compnetwork | 03 [Text]

[It's been over four months since Bro had that unfortunate incident with Jack Noir in the Medium. Four months since he arrived in Hinoto-Ri, because apparently that's the only damn place he gets to go. From one monster-ridden videogameish hellhole world into the next.

What sucks most about Hinoto-Ri is that there's a severe lack of Striders. In fact, ever since his alternate universe teenage self left, the city's gone even further below the minimum of required Strider. He knows Dave can take care of himself, considering Bro taught him pretty damn well, but there comes a time in every dude's life where he misses his family.

Especially when said family is prooobably still stuck in a monster-ridden videogameish hellhole. Lil Cal's a great bro and all, but talking to yourself can get old after a while.]

so.

you guys all have family back home right? siblings and parents and annoying aunts who like to pull your cheek even though youve grown to be twice their size? grannies who send you itchy socks for christmas each year?

so tell me about 'm. who do you miss most?

would you have 'm here if you could?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The importance of being united, huh? That sounds legit. Not exactly the philosophy he tried to teach Dave, but close enough.]

yeah? your pops sounds like chill dude then. he knew what was up.

how many kids is the norm? like. five?

also. how much older are your bros?

[ Pops?

... it takes him a moment to figure out that the word probably meant 'father'. Modern language sure was strange... ]

About there, I believe. Some families go up to eight.

My oldest brother is ten years elder, and my second brother five. We are quite evenly spaced, I suppose.

[ Again, he sends the message out of a lack of additional words. ]

[Ugh. Five to eight kids. Bro couldn't even imagine how hectic and impersonal a family like that would be. He knows what shit was like in the orphanage with twenty kids, but he can't imagine eight being much better.]

huh. thats a pretty decent age difference.

your bros ever pick on you? or did the unity philosophy stop 'm?

No. They were kind to me, more than their status would have expected them to.

[ Of course, as children of a famous daimyo, they had to be well-behaved and mature. The world accepted nothing less.

The three of them did manage to cope with the pressure, though. From what Takakage observed of other kids, someone else going through his childhood would have definitely come out worse. On hindsight, he counted himself lucky to have enough of a grasp of the situation.

How would you feel if your father sent you to a group of strangers at the age of nine and told you that you had to stay there forever? ]

Though I suppose that cannot be said for most families. 'tis much regrettable.

regrettable huh. i disagree.

theres nothing wrong with a bit of friendly strifing amongst bros. it keeps them on their feet. prepares them for the world.

[This, of course, coming from a guy who had to prepare his younger 'brother' for the role of saving the world. ...Or, well, a world, anyway. Earth's gone, he's pretty sure.]

[ ... strifing? ]

I suppose it would do no harm if things remained friendly.

Though we had no need for that. Outside influences were enough to train us.

[ One born into wartime had to learn quickly - but it also brought resolve for change. The next generation ought to be spared from this curse.

Alas, it was not easy. His father's generation had seen the tide of war engulf the whole land, and they showed no signs of abating, even after fifty years. ]

oh. that makes sense.

im from texas. nothing threatening there but country music. you wanna learn how to fend for yourself then youve gotta teach yourself. and others.

[ He didn't recognize the name. Definitely from another world, then.

It sounded relatively safe, though. Which was a good thing, he supposed. ]

I presume you've trained someone, then?

yup. i trained my baby bro.

[Like... literally when he was a baby. Bro started as early as possible because one is never too young to learn.]

he grew up into the most rad warrior you ever did see. probably still wielding shitty swords though.

[ A swordsman family. That was actually quite common in his homeland. So Bro was... well, an older brother. And a good one, it seemed. His younger brother was quite blessed. ]

Pardon the question, but... how is your world like? It sounds more peaceful than mine.

And... if it does run on the Gregorian calendar, which year were you in?

[ He had an inkling that the other might be from the modern world. ]

eh. its pretty peaceful i guess.

not perfect. far from it. a few wars here and there. needless poverty. wrong dudes in high places. juggalos are allowed to roam free. that sorta thing. but it couldve been worse.

the years 2009 AD.

[ ... is that so. That was... a little unexpected? But on hindsight, he supposed it made sense. ]

That places me approximately four centuries before your time.

[ Though... Bro's world sounded harsher than his, somewhat. While there was still war, at least... it wasn't that bad. The various daimyos were rational, if not quite stubborn at times.

... again, he's run out of things to say. ]

I hope things improve for you soon.