[001] audio;

[rule_britannia]

Well, this is just bloody brilliant.

Unless they’re lying. They could be lying. I don’t feel any different. I certainly don’t feel more sodding real than I did before… but this isn’t London. Magic, maybe? Could be. Maybe I’m dreaming. Pinching doesn’t work though so it must be one hell of a good---… Maybe I’m dead? Oh, bloody hell, what if I am dead? How the bloody fuck did that happen?!

No, no… Calm down, Arthur…

… Thinking about it, I suppose I should have expected it, if I’m honest, but who the bloody hell is going to entertain for a moment the idea that they’re fictional? The world’s always felt perfectly real to me and I… ah, bollocks… I’m not dealing with this very well...

...

I need a drink.

Comments

[icanbuyafez]

Britain. Really? That's fantastic! How does that work, then - the collective minds and spirit of the nation over an extended period of time coalesce and take physical form? Of course, humans always have been capable of a low level of physic ability, especially in concert - and usually unconsciously - but this is beyond anything I've ever heard of without some sort of psychic network to channel it! Perhaps the energy doesn't need channeling if it's directed that way for a long enough time. And a nation would certainly be the proper sort of ideal for this phenomenon to take place.

Then again, you sort of represent the same type of phenomenon that might have created all of us here, if they are telling the truth about us being fictional - the collective minds of people invested in an idea cause that idea to become a reality. Ooh, this is fascinating!

[rule_britannia]

No, not Britain. England specifically. As the head of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland I do take that title but I have brothers representing each separate country within it...

I should have known you of all people would bloody love this.

England. Oops, didn't read your post closely enough. Doesn't really matter.

[icanbuyafez]

Oh, sorry. England, of course.

How do you know me, then? I suppose I have spent a great deal of time with you over the years, even though I wasn't aware of it at the time. Or am I fictional where you come from?

[rule_britannia]

You hit the nail on the head, right there.

You're quite popular, in fact.

I need to make a smug doctor icon

[icanbuyafez]

Well... Why wouldn't I be?

But this really is all very fascinating. If you are England's physical representation, how do the actions of England's subjects affect you? For instance, what would happen if England went to war?

... Yes. :1

[rule_britannia]

...

It gets... uncomfortable.

[Understatement of the century. Millennium, even]

[icanbuyafez]

Oh. Well, that's rather unfortunate. Still, it could be worse, I suppose.

[rule_britannia]

Yes, yes, it can always be so much worse..

[icanbuyafez]

So, if you were fictional but you are real now, are you still the physical representation of England? I mean, are you still connected to it?

[rule_britannia]

I... I think so? I'm not sure. I don't feel any different.

But if I'm not that opens a whole other bloody can of worms in terms of immortality and the like.

Hey look, the doctor is insensitive!

[icanbuyafez]

I'll say. It's especially muddled because of the similarities between how you came to be in the first place and how we all went from fictional to real in this place. So if you are not physically connected anymore, whatever force brought us here in the first place could be making it look like you were.

How does the immortality work, then? You are here as long as England still exists? I mean, I could imagine a situation where the physical country - borders and government - ceased to exist, but there were still people who believed in you and everything you stand for. And the other way round: the country could physically be there, but nobody believes in it or has is proud to be a citizen. And are you tied just to the people, or to the land too? What happens if someone physically attacks you?

That's alright he's used to it. He knows America :1

[rule_britannia]

Well.. it's more complicated than that and there are examples of both..

Back home, Prussia is still around as a person, despite his country being dissolved. He doesn't seem to be planning on dropping out of the game any time soon, though I think he just stays to annoy the living hell out of his brother.

On the other hand... there's a number of micronations, some of which are recognised only by themselves - Sealand, for example...

[Sigh]

To the last question... it would depend on the severity of the attack.

:)

[icanbuyafez]

No, it's never simple, is it?

So, as physical representations of countries, what do you do? I mean, do you just try to live like regular people? And do you often interact with humans, or just with each other?

:3

[rule_britannia]

Interacting with humans is.. well, it's not simple.

I'm sure you know well enough how difficult it is to have friendships with people when you know they will die long before you do.

Though I do hold a job, I have a house like a normal person.. Associating with humans is so bloody soothing compared to just interacting with the others.. You can imagine the amount of unnecessary drama that comes along with holding grudges over things that happened hundreds of years ago.

[icanbuyafez]

Quite. Leaving other behind while you go on is never fun.

Yes, I can imagine. In a much more dramatic way, that's still a factor between the Master and me. Even now - I've been told he's here as well. And time travel confuses everything as well - I might see someone I offended 500 years ago, and it's just been a day or two for them. Or someone I'm going to offend in the future. Like Queen Elizabeth the First! She tried to execute me the first time I met her! Didn't find out what that was about till a couple years later.

[rule_britannia]

Ahaha, you're serious? Lizzy tried to-- well.. actually, that does sound like something she would have done...

[icanbuyafez]

Well, that was kind of my fault. I actually married her, for a time. She... wasn't happy when I left.

[rule_britannia]

Mm.. I can imagine.. How curious that the same person appears in both our lives yet different things happened to them.

[icanbuyafez]

Yeah... That is weird. I suppose basically she is the same person from an alternate universe. Seen plenty of those before!

[rule_britannia]

I can't even begin to imagine the kinds of things you've seen.

[icanbuyafez]

I'd invite you to come with me and see them for yourself, but I rather fear that the TARDIS can only move around on the island. Seems there's some sort of force field keeping her - and the rest of us - in. She can only hop around in here because I set the parameters of the universe as the boundries of the island - and time travel is out because of the way the island is interacting with and moving through the outside world.

Still, if we ever do get off this island, you're welcome to come with me!

Ooh, if that is something you could do. I mean, if you are physically tied to the country of England, traveling back in time or to a different galaxy might have negative effects. I mean, if I went back to before you came into being, you might cease to exist! Hmm. Well, I suppose we'll cross that bridge if we ever come to it!

[rule_britannia]

... You're invitin--..

Well, bloody hell.

I'd be honoured, to hell with the risks.

[icanbuyafez]

Splendid! That's settled then. Now all we have to do is escape the island - what could possibly go wrong?

[icanbuyafez]

Still, it looks like that might be rather difficult. I haven't really had time to look around properly yet, but the other Doctor has been here for a long time, and I still haven't found a way off.

[rule_britannia]

Ah. That is something of a stumbling block, then. I would have thought that of all people...

Wait, the other..?