Papa? Why do you hate Grandpa so much?

I, I don't for say 'hate' your grandfather. It's just that he could be better.

So. So much better.

The day was going by fairly fast, the sun close to setting.

Ukraine won the pot, which at this point was a decent 51|. Already seeming to know something the rest didn't, they moved to tackle their older brother. Russia tried to sidestep, only to trip and fall over a low footrest. The impact was enough to at least stun the country, giving Ukraine access to a bottle of vodka hidden in his jacket.

"This calls for a celebration!" The young country decreed, Zar agreeing at the ever-growing chaos. Zee was more concerned about the health condition of the fallen country.

"Russia, are you alright? . . . Russia?"
"Looks like he's out."

Germany moved over, confirming that Russia was indeed, out.

Ukraine didn't give a crap, already having dug out a shot glass and filling their second shot. Aussie was busy trying to figure out what the drink was. "Why are you taking such small glasses of water?"

"This isn't water. Do you know what 'alcohol' is?"
The looks from Canada attempted to give the two a clue that they didn't drink.
"No."
"Want to try some?" Ukraine asked Aussie, Zar picking up on the silent plea. "How about no? This is a drink for those more experienced."
"Now I really want to try some."
"You're not gonna like it Australia."
"It can't be that different from snake venom."
"From WHAT?!"

But Australia had already snagged a shot from the shocked countries, downing the whole thing.

1 second.

2.

Break for the kitchen. Ukie, Zar, and Nada were all laughing at the face on the youngest of the Anglospheres.
"THAT'S DISGUSTING!!"
"Really? I find it having a good and unique taste. And from what Ame can confirm snake venom tastes terrible. You have strange tastes little bro." Canada jested.
"Well so do you Mr. Drown-everything-in-syrup."
"Don't you dare attack my syrup."
"And don't attack my snakes!"

"What. What even is this conversation?" Zar asked, managing to slow the random mess that was starting. Aussie pouted off on the side, "He's insulting Ruby, Pebbles, Ziggy, King, Corvet, Fannel, Corn, Heuy-"
"We get it. I'm insulting your army of snakes. But you are also insulting my syrup."
"W-where did you even get a bottle of a- a- ok." Ukraine started, pausing when Canada took a shot straight from the syrup container. With a shrug, "You your syrup, him his, . . . Hang on. You actually down venom?"
"Yeup!" Aussie happily exclaimed.

"W-what kinds?"
"All sorts. I only do it rarely; don't want to hurt my danger noodles too much nor exhaust their natural stores."
"So let me get this straight. You make cocktails out of all sorts of deadly venoms."

Aussie nodded.
"How are you not dead yet?"

Across the living room, the rest of the crew was busy trying to get Russia moved off the floor. Belarus was ordered to clear off the couch, China and Japan helping. Germany had checked the head, giving everyone a sense of relief that the skull hadn't cracked, or at the very least wasn't bleeding. That left Ame and Zee to haul the towering country up and over.

"Careful."
"Oh. Sorry. I'll be more careless with my movements."
"Watch his head!" "Careful."
"Going down, going down. Zee! No! Put it down! Put down the camera Japan!" Ame yelled, the Russian having slipped from New Zealand's grasp. The freedom country was now essentially bearing most of the weight.
"But memories!" Japan called back with a wicked look.

Ame slung the taller onto the couch, not even caring if he missed. With such a big arrow and a small target, chances of missing were slim. Unfortunately his arm got caught, the momentum sending both onto the couch.

"Don't laugh at me. You're a-" Ame managed to pry his arm back out, loosing his shades in the process. His eyes were quick to seal shut.
"Zee! Where are my shades?"

China took this moment to snag the precious glasses.
"Ame. Over here."

"That China? Well, give them back."
"Not if ya can't catch me first."

Ame took this as a challenge. Moving his feet a little to orientate himself, Ame was able to walk blindly and confidently towards a light switch.

He flicked it off, sending the room into near darkness.

"OOF-"
China was swiftly targeted.

The lights were flicked back on, America proudly wearing his shades again. China was winded on the ground, stunned by the impact.

"I warnedjya."
"You really didn't America." Zealand commented.
"Well I did ask for my property back. You telling me I need to give a robber a warning before I slam their skull into a wall?"
"1: You weren't getting robbed. 2: You do not slam skulls into walls, especially not our neighbors."
"I didn't go for the head."
"And another thing!"
"Hmm?"
". . . You made me loose it."

America gave a smug grin at having beat Zee in an argument. But because he was at least somewhat civil, he helped China back up.

"Blyat." (This is literally the only Russian swear [I assume it is. Help] I know of. If ya have another one better please pass them over.)

Russia was recovering somewhat, moving slightly on the couch.

Ukraine took notice.
"Russia's alive! This calls *hic* for another celebration!"
"I think you've have enough vodka." Canada could be heard.

Russia immediately reached up, somewhat worried that his ushanka wasn't on. The next matter of business was the growing lump on the backside of his head.

"Vhat . . . Happened?" He tenderly fingered the bruise.
"You tripped on a footstool."

Russia grumbled something in russian, to which only Germany had a basic understanding of the language.
"Would you have rather it'd been the table?"

Russia nodded, easing his way up to a sitting position.

"This has been an exciting evening!" Japan broke the silence.

To that New Zealand looked outside, seeing that the sun had set.
"How about we end this night off with a 'bang'?"

As Zee finished his sentence, America was out of the house and making a beeline for a shed out in the backyard. Aussie made sure to toss his brother a pack of matches before Stripes was out of throwing range.

"Yes!" Japan cheered, getting a few nods around from the rest. "Alright. Grab a chair from the dining room and head outside." Zealand ordered, Canada and Aussie already hauling out more simple folding chairs. "There's more of these in the closet." Nada commented, opening the simple lever door handle with his foot.

Kicking it open, Aussie led the way outside to a back patio.

Germany was more curious about the shed, deciding he could stand for the show. He walked over, following a well-beaten path through the tall grass. With the last remaining streaks of light across the sky, he was able to find America's footprints along with something more, animal.

'That couldn't be a dog. And we don't have large birds in this area. . . Unless Aussie has a Cassowary as a pet.'

The light was disappearing quickly, reminding Germany he didn't have a flashlight on his person. The shed was still in view, so there he went.

Inside in near darkness, Germany could hear America moving stuff around.
"Oh, Germany. Come to help set up the fireworks?"
"How can you see anything in here?"

"Like I said. Sensitive to light. I can see just fine. And watch out for the table right there- don't want you accidentally slamming your ribs into the vice. Aussie's done that once or twice- wasn't a good day."
Germany slowly reached out and sure enough, there was the vice bolted into the never-moving table.

"Here. Just be sure not to shine that at me."
Germany felt something get put in his hands, taking a moment to realize it was a flashlight. He flicked on the light, hearing a small wince over in the corner.

"Oh. Right." Germany adjusted the beam of light.
"Thanks. Let's see. Mind helping me carry these out?"

Just out of the illuminated area, Germany could see America point at a few cylinders. The other had already grabbed a bunch of them, already walking out the door. Germany couldn't get a good look around the shed, but from the few glimpses it was a metalworking shed. Or just a jumbled storage shed.

Germany did his best to not loose America, just realizing how dark it was without the lights of the neighborhood. "Quite the place ya got here. How far does the backyard go?"
"The real estate guy didn't get into specifics, just that we own from the porch to about 100 feet into the trees."

Germany swung the beam of light into the trees farther out. "Big backyard then." "Yeah. We still have yet to go through it all. Zee wants to mow down the grass, but there's too much junk and the grass is too high to make it safe for the lawnmower. Another project I guess."

Germany felt the ground change beneath his feet. Giving an experimental tap, metal rang softly out.
"Huh?"
"We just don't question it. It was here when we came. Ok."

America stopped somewhere in the middle of the metal sheet, carefully setting down his cylinders. "You do the same."

Back at the house, Zee watched the moving beam of light curiously. Doing a headcount, "I guess Germany walked over. He better get back over here if he wants to properly watch."

"America doesn't use a flashlight?" Zar asked, seeing only one beam of light out in the field.
"Na. Most of them are too bright. As soon as he takes off his shades he can find things in this field no problem. . ."
'I'll have to find Germany once this is over.'

Back out in the field, America pulled out a box containing shaky things or a lot of little things. Germany didn't dare shine his light over to double check.
"I would suggest heading back over. What I have pulled out is quite the show. And I've been working on a new firework."
"So you're the one setting those off every other night."
"Mhm. Have to test what works and what doesn't."

"China and Japan are pretty good with fireworks. Could ask them on some tips."
"I will. But head on back."

"In a moment. I want to know what one of these looks like right underneath."
America chuckled.
"Then prepare to be showered in gunpowder."

America struck the match, not even caring that he wasn't wearing his shades. He felt his eyes adjust to the light, paying no attention to the other as he lit the fuse.

Germany was mostly in shock at the sight of the striped country's eyes.
'What is wrong with this family?'

On the porch, everyone was seated. Canada spotted a little orange light- "Alright everyone, the show is starting."

Just as Belarus looked up, a *SHZOOOM* could be heard before a powerful shower of reds and yellow streams of light fired high overhead. Not hesitating a second, another fired off, this a brilliant array of green.

The show went on, all the guests but one none the wiser.

The chapters keep getting longer. We're reaching 2k when we started off just under a thousand. And screw my sleep schedule. Four chapters in one day, let's make it happen.