//eyes on me

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

[After a room had turned Liquid into a perfectly healthy version of himself that actually looked forty-two rather than death warmed over, his mood had improved considerably. Add that to the fact that he had finally reconciled with his Otacon, and things were definitely looking up for him.]

There should be one around here somewhere.

[So now they were walking through the halls in search of a kitchen--some calm and quiet time between the two of them was long overdue.]

[Locked to vestri_vires]

Comments

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

[He laughs.] Of course, of course. You're almost never wrong.

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

Almost, hm?

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

You said it yourself. Both of us screwed up. Other than that, you've a perfect record.

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

Fair enough, I suppose.

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

[Remembering his tea, he picks it up again, lifting it to his lips despite the fact that it's cold.]

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

...

[Liquid took a breath and sighed, smiling faintly as he lit a cigarette.]

[...Maybe he secretly wanted a lecture after all this time. He'd never tell.]

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

...

James. Didn't we talk about that?

[He looks pointedly at the cigarette.]

Those things are bad for your health, and you don't need any more complications! Don't you know how many people die from cigarette related causes every day? It's the biggest preventable cause of death and illness in the UK and US.

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

...And?

[God damn had he missed this.]

What's your point, Hal?

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

You should cut down, if you're too addicted to stop! Don't you realise you could be making yourself ill? And that's not even including the effect it'll have on Sunny and Emma if they come here! You don't want them to get ill, do you?

[He looks as stern as an Otacon can.]

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

Now I never said I was addicted, first of all. Secondly, I'm already ill. Third and finally, they certainly aren't here now.

[He smirked, clearly amused by this.]

[KEYWORDS]

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

Excuses, excuses. If you can't give them up then you're definitely addicted! Besides, you'll make yourself worse, and when they do come, don't you want them to find this place a happy, healthy, smoke-free place?

...besides, I'm here, even if they they aren't. Can't you do it for me?

fffff hahaha <3

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

To use the standard cliche, I can give up anytime I bloody well please. My younger self apparently did.

[Well, fuck. That was fighting dirty.]

. . .

I'll think about it.

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

[He learnt from the best~.]

Haha, that's great!

[He gives him a pleased smile, knowing he's won... for the moment.]

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

[Damn right he did.]

A small victory for your side, I suppose.

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

A small victory is still a victory.

[He smiles.]

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

Heh. So optimistic.

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

Every little victory leads towards the bigger victories.

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

Of course.

...I always liked how bloody cheerful you were, even if it might've gotten on my nerves now and then. A cynic needs someone to counter them, after all.

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

Well, at least I'm good for something around here. [He smiles back.] I was beginning to think you just kept me around because you liked my pretty face.

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

Oh dear, looks like my true motives have been discovered at last. [Snickering] Only took you ten years, I thought you were supposed to be clever.

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

Hey, now! [He's grinning.] That's not very nice of you at all.

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

[He smirked, clearly just teasing him at this point.]

I regret to inform you, Doctor Emmerich, that you have been laboring under the delusion that I am a nice person since the day we met.

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

Oh no! [Still grinning, he takes a step back.] Have I been fooled all this time?

[worlds-serpent.livejournal.com]

By a master of deception, no less. The best SIS agent in history.

[vestri-vires.livejournal.com]

[He gasps, chuckling.] I've been betrayed!