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[fifty]

To be made pretty later.

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[fifty]

I dunno. There was like, blackness, and it was super deep, and there was something but we couldn't see, so I guess that's why some people jumped in--

[Uh.]

But not me and Ginger!

[keepscalm]

[The question is already in England's mouth when America preempts it. He pulls his face out of America's jacket to give America a look of scrutiny.] You didn't?

[America didn't leap before looking?]

[fifty]

What's that supposed to mean?

[keepscalm]

Forethought isn't your area of expertise. [And a gigantic hole seems pretty alluring.]

[fifty]

I was trying to stop other people. [His face darkens a little, almost imperceptibly. There were so many it was hard to stop anyone at all.]

[keepscalm]

[England's discerning expression falls.] ...a lot of people disappeared. You were all there?

[fifty]

Yeah, and the more time went on the more people wanted to jump, so I was kind of busy. [His own nation priorities took precedent over his curiosity.]

[keepscalm]

[England wonders how many people jumped. But he's a little wary of asking.

He rests his cheek against the collar of America's jacket.] Do you know why they were all jumping? [Norfinbury is not exactly full of cautious geniuses, but England is still confident that some of them wouldn't jump into a mystery hole without a good reason.]

[fifty]

To see what was down there. ...Some people fell trying to get down without actually jumping, too. And some people got pushed, but then Joker fell in, too. [A lot of people ended up in the pit.]

[keepscalm]

[Jesus. And America just had to watch.

England's hands start to move in soothing motions over America's back.] You did what you could.

[fifty]

Everyone should be back now since we are. [There's no proof of that but it's what America needs to believe.]

[keepscalm]

We can check the network. I'm sure people will post about their return as soon as they're able. [England reaches for his tablet, tucked against his pack at the edge of the nest.]

[fifty]

Yeah, people'll be checking in. [America lets England reach the tablet, but he seems disinclined to let go entirely.] Maybe they found out what was down there. It was like, a monster?

[keepscalm]

How did you know it was a monster? [If they couldn't see it, the possibilities that remain are a little disconcerting.]

[fifty]

It was smiling. I think. [America's tone is foggier as he tries to remember.]

[keepscalm]

[All right, that's a little creepy. England frowns.] I wonder if it was the same entity that people have seen before. [He's not really sure what else to call it...]

[fifty]

I dunno. Maybe if the other thing looked sharp. [It's pretty hard to describe the whatever-it-was, honestly.]

[keepscalm]

You'll have to ask the people who've had closer encounters, I suppose.

[England pulls back slightly from America, looking him over with careful scrutiny.] ...you're really all right?

[fifty]

[America smiles, probably bigger than he needs to.] Yeah! Yeah, I'm fine. [Physically, anyway, he is.]

[keepscalm]

[England's gaze becomes more imploring as he stares into that smile.]

[fifty]

[America's smile drops a little into something gentler--maybe a little worried, though he'd never admit it. He dips in to kiss England, quick and gentle.] I didn't get hurt. It sucked being there, and I had to watch a lot of people jump, but I'm okay.

[keepscalm]

[Surprised by the gesture, England's eyes widen and then his face angles away, the edges of his expression softened and almost bashful.] ...all right.

I mean-- I wasn't that worried.

[fifty]

[America nudges him playfully.] Just about Ginger, right?

[keepscalm]

Of course! I can't imagine how frightened she must have been. [And England was in no way also frightened about America and Ginger not coming back or what they might be doing while apart from England.]

[fifty]

Yeah. [It would have been better if Ginger hadn't had to watch all those people jump.] I kept an eye on her, though, so it's okay.