Second Cell ♊ Video ♊ Backdated to the 24th

[whitebrother]

[Kyoji appears on the screen, holding up a key chain of an intricate heart shape. Clearly, it was a souvenir from the "convention" they'd recently been subjected to. But Kyoji was smiling, so this at least seems to be something good that came out of that ordeal.]

My little brother left over ten years ago to learn martial arts. He'd promised that when he came back, he would hold the title of King of Hearts. This is the symbol of that title. [With a sigh his smile disappears, and he puts the key chain back down.] I still can't believe it's been so long. He's turning 21 today, but he was barely 10 the last time I saw him.

[Kyoji seems distracted as he falls silent, sipping his coffee. After a moment he looks back at the device. Why was he even broadcasting this? He always felt lonely on his brother's birthday, but it wasn't like anyone that could see this would be able to change that.]

I suppose none of that matters in this place. My brother might have finally come home, and I would never know. [He hesitates briefly, but then reaches over to turn off the feed.] If anyone watched this, I'm sorry for wasting your time.

((ooc: This post was originally backdated to the 23rd. To my embarrassment, I've realized I backdated to the wrong date. I've now fixed it, but please let me know if this causes any problems.))

Comments

[video]

[chest_rubber]

[Here's Becky. She would be grinning from ear to ear, but this is a kind of serious conversation, so the smile dwindles a little.]

You're not wasting my time. Don't be sorry. It sounds like you were close to your brother then. Did you keep in contact with him?

Permavideo

[whitebrother]

I was, but his master wouldn't allow him to keep in contact. He claimed it would too much of a distraction. Two or three times a year my brother was allowed to send us letters so we knew he was alright, but we had no way to send anything back to him.

Permavideo is it!

[chest_rubber]

Oh. Sounds like some pretty tough training. Is his training almost done?

[whitebrother]

[He sighs.] I really don't know. All we were told was that his training would be over when my brother was ready. We were warned he would be gone for years, but I don't think any of us expected it would be a full decade.

[chest_rubber]

I guess it's pretty tough on you, huh?

[whitebrother]

I have learned to manage. It's the not knowing that's the worst. For years now I kept hoping he'll be home so we can celebrate his birthday. But his birthday always comes and goes with no sign of him.

[chest_rubber]

Oh wow. I'm sorry. I mean, it's cool that he's getting training, but you must miss him, even if you do seem to manage. [Pause.] I can't really relate though. I'm an only child.

[whitebrother]

[Kyoji sighs. He normally would not be this open to such questions, but the influence this place currently had them all over was making things more difficult than he'd previously imagined. It was an oversight on his part, so now he must deal with the consequences.]

Just before he left he'd promised he'd make me proud when he came back home. I know he will keep that promise, so I try to focus on that instead of the pain.

That's too bad. Although others would say you were lucky. I guess it depends on what kind of person your sibling is.

[chest_rubber]

[Becky smiles a little.] Well, at least there's that.

[She shrugs.] I wouldn't be a good sister anyway.

[whitebrother]

You don't know that for sure. I would think the same thing, if I didn't have a little brother to prove me wrong.

[Video]

[stalking_horse]

It's no waste of time.

If it's any consolation, we've had cases of people from the same world showing up more than once, or from different points in time... with the person from the "future" point not having any knowledge the other had even been gone - it's happened with me getting people from home that remember things that haven't happened yet for me, and I've been here over a year.

So, my current best theory is that whatever mechanism takes people here and returns them, does so in such a way that you're not "gone" long enough for anyone to realize you were missing.

Permavideo [1/2]

[whitebrother]

[Rather than being comforted, Kyoji just stares at the camera for a moment. He was wide-eyed, making him look a bit like a dear caught in headlights.]

[2/2]

[whitebrother]

[But then he recovers and clears his throat. While he still seems very concerned, he no longer looks outright terrified.]

I... I see. This must be some kind of pocket dimension that exists outside the influence of normal space-time. At least I don't need to be overly concerned with his safety in my absence...

[stalking_horse]

[That was an interesting reaction - and he knows there was SOMETHING in what he said that touched a nerve; it was just a matter of finding out what without hitting that nerve again.]

That's about the best assessment I've come to; there's a few other things where I'm still trying to decipher how they work. There doesn't seem to be a lot of discrimination on which universes get people brought in from them; sometimes there will be a group of people from one universe, sometimes just one person.

For what it's worth, I'm a bad example; I can't really think of anyone who's been here as long as I have. Whether that's good or bad news, I suppose, depends on how much of a hurry you're in to get home.

[whitebrother]

[A task that might prove difficult, given Kyoji's current poker face.]

It is the logical conclusion, if what you're saying is true. Do you have any guesses as to why you've been here so much longer than the others?

[stalking_horse]

[Well, he can be patient... but at least he's learned that not being given anything can sometimes be a clue in and of itself, if only that there's something the other person wants to avoid.]

From what I've currently gleaned?

Apparently the Author likes me.

[It's half sarcastic but deadpan and a little too long-sufferingly serious.]

[whitebrother]

I see. But at least that saves one from having to make the choice whether it would be worse to return home or remain here.

[stalking_horse]

[...And there was probably a big clue.]

Well... there's ways to make the best of it either way.

I admit, I'm not exactly ready to go back yet; too much to go back to, not enough of a ghost of a plan how to deal with it.

[whitebrother]

[A clue, yes. He hadn't intended to let quite that much slip but it was difficult to even half-lie right now.]

That is true. In any case, I wish you luck whenever the Author decides to send you back to that.