vulpesvivus | ☮ 050; [voice/video] dated to saturday morning

[It had been a week since anyone heard this voice. Longer still since it was broadcast over the network.]

[For Hal Emmerich, it had been five years since he awoke from a dream calling itself Johto. Five long years of wandering as fugitives against the world, of unkind truths and harsh realities. Failed missions, broken hearts, and at last a hard-won victory at the end of it all. The Patriots' AIs were eliminated thanks in no small part to Naomi, and for the first time since 2005, Otacon felt that everything might just truly work out alright. But first there was Snake to worry about--he'd last been seen from the air, fighting Liquid Ocelot on top of Outer Haven.]

[And the very next second, Otacon was waking up in a room he only vaguely recognized. His voice was the only thing heard at first, sounding as if the Pokegear was a short distance away.]

Where--...? Oh, no. That's not good. I'm piloting a helicopter and I'm dreaming, that can't be a good thing. Wake up, I need to wake up or I'm going to crash right into Haven, it'd really be stupid to die now.

Phaaaa. [The concerned bleating of an Ampharos was much closer to the Gear than Otacon's voice--he was the one that had turned it on, most likely. The silence that followed was almost tangibly stunned.]

A...Asimov...? No way. This--that was just a dream. It still is, because this kind of thing doesn't just happen! Think of how many laws of physics a place like this would break, it's...it's not possible. I'm still in the Kasatka. I can't...

[Another pause. There was the shuffling sound of someone taking the Pokegear, and then a familiar yet somewhat older face in an unfamiliar turtleneck and trenchcoat appeared onscreen.]

...This really happened, didn't it? I thought--I thought it was just some dream I had. That I was going crazy or something. But it's too lucid to be anything like that, isn't it?

Is anyone else still here? How long has it been? And does anyone know if this place is even real?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

{She's silent for a good few minutes, just looking at him. He's older, so much older, and tired and careworn in a way that she'd seen once or twice on the face of her own Captain. She wants to ask, wants to listen to his story, but... She doesn't know, any more. She hadn't even known that he'd entered one of those strange comas - yet he must have, because he certainly hadn't looked like this when she'd last spoken to him.}

{Eventually, she swallows, and speaks up.}

It sounds like you were pulled back here at the worst possible time.

Something like that. But...well, at least now I'm pretty sure time's not going to pass back there. Probably a good thing, considering helicopters don't really fly themselves.

{A small smile pulls up the corner of her mouth, and her tone lightens just a touch.}

A helicopter? What on earth were you doing..?

And I could have told you that time does not pass between our entry into Johto and our return - I have had a, well, similar experience earlier this year, and it was far from pleasant.

It's a really long story.

I've heard the same thing, but it's a little more reassuring to know for sure. Though I didn't exactly want to leave in the first place.

...if you ever wish to talk about it, I'm here.

{She gently runs her fingers over the screen of the 'Gear and exhales slowly. Why do you have to be in another city right now?}

None of us do. This place... it may have pulled us here from a dozen different worlds, but I know for certain that I don't think I could live happily elsewhere now. I simply know too many people who I know that I'll never see again if I leave for good.

I know, but...don't worry about it. It's okay now, I think.

Yeah, you're right. But even with that...I had to leave sooner or later. There were still some things Snake and I needed to take care of.

If you're sure, then... okay. But the offer is always open, Hal. I mean it.

{She remembers the dream world all too well, with Otacon crying over Emma's body and him being so alone that is had actually physically hurts, because there'd been a time like that for her as well. And even though she doesn't know who "Snake" is, she refrains from asking.}

Did you accomplish your goals?

I appreciate it.

[It was kind of sad that Otacon could honestly say losing Emma was one of the less painful things on his list now.]

I...think so. It's still a little too early to tell, but I think things might be okay now.

It's nothing.

{ ;A; Kojima, why you have to hurt Otacon so much?!}

Well. {You'll have to go back.} I suppose that would be somewhat of a relief, wouldn't it?

It kind of is, to be completely honest. I just hope everything works out as well as I think it could.

Otacon, you're wonderful at planning things. I'm sure everything will work out just fine.

{Flatter him, flatter him....}

I appreciate it, Nanao.

It's nothing.

☮ 050; [voice/video] dated to saturday morning

{video}

{video}

{video}

{video}

{video}

{video}

{video}

{video}

{video}

{video}

{video}

{video}

{video}