[voice]

[formerfoxhound]

[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

Comments

voice

[heavendivided]

[oh, look who decided to drop in.]

Well, what do you think is going on, huh?

voice

[formerfoxhound]

[You missed him a little bit, BB, admit it.]

[Big Boss gets a pause and a slow exhalation before he speaks. Not quite as dramatic a reaction as last time. There's a sound which might translate to him dropping his head back against whatever wall he's leaning on at the moment.]

...I think you're all pretty damn loud for people I'm supposed to have made up.

[Or is that not how it works?]

voice

[heavendivided]

[he totally did SHUT UP]

Good answer. [in a lot of ways -] And you don't seem particularly surprised by the sound of your own voice.

voice

[formerfoxhound]

I could say the same to you. Loses it's charm after a while, I guess.

[He'd been expecting you, BB. Liquid sort of ruined the surprise. Along with nearly everyone else he'd spoken to.]

voice

[heavendivided]

[Naturally.]

I know what to expect by now. ...Mostly.

He's not bothering you, is he? [Referring to Liquid, of course.]

voice

[formerfoxhound]

[oh, come on, you know Liquid better than that.]

He's decided he wants to kill me again. [So. Yes.] Nothing I can't handle.

[Probably. Maybe he's a little worried about the state he's in now, but he'd manage somehow. Part of him is still far too wary of Big Boss to admit much in the way of weakness.]

Surprised he hasn't tried it on you.

voice

[heavendivided]

Oh, he did. [Do you hear that smile in that voice? DO YOU HEAR IT?]

It just... didn't work out. As usual. Now he has someone else to keep him occupied.

...By the way. You don't need to hide that you're feeling fatigued; it's like that for everyone. It won't last, if you're worrying about that.

voice

[formerfoxhound]

Yeah. Me. Can't say I'm looking forward to indulging him.

[His fingers twitch on the CLD at the last part. Saw right through him, huh?]

...Hn. Thanks for the info. Any idea how long it takes to wear off?

[He's sort of become a hunted man, isn't that fun.]

voice

[heavendivided]

Hahaha, that too. But I'm referring to someone else. Even Liquid can make friends. Unwillingly, it seems - don't ask me how that works.

[There's a small pause.]

A few weeks, at most, but I'm guessing that it depends on the person. If you keep up your regular training regimen, it should wear off in no time.

voice

[formerfoxhound]

[Unfortunately, Kadaj seems to be looking forward to seeing the Twin Snakes fight, so no luck getting a distraction there.]

Great.

[Forgive him if he doesn't sound too enthusiastic. The news is both a relief and incredibly frustrating. Good to know it's temporary, but a few weeks of dodging Liquid in some new insane place before he knows he can hold his ground still sounds like a pain in the ass.]

voice

[heavendivided]

[Well, yeah. Same for BB and Liquid, but Kadaj already saw BB wiping the floor with Liquid, so...]

Don't sound so thrilled. I'd hate to deal a blow to your pride, but I can keep him in check.

voice

[formerfoxhound]

[He gives a slow, tired sigh as he considers that. As wary as he still is of Big Boss, Liquid's had more than a month to recover from whatever odd aftereffects this place had forced upon them. Snake's had hours. And those aren't idle threats Liquid is making.]

[At length.] ...Never claimed to be invincible. I'm not looking to risk it just yet. If that's an offer, I could probably use the help.

[And secretly, it is a bit of a blow to what pride he has. He's far too used to being able to rely on his own skills, if nothing else. But discretion is the better part of valor. He's not that proud.]

voice

[heavendivided]

[Well. Lucky for you you don't have a misplaced sense of pride anymore]

Didn't say that. I just know how to keep Liquid distracted, that's all. Besides, I doubt he'd want to fight you when you're not at your full strength, so there's that.

[There's a humming, thoughtful sound.]

It could be worse.

voice

[formerfoxhound]

[Oh, don't worry, he's just...misplaced it. Sitting in the post-apocalyptic dirt outside the hostel, after apparent interdimensional mindfuck #2, essentially unarmed if Liquid does decide to come gun him down, (not interested unless you somehow goad him into it like an idiot, gj Snake) he doesn't have a whole lot to be proud about. Hell, it's downright embarrassing. Won't admit it, but he might just be glad to hear a couple familiar voices, even if one of them is yours. Last he remembers of Siren's Port, everyone else had been long gone.]

['Course that means now he's regretting making himself out to be incapable. He leans his arms on his knees and answers stiffly.]

And what makes you say that?

voice

[heavendivided]

[He knows how you feel, buddy, but really... he's just glad to have some friends around, too. Especially those from the other city, and Kaz. Big Boss doesn't need much to be content. It doesn't have to be Mother Base, though he does miss it, naturally. But still, home is where you make it, and all that.]

You could be alone.

voice

[formerfoxhound]

[That stops him, and he goes quiet for a while. Liquid sure as hell doesn't count as friendly. Kadaj...probably doesn't either. But for all Snake likes to pretend he's an island sometimes, Big Boss was right. It was a relief to hear from Raiden, (who he can count on, even if he is still proud enough not to want to push his problems over on the poor confused kid). And Kaz. And even BB, though he's still swinging somewhere between trying to take Big Boss as he is and being unable to let go of the fact that he's Big Boss. Allies, even tentative ones, were a luxury he wasn't about to take for granted.]

[Just as the silence was edging from "brief" to "drawn out," he breaks it.]

...Hn. Right. Guess so.