[closed] when your past comes back to haunt you

[cardboard_boss]

Who: Venom Snake and Ocelot
When: Backdated to the 30th of April
Where: Med bay Ocelot's office
What: Venom has been suffering with nightmares and flashbacks related to his PTSD and trauma suffered in his past. He has come to Ocelot to seek hypnosis lessons to try and find out more about his past but being careful not to erase who he has to be.
Warnings: Angst, PTSD, language, possible violence.

Snake made his way down to Ocelot's office in the med bay without DD this time. He wasn't going on a social call so that DD could play with his trainer. No, this time Ahab was going for another reason; to see if he could find out more about his past. He had been experiencing harrowing nightmares, which usually woke him up in a cold sweat. The helicopter crash and his role as a medic; he wanted to explore and possibly temper his dreams by delving into his past. He trusted the cowboy and hoped that hypnosis might help him.

Comments

[yer_pretty_good]

Ocelot was waiting for his patient. The most important patient he's probably ever had, and it's not the first time. The last time Ahab was Ocelot's patient, Ahab was in a coma. This time he would be awake and aware, but Ocelot wasn't trying to deceive him. He did want to help the man... so long as he was still Big Boss. The world needed him to continue playing that role. It wasn't fair, in a way, since that destiny was decided for him, but who among them ever chose their destinies to begin with? Not even Ocelot; he was born into it.

"Ahab, come in."

He gestured the man inside and closed the door behind him when he arrived. "A drink?" Before he could answer, Ocelot was already pouring him one. Bourbon this time.

[cardboard_boss]

Ahab nodded to Ocelot in greeting and took the glass he offered him. Bourbon this time, huh? Snake smiled and down the drink in one. He was going to need it.

"Thanks. Hope I didn't keep you waiting too long." He wondered what was going to happen being the patient. Half of him wanted this and the other half wanted to run straight out the door. Yet, he knew this was the only way he could stop his bad dreams and past catching up with him, right? How else could he dispel the unrest within him? Ahab looked at Ocelot and saw he looked to be in fine shape as usual.

"Keeping yourself busy?"

[yer_pretty_good]

Ocelot thought something a little more smooth would be appropriate for today's meeting. Something Ahab could drink and slowly slip into relaxation. At the apology, the cowboy gave him an easy smile. "Nah. I'll always wait for you." Boy will he ever.

"Funny enough, I'm busier than I thought I would be in this job. Not incredibly busy, but I've actually had a couple of patients." Which is already more than he expected.

[cardboard_boss]

"Thanks." Snake was grateful for the drink and Ocelot's patience. It seemed the man always had time for him no matter what. He placed the glass down on a nearby table and then readied himself.

"Been having nightmares lately. Think this will stop them?" He looked at his friend and hoped the therapy would work. It probably wouldn't stop them entirely but just muting them would be some comfort to him. Snake was fed up of waking up in cold sweats all the time.

[yer_pretty_good]

"Hard to say, but we can try." Sometimes hypnotism has the desired results and sometimes it doesn't. It's not as easy as giving a person a pill with known side-effects.

"Lie down on the couch when you're ready." Snake doesn't have to hurry with his drink, though. The atmosphere needed to be relaxing. Ocelot went to turn down the lights in the meantime.

[cardboard_boss]

Ahab lied on the couch and made sure he was comfortable. How long would the lesson take? Or lessons? He had no idea. All he did know was that he couldn't be in safer and (softer) hands. He swallowed thickly and tried not to think too much about his nightmares. The dimmed light helped him focus.

"I'm ready. Hit me." He didn't mean literally. That would be for other occasions.

[yer_pretty_good]

Ocelot took a seat in a nearby chair. Normally he sat further away from the patients, but he thought the closer proximity would make Ahab feel more secure. They had history, after all.

"Close your eyes." Or eye. "Relax. Take slow, deep breaths." He begins by walking Ahab through the process of relaxation. Taking the time to help the man unwind his muscles and clear his mind. Ocelot had a good voice for this. Soft, a bit deep and soothing.

"Think back to the time on the chopper. You were on a mission to rescue Paz and Chico. On the chopper, you had a crew member. A medic. Do you remember him?"

[cardboard_boss]

Ahab followed Ocelot's instructions and closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind and think back to the helicopter with the medic inside. It was like looking through a haze, as Ahab pictured himself standing inside chopper as Big Boss. His hands gripped the sides of the couch and he forced himself to remain calm.

"Yeah....he's....standing opposite me. I'm Big Boss. Chico is there and Paz, she's......she's on the table lying down." He swallowed thickly and could feel the emotion rise in his stomach like a wave.