[Accidental Audio][Forward-dated to the 29th/post-event]

[brotimaeus]

[[ooc: Because things are fucked up enough for him without his little bro being a sword]]

---

[He's not running, but his footsteps are quick, breathing heavy and not panicked, not panicked, because Bro Strider doesn't panic, not even when he wakes up in a hospital bed with the last memories he has still fresh in his mind being told by someone who sounds too calm that he's fictional. Or was.

Under his breath, he's talking to himself.]

Okay, okay, just. Calm down. Take it easy, Bro. This ain't the most fucked up thing you ever got yourself into, just.. Okay. Priorities. One. Find out where the fuck I am and what the hell is really goin' on here 'cause I ain't down with all this 'you ain't real' bullshit.

Two. Two.. find a fuckin' bar.

[His footsteps pause, then resume. The audio cuts off.]

Comments

[brotimaeus]

[A soft sound escapes him. A sigh, a low noise of relief on an exhaled breath and he closes his eyes for a moment, pushing his hand over his face. If Dave's older, he reasons, that means he got into the game. He's doing it. What Bro had done hadn't been for nothing.]

Kid, I'm about to do somethin', and if you even think to fuckin' judge me for it, I..

[He aborts that sentence, the threat hanging there regardless, and lets his hand drop to his side.]

Get over here, you little shit.

[callbacks]

[He's complying before he even has time to think about it, starting at a brisk walk that's practically a run (not quite, though, never quite that) on the last step, and whatever Bro thought Dave might judge him for is made completely moot by how Dave kind of just lets the crown of his head thump into Bro's chest.

He's real. He's here. He's real and here.

Dave's choked into silence with nameless emotion and the wafting scent of cheese and oregano.]

[brotimaeus]

[The kid's too big for Bro to pick him up, now.. but not too big that he can't wrap both arms tight around Dave's shoulders and press his face against his hair, gripping him so hard it's as if he fears he might disappear.

His chest feels tight and he snaps his eyes shut to keep the heat behind them.]

Missed me, did ya?

[callbacks]

[It's Bro's shirt that's muffling Dave's voice, not like. Feelings. Or anything.]

No. That was a headbutt. I just tripped.

[He turns his head a little bit to breathe and keep the bill of his uniform cap from digging in, and finds his ear pressed against Bro's chest. Listens for a heartbeat. In the meantime, his arms come up automatically to circle around his brother, to assure him yes, he's real, solid, he's not going to just disappear.]

Way to miss the fucking party, dude.

[brotimaeus]

Tripped. Sure you did.

[Sure you did. He rubs his thumb over Dave's shoulder and that's definitely a strong, steady heartbeat thudding against your ear, kid, quickened by stress and relief and too many other emotions that he doesn't have words for but it's there. Bro's alive.]

Yo, don't go sassin' me. Ain't a party 'til I walk in.

[callbacks]

Uh-huh, sure. I guess your timing's decent, anyway. You missed Thanksgiving but you've still got a couple days before December.

[Dave lets go again but doesn't move back very far, just enough to look at Bro and try to clear his throat around the lump that's lodged there. If he doesn't have his shades, that means--he's from after then, isn't he?]

What's the last thing you remember?

[brotimaeus]

Hah, shit.. sorry I missed it.

[He looses his grip just enough to let Dave pull back from him. Holding onto him for this long feels odd, but at the same time, he's reluctant to let him go. At the question, something flickers over his face, and he looks away.

Like he can't meet Dave's eyes.]

... Reckon you already know that, kiddo.

[Or do you need him to say it?]

[callbacks]

[No, Dave knows. His gaze drops like a rock and he pulls the bill of his cap a little lower, but he nods.]

Maybe bite-size you has a spare pair of shades you can borrow till yours turn up.

[Oh, wait, yeah, that'll probably take some explanation. He looks up a little from under his hat.]

Shit, it's gonna take all day to get you up to speed.

[brotimaeus]

[Sorry, Dave. I'm so fucking sorry.

He doesn't say it but there's a faint tightening of his grip on the kid. One of his eyebrows goes up, but he doesn't look that surprised.]

Yeah, I'm gettin' that impression. Startin' to wish I'd paid more attention to Rox.

[callbacks]

[He actually looks up for real at that.]

Roxy? As in Roxy Lalonde? Did you meet Mom already?

[Bro stop he is so confused.]

[brotimaeus]

Huh?

[Beta-Alpha timelineception.

Not even going to touch why you're referring to her as 'Mom'.]

Sure, kid. I've known Rose's mom for.. shit, I ain't sure how long. Never met her in person.