brother_nature | Golden Peacock

[Leave it to Toma to read between the lines. Chobe doesn't want to admit it, not vocally anyway, that he lacks little to no control over their situation. It feels like a rock in his gut, knowing they could be ripped away at any moment, that he can't confidently be there to shield his brother from the crashing wave of weirdness, even if deep down, he knows Toma can handle it.

If they are separated, there are some people here that would be valuable allies (read: pawns), and he believes in Toma's ability to find them. His little brother may be skilled in fooling others with that pretty boy persona, but he also has full faith in Toma's judge of others' characters.

He threads their fingers together, lightly tugging him closer.]

Don't make such a disappointed face. I bet you'll find someone that's at least entertaining. And if they fuck you over, I'll just kill 'em.

[Toma readily scoots in, burying his face against Chobe's shoulder. Maybe it's childish, sure-- but it's hard not to be, when it comes to topics like this, worries he hasn't had to seriously consider since he was actually a teenager.

Still, he answers, albeit mumbled into Chobe's singed (what the hell happened there) jacket.] I'll look out for prospects.

[...He tilts his head a little to answer more clearly:] Couldn't I just share yours?

[He's like. Half joking.]

[Toma please!! Chobe welcomes the nuzzle, as no matter how many decades pass, Chobe still hasn't quite let go of the image of him being his baby brother. To think they'd be having such trivial, inconsequential talks like this after reigning over the criminal underground for so long. . .it's nostalgic, really. A vague thought occurs to Chobe, like, had they ever been blessed with a "normal" life, would they have been able to chatter about such ridiculous things like this in their youth. . .?

Well, he doesn't want to give too much credit to the casino for this. He just snickers a bit, returning the affection. And don't worry about the jacket just some lightning was involved it's fine--]

Hah! Not against it, but you should have something that's just yours too, yeah? I wouldn't call most of the folks I know friends, either.

But I'll add a bit of challenge for ya--if you can find any of my lackeys, you can do whatever you want with 'em.

[Who knows - maybe, if things had been different, their talks about making friends would even sound a little less like Toma bugging his big brother to let him borrow his stuff.]

Haa... I suppose so. [This whole "trying to make his own choices and not just act as an extension of his brother" thing is real annoying sometimes.

He raises his eyebrows, turning his head to properly look at Chobe.] Tempting offer. If I don't even know who they are yet, how am I to know if I would want to do anything with them?

[What if Chobe's lackeys are all gross and annoying, huh. --Well, granted, he guesses in that case he might want to threaten or kill them. As one does.]

["Mom said it's my turn with the nintendo switch" except the switch is some dude--

Chobe laughs, full of confidence, even if it comes off as a tad bit goofy as well, given the scenario.]

That's the challenge! No fun in me just telling you about 'em. Obviously I would if you needed to know shit, but it's better if you get to know folks on your own. Makes saying the right thing and twisting 'em around your finger feel all the more "organic," ya see?

[It's manipulation, but wholesome manipulation. Totally different.]

[For whatever it's worth, that does get him to crack a smile.]

What, that worried about making it too easy for me? Don't you think I have enough to struggle with here as it is, brother?

[Your poor baby brother is struggling so much, Chobe, take pity on him. baby needs snack of personal information]

Haah. . .asking with a face like that is what's really unfair, ya know? Putting the struggle on me, damn.

[His adorable little brother, fishing for information so he can extort others. Heckin precious.]

I guess I'll throw ya a couple scraps. Ever meet someone with glasses and big fluffy hair? Watch out for 'em. Good to keep close, but he's a slick talker. And be wary of little girls callin' themselves witches.

[Younger sibling privileges successfully exploited!!

He nods slowly, taking in those descriptions. Someone with glasses and fluffy hair, and... actually. Frowning a little bit.]

What do you mean, little girls?

[He knows Chobe will know the real question. On one hand, Toma himself isn't above offhandedly referring to people around the age he was when he stopped aging as kids-- but the thought is only now occurring to him that he doesn't know what the parameters for ending up here actually are.]

[Ah. . .he's mostly taken to using it as a teasing title for some of his younger acquaintances, and while 16-17 is a perfectly fine "legal" age given their original time period, he still just, out of habit, avoids flirting or sleeping with anyone that young.

He pulls back at the frown, picking up on the discomfort, and is quick to clarify.]

Some folks look really young here, maybe a couple years younger than you from back then. . .but don't worry, ain't no actual kids so far. In fact, "that" hasn't happened to me at all either here, so guess this shitty peacock has some standards.

["That" being his body's regression when he gets too hurt. He's been in...way too many fights, frankly, but he hasn't had to recover to that extent. It'll be a surprise whenever it actually happens, as his form will only be reset to his teenage years as well.]

[Toma's immediate relief at Chobe's clarification is palpable, with how the tension eases from his shoulders again.]

Good. It's something... though, it goes without saying, I'd rather if you weren't in a position where you'd expect "that" to happen at all.

[Please stay out of the meat grinder, brother.]

[No promises!! He reaches up to flick at his head.]

Hey now, it's always been a possibility, and there's some surprisingly strong fuckers here. But nothing we can't handle long term.

Not that it'll matter for you--you're gonna play nice first, yeah?

Then you can hit 'em when you've got 'em wrapped around your fingers.

Ow--! [MEAN TO HIM.

Toma frowns, blinking away tears. A possibility, sure - but he really doesn't like the idea that his brother has been pushing the limits of his regeneration that badly in strange surroundings, without Toma there to help him out if things go too far.]

Fine, fine-- but, contact me if you need backup. Please. I'll lie low for now, yes, but it's not worth you pushing past your limits.

[Just! So they're clear!!]

Seriously? C'mon.

[And there's that rare touch of softness that seeps into his voice. It's still confident, but comforting, warm, as his hand moves to caress his cheek.]

I won't even need to call you. If I'm in trouble, I know you'll be there. Same if anything happens to you.

[He doesn't know how long they'll be stuck here, or if they'll be torn apart again, but until then? Like always, he has faith in his brother's competence, even if he babies him relentlessly. Immortality or no, as long as they're together, they're invincible as far as Chobe's concerned.]

[Siiighs. Toma leans into Chobe's touch, closing his eyes for a moment.]

As long as we're clear...

[Even after so many decades, it feels a little odd sometimes - pushing even this much. Putting down his own demands toward his brother.

But he knows it's for the best that he can; with what he realized on that island, all he's figured out since then... he can't very well just leave Chobe to his own devices, to accept whatever harm may come his way and keep Toma out of it.]

Crystal. Any other stipulations?

[Meanwhile, Chobe LOVES that he's making demands. Yes! YES. More independence for his baby brother who he will crash out for if he's separated from!! This is not a contradiction in any way whatsoever! ]

[They are SO well-adjusted it's GREAT.]

...Yes. [Now, this one he doesn't really know if he can expect from Chobe of all people, but: He pushes himself up on an elbow, looking Chobe directly in the eye.] If you discover, or even suspect, that someone who may have enough power to kill you has fire Tao, let me handle them. Don't risk it yourself.

[It's not something they've had to think about in some time, but... Chobe has described the destructive power some of these other "guests" are packing. It's not like dealing with other mobsters, Englishmen, everyday humans armed with pistols that can barely slow them down.

Toma will not watch his brother die again.]

[Oh.

Chobe's turn to pout, though it's more of a thin frown, eye narrowing slightly. He's fine with Toma having his back--he's his second set of eyes, his extra pair of arms. But putting him in the literal line of fire due to his own weakness? That hurts.

And also hilarious timing given he's heckling Bakugo right now, and Esikko is tight with Dabi.

He's silent for a few moments, mulling it over, playing over dozens of scenarios in his head for the best answer, before he finally exhales. He told Toma to make demands, and. This is what he wants, huh?

He rolls over on his back, hands behind his head.]

Alright. Won't be necessary, but I hear ya loud and clear.

[He knew Chobe wouldn't like that - but, however strange it may still feel to put his foot down like this, with Chobe making That Face at him, it isn't something Toma can budge on.

Because it makes the most sense, doesn't it? By definition, someone who could kill Chobe couldn't kill Toma. What was the point of everything they went through, if they don't make use of that? There's no reason, anymore, for Toma to hide behind his brother. There's no excuse, certainly not in a scenario where Chobe would objectively be at more risk.

Toma's face lights up when Chobe agrees - despite his brother's open sulking. Frankly, it's kind of cute, in Toma's opinion; it's not often that even he gets to see that!

He drops back down on the bed, slipping one arm under Chobe's shoulders and flopping the other over him.]

Thank you.

[Ugh how can he stay even mildly annoyed at that face. And with Toma's weight on him, he can't help but bring a hand up to run through that silky hair, adding some reassurance that he isn't actually upset. It just all goes against the core of his being--of course it makes sense to him to take all the heat, even if that fire could kill him. If nothing else, by convincing others that their weakness is fire tao, no one would be able to piece together Toma's true weakness, right. . .?

Hah. Thoughts for later. He'll keep his word, to the best of his ability though. He's got a silver tongue, and would lie to anyone at the drop of a dime but. . .not him. Not Toma. ]

Anything for you, Toma.

[What if they just stay like this. At least until their watches start squawking to get back to game time. ]

[Success. Even knowing the power he holds (baby brother privileges), given Toma's frankly absurd investment in his brother's approval... the reassurance is still appreciated.

And that's one more bit of security - a tiny reduction to the already-small chance of something lasting happening to Chobe.

He answers with a quiet, appreciative hum, closing his eyes as he rests his head against his brother's shoulder. He is more than happy to stay put - for however long Chirpy will tolerate it.]

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