[2.] video | un: 2cool | february 19th

[glitterpants]

_{[ The feed clicks on and shows not one, but two-almost-Karamatsus. The difference between them is easy to see once you find it: Karamatsu’s confident posture and Ichimatsu’s slouch— Karamatsu’s bold eyebrows and Ichimatsu’s stubby ones. Yes, this is one out of the five other identical brothers that Karamatsu has. Some of you have met them both and maybe have noticed the difference right away, others may still be struggling to tell them apart. Here they are, side by side, though, and it may be hard to make out good details of them in the dim light. Karamatsu clears his throat, looking rather serious for a change. It takes him awhile to speak, running one hand down his face and curving it around his chin, obviously distressed by all of this. Ichimatsu? Not so much. ]}

Ah, good evening, everyone. It’s I, Karamatsu.
It’s been.. awhile since I have spoken with you all, but I come baring some tragic news. Yesterday, me and my brother took a walk through the atrium to find better sources of light. What we found was something else. In the trees, we found the gruesome display of organs thrown over the vegetation in a horrific showcase. A—ah, that’s.. not all that we have found..

_{[ He looks a little pale just talking about this and for a moment he has to pardon himself out of the camera. ]}

...You’re still sick about that? Pansy.

[Ah, there’s another difference. While they both speak in deeper voices than one might expect from their looks, Ichimatsu speaks much less clearly, barely opening his mouth and mumbling as opposed to Karamatsu’s clear enunciation. Nevermind the fact that Ichimatsu looks approximately like he’s not used a hairbrush in a week. He rolls his shoulders and takes over, scrunching his face at his brother off-screen.]

There was a boot in the trail, dunno what happened to the other one. The viscera was all up in the trees, like he said, but it was too dark to really tell what was where and if any of them was still intact. There was also a heart in a gold box-- we surrendered it to find out who it belonged to, so I guess there’s not really anything for a burial.

_{[ Karamatsu returns to the feed, wiping his lips across his sleeve. ]}
….For those of you who are friends and family of a passenger named “Rey” … my condolences go out to you. Please keep close to those people you love. Thank you.

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[ichimyatsu]

[He stares blankly for a while and then closes his eyes and makes a sincere effort to reign himself in. Karamatsu was-- He never asked. He had decided, on his own, that Ichimatsu needed protection, wanted protection, and it pissed him off, but-- maybe, just maybe, he appreciated it a tiny bit. He inhales on a count of three, and exhales.]

[Unfortunately, it doesn't stop him from standing up and marching across the room to punch him in the head, but he could have done worse.]

Shut up, if anyone's a flower here it's you. Don't make it anymore appealing for me to drown you.

[glitterpants]

<sub>[ OH, OW.
He's used to this, so he just staggers back on his feet, covering his head where he was hit. Opening one eye, he huffs out a breath, but strangely doesn't show any signs of aggression towards his little brother.

He's used to this. ]</sub>

Say what you must, but promise me you'll at least stay within eye sight of me until all of this is cleared up. Think, then, how Mommy would want us to react in a situation like this. We stay together for almost everything, Ichimatsu. Being in a dangerous situation only emphasizes how close we should be to one another.

Can you at least promise me that?

[ichimyatsu]

[He bristles, raising himself up like he might hit him again, but stops short and just looks away, grunting and curling his hands into fists restlessly.]

I never asked you to protect me. Don't feel like I'm your responsibility.

[He stalks back a few paces to the wall and sits in a heap, drawing his knees to his chest and hugging them to himself.]

[glitterpants]

<sub>[ jesus christmas, it's just like back home.. just a lot quieter. One thing is missing from here and that's Jyushimatsu. The erratic fifth oldest would know what to do in a situation like this that would be more pleasing for Ichimatsu, but not Karamatsu. He doesn't have that closeness with Ichimatsu. Their relationship is and has always been strained.

He rubs his head and remains where he is. As long as he can see you..
Softly, he speaks after a moment. ]</sub>

...I can't help but feel that way. I want to protect you because I want to.
You should know that.

[ichimyatsu]

[His hands grip his upper arms where they rest barely enough to be seen, but the fabric pulls under his fingertips and his eyebrows crease together.]

Do what you want, I obviously can't fucking stop you.

[glitterpants]

_{[ he's too focused on his own feelings to notice how tightly Ichimatsu grips his shirt and take in how uncomfortable his brother is feeling to have all of this attention and care on him since he hates himself. ]}

Good. Because I never will stop.