video; un: ny4n

[ichimyatsu]

[You'd be surprised by how hard it is to set up a phone for a video post while sitting on a rebellious pre-teen who is a ten year old version of one of your five brothers-- but he won't tell you which. That, by the by, happens to be precisely what Ichimatsu Matsuno is doing at this particular moment, the feed kicking on to him frowning irritably at the screen with his hands clearly on either side of the device while he tries to make it stand upright.]

[When he sits back the scene gets a little stranger, because he is, in fact, sitting on a tiny version of what looks like himself if he ever brushed his hair and slept. He actually hisses at the boy beneath him and sits on him to prevent some of his wild flailing, and then glares back at the video feed.]

Can somebody tell me which Matsuno this little shit is? He's one of my brothers but inexplicably tiny and he won't tell me who he is.

Comments

[undeflective]

Ah... well... if you don't have any skills, do you at least have interests? Even things like playing video games and... voicing opinions seem to be marketable these days.

[glitterkid]

Why not? You've got people who love you! I'm just messin' with you, you know-- you're still my brother and I still love you because we have been through a lot together! Think 'bout how far we would get if we weren't all together? Not very far!

_{[ Oh, good heavens. Making him younger also made him a lot less concerned about his feelings and how to show them.
But what he says is true, rather it be from an older Karamatsu or a younger one. ]}

[glitterkid]

Sure.. you're not gonna kidnap me, right? When I wanna come back to Ichimatsu-niisan, that's okay, right?
_{[ He probably won't want to stay with Cain for too long. Separating these guys is awful to maintain. ]}

[glitterkid]

Umm--
<sub>[ Somewhere in his foggy, adult memories-- he can read music, but it's becoming difficult for him to really be confident in giving Dodger a quick answer.

But then he blurts out: ]</sub>

Sure thing! Bet'cha won't be able to teach me anything new!
_{[ ah.. ]}

[glitterkid]

_{[ Karamatsu makes a very loud yuck noise. ]}

You'll be really thrilled when I push you off a cliff!
_{[ such violence.. ]}

[glitterkid]

'Cause if you do, I'll fight you.
_{[ No hesitation whatsoever? Are we sure this is Karamatsu? ]}

[finethanks]

[Haha, how fun. He won't keep teasing him, though.]

I'll speak to you later, Karamatsu-kun.

[maskerading]

... Heh. Not that determined to win in the end, then?

THIS IS SO RUDE.

[ichimyatsu]

[This... This is not okay. Ichimatsu bristles above him and looks... Well, it's hard to say. It kind of looks like he has a stomachache, probably especially to a kid. But the statement kind of... hits very, very close to home, because he'd left home before Eluvio, and then somehow afterward, too. And it wasn't good either time.]

[And, just when it looks like he might just haul off and punch the kid in the head, he does the exact opposite and drops forward, not quite hugging him because he isn't that comfortable with himself and may never be, but his arms bracket Karamatsu's head and his forehead rests on the kid's shoulder.]

...if I could give you any advice, right now, Karamatsu, it's never grow up.

[ichimyatsu]

June...

[He makes a really perplexed face.]

How the fuck did I miss my own birthday??

[finethanks]

I wasn't able to get you a gift because of it. I'm sorry~.

[ichimyatsu]

[He gives him an uninterested glower.]

That's rich. Because even if I cared enough about video games, people would want to listen to me play them and talk about it.

[ichimyatsu]

I consider it a win if I don't have to deal with him, no matter what leads to that.

[ichimyatsu]

[He makes a sound that... vaguely resembles a Tasmanian Devil if it screamed as it was sucked backward into a vacuum cleaner. Weirdly specific, I know.]

That is not the point! What the fuck age does that make me then?? Am I still 23? Am I 24 and I just don't ...didn't, experience?? My birthday? [He's not really asking looking for an answer, he's just shrieking.]

[undeflective]

...What do you... do all day?

[maskerading]

That's some harsh brotherly love there.

[aeturnus]

No, no kidnapping involved. I just think Ichimatsu-kun could use a nap first, don't you?

[ Even if that tiredness is perpetual, it probably doesn't help to have your brother suddenly shrunk and then a bunch of strangers trying to peer in and snark at you about it. That's pretty much the nature of the network, though. ]

[exfine]

It's because we're friends, Ichimatsu-kun. That said, I'd be just as honored to be friends with you as well, if you're all right with that.

[ Yay, friendship! ]

[glitterkid]

I think he could also use a toothbrush... maybe a litter box too! So the sooner you get here, the better!

_{[ this rude af kid.. ]}

[glitterkid]

<sub>[ Karamatsu jolts when Ichimatsu drops down closer to him-- almost hugging-- but not quite. A slight gasp escapes his lips as he stares wide eyed up at Ichimatsu. In his kid mind, he can remember little adult memories-- but they seem like dreams that didn't exist. He's a little confused, but he doesn't question it.

Without much hesitation, he latches onto Ichimatsu. ]</sub>

I don't wanna, but I know it'll happen. It shouldn't matter if we grow up though-- we still will care for each other, right?! You guys are all I know..
_{[ ah, naive child.. ]}

[aeturnus]

We'll let him take care of those himself.

[ Yeah, yeah, he's about there now. S'up. ]

[ichimyatsu]

[He actually has to hold his breath for a good minute there, and then he sits up and dislodges Karamatsu from him.]

...I don't grow up into a nice brother, Karamatsu. [He... sounds oddly upset about this, but his face is impassive.]

[ichimyatsu]

When there are six of you the love gets spread pretty damn thin.

[ichimyatsu]

[He makes a sort of gurgling sound.]

I don't have friends. [But oh, he wants them.]

[exfine]

[ ...Ah. ]

It's a start. I'm not going to pressure you or anything, but if you want someone to hear you out, I'd be willing to lend an ear. I'm a good listener.