microbrobotics | [MoM] IC CONTACT POST

Yeah. Especially the ones of us together, didn't know you took them with my phone.

[ He'd almost forgotten about that. It had been on purpose, once he'd figured out whose phone he was holding... He's just glad that they're having the intended effect. ]

Well, y'know. I didn't want to use up all the space on mine. So you got stuck with them.

Uh huh, sure.

[He stops at the cemetery's main gate and. Well. Only thing to do. He opens it and holds the gate open for Hiro too.

He really is glad for it though. If they can't get this project to work, it's the only physical evidence he has of his brother growing up. That they could both exist and have a more brotherly, friendly relationship than of Tadashi being a pseudo-dad. Honestly? He'd give almost anything for it.]

I guess I'm just gonna have to get over it then, aren't I?

[ At least Hiro's made noticeable progress here, even if not all of his decisions are good ones. He has a job. He looks after himself. Just don't think too hard about what it took to push him to grow that much over the space of a few months.

He ducks under Tadashi's arm and heads into the graveyard. ]

Yeeep. Only thing you can do. And brace your inbox if something like that ever happens again. Because you know I'll take even more next time.

Oh no. Whatever will I do if it comes to that?

[Letting the gate close softly behind him, Tadashi takes a look around. He remembers he found a tree the other day but... He was also pretty distracted trying to think, figure out what exactly was going on with Hiro and Crane and that public network freakout Crane induced. Ugh.

Ah, that's the direction he'd gone. He nudges Hiro's shoulder to follow, taking a foot path to the left.]

You know if it happens again, we're gonna have to do a lot of stuff together right?

[ He follows along readily enough. No idea where they're going, but Tadashi seems to, so ... ]

Like what? Drink? Dude, I totally offered to do that with you already.

[ Clearly the only Adult Activity that matters. ]

God - Okay, whatever Fred's told you, that is not the only thing worth doing.

[There's all kinds of things! Like clubbing! And R rated movies! And race tracks and all sorts of stuff.

Ah but there's the tree he found when he came by himself before. Off the path, away from the rows. A little older than the rest but not old.]

What do you think?

It's the only thing he mentioned that sounded interesting.

[ But let's just leave that topic there. He stops for a moment, drawing up short in front of it. A bit of nice shade too, just enough to ward off the May heat that's built up a bit over the past few days ... And most importantly, nice and quiet. ]

... It's nice. I think they'd like it.

[He nods, starts walking to it to set up their things.]

I think they would too.

[While he doesn't have their picture, he brought the original of San Fransokyo that Krei had given him - creased with scribbles on it - and sets it against the trunk of the tree. Followed by the incense sticks and their holder.

It's suddenly a lot harder to do this than the last few years have, now with Hiro with him. They haven't even started but he can already feel the wetness prickling at the corners of his eyes.]

[ Ah. He gently moves past Tadashi then, to prop up the incense properly so that his brother doesn't have to. Grabs the matchbook they brought too, and carefully lights both of them. One for each parent. ]

Maybe it'll be like a vacation. Getting remembered here instead of San Fransokyo.

[He watches his brother quietly. Lets him have that and sits on his knees proper, feet tucked under him. Tadashi thinks about that. Looks up at the tree's foliage above him and tries to imagine what they'd think of a place like this.]

Maybe. Probably be a little stressed about it, but - get a kick out of it too.

[ Hiro hates seiza - it makes his scrawny boy knees hurt - but tries anyway for a few moments before he sits cross-legged instead. Surely their parents will understand. ]

Worried about us, huh? ... You think they'd be proud?

[It about kills Tadashi's ankles but he does it for this every year at the least. He can't help but smile.]

I think they would. Proud that we're trying to do the right thing.

[Trying to help people when they can.]

[ Someone has to help. Hiro swallows a bit. A breeze picks up, fanning the twin trails of smoke making their way up from the incense sticks. ]

Trying, yeah. Not sure I'd have 'fessed up about the superhero team, though.

[If they were alive, maybe you wouldn't have to become one. He swallows himself, takes a deep breath.

God he misses them. He could... really use their advice on what he should do. A shaky breath, he bring the heel of one hand to his eye.]

They, uh. They probably wouldn't've been down for that, no.

[ Well, he became one even with Aunt Cass still in his life. So maybe all it takes is the death of a brother.

... he glances up at his brother, seeing that. A pause. Takes in a breath to say something. Rethinks it. ]

They'd mean well. But they'd worry too much.

Yeah. Especially dad.

[He figures the worry level would be more or less even between them, but dad's would be more overt. Then if they were here.

He's wished several times once he found out dead people can show up here that he'd see them. It's selfish and it goes against their memories - it's unnatural really. Against the laws of life itself. But the possibility still being there...

He's trying. He's trying so hard to be strong with his brother here with him this time - maybe the only time - but even he can't hold back the tears that break through. A quiet slow trail.]

They'd love the tech you build though.

[ Oh. His brother is ... He's never seen his brother cry like that, not in a way that seems so close to a complete breakdown. Is this what his brother did during previous years? He should have been here, if only to be his brother's support...

And now this might be the only chance they get to remember their parents together. He swallows, thickly, and moves to lean against his brother's arm. ]

Y-yeah? Even the armor? The armor's cool, you have to admit that.

If your armor's anything like what you made us the other week, th-then yeah. Even the armor.

[He moves his arm to wrap around Hiro's, similar to what his little brother used to do when they were younger. He can almost hear their voices saying how proud they are of Hiro. He's done so much in such a short amount of time with his life.

This is usually the only time he allows himself break down. To apologize for mistakes he feels he's made raising Hiro. Mistakes he's made for himself that he's sure they wouldn't be proud of, for not honoring them enough...

But his brother is here with him. So he can't let that wall fall. He clenches a fist against his pant leg instead.]

Probably throw a big party for you getting into SFIT too.

[ Hiro just leans, then. It's all he can think of to do - so hopefully this is helping.. ]

They'd have done it for you too, I bet.

M-maybe.

[Shit. Shit, Hiro turning this conversation to him, to what their parents would think of himself is gonna make him lose it. He's always, always thought about what their parents would think of Tadashi in relation to Hiro. Not - not to himself. As a stand alone. Not for his own accomplishments. He's always made promises to be better - to look after Hiro better, to take better care of him and Aunt Cass, he's the oldest, it's -- he has to.

He has to be better than this. Hiro's gotten so badly hurt since he's gotten here already. Tadashi has to get better at this. He mumbles an apology ducking his head down with a shuddering quiet sob.]

[ Some part of him freezes, unsure of what to do. His brother is sobbing next to him, which he's definitely never, ever seen before. Always the unshakable big brother ... But if there's something that Hiro's learned in the wake of Tadashi's death and their arrival here, it's how to start thinking of his brother as a person. It's a difficult road, and he's still not completely on it sometimes, but ... He can see it now. He can see it loud and clear.

So, without hesitating or saying a word, he reaches over and puts his arms around his brother. ]

[When Hiro's close enough, Tadashi moves an arm to hug around his shoulders and pulls him close. This is the way it should have been from the start. Them remembering their parents together, except maybe less crying from him. He isn't sure if they would have liked that or not. Death had never really been a thing in their family until suddenly it wasn't a family anymore.

He had wanted them back so badly. Pleaded, begged for them to be given back. Would have traded with them if he had to. Nothing ever came of it.

Tadashi gives his brother's shoulders a gentle squeeze, wipes at his eyes. Have to hold it together. Even in the one time he lets himself let go, he needs to keep it together.]

[ Hiro can sense the shift in Tadashi's posture, if only because he doesn't seem to be sobbing as much - is his brother trying to protect him even now? He tightens his grip a little and leans in closer. Just kind of resting his head against his brother. ]

They'd be proud. You've been a great older brother.

[ And he means that, he really does. The older he gets, the more he realizes how much Tadashi must have given up to make Hiro's childhood as - well, not normal, but tolerable - as it was. ]

[He rubs circles into his brother's shoulder with his thumb as he calms down himself, just trying to relax as the incense burns out.

Been a great older brother. When? When he couldn't keep Hiro from getting into trouble? When He couldn't get Hiro to listen to reason, that it took manipulation to get him on the right track again? That he's going to die and leave his brother alone?]

Can't help but keep questioning that.

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