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Kazuhira Miller has made himself at home at a cozy Nexus seating group. He pores over a spread of newspapers and magazines covering a plethora of universes and alternate Earth timelines. To one side, a text book on theoretical physics is opened to a chapter on string theory and a cup of black coffee has formed a puckered ring over Donald Trump's leering face on an issue of Time Magazine.

He lays his current paper flat on the adjacent coffee table, leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees, and loosely clasp his palms. "What's the strangest news you've ever heard? Or, if you'd rather: what world event would you say has affected you the most?"

Miller's head turns and points to a four-inch stack of glossy flyers. He sighs. "And ... while we're at it, when did newspapers become seventy-percent ads?"

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"Hah. There's not any money in music unless you're a goddamn phenomenon like the Stones or the Beatles," Kaz laughs. Art? Pfft. He does swing an arm around and claps a palm against Snake's back good naturedly.

He points a finger at an open newspaper. Columns of tiny text count out stock prices. "Wallstreet -- that's where I'd go. The economy looks a little grim right now, but things should be on the up-and-up by the end of the decade, maybe into the 80's. Just gotta have faith in growth, do some smart trading, and I'll be set. Then ... then maybe funnel some of that cash into a passion project. A restaurant, maybe?"

His eyes narrow behind his shades. "Is that one of Huey's electronic smokes, Snake? I didn't think you'd ever go for that crap."

"A restaurant?" Boss just eyed Kaz with some doubt but found the idea rather amusing. "I think our place is best on the battlefield, Kaz. You and I are here to make the world a better place, right?" He chewed a little on the end of his e-cigar and wondered.

"R+D designed it, yeah. It has it's uses. I can smoke it as much as I want whilst on missions to let time overtake me, until I need to strike. Such as smoking it in a garbage can, then some time later get out and sneak around. It's pretty useful but it can't compare to the real thing though."

"I know, not as adrenaline-pumping as combat, but there's something satisfying about a well-made meal. You don't see it as much in America where everything is slapped together, but in Japan it's a goddamned ritual. If I wasn't so busy with -- you know -- everything else, I'd be in the mess hall more often."

Miller's nostrils flare as he takes a few experimental sniffs, seeing if he can detect any notes of pot in the vapor. "Are you honestly telling me you're sitting in a garbage can, high out of your gourd in the middle of an operation, Boss?"

Boss just stared at Kaz before chuckling deeply at his insinuations regarding his fake smokes. "Kaz, it's just simulated tobacco, not marijuana. You'd think a guy like Huey would give me drugs to smoke whilst out on a mission?" Boss just narrowed his eyes at Kaz. Really? The guy was a huge nerd. He'd be against placing pot or anything else inside the cigar.

"I use it to pass the time when I need to on missions. Using it in the enemies showers, garbage can, wherever."

"Huey knows his shit, but he's an odd guy. I wouldn't put it past him." He holds out a hand, wanting to take a look at this thing for himself.

"And hey, I wouldn't blame you -- pot's good for chronic pain management." He nods his head at Snake's bionic arm. "Just don't overdo it. Hell, you might even ask medical if they can extract the THC for a topical application. You know, if you don't want to walk around base reeking of the stuff."

Boss couldn't deny that Huey was clever but he was also a bit of an oddball. He was eccentric you could say, bordering on being a huge nerd. "I'm not about to start taking pot, Kaz. I don't need my reflexes being dulled by a drug like that. I like to stay sharp." He flexed his muscles and clicked his neck just to prove a point. He was a honed killing machine and nothing less.

"Talking of pot, I would think you'd be the guy who was trying it, not me."

"Are you kidding? I went to college. They might as well hand you a complimentary bag of the stuff and a bong on the first day."

Kaz snorts and snags the e-cigar himself. He turns it over before taking an experimental drag. He blinks owlishly behind the shades and shakes his head to dissipate the effect. "Man flavor's not great, but the effect sure is ... unique."

"Really, Kaz. Thought you would have been the good boy at college. You give me enough lectures about brushing twice a day and that crap." He's teasing, of course. He values your lectures most of the time. "It isn't bad. Helps me think."

"Good personal hygiene and bad behavior aren't mutually exclusive. And yes, I was a good boy at college ... for about a month. And then girls and drugs and alcohol happened."

He waves the cigar at Snake. He can have that thing back. "Can you blame me? I spent most of my life up to that point shackled by responsibility."

"Bet you were. I reckon you were chasing all the girls more than focusing on your studies. Hngh." Boss smiled at that. He knew Kaz better than most did. "I'm not blaming you at all. You're a good enough commander for me and that's all that counts. Not to mention you're a good friend and buddy." He gave the blond a worthy pat on the back.

"How's your CQC lately? Want to go with me for a few rounds?"

"Oh, I passed my classes, too. I just ... uh, didn't get exactly get a ton of sleep and learned to bullshit my way through the classes that didn't interest me. Sweet-talked all kinds of professors." A fond look crosses his face. College was a good time.

"CQC? I don't wanna disappoint you, Boss. I've been spending most of the day with my ass in a chair trying to figure out how to keep all your soldiers fed and armed. Well, not your soldiers. Seventies you. You've got your own Miller for that."

He widens his stance and centers his weight, rolls his neck. "But you're still the boss of me, technically. I'll show you what I've got. Just ... watch the face, alright?"

"Sitting on your ass, huh? So, that's what you've been doing all these years." Boss teased the blond, nudging his side playfully. "More like trying all that food for the Food Unit. You like noodles, don't you?" Snake remembered finding lots of noodles for MSF back in the day.

"I'm always the boss of you, Kaz. Don't forget it." He offered his comrade a sly smile then grabbed him quick as lightning, placing him in a CQC hold. Boss had his left arm around Kaz's waist pulling him up close and his right arm around his neck, as if interrogating him.

"Afraid I'll spoil that pretty face of yours?"

"This pretty face has gotten me pretty far in life. I'd like to keep it pristine," he manages to wheeze after turning his head to free up some breathing room.

His hands come up to firmly grasp the arm around his neck, and in one smooth movement, Kaz bends his knees and dips his upper body to roll Snake forward and over his back.

He backs up a pace, adjusting his skewed sunglasses and hair. Priorities. "C'mon, Boss. Don't go easy on me!"

"Wouldn't dream of it." Boss felt the roll and recovered quickly. So, that was how he wanted to play it, huh? Snake turned to grab Kaz once more in a strong CQC chokehold, whilst kicking the back of his legs to force him onto his knees. Boss had the upper hand so decided to use his free hand, whilst holding onto Kaz's neck, and take off his yellow scarf and tie it around his eyes. Now, he was blindfolded.

"You ok, Kaz?"

"Nicely done, old man," he rasps, even managing a choked laugh. Seems like he's just fine.

Miller responds to this development with a sharp blow to the elbow trapping his neck -- going for that pressure point. He then twists sideways and throws his weight back, trying to pin his opponent to the floor. Definitely embracing CQC's judo spirit.

The blindfold is a problem, though, as he tries to get his own lock on Snake's neck and arm by feel alone.

"Who are you calling old man?" Boss growled at that and managed to avoid Kaz's attempt to disable him in a judo hold and placed a firm hand around his neck and foot in front of the blond, tripping him. The blindfold was still on, so Kaz would have to think fast.

"Someone's getting slow sitting on their ass all day." He was teasing obviously.

"How old are you now, Snake? You gotta be creeping up on fifty," he finds time to quip. "Had to blindfold me to make it a fair fight."

He feels the loss of balance and decides the best course of action is to take his opponent down with him. He blindly swings an arm out to catch whatever he can of Snake, using his momentum and body weight to pull them both down on ... well, the poor coffee table, as it would happen.

The crappy, pressboard tabletop snaps in two under the force and Kaz's newspapers are tossed into the air dramatically.

"Not as old as you think." Boss growled, as he felt them both fall over with the combined weight onto the table. The snap was loud and Boss felt himself roll over, landing on Kaz, laughing softly to himself. "This reminds me of that shower fight we had back at MSF." He gave his friend a soft head bash with his own head.

"Alright, alright! Boss, I surrender. I'm not about to win against a legendary soldier, even if he is old as dirt," he taunts as he takes the opportunity to pull the scarf back down around his neck. He props himself up in the furniture wreckage, barely suppressing a wince.

"Back then, I thought you might change your mind about being my kaishakunin." He takes off his shades and gives them a once over, testing the arms and rubbing them clean with the end of his scarf before perching them back on his nose. "You were pretty goddamn pissed."

Old as dirt? Oh, Kaz, you'll be getting an extra jab in the ribs for that one. There's still life in the old dog as they say.

"You're too young to be be-headed, Kaz. No, I'm not gonna be your kaishakunin." Boss smirked at that and remembered the first time he had met the blond all those years ago. Times change but it seemed nothing could touch their friendship.

"Yeah. I can get pissed just like any other man."

Edited 2016-01-22 07:57 (UTC)

Kaz rises to his feet, boots crunching in the rubble of wood and periodicals. He extends a hand to help Snake up. It's hard to tell if the gesture is another taunt or a legitimate show of good will.

"I'm gonna make you regret that decision," he warns, although his tone is nothing but jocular. As usual.

"This place might throw us out if we damage anymore of their furniture." Boss joked whilst giving Kaz a knowing stare. Regret it, huh? Watch your words, Kazuhira Miller.

"So, what now? Had enough?"

"Jeez, Boss. Yanno ... we'd better stop the roughhousing before your arthritis flares up." There'll be no end to the old man barbs now.

Kaz adjusts his rumpled fatigues and reties his scarf more to his liking. He does this with practiced motions that somehow don't reek too much of preening, but they totally are.

"Maybe something easier, huh? Like a little target practice?" What is this, a crafty segue?

Arthritis? Really, Kaz. You're making him out to be an old man in a chair or something. There's still plenty of life yet in this old dog. Boss just shot him a knowing look and smirked softly. He knows you're joking, Kaz.

He also notes how much time you spend adjusting that yellow scarf of yours. All for the girls, huh? Or is it something else?

"We could. Or we could train in stealth tactics. Got any cardboard boxes around here?"

"What? You think I should start going out on stealth missions?" he says with a laugh.

"I mean, I could pull it off ... so long as I don't have to wear a sneaking suit." He scratches at a side burn thoughtfully. "Naturally, I'd look great, but those things have gotta chafe like nobody's business."