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

I'd love that, Heather. We can do that and I can tell you all about the other crazy things that've been going on.

I'll look forward to it.

_{[She's just... relieved that he's in one piece, honestly. An older Otacon is still an Otacon and that's good enough for her.]}

Besides... I haven't even seen you guys in months.

I gotta beat Liquid up for old time's sake!

_{[... Heather, you know full well that's just going to end with you either held at arm's length or tossed over Liquid's shoulder caveman-style.]}

I'd like to see that. It's been way too long since I did anything fun. It's just a shame Sunny didn't come with me this time--you'd probably really like her.

... Sunny?

You mean Snake's bird?

_{[Yep, that's the only thing she knows is named Sunny. ... Little does she know, she'll be meeting Sunny again soon, under sad circumstances.]}

Not exactly. Though I'm pretty sure he named it after her.

Oh! So... who is she?

_{[She doesn't remember anyone mentioning her before... so he must have met her in the five years that had passed.]}

She's this really sweet girl we've been taking care of for the past couple years--I guess you could say we kind of adopted her.

_{[... That brings a smile to Heather's face. She always likes to hear about kids in need getting adopted-- and she can't think of many better guys than Otacon to do that.]}

Aw...

I bet I would've liked her, yeah.

You definitely would've. She's nearly as good with computers and robotics as I am, and she's really adorable too.

How old is she?

_{[She's of course picturing a little kid, since she can't quite picture Otacon adopting a teen.]}

She's six. [The world's most socially awkward nerd is raising an even more socially awkward six-year-old, Heather. Be afraid.]

_{[... BUT THAT'S SO CUTE.]}

Awww!

_{[Heather might not like babies, but little kids can be cute! ... As long as she's not the one who has to deal with them all the time.]}

...Okay, I can honestly say I never thought I'd hear you of all people make that sound.

Whaaaat?

Just because I'm a badass doesn't mean I can't find stuff cute.

[Like how Snake has Oishii Two-Han Seikatsu on his mp3 player.]

Alright, alright. I guess you've got me there.

I mean, come on. Lots of things are cute. Denying it's just pointless.

_{[Fact: she has referred to Otacon himself as cute on more than one occasion, because: yes, friends, it is a fact. No shame in stating the truth.]}

I never said they weren't.

_{[She smirks broadly and folds her arms.]}

Good. We're in agreement then.

Fate forbid I argue with you my first day back.

Yeah, that'd suck.

'Specially since I'd win.

_{[... Yep. Five years gone and Heather clearly has not changed a bit.]}

I don't doubt that for a second.

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

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