imthe_shit | locked to crackthecodes

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it was a very good year

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[Considering he'd told Otacon to dye his hair black, he figured he might as well get to helping him with it. He'd received the coordinates for where Otacon was staying, and had put together a bag of four small boxes of hair dye, along with a few other things... He was still heavily bruised since his run-in with Vamp in the Bite Room... and Solidus' "rescue". Being dragged by the throat didn't help too much either.

Bringing a few cigarettes with him, he headed off to the correct floor and room... and once arriving, he knocked on the door. He was dressed pretty casually this time... no sneaking suit. Just his black shirt and camo pants... He felt safe around Otacon. Though he had a feeling he was going to get the nagging from hell once Otacon saw his bruises...]

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Hnnn... [Rubs it into the neck hairs, and eventually backs off, picking up the package and reading it.] ... Now we have 30 minutes to kill while we wait for that new color to settle.

[Tilts his head.] Think I should add any more?

[He opens his eyes when Snake backs away, almost reaching up to touch but stopping himself just in time.] I dunno. Guess not. What's the worst that could happen?

[He squints up at Snake.] I don't think I'll be any good changing your bandages if I can't see them. D'you think it's safe to put my glasses back on?

[Nods.] Go ahead.

[Removes the gloves for now, then walks out of the bathroom.]

[He does so, standing and following Snake out of the bathroom, glancing into the mirror as he passes. Mostly he just looks like a mess.]

...Do you want a drink or something? I've got coffee. But uh, not much else. There's a kitchen down the hall, I think, if you want to go grab something different.

[ Sits on the bed, waving a hand to gesture he's not thirsty, but he does take out a cigarette. He gestures it at Otacon, as if saying 'I'm fine with this'.]

[He looks sort of disapprovingly at the cigarette, but he doesn't say anything, remembering a conversation he had with the older Liquid back at the beach. Instead he heads over to the kitchenette and sets the coffeepot to percolate, joining Snake over by the bed when he's done.]

...Still haven't quit, huh?

[Turns his head a bit when Otacon sits next to him.]

If I'm going to be dead in six months, smoking is the least of my worries. [As if on cue, however, he coughs rather harshly, before clearing his throat.]

[He winces at the sound of Snake's coughing.]...Guess not. Doesn't sound like it's doing you any favors, though.

[He stares at his hands, unable to meet Snake's eyes.]
...how can you be so sure? That six months is it?

Hnn... Feels good, though. [Well, it made him feel good, despite the obvious ways it was affecting his health.]

... That's what I heard from Naomi... Half a year.

[He knows very little about the future. He's almost afraid to ask. But he needs to know.]
...Naomi? You mean Dr. Hunter, from Foxhound? It's not-

...is it because of the Foxdie?

... [Shakes his head.] With FOXDIE, my own life isn't so important... But in three months, in my own timeline, the lives of billions will be at stake... Naomi says the FOXDIE in my body has started to mutate, so instead of killing only those with certain genes, it will become unbiased and kill anyone I come into contact with.

[Sighs, closing his eyes.] I'll be a walking biological weapon. But apparently, if I die, the virus will die with me.

[The explanation chills his blood. Whatever he had been expecting to hear, it hadn't been that.]

Snake....I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, that's...[He struggles find the right word. Anything just sounds like a massive understatement.]...unbelievable.

...when you put it like that...it just--sounds so hopeless. How do you stand it?

... [Lowers his head.] I have a mission to complete. If I stop and think about what happens to me... Then it's all over.

[Shakes his head a bit.] I wouldn't be able to do it by myself.

It's just- Wrong. [He rubs at his eyes with a sigh.] After everything that's happened...you shouldn't have to go through that.

[He hesitates a moment before asking.]
...He's not here, right? The uh, version of me from your time. The one you know.

... [Silent for a long moment. The smell of hair dye is what brings him back.]

Ah... No. I haven't seen him. The last Otacon I saw that even remotely resembled the one from my time... He was concerned about Liquid's safety.

I'm sorry. Sounds like you miss him. [He gives Snake a bit of a sad smile.] Don't give up. I'm willing to bet he misses you too.
...If he's here, I'm sure he's looking for you.

[He stands abruptly and goes to pour himself a cup of coffee.] ...You sure you don't want any?

... [About to say something when Otacon stands up. He looks at him, then looks down.] Sure, I'll have some.

[He nods, and grabs two mugs from a cupboard.]

D'you want anything in it or...?

Just black is good.

[Feels bad.] ... I try not to think about people from my own time... Thinking about it... It makes me lose focus... I start losing what hope I have...

[Nods again, putting a bit of milk in his own before coming back to sit, handing the black coffee off to Snake.] Guess some things don't change, huh?

[He takes a sip, waiting a moment before before speaking.]
...I understand. I worry, too. About Snake and everyone, back at home....
I miss them, but I can't just forget them. I wouldn't want to. Even if remembering is painful. What's the point of having hope if you can't know what it is you're hoping for?

[Takes it, and he smirks a bit.]

Hnn...

Knowing you in my timeline... You're probably worried sick. [Sips.] You're always worried about me, even when I tell you not to be. I guess when an old man tells you he's fine, the first thing to assume is he's lying.

[He laughs.] Don't take it personally. If it helps, you've been worrying me sick ever since Shadow Moses. Maybe I just stopped trying to hide it as much.

[Looks down into his mug.]
...What do you think happens? Back at home? I mean, I was just talking to him. To you. And then I was here.

[Takes another sip of coffee, still sitting shirtless next to his hair-dying friend.]

Hmm... I don't know... All I can hope is that everything hasn't gone to hell back home.

[Obviously the best time for a chat.]

[He stands and walks over to open a window. It was getting kind of stuffy, with the fumes from the dye, plus the cigarette smoke. He would have opened one earlier, but the blank white expanse visible through the window was ...really unnerving.]

I hate to think of Snake turning around to find that I've disappeared from our own apartment.

[Takes a long drag from his cigarette, before exhaling slowly. He looks to Otacon, then nudges his shoulder.]

Hey. I'm tougher than I look. I'll hang in there... Just as I'm sure you will. Both here... and in our own times.

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Not dead I swear.

*snuggles!*

<3

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pfft. I forgot he took his shirt off. Oh well, shirtless monologues are par for the course, right?

yes :D

snuggles!