Chapter six. Introducing Roy and Richard...and France and England. XD

"Have you got a good grip?"

"Yes, yes, I 'ave it."

"Are you sure? We don't have a spare-"

"Richard, I 'ave it, stop worrying!"

"Alright…."

CLANG.

"….ROY!"

"W'oops…." Richard Picard pinched the bridge of his nose and took a slow, deep breath. Up on the stage, Roy Justice shrugged sheepishly. "Erm….at least it did not break, oui?" Richard bent down and picked up the small amplifier he'd been trying to pass up to his cosplaying companion.

"That's it, get down here." He ordered. "You hand things up, and I'll do the heavy lifting." Roy put on a pouty face and slumped his shoulders, sulkily climbing down from the stage. Richard resolved to keep a poker face, even though the obvious regret of the other made his anger dissolve. "Here," He picked up a smaller box and thrust it into Roy's arms. "Start with the small stuff, an' we'll work our way up to the big buggers."

"D'accord." Roy smiled a tiny bit. The 'sad puppy' ploy had worked! As it always did, but that wasn't the point. Richard climbed up onto the stage, then turned around and held out his hands expectantly. Roy obediently handed up the box, and turned to grab another as Richard slid the cardboard along the worn floor of the well-used but makeshift stage. They got a fair amount of the work done in this manner - all the smaller, lighter boxes were in place by the time they ran into trouble.

Quite suddenly, a Japan cosplayer (a good one, too) raced through the room. He shot Richard and Roy a glance as he sped past, tossing out some sort of apology (at least, they assumed that was what he said) in Japanese as he hurried out of the side door, kicking out the doorstop with ninja reflexes and letting it fall shut behind him. Richard blinked.

"….what the hell was-"

"He went in here!" Both men blinked as two more cosplayers rushed inside, this time, England and France. The shorter blonde looked around with an obvious scowl. "I swore I saw him turn in here!" The taller blonde shrugged.

"Per'aps he used some of zose 'ninja skills'…" He suggested.

"Eh, if you are looking for a Japan cosplayer," Both men started and spun around when Roy spoke up. "Zen you just missed 'im."

"Went out the side door." Richard added, nodding at the aforementioned exit. "You'll have to go around, though - it locks from the outside. Wasn't supposed to be shut."

"Ah….security will not be 'appy with us for zat one…" Roy mused. Richard made a face.

"Belt up and hand me the next box." Roy smirked and stood to attention, throwing out a small salute.

"Aye, Captain." Richard gave his companion a very, very flat look.

"That joke is almost as old as you. Burn."

"Burn, yourself, mon amor - we're ze same age." Roy giggled as he handed up the last of the smaller boxes. England let out a quiet, frustrated sigh.

By the time he and France managed to find their way to the other side of the room through the crowded, twisting convention halls, Japan would be long gone. He was in his element, here - he didn't need ninja skills, just a cosplay and other otakus to hide in. France seemed content to be done running, also. He'd passed so many lovely ladies out in the halls (and a few shirtless men!). He wouldn't mind abandoning this chase and going back…

"Would you like a hand?" England's voice snapped France out of his dreaming, and he looked over to see the two humans struggling to lift one of the larger boxes onto the stage.

"Magnifique, je vous remercie!" Roy grunted under the weight of the heavy container, half bent in a struggle to lift it up to Richard, who was having no more luck. "I think I can feel my zpine znapping…." He groaned dramatically. England hurried over, and with the strength of three, the box was lifted onto the stage. Richard pushed it back from the edge as Roy collapsed to the floor with a melodramatic groan. "Je vous remercie, stranger!" He smiled at England. "I am Roy Justice, and zis iz Richard Picard. 'Oo might you be?"

"Arthur Kirkland and Francis Bonnefoy…" England smirked. Then, he added hastily. "For the day, of course." Roy laughed as he stood up.

"You get very into character, zen." England traded a look with France.

"Yes…yes we do." He agreed. To his relief, Roy believed him, and France switched topics by pointing up to the stage.

"What is all ziz you two are moving, and shouldn't you 'ave 'elp?" Richard snorted, half laughing.

"Oh, if only." He walked to the edge of the stage and sat on the edge. "We've been doing this gig for how long now?" He glanced at Roy, but continued before the other could answer. "Three years maybe? Four? We're recouring guests, and we've never gotten a single staff member to lift a finger."

"Zen again, zis convention 'as been known for zome pretty bad fights." Roy added. "Crowded 'allways and short tempers make for un'appy cosplayers. Ze staff 'as enough trouble just keeping things under control az it iz. Besides," He grinned, "We don't need 'elp to do it." Richard twitched.

"That's what he said, and stop setting me up for those." He scowled. Roy giggled along with France, though it took England a minute to get the joke.

"Only when you ztop responding to zem, mon amor!"

Fail!Attempt to write a French accent. Also, if you can catch the joke about Richard, I'll give you a free Hetalia-themed request!