text.

[camouflage]

Let's talk hypotheticals.

You're crossing a suspension bridge. You have to reach the other side at any cost. The bridge is wide enough only for one person to pass at a time.

A man approaches from the other side with a gun. How do you cross?

Comments

[shashka]

[ Adamska: proudly delivering quality alternative facts since 1964.]

Make sure you don't forget it.

[ for a man who knows how to win the trust of world leaders with a perfectly placed word, he's certainly having a difficult time finding anything that's adequate right now. (but that had always been the problem, hadn't it? for as much as he wished he could, he knew he couldn't give his friend the happiness he deserved).

but even so...

another message comes sometime later. ]

Will you be home tonight?

[ there was one thing that he might be able to do to help. ]

[camouflage]

I can be. Why?

[shashka]

Despite the best efforts of our 'comrades', many of my countrymen face lives of never-ending misery.

Do you know how they cope with their existence?

[ if talking wouldn't work, there's one thing that any Russian knows how to do. even the ones that commit treason against their country on a semi-regular basis ]

[camouflage]

[john actually knows this cultural reference. if only because it's pretty much the same anywhere.]

Are you suggesting we drink?

[shashka]

Maybe. There's a couple places on Kauto I've been meaning to look into.

If you think you can keep up with me, that is.

[ it's meant as a challenge. if nothing else, it would ensure he wasn't alone with his thoughts.

and it might be the first time he's ever had an advantage over his rival. he was a Russian with drug-resistance training after all. he's pretty sure that nothing could get him drunk at this point. ]

[camouflage]

[john tries to think about this like a good, rational adult. on one hand, it would be nice to focus on something else besides his total lack of self-worth and the inevitability that he will die unaccomplished and worthless. on the other hand, he'll be getting drunk with adam.

the spy. the spy with the drug resistance training. the spy who will catalogue his every movement and word without even meaning to.

fuck it.]

I've never backed down from a challenge.

[shashka]

[ for the first time in their whole conversation, a smile passes over his lips. if nothing else, it would be a distraction for the both of them for one night. and, for Ocelot, it might finally be a chance to beat Big Boss at something. ]

Thought you might say that. Drop Joy off at home and meet me in Kauto in an hour and a half. [ he says knowing John will probably be late, as he attaches the coordinates to a bar. ] I hope you're not a sore loser.

[ famous last words. ]