[voice]
[The audio starts with a brief whine of feedback. After working with nanocommunications for so many years, switching back to an old fashioned broadcast can be a little strange in itself. But Snake is nothing if not adaptable, and old habits are easy enough to fall back into. People familiar with Big Boss will recognize the voice. Different in the
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[It's not possible.]
[He repeats those words like a mantra inside of his head.]
[Snake can't be here, he cant, fate wouldn't be that cruel.]
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[He'd stared up at Snake as the life ebbed from him at last, as the pain overtook him and his body gave out entirely. He remembered reaching for him, remembered Snake not even moving and why should he? Liquid was dying and there was no need for speeches, he'd made enough of those.]
[The last thing he'd seen was Snake's face.]
[Slowly, he lowered his hand to the controls.]
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Hello, my brother.
[There was just a hint of burning anger in his voice.]
So it seems you've finally arrived. Now the family's all together for the first time. One big happy family.
[Snake will be either at the tram station or the hostel, if he hasn't chosen to wander around. Liquid carefully and quickly works out how long it will take him to get to either. Too long, and he's not quite sure fighting Snake right now is a good idea. He's taken a major knock in confidence from Big Boss already, combined with his losses against Snake...]
No one knows what's really going on. And even if I did, I wouldn't tell you now, would I?
[He needs to get stronger.]
That wouldn't be very sensible of me at all now.
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[Mildly surprised, at best. Oddly, he's not all that concerned to find you alive, bro.]
Kept you waiting, huh?
[In contrast, Snake's voice is placid, conversational. A little sarcastic. He's alone, outside the hostel. No sense wandering just yet, not until he gets some information...and if he gets in trouble right now he's not all that confident he's in any shape to get himself out of it. It's an alien feeling to him. Not good by any means.]
Why not? I remember you being pretty big on exposition. [Usually while on top of giant, nuclear-equipped robots.]
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Why the bloody hell do you sound so calm? Most people don't normally sound so conversational when faced with their dead homicidal brother.
[Oh god, he hates this place.]
Yes, you bloody well kept me waiting! I've been here a month. And you- you just... Just you!
[He doesn't even care if he isn't making sense.]
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[There's a pause and a sound of motion as he sits down against the wall of the hostel.]
...this were you disappeared to? That little friend of yours was pretty broken up about it.
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So you're from that place too? Good grief, I'm starting to feel like the odd one out in this family.
Sorry, but I've never been to any Siren's Port, that I recall. And I'm not "over" anything.
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[Another pause and a sharp exhalation over the line. Well, that figures. And him in no shape to fight.]
Forgot, huh? Starting to realize why you got so mad at me for it.
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What? Are you going to tell me too how we played happy families?
[Sarcasm. He has it.]
...what you're feeling is normal, by the way. Everyone goes through it. It fades, eventually.
[No, that isn't him offering faint words of possible comfort, you're imagining things.]
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Happy is a bit of a stretch.
[He's not going to get into it if Liquid doesn't ask. Liquid doesn't remember. Snake's not going to hold him to decisions he doesn't know he made. What's the point?]
...
[Aid and comfort to the enemy, Liquid? He lifts a hand and curls it into a fist, looking at it. Quiet, because he's vulnerable and in unfamiliar territory he really doesn't like it. And if Liquid's his enemy again then he's at a definite disadvantage until he can get back to normal.]
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I hardly expected otherwise.
[A slow sigh.]
You're in no danger from me just yet.
[His fingers curl into a fist again.]
Once you're back to normal, then you can consider yourself in danger from me. I have little interest in fighting you right now.
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No interest?
[That's not like you, Liquid.]
You don't have to wait on my account.
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[Liquid buries his feelings deep, behind rage and rants that were almost like a shield for him. He can't escape the fact that he failed, that he was weak enough to lose and that after all that he'd been afraid. That he showed that much weakness to Snake of all people... it wounded his pride and his confidence more than he would admit.]
Where are you?
[He doesn't expect Snake to tell him. In the background, Snake might notice the faintly metallic sounds of the FAMAS being reloaded. Liquid isn't as close to the city as he would like to be and he's far more wary when it's dark.]
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Isn't like you to ignore a tactical advantage over an enemy. Guess I just don't understand the sudden change of heart. If you were looking for a fair fight all along you had a lousy way of showing it.
[FOXHOUND and the Genome soldiers, poison gas, torture, the hind, Metal Gear REX. Liquid had pressed every advantage he had back at Shadow Moses.]
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