imthe_shit | 001 [ video ; action ]

[ The video feed clicks on, showing the waters by New Bark Town, as well as the ferry nearby. There's some smoke coming from off-screen, and the camera slowly moves to look at the cause of it.

There's a Torkoal sitting by the water's edge, looking grumpily up at the video feed before cocking its head and snorting. The feed clicks off.

A few moments later it returns, this time facing a man... A very old man. He's sporting a beaten up looking bandanna, a gray mustache and a large, poorly made bandage covering the left side of his face. He stares into the video, the corners of his mouth turned ever so slightly into a frown, his eyes carrying deep pain within them, but his gaze is firm. Snake was back. ]

Kept you waiting, huh?

[ His voice his gravely, and he ventures a bitter smile, before coughing harshly, dropping the Poke Gear momentarily. He picks it up again, clearing his throat, though the video goes back to staring out over the lake. ]

Looks like this place isn't done with me yet... Wonder just how much has changed... [ He snorts. ] There's no way in hell my old team is still here, is there? [ The Torkoal makes a hissing sound and Snake gives a short laugh. ] Don't worry, Boss. I'm not replacing you... [ He begins coughing again, this time more harshly, and the feed cuts out. ]

[ Snake is knelt on the ground by the water, coughing harshly and leaning on Boss, his Torkoal, for support. He looks to be in a pretty bad way, and that bandage is somewhat hanging off his face, revealing the horribly burnt flesh underneath for anyone close enough to see it.

He's dressed in what looks like some sort of sneaking suit... It's muscular, and maybe a bit out of place, as well as burnt in several places and pretty beat up looking. What the hell happened to him since the last time he was here? ]

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[ He catches that tone in her voice, but decides not to question it for now. Something for later... Snake begins to cough again, a horrible retching sound, before he swears out of frustration, leaning back against his Pokemon. ]

Nnn... No one can help me... [ Shakes his head. ] Knowing this place... I'll be fine soon enough. [ As for what happened to him, well, he doesn't appear too eager to share such information. ]

_{[The worst part of a long distance conversation is that there's nothing she can do but sit and watch him hack and wheeze.]}

... Snake...

_{[Sunny's snowy bulk is still visible in the background as she hovers anxiously over Heather's shoulder. She lets out a sad-sounding keening noise.]}

... Look... I'm... I'm in Mahogany Town.

I can probably fly over in a matter of days if I have to. I can come pick you up.

[ He hears her words and catches his breath. ]

And what am I supposed to do when I'm there? The Pokemon get stronger with each area, don't they? Boss would be ripped apart.

I'm... probably going to take that ferry. I don't feel like walking old roads. [ He looks at Sunny through the feed, having heard her sad noises. ] Sunny's yours now... I don't want her to feel torn.

You can do whatever you want, Heather... But I'm still going on that ferry.

Well-- ... yeah, but...

_{[She'd been going to blurt out, in typical Heather fashion, 'We'd protect you', and thought better of it at the very last minute. Snake probably wouldn't be too keen on the idea of being 'protected' by a recently-former teenager, her aging father, and a panicky photographer.]}

... Are you sure?

_{[Is what she finally asks, and it's with a brow-creased glance to Sunny, who of course she's come to love, but... still...]}

[ If he could put his hands on your shoulders, he would. He nods his head slowly, giving a bit of a smile to her. ]

Yeah. I'm sure.

[ Snake does wish he could pet Sunny again... but in reality, he wasn't sure he wanted them to see him like this. He needed time to heal, to get back to his old self. Whether that was possible for him mentally or not remained to be seen. ]

No need for you to chase after shadows.

... Dave...

I dunno what you've been through since you left. But you're not a shadow.

You were one while you were gone. But not now. Now you're here. And you're my friend.

_{[She pauses a moment... then adds.]}

... One of the only ones left.

_{[Liquid and Otacon are gone. Rise and Kaito are gone. Phoenix has been gone for years. She has new friends, yes, but from the old days... there's hardly anyone left.]}

[ He reaches up to adjust the bandage on his face... and instead tears it off, showing the ugly scarring underneath. Snake winces before answering quietly. ]

The me you knew back then... Nothing more than a scorched shadow. Any future I thought I had, I lost.

Maybe in this place I can live, but... No light can shine upon me. Being around me will only drag you down.

_{[She lets out a gasp. She can't help it. It's a burn. And a nasty one. Not as nasty as the ones she's seen and worn before, but... well, that sort of sight has been burned (no pun intended) into her memory and it's never a pleasant one to revisit in real life.]

[But she bites her lip and tries to purge the shock from her face, because she doesn't want to prove any part of what he says next.]

[Her face takes on a steely look instead.]}

Maybe you can pull that with other people, Snake... but not with me.

_{[Shutting her eyes, she exhales briefly. Otacon knew what had happened to her-- knew why she hated fire so damn much. But he's gone, and so are most of the other people who know that little detail of her past. Snake doesn't, and now's NOT the time to tell him. Not when he's the one with the burn and she doesn't have a blemish on her body besides the sun-spattered freckles on her skin. No, now's not the time. He wouldn't believe it and it wouldn't make him feel better either. So she just shakes her head resolutely.]}

Trust me on this.

You couldn't drag me down if you tried. ... Scorched shadow or not.

[ Oh, Heather. Snake really did miss you, even if he couldn't remember her when he was gone. He grimaced, looking away from the feed as he stared out over the water again. ]

Stubborn kid... [ He gives a light laugh, though his voice is still harsh from the coughing. ]

It's good to see you again, Heather... Even if we're on different paths.

_{[She missed you too, old man.]

[Her expression softens a little bit.]}

... Yeah, well... I'm not even sure I have a path anymore.

Or if I ever did.

So we might still cross each other. You never know.

_{[She'd spent most of last year in Saffron City, after all.]}

[ Snake smirks and nods at her. ]

Just don't... go out of your way to find me. I want to try and find my bearings in this world again... Make my own way.

All right.

Just promise me you'll find me if you need to. ... Okay?

_{[Sunny lets out a respectful but concurring chirp. She's okay with being told to stay... but she still wants to see her old trainer, even if she isn't his anymore.]}

[ Snake nods his head. ]

Yeah... I will.

[ He looks to the big Togekiss and smiles. ] Keep her safe, Sunny. You can always sit on her if you think she looks cold.

Don't worry. She does that already.

_{[The Togekiss's plumage swells and she looks incredibly pleased with herself.]}

Good.

[ He still remembers the adventures they had together, particularly when she was a Togetic... A lot of good memories with that Pokemon. Snake looks briefly sad before he shakes his head a bit. ]

All right... I'm going to get going. Take care of yourself, Heather.

Okay.

... You too.

... Hey, Snake?

Welcome back.

[ He smiles at that, nodding his head. ]

Thanks, Heather. [ The feed clicks off. ]

001 [ video ; action ]

[ video ] that is okay~

[ video ]

[ video ] TOO BAD HE'S HEADED TO PALLET ;-;

[ video ] AWW WELL THEY CAN MEET UP LATER

[ video ] FOURTH WALL SHENANIGANS?!

YESS!!! ... although heather is going to be a semi-feral zombie thing will that be a problem

... WELL they can have a very interesting meet-up then

yes good. and it'll be ESPECIALLY interesting after this conversation, mwuah hah hah...

yes indeed!

yes indeed!

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OLD HUH

YEA I SAID IT

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