imthe_shit | [ action / backdated to November 29th ]

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[ action / backdated to November 29th ]

[ The tornado had finally stopped, and Snake had been able to leave the center, taking a look around. Downed trees, parts of roofs blown off... Kind of amazing the center had little to no damage.

He could see people working together with their Pokemon, already clearing the wreckage and putting the town back together. Looking upward, the old soldier stared up at the tower. ]

That thing's still standing, huh.

[ He'd seen it in pamphlets about Mahogany Town, since he had nothing better to read while he was holed up in the center. Amazing. It was still raining, though, and Snake didn't have an umbrella with him-- probably not a good idea to bring out Boss.

So, he wandered over to a nearby tree, one of the ones still standing, and leaned against it, patting himself down for a cigarette. He had his octo-camo with him, but he couldn't get the damn thing to work... Must have glitched somewhere along the way, so instead he was dressed in more casual wear. A black turtleneck, camo pants... This was his usual outfit from the last time he was here, too. Not to mention the bandanna around his forehead. ]

Hhn... Where the hell are they... [ Finally, he finds the pack and opens it, realizing there were only two cigarettes left. He frowns considerably. ] ... Damn tortoise...

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_{[She seems to be running fashionably late.]

[After a time, though, Snake may hear a familiar sound-- a deep bark, coming from somewhere off down the road. Not that it's all that different from the other various Pokemon noises drifting around-- but shortly thereafter, a bulky orange shape comes bounding around the corner, creamy tail happily flagged and mane bounding up and down between his ears. It's Cujo, and he's grown considerably since the last time Snake saw him. He's almost bigger than a St. Bernard at this point.]

[He's looking over his shoulder even as he bounces down the street, tongue lolling out of his mouth, and it's not long before his trainer emerges.]}

CUJO! If you knock somebody over I'm not gonna step in when their Pokemon wallops you!

_{[Unlike Cujo, she hasn't grown any-- but the years are still visible. Less in her appearance than in the way she presents herself. She's in that leather coat Liquid gave her (but the green bandanna tied around the shoulder is a gift from someone else entirely... the same person who gave her a smoky tortoise and a giant white owl), and her hair is more wild than ever-- the black roots stretching carelessly into the dye. She's tanner and leaner.]

[But the crooked grin that springs onto her face when she spots Snake and waves is exactly the same.]}

SNAKE!

[ Snake most definitely heard the fuss, tilting his head when he heard Cujo barking like a fool as usual. He pushed himself off the tree and walked out from under its leaves again, placing a hand over his brow to block out the rain.

That's when he saw her-- at first, he noticed Liquid's coat more than anything, but the one wearing it... ]

Heather...

[ She'd changed-- not too much, they were subtle, but they were noticeable to the old soldier. He could see how the dye was wearing thin, the tan on her skin... He noted the bandanna tied around her shoulder. She looked like a raggedy mish-mash of a bunch of people slapped together, but he didn't care. They'd all been a bunch of mish-mashes... Otacon, Snake, Liquid and Heather. Snake smiled at her, reaching a hand up somewhat to wave back. ]

Hey, kid.

[ It was rare to see him smile like this, but... Heather was his rookie. Seeing her in person again almost made him forget about the stuff from a few days ago... That hardly mattered when getting to be face-to-face with her again. ]

_{[They had been, hadn't they?]

[It had been a long time, and they'd drifted apart long before Otacon and Liquid actually disappeared from the land for good... but she'd never forget how it had been. The first family she'd had since losing her father back home.]

[... She just wished she could say she'd ended up stronger for it.]

[But the sour note she'd ended on with Liquid isn't what she wants to think about right now. Because she's just gotten someone BACK, and this someone actually remembers her.]

[So, beaming wide, she speeds up her pace to a jog. Cujo beats her to the meeting spot, but she's not far behind, and when she gets there, she doesn't hesitate for even a minute before throwing her arms around the old soldier in a fierce hug. She remembers that he's not the huggy type, but guess who has two thumbs and doesn't give a fuck? THIS KID.]}

[ Snake grunts when Heather throws her arms around him, taking a step back to balance himself. He's not the huggy-type, no, but he doesn't push her off or anything, just putting a hand to her head and giving a grin. ]

Hheh, good to see you, kiddo.

[ They'd talked few times over the Gear since his return, but that barely meant anything; talking face to face was way more important. David gave her hair a tussle. ]

You need to dye your hair again, I can see the roots. [ Tease tease. ]

_{[It doesn't feel real until she can actually touch the person. Never has.]

[Even when her father had arrived in Johto, it hadn't become absolutely, 100% real in her head until she'd been able to bury her face in his coat and smell all the leather-bound books and printer ink of their apartment, still lingering on him where they'd long since faded on her.]

[It's the same case here.]}

Aw, shut up. It's called a fashion statement.

_{[No Heather it's called being deliberately sloppy because you're hoping it makes you look like you're too cool for social norms. Weren't you supposed to grow out of that in high school?]

[Still, she pulls her head away and grins up at him, not letting go for the moment. Cujo, meanwhile, is snuffling excitedly at Snake's shoes.]}

Good to see you survived the storm.

I wasn't about to head outside; just surprised the center wasn't blown away.

[ He glances down at Cujo, happy the pooch didn't try to jump him at any rate. His gaze goes back to Heather and his hair-tussling turns into a full on ruffle. ]

You look good. Tan, but healthy at any rate.

[ Snake tilts his head a bit. ] Might have to go out for hot dogs again; you're looking a bit thin. [ Well, you're looking a bit OLD, Snake. And burnt-faced. ]

_{[Cujo's manners haven't improved much, but for the moment, exciting smells win out over his overpowering urge to slobber all over faces.]}

It's all the working out I've been doing. Check out these spectacular muscles.

_{[She lets go with one arm and holds it up, mock-flexing-- like you could see anything through the sleeves anyway.]}

[ He gives a bit of a laugh at that, but then looks thoughtful. He reaches his hand over, pulling at the bandanna on her shoulder, then smoothing his hand over the leather coat.

Snake pauses for a bit, thinking about the old days with Heather. There was another pang of guilt in his heart. Back then, he'd always been worried about Otacon-- running off with Liquid. It didn't matter to Snake if Liquid hadn't done Shadow Moses yet; he couldn't see that madman and Otacon working out. Snake remembered all the times Otacon had hidden things from him, just to keep Snake from being angry. His own best friend had to lie to him, out of fear of repercussion. ]

Kept these old things, huh.

_{[Things had been complicated-- for all of them. There was no denying that. If Heather had known any of them before this place, maybe it would have been easier to pick sides. As it was, she'd been caught in the middle. It hadn't always been pleasant.]

[But she smiles, reaching up to pat the bandanna, herself.]}

You say that like you're surprised.

Like I'd ever throw 'em away.

[ He half expected her to be wearing Otacon's glasses, but he kept that thought to himself. ]

You look like a combination of three people. [ Heh. ] Looks good on you, though... Makes you look tough.

_{[She's been a lot of different people in her time. This wouldn't be the first time she's tried on new faces to try and escape something, whether it's her past or just plain fear.]

[Too bad Otacon's glasses weren't left behind (not that she'd wear those, they ain't her style), but at least she has one of his Pokemon.]}

Heh, well... I guess I'd be lying if I said that wasn't the aim.

_{[To look tough, that is.]}

[ Well... Time to move onto more pressing matters, like... What happened to Heather a few days ago. Snake furrowed his brow, taking a step back and frowning. ]

... Heather... We need to talk about the other day.

_{[Grin fading, Heather looks away, rubbing the back of her neck.]}

... Yeeeeaah... sorry about that...

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