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[fifty]

To be made pretty later.

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[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.

[keepscalm]

[England opens his mouth and almost says I'd never forgive you if you'd let her jump, but thinks better of it, knowing America is probably having a hard enough time forgiving himself for the others who got away.

His jaw snaps shut again and he purses his lips. Then, he wastes the emotional out that America so kindly gave him just a moment ago.] ...I was concerned it was something like when you and I disappeared.

[fifty]

It wasn't. [The idea of Ginger going through something like that is awful. Imagining going through it again is, too, but he'd do it a hundred times too keep Ginger away from that.] It was like... A bad thing that happened but it was small so now it's done.

[keepscalm]

[Is it done?

England glances to his tablet, a stern furrow in his brow.] We should check the network.

[Things are never just "done" here.]

[fifty]

[America wants to, too, though it's to check and make sure the people who jumped are there again. He sees that particular look in England's eyebrows, though.] Yeah, we should. You don't have to worry so much, y'know.

[keepscalm]

[He reaches past America for the device, though he settles back against America to start looking through it.] My concern is in reasonable amounts.

[As it turns out, there is a post about it.]