voice; dec 10

[ichininyaanshi]

Tch... this place sucks as much as ever.

[The voice that filters over the network sounds like it belongs to someone who would rather be doing literally anything else. Which is accurate. Ichimatsu doesn't exactly do public speaking. Hell, he hates even answering the phone back home with every strand of his DNA - which says something, considering he's got five other peoples' worth of DNA to speak of. But this is the fastest way he can think of to deal with his situation. At least he doesn't have to show his face; no way would he be able to do this then.]

[There's a slight sound of crunching snow in the background.]

Hey, all of you. Not that I'm gonna stop anyone, but don't bother going up into the snowy areas. It's cold as hell and there's suspicious-looking berries everywhere. Stupid-looking monsters, too. Dunno what the hell any of 'em do, but I'd stay away from all of it if I were you. You'll probably die.

[Why, exactly, Ichimatsu himself is up in the higher elevations of Ensō... he doesn't seem to feel like sharing. He wouldn't even bother pretending to be a good citizen and put this warning out at all if he didn't have an ulterior motive. The crunch of his footfalls pause.]

... oh, and if you recognize this voice, let me know. If you don't... then don't worry about it.

Comments

[hyperlit]

not here as long as you

[So he hasn't...endured the same things that Ichimatsu has. They would think that a mercy, considering what they all had to contend with. These past few months have not been ideal, but they have not been...]

[Few things in this world are ideal. They have survived, and they will continue to survive.]

still recent

[In the broader context.]

[ichininyaanshi]

[And thank fuck for that. If Jyushimatsu had gone through half of what these shitty islands have thrown at the rest of them, Ichimatsu would've happily set the entire archipelago on fire. While not anxious currently, "anxious" doesn't even begin to describe how he feels overall about being the elder brother in this situation now. He has to try to keep Jyushimatsu out of trouble as much as possible.]

[He can't even pretend that he'd prefer being alone, though. Not anymore.]

Sure. But he's not like you and me, you know. He has no issues getting attached to people right away... so naturally, he gets lonely easier, too. I'm a bit worried... but I feel better knowing you were looking out for him.

[If only a little. It's not like he expects the Drifter to babysit his grown-ass man of a brother.]

[hyperlit]

["Looking after him" seems a stretch, but they're not sure how best to address it. They haven't not been keeping an eye out for him, after all. But they are only one person, and otherwise occupied a great deal of the time.]

[Something of which Ichimatsu is probably well aware. Is it manners?]

[They ought to be honest.]

as much as possible
has seemed well

[As well as one can be, in a place like this, at least.]

[ichininyaanshi]

... yeah, I know. It wasn't your job or anything, but I know you would've helped him if he needed it. So... I'm grateful. That's all I'm saying.

[What he isn't mentioning is that he recalls visiting that shitty dream-island before arriving, where Jyushimatsu himself mentioned having met the Drifter. So, even though he doesn't know their actual dynamic - or if they've even developed one yet - he knows that his friend and brother were at least aware of each other's existence.]

[And, because he feels like he knows both of them reasonably well, he knows there's no way either of them would fail to extend a hand if the other needed it. Thinking he's that particular connecting point is a weird feeling, but he brushes it mostly aside. Two good people meeting is a good thing, regardless.]

Anyway, I can't stay long. But I have some stuff for us.

[hyperlit]

us
?

[Their head tips to one side. They can recognize a deliberate change in subject when they hear one, and it's easier to pay attention to that than it is anything else he's said. Those awkward, stumbling attempts at sincerity are not always comfortable for him, they know.]

[They have acknowledged it. More concerning now is the odd turn of phrase he's used.]

[ichininyaanshi]

Yeah, 'us'. You know, to share?

[Or is it the 'stuff' they're worried about? Maybe he's giving off the wrong idea here..... he's not being a criminal right now, ok.]

It's nothing special. But the garden out in the stupid monkey village is still mostly alive, so I picked some herbs for tea. Drink some with me.

[hyperlit]

[Well. As if they're about to say no to that.]

ok

[Perhaps they're too eager to agree. But it's been...some time since they've seen him. They have been forced, in more ways than one, to slow down from their relentless and nigh unceasing drive to always get things done.]

[And besides. Is this not worth celebrating?]