"You go get him!"

"No, you go get him!"

The countries shouted back and forth, arguing over who should go fetch America for the UN conference. His presence was required, but he was up in his room reading comic books—and they knew what happened when someone interrupted America when he was engaging in this activity. Terrible, unspeakable things.

"Let's pull straws!" proclaimed England. All the countries gathered around, to draw straws—all the counties, except Iceland. He thought the whole affair was rather stupid—so much arguing over nothing. If America wouldn't come down for the meeting when he was supposed to, then that is that. The nations should just start without him. Iceland sighed. Always so foolish, the other nations were. Why, if the Althing stopped all its proceedings every time a jarl was late—but never mind that, Iceland thought to himself. The fools. They'll never see reason.

Iceland stroked his puffin, watching the others pull straws, distain etched upon his face. The puffin cooed.

"Norway, old chap!" England announced, after they had all compared straws. "It looks like you're going to go get him, then. Go along, then, old boy."

England seemed quite relieved that he didn't get the short straw. Iceland supposed England was sick of dealing with America. He had spent two weeks with him recently, on some sort of diplomacy thing or another, Iceland wasn't sure what. But he could say from his own experiences diplomatic talks with America were quite exhausting. Just trying to get a word in edgewise was a Herculean task and—

"Iceland. Iceland." Iceland looked up to see Norway waving his hand in his face. "You're going to fetch America."

"I thought you were going to fetch America," Iceland groaned.

"We've decided that you drew the shortest straw. Because it's practically non existent, see?" Norway smiled cruelly.

Iceland got up, and flashed his brother a look of pure loathing. "I hate you."

"But surely not? Anyway, hurry up with it, yeah? We should start the meeting soon."

Iceland got up from his corner, begrudgingly, and trudged up to America's room. He knocked on the door.

"America! The meeting is about to start!"

He heard big, boisterous footsteps running to get the door. The man whom they belonged to, equally as big and boisterous, flung open the door with gusto.

"Iceland! Just the man I'd like to see!"

"Um, America I—" Iceland said, utterly flabbergasted. He did not expect an excited America.

"Come in!" America yanked Iceland by the arm into his apartment, closing the door behind him.