video;

[yer_pretty_good]

[The video turns on and it shows a whole lotta nothing. Just an empty rec room. And then:]

DD!

[When Ocelot’s voice shouts the name, a large dog that appears to be a wolf-mix with thick grey fur and an eyepatch over one eye comes into view of the camera and stands there wagging its tail eagerly.

Ocelot’s gloved red hand comes into view of the camera and points to the room.]

Search!

[The dog barks twice and turns around to quickly move about the room. It sticks its head behind a couch and pulls out a red ball, then drops it and follows its nose to another spot, inside a potted plant, where another red ball is retrieved. The dog moves expertly around obstacles, retrieving red balls that were hidden all over the room. When the last one is found, DD walks back to Ocelot and stares up at the camera with the final red ball in its mouth.]

Good boy, DD.

[DD barks again, dropping the ball and turning happily in a circle with his tail wagging. The camera then turns to show Ocelot’s face.]

You see that? Expertly trained. I’m willing to bet DD here is worth more in the field than half of you, so maybe you should get some lessons from our defense personnel.

[That’ll give Miller and Snake something to do.]

If you think you might need DD for some field work, you can ask his handler, ‘Venom’ Snake.

Comments

[warandpeace]

I asked for a dog. She came with extras.

[But hey, she's cute, and he already knows a couple of people that could stand some animal companionship themselves.]

Everyone needs a playmate. [Even if he went for months or even years without following his own advice.] Even hardened soldiers. And who says she won't be one.

[yer_pretty_good]

So you're experienced. That's good. Make sure to give him a firm pet, but not too firm. With the fur, of course, and not against it.

And tell him he's a good boy.

[Ocelot talks like he's assigning a mission. But this is important.]

[yer_pretty_good]

[Ocelot takes a seat on one of the couches since Liquid shows up to occupy DD. The dog spots Liquid right away and barks energetically, then grabs one of the red balls in its mouth and hurries over. The kids on Mother Base were always more prone to playing games than the soldiers were, though sometimes they'd sneak in some ball-time, too.]

Neither did I, but I figured there was no harm in asking.

video;

[yer_pretty_good]

[Ruggedly handsome is also an acceptable alternative.]

Don't know. The Boss picked him up in the Afghanistan wilderness. He was missing an eye when he was found.

[Just don't ask how Snake lost his eye. Ocelot's actually to blame for that one.]

video

[rraidergirl]

[Lara's had some bad experiences recently with wolves, but still she's a little charmed. ]

The cats in the garden won't be pleased. Is he from where you're from?

[saveyourserpent]

Yeah, the worst they could do is tell you no. Glad they didn't.

[And there he is, in the flesh and fluff, DD himself. DD never stifled him, cared about what name he used, or forced him to take classes. DD wouldn't tell him what to do. When DD wasn't 'on the job' he'd let him pet him and play with him and he could forget about his anger for a little while.]

DD! I missed youuuu.

[He takes the ball and ruffles the dog's fur with his free hand.]

Alright, go get it!

[He tosses the ball, making sure not to hit anything breakable, and watches the dog, looking downright happy for once.]

[yer_pretty_good]

[Ocelot thinks Kaz still isn't taking his own advice.]

Maybe you should find yourself a playmate, too.

Re: video

[yer_pretty_good]

Yeah, I trained him up from a pup to go into the field with the Boss.

[Ocelot is clearly proud of his work with DD. An Ocelot raising hounds. Who'd of thought?]

I have an eye for dogs. I knew he'd be a good partner for Snake. He's bright and highly disciplined, so I don't think the cats in the garden will be a prob--DD!

[The camera turns away to the ground for a moment, so she can't see what's happening, but she can hear.]

Put that--halt!

[There's some playful barking, and then Ocelot returns. Ahem.]

Anyway, he's a good dog.

[warandpeace]

[Normally Miller would defend his lack of "playing". But as it turns out he's just here to irritate Ocelot. So he'll do that.]

Is that an offer?

[yer_pretty_good]

If I didn't give a damn about you, then yes, but I don't entangle myself with people who might get 'attached'.

[He's more the love 'em and leave 'em type. Good for tonight and possibly gone the next day. Miller doesn't operate like that, but that's how Ocelot keeps himself unattached and doesn't have to deal with any clean-up when 'feelings' start showing up. Feelings are not good for his work.]

What about the Boss?

[Ocelot means Venom, not Big Boss.]

To him, the memories of your past together are as real as any memory can be.

[warandpeace]

I don't know whether to feel flattered or not. Don't worry, though. It was a joke.

[Miller does get very attached, that much is true.]

I don't know if that's such a good idea. [Because it hasn't felt the same since he found out. He's the man that saved him in Afghanistan, but not the one that wanted to keep Miller around in Central America. He knows the difference now. They're not the same person.] I'll figure out what to do with myself.

I should take care of the dog. [He's making a quick exit from that conversation. Ocelot wins that round.]

video;

[sidecars]

There's wolves in Afghanistan?!

[ Whaaaat? Bucky so doesn't buy that! Sure, he's never been, but... He knows where Afghanistan is. Sort of. He knows the general area on a map, okay?

Bucky turns attention to the very keen, one-eyed wolf dog. ]

You poor thing. All one-eyed, dealin' with these crazy coots. [ He's totally talking in a baby voice. ] You wanna come play with a young fella? Yeah? Someone that can keep up with ya and not break a hip? Ohh yes! Yes, you do!

Re: video;

[yer_pretty_good]

It's not another planet. Yes, there are wolves in Afghanistan. Grey wolves, no different than the ones that probably come to mind.

[When Bucky's using his mind, anyway. DD looks a little perplexed by the change in Bucky's tone, but he wags his tail all the same.]

DD is a soldier and a professional. Not a lap dog. He's better trained for combat situations than you are.

video;

[sidecars]

Hey now, even soldiers need their belly's rubbed now and again.

[ WINK WONK GET IT, OLD MAN? ]

Now that I probably can't refute, but does DD come equipped with witty one-liners and an extensive punny vernacular? [ Or piano wire? No? ] Those are very crucial for boosting morale in a fight I'll have know!

Re: video;

[yer_pretty_good]

[Oh he gets it alright.]

Is that your role? Morale booster?

[Ocelot seems to doubt Bucky is good for much else than his sense of humor. Still, he's not wrong. The mix of soldiers on the teams at Mother Base would often impact how productive they were. Now and again, adding someone with more personality was good for morale.]

If we're ever on a team together, remind me whose side you're on so I don't 'accidentally' misfire. I'd hate to put an end to your puns.

[yer_pretty_good]

[DD runs happily after the ball, quick to retrieve this. Liquid might want to settle in because this could go on for hours if he lets it.]

At least there was one thing you liked about being on Mother Base.

[He knows Eli didn't care for much else.]

Did you ever have a dog after you left?

[yer_pretty_good]

[Ocelot doesn't say another word so Miller can escape. He wins every round, Kaz.]

video;

[sidecars]

One of 'em, sure.

[ It's the most obvious and overestimated, so he's happy to admit his "limitations" to this sassy old man. ]

Oh, that's alright, pal! I'm young and spry, I can handle a few potshots. Besides you'd only forget five minutes in anyway. Senility sure is a bitch, huh?

Re: video;

[yer_pretty_good]

If I put a slug in you every five minutes, I guess bein' old might have some benefits.

[Every five minutes he'd have a reason to smile.]

What else are you good for?

video;

[sidecars]

[ Okay, that actually makes him genuinely laugh. Plenty of people would like to take a few non-lethal shots at Bucky just to get him to shut up. He can't fault them, honestly. He's a lot to handle even in small doses. ]

Oh, I'm super swell at selling war bonds! [ Clearing his throat, Bucky pulls out his dimpled aw shucks grin. ] "Not all of us can be soldiers, but you can do your part! Each war bond sold is another bullet in ol' Uncle Adolph with your name on it!"

Not bad, huh?

[saveyourserpent]

[Liquid'll play with DD for hours if that's what he wants to do. He's got time before he has to actually do anything else. He takes the ball from DD when he returns it, and tosses it out again.]

Two things. When Tretij stuck around, I liked that too.

[Nice to have a friend around his age who didn't betray him for the adults.]

No. At least not one of my own. Did too much traveling to take care of one, or too much working, and the one time I did stay in the same place long enough without much to do I wasn't really in any state of mind to. Always thought it might be nice, but... [He shrugs.]

Re: video;

[yer_pretty_good]

War bonds? I was born in 1944, so that makes you older than me.

[Who's old now??]

video;

[sidecars]

Oh, then I guess you should be showin' me some respect, kiddo. I was killin' Nazis when you were just an itch in your daddy's sac.

video

[rraidergirl]

Highly disciplined, I see. [ She's trying not to laugh, really she is. ]

You didn't strike me as a dog trainer.

[cardboard_boss]

I had no idea.

[Right now Venom was over the moon with having DD here with him on-board. A little bit of home could do great things to lift a man's spirits. Even more so after receiving life-changing news. Ahab tickled DD's muzzle and petted him some more.]

Good dog. You know it's me, don't you? [He bent low to give more scratches to his ears.]

I'll have to make this up to you, Ocelot. For doing this for me.