thisavrou | video

[At first, it seems like there's nothing on the video. It's lower quality than the video from the MID, suggesting an outside source, and there seems to be something in the way of fog or mist onscreen. Or smoke, actually, as it gets a little darker and thicker. Occasionally it seems to take the shape of a humanoid figure, then just seems like a cloud again.

After a few moments, Liquid Snake's voice can be heard.]

Just a tip. If someone's coming towards you with smoke billowing from their orifices, run in the opposite direction and never look back. Don't try to fight them, as much as you're sure you're going to win. You can thank me later.

[Sounds like he speaks from experience. Soon enough, something materializes in the air: a clenched fist, then an arm, then part of a torso. He's trying.]

Public service announcements aside, did anyone see the Flyers at the championship? We bloody shredded the competition. Make sure to check out the highlights if you get a chance. A shame about Xoxxorx, but he did what he had to.

[Xoxxorx will have a lovely memorial.]

They've been begging me to stay for next season, but I think my sports career's done for now. Not quite sure I can handle the groupies anymore.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Smoke virus? Something? He has no idea but shit keeps getting stranger and stranger.]

I guess the last part worked out for you, but ah...

Think someone will be able to fix this smokey thing?

You know, unless you want to stay like that. Doesn't seem like a great time, though.

If I can get it to work for me, it'll be damn useful. Just need to--

[The video feed cuts out for a few seconds before coming back on. This time, at least, he has a head.]

Just need to stop doing that. If I can get a hold on this, I can use it. Got me out of a few tight spots during the championship, even if it wasn't on purpose. I just need control.

Is it going to let you eat or do most normal things?

What does that feel like?

[Niko knows he encountered some changes in the Med Bay, but at least he still felt human. He wouldn't know what to do about feeling like a different... whatever that is, altogether.]

Hot, cold, dizzy, hungry?

...Does this make you Smoke Snake?

Usually it's been an all or nothing sort of thing. So when I'm, you know, normal, everything works... well, normally.

[So eloquent.]

When it happens it feels... off, which I'm sure sounds like a cop-out answer but I'm not quite sure how to describe it. It's not any of those things. Except... maybe all this fading in and out's a little dizzy. I'll probably get a better read of it after it's been more time.

[His head materializes long enough to give a judging stare.]

No. No it does not.

At least I got you to keep your head on long enough to look annoyed.

[See? Niko's a helper.]

I think Med Bay should check you out. Just in case you might make a bunch of other people smokey. And that it won't kill you. Being famous is probably not great when you might end up dead instead.

[Niko likes him enough that he doesn't wish death on him. There are more and more of those people on the ship. Liquid should feel proud.]

I'm trying my damnedest to keep it there.

[Alas, his head dissipates into smoke soon enough and he just groans.]

You know, I didn't really consider the possibility that I might be contagious. Guess I'll go see medbay, but I'm going to still keep trying to work this out. If I can use it to my advantage, then you bet I'll be using it to my advantage.

[Thanks, buddy. He might not be the best at showing appreciation, but he does appreciate it.]

[If only he knew Liquid's experience with contagions. It's not exactly great.]

What has it let you do so far?

[Well, hopefully it's not a genetically engineered bioweapon!]

When I'm all smoke I can sort of float around and go through small spaces, but I've been... overly careful with that because if I snap back into corporeality while that's happening... I doubt the result would be pleasant.

So I'm working on it.

Tried falling off something high yet?

Not like death high.

But decent high. Something you can figure out if the smokey thing will make it easier.

Not yet, but that does seem like a good way to practice.

[Lucky for Liquid, 'death high' is apparently really, really, really high. Higher than a Metal Gear.]

Nothing like a bit of danger to scare the body into working correctly, right?

It depends. Some people it just makes shit themselves.

But that might be correctly for them, so the point still stands I guess.

That sounds like normal for most people. Luckily for me, I'm not most people. This'll work out brilliantly.

[Citation needed.]

Thanks for the idea.

You need someone to come with you in case it fucks up and you need some help?

I got free time.

I don't need anyone, but... you know what, sure. I don't think I'd complain about the company. And then I get to show off.

Sure. Gotta tell me where to find you, though. This city is split into all kinds of weird shit.

I'm hanging out by the big food market. Not really much in the way of tall stuff here, and I'm not enough body to get food right now, which is annoying. But yeah, here.

[He shows the area off to the camera for a moment.]

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