'S boss has somehow managed to get the nation in a suit, stressing the importance of opening up friendly relations with England. He must be an odd sight therefore as he's stood waiting for England, two coffee_

Cups in hand. He needed to at least try and be civil, for his people's sake.

right on time, he got out of the cab after paying the man and fixed his own suit a bit. He didn't actually notice Scotland till he was inside and he stared a bit at him before frowning and tucking his hands in

his pockets.

holds out the coffee cup, the contents tea made the way he likes it because he doesn't know how England takes it. His expression is rather neutral despite England's frown, 'Want to head in?'

took it and glanced at the tea before nodding idly. "Lead the way." He took a sip of the tea, it was almost a tad to sweet.

Always did have a sweet tooth. He leads England to a small open plan office, heading towards to back of the room where screens for privacy had been placed. He winces at the eagerness with which his boss greets_

England, waiting for them to both sit before taking a seat himself. His boss would probably hang out for the beginning of the meeting before wondering off. He knew about the tense relations...

as congenial as was possible as he greeted his boss, talking to him for a moment and smiling before he took his seat and the smile slipped off again.

's isn't much better as he toys with the lid of his take out cup. 'So... We should probably talk about why you're here, huh?' He asks, not even attempting to force a smile. He was in a rut, there was no other_

To put it or sugar coat it and that's why Scotland was turning to the UK - giving it's economic prowess.

'S expression*

nodded at that as he watched him. "You need me to lend you a helping hand." He stated bluntly, he took a sip of the tea, ignoring how sweet it was.

Winces as he gets straight to the point, 'Aye... We'd pay you back obviously but... That's what we're after.' No point in lying. 'And closer trading relations in the future... Maybe even an Free Trade_

Agreement.' He knew that his boss was after a lot... But he wouldn't ask if he didn't need it.

shifted in his chair and leaned back a bit to listen to him, his expression had become business neutral as he spoke. "I see, so after all this time you expect me to be willing to lend you money and everything

else you need?"

Shakes his head, rubbing the back of his neck. 'Nah... Just thought it wouldn't hurt to ask, ya know.' He knew this was how the meeting was gonna go....

nodded. "My boss and have already discussed assisting you financially and we've agreed to help."

Looks shocked at first, before his shoulders think in relief - all the tension gone. He smiles, if only slightly. 'Ta...'

shrugged as he glanced over at Scotland's boss and smiled. "I'm more interested in helping your people out." He looked back at Scotland, "besides I've had a lot of them coming over the boarder to find jobs."

*sink

Flushes with the second comment, wondering why he's even here at the moment. England could just discuss this with his boss. They were getting on like a house on fire. He clears his throat, 'Appreciate it none_

the less.'

watched Scotland carefully before he turned to his boss and asked if he could speak with Scotland alone. He waited till the other was gone before he folded his hands in his lap. "This is killing you isn't it?

asking me for help?"

Watches his boss leave the small illusion of privacy in the open planned office, glancing at England when he asks the question. 'No... Not any more than our shitty relations in the past at least... It's a bit_

Of a relief... Moving towards a normalisation of relations.' England's attitude was rubbing him up the wrong way though.

nodded as he listened. He slowly stood and held his hand out to him. "I'm willing to put the past behind us. I'll consider a free trade agreement. We can talk more about that over dinner if you would like?"

He was really trying, his boss encouraged him that it would be a good idea to play nice.

Stares at the hand in shock, before atanding up to shake his hand. 'Alright, but it's on you... Since I'm broke,' he jokes.

had expected to pay for it in the first place he shook his hand before stuffing it into his pocket again. He wanted to say an I told you so or you should have signed the union when I offered, but he didn't.

Instead he put on a smile and nodded. "Yes, I'll cover it."

(is it supposed to be blank?)

Wouldn't have appreciated that at all. He'd been doing fine up until now. 'Alright... I'll just tell my boss where we're wondering off to.'

would beg to differ on that, but he'll keep those thoughts to himself. He nodded as he forgot about the tea and went to wait at the exit of the office instead.

Wouldn't really care, it's just a cup of tea. He finds England at the exit, smiling a bit more genuinely. 'Thought you had ran off.'

Wouldn't really care, it's just a cup of tea. He finds England at the exit, smiling a bit more genuinely. 'Thought you had ran off.'

shakes his head as he looked over at him. "No I wouldn't do that, not on my brother."

smiles, hands in his pocket. 'Aye... but I would do it to me, if I were you.' He really was a crappy brother.

using the term in a more sarcastic manner as he shrugged and motioned for him to lead the way. "I'm not about to go and kick you when you're already down Scotland. What brother does that?"

picks a locally renowned Indian restaurant, holding the door open. He's not about to reply to that, catching the sarcasm the second time round.

still bitter about that day all those years ago. Not about the fact that he lost, but about the way Scotland had gone about it. He headed into the restaurant and asked for a table for two.

convinced he would have done the same. Or so he's told himself. England's reputation isn't pristine either. The owner recognises Scotland and gives them a booth rather easily, handing them both menus. 'Do you_

eat Indian nowadays?'

may not have the best reputation, but he didn't treat France that way when he'd won his throne. He took his seat and thanked the owner. "Some times, Francis and I will go out for it occasionally."

looks over the menu, more for something to look at. 'Heard you two were an item through the grape vine,' he says, trying to make conversation.

nods, he had tried to keep that out of work... but well he was really done caring about such things. "Yes."

glances over, 'Does he make you happy?'

smiles at that question and nods, "yes. We've always had a thing for each other... it was just easier to fight and our bosses never helped."

happy for him. 'That's braw.'

looked away from him as he shrugged a bit. "How have things been with you?" He didn't really want to ask that.

shrugs, 'Not tied down or anything, but chugging along...' He didn't think England really cared.

did care... he just didn't want to care. He nodded as the waiter came to take their orders and he let Scotland go first.

orders the usual, substituting the beer for a glass of water before letting England order.

picked out one of his favourite dishes and thanked the waiter. "So trade." He didn't have anything else to really say to him.

nods, 'Aye. Trade. You already buy a lot of our wool and whisky...' He rubs the back of his neck, 'But the deficit we've got going on is kind of killing us on my side of the border... Maybe we could advertise_

for holidays or something. I mean, there's some bonnie lochs up here and the hotels are pretty grand. Plus it's only a couple of hours drive...' He shrugs, 'Unless there's anything else you want to buy?'

listened intently and nodded, "I think we could advertise for holidays. What other exports can you offer?"

about this, relaxing a bit as England seems rather more open than he expected. 'Well, beef obviously. And we've got a ton of excess wind energy, and I know you're struggling on the renewable energy front...' He

had kept an eye on England despite their bad relations. 'We could have an energy pact, it'd help with your nations environmental score.'

thought about that as he leaned back in his chair, it was tempting. "We can work something out with that." He hadn't really paid much attention to Scotland. He'd stuck to what he'd said back then.

a few more things. Unexplored oil fields in his waters that no one has touched yet... That could wait though. He wanted to see how this went first before suggesting that joint venture. 'Alright,' he says_

A tired smile, although it brightens up when the owner gives him a friendly wave. It reminds him why he's tucking away his pride to do this- for his people. Much the same reason he went to war with England.

glanced up at him again as he leaned back in his chair. "You know I did have a thing for you once... now I don't even consider you much of a brother, but I'm doing this because you are my brother no mater how

much I dislike the fact."

Shrugs, 'Your happy with Francis now. No point on dragging up the past.' He wasn't about to let England ensnare him like he did Francis. He heard the nation was a completely different man now.

shook his head, "I have no interest in being with you Gregory and I love Francis. I just wanted to make things perfectly clear."

Didn't suggest that. He doesn't argue with the other though, glad when he sees the food arrive. There is so much he could say right now... So much to make the man opposite him furious. He knows better though,_

Bites his tongue for the good of his people. He starts to eat once they're both served.

a lot more he could say as well, he'd looked up to his brother for so long before that fight. He thanked the waiter for the food and ate in silence.

eats in silence as well. He was starting to see from this meal that they could never just be 'mates' again. England was far too bitter for that.

isn't to bitter... he was just hurt still. He took a few more bites of food and looked over at him. "I'll have all the papers drawn up and sent over to you for you to go over and sign."

nods, 'Alright. Sounds like a good idea... and your boss is alright with all this?'

nods as he finished his food. "He's excited to have better relations."

still working on his, although he's almost finished. 'My boss is too, if you couldn't tell.'

shakes his head at that and smiles a bit. "Couldn't tell at all."

finishes his meal with a smile on his face, 'He's probably sitting in his office just now losing hair over what I'm saying you know.'

laughs a bit at that and nods. "I wouldn't doubt it, mine isn't as worried."

hums, 'You've always been reliable, that's why.'

looked over at him and shook his head lightly as he shifted in his seat. "Not always."

sips his water, waving down a waiter for the check. 'More than me at least.'

nods at that as he pulled his wallet out. "Yes well... I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for you."

ignores the bitchy comment, pulling out a discount card before England gets charged. 'You're doing well for yourself.' is all he replies.

hadn't really meant for it to be bitchy. He looked at the discount card and sighed a bit before he pulled enough cash out to cover the bill.

shrugs. He was tight with his cash... he thought everyone knew that. 'I missed that, your sighs.' Sarcasm.

knew that, he just didn't think discount cards were that common. He got up with that and ignored the comment. "I'll have the paper work sent to you."

Follows him out. 'Right... Are you staying in a hotel around here or flying home?'

tucked his hands in his pockets. "I have a hotel room."

Nods, 'If you tell me where it is I can walk you.'

((Pretend its Scotland))

thought about that for a moment before he told him the address of the place.

hums, quietly placing it as he starts to head in the right direction. 'Nice place...'

shrugs as he walked with him, hands tucked in his pockets. "My secretary booked it for me. I never have much of a choice."

smiles, 'They have good taste then. It's nice... not too fancy, kinda homely. And the cooking's braw - real home cooking.'

nods as he glanced over at him. "Sounds brilliant."

smiles, 'Aye. It's a wee place but it's braw.' He leads him down, pass Arthur's seat and Hollyrood park.

stayed quiet now as he walked with him, not really sure what else he could say.

might take him a slightly diverted and somewhat tourist route before they end up in front of the hotel. 'Are you staying tomorrow?'

shrugged a bit as he took the chance to admire some of the sights they were passing. "I hadn't planned on it."

nods, 'Well I can drive you to the airport if you want then?'

paused at that and blinked looking over at him.

stares back, 'What?'

wasn't expecting that offer from him. He shook his head and looked away. "Nothing."

shrugs, 'I don't have to if you don't want me to.'

shakes his head, "I just wasn't expecting it."

rolls his eyes, fingers twitching to ruffle Arthur's hair. He doesn't. 'Just tell me when you want picked up.'

nods a bit as he looked away again. "Is noon okay?"

nods, 'I'll pick you up then.' He waves, intending to wait until Arthur's went into the hotel before leaving.

waved back a bit awkwardly before he let himself into the hotel and headed up to his room.

heads back home once the other nation is safely in, heading back to the office.

went up to his room to call his boss and tell him how everything had gone.

tells his boss to stop worrying when he returns, letting him call England's boss after a while just to confirm that everything went smoothly.

hung up with his boss after discussing the other possibilities Scotland had mentioned.

sighs in relief when he finally gets through, rubbing his face. He really couldn't stand his boss' overeagerness.

stayed up late working on getting all the right paperwork started, it would take a while before he had anything for Scotland to sign.

goes to home early that night, knowing better than to drink the night before he had to drive England to the airport. He's there at noon, sitting in the lobby with a newspaper.

came down with his one bag packed as he checked out. He noticed Scotland and went over to him when he was done.

puts the paper back on the table, standing up to greet him with a smile. 'Late night?'

blinks at that and looked himself over. "Is it that obvious?"

shrugs, 'You're just a little sluggish.' He nods towards the door, 'We can grab a tea before we get in the car.

looked away and tucked his hands in his pockets. "Sure... tea sounds good."

started to protest when he took the bag but didn't bother as he followed him. "Thank you Scotland."