driftfleet | Happy St George's Day!

Who: Arthur and you
Broadcast: Video
Action: Huntress
When: April 23rd!

Action
[Arthur didn't actually remember his actual birthday, and he'd certainly never mentioned his unofficial one to anyone in the fleet, yet somehow, on the one day he'd stopped back on the Huntress to water his plants, there was a large package for him in the cargo bay. A crate with his own flag splashed over the top and 'Happy Birthday' scrawled over it in bad handwriting.]

How did they- I'm not opening this here.

Video
[Shortly after dragging the crate back to his room, his device has switched on while he pries the box open, the lid all but jumping up as the contents absolutely jammed inside... puffed up. Arthur narrowed his eyes and peered in, staring at the contents.

Stuffed animals. Almost half a dozen varieties of stuffed animals. And all of them looking very, very British.]

Just what am I supposed to do with these?

[Picking one up, he finally notices the comm is on and gives it an exasperated look.]

Alright, who told them?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Lawn decorations. On a space ship?

[Keith quirked an eyebrow.]

Yeah, that's pretty useless and weird.

[He frowned a bit at the crate.]

You would, huh? How?

Because I've been drinking it since it was introduced to Europe, lad.

You get a sense for it.

[Well, you do if you're the human embodiment of a country known for its tea drinking, at least.]

[Odd phrasing, if Keith remembered his history correctly. Not that this guy was necessarily from his version of Earth, from what he was learning, but sure. He'd give this a shot.]

Since it was introduced, huh? So, how long ago was that for you?

[The idea that he was talking to "England" hadn't really crossed his mind, yet.]

[Does have to think about that.]

Let's see, I'd have to say it was the sixteenth century when one of my friends send some to me, so... five hundred years? Give or take a few decades.

Five... hundred...?

[Okay. Keith was going to need a moment to process that. It was one thing to have someone be cryogenically asleep for ten thousand years and still be alive, but...]

How old are you?

Roughly sixteen hundred years. Why do you ask?

[Because most people don't talk about five hundred years ago like it was just a few years ago, Arthur.]

Oh... I was... [Thinking Arthur was crazy, but not really?] Curious? I guess? It just seems like a really long time to be alive.

If that your polite way of calling me old?

[Not senile yet. Does like his naps though.]

[Oops?]

Uh... no? I mean. Well, I know people who are older... in a way. Kind of.

Have you ever been cryogenically frozen?

No, can't say I have. I don't think we have that technology yet, though there's always people looking into it.

[Though now he's curious.]

They do that where you're from?

Yeah, actually. Well, sort of. I mean, we don't have it on Earth, yet, but the Alteans have it, and have used it for several things beyond just prolonging life. Their version helps a body heal faster.

Well, that's interesting. But no, it's just a natural thing for me.

Oh. Wow, okay. [Keith looked impressed.] I've never met anyone like that before.

I'm not surprised. Even in my world, there aren't many of us, just about two hundred.

Roughly one per country, with a few exceptions.

Is that on purpose?

[One per country? That sounded oddly specific.]

There's no one really to ask. But there hardly needs to be more than that.

Why do you say that?

[Keith was curious.]

I'm Keith, by the way. I was just recently assigned as the pilot here.

Well, one country is one country.

[Nudging his door open with a hip, Arthur put down the crate before offering his hand to shake.]

Arthur Kirkland. I'm an engineer on board.

I'm the new pilot.

[He gave Arthur a weird look. He didn't understand the statement.]

What do you mean, one country is one country?

I mean, there hardly needs to be two of me. And god knows there doesn't need to be two Frances. He's insufferable enough all on his own.

[Clearly. But Arthur wanted to see if he'd figure it out on his own with enough hits.]

Two of you? [Oh man... was he implying...? Keith stared for a second.] You mean... you're the country? [........]

England. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.

[Sure explains the flag on the crate, doesn't it?]

.....

[Keith was momentarily rendered speechless... though, that wasn't hard. He wasn't a big talker to begin with. Still, though...]

You're... actually England...?

Yes, lad, that's exactly what I'm saying.

[Really has started to enjoy these kinds of conversations.]

I didn't think that was even possible.

[Then again, invisible people shouldn't be possible, either. Neither should people who can talk to each other through rock vibrations or people who can make mecha out of trees just by touching them or all those other weird things he's seen since finding the Blue Lion.]

So... how does that even work?

Action

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