may the odds be ever in your favor

[starspangledhero]

Who: America, Tatsumi, and you.
Where: Where do you live? 8)
When: March 24 (yeah this totally isn't late)
Rating: PG-13 to R (depending on the thread) for violence, mutilation, and dark themes/touchy subjects. Seriously. For once I'm actually doing hardcore shit.
Summary: Tatsumi uses his crazy vampire powers to get the most use out of America. I write a psuedofanfiction about America's thoughts. Characters get attacked. MORE THINGS THAT MAKE THIS A COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY.
The Log:

To those who wonder and those who care, a little background:

Personified nations can be a bit of a paradox; as an individual they are meant to represent a concept so astronomically large in all its components and complexities, it's nothing short of a miracle that a single body can hold everything that being a country entails. (Some would surely point to them as proof that God finds stereotypes as hilarious as most people do, but that isn't so much a philosophical inquiry as it a hilarious side effect of personifying something.)

Being a nation that emphasizes individualism and believes in free will can complicate matters. Over the centuries America has developed his own ideas of who he is, who Alfred is, and could comfortably point out "Alfred" on a map and own his own anatomy. He can happily say that he's one in the same; a powerful entity of global influence and a nineteen-year-old boy with an unhealthy diet. There is a lot more to stress and explore when it comes to this topic, but further detail isn't necessary for its relevance to current events.

Namely, the torture America has been experiencing for about two weeks now.

History is full of human depravity, cruelty, and violence. America may be young, but there are quite a few things in his past that, if brought up to him, would make him squirm uncomfortably. His gut would twist in shame and guilt if he happened to be the perpetrator, but he could usually mutter that such tragedies are a consequence of being a country--partially a lie, just enough truth to keep him from drowning in guilt.

Now as a victim--that was almost exclusively in times of war, always in a case where he was fighting for something he believed in, and the torture came as a consequence of being the guy fighting on the opposite side. (The line between being America and Alfred was so blurred at these times that it was almost nonexistent; country and soldier, they both became an embodiment of ideals and trials to endure. That includes finding a bathroom in France that hasn't been bombed or riddled with syphilis.) On those occasions he could hold onto his anger and pride. It was all just physical, after all. A momentary discomfort in a larger scheme of pain. No matter how many times he was burned, starved, sliced open, humiliated in every conceivable way, he could hold his head high and laugh with all the confidence of someone who would win that it often disturbed his tormenters.

(And when he lost his head, well, it's never not funny to watch the enemy flip their shit when they learned that not even decapitation would shut him up.)

This time it's different.

The enemy is someone he--Alfred, the goofy boy with a hero complex and a drug habit--had invited into his life with no political interests, no ideals to uphold, nothing to classify him in the same categories as any tormenters in the past. It's someone he trusted. Someone he loved.(Loves? Anger and hate are trying to claw any trace of attachment away, but it comes in gouges so unbearably painful on every level that he's finding it hard to let everything he ever felt go. That redirects some of the hate at himself, and so it goes.)

The worst part by far is that this time, it isn't just physical. Pins in his tongue and burns on his skin aren't anything compared to the betrayal, the icy pit in his stomach that only grows each time he's reminded you were never loved, you never mattered, and it opens up a raw wound from his revolutionary days to the point where he was truly scared that he's been broken. And the bites--hypnosis isn't even the proper word for it, because he is fully there in his mind for each agonizing step, but his body moves with the vampire's every command despite every attempt to fight it. Free will only applies to the neck up now.

The first days were spent in denial as he reassured both himself and Tatsumi that it was just the world messing with them again, everything would be okay, I'll fix things, as soon as this bite wears off I can help!

By the seventh day he was convinced that there was no going back. He finally asked, voice cracked from despair and raw from screams, why are you doing this? His former lover's eyes lit up, smiling sharper than a knife, and told him because every hero needs a villain. Alfred hadn't seen him so giddy in all the time they'd been together. His heart clenched and his head thumped against the floor. Even if he could will his limbs to fight back, his spirit was quickly losing strength.

On the eighth day he broke down and cried. He begged and pleaded for Tatsumi to stop, please, I love you despite all the shame and embarrassment he felt for degrading himself so much. The vampire laughed, bit him again. Alfred tries to forget what happened next. Something fragile inside him snapped. He closed his eyes and accepted that all hope was gone.

The next day he was content to be numb and feel nothing. That didn't stop Tatsumi. Alfred didn't particularly care.

Finally, finally after two more days spent in a haze, letting the emptiness in his heart suck him dry while the vampire did the same, he felt a spark of something. He latched onto it in a last desperate attempt to not lose himself completely.

When the vampire informed him that they'd be going on a little stroll, Alfred realized that what he was grasping at was his soul's last little flame of defiance. Amidst the sadness and shame that were once again flooding his thoughts, the mounting fear of what would happen next, the hate and anger that gripped him, Alfred had a thought:

I can win this.

It wasn't quite enough for America to smile, but his blue eyes regained their focus. That was enough for Alfred.



Alright guys, story time over. Now we get to the event in question. Under Tatsumi's watchful gaze and his precise orders, America's footsteps fall against the crumbling Discedo pavement. He's already learned that it's fruitless to try to stop his body from doing as it's told, so he focuses on his mind.

He has a vague plan. It's a stupid and desperate plan and might not work, but it's better than giving in. Anything is better than that. The multiple bites on his neck leak fresh blood, and he thinks, Good, maybe that'll slow me down.

America does his best to ignore Tatsumi and every goddamn feeling associated with the vampire, instead looking up at a building in front of him. He's supposed to hurt people. He probably will hurt people. He sucks in a sharp breath at the thought, but he has to push back the guilt, the embarrassment of being seen like this, the shame of being helpless, all for the sake of not letting the night become an utter catastrophe.

As his feet bring him close to his targets and the vampire follows at his heels, America realizes that he's going to have to think on the fly so that everyone will live.

So basically just a normal day.

Emotions aside, nothing America can't handle. At least he hopes so.

[ ooc: HAHAHA I SHOULD. PROBABLY SET UP GUIDELINES FOR THIS OR SOMETHING SHOULDN'T I.

Chronologically, everyone else will encounter America and Tatsumi before Japan and Turkey, but tagging order can be whatever!

My guidelines for what you can and can't do to America? Go nuts. Seriously, go to town on this guy. I want him a battered wreck by the time he reaches Japan. If you want your character killed (or injured in some specific way), just leave a note either in the original post or in your tag!

I'M PROBABLY FORGETTING SOMETHING but I'll add more if further questions arise. ]

Comments

[schrodingersghost]

Danny had been thinking a lot recently. Brooding. Sulking, his sister would have said.

About heroes and villains. About his own potential. He'd thought he'd gotten over this a long time ago. Had locked this entire issue away in a thermos outside of time. But here he was again. And he couldn't help but feel like he was staring into some kind of huge dark hole. He'd seen what he could be. What he could do to the world if he ever lost himself.

And Danny couldn't help but wonder how close he was to tripping into that hole. Was he becoming too powerful? What would happen if he became so powerful that no one could stop him from falling? All the people who kept telling him that he shouldn't blame himself for what happened didn't get it. They hadn't seen what he could become. Not really.

And so tonight Danny had gone out walking through the streets of Discedo, hoping to avoid everyone. As a human.

He halfway hoped something WOULD attack him. He could really use a little misplaced aggression right now.

[starspangledhero]

Good news Danny: you're about to get your wish.

The second America spots him, he wants to freeze, but the venom in his veins (or whatever the hell is making him obey the bastard who bit him) wouldn't allow it. Of course Tatsumi had fucking ordered him to harm his own citizens, the one thing he knew would break America's heart even further. And to hurt a kid? If he actually succeeds, 'hypnosis' or not, America won't forgive himself for this. His stomach flips as he feels his hand reach for his gun.

Time to see if he can yell faster than he can fire. Definitely a challenge.

"DANNY, RUN! ...PREFERABLY IN ZIG ZAG!"

For once, America hopes his shot is shitter than he thinks it is.

[schrodingersghost]

Danny had no clue what was going on. Why America was screaming at him to run or what was wrong with him.

But when someone was firing a gun at him? That had happened enough times over the last year that turning intangible was nearly instinct.

[starspangledhero]

A split second later, the gun fires. America's heart skips a beat, seized by panic as he expects his citizen (an innocent kid no less) crumple to the ground in a pool of blood.

Except Danny doesn't.

Utter bafflement overrides just about everything else he had been feeling. It was like the bullet just passed through Danny. Like he was some kind of... specter of some sort. (But let's not be ridiculous now, everyone knows you can't be human AND a ghost. Even a guy being mind-controlled by a vampire knows that.)

Forgetting the gravity of the situation for a brief moment, he actually turns to Tatsumi (an unconscious move that will make him feel even more wretched once the bewilderment subsides), and says in utter amazement:

"Dude, I didn't miss."

Meaning that this situation is about to get a whole lot better and a whole lot more confusing for America.

[schrodingersghost]

Danny was not showing the shock you would expect of a kid who'd just been shot at by a friend. At the most he was showing annoyance as he shifts back into solidity and begins to walk towards America.

"You just shot at me? You just shot at me! Why? I mean, not that that's anything new for my life, but an explanation would be appreciated. Even if its just shouting a few death threats."

Don't be too hard on Nor, maybe just some scrapes and bruises and whatnot.

[mysterycross]

He was shopping. Well, more raiding the Dissimulo stores for anything useful to hoard in the storage building. It was something he did every Sunday, after the kitchens had closed but it was still too early for bed.

Early enough that he wouldn't be expecting any monsters about.

He had a flashlight in his bag, of course, and pistol in his belt, just in case, but he didn't expect to have to use it. He'd never had to yet.

Couldn't be too careful though.

Norway crept through the streets carefully, ever wary of the secrets of this planet, but confidently as the sun began it's decent to the western skyline.

can do! o7 would a vamp bite be alright? non-lethal & non-controlling

[starspangledhero]

No monsters except a certain blue-haired lunatic and his puppet.

Of course, America himself can't exactly warn Norway about that. Seemed like the only thing he couldn't talk about was how Tatsumi was the one controlling him. Another limitation, but one he'd have to work with.

He does his best to move silently, but (thankfully) he's as subtle as a horse crashing through the brush. He hopes Norway hears him coming, sees something's wrong, gets the hell out before he's forced into something he really doesn't want to do. Best case scenario America will be stopped for good with a bullet to the head (and, if it didn't stop him fully, at least it'd slow him).

At this point he knows it's a little too much to hope for.

Sounds good to me!

[mysterycross]

Of course he heard you, you ridiculous idiot. You and Denmark, he swears to god... You two just should not ever be in the same room.

He looked at America only vaguely surprised that he was here.

But wait... something was wrong... Even with the chip in, he could just sense it.

He stops and turns to fully face the other. "What's wrong?"

Ack! hit submit too soon. /cry

[totallygay]

A shadow follows after America, wrapping it's arm around the nation. It's none other than Tatsumi, who only gives Norway a grin while leaning on his slave. His Hero.

"Oh, mothin'! Just taking a stroll and enjoying the twilight."

Something was definitively wrong. Even Tatsumi's hypnotizing could not hide the dark circles under the nation's eyes. The werepire leans in closer to America's neck, the scent of blood still rather fresh, but more to make America as mentally uncomfortable as possible, specially in public. It was easier to hear the hero's heart this close, too.

Tatsumi was waiting to hear it crumble.

"But I think babe has somethin' he wants to tell ya. Don't ya, Alfred?" Tatsumi gave America a smile. It wasn't like the fake ones he had given for the past year. No, this was more genuine with a hint of something dark.

[fourseasons]

Japan had just gotten home from a walk, setting his jacket aside when he thought he heard something outside. Whatever it was, there's no harm in checking, so he'll move to the door to open it.

The first sight of America is actually completely startling, since Japan figures he must have gotten in a fight with someone and is hurt and needs help. "W-wah, America-san! Are you alright?!" He turns, wondering if the first aid kit in the bathroom would be of some help.

[starspangledhero]

By this point we'll assume that America is just a mess. Bloody, bruised, and riddled with an assortment of injuries that I have yet to describe yet have already happened in this chronological time line. FOLLOW MY LOGIC and it will lead you to rich reward. Anyway.

All he can offer Japan is a grim smile, part apology, part desperate plea to end this, before he calmly steps through the doorway.

"No, I'm not," he says quietly. It's all he can say. An invitation is unneeded in this case. His movements waver before he feels himself stepping uncomfortably close to Japan, like he's trying to use his sheer size to corner him.

[fourseasons]

Those movements cut him off from his path towards the bathroom, and he pauses to eye America at the words. That sort of reaction... He didn't understand at all just yet, backing up a little from those steps America is taking towards him. Personal space, America!!

But something's not right here. As if the wounds weren't clear enough, what was this behavior?

"America-san? ...What happened?"

[starspangledhero]

"Man--" Whatever tirade America was forming dies in his throat. It sounds like America is literally choking on his own words. This time he actually hopes Tatsumi makes a quick entry, but no, of course he hangs back just to watch events unfold. Of course the one time someone would actually know something is off by his presence, he stays behind.

Prick.

America is fraying at the edges. He laughs, tinged with borderline hysteria instead of humor or confidence, and continues his advance. Once his laughter abruptly dies, he takes a few deep breaths, the starts to sentences he can't utter.

"Lots," he finally rasps. The only true reply he can manage that won't reveal the perpetrator or the personal Hell he's been traversing.

[sundancer]

[Ammy, despite still having her chip in, could still feel that something was off about the atmosphere. She had been taking a stroll around the park when she saw figures in the distance. She recognized them both, but something was different about them and she didn't like it.

She remains perfectly silent and still. Just observing the two from a distance.]

[starspangledhero]

[ OH GOD NO NOT THE PUPPY. Why the puppy. Is it because Tatsumi knows how heartbroken America was when his own pet wolf(dragonthing) was violently killed? Probably.

Luckily animals stand a better chance against his brute strength than humans. As he approaches her his eyes go wider. Part of him still can't believe he's doing this. The other part of him desperately hopes that the wolf will just hurry up and rip his throat out so that the damn vampire won't have any more blood to feed on.

Under his breath, he mutters a soft I'm sorry. Just in case things go worse than he predicts. ]

[sundancer]

[Yep, there was definitely something off. She feels it when they come closer. She gives them a warning growl, but her eyes seem surprised when she hears the quiet apology from the yellow-haired one.]

[starspangledhero]

[ The growl does nothing to deter him, unfortunately. He picks up pace. It's almost like he's... holy hell, is this crazy bastard about to launch himself at an adult wolf?

Yes. Yes he is. And by the look on his face, he looks just as bewildered by this as anyone else. ]

A THREAD OF THREAD-JACKS! Sai's major weakness is electricity

[playwitchu]

Time for a normal walk with Terry the eevee! Heather giggles as Terry just jumps and plays around her feet. Yes, it is the cuteness America. Why do you want her to get mauled and maimed? Her senses were on somewhat on alert due to the strange flow that the air was giving her. But this was Discedo and when doesn't it have this type of feeling?

Okay, she closes her eyes, giggling still and runs ahead of Terry.

"Try and catch me, Terry!" Nope, not gonna pay any attention to her surroundings.

Re: A THREAD OF THREAD-JACKS! Sai's major weakness is electricity

[ochitashinigami]

[Eric knows she watches her pet, but he keeps an eye on her from the balcony. When he sees her running, he exits the building and heads after her.]

Heather? Heather! Be careful!

[starspangledhero]

Yeah she's going to wish that she was looking out. Eevee best evolve into something useful fast. Preferably Espeon since that could possibly reverse the hypnosis effects or something.

While America doesn't exactly have a tazer on hand, he's (unfortunately) quite good at adapting.

Unlike some earlier killing incidents, America doesn't try to hide in the shadows or feign stealth (nor is he actually enjoying the murderous scenario this time). If he's going to be stopped, the best course of action is to draw as much attention to himself (and Tatsumi) as possible.

Obviously the best way to do this is to walk up right behind Sai, press his gun to her temple, and murmur so only she can hear:

"Scream."

He'll just leave it at that. Since people seem to get confused when he tells them to run, he'll try a more direct approach of scaring the shit out of people.

[playwitchu]

Too bad Terry doesn't have her chip out or enough happiness to do that yet.

Sai remained blissfully unaware of America's presence, focusing completely on Eric's and Terry's presence.

That is, until Terry stops and actually growls a little.... That and suddenly there is cold metal pressed against her temple. Sai or Heather as she is currently called, goes to start shaking and attempts to try and find where America is currently at (besides behind her). Instead of screaming, she is gonna opt for more shaking and fearful crying (must pretend to be helpless, must pretend).

Terry however, charges towards America and attempts to bite his hand.

A young little girl, America! How can you do this?!

Well well well...

[meilihua]

It's dark outside, and Taiwan is nervous enough as it is already. But she needed to get back home anyway, and besides, she could totally take care of herself! She was grown up and everything! Even though everything included weird family tensions that didn't come from the usual sources, and dimension-hopping weirdness.

Oh. And monsters, let's not forget about those.

But she seems to see something approaching - something familiar, and she tilts her head inquisitively, squinting into the darkness. "Ah...hello?" It was America, wasn't it? "美國? That's you, isn't it?"

SCREAM Taiwan run while you still can!! ;^;

[starspangledhero]

The comment title is exactly what America is thinking at the moment. Of all the countries for him to encounter the one time he hopes to find no one, it has to be Taiwan.

His throat tightens. If his stomach weren't empty and heart numb, he's sure he'd feel sick. Every emotion that struggled through the weeks just to stay alive in his soul now feels cold; like countless soldiers over the centuries, America is now too afraid to touch one in case he finds it to be the corpse of something he once cherished. At this point even sadness would be welcome. Instead he has to desperately claw for whatever determination he can manage to not let things go badly.

(America obsesses on one simple thought: I need to protect her. He never really considered himself to be the enemy. Best not to dwell on that thought.)

He takes a deep breath, whispers a prayer, and approaches her. He does his best to hide his mounting panic. To his credit, America actually manages not to let his shoulders or voice shake and he's not close enough yet for her to see the turmoil in his eyes.

"Tai, if you've ever trusted me or liked me or just plain listened to anything I've ever said, you'll turn around right now and run as fast as your feet can carry ya. Run 'til you think your lungs are gonna burst and get as far away from me as ya can, 'cause..."

America swallows. If he can't manage an explanation, he can try one small plea. "Please."

[totallygay]

Tatsumi puts a hand on Americas shoulder, looking disappointed at him. Almost scolding.

"Don't spoil all the fun babe. I mean...damn, we're just gettin' started." The shiki let a grin crawl across his once friendly face.

OH GOD NO, AMERICA, TOTALLY THE WRONG APPROACH TO TAKE-

[meilihua]

With that distance between them, enough so that Taiwan can hear and not quite see more than the dim light reflecting off glass frames; anything else was simply lost in the darkness. But she'd know that voice anywhere and the words scare her in completely the wrong way, because that wasn't how America spoke, that wasn't the way he dealt with things, ever, and even here in this place...

She takes a step back, instinctively, but otherwise she stands her ground.

"W-what are you saying, I don't...? Ameri...Alfred...?" Her voice stutters a little on his name; she doesn't use it very often. "Are you all right...?"

And takes another step closer.

[OOC: OH GOD, I just remembered that she never really found out more about Tatsumi other than that he and America were dating, and her reaction was something like "Oh, okay, so they're in love? That's cool." ...uh oh...]