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[fifty]

To be made pretty later.

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night 94

[keepscalm]

[The wall was an interesting find, but England is very grateful to be inside. It's not as warm as the Japanese restaurant was, unfortunately, but he does see a few scattered things on the shelves as he looks around; some kind of second-hand shop? It's fairly big, so hopefully they'll find something useful.

He nods at one side of the store, addressing America.] I'll have a look around over here.

[Meaning, of course, he expects that America will check the other side.]

[fifty]

[America, already regretting not staying at the warm restaurant, follows at England's heels for ten seconds before he catches on to what England means.]

Oh. Oh, okay, I'll look over there. [He trots over to the other side of the store.]

[keepscalm]

[They are on a mission! A mission that does not involve staying in one place, unfortunately.

It's clear from the empty racks that there were clothes on this side, but England doesn't expect to find much. In fact, the first thing he sees appears to be in what was once an accessory section; it's a handbag, dangling from a rack by its strap.

Of course, he beelines towards it to see if it's in good condition. It's decidedly not -- the zipper is broken -- but he takes it off the rack anyway, testing its weight with his hand.

America doesn't need any more bags, so he's quick to sling it over his own shoulder and resume his search. As he cranes his neck to get a better look at some high shelves mounted on the wall, he calls over to America.] Find anything?

[fifty]

[America is drawn, magnet-like, to the hint of a sleeve deeper in the store on his side. A sweater! It looks really warm. But--it smells awful. Like, really awful. He's sure it would be warm, but--]

Hey, England, d'you want this? [He waves the sweater around over his head, half hoping that will air it out a bit.]

[keepscalm]

[England looks over from where he's investigating a shelf a bit more closely. He's surprised to see America waving a sweater about, and raises an eyebrow with some suspicion before he lets himself feel too touched by this apparent show of generosity.]

Why, don't you?

[fifty]

It smells gross. [Too gross for America to wear! So he's giving it to England. Isn't he magnanimous?]

[keepscalm]

[England lets out a scoff.] Of course.

Fine then, I'll take it. [They have some chemicals that England is sure would reduce the odour if they cleaned the sweater.]

[fifty]

Awesome, catch! [And America just balls up the sweater and hurls it across the store. That's how you pass things to other people.]

[keepscalm]

Wh—?! [England moves out of the way of the sweater rather than try to catch it. It falls on the floor with a dusty fwump, and England grimaces as he bends down to pick it up.] Lazy sod. You didn't have to throw it at me.

[God, it does smell bad. He should wash it before wearing it. But he's not going to turn down such a warm garment just because of a bad smell.]

[fifty]

I thought you'd catch it! You totally missed! [Actually, England stepped out of the way, but that's basically the same thing.]

[keepscalm]

You could have just brought it over to me like a sensible person! [Nobody wants a smelly sweater thrown at them, come on!]

[fifty]

I'm searching for stuff over here! [He's mostly shouting across the store right now, but searching is the general goal.]

[keepscalm]

No you aren't, you're just being a pain in my arse! [ohoho

Don't think England hasn't noticed that America is too busy shouting. Of course, so is England...]

[fifty]

Sure I am! I found that sweater, didn't I? [Case closed.]

[keepscalm]

And then you threw it at me, and now you're being a prat. Presently, you're not searching.

[So there.]

[fifty]

No! I also found-- [America looks around wildly. Shelves, shelves, shadows crawling eerily on the floor, shelves--] These! [America holds up! Something. It's impossible to tell what at this distance.]

[keepscalm]

[England, of course, has no idea what America is holding up, particularly when the motions of the shadows get his attention more than whatever tiny thing is in America's hand. His gaze flickers to the floor, but the movement of his eyes isn't too noticeable at this distance.]

—what? [He manages to inquire after the item once he tears his gaze away from the floor, but in his distraction, he's also momentarily forgotten what America even said. So it's really more inquiring after what America is talking about in general.]

[fifty]

These bracelets! [It doesn't matter so much what they are as it does that he found them.]

[keepscalm]

...bracelets. [Even with his lingering disorientation from the shadows, England still sounds unimpressed.]

[fifty]

Best friend bracelets! [America clearly didn't notice the shadows.]

[keepscalm]

[It's for the best, really. England doesn't know if he has the energy to console America about moving shadows right now.

He gives a snort.] Oh, yes. Very useful find.

[fifty]

There are two, so we could both wear them! [Is America joking? He's decided to be infuriatingly difficult to read all of the sudden.]

[keepscalm]

[America has to be joking.

England's disbelief is plain on his face even from across the store. He glances dubiously to the hand holding the bracelets.

After a moment, he decides to call America's bluff. He scoffs.] Fine. Give it to me, then.

[fifty]

Okay, hold on! [America is pretty sure the bracelet will break or get lost if he throws it, so he trots dutifully over to where England is to show him the bracelets. They're cheap and plastic and one says "best" while the other says "friends".] Which one do you want?

[keepscalm]

[This is ridiculous. America is completely, totally, one hundred percent having him on. It's just juvenile! The bracelets don't even look nice!

Even if it's sort of nice to think that America might consider England his best friend.

After a moment of blank, stupefied consideration, England comes back to life and snatches up the one that says "best," of course. He doesn't put it on yet, but he does hold it in his palm for a moment, scrutinising it.]

If I wear this silly thing, you can't take it back, you know. [The bracelet itself, or the sentiment behind it? England leaves that vague.]