i.
The sun never sets on the British Empire's holdings.
ii.
With Hong Kong, there's firecrackers. The smell of smoke from the burning of joss sticks makes England cough and there's this odd looking creature (Hong Kong says it's a lion) and he has never seen anything like it before and he's not sure if he wants to see more.
"What's going on?" he asks Hong Kong, thick brows knit together in puzzlement.
"They're celebrating the opening of a business," Hong Kong replies, shrugging.
England decides that the more he tries to bury his head under the pillow, the louder the crash of the cymbals become.
iii.
With India, there's the smooth, shimmery sound of the sitar as she sits playing the instrument beside England. Her laughter is rich, beautiful and he tries to lull himself to sleep as she plays.
He closes his eyes and for a fraction of an hour, he actually thinks that he's frolicking in the land of Nod.
iv.
With Australia, there's his voice, quiet, soft, ghosting over England's skin as he sings. All is silent - almost - and peaceful but even in the stillness, somehow, he doesn't find what he is searching for.
Nevertheless, he leans back and listens and loses himself in Australia's words.
v.
With Malaya, there's rain. It's hot and humid, the air is damp and he sits beside Malaya, who looks out at the rain happily. The rhythm of the rain hammering against the tin roof is steady, almost like the sound of a heart beating.
England does not want to be reminded of how, once upon a time, he knew how it was like to fall asleep in someone's arms.
vi.
With Singapore, there's... England doesn't exactly know what to say as his colony hands him a glass full of ruby red liquid, asking him to drink it. He obliges, hesitantly and the taste of it is intoxicating, mysterious, of gin and pineapple and cherry and everything he had once expected the Orient to be. He isn't fond of drinking himself into slumber, but sometimes... This can be an exception. Yet even after he finds himself intoxicated, Singapore's still in his suit and tie, he doesn't take it off, despite the bar getting stuffier... Glass after glass after glass after glass later, Singapore has to carry him back to his hotel room.
England murmurs in his sleep. Singapore stays close enough to know he's talking, but far enough not to hear what it is.
vii.
England doesn't like dreaming, because at least, if he's awake, he can choose not to keep the company of the unwanted ghosts of his past.
a/n: for the kink meme. for some reason, i imagined australia singing 'waltzing matilda'. singapore gives england a glass of singapore sling to drink. (this should be around the 1920s/1930s) reviews will be greatly appreciated.