re: a recent distantskies app

[liquidouroboros]

Mundane-

What is a 'Metal Gear 'Ac!d' and why is it that I should care? Furthermore, what is this talk of alternate universes and--as you so eloquently phrased it--'a delightful canon clusterfuck'?

-Liquid Snake

Comments

[reichenbackup]

[He smiles warmly.] It has. It's...it's really good to see you, James...

[oh, who is he kidding. He grabs Liquid in a tight hug.]

[liquidouroboros]

It's good to see you too.

[Eh, what the hell. Hugs are fine if they're from Otacon.]

[reichenbackup]

[Otacon's face is half-buried in Liquid's jacket. He smells like cigarettes and himself, familiar and comforting.] Where've you been? I was starting to think you'd dropped off the face of the earth. I mean, not that I've been around where we used to be much in a long time, it suddenly got so empty...

[He may be rambling a little.]

[liquidouroboros]

Otacon, really. Am I the kind of person who would be gone for long?

[reichenbackup]

That's true. You're too stubborn for your own good.

[Otacon lets go and straightens his glasses, trying to glare but it isn't very effective when he can't stop smiling.]

You haven't been getting into trouble or anything, have you?

[liquidouroboros]

Me, get in trouble? You should give me a little more credit than that.

[reichenbackup]

Oh, yeah, of course not.

You're usually the one causing the trouble.

[liquidouroboros]

I don't cause nearly as much as you seem to believe I do. I merely tend to be surrounded by people that delight in mischief.

[reichenbackup]

Hey, I just come up with the plans. You could always say no.

[liquidouroboros]

I could, but how would that be at all entertaining?

[reichenbackup]

See, you encourage me. Things are way too calm without you around.

Been busting up any Metal Gears?

[liquidouroboros]

Without you? Never. Actually, as it happens time's decided to be difficult as it tends to do, turning in on itself and whatnot--the short version of it puts be back at several months after Shadow Moses where I am now.

A bit troublesome--about as much as that fourth wall I might have just damaged as per usual.

[reichenbackup]

So you're-- back in time? [It's a weird and disquieting thought] Before Philanthropy or [colors slightly] any of it?

[knocks on that wall] I don't think it's real strong around here anyway.

[liquidouroboros]

A few months before Philanthropy, if memory serves. Mid-2005, it's hard to place exactly with everything being such a bloody mess. [He waved his hand somewhat dismissively, not entirely certain how to phrase it.]

Never has been--that's probably what they make boxes out of these days.

[reichenbackup]

What were you doing all that time? You never talked much about it.

[smiles a little] Better not leave it out in the rain or it'll fall apart altogether.

[liquidouroboros]

Not much of anything--living in an empty apartment and seething in a pit of my own self-loathing. The usual.

[reichenbackup]

[punches him in the arm] Well-- stop it!

[Otacon is the best therapist.]

[liquidouroboros]

...Oh. I think you may have just broken my arm.

[reichenbackup]

Oh no! I did?!

[liquidouroboros]

Please. Don't let my razor wit and perfect acting fool you.

[reichenbackup]

[Hey, wait a minute]

You're such a jerk, Liquid.




I really missed you.

[liquidouroboros]

I've been called worse.





I missed you too, imbecile.

[reichenbackup]

[a small, sappy moment of gazing into his eyes fondly]


[brightly] So! Where're you headed?