[It takes awhile before Mycroft can stomach answering him, quite literally he fell ill to his stomach when he did try. But he was feeling more resilient that morning and was able to finally manage to put himself together enough to answer.]
For what it's worth, I understand. You were not yourself, it was not of your will. It is regrettable it happened.
However you and everyone else involved on the Convert's side are now, unfortunately, the cause of some physical and psychological distress, even if it wasn't your fault, you must understand that even talking to you is taking considerable effort.
[Of course. England understands, too. Karkat had said much the same. Still, it's a special kind of sting, coming from one of his own citizens.]
I do understand. In light of that, it seemed wiser to use text, impersonal though it may be; I thought it would be better if people didn't have to hear my voice.
Perhaps it would have been best not to make any contact at all, but that seemed a rather callous and cowardly approach to all this.
If you would rather discontinue our conversation and cease future contact with me, I'll let you be. I only want what's best for you. [Maybe that's a little too personal, but England has already been wrung so dry that he doesn't have the drive to be dishonest.]
[Mycroft certainly doesn't sound the same as he usually does. His tone is more tense, like it's being overly controlled to sound as normal as it could.]
That is wise, and considerate. It is appreciated.
[Mycroft paused, thinking of what would have happened if he was on the other end. He probably woudln't make the attempt to contact people, make amends...he'd probably take the coward's way out.]
It might not be well-received amongst others, but it may help in the end, hearing it.
[That was a little too presumptuous, yes.]
Why? Why would you want what's best for me, what do you care?
I'm willing to explain my reasons if you wish to hear them. However, I don't know if this would be the best time to do it, as they're a bit unusual to people from worlds unlike mine.
[So, up to Mycroft if he wants the explanation...]
I come from an Earth much like yours, but in my world, every country has someone like me. We're physical manifestations of everything the country is, like Britannia or Uncle Sam. You could think of us as guardian spirits. Our lives are tied to the existence of our nations; if a battle breaks out on our land, we get injured. If our economy is suffering, we get sick. And if a country is dissolved and its people lose their national identity, we die.
Our top priority is to protect the people of our respective nations. That's the most important thing to us at any given moment.
[...Mycroft pauses for a very long time. He attempts to speak twice before actually managing to get something out.]
So in essence, you're saying you're actually England. How is that even possible!? Let's say for a moment that I completely believe you--how do you manifest in the first place? If I decided to say, found a country, will one of you just appear the next day?
It's possible. There are a few micronations with beings like us, and sometimes they might have but a handful of people to their name. My little brother Sealand was a micronation founded on an abandoned English naval fort.
[A pause between messages.]
Sorry. I meant "is" a micronation founded on an abandoned English naval fort.
I wish I could tell you how we come to be, but I don't really know. One moment I didn't exist, and then the next, I did. My earliest memory is of being alone in a forest.
I believe we come into existence when a place has the potential to be a true nation. America, for example, had already been born when I sent my first settlers to his land.
['Was' and 'is'? That's certainly something of note, but Mycroft doesn't press.]
I know about Sealand, yes.
[He still seems incredulous, but after all, he's certainly seen and experienced the impossible here. It was so absurd, though.]
Admittedly, this is a lot to ask me to believe. I'm attempting to understand, however. During wars, you are injured? For example, what happened to you during the World War II? And how do you 'protect' people, exactly?
[Because he certainly understood that part. That was his job, after all.]
That's correct. The efforts of the Axis during the Second World War had me on my deathbed a couple of times. The resilience of my people kept me alive, but my body still bears scars from the Blitz.
How I go about my duty changes from moment to moment. Most of the time, I serve as a government official so that I can manage the everyday safety of the largest amount of my citizens. However, during times of war, I'm usually on the front lines. Nations normally can't die from conventional wounds, so we're very useful to our comrades in battle.
Here in Norfinbury, I am forced to work on a much more individual level. My success thus far has, unfortunately, been limited.
[Mycroft's silent for a long moment. He's still baffled and put off by something as absurd as a 'concept' of a country taking sentient, physical form, but then again, if this really was true, well...part of him was suspicious, after all, England was one of them and could be trying to appeal to his own love of country to get him to trust him again.]
Work on a much more individual level. You mean you're trying to protect all of us who are...in essence, your citizens.
You, Sherlock, John, Mary, Beckett, and Alfie. Others have come and gone. Right now, the six of you are all that remain of my country in this place.
I realise it's difficult for people from worlds unlike ours. You don't have to believe me. But I care for my people more than anything else in the world, and I'll do whatever I can to ensure their safety and happiness.
[This is so very weird. And Mycroft's already seen a lot of weird things. He rubs his jaw. It hits a little too close to the convert thing, or maybe he's just delusional, there's no proof either way. But some part of Mycroft is interested in the concept. He does everything for the safety of his own siblings, of course, but service to his own country is very much his priority.]
It is difficult, yes.
But how can you do that here, to ensure safety and happiness? We can't even ensure our own safety and happiness.
[Unfortunately, Mycroft will miss the bitter laugh that escapes England when he receives that message.]
I can't.
All I can do is help where I'm able. And so few even want my help in the first place. Sometimes it seems like Sherlock and Doctor Watson are determined to destroy themselves despite my efforts.
[He could probably hear Mycroft's scoff and half-bark of laughing acknowledgment. Oh, he most certainly can relate...]
If you can find a solution where I have not in regards to those two -- [Unlikely] I would like to hear it.
[Delusional or not, it was not prudent to turn down an ally. Now if he could just get over his paranoia, and lessen his suspicion that England was saying all this to get on his good side.]
[Yeah, England was pretty sure Mycroft would understand.]
Unfortunately, I've not devised an effective strategy as of yet. I'll let you know if I ever do.
But I digress. That is why I concern myself so deeply with the safety of you and your comrades. So if you are ever in need of anything, I'll do my best to help.
[Short of somehow getting control of the mind-control mechanisms of this place, he doubted such a solution would ever present itself. Alas.]
I must be honest, I still find your story to be...too fantastical to be real. But, I'm not going to discount the possibility is there. If you truly are-- [He couldn't believe he was saying this--] --England itself personified...
...then you have my considerable talents at your disposal, and your protection as well. After all, it's my job.
[England would be overjoyed under normal circumstances, but it feels awfully bittersweet this time.]
Thank you, Mycroft.
You don't have to believe me. I'm simply grateful that you have kept an open mind and are willing to consider cooperating. Regardless of my reasons, our goals do overlap, so it could be to our advantage to work together.
[He's hoping maybe Mycroft will feel a bit better about all this if England approaches the rational side of it...]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
@theiceman, Day 271, audio
For what it's worth, I understand. You were not yourself, it was not of your will. It is regrettable it happened.
However you and everyone else involved on the Convert's side are now, unfortunately, the cause of some physical and psychological distress, even if it wasn't your fault, you must understand that even talking to you is taking considerable effort.
text
I do understand. In light of that, it seemed wiser to use text, impersonal though it may be; I thought it would be better if people didn't have to hear my voice.
Perhaps it would have been best not to make any contact at all, but that seemed a rather callous and cowardly approach to all this.
If you would rather discontinue our conversation and cease future contact with me, I'll let you be. I only want what's best for you. [Maybe that's a little too personal, but England has already been wrung so dry that he doesn't have the drive to be dishonest.]
Perma-audio
That is wise, and considerate. It is appreciated.
[Mycroft paused, thinking of what would have happened if he was on the other end. He probably woudln't make the attempt to contact people, make amends...he'd probably take the coward's way out.]
It might not be well-received amongst others, but it may help in the end, hearing it.
[That was a little too presumptuous, yes.]
Why? Why would you want what's best for me, what do you care?
perma-text
[So, up to Mycroft if he wants the explanation...]
no subject
[Mycroft thinks he can handle it! Unusual? He can take it!]
no subject
I come from an Earth much like yours, but in my world, every country has someone like me. We're physical manifestations of everything the country is, like Britannia or Uncle Sam. You could think of us as guardian spirits. Our lives are tied to the existence of our nations; if a battle breaks out on our land, we get injured. If our economy is suffering, we get sick. And if a country is dissolved and its people lose their national identity, we die.
Our top priority is to protect the people of our respective nations. That's the most important thing to us at any given moment.
no subject
So in essence, you're saying you're actually England. How is that even possible!? Let's say for a moment that I completely believe you--how do you manifest in the first place? If I decided to say, found a country, will one of you just appear the next day?
no subject
[A pause between messages.]
Sorry. I meant "is" a micronation founded on an abandoned English naval fort.
I wish I could tell you how we come to be, but I don't really know. One moment I didn't exist, and then the next, I did. My earliest memory is of being alone in a forest.
I believe we come into existence when a place has the potential to be a true nation. America, for example, had already been born when I sent my first settlers to his land.
no subject
I know about Sealand, yes.
[He still seems incredulous, but after all, he's certainly seen and experienced the impossible here. It was so absurd, though.]
Admittedly, this is a lot to ask me to believe. I'm attempting to understand, however. During wars, you are injured? For example, what happened to you during the World War II? And how do you 'protect' people, exactly?
[Because he certainly understood that part. That was his job, after all.]
no subject
How I go about my duty changes from moment to moment. Most of the time, I serve as a government official so that I can manage the everyday safety of the largest amount of my citizens. However, during times of war, I'm usually on the front lines. Nations normally can't die from conventional wounds, so we're very useful to our comrades in battle.
Here in Norfinbury, I am forced to work on a much more individual level. My success thus far has, unfortunately, been limited.
no subject
Work on a much more individual level. You mean you're trying to protect all of us who are...in essence, your citizens.
no subject
You, Sherlock, John, Mary, Beckett, and Alfie. Others have come and gone. Right now, the six of you are all that remain of my country in this place.
I realise it's difficult for people from worlds unlike ours. You don't have to believe me. But I care for my people more than anything else in the world, and I'll do whatever I can to ensure their safety and happiness.
no subject
It is difficult, yes.
But how can you do that here, to ensure safety and happiness? We can't even ensure our own safety and happiness.
no subject
I can't.
All I can do is help where I'm able. And so few even want my help in the first place. Sometimes it seems like Sherlock and Doctor Watson are determined to destroy themselves despite my efforts.
[Surely Mycroft can relate...]
no subject
If you can find a solution where I have not in regards to those two -- [Unlikely] I would like to hear it.
[Delusional or not, it was not prudent to turn down an ally. Now if he could just get over his paranoia, and lessen his suspicion that England was saying all this to get on his good side.]
no subject
Unfortunately, I've not devised an effective strategy as of yet. I'll let you know if I ever do.
But I digress. That is why I concern myself so deeply with the safety of you and your comrades. So if you are ever in need of anything, I'll do my best to help.
no subject
I must be honest, I still find your story to be...too fantastical to be real. But, I'm not going to discount the possibility is there. If you truly are-- [He couldn't believe he was saying this--] --England itself personified...
...then you have my considerable talents at your disposal, and your protection as well. After all, it's my job.
[A sad, wry smirk.]
no subject
Thank you, Mycroft.
You don't have to believe me. I'm simply grateful that you have kept an open mind and are willing to consider cooperating. Regardless of my reasons, our goals do overlap, so it could be to our advantage to work together.
[He's hoping maybe Mycroft will feel a bit better about all this if England approaches the rational side of it...]
no subject
Agreed. And you've proven yourself to be a valuable ally regardless of any of what we've just spoken about.
[It was working, at least!]
no subject
That's high praise coming from you, as I understand it. I shan't take it lightly.
It will be an honour to work with you.
no subject
And if you are who you say you are, the honour is mine.
[Which was true on his end, too. For as much as he protected Sherlock and his family, his country was his highest priority as well.]