☣ o15; [video]

[lucycoded]

[The video feed starts with a screen of bright blue; one that only shows itself to be something other than a technical error when a wisp of white rare to the sky today peeks into view. The microphone rumbles with the breeze whipping across it. After a moment of this, things seem to calm, and the camera is turned on Kazuhiko's face

Comments

[voice]

[deathlessness]

[Oh, that's awkward. It doesn't feel right, accepting thanks for saving a man's life when you'd once caused his death.

Even so, he sounds as cheerful as ever when he responds.]

Really now, no need to thank me. It's good to see you're all right. Though don't you think you should be resting? Not trying to disappear again, I hope.

[voice]

[lucycoded]

[Oblivious to the standing relationship between them, there is less discomfort from his side.]

You deserve thanks, you put a level of effort into searching for me that was beyond expectation. I could easily describe it as a heroic act. [A small, awkward laugh laugh.] I am resting, but there's only so long I can spend inside a room like that.

[voice]

[deathlessness]

[Kazuhiko, why do you have to be so nice?]

...Ah, no. No, it definitely wasn't that. [A faint sigh, not too easy to pick up.] I'd be careful with that leg of yours if I were you. But I can see why you'd need to get some fresh air.

[voice]

[lucycoded]

[Because there's a lot to balance out.]

Opinions vary. No matter what you say, I owe you. [Stubborn, and there's the sound of shifting. His leg is starting to get sore, and in so, a stiff pain is shoot up his side.]

My leg is actually the one I'm least worried about. And there's only so long I can spend in a room like that, with no offense to Liquid.

how about a lil bit of [ACTION]

[tom_hanniger]

[Tom has been avoiding the network today. Mostly because it's full of Newcomers asking the same ten questions they all did when they arrived. He's not in the mood to talk any of them down, and doesn't really know anyone anyway, so. There's that. He has, however, decided that it's a nice day and he's going to sit on the roof and watch the city crawl around him.

I didn't think anyone was up here.

He's surprised to see someone is up there and, not knowing them, stops awkwardly, hanging back by the door for a moment before finally stepping out. He's got a six pack of beer in one hand and shades in the other. Okay, so maybe he was just going to lay out there for a little while and ignore the world. Still, being good natured, Tom offers a lopsided smile and a bottle.]

Do you want one?

[ACTION] fuck yes this made my day

[lucycoded]

[It's been a while since Liquid had left, since the communication had quieted down and put him alone to think to himself. Since one afternoon, so many things had come to light, bombarding his mind with realities he'd been search for his entire life. Or consciousness technically, as his body has existed years longer than his personality. The awkward remark breaks him from the diligent internal sorting of information and makes him turn. He'd taken off his glasses to blur out the world a little while, so it wouldn't interrupt his thoughts, and now they slide back on so he can see the other man on the roof more clearly.

He doesn't recognize the figure, and as he approached, Kazuhiko gives an equally unsettled smile. Faint and barely there, like he's not used to using those particular muscles.]

Thanks, I'm Kazuhiko Amamiya. [Two reflexive motions, one to take the offering, and the other to state his name. He places the bottle down between his legs where he's sitting on the roof itself, leaned against the raised edge. His injured leg it

[ACTION] ME TOO /o/

[tom_hanniger]

It's cool if you want to be alone.

[He'd understand. Tom mostly keeps to himself and knows the value of alone time. Even if it can be a little unsettling, which, in his case can be quite often. He didn't know there was anyone else in the building. Surely Liquid would have said something? But then again, things can change quickly. There's not always time to send a memo.

Poor guy, though. Looked like he'd just gotten out of something by the skin of his teeth. And why was the name ringing a bell? Had they met? Tom can't quite remember off the top of his head.]

[ACTION] ;w;

[lucycoded]

It's fine, just because I'm here doesn't mean you have to forfeit your alone time.

[I'm never actually alone anyway. It would be easy to stay quiet if this person wanted time to himself. If Kazuhiko were in better health, he would just get up and leave, but there is a good chance he's not getting out of this position without some help now. To ask this man to help him up would be invasive and to call Liquid up here again would be just rude. Either way the cross breeze is nice and the longer he can stay out of that suffocating room the better.

Curious he doesn't give his name in return. Then again, he doesn't look Japanese. Kazuhiko always heard Sasayama complain about the lack of manners in foreigners- either way the thought slides off.]

[voice]

[goesberserk]

I'm not sure you're thinking about this the right way. Some people who barely look human might be more human than someone else who looks completely normal, right...

[voice]

[lucycoded]

That's right. I've learned that while being here. I knew before that people who look innocent can do monstrous things, but to have the reverse occur never happened in my world.

[voice]

[goesberserk]

Yeah, it wasn't that common where I come from either, but... one of my best friends didn't have a head.

[voice]

[lucycoded]

[... curious now.]

That is... amazing, to say the least.

voice, fashionably late?

[formerfoxhound]

[Snake isn't familiar with Kazuhiko. For better or for worse, he doesn't immediately make the connection to Shinji, either.]

...Unfortunately, it's never as easy as black and white, no matter where you are.

People are capable of terrible things in the right circumstances. That's part of being human. But it's never too late to change, if they make the choice. And that's part of being human, too.

[Doesn't mean they will change, every time. Doesn't mean people can always afford to grant the opportunity for them to change their minds. But Snake has seen what war can do to people. Experienced it firsthand, from both angles. The sort of things he's done, he doesn't have it in him to condemn anyone for good very easily. He's not a good person by a long shot. He's not a monster, either.]

...

[Silence after that, as if he's considering going on. Instead, he asks a question.]

You look like hell. What happened?

[What Urick did with his own time wasn't any of his business. But they'd been working together pretty consistently

voice, but always worth the wait!

[lucycoded]

[Not a particularly familiar voice, so his own is trained to even as he replies.]

Doing monstrous things doesn't make someone a monster in my eyes either. I'm not sure if there's a point that I would call someone a monster at all. But I'm not sure.

[And a matching silence before he musters a vague reply.]

I was attacked, but I'm fine now. It's nothing to be concerned about.

voice, too kind!

[formerfoxhound]

[Snake is rarely anything short of near-deadpan himself, so they're about even. Literally.]

You're overcomplicating it. "Monster" is just a word like any other. Whether you use it or not doesn't really matter. Don't worry so much about that until you know just what it means to you.

[Vague, but what happened to this guy isn't really any of his business, either. If he's not going to tell, Snake doesn't have much of a reason to press.]

I won't ask. Sounds like you've got it under control. Urick's a good guy.

voice, never!

[lucycoded]

[Overcomplicating? It's better than assuming things to be simple, because in his experience, things are never, ever what they seem.]

Perhaps. [And moving on.]

He seems to be, though I didn't meet him personally. I still need to thank him.