( open ) ϟ put on your war paint

[brainiest]

Who: Hermione Granger
Where: Building #2, Floor #2 OR Building #1, Floor #3
When: Backdated to a couple of days ago!
Summary: Hermione is being haunted and she doesn't like it.
Warnings: None, apart from nasty spirit stuff!

[ Hermione is staggering through the building, her hands shaking and her eyes wide as she tries to make her way to the one place she actually knows she might be alright - that is, strangely enough, the apartment of one Draco Malfoy. The flashes of her vision are still rocketing through her mind, her busy brain trying to decipher it as best she can while feeling so weak and tired, the shadow still seeming to follow her, looking over her shoulder and taking what little stores of energy she feels like she still might have.

She tried to sleep after she had attempted to help the woman that had appeared before her, reaching out and wanting to talk, to discuss - because Hermione was all too used to ghosts - but the touch seemed to send a chill through her body, twisting her stomach and causing her to falter. Even the woman's words still haunt her, the vision of fire and bright, brilliant light; "O mournful voice of Creation, grant thy humble servant Thy Light that I may use Thy power to quench the unruly flames of those who've strayed."

Even magic isn't making her feel better and, for a long, deperate moment, Hermione wishes she can stick herself in a dungeon and brew a potion to make herself feel better. Unsure what's going on, all Hermione can think is that her sickness, the way she knows that she needs to touch someone even though she had settled with her back against Draco's not so long ago. She doesn't understand, and that frustrates her more than anything else.

Finally making her way to the second floor, she settles down at the top of the stairs and rubs her eyes, feeling her stomach turn. She feels like she's having flashbacks to Malfoy Manor, where the torture had almost broken her spirit entirely - but she can't dwell on that. No matter how much she might want to just wait it out, the negative thoughts rubbing at her mind, she fights back. ]

Merlin, Granger, pull yourself together!

Comments

[unionjackoff]

[the images of the spirits England had seen earlier are pushed far back in his mind. he might think about them later, but right now, he is very happy to be entertaining. truthfully, it's been a little dull here, lately. and he's been so exhausted because of his lack of touching]

Issues? [filling the kettle with water and setting it up to boil]

[brainiest]

[ Hermione perks up a little, looking somewhat embarrassed. She doesn't really like talking about it, but he had asked and he had been so wonderfully polite to her... ]

A few people I've met know me. [ It's a quiet admittance, her gaze on the ground. ] Apparently I'm famous - and I'm also fictional. My life - and the lives of my best friends - are all part of a set of books written for children.

[unionjackoff]

[oh... she knows.

England sadly pulls a box of tea down from the cupboard. he doesn't have good expensive tea because he doesn't have a job here. it angers him, that he needs to actually pay for small luxuries like that when he's the one being forced to stay here. but never mind that.

he hesitantly walks out to the livingroom, still holding the box of tea]

I know.

[brainiest]

[ Hermione glances up, her eyes flickering as she watches him. He has the box of tea in hand and she feels a cold chill go down her spine. Breathing out, she shakes her head and perks up, shifting to look over at him with a small, sad little smile. ]

That's alright. Quite a lot of people know who I am -- it's strange but I'm getting used to it.

[unionjackoff]

[argh! know England feels bad because he lied to her. he moves into the sitting room fully and takes a seat across from her. she looks cold! he'd find a blanket for her in a moment, but things needed to be said first...]

I apologise for not being completely honest with you. I, myself have read all the books, seen the movies... B-but, please don't misunderstand. I've met several storybook characters here already, and they all appear to me as real people who are going through the same struggles I am. I wanted to treat you the same way, miss Granger.

[brainiest]

[ Hermione lifts her hand and waves it quickly, eyes widening. She doesn't want him to feel bad - she completely understands why he chose to keep it from her. Had he been the first to tell her - well, she remembers just how shocked and out of sorts she had been when she was first informed. ]

I appreciate that and you really don't have to apologise. [ She smiles softly. ] I'm really touched that you wanted to make sure I was comfortable. It was very nice of you.

[unionjackoff]

[he still feels bad. England's eyes dart down to the box of tea in his hands. stupid cheap tea]

If it makes you feel any better... and it probably won't... There are people who don't believe in me, either.

[brainiest]

[ her eyes flicker and she lifts herself up to watch him carefully before she licks her lips. ]

Why wouldn't people believe in you? Are you - like me?

[unionjackoff]

Not quite. [at least England doesn't think so?] But I'm not human.

[brainiest]

[ She pauses before she stands, taking a step closer. ]

Oh! Are you - I don't want to pry, but... Werewolf? Vampire? Or - well, your hair... You could be a Veela, perhaps...

[unionjackoff]

[that makes the corners of his mouth prick up a bit. ha, how flattering! England tries to imagine himself as a vampire. that'd be pretty cool]

Ahaha. No, nothing like that. It's even more unbelievable, at least it probably will be, to you.

[brainiest]

[ Her curiosity peaked, Hermione seems to forget her exhaustion for a moment as she leans closer, desperate to learn. ]

Nothing like that? Then - may I ask...? What? Is it something that isn't a part of my world?

[unionjackoff]

[England wants to tell her, really! but he is so afraid Hermione will laugh at him, or think he was a creep. then again, he'd been the one to bring it up in the first place.

England opens his mouth to speak, and that's when the kettle starts whistling. so he jumps to his feet]

A-ahh! Just a moment! Let me steep this.

[brainiest]

[ Hermione's mouth drops open and she's about to say something to urge him back, to tell him that he can trust her when -- of course, saved by the bell. Holding back her enthusiasm, she sits back down and puts her hands on her lap, more than happy to wait.

She wants to know the differences in their worlds, even if she is fictional in his. She knows she can empathise with him - she knows, now, what it's like to not be believed in. ]

That's fine, please, go ahead! I can wait.

[unionjackoff]

[England lets out a sigh of relief when he's called away. he will tell her, but he needs to gather up his courage a bit. it's been a long day... a long week... hell, several long months of being stuck here, hiding who he was, being tired every day. wouldn't it be nice to have someone other than America to confide in? one of his citizens? he does miss them so...

ah. England shakes his head quickly. steady, old boy. no need to get too far ahead of yourself. he quickly stuffs several tea bags into the kettle-need to make it strong!-and then returns to the living room with that, and some cups]

Before we go on, I'd like to apologise for this... tea. It's the only stuff I could afford here.

[brainiest]

Oh, that's alright. I'm used to drinking tea that's either cold or - well, let's just say that Harry's house elf wasn't entirely fond of me.

[ She smiles meekly, settling up and keeping her back set straight. She feels her cheeks redden at how desperate she is to learn - she wants to know what it is that Arthur is. She's already been desperately thinking it over; he can't be part giant and he had denied being a Veela, he's certainly not a ghost...

She doesn't want to make him uncomfortable, however, so she purses her lips and keeps herself quiet, smiling instead. ]

[unionjackoff]

[he pours the tea for her first, and then for himself. once he has the warm cup in his hands, England feels a bit more calm. strong tea to help the nerves...]

What I am is certainly not anything you're used to, even after all the trials you've faced and things you've seen. [he thinks for a moment, turning his face to look down at his reflection in the liquid] I was born over a thousand years ago. I can't really remember it, but when I came into being I was... special, I suppose. Not like other humans.

[brainiest]

[ Taking the tea with a grateful smile, Hermione settles it between her fingers on her lap, content to just... Listen for a moment. He seems so sad, so... Lonely, in a way, that it tugs at her heartstrings. It's like the way she had seen the desperation in others who had been alone and hurt for so long - like Sirius, not so many years ago.

She nods her head, settling up and watching him carefully, prepared to comfort him. The knowledge of his age doesn't shock her as much as it could, considering she's used to century old vampires and ancient house elves, but it's still a surprise. ]

Special. [ She nods. ] Please, go on.

[unionjackoff]

[lonely was a great word to describe England, and perhaps maybe all countries at some point or another. but England would be a lonely individual even if he was just a normal human. that was just his personality.

he smiles serenely when she speaks and lifts his eyes to face her again. well, might as well get out with it]

When a group of people... humans... come together, a country is born. I am a nation, or rather, the embodiment of one. I live for as long as the country lives. I feel the dreams and desires of my people, but also the pain of war and disasters. My goals are supposed to be the same as my leaders, and my duty is to remain strong for my citizens.

[brainiest]

[ Her eyes widen as she watches him and tries to take in the information. A country, the physical embodiment of an entire nation, was - well, it was shocking to say the least. She sat back in her chair as she tried to register it. A single soul tied to his people, feeling their dreams but also their pain and suffering. Having to follow the regulations that his people set, the Governments, all of it - it sounds terrible and her heart aches all the more.

It wasn't easy to accept, but Hermione was open-minded (she was a witch, for Merlin's sake) and had become... Used to strange, unexplainable things, especially here.

She puts her tea to one side, leaning over and licking her lips. She's always been particularly smart and, honestly, the accent and living in London did give away which country, exactly he was. ]

A country - an entire country. [ She pauses. ] ... England?

[unionjackoff]

[his smile widens and he nods] That's right.

[what reason did he have to lie? it wasn't like England was announcing who he was publicly on the network. on the contrary, he was secretive about who he was. he knew many people wouldn't believe him, and being a country in a world where England wasn't supposed to exist didn't really give him any political standing. he was in the same boat as all the other-worlders were.

after a moment, something seemed to occur to him and he reached into his pocket for his wallet. England shuffled around in there before pulling out a card to hand to her. it looked legal, an identification card that stated who he was, with an embossed seal]

All of us... countries, I mean... have one of these! America's here too. [now he was excited to have someone know who he really was. whether or not Hermione fully believed his story was another matter entirely, but England was placated after revealing his true identity]

[brainiest]

[ Hermione reaches out and takes the card, looking it over. It's incredibly official, embossed, sealed, and it stated who he was. She read it over a few times, sealing it to memory, before passing it back into his hand.

It all seems so impossible, if she's being honest with herself, but she has no reason not to say that he's lying. All the evidence supports his claim and Hermione is from a world where unicorns, elves, werewolves and vampires roam the land alongside witches and wizards and giants - how can she, with all her knowledge, turn around and claim that someone else, someone from a world as different to hers as this one was, was lying to her about what he was - who he was?

True, it would take some time for her to get used to it, but she liked Arthur. He had been nothing but kind and courteous with her, almost sweet, and it was nice to have someone here who knew England - and the irony wasn't lost on her at all in that regard - as home, that knew about her life but didn't want to interrogate her about it or bombard her with information about her fictional status. ]

Then it's very nice to meet you, England - though I suppose you'd rather I call you Arthur? [ Perceptive as always; she can tell that this is something kept secret, incredibly so, and very close to the man's heart. ] I'd really like to meet America too, one day - what's his name? I'll keep an eye out on the network.

[unionjackoff]

I prefer England, since that is my real name. [he puts the card and wallet away] Though, if you are more comfortable, Arthur is fine. And America is Alfred. He's a loud idiot, so he is hard to miss.

[brainiest]

No, no, England is fine. It's your comfort I care about, honestly.

[ She picks up her tea again, taking a long sip - it's actually rather good for how displeased England had seemed about it. ]

Alfred - I see. Don't worry, I'm used to loud idiots.

[ Did you mean: Ronald Weasley. ]

[unionjackoff]

[England's used to much finer tea, the finest in all of his land, stuff that goes for a lot of money. and he gets it all for free. so, yes, this tea makes him sad. if he wants better tea, he'll have to get a job!]

I suppose you are. [a soft smirk into his cup] Though I suppose America does have some good points. For instance, he's been becoming friendly with the local officials here in hopes of gleaning some useful information on our whereabouts, and such.

[and that was all the praise his precious America would get]