All That Jazz (Outsourcing) -OPEN-

[America]

Come on, babe
Why don't we paint the town?
And all that jazz
_______________________

November 3rd, 1921

Since the placement of the Volstead Act in 1919, the country while on a high climb for economic stimulus after WWI...America had been a safe-haven for organized crime after the Prohibition really began to take place. Even their nation had decided to join in on the action, believing at the Volstead Act was a bad idea to begin with. Speakeasies and bootlegging were prevalent, if anything they only added to the excitement. All of this beginning to happen before England had brought Lithuania to him for live-in help.

The sounds of jazz filled the Jones household, Alfred humming to himself as he went through the house in search for the brown-haired nation. He was dressed in a white collared shirt, black pants, and suspenders, a newsboy cap resting on his head. He actually had plans for them that night at the suggestion of the Jerseys. He had heard something about the Black Cat, though where it was he didn't know.

Alfred himself didn't agree with the Prohibition laws, so he himself was involved in the bootlegging. New York, New Jersey, St. Louis, and his personal favorite...Chicago. He had a special soft-spot for the city, a city where the gin is ice cold and the piano keys are practically on fire. Booze and jazz, the staple of the beginning decade. Mafia bosses were popping up all over the place and were quickly gaining infamy such as Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. He had to do his work behind the back of his big boss, Warren G. Harding. He even told him that the Prohibition was a bad idea, but of course got turned the blind eye. He didn't care, he was always one to follow his gut. It was the same as having Lithuania living with him, he had to do it behind the boss's back.

"Hey Liet, where are you?" He called, the heels of his nice loafers clicking on the floor beneath his feet as the sounds of jazz sax filled his ears. Lietuva, where Alfred had gotten his nickname for Lithuania from. He had him from the moment he had walked in the door, and damn did he fall hard...It had been around a year and a half, he was finally making progress on gaining his trust. First it was Mr. America...And not being able to talk to him without Lithuania being very formal with him, which all in all made him very uncomfortable. Then after a couple of months it moved to Mr. Jones. A few more months, just Alfred. He was hoping to very soon get it to be just Al. At least...That's what he was hoping for.

I've got a proposition for you...If your at least interested in hearing it."

Start the car
I know a whoopdee spot
Where the gin is cold
But the piano's hot
_______________________

[toris]

It was never to be said that Lithuania was a 'goody two-shoes', and he was nowhere as strict with rules as was Germany- Ludwig, a man, nation, that Lithuania hadn't seen since long before being shipped off to stay with America- but he did have a certain respect for the laws of the country he was staying in. Especially the Prohibition- after living so long with Russia, who was the living epitome of a raging alcoholic, he'd developed a rather unhealthy dislike of alcohol. However, the nation, America himself, did not agree with his own laws, and thus Toris said nothing about it. He couldn't afford to upset the only man standing between him and Ivan, even if Alfred didn't seem the type to just abandon him for an opinion.

Alfred... Toris couldn't believe that he was actually calling the man, this great, new nation by his first name. It wasn't like him, he never even called Russia by his first name, or at least, never aloud. But the younger nation had insisted, and, well... His cheeks warmed slightly as he moved around his room, straightening up to the rhythm of the music filling the house. Jazz, that wonderful music that was quintessentially American, and all the better for it.

Oh, yes. Toris was completely infatuated with Alfred Jones.

Anyone who knew him well would know, but Alfred himself seemed rather oblivious, and Toris was glad for that. He was still painfully shy around the other man, polite and nervous, but it was more because of the fact that it was a man he admired so much than any actual fear. He desperately wanted to keep whatever good opinions Al had of him going.

At the sound of America- Mr. Jones- Alfred calling for him, Liet hurriedly took off the apron he was wearing- 'I love New York', a gift from Alfred, of course, but something he never let the other see him wearing- and left his room, moving down the stairs. "I'm sorry," he called, "I didn't hear you before..." Reaching the bottom of the stairs, he straightened the rolled-up sleeves of the rough shirt he wore, offering a slight smile. "What was it that you wanted to talk about?"

[America]

Come on, babe
Why don't we paint the town?
And all that jazz
_______________________

When he heard the older nation's voice behind him, he felt a bright grin begin to tug at his lips as the sounds of the sax, trumpets, and drums filled his ears. How he loved the sounds so much...As they saying goes, booze and jazz brings people together. Go to any city where the speakeasies were prevalent, it would be very obvious that this statement is very much alive and true when it came to his people. Rebellion was very much alive in his people, as well as himself. Ever since his own fight for freedom from England...That sense of rebellion was always there, ready to rear its head when necessary.

The Prohibition came at the height of the coming of a new generation, women became more removed from the stuffy full-coverage dresses and pinned-back hair in exchange for sassy short hair cuts, high heels, and short flapper dresses. Even men exchanged the more proper dress for more casual suits, while Alfred was more of a free spirit; he was relieved when the views of freedom really began to shift and not only for men, but for the women as well.

He felt himself smile as he turned on his heels to face Liet, it wasn't only the music that made his stomach feel as though it was doing a back-flip. His economy was doing extremely well, as was the fight to revoke the Prohibition laws which put the blond into an even better mood...Especially with the plans he had for them that night. He practically, in a hyper state, ran toward the other man, picking him up off of the stairs and spun him around with ease. He let out a laugh as he set him back down, a cheshire-grin in place.

"Because my economy's going great, and to also give you a real American welcome...Which should have been done months ago, but never late than never! I want to take you out tonight, actually longer than that. Me and the Jerseys want to give you a proper welcome, so we're going on a trip so go and pack up. We're leaving tomorrow morning."

Alfred was really hoping that this trip would be the push Liet needed to feel more comfortable with him, he didn't like people feeling that way. He was to tense...A week out of the house and in the big city he figured would do Lithuania some much needed good.

Start the car
I know a whoopdee spot
Where the gin is cold
But the piano's hot
_______________________

[Lithuania]

The smile on Alfred's face brought the feeling of butterflies to Toris's stomach as he turned around to see him.Toris let out a sound of surprise as he was picked up the spinning an unexpected but enjoyed surprise. Toris was glad to see the other man in such a happy mood, the joyful laughter bringing a small smile to the Brunette's face. Steadying himself as he was set back down Toris listened to what the hyper blond had to say, the smile drooping slightly but not disappearing as he processed the plan.

A trip? Was that what Alfred had said? He already felt welcome here there was no need to go through the trouble of doing that for him although the thought of being able to spend that time with Alfred out of the house was a very tempting offer. There was not many things that Alfred could do to get him out of the house these days and it seemed like this could be a nice idea, but he did not want to be a bother to Alfred. Yes Alfred's economy was doing better but there was no reason to not be careful with what he was going to be doing.

"Th-there is really no need for that Alfred, you have made me feel v-very welcome here and I-i am enjoying my time here with you greatly. If you really w-want to go there is nothing w-wrong with that but its not for me. You have been taking v-very good care of me so it can be for both of us? A reward for you and a chance to see more of your country for me?"

Toris said all of this with a slight blush on his face the butterflies seeming to grow in number the longer he continued to talk. The blond looked so excited to go on this trip so who was Toris to tell him no, especially after how well Alfred was treating him. The time out of the house would be a good idea for him as well. He couldn't hide inside the house forever no matter how safe it felt to him.

As he waited for Alfred's answer Toris looked down slightly the blush fading as he did so and the amount of butterflies lessening with the time he spent not looking directly at Alfred. Toris fidgeted nervously as he calmed thinking of what Alfred's answer could be. No matter how many times he told himself that Alfred wouldn't get angry at him he would still be worried when he questioned something like this.

[America]

Every minute from this minute now
We can do what we like anywhere
___________________

He watched as the others' smile slightly fell at the mention of the trip that honestly he had been thinking about for...Well...Months. His economy was thriving, the whole country had been taken up in a smooth sweep of jazz and booze through the help of the speakeasy's in the big cities. While the Prohibition had put a little bit of a damper on that, it only brought out that strong sense of rebellion both in him and in his people that he hadn't felt in God knew how many years. It was a time for the fast and good living, he knew and could feel it with each fiber of his being. It was something that he wanted to share with Liet, especially with how important it actually was.

Besides that, he wanted time away from his superiors and time alone with the other man to get to know him better outside of the house. What better way was there to actually do that than this? By going to the very center of all of the activity.

Listening to what he had to say, his own smile faltered slightly. So he was still shy, well...Seems as though it was something that he would have to try and change now, wasn't it? "Of course it can be for the both of us, why else do ya think that I suggested it? Ya can't stay in this house forever, not when there's so much going on!" His wide grin had returned at the mere thought of all of the activity, something that he actually wanted to get a hand in himself if he could. "Times are changin', ya can't stay cooped up in one place forever ya know."

Which was completely true, for him as well. He had been on a tight leash since the Prohibition began, but now it was time to slip from that collar and chain and sneak off to have some much-needed fun. Noticing the flush that had risen up in his cheeks, a faint twinge of pink had begun to rise up in his own cheeks. Shaking his head and rubbing at the back of his neck in a vain effort to be rid of the warmth in his face, not even bothering to push back up the frames that had slid back down the bridge of his nose. "So...What do ya say? Wanna go with me?"

I want so much to open your eyes
'Cause I need you to look into mine
___________________

[Lithuania]

Alfred's good mood was infectious it seemed as Toris started to get a bit giddy at the thought of getting to go out of the house a thought that had scared him not to long ago. Smiling at Alfred he nodded slightly. "I-i would love to go with you Alfred, i-it sounds fun."

He would love to go on a trip with Alfred as long as it was about both of them, Alfred had been so nice to him he didn't need things just about him it made him a bit uncomfortable when Alfred did things for him and him alone. Alfred always seemed to know what it was that he needed.

It seemed what he needed at the moment was to get out of the house and away from all the things that had been on his mid as of late. Keeping his mind off of the nightmares and not letting anyone see how he had seemed to break down. Not that the breaking down seemed to happen much anymore Alfred seemed to make any bad thoughts or ideas disappear from his mind and be replaced with happy ones. this was a good development for Toris as his mind was a dark place at times.

Alfred was right times were changing and there was no need for him to stay in the house anymore there was more to the world than the inside of a house and there was no need for there to be fear when he was with Alfred. All the fear just seemed to evaporate into the air as if it never existed. Looking back over at Alfred with a wide smile on his face, "Wh-when did you want to have this trip and what do I need to pack? I-i don't want to be unprepared for anyth-thing." Toris had a hopeful and happy look on his face, something that lately seemed a common expression around Alfred.

[America]

Every moment, it's harder to restrain myself
If this is love, I want to wear it on my sleeve
_______________________

That smile was there again, the smile that when Alfred did get to see, only caused his own smile to grow. It was an infectious thing, maybe that was why he loved it so much. Or maybe it was for another reason, maybe because he was afraid of him when he had first come to his house? The fact that he was afraid of him and thought that he would do something terrible to him if he had done anything wrong, because of that, Alfred had begun to do everything in his power to attempt to make the foreign nation feel more at home. At the very least, he was trying.

His broad grin only widened when he saw the happy, hopeful look on the Lithuanian's face. So he was happy about the prospect of this trip, ok, good. So this wasn't going to be one of his scatterbrained plans that was going to blow up in his face, this was actually going to work, and they were actually going to do it. To hop out of the country to the good scene, to show Liet his world, at least his current world.

Sure there was a little bit of a romanticised version in his head about what was going on, but at the moment, he wanted to keep it that way. After all, he wanted this to be special for...Various reasons, at least for reasons that were mostly his own that he hoped that he would be able to get across once they got to where they were going. "Awesome! Go ahead and go get packed, we're heading out on the first flight to Chicago tomorrow morning."

He hoped that the gods of jazz and booze would help him in his quest so he would emerge victorious in the end. That the European would be drawn to him, like two magnets were. He had never before in his life had felt this strongly for another person, while it may be considered 'strange' and 'wrong,' he didn't care.

The "strange feeling" turns into an unbearable longing
I would follow you to the end of forever
_______________________