and the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air

[colonial]

Characters: America, France, England, open
Setting: the cafeteria and the library
Format: action
Summary: America finally learns about the Fourth of July
Warnings: tiny colonial baby learning about that whole revolution thing

A; Cafeteria - CLOSED TO FRANCE
[It wasn't unusual for America to wander around the Tower on his own, at least a little bit. More than England knew about, really, but being in the cafeteria was hardly unusual for him. And they had good food again, so America was taking advantage of it. He'd stacked chocolate pancakes high enough they were a hazard to carry around, and he'd been unable to choose between chocolate or strawberry milk and had thus gone with both.

He's in a good mood today! What could go wrong?]


B; library - OPEN
[There were books scattered everywhere, some in piles, some open and abandoned, some left dangling off of chairs--it looked as if a small hurricane had taken place in the library, and given this was the Tower that wasn't impossible. But the real source of all the chaos is sitting on a book shelf he's rapidly clearing out. He's got a dictionary on his left and he's reading something else--but eventually he sighs and tosses it onto the ground.

This explains the state of the library.]

There's nothing here! It's not here at all!

C; England's room - CLOSED TO ENGLAND
[And, after tearing the library apart and finding absolutely nothing that would help as far as intricate details went, America had to return to England's room in the evening exhausted and unhappy. He knows England is sick--he was sick last year around this time, too--and he doesn't really want to bother him, especially with something France basically said was going to make him sad.

Instead he climbs into bed and tucks himself against England's side, trying not to look too downcast. He still looks really unhappy and frustrated, though, in spite of his best efforts.]

Comments

A

[silencetoreason]

[For once, France is actually awake at a reasonable hour. A combination of the end of that ghastly "game" and those delightful glasses of England's have him in a peppy mood, one that's apparent in the way he flits through the cafeteria. He's on his way to make himself breakfast when he just barely spots America behind a stack of pancakes.]

Ah, America! [He takes a detour to the boy's table and helps himself to a chair.] Look at you. Treating yourself today, hmm?

[Since their last meeting was less-than-upbeat, he's glad to see America's doing better. He'll even refrain from complaining about that absurd stack of pancakes, all things considered.]

[colonial]

Yeah! {America swallows what was probably a too large bite of pancakes and grins, ignoring the mess he's made of his face.]

It's good! I want chocolate pancakes every day!

[He will wash it down with some of the chocolate milk.]

[silencetoreason]

Well, let's just keep it to this one day, shall we?

[Without thinking about it, France licks his thumb and goes to rub the corner of America's mouth in an attempt to cut back on some of the mess.]

[colonial]

[America fusses a bit, but mostly because this is interrupting his pancake eating.]

Why just today? Why not every day?

1/5

[silencetoreason]

Now, don't be silly. It's because today is your birthday, mon chou!

2/5

[silencetoreason]

[No sooner than the words came out of his mouth does France realize something about this isn't right.]

3/5

[silencetoreason]

[Wait for it...]

4/5

[silencetoreason]

[Wait...]

5/5

[silencetoreason]

[...Oh, shit. Is it too late to pretend like he never said that?]

Library

[tohko_amano]

[While this wasn't as bad as the brat she had caught ripping library books awhile back or the hell the Administrators had put the library through back when Zo lost control of the weather systems, Tohko was still..pissed that someone had done this to her precious library, her precious, wonderful books! As she wandered through the library, she tried to clean up some of the mess as she looked for the culprit, with Ivan trailing behind her with his name tag and paper hat. When she finally spotted America on top of a bookshelf tossing a book to the ground, she pointed at him, looking ready to give him a beating..which she might have done if he was on the ground.]

You! I don't know what you're looking for, but even if you're having trouble finding something, that's no reason to treat the books or the library like this! Get down here right now and clean up this mess, and then I'll help you find what you're looking for!

[colonial]

[America might have responded better had he not been feeling especially petulant and contrary at the moment. Well, he probably wouldn't be throwing books around if he'd been feeling otherwise, too. As it is, he stays on the shelf where he is.]

These books are dumb and they don't have the right stuff in 'em!

[tohko_amano]

[..And that only further annoys Tohko. If she wasn't so worried about damaging the books right now, she would try to climb up the shelves to give him a thrashing herself.]

These books are not dumb! They have the power to save, encourage, inspire, and warm people's hearts and souls! All books have that power, depending on the person, so they're not dumb, and they have good things in them! Just because it's not what you're looking for doesn't mean that it's wrong! It's not the books fault!

[colonial]

[America stares down at her.

Then he shoves another book off the shelf sends it tumbling to the ground.]

[tohko_amano]

[And that's the final straw. Quickly, Tohko picked up the book, made sure that it wasn't damaged, and set it on the nearest table before rushing back to the little kid. While she wouldn't try to climb the shelves, she would try to reach up and grab his clothing or a leg.]

You brat! Get down here and apologize!

Library

[wrigurun]

[She never considered the library a dangerous place, it had only ever been a stepping stone on her way up to the forest. But she'd gotten distracted by the mess of books. Had there been a scuffle here? Were there monsters to take care of? Wriggle was about to go on the defensive when a stray book smacked against her shoulder. From there it was easy to find the source of the mess]

Hey! Watch where you're throwing those things!

[colonial]

[America pouts from his bookshelf perch, but he doesn't really mean to be hitting people with the books.]

Sorry. But don't be where I'm throwing them!

[wrigurun]

[Wriggle isn't exactly happy with that kind of response but as far as she was concerned he opened fire first. With a flick of the wrist she throws one or two small bullets of light towards the bookshelf. Nothing too damaging, mostly just to scare him]

[colonial]

[America yelps--he hasn't had magic directed at him except during last month's game--and scrambles along the shelf, sending books toppling over.]

I said sorry!

[wrigurun]

[Wriggle just shrugs in response and gives a smug smile]

Then don't be where I'm shooting!

[And a little more genuinely]

What're you doing throwing books around anyway?

C

[keepscalm]

[England is asleep when America enters the room. He shifts when America crawls into bed; as soon as America curls up to him, he bolts awake, his breathing heavy with fear and alarm. It's not unusual for him to wake up at slight disturbances, but stirring with such violence is nearly always indicative of nearby danger.

Or a terrible dream.

His head swims with the sudden jerk of movement, though he nonetheless sightlessly flails a hand out to retrieve the towel that rests on the bedside table so that he can cough into it. The blood is the worst part, if he doesn't count the nightmares. It's so damn messy.

Blearily, he looks down to his tiny bed guest. He squints, trying to determine if what he's seeing is the waking world or a continuation of his dream.] America...?

[colonial]

[America jerks with instinctive alarm when England bolts up so violently, but when no attack presents itself he's left blinking at England and feeling guilty for waking him up on top of all of his other, increasingly complicated feelings.

He can't tell England when England's like this. He reaches to pat England's side gently.]

Go back to sleep.

[His discontent is obvious on his face and in his voice, though; he can't hide it even though he tries.]

[keepscalm]

[Though he's foggy with sickness, England realises quickly that there's something off about America. He lies back down regardless, but he turns onto his side so that he can curl protectively around America; the gesture is much more defensive than usual, as if England is reluctant to let America go now that he's here.

It's tempting to go by America's words, but England can't let whatever is troubling his charge lie.] Are you all right?

[colonial]

[America wants to tell him--or at least wants to seek out comfort after everything that happened--but he's protective of England, too, in his own way. Clinging to England's shirt, he tries to force a smile, though it comes out obviously strained.]

I'm okay. [It's an obvious lie, and America doesn't often lie to England so directly.]

[keepscalm]

[England tilts his head down to look at America (or, the top of his head). He's most definitely not okay. There's a bit of an ill feeling in England's stomach as soon as he picks up on America's obvious lie, and it's not due to his seasonal illness. While it's not exactly unheard of for America to try and spare his feelings, the timing of this is disconcerting.

Granted, most things involving America today are disconcerting.

He lifts a hand to run it through America's hair.] Are you sure? You sound upset.

B - you're annoying the bookworms, kid.

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch's eyes widen on seeing the state of the library as he steps off the staircase. Sure, the books weren't real, and the uniform lettering of the printed page made them seem less...personal than any writing in his time, but all the same....

Enoch hurriedly goes to the nearest pile and starts picking the books up, dusting any foreign materials off their covers gently before adding them to a stack on the nearest table.*

Who did this to you? *He wonders aloud as he makes his way through the disarray, cleaning it as he goes, before...he sees a small child. Who just threw another book on the floor. ...Okay, then.

With a sigh, Enoch approaches the book and tucks it to his chest with one arm before looking up at America.* Little one, I know they aren't real, but you should still treat books with respect...