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

@dodger/video

[undeflective]

Well. I assume one of you is Karamatsu, seeing as that's the only one of you I've met. But things have been very odd lately, haven't they.

[Something in the back of his mind says Dodger will have a field day when all this is fixed.]

@nyan/video

[ichimyatsu]

Great, looks like the consensus is Karamatsu. I'm Ichimatsu, for the record, there's six of us in total if this idiot hasn't told you.

[undeflective]

Well.. nice to meet you, I suppose. I'm one of your brother's friends... I remember him mentioning you when we first met.

[This is a simplified version of events... but Dodger considered them friends, and Jamie will give his counterpart that.]

A lot of us have been affected by something from Taako's world... it seems he's become a child for a while. I'll be happy to lend a hand with him if you need it, it's the least I can do.

i'm so sorry for his language ngdfvfn

[ichimyatsu]

Hot shit, this guy has friends? If he's mentioned me anything he's said is probably a lie, I'm actually awful and detestable, Karamatsu just likes to see the good in anything that breathes.

[A beat, and he scrunches one eye nearly closed leering down at Karamatsu.]

...I never thought I'd say this, but I'm glad it should only be temporary. We were fuckin' hellions as kids.

just wait until dodger's back to his old self tbh

[undeflective]

Well, he mentioned you in passing... but I doubt you're much worse than he is.

[A pause.]

I'm sorry, that came out wrong. But- I assume you know what I mean.

omg

[ichimyatsu]

[He barks a laugh at that, sitting back and chittering for a long time. Oh, that was good. He likes you, Dodger. You're all right.]

I promise I'm worse, he actually usually tries to make some kind of vague attempt at being decent. But I definitely get what you mean.

[undeflective]

What... exactly do you mean by that?

[Dodger would like Ichimatsu too, if he weren't currently an alternate version of himself that didn't become a complete disappointment. As it stands, he's a little bemused and uncomfortable.]

[ichimyatsu]

Are you familiar with the term NEET?

[undeflective]

That's... Not in Employment, Education or Training, isn't it? So you're... supported by your family?

[He's not judging - there are far worse things to be, particularly in the sort of world he comes from.]

[ichimyatsu]

Very good. We're also twenty-three, and there are six of us. We're a huge burden, and any attempts any of us, and by us I mean they, have made to earn money has been purely selfish.

[Ichimatsu is very determined to be worthless. Don't mind him.]

[undeflective]

So... you must feel rather guilty about that. [That's the impression he gets from the self-deprecating language.] But I'm sure your parents would stop supporting you if they thought it was too much for them. And after all, twenty-three isn't too old to be in the nest... it would honestly be more cause for concern if you were in your forties.

[ichimyatsu]

[He shrugs.]

I have absolutely no marketable skills so there's not much I can do about it, so there's less guilt about it than I'd like, I guess.

[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.

[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.

[glitterkid]

_{[ He hears that lend a hand part and lets out a big groan. Then, some protest off screen: ]}

No more grown ups! You're not even related to me, so why should you even help..!?

[undeflective]

Because I'm your friend.

[Which is said in a much more cheerful and genuine manner than he would dare as Dodger.]

I had a brother like you, so it feels a bit like caring for him.

[glitterkid]

_{[ Dodger can't see him thinking for a moment, almost as if he's touched, but then-- ]}

Hmm. Are you rich? If you aren't rich, I don't really care. My friendship is worth a lot of money cause I'm cute.
_{[ Dodger is different; Karamatsu is different... to an extent. ]}

[undeflective]

[He pauses, thinking it over... and then gives him a warm grin.]

I am rich, actually. My grandparents own a huge estate in London, and my mother played polo when she was younger. I can't pay you to be my friend, but I can buy you anything you like.

[These aren't lies, technically, but he's stretching the truth quite a bit. And leaving out the fact that his grandparents have never spoken to him, out of disgust for his existence.]

[glitterkid]

_{[ !!!!
also he doesn't care about London, but that will change once he's in high school. ]}

Okay!
Can you start by buying me a better big brother? And maybe a lot of candy?

[undeflective]

I don't know where one would buy a brother. [This is a lie.] But I can buy you candy, as long as you're responsible with it. Though... I guess I do have painkillers on hand if you're not.

[Suddenly, an idea occurs to him.]

If you'd rather not spend time with your brother, you can always come visit me. I need someone to play guitar for my fireflies, it helps keep their spirits up.

[He pans his phone over to show the jars full of neon, rainbow-colored fireflies strung up all around his room... in between the veritable conspiracy board of notes on and photos of people in Riverview but ignore that.]

[glitterkid]

_{[ He sits there (lies there?? however Ichimatsu has him secured) and looks at the screen in some wonder. Hmmm. ]}

Oh.. play guitar..?
_{[ He didn't play guitar as a kid. ]}

Uuuh, suuure, yeah, I can play guitar!
_{[ he'll come over and play air-guitar, that will count.. ]}

[undeflective]

[He notices the hesitation, but he's not quite sure if it's because he doesn't know how to play or just doesn't trust his own ability. Knowing Karamatsu, it could be either.]

I have a guitar on hand, that's why it was the first intrument that came to mind... if you need some sheet music, I can provide that too. [He pauses.] You're rather young, though- would you need help reading it?

[Can you tell how much he wants to teach someone music because this is Dodger's dream.]

[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.. ]}

[undeflective]

I'm sure I won't.

[There's an honest-to-god grin on his face. He's going to protect this boy with his life.]

[glitterkid]

You're not allowed to get jealous about ow cool I am either. That's the rule!
_{[ and then he'll.. cut the feed? Yeah, maybe Dodger will hear from him later. ]}