004; video

[etreici]

[Oz is dirty, bruised, slightly bloody and there are dried tear tracks on his cheeks but he's got a strained smile on his lips. He's sitting against a tree, arms wrapped around his legs, bent up as they are, cheek resting on the top of his knees. He looks incredibly tired and, when he speaks, he sounds it as well.]

I'm back.

[He tries to smile a

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[ishisservant]

[Gilbert completely misses the message, given that he's been leaving his journal at home while out searching for his missing brother. That search, however, has been taking him a bit farther out from the village, and as he wanders through the trees he hears the tail end of Oz talking. He doesn't think he recognizes the voice, but he can't help but call out anyway.]

Vincent?

[etreici]

[Oz, though, does recognise that voice though he's pretty sure he shouldn't.

He shifts where he is, closes the journal and looks around.]

...Gil?

[ishisservant]

[No, that's certainly not Vincent. But is it someone who knows him? Maybe it's another strange person who'll claim to also be his brother, who knows. Gilbert continues on, a little hesitantly making his way toward the sound of that voice.]

[etreici]

Gil?

[He shifts again, trying to stand up so he can see Gil properly.]

Is that you?

[ishisservant]

[Gilbert rounds the last tree in the way and for a second just freezes in place. The older boy looks... familiar, somehow. But he isn't, and after that moment of startled silence edges back a little.]

Who're you?

[etreici]

...ah... [Now that's a difficult question.] A friend.

[ishisservant]

Whose friend?

[etreici]

Yours. Actually.

And uh... [Think, think.] Jack's. I'm Jack's friend so I'm your friend too.

[ishisservant]

[And he visibly brightens at that.]

Oh! You are? But I haven't seen you before.

[etreici]

We haven't met yet. [He smiles a little more.] But Jack's told me a lot about you.

[ishisservant]

He has?

But... who are you?

[Gilbert moves closer now, curious.]

[etreici]

My name's Oz.

[ishisservant]

[Oh, yes, manners.]

Nice to meet you, Oz.

[And back to looking a little worried.]

Are you all right? You look hurt.

[etreici]

I had a bit of...an accident. It's nothing to worry about.

How about you? Are you all right? [Why is he wandering around on his own?]

[ishisservant]

You should probably go back to the village, then. You live there, right?

[He hesitates, glancing down at himself and then back up again, puzzled.]

Why wouldn't I be all right?

[etreici]

It might be dangerous to be running around like this on your own.

[Now...to stand up without falling over...]