// open your heart and smile for me

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

[The bar was dark, mostly quiet save for the radio playing off in the corner. Something about the atmosphere...was 'calming' the word for it? Somehow the room's lone inhabitant found himself thinking about things he hadn't considered in what felt like forever.]

[Liquid couldn't put a word to this particular feeling. He recalled friends he hadn't seen in so long. Gone home, most likely. Perhaps he should have been happy for them. But he wasn't, and what was this he felt when recalling them? Not loneliness, certainly. Liquid had learned what that felt like and knew this was something different. A sentiment without a name...]

[He lit a cigarette, leaning his head on a hand and staring distantly at nothing in particular. Was it...nostalgia? Wishing for days gone by just so he could see them again? Could Liquid Snake even be so sentimental?]

How very foolish...

[There was no point to dwelling on the past. Not about those that had gone, at least--his own past was another story. Liquid picked up a pen that laid a short distance down the bar and spun it around in his hand once or twice--then threw it at the radio with pinpoint accuracy, changing the music to something less depressing.]

Perfect as always.

[Snickering, he poured himself a glass of bourbon and drained it, smirking. Liquid Snake wouldn't pine for those that no longer remained here. There were more important things to worry about.]

Comments

[justdevastated.livejournal.com]

[Hal wandered down into the bar and hesistated when he saw who was in there. How odd. This Liquid looked older than he remembered. He went into the room internally cautious and sat down.]

[He, himself, had a few reasons to drink right now. He poured himself a small cup of sake and took a sip, savoring the aftertaste on his tastebuds as he listened to the .... unique choice in music playing.]

Having a rough day?

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

Not at all, Otacon. I'm fine.

[justdevastated.livejournal.com]

[Otacon raises one of his eyebrows as he takes another sip. Why was Liquid calling him by his nickname? ....]

Since when do you call me Otacon?

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

[Liquid sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose.]

Don't tell me, let me guess. In your world I was a megalomaniacal bastard.

[justdevastated.livejournal.com]

[He took another sip of sake then pushed up his glasses.]

Maybe something like that.

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

Sorry to disappoint, but things went a bit differently for me. [He gestured vaguely to the SEAL uniform he wore.]

Look familiar?

[starofchaos]

[Well now, what have we here? One Liquid. Two Liquids...]

[One of which is sneaking up behind you.]

[Hope you don't mind.]

BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRROTHA!

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

[8|]

Wh--?! What do you think you're doing?!

[starofchaos]

Making you jump.

[Smiiiiirk.]

[He casually sinks down onto the stool next to Liquid, draping himself over the bar.]

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

Hilarious.

[He sighed, exhaling a thin cloud of smoke.]

What brings you here, brother?

[starofchaos]

Eh...

[Actually, he'd just been to the library for cookbooks, but he wasn't going to tell the other Liquid that.]

Not much.

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

So you just decided to pester me for the sake of pestering me?

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

...

[Otacon will just be sitting on the barstool beside you and staring off into space thoughtfully, kthx? His encounter with Octopus kinda jarred him a little.]

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

[Blink blink.]

Otacon. What's wrong?

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

It's... been a strange couple of weeks.

[He absently studies the dogtags he wears, looking confused and out of it.]

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

Are you feeling alright, Hal?

[He put out his cigarette and leaned closer, concerned.]

What happened?

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

It's just been... really odd. [He looked over at Liquid.] Decoy Octopus tranqed me, kidnapped me and I woke up strapped to a chair - and I panicked and mentioned that "Liquid wouldn't be happy"...

And once he saw these- [He waved the dogtags, looking confused.] -he let me go and started being all friendly, telling me I was part of the family now and if I ever needed anything to just ask.

[What the hell, man.]

This was on top of Sunny and Talib having a friendly talk in the park, and Talib actually being nice before walking off and Snake kidnapping one of the other Snakes and both of them disappearing before James got there.

I think I'm going mad.

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

Octopus always was the strange one. And in FOXHOUND, being 'the strange one' kind of meant something. I'm just glad you weren't injured.

[The rest of it? Yeah, he's got nothing.]

...This place is truly an utter madhouse, Hal. You get used to it over time.

[no-philanthropy.livejournal.com]

[Hal isn't sure why he'd left the room Liquid had let him sleep in; perhaps he wanted to be as physically lost as he was mentally. He has no purpose for the first time in what seems like forever and he finds it as jarring as the sudden absence of armed guards.]

[On a whim, he follows the music, stopping dead when he sees Liquid. For a moment he thinks he's found his Commander again and that everything will be back to the way it was, that Commander would tell him that what he had said was a lie, that he'd cup his chin once more and say "doctor" in that tone he uses only for Hal...]

S-Sir?

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

Hm?

[He looked up, confused for a moment--oh. Oh, no. Was this that bastard's Otacon?]

...Hal.

[no-philanthropy.livejournal.com]

[Hearing his name after so long was strange. Commander called him "doctor" and no one else ever spoke directly to him. At least, before coming to the nexus anyway. Nowadays he heard his name so often...]

[He blinks and flinches belatedly. He'd gone into a daze again. It's been happening a lot lately. Sometimes he wonders if he should be concerned.]

S-Sorry, w-wrong one...Sorry...

[He pulls at his lab coat as he turns to leave and return to his aimless wanderings.]

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

Wait--it's fine. Come here, sit down.

[He gave his best smile in an attempt to reassure the scientist, indicating a seat beside him.]

[no-philanthropy.livejournal.com]

[Words spoken in Liquid's voice are to be obeyed; Hal learned that a long time ago...He hesitantly drifts closer, pausing for just a second every so often as if he was going to bolt like a startled deer. Eventually he sits gingerly upon the chair, obviously nervous and watching Liquid with haunted eyes.]

Y-Yes? Would... [He stops himself and swallows, forcing himself to speak normally.] I-Is there something you need?

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

I'd like to talk to you, if that's okay.

[Liquid's voice was as gentle as he could make it, quiet and patient.]

You just came here, didn't you?

[featheredplague.livejournal.com]

[Squawk has flown in and landed on the bar, now waddling across it toward the only person with thumbs to feed him with.]

Brawk?