☣ o11; [voice]

[lucycoded]

1-0-0

[The tonal sound of dialing pierces the network, followed by a voice that hasn't been heard in the port for going on three weeks time. It speaks in Japanese, firm and curious.]

Hello? [A pause, there is no response from the operator that he thinks he is dialing, but Kazuhiko doesn't allow concern to leak into his voice despite his own

Comments

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[ysobritish]

[Liquid has been in Yaha's room, curled up inside the Love Box he had given Yaha while he thought. He needed the peace and Shinji had told him to check on the apartment after all. But the voice that comes through the NV makes him start and snatch it up. He knows that voice. More than that, he can hear it in duet. He leaves the sanctitity of the box to head to the living room. He calls downstairs before he takes the first step.]

Kazuhiko?

[It surely can't be. It's been too long. Weeks, even. Otacon came back after a day and so many others didn't come back at all.]

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[lucycoded]

[Kazuhiko's head snaps around to meet the sound of movement from elsewhere. His name, for a third time called out. This time a male voice. So many people in one place who know his name. The idea that those who were hunting Shinji before have found him creeps into his mind before he can stop it. A welling of panic and his gaze flits around quickly to find the nearest exit. He won't run, but just in case.]

Hello? [He responds after a hesitating thought.]

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[ysobritish]

[Liquid stills halfway down the stairs, watching Kazuhiko carefully. Odd. The man didn't seem to recognise his voice. He speaks cautiously.]

...Kazuhiko Amamiya. It's good to see you again.

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[lucycoded]

[Kazuhiko looks up at the blonde, and oddly shirtless man, standing on the stairs. His lips purse into a thin line in response to his full name. Turning to stand facing the man, he speaks with an equal amount of caution even if he can no longer hold back the burning question. The one that has been sitting at the tip of his tongue since the first voice called for him here.]

Who are you? How do you know my name?

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[ysobritish]

[Amnesia? That was another alarming trait. He leans on the banister and watches Kazuhiko. There is no fear in his posture, but there is concern in his eyes.]

Liquid Snake. I was an acquaintance of yours before... but I suppose you don't remember that.

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[lucycoded]

[Another one? This one seems a little more formidable. Not to mention the strange name. The fact that Liquid doesn't pursue keeps Kazuhiko where he stands, completely unmoving. His questions remain more blunt than they had been with the the young lady.]

Where am I? [His personal questions of why he'd been here before (if there is true at all) and why he is here again will have to come later.]

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[ysobritish]

In your apartment, in Siren's Port. It's considered to be part of Canada, if Canada exists in this place.

[He keeps calm, deciding to just answer him for now. This is definitely alarming on a pretty high scale. Amnesia usually indicated something wrong with the mind. If Kazuhiko has been hurt...]

Were you harmed, on your way here?

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[lucycoded]

My apartment? [He's never owned an apartment in his life. It's always belonged to someone else. But the location is the same. More and more, things are becoming possible. The concern for his well being makes him look up again, and take a personal tally of his condition. The dizziness is still present along with a stiffness in his right shoulder. His hand slides up through the hair toward the back of his head and he pauses as they come away just barely dampened with blood. It starts throbbing there as he becomes aware of the small wound.]

No, I'm fine. [His words conflict sharply.]

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[ysobritish]

Shinji said that it was paid up for another two months. That was two weeks ago. So you have a while before you have to worry about rent.

[Liquid pauses, watching him. He doesn't look quite as well as he should.]

If you're sure. The first aid kit is still in the kitchen.

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[lucycoded]

[Shinji. That name. Immediately, there's a knotting in his stomach as his nerves coil around his spine at the thought of his other portion. Nothing is shown, his expression carefully controlled.]

I'm fine. [A reassurance, an avoidance of the topic of Shinji.]

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[ysobritish]

Understood. [He shakes his head lightly, still resting on the banister.] Can I come down or are you going to bolt like a scared rabbit?

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[lucycoded]

Rabbit? [A twist in his expression, though he stands his ground, smoothing over the cracks that had come to his composure.]

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[ysobritish]

When I came down, you had a look about you as if you didn't know whether to run or go for the nearest sharp object.

[Slamming his hand down on the banister, he uses it as balance to flip over the banister and land in a crouch on the floor below.]

Although I suppose pacifists don't really consider sharp objects as a first resort to strangers in their home.

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[lucycoded]

I would not attack you, nothing positive can come of tha- [The comment about pacifism cuts him off, leaving him quiet and contemplative on the man's words.]

So then you see yourself as something other than a pacifist?

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[ysobritish]

[Oh hey, that's familiar.]

I'm a soldier, and one that does enjoy combat. So yes. But there's no reason to be afraid. I promised to keep you all safe.

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[lucycoded]

I wouldn't be afraid regardless. [And the lack of falter in his voice acts to ring truth into his words. His attention never strays from the blonde man, even if he doesn't jump or startle at the movements.]

A soldier. Is there war here?