002 [ video ; action for any ferrygoers ]

[imthe_shit]

[ There's a strange humming sound when the feed clicks on, that of some kind of a machine. Boss, Snake's Torkoal, is in view once more, a pillow propped against him and leaning on that pillow was none other than Snake himself, having discarded the bandage and pleasantly smoking a cigarette. The wound has scarred over, but it doesn't look as painful anymore. He had a leg propped up on his knee and the two of them were sitting on what looked like a couch in some sort of lounge, the PokeGear atop a coffee table. The old soldier looks over at the feed and gestures to it, cigarette in hand. ]

Turns out this ferry'll take me to a new region... Might as well try something new while I'm here. I'm not into nostalgia anyway. [ Coughs a bit before taking another drag from his cigarette. Boss snorts, smoke continously billowing from its nostrils... It always looked grumpy, but maybe it didn't mind being used like a compress. ]

I'm traveling with Six. Most of our money's gone, but we'll find work in the new region... If anyone's in Pallet, feel free to say hi. [ Smirks. ] We've been on here a day... Captain says just two days left.

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[artisticprophet]

[Looks like Six had found some things to draw on while he was there. Off on the floor, scribbling away with a set of crayons]

Two days. Most of it's gone... Work hard to get more.

[Ralts was asleep next to him, slumbering peacefully with her trainer's good mood]

[imthe_shit]

[ Looks down at Six, craning his head a bit to see what he's doing. ]

What are you drawing?

[artisticprophet]

Pictures... Miss is in some.

[But most of them appear to be intricately drawn strange alchemy symbols up and down the page.]

[imthe_shit]

[ Snake watches Six draw and makes a soft grumble in his throat. ]

You're pretty good at that.

[artisticprophet]

Thank you. I... I draw a lot.

[Most of the time, actually. While the ralts in the picture looks somewhat warped and darkened, it still bears a very close resemblance to the one sleeping beside him. He's working on making things look beautiful rather than terrifying, it's new for him!]

Do... do you... draw?

[imthe_shit]

[ Shakes his head slowly, rubbing his forehead. ]

Nno... I'm not much of an artist. [ I only know how to kill, not make. ]

[artisticprophet]

You could try.

[He holds out a piece of paper, putting it in front of Snake]

[imthe_shit]

[ Looks down at the piece of paper, grunting as he got into a sitting position. ]

Hhn... [ He picked up a black crayon, eyeing it a little before putting it to paper, doodling a pretty simple drawing of a snake. ]

There, how's that.

[artisticprophet]

[It didn't matter if it was simple, it was still drawing!]

It... it looks nice. It is a... um.. an animal. An animal? Don't know what it is.

[imthe_shit]

It's a snake.

[ Like me. ]

My code-name is based on this thing.

[artisticprophet]

A snake.

Oh.

... Saw... something like that. Something.

[Six immediately gets to work, hastily starting to scrawl something onto the paper. And surprise surprise, it's horrifying.]

Not a snake.

[imthe_shit]

[ ...... Snake leans forward from the couch, staring at the drawing and narrowing his eyes. ]

What is that thing?

[ Boss lifts his head in order to eye the drawing, expelling some black smoke from his nostrils, probably spooked. ]

[artisticprophet]

Took... some of us. Some of us. Seven and Eight. Eight was gone.

It is gone now. No more. A machine.

Gone forever.

[imthe_shit]

... Hn... Sorry.

[ Reaches over, patting Six on the shoulder before leaning back on the couch. He knew what it was like to lose people, anyway. ]

[artisticprophet]

[Six lost a few people before Eight. Two for instance. He liked Two... He stares down at his picture for a moment, before pushing it aside, focusing on happier things]

But... I am here now. It is... better. No machines. Quiet and happy.

[imthe_shit]

[ Nods slowly, taking in another drag from the cigarette before exhaling softly. ]

... Yeah. Just what the doctor ordered. [ He smirks. ] You should try drawing Boss. I'm sure he'd like a portrait.

[artisticprophet]

Okay.

[He pulls out some new paper, takes a look at Boss, and starts sketching carefully. Even if it's just with crayon, it looks like it's coming out quite nicely.]

Maybe... he will let me pet him one day...

[imthe_shit]

[ Leans back on the pillow, letting the warmth from the Torkoal's body soothe his poor back. ]

Maybe... Once he gets over himself. [ Reaches his arm back to push on Boss's face a bit before withdrawing. Snake looks down at the picture while it's being drawn, making a bit of an interested sound. ]

You'd do well as an artist here. People'd probably want to buy your work.

[artisticprophet]

Maybe? That... that would be nice. If someone... liked it.

[He's not used to people liking what he draws. If the picture of the Seamstress is of any indication, he's pretty used to some terrifying things]

Only nice things though. Only the nice things.

[imthe_shit]

[ Some people like scary stuff, anyway. ]

You could find a buyer for the scarier stuff, too... But it might be better for your own sanity to draw the nicer things.

[ Points at the drawing of Boss. ] Like that. People love that kind of thing.

[artisticprophet]

They do?

[He looks down at the picture, before holding it out to Snake.]

Y-you... you can have it. If you want. It... it is yours.

[imthe_shit]

[ Snake blinks at the picture, sitting up again, a low growl rumbling in his throat as he takes hold of it with two hands. ]

... Hhn... Thanks. It's good. [ Shows it to Boss. ] What do you think?

[ The Torkoal looks at the picture, the smoke ceasing to come from his nostrils for the moment. It cocks its head, pressing its nose to the drawing before snorting, withdrawing its head again. Snake smirks. ] That's the best thank you he can muster, I guess.

[artisticprophet]

You are... welcome. I hope... I hope you like it.

[He gathers ralts into his arms, taking a break from drawing for the time being]

[imthe_shit]

[ Nods, lying back down and looking the drawing over before placing it on his chest, closing his eyes. ]

You come to any conclusion about what you want to do here yet?

[artisticprophet]

I don't know...

[He didn't really do anything at home, no one ever let him.]

Stay with Miss. Um... see things?