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[14180]

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[controlled]

Kinda sounds like you.

[ y’all remember those 5 minute long explanations in MGS2? whew.

anyhow, raiden tilts his head. ]

Do you think the body you’re in now has something to do with it?

[ might as well get straight to the point. ]

[14180]

I think he's gotten more than briefed on the situation.

[ hah...haha. anyway. ]

... [ an irritated noise comes from his throat before he responds, which is enough of an answer on its own. ] That isn't for certain. [ but yeah. he thinks so. ]

[controlled]

[ raiden turns his eye back to him. he knows snake well enough to understand what that grunt signifies. ]

That's why you keep the mask on you all the time.

[ a beat. ]

You don't wanna risk it.

[14180]

[ precisely. the fact raiden figures that out so quickly is... mildly annoying but snake shakes his head. ]

Charming as it is that you deduced that, you know it's not the entire reason we're talking, Raiden.

[ he makes eye contact, holds it. ] How long's it been?

[controlled]

You want to play catch-up. I get it.

[ he’s blunt, brutally so. it’s oddly characteristic of him — the brashness from all those years ago is still there in its own way. ]

But I need to know if you think letting this thing have control over you is worth the risk.

[14180]

[ as if he's going to answer that. ]

I think this thing needs me in a state where I'm healthy. That's all I'm capable of saying with confidence. Anything more than that would be a lie, Raiden. You know that the risk isn't just me.

[controlled]

[ when he stares at him, his eyes are distant; jaded, even.

he leans his head back against the wall. ]

Losing control of your own mind is serious shit, Snake. That’s all I’m saying. Don’t forget that.

[14180]

Colorful vocabulary.

[controlled]

Real funny.

[14180]

[ he really almost says "listen, kid," here. ]

I'm not playing around with this. I'm taking it seriously. But I'm not giving in and avoiding it.

[controlled]

I know you are. But you’re afraid, right?

[14180]

Are you?

[controlled]

No.

I’m used to this. Not having control — someone else being in my head. This is my normal.

And she’s less of a threat than I am, anyways.

[14180]

"She"?

[controlled]

She’s a girl, yeah. Bakeneko if I remember right. Name’s Eiko.

[14180]

[ they have names... ]

Sounds like you've gotten to know yours pretty well.

[controlled]

Like I said, this is kind of my normal.

So no, I’m not scared. But you are.

[14180]

No, I'm not scared. So far, every person in this apartment complex has had a mask like our's. Notice anything about the locals? No masks. That's their faces. We put on their faces to blend in, become them. Seems like it might be a safety precaution above all else, but it's also backing us into a corner. We have no choice but to rely on them. That's the point. I don't know your "Eiko", but she doesn't need to be more of a danger than you. She's doing her job by staying near you. For all we know, the real danger will start once they figure out we're not from here— so no. I'm not afraid. This is the cautious decision. Besides, don't you think that there's people besides us who are more at risk? This isn't the first time that I've received the briefing this way, but it might be for the others. Better to play by the rules until we know how big the gameboard is... or what game they're even playing at.

[controlled]

[ well, this likely isn’t a hallucination at this rate. ]

I get it, Pliskin.

[ raiden breathes in. ]

Why’d you come here?

[14180]

My previous question answers that.

[controlled]

You ask a lot of questions, Snake. It’s your thing.

[ but he’ll indulge him. ]

It’s been fine. Really. I just...wasn’t expecting to see you.

[14180]

I asked how long it's been.

[ but that is an answer to his question, one might say. part of him wants to cross the distance and pay him on the shoulder, maybe give him a one armed hug.

but he doesn't, of course. snake just sits, fists on his knees, back straight.

and there's a moment there, where his voice is a little softer, perhaps. something like relief, and care peeking through. ]

But I'm here now.

[controlled]

[ a sharp intake of breath. ]

5 years, give or take.

[ since—...

when snake’s voice softens, raiden’s throat tightens in turn. his fingers flex, eye squeezing shut for half of a second.

this is reality. this is not a dream. that makes the pain, and everything it brings, all the more intense. raiden blinks rapidly as though his body’d been responding to an influx of tears. but there’s nothing there. ]

I know that... [ he rasps out. ] But—fuck, Snake. I just...You asked me if I was afraid. I’m not. I’m not afraid of whatever’s in our heads, what this place or why we’re here, I’m afraid of—

[ this is so goddamned pathetic. ]

...Forget it. You’re right. You’re here. And so long as you are, I’m not letting you go down.

[14180]

[ afraid of what? snake watches him. studies his body language, traces his gaze along raiden's face and picks apart his expression. he thinks he sees grief. he understands that. five years is a long time. sunny should almost be in her teens— if she's not already, depending on which side of the year it is.

so for a moment, he's just an old man with his brows knitted in contemplation and something like pain. ]

What are you afraid of?

[ for a moment, he wonders if it's himself. ]

[controlled]

[ he remembers laying on that floor, latching onto his leg, pleading for him to let raiden go. he would’ve taken death over losing snake. he would’ve taken anything.

raiden raises his head, eyes shining the way they did on that day. ]

Losing you was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.