Video

[saveyourserpent]

[If one were to look closely at the video feed, they might notice some blond stubble on the man's face and a look of discomfort.]

So what do I have to do to get a razor around here?

[He's about to turn the video off, but he seems to change his mind at the last second.]

It's sort of an emergency.

Thanks.

Comments

[cardboard_boss]

I've just got used to it over the years. [What would he look like without a beard? That would just be weird.]

I'd feel naked without my beard. Keeps my face warm.

[saveyourserpent]

Well, I got used to not having one, and I'd really like to keep that up!

[He couldn't even stand having Ocelot's mustache, but removing it had unfortunately not been an option.]

[cardboard_boss]

Afraid it'll affect your pretty boy image too much? [Because Venom was only lightly teasing, yet it felt good for all those times Eli had come at him with a knife. You could say this was a comeback.]

[saveyourserpent]

Oh, shut up. It's uncomfortable and yet another reminder of unpleasant things. [So wounding, kicking him while he's down.]

[cardboard_boss]

Such as looking like your old man and twin brother? [Because Snake knew about David.]

[saveyourserpent]

That's a good bit of it, yes. [He doesn't know what anyone knows about anyone anymore.] It's not something I enjoy dealing with.

[cardboard_boss]

I'm sure the stores aboard this ship can find you a razor. I've seen loads of men walking around without beards. [Unless they were aliens or something.]

How are you finding life aboard the Moira so far?

[saveyourserpent]

They'd better. If I have to spend one more moment with this beard issue I'm going to scream.

[He's only slightly exaggerating.]

In a word? Weird. That's not to say I actually understand normal, but it's been a lot to take in. Especially since I'm fully myself again. I think I'm adapting well, though.

[cardboard_boss]

To be honest it feels weird for me talking to you like this now. You used to be an angry kid and now you're grown up and almost civil. [He is teasing about the last bit, Liquid.]

Never thought I'd be talking to a boy who once wanted to kill me for being his father.

[saveyourserpent]

Trust me, I'm an angry adult. Catch me when I'm not incredibly disoriented by everything and then you'll see. [At the moment, the main thing he's got to be angry about is his facial hair problem.]

Likewise. Never thought I'd be talking to the man I wanted to kill.

In space.

[cardboard_boss]

[Venom sighed. Would this guy always be angry at him, even thought they weren't related? Memories were hard things to erase.]

We don't need to kill each other anymore, Liquid. At least you don't anyway. How about us getting along in space? Makes life more bearable. [Because he didn't fancy facing you always angry, Liquid. Everyone has to share the same ship and get along. That's the idea anyway.]

Talked to the other me yet?

[saveyourserpent]

[It's going to take a lot more than being stuck on a spaceship with his father for Liquid to stop being completely angry about it. At least right now he's got enough other things on his mind to keep it from being a major problem.]

What, don't trust my ability to at least coexist with those I hate? [He may be half-joking. Maybe.] I have no desire to get... I don't know, shot out into space or whatever it is they do here.

I have. Now that was an incredibly unpleasant surprise. [Gee Liquid, how come you get two dads?]

[cardboard_boss]

I never said I don't trust you. It's just I remember you trying to exist on Mother Base back when you were a kid. You hated everyone. Ocelot, Kaz and myself. We were only trying to help you.

[He remembered that only as if it were yesterday for him. Probably because it was.]

What was the last thing you remembered before coming here?

[saveyourserpent]

Help me? I didn't need help! I was doing rather good for myself until you came along! I was feared and respected and had a whole bloody army under my guidance. You still can't figure out why I'd hate everyone?

[Oh boy. Good thing this is just a video feed. It takes him a moment to really calm down.]

The last thing I remember was trying to hold on to my control on Ocelot's body as he cut my arm off. The future's an adventure.

[cardboard_boss]

[Venom just looked at Liquid and rubbed the back of his neck. He knew the blond would react in this way. He was angry and had every right to be. One man's safety was another man's prison.]

What the hell? You lost your arm?

[saveyourserpent]

[Liquid looks down offscreen as he attempts to calm down, apparently looking at his arm, before he looks back up.]

Not while I was alive. Ocelot attached my arm to his body, and I was able to possess him through that. When he cut it off, I went along with it. And then I was here, with my own body again.

[cardboard_boss]

So.....you died? [Huh. Venom didn't expect to hear those words come out of Liquid's mouth. He knew about his own death yet he was here to tell all.]

Are you telling me that before you were brought to this ship, you were technically dead?

[saveyourserpent]

That's exactly what I'm telling you.

[He'd been dead long enough that it had seemed pretty normal to him, all things considered.]

I was dead, and now, apparently, I'm not.

[cardboard_boss]

Maybe the ship brought you back to life. [Weird shit happens, right?]

Who knows what these captains are capable of. [Venom was wary of them all, since bringing people back from the dead was wrong and creepy. All sorts of creepy.]

Bet you're glad to be alive again though, right?

[saveyourserpent]

Seems to have given me a fresh new body, too, completely intact.

[He's pretty suspicious of the captains himself, but he's trying to get more information about them.] Who knows indeed. I must say I'm more than curious.

Of course I'm glad. Being dead simply wasn't working out for me. Now, when I return, I'll be myself again. Looking forward to that.

[cardboard_boss]

Better think yourself lucky then. At least you weren't brought here without an arm or leg missing. [Because he still had his prosthetic attached to his missing limb.]

When you return? What makes you so sure we'll get off this pile of scrap? [Venom was an optimist usually but what if they couldn't leave? What if the captains wanted them dead if they tried to escape?]

[saveyourserpent]

Hah. Before this, I pretty much was an arm. I didn't have a missing limb, I had a missing body.

[In a manner of speaking.]

What makes you so sure we won't? I don't know either way, so I'd much prefer to think about what'll happen if we do. And if we do, I'll have a body to myself. And if we don't? I'll still have a body to myself. [He'll figure it out, whether it happens or not.]

[cardboard_boss]

Just an arm, huh?

[Snake was going to ask how that turned out but decided against it. This was his future and maybe he wasn't supposed to know?]

I believe that you will find a way off this ship just like when you stole Sahelanthropus from Mother Base all those years ago. [Yep, he remembered that.]

[saveyourserpent]

Yeah. Let's just say I never give up.

[Never be game over.]

Well, I might not have Sahelanthropus now, or Mantis to help me pilot it even if I did, but I'm resourceful enough to figure something out. I'll get out of here eventually.

[cardboard_boss]

I can see you as a man that doesn't give up easily. You've got a lot of fight in you, Liquid. [Maybe too much.]

Just don't break your neck trying to get out of here or anyone else's. [Because guess what? He actually cares for you, kid.]