[ 004 ] [ Audio // Commentlog ]

[dontgiveafock]

[The audio feed kicks in to the sound of running. Wherever he's going, Joe is apparently in a rush.]

Sean!

[His voice is a mixture of fatigue and eagerness.]

Jaesus fock, little brother. You better be here still. Lemme know where you are, Seany.

[He slows his step, slowing back to a brisk walk as he continues his message.]

To the rest of ye, I'm back.

Comments

[audio]

[idkmybffjoe]

[Just like that, Sean is now dealing with the horrible prospect that this person who sounds like his brother, talks like his brother, might not be his brother.]

Aye, here. Two-Oscar-seven-nine.

[audio]

[dontgiveafock]

[It's the same fear Joe has been carrying since he first found out Sean was in the Keep.]

Be there in a flash.

[A minute or so later, Joe is standing outside Seans door. He wraps on the door with his knuckle.]

[audio]

[idkmybffjoe]

[It opens almost in the same second as the rap came. Sean is without his armor, in his dirty blue jeans and a bland tan t-shirt. The shirt is wet, freshly washed, but he doesn't seem to care.

His hand leaves the doorknob to grip the side of the door and pull it further. The look on his face is indescribable.]

Jimmy.

[commentlog]

[dontgiveafock]

Seany.

[He'a already choking up. Lips pursed, Joe takes a moment to look at his brother before slinging an arm around him and pulling him into a hug.]

Fockin' missed you.

[commentlog]

[idkmybffjoe]

[Screw his misgivings, it's his goddamned brother. Joe is here, he's alive, and Sean doesn't give two shits who it is he works for. Family comes before everything else.

Sean forgets about hesitation and wraps his twin up in both arms. The air goes out of him in an explosive sigh that's half-strangled.]

Goddamn right, brother.

[commentlog]

[dontgiveafock]

[When Sean hugs him back, Joe breaks down. He gives a single sob before he gets it back under control, but his eyes are wet when he pulls back. He can't even say how long it's been since he's seen his twin, but not a day has passed where Joe hasn't been begging to see him.

Joe puts a hand to the side of Sean's face and grins at him, allowing a moment of bliss that his brother is safe and well and really right there.]

How ya been? I can't believe yer here.

[commentlog]

[idkmybffjoe]

Aww, Jimmy. Don't start that, I'll--

[A bit teary-eyed himself, he squints and blinks rapidly to try and get the blurring to dissipate. Sean's jaw thrusts out in bullish defiance of the super-charged emotion wreaking havoc.]

Better'n I could be, worse off than I'd like. Glad t'see ya again, brother.

[commentlog]

[dontgiveafock]

[Where normally there would be no way Joe would cry in front of people, Sean is a special case. This man is his twin brother, his best friend. Joe doesn't let go of Sean just yet. He's still confirming to himself that his brother is actually there.]

S'been years, Seany. Not a fockin' day gone by where I haven't been beggin' to see ya.

[commentlog]

[idkmybffjoe]

Years, what?

[That startles him out of the weepiness (like Joe, usually he refuses to even get misty-eyed around anyone who isn't his twin) and into black bewilderment. He leans away, searching for. . . something . . . in his face.]

Hasn't been a month.

[commentlog]

[dontgiveafock]

[Fuck you, Lord Deior.

Joe matches his surprise and takes a moment to regain himself.]

Fockin' time bullshite. A month fer you, aye. I been stuck here for longer than I remember.

[A pause.]

What's the last thing you know before 'ere?

[commentlog]

[idkmybffjoe]

[A scowl is beginning to form. Not at Joe, but at whoever or whatever is responsible for the time lapse and forcing his brother to be alone for however many years.]

Bein' stuck on a focking deserted island full of stinkin' corpses. Ya must've gotten off before me. Goddamned captains and lords pledgin' safe haven and look what they give us, eh?

[commentlog]

[dontgiveafock]

[Joe frowns, confusion taking over.]

Hold up a second... The hell're you talkin' about? What kinda job were you workin' Seany?

[commentlog]

[idkmybffjoe]

Like hell Forseti'd let me out of his-- em, her, its, fockin' whichever-- let me out of Germany for long. That was all Redd's work.

[A funny sensation is in the pit of his stomach, like a heavy stone doing gymnastics.]

No job, brother. Just you an' I and a bunch of other fools stuck on a ship and told our worlds're gone.

[commentlog] keywords ;A;

[dontgiveafock]

[A feeling of dread washes over him. For a moment, Joe can only stare. He can't decide whether he wants to scream or cry. This man looks like Sean, sounds like Sean. Hell, by all accounts Joe has no doubt that it is Sean... He's just not the right Joe.

Joe looks to Sean, meets and holds his gaze. The emotion is clear in his eyes, a mixture of relief, hurt, happiness and anger.]

I wasn't on a boat, little brother.

[His voice is low and pained.]

[commentlog] 8(

[idkmybffjoe]

[Sean doesn't understand, does not want to understand, and he holds on stubbornly.]

'S fine if ye don't remember. Fockin' shady of whoever goes an' plucks us out of so-called mortal peril, but it couldn't have been half a year on the boat.

[commentlog]

[dontgiveafock]

Don't go makin' this harder, Seany.

[Joe's practically begging for his brother to listen.]

I was home with you, in Ireland. Got arrested fer a job gone wrong. Did some jail time before takin' a military deal.

[He takes a breath and clenches his fists to stop his hands from shaking.]

Fought in someone elses war an' came home. You an' me went travellin'. Stopped in Germany fer a bit an' then I was here.