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[it's always nice to receive a letter the old-fashioned way, isn't it? it seems more personal. England thinks about that before he responds to Grell by email. instead, he gets up, gets out a medium-sized pad of paper he'd been using to make notes on and begins a reply that way. it's nothing fancy, since he doesn't own any letterheads or decorative paper, but it should suffice.

the note is written so very neatly, in small cursive. then it goes into Grell's mailbox only a few hours later]

Grell,

It is good to hear from you. I, too, have been incredibly busy this past month. Not only have I been working, but I have been helping Natalia plan for the holiday ball, as well as participating in a Secret Santa exchange. I have already sent out my gift, and I will be attending the ball.

How have you been otherwise? Have you gotten any new information on CERES?

England

[Ah, a nice letter in return! Yes, it's always nice to receive a letter that's written. You can see the character of the person and their effort in the writing. She takes some blank paper and writes back. There isn't any special paper for this sort of exchange, which she thinks will have to change soon. Her writing is cursive, but not as neat at England's. A bit fancier, and not red, unfortunately.]

England,

I've noticed that you've thrown in your weight in assisting with the ball. I eagerly await that evening, as we all could use a bit of festivity.

Only until recently I've been out of sorts. Marco had disappeared, but he has returned. That's never happened before, so you could imagine the mess I became. I plan to tape him to my side. As for CERES, there hasn't been much new information besides the fact that it's like a web. Once you touch it, it triggers vibrations everywhere else.

Have you found anything of worth?

Sincerely,
Grell

Grell,

Unfortunately, I have not found out anything new. I am sorry to hear about Marco. At least he returned? Both Russia and Prussia have disappeared, and I do not believe they are in Cerealia at all. America and Vietnam are still here, though.

Did Marco say what happened to him?

England

England,

I was a bit busy with his return to ask what happened. I'll be sure to inquire as soon as possible. It's unfortunate to hear your companions have disappeared. It seems no matter the world we're in, there is little rhyme or reason for disappearances. If you need any company, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Grell

[a-aww... that's really sweet of Grell. in between their correspondence, England was informed of America's disappearance as well. so...]

Grell,

It appears that I have spoken too soon. America is now gone, as well.

Do you drink?

[he doesn't even bother to sign it, because he's miserable. even his writing is less neat. he wants to get drunk, and then he'll probably cry into his beer]

[Oh, that can't be good. England was fretting when America had gone, so him being gone completely must be more difficult. She switches to a text message, seeing that he didn't even sign his name on the last letter.]

Where are you now?|

[England's response doesn't come for an hour. maybe he left another handwritten letter in the mailbox? no...

finally]

hery grell

im in the plaesure distruict at some bar

idk waht the name is

[looks like someone is already sloshed]

[Oh boy...

Luckily for Grell, she has been to the pleasure district, but not the bar he may be at. She tells him to sit tight and not go anywhere, even though he probably won't, while she pops over to a strip club she's been to. More specifically, it's bathroom. There are a few odd stares when she emerged from an empty stall but she paid them no mind. Once she left the club, she goes in search of that bar.

Tracking down England is easy enough, and she makes it there in about five minutes.]

There you are! I think it's time we went home, hmm?

[it's probably easy because England is being a nuisance. he's loud, swearing up and down about CERES and Cerealia, and the Powers That Be that have cursed him to such a fate]

Grell! [he points right at the reaper, wobbling up from his stool] I'd love to go home, but I can't now, can I? [hic]

[What a state he's in...

She steadies England on the stool by placing a hand onto his shoulder, making sure he doesn't teeter off.]

You're more than welcome to stay with me for a night, but we should leave.

[She asks the bartender for some water to go before they can make any moves to leave.]

[the bartender gives Grell plenty of water. at least England's been paying]

N-no... I... I want to go home! My home! In London! [he leans heavily on Grell as his eyes begin to water with frustrated tears. some person nearby says that he's been like this for 20 minutes, drinking and sobbing]

[Hearing that he's been literally drinking in his sorrows makes her pity him, and finds it embarrassing.

Taking the water, Grell puts an arm about his waist so she could support his weight. They'll be walking the long walk back, because if she took him home how she usually goes home, he'll get sick.

And she just had her floors cleaned.]

It's right here. [A finger pokes at where his heart is, as best as she could since it's the same hand holding his water. She does manage a small smile.] We aren't home, but we'll make it as cozy as possible here.

[Once they're ready to get moving, she'll hand England his water.]

[it's totally embarrassing, Grell. the other patrons have second-hand embarrassment, and England, himself, will be embarrassed in the morning.

that action, plus her words, only make England cry harder. more like blubber] I hate thiiiis! Look what CERES has done to us! W-we're countries, God dammit! R-r-reduced us to such pitiful states!

[honey no, you're pitiful on your own]

[This is why Grell doesn't drink herself under a table! Now they're walking towards the exit, fast! They don't need an audience!]

Now you see HERE! You're not pitiful! If anything, you should be empowered! CERES may be pulling strings, but they aren't our strings! We can fight back against those sods!

[She does think his blubbering is pitiful, though. But that's only because he's intoxicated!]

[England is drinking the water now, so he only grumbles into the cup. once the outside air hits him, he sobers up enough to walk]

I just want to go home. [he finally says softly] I hate it here.

[Grell sighs softly as they walk, looking a bit sad at hearing, and seeing, England at such a low point in his life here.]

You aren't the only one with that sentiment. If Marco hadn't of returned, I'd have reduced this land to ashes.

[She doesn't deal well with loss, unfortunately.]

[he's been in lower points, surely... but at least at those times, he was able to go home]

Maybe you should have anyway. [England stumbles again, catching hold of Grell before he falls over completely] Or at least th-the doors to the research center.

[Don't worry, she's got him. She would carry him home, but somehow that wouldn't make him happy.]

Now I thought you'd have liked that place to be in one piece? It would be rather difficult if I set it ablaze.

[no, it probably wouldn't. England only lets a certain person carry him, and that's only under particular circumstances]

You can just burn down the door! [argumentative, still slurring his words] B-but keep the rest of it unscathed... Unless it's blocking us from g-going home!

[and then he stops and shouts into the darkness] AMERICA! YOU IDIOT! Why didn't you take me with you?!

[COVERS HIS MOUTH WITH A HAND]

Stop yelling! You're making a scene! [Next time, she's calling him a taxi!]

If arson is what you wanted, why didn't you just say so earlier? I had thought discretion was key.

MMMPH MM MMMM! [he eventually pulls away and then falls against a nearby wall. instead of standing up right away, England just... stays there, slumped over. how depressing]

Arson won't do anything. [he says it seriously now, voice significantly softer than it was before. the fresh air and water were finally getting to him] There's nothing we can do without more information.

[Now he truly looks pathetic. Grell goes over to him and lifts up his chin, looking rather serious.]

Then sober up and help me plan this out. I've been trying to get others like myself to assist me, but it's been slow going. If we work as one front, we could get the ball going.

[She sighs, letting her hand return to her side.]

We can't do this separately. [Referring to his loss and her efforts of allocating other hackers.]

[geh! England is quite surprised by the action. but now that he's forced to look into Grell's eyes, he feels absolutely ashamed of himself. this always happens when he drinks. is there some place he can disappear?]

You're right. [he says once she's let him go, eyes darting to the side] I.... W-We could talk to those people who were at the meeting. I know there are people who think like us.

[She nods, giving him a wry smile.]

I'm sure you may be better with public relations than I am. [Even though her PR skills got her the homecoming crown twice. But that may have been because her competition wasn't that strong.]

First, you'll need to get some rest.

[England can be nice when he wants to, when it benefits him, so he'll agree that his PR skills were probably better. he did have a lot of practice, and skills as a tactician]

Right. [still some mild slurring, but he doesn't look like he's going to fall over anymore] I think. I can get back to my place.

[ic] cerevice inbox

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[handwritten letter] and i found a better font wow

[handwritten letter] that is nice! :O I wish curly font wasn't so obnoxious...

[handwritten letter] a lot of html fonts are

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