner of his mouth lifts in a small smile.] But, you're welcome, in any case. He's a pleasure to speak to.

[Probably because England is a bit of a hardarse himself.]

That's a first, I'll give you that. He's normally not that pleasant to talk to, specially when you've got an arseload of work to hand in. Just... don't tell him I said that.

[ Bit of a nervous laugh before he straightens up. ]

...Anything he said about me then?

[England raises an eyebrow in response to that, which will be Ronald's first clue that William and England are probably cut from a similar cloth. You'd best not be some kind of slacker, Knox.

He lets it go without comment, though.] Mostly gave me names of other reapers in the tower-- didn't say too much about any of you, save ah--

[His mouth twists a little.] Grell Sutcliff? He mentioned something about Jack the Ripper...

[England is still so mindblown about that. Seriously.]

[ ...oh. Well... whoops? There's a small wince though. ]

Ah, yeah. That. That was a bit of a mess there though. Miss Sutcliffe's half of Jack the Ripper. Other half died before anything could happen, as I heard.

Blimey but he got into a whole mess of trouble for that. Near suspension and all but he got away with just a probation and his scythe getting confiscated.

06. what could death do if thou shouldst depart?

casually backtags into eternity OTL

8D I am the most backtag friendly man.

thank goodness ;;;

Well, I'm having fun with their CR so of course!

they are precious aren't they (✿⌣‿ ⌣)

;u; oh they are. They really are.

;u; england loves his people, even the reapers

;u; they're like his little dead bureaucrats..

ajfdksghds dead bureaucrats....

XDXD Well they are..