She's a Ball of Feelings

[ginger_firebird]

Seriously, it's been how long since the game ended and you're still on this tangent? We were friends as children and then I worked with Liquid as an adult. That's all you know for sure. Honestly, you read too much into these sorts of things and you know it.

Throw me into something again, dammit! I'm getting bored waiting for you to find someone who screams over the franchise as much as you do.

Comments

[bethelempetals]

There is a place, Third Child.

[Joy hands you over a brochure, with a soft, knowing smile.]

[ginger_firebird]

Third- [His shoulders get tense.] Oh no. I've heard of you.

[ofblueroses]

Sounds like someone's mun is happy with Metal Gear Solid 5.

There are plenty of 'screamers' if you know where to look.

[A smile.] It's been a long time, Dimitri.

Mantis! <3

[liquid_serpent]

Mantis. It is good to see you again, old friend. [Because guess what? He's not dead and he's still alive in Shadow Moses. He's happy to see you haven't been killed by his brother too.]

[ginger_firebird]

She's far too attached to people who are absolutely awful.

[And yes, he knows he's talking about himself there.]

You're looking sufficiently well cared for, Naomi. [Sigh...] And it's just Mantis, now. I think she's ready to handle me as the awful human being I've always been.

LIQUID~

[ginger_firebird]

Finally! Someone I know I can trust.

[There's a slight smile behind his mask.]

How has your Mun been treating you? Mine is slowly going insane.

[liquid_serpent]

[You can trust him, since he values your friendship.]

He's been acceptable as can be. Messing around with the new Metal Gear game and fawning over my father as usual. [He groaned at that.] Good to see you again though, Dimitri. How are you?

[ginger_firebird]

[Precisely why he puts any real trust in Liquid. You don't find a friend like that very often, if at all.]

Ugh... That man gets more attention than he deserves. [He pat Liquid on the shoulder.] Villains are villains, no matter how cinematic their fall into atrocities against others.

[liquid_serpent]

[Liquid gave a firm nod and noticed the hand.]

Big Boss is a villain and a failure. [Liquid, You're a villain too, you know. Even more so.] I don't even know why so many people love the man like some sort of idol.

[ginger_firebird]

[So did Mantis. Too far? He drew his hand back, rubbing his fingers together. That physical contact thing still bugged him sometimes.]

Several times over as well. Not exactly a legacy worth looking up to. [They've both made their reputations on the suffering of others. No judgement here.] I think it's a toss up between his looks, charisma, and the sheer height of the drop from well-meaning soldier to repugnant dictator. People like a good corruption story.

[liquid_serpent]

[Liquid didn't mind the touch at all. Not from you, friend. If it were anyone else, they'd likely gain a black eye.]

Indeed. I want to rebuild Big Boss's dream and create Outer Heaven at Shadow Moses. With all our genome soldiers and facilities to build more Metal Gears, we should be unstoppable. That's the theory anyway.

[He offered his friend a smile and place his hand on Mantis' shoulder.]

It's just a shame that my father fell from grace when he did.

[ginger_firebird]

[Mantis' shoulders shook a little when he caught the tail end of that thought. Flattering and a perfect look at Liquid's personality.]

And in theory, we could probably take control of these facilities without much trouble. Whether or not we'll be allowed to do that peacefully is another matter.

[His shoulder tenses up at the initial touch, but he quickly relaxes.]

He didn't deserve it. Not really. Not at the hands of that...other one.

[liquid_serpent]

Indeed we could but what is in it for us? We should only seek to do that if we actually gain something. [He wondered what sort of place this was.]

Perhaps not. Yet, my brother saw to his fate before I could even gain what I wanted.

[ginger_firebird]

You never were the type to dream up small plans. It seemed like a "Liquid Snake" thing to think of.

[It's a strange place, wherever they are. At least having Liquid nearby made it less stressful.]

Then we'll get him in the long term. Someone with a legacy like that leaves a trail behind no matter how thoroughly they try to go into hiding.

[liquid_serpent]

[He chuckled at that. It seemed Mantis knew Liquid better than he knew himself at times.]

We will. He cannot be allowed to live, since I was the one destined to outlive all the other clones and become the dominant brother. HE just gets in the way like an annoying fly.

[ginger_firebird]

[Near free access to the thoughts in people's head can do that to a man. You get used to how people think after a while.]

Good! Then the instant we see him, wherever this is, we know exactly what will become of him. Death will be as swift or bloody as you deem fit.

[ofblueroses]

Ah. I see. [She put some hair behind her ear. 'They' would be different then, from now on. After all, it should have been her FOXDIE that killed him in his future.]

Well, Mantis, if I know my mun as well as I think I do, our paths will cross again, whether it be at Fission Mailed or somewhere else.

[Even if they couldn't be the same as before, Dr. Hunter was still glad he was around and 'cared for,' too.]

[ginger_firebird]

[Not terrifically different. He's more aware of her role in things, if anything. Mind reading does that.]

She's still considering me "Dimitri". Just...older. Angrier. The one you're more familiar with. If we do, I might try and be a little respectful.

[Cared for? Liquid cared, at least. He couldn't muster up a great deal of resentment for her role in Foxhound being decimated. People did stupid and horrible things when it came to revenge. It would be quite hypocritical for him to be upset over the actions she took.]

Did you think anything would be better after letting FOXDIE run it's course? When everyone was dead?

[wolf_of_war]

Muns can, and will look for any connections between being like us that they can, whether for amusement or other reasons.

[Hear that, Mantis? That's the sound of no organic mind to read.]

[ginger_firebird]

[Utter silence. He's impressed. And slightly worried.]

Precisely. She often likes villains more than heroes because she feels they have more compelling stories.

[wolf_of_war]

My mundane chose me for similar reasons. The fact that I was a relative innocent, made to do things that I am unsuited for as an artificial intelligence.

[ginger_firebird]

Isn't that how it always is? There's a popular narrative where the one who is relatively innocent or unsuited for the task presented to them becomes mercilessly adept at it.

[liquid_serpent]

Of course. [The blond seemed amused by Mantis's enthusiasm for his brother's death. They were best friends after all.]

Perhaps before he dies we could interrogate him. You could probe his mind and I could inflict pain on him; the same pain he has inflicted on me all these years.

[ginger_firebird]

[Mantis also understands that sometimes the disagreements between kin must sometimes be ended with homicide. Helping a friend with that is hardly any skin off what's left of his nose.]

[Mantis laughs in a quick, but wicked way.] We'll get a nice wicker chair or something. Cut out the bottom and let him sit in it while you blacken his eyes and I find out his greater insecurities.

[liquid_serpent]

Mm yes. Sounds perfect. [Liquid hummed in amusement at the idea.] I'll punch him black and blue while you probe his mind. Make him squeal.