[TRUTH ROOM] and I wanna hear what you have to say about me

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

[The Oldacon's found a room where one of the kitchens used to be. It's not remarkable in any way other than it's irritating non-kitchenness. There are some comfy chairs, a nice plush carpet, some reddish mood lighting-

-and a door that won't open again.]

Oh, you... come on. [He fights with the door momentarily, getting nowhere at break-neck speeds. He sighs and moves to sit in a chair, looking somberly around. He has no idea what the room wants, but it's not letting him go just yet.]


((OOC: This is a room that forces people to say truths they normally wouldn't divulge. You can only get out after saying one of these truths aloud for someone else to hear. The effects could last for as long or as short a time as you wish. Feel free to either bother Hal or just wander in alone or wotever.))

Comments

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

So I've heard. [He walked over, taking a seat nearby.] Though I'm not usually one for cutting along story short, I'm getting tired of explaining. Let's just say my world is not 'normal' by most standards.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

I won't ask. I honestly don't give a damn. [Well, that came out crass. He seems minutely surprised.] But you do seem... saner. Than the other Liquids.

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

[He arched an eyebrow in mild confusion at that remark, but decided not to inquire further.]

If they truly are like the Snake from my world, I suppose I'll take that as a compliment.

You look a bit older than the Otacon I know--what year are you from?

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

2026. [as if cutting off a question he's asked often] I stopped dyeing it.

So... Just guess here, but you ended up the saner twin and Solid Snake was obsessed with genetics and recreating Outer Heaven?

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

[Smirks, leaning his head on his hand] It looks better that way.

Well spotted, though 'sane' is not a word I'd use. Ordinarily that explanation earnes me some rather stunned and confused stares.

[2026...so that would mean long after Snake died in his world. After Liquid would die in his own.]

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

[blinks] Well, thank you, I suppose.

[nods] If you say so. [looks Liquid up and down] So. Big Shell? [that one is a little odd] Do we work together or am I different in your world as well?

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

That's right. From what I've seen here, my Otacon is much the same as any other. To answer your other question, yes. I'm part of Philanthropy.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

You're such with me like Snake was? My condolences. [smirks a little]

So. [lapses into slightly awkward silence]

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't trade it for anything. [...Wait,what? Why exactly did he just say that?]

So...why exactly did you stop dyeing it?

[Better than the other questions on his mind, at least.]

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

Is that so? In my world, the last I saw of you, you were tossing me like a ragdoll into my lab before turning on the electric floors. Hard to imagine you as a ... friend. [the word seemed to fit]

Because Snake was the one to always do it for me. After he died, I stopped caring about most things, that included. [completely true, but not something Hal kept secret, really]

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

I'm nothing like them. I'm not sane by any stretch of the imagination, but not even I would do such a thing...my Otacon is my best friend. [Both true and incredibly obvious.]

[Gets quiet at that, considering it for a moment.] hm...is that so?

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

Doesn't matter in the long run, does it? You didn't do it, but I'm guessing Snake did. [sighs] The Nexus is a big fan of predestination, it seems.

If it wasn't for Sunny, I wouldn't have made it. [now that was a little too blunt. Hal looks away, schooling his expression back to blankness]

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

...No, I suppose not.

[This wasn't a line of conversation Liquid had wanted to follow.]

I've heard I have six years left. I'm afraid to die like that.

[He couldn't have just admitted that. He didn't, right?]

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

[Hal's learned to not say things about the future aloud as they seem to upset people, but the words spill out anyway.] If you and Snake really have swapped places, then you'll die in your sleep on the tenth anniversary of the Shadow Moses Incident.

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

[Disregarding his own confession, Liquid didn't speak for a moment after that. The words sent a distinct chill up his spine, and it took every ounce of restraint to keep his face an expressionless mask.]

I will not allow this to happen. I can't leave y--can't leave my Otacon like that.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

[laughs bitterly] You know, I had a Snake promise that when arrived here. The Nexus locked him up for a few months without my knowledge, breaking his promise for him.

Don't pretend you can change things. I'm getting sick of that.

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

No sentient building will make me break my word.

[Glares at him, looking annoyed] I am not pretending at all. I will change this supposed 'destiny' I have. I changed my fated inferiority when I killed Snake on Shadow Moses. This will be no different.

I will not let my fate be treated as the subject of a science experiment.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

[doesn't rise to the challenge in Liquid's eyes. Hal just looks even more remote and distant, already certain how Liquid's life will go. instead of arguing over what he considers a foregone conclusion, Hal taps a cigarette out of his pack and lights it]

All right.

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

[Something about this Hal's demeanor just felt like a slap to the face--was he smoking?!]

What do you think you're doing?

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

I'm not bothering arguing with you. Knowing what it took to kill you, you're obviously incredibly stubborn.

[sighs, exhaling smoke and watching it dissipate almost peacefully]

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

That's not what I mean. You and I both know you shouldn't be smoking.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

[His eyes slide lazily to look at Liquid, a little disbelieving. He looks away again and doesn't make any move to stop.] Out of everything we've talked about, that's what bothers you?

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

Yes, well...out of everything, that's the only thing I can influence at the moment.

[justhalnow.livejournal.com]

No, you really can't. [blows out a long stream of smoke. he didn't understand Snake's fascination with it before, but now that he's been smoking a few months, it is very relaxing.]

[liquidouroboros.livejournal.com]

I suggest you not challenge me on such a thing. I quit for my version of you, after all. It would seem our positions have been switched.