(no subject)

Who: Everyone
When: July 1 and onward. See this post for info.
Where: Kauto + Chioni + Ingress Complex
Warnings: Potential violence. Please label warn-worthy content in your subject headers.

There's a burst of light in the sky when the Ingress breaks, a final flare followed by a shuddering that only those in the facility can feel. A flurry of panicked activity in the complex follows, ushering new arrivals to where they need to go in a hurry, with little time to give them the needed information, much less answer questions. The lights remain on, but dimmer now, life functions still operating but little else. On Kauto and Chioni below, the sky fades into an early twilight, followed by night, and day does not come again.

nerds save the world

Before the end of the day, all TABs receive an emergency broadcast notification outlining the situation. The speaker, a lead Savriite Ingress technician, does not invite panic but nor does he mince words. The Ingress is broken; their best efforts have failed to restore it. The time has come to turn to anyone who can help: scientists, engineers, those who have worked with advanced technology on any world. Formal qualifications don't matter when it could be the end of everything.

"Help us. Before it is too late."

Those who come will have the run of the complex and full access to the Ingress, as well as whatever tools are available and as much coffee as they can drink. People are encouraged to work in groups and share ideas, and a small number of young and nervous technical assistants will be on hand.

the land below

As Thisavrou is denied light and warmth, the weather becomes brisk and descends into bitter cold. Chioni is evacuated due to the effects on the already-harsh weather cycles there, although a skeleton crew of scientists remain behind. On Kauto, the arboreal Region Three and pastoral Region Two suffer the most from the temperatures and the snow that eventually begins to fall. Many crops are frozen over, and refugee citizens are driven from their homes to the Regions One and Five, where stored energy will keep dwellings warm. Save for those who choose to leave the underwater facilities, Region Four remains largely unchanged, but there are unverified accounts of strange aquatic animal behavior near the surface.

Overcrowding, limited supplies and a pervasive fear presents the opportunity for both heroism and foul deeds. Many come together to share resources, supplies and fellowship in what could be the end of worlds, while others take what they can from the unwilling or exploit the desperate. Sentient evacuees are followed by fauna from Region Three and unsettled lands beyond, in search of warmth or food or merely confused by the change in habitat. Some are unthreatening herbivores, while tanglesnakes and clownbees are more troublesome. Others are poisonous hunters, while still others are small, but dangerous when faced as a pack.

Just when all seems lost, light returns to the sky. The Ingress begins to function once more.

the coming days

As the temperatures rise, many demand answers, but most turn to the rebuilding of their lives first. Damage has been done that isn't so easily fixed, and even in the least-affected areas, remnants of the crisis show in the lack of fresh food, in the increased signs of criminal activity. Those who can help others through their own efforts of by organizing assistance are needed, but those with impure intentions are more likely to go unnoticed.

Eavesdropping on the streets may reveal a desire for vengeance. "Those intruders from last week. They're responsible for this, aren't they? What's being done?" But don't listen too closely, or a suspicious eye may be turned on you. "Aren't you one of the refugees from the Midway Hub? You should return to where you came from! All the trouble began when your people showed up!"

Life goes on. But life does not go on unchanged.

[quick ooc note: the Region 4 search & retrieval mission/RNG fight will be posted in a separate log.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ocelot has been taking the time to savor the weather. Or as much as one could savor it when it might signal impending death. With the right coat, it's almost like being back in the Soviet Union. With a few notable differences, of course.

Now imagine his surprise when he spots the grown-up Eli doing exactly what Eli does best: picking a fight. At first, he just shakes his head, eventually, he decides that he might as well intervene. If nothing else, it might help him build up a little goodwill with the locals.

"Hey!"

Almost just like Mother Base. Except, of course, it's far colder and at least this time, Eli didn't steal anyone's knife.

Technically it's not Liquid that's picking the fight. After all, this guy totally started it, and Liquid just intends to finish it if he's not going to let up. Still, the call catches his attention, and he turns to look, eyes narrowed.

It's strange seeing Ocelot once again in the flesh, like no time had passed since Liquid had left Mother Base, or like he hadn't gone at all.

Like hell he needs the interruption, though.

"This doesn't concern you, Ocelot," he says. "I'm perfectly capable of handling things on my own."

Well, maybe this time he wasn't in the wrong. But still... Ocelot flashes a smile at the man who originally spoke, laying on the charm. Yes, it might've been easier to just attack him and be done with it, but the problem was they were apparently meant to be working towards a common cause.

And so, Ocelot will grudgingly play his part.

"You're going to have to forgive my..." he pauses for a second, debating on the word to use, before settling on one that might just annoy Eli all the more "-nephew. He was just leaving."

Of course, if the other guy persists, that wasn't going to help the whole situation they found themselves in. But, this might be one time where Eli's dislike of him might just work in their advantage.

Liquid just keeps on glaring at Ocelot. This is not what he needed today. "Why would I just be leaving? It appears I've been invited, if this person can't keep his bloody mouth shut, hm?"

Like Liquid can talk about keeping his mouth shut, but still. Ugh. Are they really going with this stupid uncle thing? Really? Really?

"If anyone should be just leaving, it should be him, don't you think?"

The implication appears to be 'stay outta Liquid's battles, Ocelot'.

Ocelot pays no heed to Eli's glare, remaining the absolute picture of calm. (Though not even for the first time since he arrived here, he again questions if Eli actually does have a little bit of EVA's genetic material in him)

(and look, it wasn't like he knew Miller called him a "weird uncle")

He turns back to look at the guy who started this whole thing, and he seems slightly less enraged. At the very least, they might remember Ocelot as the guy who helped to avert a (somewhat justified, if he was being entirely truthful) assault on one of the native population.

Good.

"I'm sure you'll find friendlier invitations elsewhere, Eli. One part of being a leader is knowing when to pick your battles."

After all, as per his promise to Miller, he is still supposed to be the man's mentor in the future, isn't he?

The way genetics seems to work where they're from, it's entirely possible. Meanwhile, a picture of calm is all Liquid seems to be capable of right now, and that picture came out of an old broken printer.

But, it's true that while Liquid's still looking like he's about to sock someone in the face, he hasn't actually done it yet. So Ocelot is averting a crisis, apparently.

Liquid does not appreciate it in the least, but he's also being kind of distracted right now, so he's got other things to complain about. Like the implications here that he does not appreciate one bit.

"Really, Ocelot? You think I don't know anything about being a leader?" He should get a medal for all the not-punching he's doing today. "I was a leader before I ever met you, and before I came here. I don't need your bloody advice."

He would like to point out that technically, he was at least briefly around EVA at the beginning of that whole project, so it wasn't like he could've been a leader before he was even born. But Ocelot was already walking a fine line here, and there was no need to make him any angrier than absolutely necessary.

"You sure about that?" The smile remains on Ocelot's face, and could almost pass as genuine to the not-so-careful observer. "Because what I'm seeing right now is a leader who doesn't acknowledge his flaws. Like that temper of yours. I'm surprised that no one else ever taught you how to control it."

Though, some things were unteachable, after all.

Well, he was kinda born for that sort of thing, wasn't he? So there.

Really, though, he'd been doing pretty okay with his temper before Ocelot had to show up and ruin everything.

"What you're seeing was none of your business in the first place." Some people just need to be punched in the face, and Liquid could have handled it! He could have! "I can control things just fine, actually. You can't just show up and start giving me directions."

Ocelot shakes his head, still looking amused.

"You sure about that?"

Besides, Ocelot was a master of restraint after all of these years. After all, he had worked with Miller for nine years and had managed to never let the other man see just how much he annoyed him (or rather, had never outright said anything to the other man, passive-aggressive comments notwithstanding).

"The way I see it, starting a fight with one of the natives because he wounded your pride is everyone's business, isn't it? Do you think it'd have just stopped with one punch?"

It would've escalated, and then where would they be?

"Just because you don't like the source, doesn't mean that it isn't true."

"Completely sure."

Liquid's idea of restraint is often as thinly-veiled as it can get, although here part of it is just the way things keep going on this planet, wearing on him. It's far different from traveling through space.

"It's not a matter of pride. But I suppose you can't quite see what it is, anyway."

He crosses his arms.

"Back where I come from, Ocelot? I told you what to do." Okay so literally he came here just after he got cut off from Ocelot entirely, very much not telling him what to do, but like hell he needs to know that. But before all that, in FOXHOUND, he was totally commander, so piss off. "So forgive me if I don't feel obligated to listen to you."

Ocelot has something else that he was planning on saying, but then, Eli makes a particularly interesting comment and suddenly, he has another idea. After all, John had said that it was him who'd first let it slip that he had died in the future that the twins were from.

Why not see what else he could learn? Ever so slightly, the grin from Ocelot's face fades, and it appears to look as though Eli has struck a certain nerve with him.

"You'll have to forgive me if I don't ever see myself working for you if you keep up this attitude. No matter what else happens in the future."

Your move, kid.

Aha, he's got him. He can allow himself a little internal celebration.

"You don't have to see yourself working for me, because it happens, like it or not." Oh, he knows that there's things he's slipped up in telling people, not that he'd ever admit that he shouldn't have. But he's not about to go giving things away that he doesn't want to give away, not now.

He's gonna do this thing smart.

"So my attitude is none of your concern, and wouldn't be anyone's concern if you hadn't gone and got yourself involved, understand? I'm capable of taking care of myself, obviously."

Smart, Eli. Let's see if you actually have learned your lesson. Regardless, he continues on doing his best impression of being absolutely livid with the other man, as though he really did hit a nerve. Let him think that somehow he managed to get to Ocelot.

"I wouldn't say that you're doing such an amazing job right about now." As if to emphasize the point, he throws in a rather dramatic hand gesture, motioning to the guy who now seemed more amused than anything else.

"And Either way, you think that just by being around me, you'd have picked up a lesson or two on self-control."

But again, who actually knew what Ocelot was like in the future? All he knew so far was that he was working for FOXHOUND for one reason or another.

"Oh, I'd be doing just fine without you, Ocelot. I know you feel like you need to be involved in everything, but sometimes you can just leave things alone. It's possible." He's no stranger to the art of dramatic hand gestures, and he offers a similar one at the guy who really should be gone by now, thanks Ocelot.

Of course, he can't help but snort a bit in laughter at his next statement.

"You? Self-control? Really? That's a good one. Very clever."

He shakes his head.

"Now, if you're done with your little critique, I'd like to get back to things."

Eli might not be saying much, but he did just give him a very valuable clue. If Eli is saying he has no self-control (which he knows very well that he does. After all, if he didn't, he'd have killed Miller years ago) there's a good reason for it. It wasn't much, but it still managed to give him something else to go on. And eventually he'd find out what it was.

Satisfied for now, he drops back into his usual demeanor of smug superiority.

"Eli, I have more self-control in my little finger than you could hope for in a lifetime."

"You can keep telling yourself that." As far as Liquid knows, nothing he's given Ocelot is anything useful to work with. But then again, he's not always the best judge of those things. He's trying.

If he has to hear that name one more time, though...

Well, he's not so smug himself. He'd dealt with it already, but it's grating.

"And would you bloody quit calling me that?" he snaps. "It's Liquid Snake. Liquid for short. That's it."

He couldn't help but laugh at that. The more things change, the more that they stay the same. He's traded "White Mamba" for "Liquid Snake", but in the end, he's still just "Eli".

(Though he supposes he'd hardly be impressed if Eli suddenly started calling him "Adam". But isn't it fortunate that no one actually knows his name except for maybe John??)

"Some things really don't change."

Though maybe he can't quite take down Eli in one move anymore.

He's never just "Eli." As far as he's concerned, he rejected that name the second he realized he could have a choice, and it means nothing to him anymore. Except for something people seem to keep bringing up, anyway.

Yes, it annoys the hell out of him.

"No, I suppose they don't. What, did you expect me to change my mind about it?"

Because like hell he will. But hey. At least he's a little more restrained about it. A little.

It was a shame how he'd rejected everything they'd tried to given him. Or rather, rejected everything that Venom had tried to give him.

"We tried to give you and the rest of the kids a normal life," something that none of them had exactly had the luxury of having, "but you went ahead and decided otherwise. It's interesting how you're still fighting us, even as an adult."

He could also say destined to become your parents but that would only further enrage him. But if he didn't want the comparison maybe he should've picked a code name that wasn't "snake".

Everything that Venom had tried to give him had been far overshadowed by the fact that he'd been taken from everything he had and forced to go back to things that were way too similar to before he'd even escaped his handlers.

Not that he'd ever expect anyone to understand.

"Do you think, perhaps, I never wanted all of that? Because, here's a surprise, I never did! I can't live a bloody normal life. And now, I don't have to take such extreme measures to avoid people thinking they know what's best for me."

Doesn't have to, but totally does.

"I've never stopped fighting. It's what I do."

Strangely, Ocelot could almost understand it in a way. He had, after all, been raised in surprisingly similar conditions. Much like Eli, he had taken matters into his own hands. And when he'd had his chance to walk away, he'd chosen to take Zero up on his offer, and drag his best friend into all of it with him.

Hm. Maybe they weren't so different after all.

"At some point, Liquid, you need to ask yourself, what are you fighting for?"

He decides to throw him a little something.

Probably not so different, but like hell Liquid's gonna go about bonding with Ocelot about situational things. No way.

"You say this as if I haven't," he says with a sneer. "I'm well aware of what I'm fighting for, thanks. Been well aware of it for a very long time."

Like he needs Ocelot's approval or something.

"Sounds like you're a bit behind." Well, obviously.

"Are you really?"

And while he doesn't like the idea that everyone seems to know more than him, he greets the other man's accusation with a shrug.

"Well, you know what they say about cats."

They always land on their feet. They have nine lives. Curiosity killed the cat. But satisfaction brought him back.

Really, there were too many cat-related puns to list. Take your pick of whichever one you want, Eli. Ocelot, however, isn't going to do that. Because he left the worst of those puns behind years ago.

"Of course I am. I'm not twelve years old anymore, Ocelot. And even then, I still knew what I wanted to an extent." It's just a little easier to do things when you're older.

As for cats...

"They get into everything and cause a lot of problems?" Hey, he didn't say which 'they.'

"Oh, I'm sure someone'll catch you up on things eventually."

And you haven't changed a bit since you were a child remains unsaid. But really, he hadn't all that much. The idea of working for him...

It had better all be worth it in the end.

"Oh, I'm sure that I know more than you think."

Ahab had... given him a general enough idea. And while he couldn't say that anything Eli had just told him gave him that much more of a picture, it did draw a couple of things into focus.

(no subject)

nerds save the world

the land below

the coming days

eli listen to your fake dad about fighting

NO LISTENING

ARE YOU AN ADULT OR STILL 12

...yes.

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