vulpesvivus | ☮ 067; [action/video]

[Things had come down to a lot of waiting recently. Liquid was in Violet, so it wouldn't be too long until they finally ran into each other again. Otacon wasn't exactly thrilled about the mess that would probably turn into, but all the same it was nice to have him back.]

[Even if he was kind of a jerk.]

[Today he was considering flying to Azalea and waiting there instead, but it seemed a little unfair to have his Pidgeot do all the work. Standing just outside the Pokemon Center, Otacon idly decided to check and see if he had anything else that knew Fly. But he wasn't expecting much. Most of what he had was too small or obviously ground-based or a giant robot-...]

[Pausing, he must have checked and double checked two or three times to make sure he was reading things correctly. Was that a glitch or misinformation? Well, only one way to find out...]

[video]

[After a moment or two of unsteady shaking, the video was clearly filming an aerial view of Goldenrod City. Once it was turned around, the person filming was revealed to be a grinning idiot in a turtleneck and trenchcoat.]

[But not just any grinning idiot with a weird fashion sense.]

[This was one who was sitting on the shoulder of this.]

This might be the single best thing I've ever seen.

[Liquid? Liquid who? FLYING STONE ROBOT TIME.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I understood the bloody show. It was a little heavy on the symbolism, but otherwise it wasn't terribly obtuse. Utterly aggravating and none of the characters had a single redeeming quality between them, though.

[You don't want to look at the notes, Otacon. They're probably equivalent to the Necronomicon in terms of sheer mind-destroying insanity.]

Why, did you have difficulties with it?

Everyone has difficulties with it.

[Beat.]

...Are you okay?

[He's asking in a mental capacity when he damn well knows the answer.]

I'm fine. Why do you ask?

[Liquid is never fine. Liquid is a special kind of crazy that has never been documented because it's unique to him.]

Just...never mind. Look, my point is I've never built anything ridiculous.

Well, I can't speak for anything after it, but REX was far from ridiculous. I wouldn't put it past you, though, after seeing the material that you draw from.

...I may as well tell you now that I only ever built one giant robot, so it's not like I turned around and built Unit 01 right after Shadow Moses.

Shame. You had a fair touch with weaponry, Emmerich. REX was strength and beauty personified, and I'd have liked to see that continued.

Sorry to disappoint, but it's not worth it.

I'd imagine that would depend on who you asked.

It probably would, but everyone else would still be wrong.

Why do you so vehemently deny your most glorious creation? Any man should have been proud that such a machine came from the work of his hands.

I'm not. I built REX with the intention of helping people, but that got twisted into just another weapon. You didn't help, by the way, so thanks for that.

There's no way I could ever be proud of creating something used for warfare and destruction.

Then be proud of its construction, not its use. REX was never just another weapon-- it was a glorious behemoth, and every inch of it was well made. Whether you intended to or not, Emmerich, you changed the world when you built it.

...I know I did. I appreciate the thought, but I can't be proud of something that was used like REX was.

I despair of ever understanding you, doctor. A man who builds the things you are capable of should be a prince among soldiers, but instead you chose to be an outcast, hounded by the government and despised by the very people you wish to save. So much potential, wasted.

I'm fine with that. If being an outcast is the price of not building anything like that ever again, I'll accept it.