☆TWO

[redwhiteandhero]

Characters: Alfred F. Jones and YOU
Setting: Gymnasium
Format: I'll follow you
Summary: Just trying to keep warm.
Warnings: None right now.


[Alfred had gotten in the habit of a morning jog since school had ended, and he figured he might as well keep it up in the Tower as well. You never knew in a place like this when you needed to be in good shape. Plus, it was a good way to keep warm when there was no heat in the building.

Today especially he was feeling quite warm before he even finished a lap around the track. Too warm. He tried to keep going, but his legs were starting to feel like lead weights, and his head ached. Three-quarters of the way around the oval, Alfred gave up, wobbling over to lean on a piece of exercise equipment to catch his breath. Phew. This was obviously consequence of trying to exist on nutribars alone.]

Comments

[redwhiteandhero]

I like playing with 'em too. But I'd rather have meat than those stupid bars, that's for sure.

[colonial]

Yeah. [America considers the problem a little bit longer.] There's the restaurant! But it's real dangerous.

[redwhiteandhero]

There's a restaurant? [Seriously, why does no one tell him these things??] How come it's dangerous?

[colonial]

'Cause you haf'ta go find something in the Tower. They don't tell you what until after you eat. And if you don't get it they take something! Like a hand or an arm or--um--a spleen?

[America is not really sure what a spleen is.]

[redwhiteandhero]

[Alfred's not entirely sure what a spleen is either, but he's pretty sure you need it to live.]

They take your spleen?

[colonial]

Yeah! That's why it's dangerous.

[redwhiteandhero]

That's messed up.

[colonial]

Lots've stuff here is. [For a moment he's almost melancholy in a way that someone who looks as little as him probably shouldn't be able to manage, but he perks up soon enough.] But there's a forest so we can get food anyway and it's not too dangerous unless you fall off!

[redwhiteandhero]

Yeah... let's try not to fall off.

[colonial]

Yeah! ...Oh, also we need weapons. Usually I don't need weapons but I can't pick stuff up in the forest. My brother might have some. [That he will just take out of England's trunk because what could go wrong?]

[redwhiteandhero]

What kind of stuff has he got? I can shoot a bow, sorta.

[colonial]

He's got a knife and a gun. I don't know how the gun works, though, 'cause it's different from the ones at home. But it's probably not too hard to figure out!

[redwhiteandhero]

He's got a gun? Sweet.

[colonial]

A weird one! [It's not muzzle-loaded or anything!] Do you know how to use 'em?

[redwhiteandhero]

I bet I can figure it out. [Meaning not at all.]

[colonial]

Okay! [Accepting this entirely at face value!] Wanna go see if it's in his trunk?

[redwhiteandhero]

All right! [However, when he tries to head off toward the staircase, his body rebels.] Woah I... Got dizzy there for a second. Maybe I'll just sit here a little bit.

[colonial]

[America, already partway up the steps, turns around and frowns at Alfred.] Are you sick?

[redwhiteandhero]

I'm fine! I'll catch up with you in a little. What room's it at?

[colonial]

He's in 1-20. Hey, we could go up to the elevator! It's pretty close!

[Two floors up in the bug room, specifically. America hasn't realized that yet.]

[redwhiteandhero]

Elevator? [Colonial bb how do you know more than him.]

[colonial]

[Mostly stumbling around breaking things until he understands them.] It's a big box that you stand in and it goes up or down to different floors! That way you don't have to walk up a bunch've stairs!

[redwhiteandhero]

Oh! [So it's like magic.] That sounds swell. [He manages to get to his feet and follow the little guy up the stairs, putting a hand out once or twice to steady himself when a dizzy spell hit.]

[colonial]

[America will stay dutifully close to Alfred--after all, if he falls down the stairs America is pretty sure he could catch him. Once they reach the insect floor, though, America is reminded why he doesn't really go here.]

Um... It's over there. [He points across the room.]

[redwhiteandhero]

[Alfred peers into the space.] It's all dark.