1st video; bad birthdays

[bydefacto]

[ Sealand’s face can be seen, very close to the screen, his expression bewildered yet somewhat excited. He's on the terminal closest to room 1-20, and he might seem familiar to anyone in the tower who knows England. The only real differences between the two are his somewhat tamer hair, his blue eyes, and the fact that he looks no older than twelve years old.

Oh and guess who totally hasn't read either of those important letters by his bed yet? Who needs to read when it's finally his birthday. He's pretty proud of himself for having figured out how to use the terminal without any help. Technology can help him out here! ]

Hellooooo?!

This is the weirdest birthday surprise I’ve ever had and I don’t know if I like it yet. It’s for a party, uh, right? A surprise party? …Here, for me? This is a strange place for a party, but it’s okay, there must be some reason for it!

I bet my dad organised it! Is he here? And Fin and Wy and everybody? Is this like a game? Is there a cake?! And why did you change me into this suit thing? It's weird.

Anyway, I’m forty-six years old now, you know, I'm practically ancient and more than ready for true nationhood! I hope I have lots of presents and you’ll all take the opportunity to realise how much I’ve grown!

Oh, also, I think this computer’s broken. I can’t find the internet link and I need to get on facebook! I should have lots of birthday messages!

Comments

[Video]

[alephbet]

[It's courtesy to answer video video, so Sealand will see the face of an (apparently) young man with a weird visor answering him.]

This is probably the worst present possible.

[Video]

[bydefacto]

Why?! [ Pout. ]

Who are you? [ ....and why would his papa invite you to his birthday party? ] Is the party fancy dress?

[Video]

[alephbet]

It's not a party. You've been kidnapped, essentially.

My name's Aleph Sinclair - I'm another captive of this place.

[Video]

[bydefacto]

Kidnapped?! No, I haven't! You're lying!

[ He's here for a party, dammit. ]

[Video]

[alephbet]

Have you read the letters by your bed yet?

video

[silencetoreason]

[France has to do a double-take when he sees Sealand's face on the terminal. For a split second, he hopes his brain is playing tricks on him and it's England he's looking at, but, no, those blue eyes and that childish face most definitely belong to Sealand.

His heart drops into his stomach. First little America, now this? How many more children do the administrators plan to trap in this place? And on his birthday, too. How awful.

With a mind full of worries, France flicks on the video feed.]

Sealand? Is it really you? My...

[He tries to smile, but his eyes betray his concern.]

Euhh, happy birthday, I suppose. [He uses the word "happy" very loosely.]

video

[bydefacto]

France!

[ A familiar face! He grins at him, and even though France doesn't look very happy, and Sealand is still confused as hell, seeing someone he knows is enough to quell some uncertainty slightly. ]

What do you mean by "suppose", huh?! And what's going on? Did England organise this birthday surprise? It's weird enough that I think it's more like him.

video

[silencetoreason]

[Sealand seems to be taking this well. France has to wonder if he read his welcome notes at all; surely any nation, old or young, would be up in arms at the mere thought that their world had been destroyed. He bites the inside of his cheek and scours his brain for a way to break it to him gently.]

Non, this isn't England's fault. Though it would be fun to pin it on him, wouldn't it?

[He winks and manages to force out a chuckle. Ragging on England usually helps to lighten his spirits. The good humor lasts for only a second, though.]

Did you... read the notes by your bed when you woke up? Either one of them? They are really very important...

video

[bydefacto]

[ Sealand grins at the remark about England. France is being strangely sombre for his birthday though, and it's making him nervous.

He gives a sheepish smile when France mentions the notes. Maybe it was like a treasure hunt, and those notes were part of the clues- that would make a pretty exciting birthday. It must be something like that... ]

No, I don't have time for reading. I was too excited for my birthday! I woke up here in some weird pyjamas, so I thought it must be a birthday surprise.

video;

[chainsawn]

[ Clearly everything about this broadcast is really normal. It is to Urotsuki, actually. So she just blinks, her expression pretty blank, and she asks the most important question-- ]

You mean nobody gave you birthday cake yet..?

video;

[bydefacto]

Not yet, but I only just got up. I hope I do get one. I hope it's chocolate... with power rangers! And sprinkles!

[ Yes. Cake can take his mind off the weirdness of everything here. ]

[chainsawn]

Ah, I don't have one with power rangers or sprinkles.. I have regular cake though, if you want that. [ .. Although she doesn't want to disappoint him, so she's thinking for a moment.. ]

Maybe if you don't get any other cake today.

[bydefacto]

You have cake?!

[ Clearly not meant for his birthday, but... ]

Is it chocolate? Does it have jam in it?!

[video]

[ladyliberty]

Oh, happy birthday! Forty-six, huh? You look really good for your age.

[video]

[bydefacto]

That's because I'm a nation! Nations always look younger than their age. One day I'll be really big... bigger than my brother!

[video]

[ladyliberty]

[Oh, of course.]

Is that so? What nation are you?

[video]

[bydefacto]

I'm Sealand, the smallest nation in the world!

It's nice to meet you, uh... what's your name? [ Why are you at his surprise party? ]

[terreifying]

ur a bit tiny 4 43
also no internet here lol

but still hppy bday

text;

[bydefacto]

i'm 46 not 43!!! and i'm not tiny, I probly just look it on the screen. but thx that is a really cool cake

no internet sux. how do I check my facebook now?????

Re: text;

[terreifying]

u look younger than you are
then again i look older

idk ask someone 2 help find you facebook?

text;

[bydefacto]

i know it's because i'm a nation. soon i'll be bigger.
how old ru?

i can't find it without internet connection

video

[keepscalm]

[Oh god, and he thought he'd been dreaming that Sealand was here earlier. He can't even find it within himself to be (or pretend to be) annoyed at the fact that Sealand is being...well, Sealand. All he feels is an icy sort of dread tucked somewhere away behind his ribs. As much as they irritate each other, Sealand is still his little brother.

And now he's here.

He finally turns on the feed. He looks pretty sour, but that's par for the course with England.] I'm afraid there's no internet here, lad.

video

[bydefacto]

Wha- why?

[ Sealand wouldn't want to admit it, but he's actually pleased to see England for once. The sleep paralysis, along with waking up in a place he doesn't recognise, in clothes he doesn't recognise, had not exactly thrilled him. He's very uneasy, despite his optimism about as to why he must be here, and a familiar face - however sour - is welcome right about now. ]

Well- where's my present and my birthday party then, jerk? That's why I'm here, right?

video

[keepscalm]

No, that's not why you're here. [Despite England's dread, the frustration rises easily within him at Sealand's assumption. His eyebrows furrow inwards and down and his mouth sets into a deep scowl.] You didn't even read the letters by your bed, I see.

[Not that England is really surprised. He does feel a little bad; this certainly isn't the kind of birthday party anyone would want, much less a kid like Sealand.

But he's going to have to rain on this parade sooner rather than later. Maybe once Sealand is filled in, he can at least be careful so he doesn't end up with a really awful birthday gift.]

video

[bydefacto]

I don't have time for reading boring letters on my birthday, not unless they're birthday cards!

[ He'd barely noticed the letters, actually. After he'd calmed down from the sleep paralysis he had glanced at them briefly, but seeing that they obviously weren't birthday cards, he'd childishly not paid either letter anymore mind.

He scowls back at England. Nothing is sitting right here, and it's both frustrating and unnerving to be so in the dark. ]

Why am here, then...?