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old but unfamiliar faces
"We sometimes encounter people, even perfect strangers, who begin to interest us at first sight, somehow suddenly, all at once."
The Ingress has pulled you in. Your body experiences several sensations at once: being pushed forward as if a hand is resting on your back, momentary and startling blindness, a gentle ringing in your head. You have difficulty discerning whether it is hot or cold, but where you have been prodded is noticeably warmer than the rest of you. Some may suffer from dizziness while others are perfectly fine. Once equilibrium has been reestablished, you will notice you are standing on a long platform and that the room is filled with a soft cerulean light. It's slightly humid and dark despite the glow around you, and nothing is familiar. Shortly after, you are led out and toward the medbay.
Inside this room, you are given a physical scan and offered a contract to sign that states you are now part of the crew of the Moira with a specific job. Any questions you might have would be answered in a straightforward manner as well as an explanation about how the Ingress, the thing that has pulled you onto the Moira, is broken and bringing people here unintentionally. This process also consists of a complete work-up of medical history and current health, and afterwards, you are given your MID, a device that is integrated into your hand or wrist with only the slightest pinch. From there, you are guided out of the medbay and to your living quarters.
At first, this month seems no more unusual than the previous one for those who have been aboard the Moira for any amount of time. The crew who had landed on the slaver outpost were rescued, and with everyone aboard, the ship has pushed forward into the darker parts of the Runoff. Anyone arriving through the Ingress follows the same routine—moving from the Ingress room into the Medbay for their physical and contract before being assisted by seasoned crew members and helped to their assigned decks. But all familiar things must eventually come to an end: two final travelers come through the Ingress. The first, and most noticeable difference between them and all the others, is their clothing. Both are dressed in standard Moira uniforms, though they bear the insignia of one sharing the same rank as Captains Cúrre and Thán. After a moment to take in all the people on the platform ahead of them, one of the two latest arrivals approaches one of the Ingress panels and begins to manipulate the controls. The Ingress completely shuts down. Unlike before, however, there isn’t an imbalance felt across the ship; everything remains normal and stable.
Utilizing the computer systems located in the Ingress room, they send out the following message to the crew via the MID:To all those aboard this vessel: I am Ira Phirun, assigned captain of the Moira. First Mate Egan and I will be commandeering all rights to the ship as soon as word is sent to those currently in charge. Expect a more detailed report as soon as all records and logs in Navigation have been reviewed by myself and the First Mate. All questions will be answered in a timely matter. For now, there will be no interruption of daily routine or reprimand if conduct among ranks is broken. Thanks for your time. Heading to Navigation, the Captain and First Mate, for seemingly unknown reasons, approach Navigator Manasseh and have her show them all records and logs of the Moira. Those working in Navigation when the Captain and First Mate arrive will see Mana greet them in a professional manner. Oddly, the Captain and First Mate act very familiar with the Navigator. They review all documents, but when they come upon news that the Ploiatos is on board, their mostly friendly demeanor shifts quickly. The Captain issues a sharp order, unintelligible to those who are close enough to overhear parts of their conversation, and without any warning at all, Mana loses consciousness and collapses right there on the bridge. Within minutes of this happening, the ship as a whole falls into a low power state with basic functions only. Mana’s MID alerts Medbay, and without hesitation, Captain Cúrre places her in cryo with strict orders to those who work there not to disturb the unit.
As promised, the Captain and First Mate soon address the crew.☄ lights down low The lighting has dimmed in all the rooms and halls, the normally crisp air that is pumped from the vents low, and all machines and tech are running at half-speed. These effects can be found throughout the ship. Water in the showers remain hot for only a few minutes before reverting to cold. Recreational equipment powers off not long after it has been turned on. The sanitation and water filtration systems require an hourly manual reboot, and all unused areas of the ship have no power allotted to them until a crew member steps inside. Even then, most functions are not optimal. It’s as if the Moira has been transformed into a dark house with only a candle flickering on the window sill. ☄ reuse & recycle The Captain and First Mate are quick to establish that this is a new regime and go about making the ship and its crew more efficient in the wake of their change in course and the low power state of the ship itself. This means they will systematically inspect each occupied barracks room and leave notes for what needs to be disposed of or stowed away. Unlike before, this is no longer a pleasure cruise, and each member of the crew is a guest on board; they will not tolerate useless clutter. Anything seen as unnecessary will be either placed into storage in the Cargo Bay or disposed of through the airlock. This new need for efficiency also extends to the need to conserve resources until they reach their destination. The showers are set to an automatic timer to minimize water waste. Those few minutes of hot water are all a crew member is now given. Meals are smaller, bordering on ration sizes, and luxuries are done away with entirely in order to preserve supplies so that the ship can go longer before needing to dock at a planet. ☄ new jobs, same faces The Captain and his First Mate, as expressed in their addressing of the Moira, explain that work efficiency is a priority. Applications for a head of the following departments will be accepted for a short period: Navigation, the Tower, Medbay, Defense, the Hold, Sanitation, Ingress work, and the Galley/Mess Hall. (Here.) After reviewing what they receive, one head of department will be chosen and tasked with helping crew find positions relevant to those departments and their own skillsets. They will be allowed to retain any positions that they held before that aren’t ship-functional jobs, but they will have to be done in leisure time. In two weeks time, they’ll be accepting department position applications which will be approved, and all those that do not apply will be assigned in accordance with their initial work application. They will also choose three individuals to act as guards of Ploiatos to ensure that there is a rotation available at all times. Will you choose to follow this new decision and promote yourself into a position of responsibility? Or will you simply wait for a reassignment?
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thisavrou_log2016-08-01 12:13 am
no subject
When Snake comes to a conclusion, Venom lifts his head and levels that familiar face with gentle scrutiny. Sharp, but with a sliver of acquiescence. ]
Lead the way.
[ He's not sure if the vague sense of reverence he feels for a man wearing the face of his CO, the real Big Boss, is manufactured or genuine, but he has no reason to keep up with pretenses. If things get hairy, he can deal with that situation as it presents itself.
His weapon relocates itself at his hip, jostling as Venom gets up on his feet. ]
no subject
But the whole idea of implanting someone else's memories into a person's mind is bizarre enough that he doesn't want to overthink it. Time to go.
As soon as Venom's on his feet, Snake nods and turns. The moment that he's got his back to him, he feels every one of his senses amp up in anticipation of an attack. It's never easy to let his guard down around someone, let alone someone as complicated as this, and yet Snake pushes past it and starts walking.
They move in silence, Snake taking them all the way to the bow of the ship. It contains an observation deck that's much smaller than the one at the aft, but it's quiet and undisturbed. It's as close to private as they're going to get and the view isn't half-bad either.
Finally, Snake turns himself back to Venom, arms at his sides, back perfectly straight. ] What do you know about the Les Enfants Terribles project?
no subject
If he were more poetic, he might wonder how significant his scrambles are back on earth. If they matter.
But let's not get absurd— of course they do. He's looking at a product of their mad scramble for their future, isn't he?
Venom turns, back to the glass and his focus fixed on Snake. No distractions, no looking away. ]
I know enough. [ Is his simple answer. Incidentally, now he's starting to understand who Snake might be.
The nausea he feels about that segment of Zero's plans is once removed, but it's still there. ] But that doesn't tell me who you are.
[ He knows a thing or two about prescribed identities, after all. But that's not the 'impression' that Venom was talking about, not the brief he cares to know. Kaz can tell him all about that, the indignities of that project and all the rage and injustices that come along for the ride. Those are all facts.
Venom shifts on his feet, still keeps his gaze locked. ]
no subject
So when Venom faces him again, Snake centers his gaze on him, not letting his attention flick to the scenery over his shoulder. He's had plenty of time to come here and watch the view.
There's a second meaning in what Ahab says, but Snake decides to keep things simple. He's not sure that he can accurately answer the question of who he is, all of it too tied up in expectation and reputation at this point. The burden of being considered a "legend," one that Ahab shares. ]
Solid Snake is my codename. But I have another name, which Miller tells me you don't have the luxury of anymore. [ He could tell him, and he did tell him back when they'd met the first time, but Venom hasn't outright asked yet. ] I didn't learn about Big Boss, about any of this, until I was older. I think that's why Liquid and I turned out so differently. [ He's sure that Venom can assume that Liquid is his twin; it's not exactly subtle. ]
no subject
Call it his programming, call it his loyalty. Call it foolish, really: he can tell from 'Solid Snake's' tone that he doesn't harbor much love for the man who started their dubious legacy. ]
Liquid. [ He rolls that over in his mind, before he settles on a more familiar denotation. ] —Eli.
[ Right, that damaged boy who'd sooner watch the world burn than participate in it. Venom's expression turns a touch more conflicted, edges hardening until they deem it fine to smooth out again. ]
...Can't say that I did much in the way of giving 'Liquid' a way out. [ He breathes quietly, a self-deprecating half-exhale that may or may not get lost in the rustle of his fatigues as he shifts his weight. ] Same goes for you, I'm guessing.
no subject
Which isn't even touching on what he did to Gray Fox. ]
My guess is that he was already pretty far gone by the time that you came across him. [ Snake doesn't think that Venom needs to blame himself for how Liquid turned out. That had all been the Patriots. All of this goes back to them. ]
The Patriots... [ Snake pauses and shakes his head to himself. ] Cipher, I guess you'd call them. They had me under their watch through my entire childhood, set me on the path that led me to FOXHOUND. [ That led him to killing Venom and Big Boss alike, but Snake finds those words getting caught in his throat again. He'd regretted not telling Venom the first time, so he's not going to make that mistake again, but...
Not now. Not yet. Not when the guy is still wrapping his head around being in space and grown-up clones and everything else that makes no sense on the Moira. ]
no subject
[ A generous assessment of Eli's character, but Venom'd be hard-pressed to judge the kid for his foibles with the knowledge that the whole world conspired against him. He's finding out that this 'Solid Snake' shares that burden in spades, and that the blame boils down to that same, amorphous organization that's become a blight on everyone's lives from square one.
So. What Venom knows now is that there are twin Snakes, that Cipher persisted, and that the Snakes went their different paths. Presumably, Eli went on the road to ruin— "written in my genes", the kid'd said— which leaves this half of the equation, the one that states with such conviction that he and his twin 'turned out differently'.
Funny, how that almost rings hopeful. ]
—As slippery as Cipher's been, they haven't been subtle. [ Because of course they'd put Snake in FOXHOUND, of course. Another soft breath, and Venom tips his head down, just a centimeter. ] But that's enough about the future, for now.
[ Because it's still difficult, of course. To process this, to understand.
But actually, give him a second. After a pause, he asks the only question he really wants answered, and one that he doesn't require anything other than a yes-or-no answer for. ]
...One thing. You ever hear about the Diamond Dogs before coming here?
i'm totally bs-ing here pls tell me if i've got any details wrong lmaooo
While he would never be the one to claim that he's the "good" twin (even though Liquid had supported with his whole "brother of light and brother of dark" shtick), Snake does have to admit that he's the one who's been trying to help repair the damage done to the world while Liquid's only ever been interested in making it worse.
Still, he'll let Ahab come to his own conclusions based on their interactions here. He'd rather be judged by his own merit rather than through hearsay and reputation.
Snake lets out a self-deprecating huff. The Patriots had been subtle enough to pull the wool over his eyes, that was for sure. He isn't going to argue with Venom if he doesn't want to probe more into his future; again, that's something Snake figures should be left for another time.
The question earns a noncommittal shrug. ] Not much. A lot of what you did wasn't ever put on record. It was rumors, mainly. I knew Miller had been part of an organization back before he joined FOXHOUND, that you'd done work in Afghanistan and Africa, but that was it.
literally me all the time though YOU'RE DEF 100% FINE
But of course, life isn't so forgiving. Raging Buffalo, Amber Fox, Growling Octopus— all of them, bound to be as obsolete as a forgotten outpost at sea.
He hopes that somehow, they've all been kept as diamonds anyway.
Predictably, though, all Venom has to say about all of this internal mess is a vague mn, followed by a brief, quiet: ] Right. [ As if it's as easy as all that, if that's all that needs to be said. He's never been too great at using his words. ]
Pretty sure you're tired of being delegated to explanation work. [ That tight, controlled posture finally breaks some, and Venom tips his gaze to the side. ]
no subject
Venom gives him an out, just as he had at the start of this conversation, and Snake can't help but think to himself that it seems like the guy wants to get rid of him. He gets it, though; it can't be easy to look the clone of your other self in the face.
He could just nod and move on, but there's one more thing Snake needs to make clear here and now. So after a long pause, he heaves out a sigh and comes out with it. ]
Miller has really only had good things to say about you. He's carrying a lot of guilt and anger about what happened, I think you know that better than most, but he's putting a lot of faith in you. Don't take that for granted.
[ Of course it's bizarre, being in a position where he's got to be protective on the behalf of his own mentor. But with the way the timeline is here, Snake knows that despite all of Miller's efforts to seem in control, he's dealing with a lot of open wounds. He doesn't need any more. ]
no subject
While he pieces his impressions of this new Snake together, he's hit with... is this a warning? A cautionary item? A piece of advice?
Whatever it is, it gets Venom to plant his conscious roots more firmly into the present, with one foot planted in curiosity, the other in near-surprise. ]
—Never have.
[ That faith wasn't for him, to begin with. But that sounds self-defeating, so instead of elaborating, he asks: ] How do you know him?
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Snake nods, and he's halfway to making a move to leave when Ahab follows up with a question. It seems like no matter what they do, that need to know about the future will always be there.
He huffs out a breath. ] He was my drill instructor when I was a rookie. I didn't know a thing about any of this back then.
[ Miller had taught him everything he knew, supported him on more than one mission, and been the one person that Snake had been able to reach out to while holed up in Alaska. He's definitely one of the most important people in Snake's life. ]
no subject
Cipher, the Boss's Will, Outer Heaven— that's all been Ishmael's story to write. All Captain Ahab is really required to do is try to kill the whale before the story ends, so he won't try to press Solid for details that are beyond his jurisdiction to control.
The answer seems to satisfy Venom. 'A drill instructor', huh.
Good to know that they'll all stay suckers for punishment. ]
Probably would have been better for you if you never did. [ That's as much of a sorry as he can give without it getting too trite. Really, there's nothing he can say or do to change what Solid already knows, and he won't do the guy a disservice by invalidating his trials with platitudes.
THAT SAID...]
Last thing. Forget whatever Kaz's told you about me. [ uh ] He tends to exaggerate. [ uh
Please interpret this as: 'if Kaz tried to tell you I'm a good person, please forget about it because it probably won't help. My bad.'
That said, he makes a motion with his remaining hand. 'Dismissed.' (Some habits die hard.) ]
no subject
It would be blissful ignorance, but it would be ignorance all the same, and Snake can't handle not knowing things.
Venom isn't his CO, so it's really not his business dismissing him, but Snake figures that it's a combination of habit and the age difference between them. Venom still sees him as young, no matter how old Snake might feel. ]
Don't worry, I'll judge you based on our interactions, not on hearsay. [ Miller can get a little overzealous in how he speaks about people, Snake's noticed, so he can see where Venom is coming from. ] I know what it's like for people to expect something based on what they've heard.
[ That's all he'll say, the internal pressure of knowing he's overstayed his welcome only growing with each passing moment. So with a brief nod, Snake turns on his heel and leaves the deck for Venom to enjoy on his own. ]