[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

[video] /breaks hiatus just for you |3a

[argentcruelty]

[It takes Kadaj a moment to realise that that voice didn't belong to Big Boss (or that if it did, Big Boss had suddenly contracted Liquid's amnesia). Briefly he considers checking in with Liquid to make sure the man wasn't going to do something too stupid... but then he just shrugs. Snake could deal, and Liquid... was Liquid.]

They think they can tell us our memories are fake. [In a way, he's testing. Would Snake remember who he was, or had he forgotten, too?]

[action]

[formerfoxhound]

[There we go. Knew it was only a matter of time. Snake goes tense immediately, looking past Kadaj (very funny, not even going to bother with an answer) to where Liquid had landed.]

[He stands, slowly and warily, backing off from the building without taking his eyes off of his twin.]

[What do you intend to do, Liquid?]

[action]

[ysobritish]

...Kadaj, once you inevitably get kicked out, we won't have a place to stay either. No use extending invites under that situation.

[Liquid moves almost like a prowling beast, watching Snake with wary, cold eyes. His eyes were always far more expressive than Snake's. It was too hard for him to hide his emotions fully. There were always signs. Always ways to see, if you looked. His eyes barely showed reluctance, faint traces of fear pushed back by the knowledge that this was inevitable.

Meaningless.

Killing Snake in this condition would mean nothing.

It was all well and good to ask his intentions, but the fact was... he didn't know.]

Brother! You haven't changed you mind now, have you?

[When he first came here, neither he nor Big Boss were even capable of hitting each other, although both had tried.

Since then, Liquid had been training hard, taking Miller's advice from that one-off conversation to heart and - for once - not pushing himself too far past his limits. This would be over fast.]

[action]

[formerfoxhound]

[It's just like Liquid to draw things out a bit and launch into dramatics. But it isn't like him to hesitate. In contrast to Liquid's prowling, Snake's absolutely still, following Liquid's movements with his eyes. His posture is defensive, but he's not backing down. Snake's been a solider a long time. He knows when he's in no shape to fight. That doesn't mean he won't try if he has to.]

Changed my mind?

[action]

[ysobritish]

You wanted to fight, correct? Even though in your condition it's likely to be over far too quickly.

[He cracks his knuckles as he approaches, watching Snake warily. On the other hand, Liquid has perfect confidence in his "perfect" brother managing to defeat him if he has to. Snake just wouldn't die after all. The one thing the two had in common. Sheer stubbornness.]

Far less dramatic a setting than I'd have chosen. So low and dingy. Ah, well. That will just make your death that much more pitiful.

[action]

[formerfoxhound]

Wanted to? I never said that.

[He shifts slightly, hands curling into fists. Snake's never claimed to be perfect. But Liquid's right. He's too damn stubborn to let this beat him.]

[action]

[ysobritish]

Well, I was all set to be graceful and allow you to recover, but no. Dear, darling Snake had to push the issue.

Don't lie.

You live to fight, isn't that right? Even if you don't admit it, that blood lust is inside of you. The thrill and joy of battle. You'll never be free of it.

Even in this condition.

[Liquid's feet stilled, then slid apart slightly, his weight shifting to the back leg. Braced and ready, although it was hardly noticeable.]

But I'm not unkind, brother. I'll give you one more chance.

Ask me to leave you alone until you recover. Ask nicely. And I'll consider it.

[action]

[formerfoxhound]

[Well, all that is damn familiar. Brings him right back to Shadow Moses. And to Zanzibarland before that. And Outer Heaven before that. Not the best memories to dredge up in the first place. Worse, with Liquid right here and Big Boss not far away himself.]

...

[In lieu of a proper answer, he grits his teeth and glares. It's Liquid. Hell if he's going to beg.]

[action]

[ysobritish]

[A pleased laugh. Liquid won't admit that there's a part of him that takes pride in his brother's stubbornness. There's an even bigger part of him that would love to break that out of him.]

Well then. I guess we have little choice in the matter.

[Without another word, he hurls himself forward, throwing a punch to Snake's face.]

[action]

[formerfoxhound]

[Snake sees the attack coming, knows that he should be able to dodge it or block it or redirect it, the movements so ingrained in him that he doesn't even have to think before he reacts. But somehow there's that disconnect between himself and what he should able to do and he doesn't move. At least he doesn't move quick enough, which means he takes the full force of the blow and, unprepared for just how unprepared he'd be, hits the ground.]

[...What the hell? Momentarily stunned, he blinks hard, clearing the spots from his vision before deliberately, stubbornly, getting back to his feet. Want to break it out of him, Liquid? You're gonna have to do better than that.]

[action]

[ysobritish]

...tch.

[He waits for the man to rise, readying himself before throwing himself at the man again. Liquid throws a sharp kick to Snake's torso, a punch towards his face soon following.]

[action]

[formerfoxhound]

[He manages to keep his feet this time. Adapting, if slowly. But the blow knocks him back and he's left gasping, tasting blood.]

[Breathing harshly from the abuse to his ribs, he settles back into a stance and waits for Liquid's next move.]

[action]

[argentcruelty]

[A short, exasperated huff, and Kadaj advances, grabbing Liquid's wrist before he can throw any more punches.]

Are you just going to keep hitting him until he stops getting back up? That's no fun.

[action]

[ysobritish]

I AM NOT DOING THIS FOR YOUR AMUSEMENT!

[He wrenches his arm free, stepping back, but doesn't make another move towards Snake. There's something strange in his eyes. Almost wild, as if he'd been two steps from just throwing himself on Snake and beating his too-blank face in until there was nothing left of it.]

[action]

[formerfoxhound]

[Until he could manage to fight back, he only way he could stand a chance would be to anticipate Liquid's attacks and find a way to compensate for them. He's not in a position to be on the offensive. So he waits. Caught off guard by the interruption, Snake watches Kadaj and Liquid warily, catching his breath. Outwardly, he's just as collected as ever, even in the face of almost certain death. But in Liquid's own words, it's not over yet.]

[action]

[argentcruelty]

[There's something in Kadaj's eyes, too. Something cruel, like a child who pulls the wings from insects or breaks his toys simply because he can.]

Right. [There's a hint of laughter in his voice.] Because killing someone who can't fight back means you're better than them.